Cheyenne; Friday morning, Heather's Apartment
Jake started the coffee and then began searching the cupboards and refrigerator for something for breakfast. In the last cupboard he checked he found a shaker of cinnamon and had an idea. He then checked the sugar canister and found enough sugar for what he wanted to make. He took out a bowl and poured a half of cup of sugar in it and then mixed in two tablespoons of cinnamon. He then took out what was left of a loaf of bread from the cupboard and the butter dish from the refrigerator.
A few minutes later Heather walked into the kitchen. "Mmmmm, that coffee smells so good!"
"Hey, Babe," Jake said as he filled one of the mugs on the counter with coffee and handed it to her. "Why don't you go sit down? I'll be right out with breakfast."
"What a treat! What are you making?"
"It's a surprise. Now go sit down so I can make it," Jake replied before giving her a quick kiss.
Heather smiled at Jake and then made her way to the kitchen table. Jake soon followed carrying a mug of coffee and a plate with four slices of toast, buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, cut in half diagonally.
"I don't remember the last time I had cinnamon toast!" Heather exclaimed as she reached for a piece and took a bite. Heather closed her eyes, savoring the taste of the toast, "Mmmm . . . this is so good!" she said dreamily before opening her eyes and smiling at the man who sat across from her. "Thank you, Jake. This is such a nice treat!"
It never ceased to amaze Jake how the simplest things could make Heather so happy. It was one of the many things he loved about her. He took great pleasure being in her presence. Her delight in the simple, good things in life and her positive outlook grounded him and gave him hope for the future.
Jake smiled at Heather, reached over and squeezed her hand as he said, "My pleasure, Babe."
As they spent the next few minutes in the quiet of each other's company, Jake thought about the special night he had planned for Heather and the question he wanted - no, needed - to ask her. Every time he looked to the future Heather was there beside him. Until she had come into his life, he'd never thought he could have what his parents had; with her he knew he could. This realization had surprised him and strengthened his resolve. He wanted the whole package and everything that came with it.
"Jake, thanks again. Breakfast was delicious."
"You're welcome. It was the one thing I knew I could cook; as a matter of fact, it was the first thing I was allowed to cook. You should have seen the messes I made when I was four, five trying to get the right combination of cinnamon and sugar. One time we ended up with about four cups of cinnamon and sugar before I got it right. It must have lasted us a year!" Jake chuckled at the memory.
"Well, I have to say you're an expert now. You'll have to add making my cinnamon and sugar for the rest of your life to your 'To Do' list!" Heather joked.
Jake chuckled, "Consider it added, Babe. After all it's my specialty!" After a brief pause Jake continued, "By the way, I used the last of the butter. I'll go to the market and pick up whatever else you need. After all, it's the least I can do seeing as I'm mooching off you."
Heather giggled at the comment. Standing, she came around the table and sat down on Jake's lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. "Yes, you are my kept man but I love you." She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed contently.
Jake laughed at the comment and hugged her tight before saying in a serious tone. "You know, it's not always gonna be like this. One day I'll be taking care of you." Remembering their early morning conversation, Jake couldn't help but smile and add in his mind, ‘And any little Heathers that come along.'
Heather lifted her head off his shoulder and looked Jake in the eyes. "Jake, I know, and that will be fine too, but surely you must realize that you already take care of me in all the ways that are important. All the ways that I need you to."
"Same here, Babe, same here," Jake said with a hitch in his voice before pulling her in for a kiss that Heather didn't hesitate to return. After a minute they pulled apart and rested their foreheads against one another's. Jake took a breath and said huskily, "I need to get ready. It's almost time to leave."
"Okay," Heather said in a half-whisper. She untangled herself from Jake's arms and stood.
Jake quickly followed her. He grabbed Heather's hand and she turned to look at him. "I love you, Heather."
"And I love you, Jake." Heather squeezed Jake's hand and smiled.
Jake smiled back, released her hand, and went to shower and change.
Heather cleared that table, washed and put away the dishes, and then sat down at the table to write out a shopping list for Jake. When she was done, she reviewed the list and couldn't help but giggle at all the doodles she scribbled in random spots around the list.
She walked over to the kitchen drawer where she kept an envelope of food vouchers and grocery money. She removed all the vouchers and fifty dollars from the envelope. She then folded the shopping list in half, slipped in the cash and vouchers, and folded the list in half again.
