Baby, Drive South (13 page)

“For now,” Kendall added, “we believe diesel is better for the environment than gasoline, so all of our work vehicles are diesel-powered. Both this building and the rooming house were built from reclaimed materials. We’ve installed energy-saving appliances and water systems. In short—we practice what we preach.”

He handed the presentation over to Porter Armstrong, and Nikki wasn’t surprised to learn he was the marketer of the family. He was, after all, a natural salesman. But she
was
surprised to discover how articulately the man was able to convey his vision of Sweetness becoming a tourist destination for outdoorsmen, and even its own brand.

“We want the name of Sweetness to mean something to consumers,” he said. “If we can capture their attention with our recycled products and our trees and streams, then we can educate them, too.”

Marcus, the businessman of the trio, took the podium again to explain the town of Sweetness would be an incorporated community, with all residents registered and invested in the stock. “We’ll give you room and board for two years and provide all the basics. In return, everyone will contribute in some way, and we’ll all profit as the town grows.”

Kendall joined him. “This is a chance to help mold the place where you’ll live and raise your families.”

“Sweetness will be a true cooperative,” Porter chimed in. “But we can’t do this without you.” He looked directly at Nikki, pinning her with those amazing blue eyes. “All of you.”

She almost expected music to start playing. It was an impressive presentation, no doubt, and the brothers were convincing in their conviction to rebuild the town. But from what she had seen, there was a huge gap in logistics. And from the lack of applause, she had the feeling the other women were thinking the same thing.

“Where are the police?” a woman shouted. “Are we safe here?”

“Where’s the internet access?” someone else asked. “Unless you have a smart phone, you’re screwed.”

“What about cable TV?”

“How do we get our mail?”

“Where is the nearest grocery?”

“The nearest mall?”

“The nearest pet store?”

“I had to take a cold shower this morning.”

“What’s up with this red stuff you call dirt?”

“Is it always this hot?”

“Is it always this humid?”

“Can you do something about the bugs?”

The women kept firing questions. The men looked as if they were ready to run for cover, until Marcus Armstrong waved his arms and asked for quiet. “Ladies, we don’t have this all figured out yet, but we’re willing to work with you to address the things first that are most important to you.”

Rachel, who was sitting next to Nikki, stood up. “You’re asking us to take a big leap of faith here.”

Marcus nodded. “Yes.”

Rachel turned to Nikki. “I want to know what Dr. Salinger thinks.”

Nikki was horrified as every eye in the room turned in her direction. Rachel sat and elbowed her, encouraging her to stand. Reluctantly, Nikki pushed to her feet, her mind and heart racing. Porter Armstrong stared at her, imploring her to give them her endorsement.

She broke out in a sweat, then wet her lips and prayed for coherency. “I’m very impressed with what the Armstrong brothers are trying to do here. But I, too, have considerable concerns about day-to-day needs being met. I’m particularly concerned about the lack of medical facilities and personnel.”

She averted her gaze from Porter’s intense eye contact. “And I have to be honest—I worry that your collective sentimentality for rebuilding your childhood home is clouding your judgment, obscuring the hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions that have to be made for Sweetness to be a safe, desirable place to live.”

A murmur of consensus traveled over the room. Heads nodded and women began conferring among themselves.

“Dr. Salinger,” Porter asked, his deep voice cutting into the room noise, “why did you come here?”

The room fell quiet again. Nikki’s face heated. So many people in this room thought the reason she’d come here was to escape a cheating fiancé…and she admitted the breakup was the impetus for her decision to leave Broadway. But she wasn’t about to admit that aloud, and especially not to Porter Armstrong. “I came here, like your ad said, looking for a fresh start.”

He nodded slowly, then hobbled off the podium and made his way on his crutches over to the large double doors. Every eye followed him—and rightly so. He was fairly bursting out of the T-shirt he wore, his jeans hanging loose and low on his waist. When he reached the doors, he used a crutch to push them open wide. Sunshine rolled into the room. Porter leaned into the dancing rays and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. His broad chest expanded and a look of rapture crossed his face. Then he exhaled noisily and opened his eyes. “It doesn’t get any more fresh than this.”

