Enslow stopped and listened.
The rancher continued. “Ol’ Kip might’ve been encouraged by this. At least, to be able to talk, don’t you think fellers?”
Enslow stepped away. Jack caught his eye momentarily, only to have him step back into the circle.
Jack leaned in. “If you have a business card, I’ll mail you that proclamation.”
Enslow pulled a card from his pocket, and handed it over, keeping his attention focused on conversation.
The card said, ‘Enslow Development Company, Wayne Enslow, President.’
Jack heard his name being called. Joe, standing with a man in chinos and blue shirt—the man looked like he was from back east—waved him over. Jack joined them.
“Jack, do you know Mack Latham, manager of the Inn of the Canyons?”
He did not, but of course he knew of the Inn, the grand hotel in town. “No,” he admitted. He shook the man’s hand.
“Mack invited me to speak to the Chamber of Commerce next week. I’m committed to something else that day. It’s on Wednesday. Are you free?”
Jack took his time about answering. “I’m not good at that sort of thing.”
“Don’t believe him,” Joe said.
“No elaborate preparation needed,” Latham interjected. “A few prepared comments. Take some questions. Friendly discussion.”
“Jack can speak for me,” Joe said, “and he would cover it as well as I would.”
“Great, eleven o’clock, at the Inn.” Latham shook hands and left.
Joe stepped closer. “Glad you were here. It helped.”
“I doubt it.”
“Don’t believe that.”
Angie Manriquez reached over and touched Joe on the sleeve. “Thanks for arranging this. I was worried there for a moment, but it ended well.”
Joe laughed. “Yes. Thanks again for coming.”
Manriquez turned to Jack. “I assume you’ll be working with my staff on that public meeting in three weeks. It’ll be good to have someone who can work through tense situations.”
“That wouldn’t be me,” Jack said. He looked around. “If they’d smelled my fear, I would’ve been a liability.”
She laughed and turned back at Joe. “Think we should get him involved?”
“I do.”
Change the subject, fast. “Do me a favor,” Jack said to Manriguez. “Tell Paul Yazzi’s boss that I said he’s a good hand. He saved our bacon a few nights ago. On a fire in California.”
“You just did,” she said, backing away. “I’ll tell him we talked.” She turned to leave.
Jack let out a sigh. Debt repaid and subject changed.
She stopped and turned back. “I bet you two would be a good team on this planning effort.” She nodded, pondering the thought, and departed in the direction of the church.
“Anyway,” Joe said, as if finishing a thought. “Thanks for taking that Chamber meeting. I’ll be relying on you to help me stay out in front on these matters.”
“Joe, I’m not the right guy for that. You need someone else.”
“Nonsense, you did great today. Let’s talk about this, back at the park. See you there.” Joe spun around to go.
Before Jack could put up an argument, he heard his name.
Karen Hatcher caught up with him, a friendly look in her blue eyes, her blond hair catching the breeze. “I haven’t seen you around in a while.”
“Been in California, fighting fires. Got back last night.”
“Man on the go. Where are you heading now?”
“Back to the office.”
“How about lunch?” she asked. “At Elena’s? Out on the patio.”
Carne asada did sound good, and it would keep him away from Joe Morgan. At least for an hour.
CHAPTER 6
“So, what’d you think of today’s little gathering?” Jack asked. He looked out over the earthen wall surrounding Elena’s and nodded back toward the plaza, where the last of the ranchers were leaving. “And what do you think they thought?”
She brushed back her short blond hair. “I don’t know about them, but I thought it was good,” Karen said. “Cleared the air a little. I’d heard all the rumors and didn’t believe them, but I’m glad your boss made an effort to put them to rest.”
“Think it’s a losing proposition?”
She set both hands on the table. “Why, that’s a hell of a note. And from the guy who kept things from going to hell.”
“Just lucky.” He watched a pickup back out across the way. “Think it’ll be hard to prepare a management plan?”
She picked up her beer and took a sip. “It may be difficult. I think some of the ranchers will fight it, no matter what you do. They’re angry.”
“What about the enviros?”
“Some of us could make it difficult,” she said. “And others would love to see some of the rumors come true. Like stopping the grazing entirely.”
“Are you part of that group?”
She laughed. “Are you trying to flush me out?”
“Just making conversation.”
“Yeah, right.” She looked out into the plaza. “No, I’m not in that group. Ranching and farming are the social fabric of this area. I know that. I’d never be successful at doing away with them. But I wouldn’t mind helping make ranching a more sustainable practice around here. I’d like to help the good ranchers do what they’re doing, and get the bad ones to learn a few things from the good ones. Help make some heroes. Someday, when I get the time, I’ll work on that.”
“I’m impressed,” he said without emotion. “Sounds idealistic.”
She brushed her hair back from her face, and glanced self-consciously at the reflection in the window. “Why?” she asked.
“Because people aren’t looking for solutions. They just want to get their own way.”
“My, you don’t sound like the man my colleagues in Montana describe.”
“I’m not.” He held his eyes on her. “Don’t go there.”
“Sorry.” She took another sip. “Anyway...I’m focused on the national monument and the management plan, and other things in the region. My plate’s full. Someday, when I have the time, I’ll look into ways to work with the ranchers. Things like sustainable grazing practices.”
“I see.”
“I just wish they’d quit attacking the very premise of the monument. It’d be easier to think about working with them if I wasn’t so worried that they’ll convince Congress to do away with it. Once I’m a little more confident they won’t, I’ll put some effort into making peace.”
Jack hadn’t really noticed before, but Karen was rather attractive, in an interesting sort of way. Nice round eyes, cute chin. Good shape, and dressed somewhere between wilderness jock and bargain basement shopper, but somehow it looked good on her. “Those are your terms,” he said. “If you believe in what you’re saying, why don’t you meet ‘em