Jake walked into the kitchen, "Ready to go?"
With her list in hand, Heather walked over to Jake and put her arms around his waist and gave him a quick kiss. "Here's the shopping list," she said as she slid her hand down past his belt and slipped the list into his back pocket.
Jake recovered quickly from his surprise at Heather's boldness. "Thanks, Babe," he couldn't help but say somewhat suggestively before pulling her closer and thoroughly kissing her.
Fifteen minutes later, at the bus stop, Heather gave Jake a quick kiss before she climbed on the bus that would take her to the capitol. As soon as the bus pulled away Jake's thoughts turned to his plans for that night and the question he was going to ask her. While he didn't consider himself a romantic, he wanted to try for Heather. He could propose to her anywhere, but she had been through so much since he had arrived in Cheyenne and before that too, he wanted to give her at least one good memory from her time here with him. He wanted to give her a memory that she could share joyfully with family and friends.
He had decided on a picnic. So many of his happy childhood memories were associated with the picnics his parents had taken Eric and him on when they were young boys. It was those times where he felt that they were truly an ordinary family - not the mayor's family - and best of all his father wasn't busy being the mayor. It was during those hours real life was left behind and the world shrunk to be just the four of them. Besides, the first day he saw Heather in Cheyenne - the turning point in his life - they had shared a picnic lunch.
Jake entered Holiday Park thirty minutes later and found himself by the lake where he had shared lunch with Heather that first day. While the view of lake was nice, there wasn't much else around that would create a romantic setting. Besides, there were too many people roaming around and he wanted as private as setting as possible to ask his question. He looked around saw what appeared to be a trail and decided to follow it.
The path was clear and it led to a small rise. When Jake reached the top he grinned; he had found the perfect spot. On the other side of the rise there was a field of wildflowers. Before him was an array of colors: pink, white, red, yellow, purple to name a few. The only flowers he recognized were the Black Eyed Susans that were spread around in patches in the field before him. His breath hitched at the thought of seeing the joy in Heather's face when she saw the field. He looked around and saw the perfect place for the picnic - under a cottonwood tree, that stood right near the top of the rise. Yes, it was the perfect place. They could have their picnic overlooking the field and then he could take her for a walk in the field and propose. Jake sighed, excited yet nervous, for tonight to happen. He turned and started to walk away when a thought occurred to him. He turned back around and walked down into the field and picked a bouquet of flowers that he would give Heather when he met her at the bus stop that evening.
Later Hawkins turned from the computer and raised his eyebrows when he saw Jake walk into the safe house carrying the bouquet of flowers he had picked for Heather.
"For me?" Hawkins smirked. "You shouldn't have."
"They're not for you," Jake grumbled.
Hawkins snorted. "Special occasion?"
"Ahmmm . . . not really," Jake replied, as he walked into the kitchen, half-filled a glass with water and feeling a little silly, arranged the bouquet in it.
"Yeah right, whatever you say," Hawkins said sarcastically, not believing Jake.
"What are you working on?" Jake asked when he walked back into the living room.
"We got word today from the East," Hawkins replied as he nodded his head toward the computer. "They want the bomb transported to Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Tennessee."
"When?"
"Not sure yet. They want a nuclear fingerprint of the bomb. The scientists with the ‘know how' to do it were displaced by the bombs. The Eastern government is in the process of locating them. ‘Til then they want the bomb kept where it is."
"So, they hope to find where the bomb originated?" Jake asked, his brow furrowing.
"Yes. I don't really get the process. Something to do with ratios of isotopes in the plutonium and uranium found in the bomb."
"Isotopes?" Jake questioned, recalling the term from high school science class. He knew what it met in general terms but didn't remember the specifics.
"Don't ask, don't know. All I know is that it can be done," Hawkins replied a little frustrated - he never did like trying to explain things he didn't understand. "They want the bomb at Oak Ridge because the lab has samples of uranium mined at all sites in the U.S. The scientists can compare the fingerprints to pinpoint where the uranium was mined , if it was mined in the U.S. I'm just about finished here. What are you doing today?"
"I'm going out to check the car and make sure it starts, and then I'm heading toward the market."
"Market?"
"Yeah, I told Heather I'd pick up a few things."
"Want company?"
"Sure."