Nikki pressed her lips together. The man had a flair for drama…but his effect on the women was undeniable. Eyes were soft, mouths were bowed, and, if she was any indication, darn it, hearts were pounding.

Rachel stood up again. “The women would like some time to discuss our decision. In private.”

The brothers exchanged glances, then nodded and headed toward the exit. As Porter was leaving, he locked gazes with Nikki. She looked away.

When the doors closed, a healthy debate broke out among the women that went on for some time. Nikki was quiet, wishing she hadn’t come to the meeting, uncomfortable with voicing her opinion when she wasn’t planning to stay.

“I trust Dr. Salinger,” Traci Miles said, then turned to Nikki. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Me, too,” another woman said. “If Dr. Salinger stays, I’ll stay.”

To her dismay, other women chorused agreement. Rachel angled her head toward Nikki. “Looks like it’s up to you, Doctor. Should we stay…or should we go?”

14

“W
hat do you think’s going on in there?” Porter asked his brothers, staring at the dining hall. He sat on a bench with his aching leg propped up. Over an hour had passed since the women had asked them to leave so they could discuss whether or not to make Sweetness their home.

Kendall was pacing. “I think they’re raking us over the coals.”

“They made some good points,” Porter felt obligated to say.

“I know,” Kendall snapped. “We still have a long way to go. But we’ve achieved a lot here, and we’ll really be in the hole if they all decide to just up and leave.”

“I just wish they’d make up their minds,” Marcus said, looking at his watch. “We’ve already lost most of the workday. With Jennings and Mason getting injured this morning on the mulch line, we’re down a couple of bodies.”

“If the women leave, we can run the ad again in a different town,” Porter offered, wiping his neck in the oppressive heat. “Maybe somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line this time. Is it just me, or are Northern women bossy?”

“They’re bossy,” Marcus confirmed, then scowled at Kendall. “Whatever possessed you to bring a bunch of Yankees to this mountain, I’ll never know.”

Kendall stopped pacing. “I got news for you two—the fact that those women are bossy has nothing to do with the fact that they’re Northern and everything to do with the fact that they’re
women
. I just assumed that women living in a county where the unemployment rate approached twenty percent would be a little less picky about the conditions here.”

Marcus gave a harsh laugh and lifted his hands. “Look at us. We’re idiots. None of us are married, or have even had a serious girlfriend since high school. We’ve pretty much spent our whole lives avoiding relationships with women. Big surprise that we can’t get into their heads.”

“I thought we made a good case in there,” Kendall said.

“We’re not dead in the water yet,” Porter said. “I’ve never had any experience with it, but I’ve heard it takes some women a while to get to ‘yes.’” He grinned to lighten the mood.

Kendall rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Porter, you’re the man. You have Dr. Salinger so impressed, you had to sabotage the woman’s vehicle to keep her from leaving.”

Porter was hot and irritated, and the mere mention of the woman’s name made his temper flare. “I seem to remember you not being able to keep a woman from leaving Sweetness a few years back.”

Kendall blanched, and Porter knew he’d gone too far.

Before he could apologize, the sound of the doors creaking open caught their attention. The women stood there, with stoic faces. Rachel Hutchins, obviously the group’s spokeswoman, stepped forward. Dr. Salinger hung back, avoiding Porter’s gaze.

Not a good sign.

He used the crutches to push to his feet, a knot in his stomach.

“What have the women decided?” Kendall asked.

Rachel crossed her arms. “We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

Porter’s shoulders fell.

“To buy supplies the town will pay for,” Rachel added.

He caught his breath in relief as his mood rebounded.

She handed Kendall a yellow legal pad of paper. A list of items had been written on the page. Porter looked over Kendall’s shoulder to scan the list. Food items, dehumidifiers, gardening supplies, bug zappers, computer equipment.

“This looks reasonable,” Kendall conceded with a smile.

Rachel nodded. “There are ten pages.”

Kendall’s smile froze. “O…kay.”

“We want a clinic built immediately,” Rachel said. “We want to have a say in what’s on the menu served in the dining hall. And we want titles.”