Jake's car was parked in a residential neighborhood about three blocks from the safe house. In order to conserve gas, it had remained parked there since Jake and Hawkins had arrived in Cheyenne. This would be the second time since Jake's arrival that he would be checking on the car. When the two men arrived at the Roadrunner Jake got behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition. The car wouldn't start. He pumped the gas pedal a couple of times and the car still wouldn't start. He got out of the car and popped open the hood while asking Hawkins, "Can you get in the driver's seat and try and to the car when I tell you?"
"Ah . . . sure Jake," Hawkins replied before asking, "Are you sure you know what you're doing there?" He sounded a little skeptical of Jake's auto mechanic skills.
"Well, I know a hell of a lot more about planes, but I know a few tricks that might work," Jake replied with a lopsided grin before bending over and looking at the motor.
Hawkins, who was now sitting in the driver's seat, stuck his head out the window and yelled to Jake, "Tell me when."
Jake shook a few wires and yelled, "Try now."
Hawkins turned the key in the ignition. The car made a clicking noise, but the motor didn't turn over.
Jake checked the belts and shook the wires connecting the batteries to the alternator. "Try again," he yelled.
The motor still didn't turn over. Jake stood up and dropped the hood of the car. Brushing his hands together he walked over to the driver's side and told Hawkins, "I ran out of tricks. Any ideas?"
Hawkins shook his head no. "I have a feeling you used up all my tricks, too."
"I'll need to have Heather take a look at it." Jake could just picture Heather bent over the motor of his car. Not only would he enjoy the view but he'd have fun playing her assistant.
"Heather? She can fix cars?" Hawkins asked surprised. He had never known a woman who had any interest in cars.
"Are you serious? Of course she can! After all she knows how to make windmills," Jake replied incredulously, a dreamy look coming over his face.
Hawkins shook his head and smirked. "Man, have you got it bad. I bet you think there's nothing she can't do."
"Yeah, there's not much she can't do. . ." Jake said, his voice trailing off.
Hawkins snorted and rolled his eyes. "Nothing much else we can do here, let's get to the market."
Seeing the lock still up on the driver's door, Jake opened it, pushed down the lock and shut the door before double checking to make sure it was indeed locked. "Let's go."
Thirty minutes later they arrived at the market. Jake pulled the list Heather had given him out of his back pocket unfolded it and took a minute to study the list.
Shopping List
green beans
carrots
Heather loves Jake
cucumbers
tomatoes
Jake & Heather sitting in a tree...
herbs (whatever they have)
flour
potatoes
meat (whatever they have)
Heather + Jake, forever
eggs
fruit
whatever else you think we need
HL ♥JG
I love you Jake
XXOOOXXX
Jake shook his head and chuckled at the list. Although he would never admit, those little notes she had written gave him a calm sense of well being, a feeling that was all too rare these days. He heard Hawkins laughing behind his back and turned to look at him.
"What?! What's so funny?" he asked impatiently.
"You know what they say . . . "Hawkins laughed again and then said, "First comes love, then comes marriage..." He managed to get out before he started laughing again.
"So is however old you are the new twelve?" Jake deadpanned, a little embarrassed now that he realized Hawkins must have been reading the list over his shoulder.
"Seriously Jake, isn't it time you make an honest woman out of her?" Hawkins managed to get out once he regained his composure.
"Yeah. As long as she agrees," Jake said pensively.
"Well Jake, I don't think you have to worry about it. You've got her answer in your hand," Hawkins said, pointing at the shopping list Jake was holding.
Jake looked down at the list, quickly re-reading the little love notes, and then grinned as he answered Hawkins, "Yeah, I think you're right."
"So you're asking her, when?" Hawkins asked.
"Tonight," Jake said reflecting on his plans for that evening.
"Congratulations, man!" Hawkins said as he clapped Jake on the back.
"Thanks," Jake replied distractedly while looking at his watch. "I better go pick up the things on this list," he told Hawkins, holding up the paper he held in his hand.
"I'm gonna take a look around. How much time you need?"
"About an hour. Meet back here then?"
"Sounds good," Hawkins replied as he turned and walked away.
Knowing that he had a number of stops to make before he went to the market Jake had had not taken Heather's cloth shopping bags when they had left the apartment. He opted instead to purchase six plastic bags at twenty cents each at the kiosk behind the spot where he and Hawkins had gone their separate ways. After securing the bags he quickly picked up the non-luxury items that Heather had on her list and then concentrated on what he needed for the picnic he had planned. The menu he had decided on was chicken, hard boiled eggs, and carrots. The only non-luxury item that was on the list was carrots, which he found at the vegetable kiosk. The two luxury items on his menu - chicken and eggs - weren't a problem to get as the identification number on Heather's coupon appeared on the vendors' lists. After securing the chicken and eggs, he matched the numbers on the coupons with the other vendor lists and was able to pick up a quart of milk and two pounds of chopped beef. He had three sacks of food and was on his way to meet Hawkins when he walked by the fruit kiosk. He saw a special on strawberries and decided that they would make a good dessert for the dinner he had planned. While normally an item that was rationed, today the strawberries could be bought without food coupons .Heather had said that these end-of-the-week specials happened occasionally when the supply for a certain item exceeded the demand for it. He bought two pints of strawberries thinking that whatever they didn't have for dessert they could have for breakfast the next day.
Hawkins, carrying four burlap sacks filled with food, met up with Jake the spot they parted at an hour earlier.
"Hey," Jake said and nodded toward the bags Hawkins was carrying, "I see you did some shopping, too."
"Not exactly." As the two men started walking out of the market Hawkins explained. "I was taking a look around and saw a couple of goons beating on a truck driver. I broke it up. Let's just say the items in these sacks are my reward. After I sent the goons on their way he gave me these four sacks from the back of the truck and told me to fill them with whatever I wanted from the truck."
"Good deal," Jake replied before asking, "See anything?"
"Nothing suspicious."
A few minutes later they arrived at the safe house. Jake laid his bags on the couch and followed Hawkins into the kitchen to get the bouquet of flowers he had picked for Heather.
"Wait a minute until I unpack these," Hawkins said pointing at the bags. "I have something for you." Hawkins added.
Jake leaned against the stove and watched as Hawkins pulled out a couple of steaks, a whole chicken, and a variety of vegetables and fruits out of three of the bags.
"Apples?" Jake said looking at the fruit on the counter. "They're out of season. I wonder how they got a hold of those."
"Must have been in cold storage somewhere. The driver said that they are Tomarchio's favorite and that he delivers them regularly to the capitol."
"They're Heather's favorite, too," Jake said thinking about a conversation they had had the other day where they ended up talking about their favorite foods.
"Well, there's plenty of fruit. Why don't you take them home to her?"
"You sure?"
"Sure."
Hawkins reached into the fourth bag and pulled out three bottles of wine and set them on the counter. He picked up a white wine and handed it to Jake, "Here, I picked this out for you. Figured you'd have something to celebrate tonight."
"Thanks. This is great."
"You and Heather come over tomorrow around two. We'll do a status meeting and then cook up the steaks for dinner. Can't remember the last time I had a good steak."
"Me either. Thanks for the invite. Better get going. I only have a few hours before I have to meet Heather and I have a dinner to cook. Do you have a box that I can use to carry this stuff home?"
"Yeah, let me get it for you," Hawkins replied and walked out of the kitchen.
He returned a few minutes later with the box. Jake walked into the living room and brought the bags on the couch into the kitchen and put them in the box. Hawkins took the apples on the counter and put them in one of Jake's bags. He then placed the bottle of wine in the one of the corners of the box.
"Hey, do you have wine glasses?" Hawkins asked.
"I don't think so," Jake replied.
"Take a couple from that cupboard over there," Hawkins said nodding to the cabinet to the right of the sink.
Jake took out two wine glasses, carefully wrapped them and situated them in box so they rested against the side. He positioned one of the bags so the glasses wouldn't rattle as he walked. The last thing he did was to remove the bouquet of flowers he had picked out of the glass and placed it on top of the items in the box.
"All set. I'm going to get going. I'll see you tomorrow," Jake said.
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye," Jake replied and then left.
As soon as Jake walked out the door, Hawkins checked his watch to make sure that Darcy would be home from work and then walked into the bedroom. He took the phone from the closet and called home.
"Hey,Dee," Hawkins said when his wife answered the phone.
"Rob, is everything all right?" Darcy asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Everything's fine. I need you to do a favor for me."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Tell Eric and Gail to come to the house tomorrow around three. Tell them that we have some information that they'll want to know," Hawkins replied.