“Titles?” Marcus asked.

“We want roles assigned,” she clarified. “City Planner, Director of Technology, Director of Safety, Director of Communications, that kind of thing. If Sweetness is incorporated, we need the structure of a business.”

Marcus pursed his mouth. “We’d planned on getting to all of that.”

Rachel smiled. “We expect it sooner rather than later. Also, we want regular town hall meetings. And we’ve come up with a set of rules.”

“What kind of rules?” Kendall asked. He was starting to look worried.

A woman Porter remembered as Traci stepped forward with another list on a legal pad. “No men in the boardinghouse overnight, for example. And we want quiet hours.”

Marcus frowned. “Quiet hours?”

No operating machinery, no building activity or anything else that causes loud noises in the evening, early morning and on weekends.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Marcus sputtered. “We have a town to build!”

“And no setting other rules without our input,” Rachel continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “We want authority to help decide how the town moves forward.”

Marcus’s face turned red. Before he could say something Porter was sure the women wouldn’t like, Kendall cut in. “These are all very good suggestions. We do want your feedback and we need your help on every aspect of rebuilding Sweetness. Thank you.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Porter noticed Dr. Salinger had separated from the group and was trying to slip away. He saw his chance to put her on the spot again. “Dr. Salinger!”

She stopped and turned back. “Yes?”

“We hope we can count on your input to the clinic we’re planning to build.”

Her eyes communicated supreme annoyance, but under the pressure of an audience, she finally gave a curt nod. “Of course.” Then she gestured toward the rooming house. “I need to get back.”

He smiled wide. “I’ll walk with you.”

Porter made his way over to her, but could tell from her body language she wasn’t pleased. She walked ahead of him, but he managed to catch up.

“Your group had us on pins and needles back there.”

“It’s not my group,” she said in a clipped tone.

“We’re glad you’re all staying.”

“You know I’m not staying,” she admonished.

“But they don’t, do they?”

Her mouth tightened. “No. Not yet.”

“So until your van is ready, will you help us get the clinic underway?”

“I guess I don’t have anything better to do,” she said without enthusiasm.

“Meanwhile, we’re going to move all your supplies into one of the empty bedrooms on the first floor so you’ll have privacy to see patients.”

“Speaking of which, I heard some workers were injured this morning. Why wasn’t I called?”

He didn’t want to tell her the men hadn’t wanted her to be called and had instead asked Doc Riley to tend to their cuts and bruises. “Their injuries weren’t serious—just some scrapes.”

“Right,” she said in a disbelieving tone.

“These men are strong, and they’re accustomed to sucking up small injuries.”

They had reached the rooming house. She paused at the door, obviously expecting him not to come in. Her nose wrinkled. “How’s that evergreen oil working for you?”

He felt contrite. “Not as well as the painkillers you gave me.”

Her eyebrows arched. “Imagine that. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to make a list of the basic items this new clinic of yours will need.”

“Can I help?”

“No,” she said bluntly.

As she started to turn away, he said, “Dr. Salinger, I’m sorry for putting you on the spot.”

The look she gave him said she didn’t forgive him. It made him wonder again what situation she’d left in Broadway, the situation she now wanted to get back to.

Nikki gestured to his cast. “You really should take your weight off your leg.” She walked into the boardinghouse and closed the door behind her.

On the way back to the dining hall, Porter passed Rachel, who stopped to give him a flirtatious smile. “Would you like to accompany us on our shopping trip to Atlanta tomorrow?”

For a moment, he was happily distracted by the woman’s sunny beauty. He’d like nothing better than to spend the day with a pretty woman who wanted to spend time with him. But he had to keep an eye on Nikki in case she decided to make a run for it.

“Thanks, but I’m not particularly mobile at the moment,” he said with a little laugh. “Rachel, how well do you know Dr. Salinger?”

She frowned slightly. “We’re friends, I guess. Broadway isn’t a big place, so everybody sort of knows everybody.”

“What’s her story?”

“Nikki wasn’t even planning to come with us until the last minute. She was engaged.”