"Rob, what's this all about?" Dee asked sensing that her husband wasn't giving him the whole story.
"Just between you and me, it's Jake and Heather that will have some news for Gail."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Darcy asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
"I am."
"Gail, will be so happy!" Although Hawkins couldn't see Darcy, he could ‘hear' her smile through the phone.
"Remember, Dee. This is just between you and me. Not a word to anyone," Hawkins said seriously.
"I won't tell a soul," Darcy promised.
"How are you and the kids?" Hawkins asked.
"We're fine. Not much new to report since we talked earlier in the week. I have to get going. I told Gail I'd put in some volunteer time at the Med Center today since this is my short day at work."
"Okay, Dee. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you."
"Love you, too."
"Bye Dee."
"Bye Rob."
Hawkins hung up the phone and put it away. He shook his head, not quite able to believe the success of his first attempt at matchmaking before going back to the computer to do some research on nuclear fingerprinting. Next time someone asked him what was involved with the process, he wanted to sound like he knew what he was talking about.
Cheyenne, Friday Morning, Ravenwood Headquarters
Joe Chavez would not have considered himself a particularly reflective man. He believed in looking forward rather than looking back. Whether out of necessity or by choice, this was his modus operandi. Yet as he stood outside Mike Collins office, he recognized that his past was about to collide with his present - and maybe the future of their nation.
Mike Collins looked up from the dossier on his desk when he heard the knock on his door. "Come in." As Chavez walked in Collins stood up, stepped around his desk and held out his hand.
"Mike," Chavez said as they shook hands. He studied the man before him. Other than that he didn't seem as tall as he remembered, the only difference he saw in the man before him was that his hair was peppered with gray.
"Joe," Collins replied as he let go of Chavez's hand, motioning him to sit before walking around his desk and dropping into his own chair.
"What's it been? Twenty years?" Collins asked.
"More than that, the last time I saw you was at my dad's funeral."
"Your family, Joe, did they survive the attacks?" Collins asked a little anxiously.
"My family? I'm surprised you asked," Chavez said a little incredulously remembering the promise that Collins made to his dad before he died.
Collins took a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts. "You're right, Joe. I should've been there for the three of you. If it wasn't for the business I would've been, it took years to get it on its feet, and by then I thought it was better to just stay away, it had been so long," Collins said in way of an explanation. He then continued, "I initiated a search for you and your family before the bombs," Collins said before muttering to himself, "I just didn't expect things to happen so fast."
‘Didn't expect things to happen so fast?" Chavez wasn't surprised at the implication that Collins knew something about the bombs. He kept his question to himself and replied, "Looks like you've done well for yourself."
"I have....Joe, your mom? Sandra?"
"Mom died six years ago. Sandra was in Denver with her two kids when the bombs went off," Chavez replied in a subdued tone. Although it had become easier as time went on, he was still grieving the senseless death of his sister and her children.
"I'm sorry to hear that Joe. Your mom was a good woman, and Sandra, she was...," Collins said his voice trailing off when he saw the grief flash across Chavez's face.
Chavez cleared his throat. Steering the conversation away from his family he asked, "I had heard that you had retired from the job. What brought you back?"
Collins shrugged before he explained, "I did retire when the sale closed in 1989. A couple of months later J&R approached me; they asked me to come in as a consultant to train the person they had handpicked to run the company. When that person didn't work out they asked me to stay on in his place."
"What is it you wanted to see me about?" Chavez asked, turning the conversation back to business.
Collins looked down at the dossier he had opened on his desk. "I see you followed in your father's footsteps. Your credentials are impressive."
"Thanks," Chavez replied, though some part of him doubted that he would be ever be the man is father was. He had watched his father juggle his duties to his country and to his family. It was something that Joe had never attempted himself. He had witnessed the disappointment of his mother when his father didn't come home when expected. The only time she was truly happy was during his infrequent visits. Her sadness between those visits made him determined not to become emotionally involved with any woman. His life had become his job; it was the mission at all costs. Seeing Jake and Heather together had made him realize that his military success came at great personal sacrifice. Hawkins and Darcy had proved it could work. Sure they had had their issues but Chavez saw through Hawkins stoic exterior. He saw the light in Hawkins eyes and heard the warmth in his tone when he spoke about Darcy.
"I could use you in this office as my senior advisor, to act as my right hand man. Are you interested?" Collins asked as he raised his head and looked into Chavez's eyes. "It's obvious to me you can do the job."
Chavez was smart enough to realize that one of the reasons Collins extended the offer was to make amends for not being there for his family. He couldn't help but resent the offer. After all his family had been through when his father died, the death of his sister and her children when the bombs hit, it was a little late for Collins to be thinking of the promise he had made to his father. In any case, he was going to take advantage of the situation; it was too good of an opportunity to attain information critical to the mission. Not wanting to appear too eager he asked, "What exactly will I be doing?"
"You'll act as my right-hand man, be where I can't be. Analyze situations and report back to me with recommendations. One thing I'll be counting on you is to do is to act as a liaison between this office and the administrative offices at the sites of our various operations. What do you say?
"Yeah, I'm interested. When do you want me to start?"
"Today, this afternoon I want you out at Cheyenne Farm to meeting with the security director. There are crops and livestock being smuggled out and sold to the black market. I want you to get to the bottom it."
"Sure. There's just the small matter of transportation and weapons."
Collins pulled out a form from his desk and quickly filled it out. "Here take this to the procurement office. It instructs them to give you a car and your choice of gun and rifle. You can also pick up your credentials there."
Mike handed him the slip of paper. "Stop by after you get back from the farm to give me your report."
"Will do," Chavez turned to leave the office only to see another man walk in.
"Joe, wait a minute," Collins called after Chavez.
Chavez turned and walked back to Collin's desk and stood next to Goetz.
"Goetz, Joe Chavez. Chavez, John Goetz," Collins said, introducing the two men.
If the cool glare he received was any indication, Chavez had the sense that Goetz considered him a threat.
"Goetz is my Operations Commander," Collins said to Chavez before turning to Goetz, "Chavez just accepted a position as my senior advisor."
"Glad to have you aboard," Goetz said half-heartedly as he shook Chavez hand while sizing him up a second time.
"Thanks, I better get going I have some things to get done before I go out to Cheyenne Farm this afternoon," Chavez said holding up the slip of paper Collins had given him.
Goetz nodded his head and Collins said, "Later," as Chavez nodded to Collins walked out of the office without acknowledging Goetz.
Once he was sure that Chavez was out of ear shot Goetz placed both hands on the desk and leaned down until he was looking Collins in the eye. "Are you crazy? What do you know about him?"
Collins slammed his hand on the desk and said angrily, "Everything I need to. This is no business of yours. All you need to know is that he's my right hand man and deserves some respect. Now get your hands off my desk and sit down. I want to hear your report."
Jericho; Friday Morning, Gray Anderson's office
"Gray, do you have a minute?" Eric asked as he stood in the doorway to the mayor's office.
"What can I do for you?" Gray asked as he motioned for Eric to take the visitor's chair in front of his desk.
Eric, refusing the invitation to sit, walked over to the desk and stood looking down at the mayor of Jericho. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man in front of him.
After seeing the list of incentives posted on the town bulletin board he was undecided whether Gray was incredibly corrupt or unbelievably inept. Whatever it was it, certainly didn't bode well for the future prosperity of their town. Gray, seeing the look on Eric's face and knowing he was about to be confronted, leaned back in his chair and prepared to defend himself.
"I looked over the list of incentives that RJ Land and you agreed on which were posted on the town bulletin board, and I have a few questions," Eric said.
"Yes . . . Yes. What are they?" Gray asked impatiently.
The mayor had met with Jim O'Leary from RJ Land two days before the town meeting and had agreed on the incentives the town would receive based on the services purchased by the farms outside of Jericho. With Jake out of town, he had thought that just this once he would escape the censure of the Greens. Looking at Eric now, he knew that he wasn't going to get the free pass he had hoped for.
The realization that he had needed Johnston's mentoring to see the town through the hardships that it faced since his election had irked him. He had thought that with Johnston's death that he would finally be able to step out of the shadows and the town would start looking toward him for leadership. The war with New Bern had proven him wrong, and there was another Green overshadowing him and stealing his chance to shine. This time, it was Jake Green that the citizens of Jericho considered their leader.
Gray had always been at odds with the Greens but dealing with Johnston had been a lot easier than dealing with his older son. At the very least Johnston had listened patiently to his reasoning before he shot down his ideas. On the other hand, Jake had no regard for his position and any attempt to reason with him was futile. Gray supposed he should be grateful that at least Jake didn't seem to have any inclination toward a political life. He was certainly glad that Jake had been out of town when he met with RJ Land. He knew that if Jake had been here there would have been no end to the questioning and criticism as he tried to defend the incentives he had agreed to. His thoughts then turned back to Eric, and he braced himself for the questions he knew were coming.
"Some of the incentives don't make sense," Eric stated emphatically.
"What do you mean, don't make sense? Let me assure you I had the town foremost in my mind when I met with RJ Land," Gray replied defensively.
"Gray, it's July and two of the incentives are for winter parkas and long underwear! How useful are those?"
"Well, I'm planning ahead. The town can't survive another winter like the last one," Gray said, almost flippantly.
"But winter parkas and long underwear? Eric asked incredulously, before pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. "Oh, here's a few more.....syringes for the med center but no needles . . . toys for the children . . . books for the library. There's nothing on the list that the town needs to survive. What about food, fuel, mechanical parts, and building materials? The things the town needs to get back on its feet."
"Listen Eric, I did the best I could with the list they provided," Gray said in a patronizing tone while in the back of his mind thinking, ‘Easy for him to be so critical, he wasn't at the meeting he has no idea what a difficult position I was put in.'
"This is the best you can do? Come on, Gray, toys for the children? Christmas wasn't a lot of fun last year, but they all survived without Barbie." Eric said aggravated. He was quickly losing his patience with the man he was looking down at.
"Well, they need them to keep busy so they'll stop wandering the streets," Gray said, defending himself again.
Eric just rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Gray, it's the teenagers that are wandering the streets, not the children. Toys aren't going to help. I just can't believe this!"
At Eric's comment Gray completely lost his patience, he slammed the palm of his hand on his desk and said in an angry voice, "You have no right to judge me! You didn't see the choices I had. I picked the best of the lot."
"You picked the best of the lot? If this was the best how could you have agreed to do business with them? What about food, fuel, construction materials? Are you saying they weren't on the list?" Eric demanded angrily.
"Well . . . I . . .I," Gray sputtered, peeved that he was letting Eric get to him, before continuing in the most pompous tone he could muster, "You don't have to tell me how to do my job. I don't have to answer to you!"
"That's where you're wrong, Gray. How do you think you got your job? You not only have to answer to me, you have to answer to every citizen in Jericho!" Eric said forcefully, infuriated by Gray's attitude.
Gray could see the anger flash across Eric's face and felt compelled to back track, irked by his need to stay on the good side of the Green men. Whether he liked it or not, the Greens still continued to carry weight with the townspeople. If he could just get Eric to look at the situation rationally, see things from his perspective that would go a long way toward appeasing others.
"You don't understand, Eric," he sighed before continuing contritely, "they did have those things on the list but the only way to get them would be to have one hundred percent of the farmers sign up for services. I just couldn't risk it, something is better than nothing."
"Gray, you could have tried negotiating," Eric replied, rolling his eyes a second time.
"There was no room for negotiation," Gray said decisively and then thought, ‘Good thing he doesn't know about the new SUV I'll be getting.'
"There's always room for negotiation," Eric replied emphatically.
"Well, in this case there wasn't!" Gray declared.
"Okay, Okay . . . I can see we're not going anywhere with this. You made your first mistake by offering to help this company sink its claws into the town and your second by not trying to negotiate with them. The whole town is going to suffer for it!" Furious, Eric turned to walk out of the office.
At the doorway he turned around and walked back to Gray's desk. "Oh, by the way, just want to warn you that the farmers are up in arms. They just found out the incentives don't apply to them since they aren't town citizens and want to know why you excluded them from the negotiations."
Eric than placed both hands on the desk, leaned down and looked Gray square in the eyes. "You're alone in this one, Gray. I refuse to support your position to either the farmers or the citizens of this town. You sold them out and what's truly pathetic is I don't think you even realize it. The thing is, one of these days, you're going to turn around, and someone's going to pull something over on you the way you did to these people. When that happens, you're going to get what you deserve."
Eric stood up, turned, and walked out of the mayor's office while Gray leaned back in his chair wondered what he got himself into this time.