Homespun Christmas (7 page)

At one time there had been eight people in the town council, but the three men in the group had resigned and moved away with their families, taking jobs in other communities.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, customary reading of the minutes, and some announcements, Mayor Allen told everyone about the possible school closing. Though the news had already spread, there was an angry rumble around the room.

Someone in the back shouted. “I don’t want my seven-year-old daughter to spend an hour each day on a bus when we have a perfectly good school just down the street.”

“We have to face facts,” Mayor Allen said. “There’s no fast or simple solution to what we’re facing. Some of our craftspeople want to start a new business selling online, and that’s all good, but this town needs major surgery, not a Band-Aid.”

Grandma stood, threw her shoulders back and faced the crowd with an air of authority. “We keep hearing about what we can’t do. Let’s hear from someone who actually has a plan. Myka Solis has an idea, and we need to hear her out. It’s not a cure-all—the mayor’s right about that—but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Exasperated, Mayor Allen ran a hand through his thinning hair. “Elise, starting a new business now will take funding, and the one thing we all need to hang on to most of all is our money.”

Knowing she had to speak now, Myka stood. Her hands were shaking so badly, she hid them inside her pants pockets. “We’re all in trouble, and we can’t continue on the way we have been. We’ve got only one choice now—to go forward.”

Myka began to explain how they could bring the town’s most talented artisans together. “Made in the U.S.A. means something to Americans and we’re second to none here in Independence. We’ve got something special to offer.”

“Myka, girl, you’re dreaming.” Chuck Martinez’s voice echoed from across the room. “You think a bunch of artsy-crafty women are going to jump in and save our economic butts? It won’t happen unless you have some golden fleece I don’t know about.” Several people laughed.

Anger rose inside her, but she forced herself to clamp a lid on her temper. Chuck was a chauvinistic jerk and she wouldn’t let him derail her. “I’m not talking about saving the town, Chuck, I’m talking about reversing the slide, and giving some families a chance to turn things around. I’ve been selling skeins of my own hand-spun yarn for the past seven months and making a good, steady profit. I even have a waiting list for some of my dyed lots. Working together, we could double our output, and by purchasing the raw materials we need locally or regionally, we’d also be infusing cash into the economy here. That would eventually create jobs, too. Shipping clerks and website people, for example.”

“And those of us who can’t knit will herd sheep down Main Street. You’re kidding, right?” Chuck shot back.

He was the only person who laughed this time.

“That’s enough, Chuck,” Mayor Allen ordered. “I think we all need more information on this proposal. If it’ll help keep just five or ten families in their homes, I’ll learn to crochet. And who knows? The wealthiest company in the country began with two college-age kids in a California garage.”

Myka continued her presentation, wrapping up by mentioning the possibility of local woodworkers creating crafts and toys to add to the inventory. She finished by saying, “This is our chance to help ourselves.”

“Let’s open the meeting to questions,” Mayor Allen said.

The hall became so quiet Myka was sure that if she tried, she’d be able to hear the heartbeats around her.

Will Solis, who’d been sitting in the back wearing civilian clothes, stood. “You all know me. I’m a no-nonsense kind of man. I listened to what Myka proposed, but I stayed grounded on the facts, and here’s what I see. An operation like the one Myka described will require licenses, tax accountants and maybe even a start-up loan. Or let’s say that we pony up the cash ourselves. How many of you can afford to gamble on something like this?” He looked around the room.

Myka jumped to her feet. “Are you saying it’s better not to try at all? Nothing worthwhile ever gets done without taking a risk. Let’s not give up yet.”

“Great words, Myka, but that’s all they are,” Will said gently. “You need to face facts. You just don’t have the necessary know-how to start up anything bigger than your online store.”

“You have
no
idea what I’m capable of, brother-in-law. Don’t ever sell me short!” Her words came out more forcefully than she’d intended. “Besides, I have backup—someone who does have those skills,” she said calmly, looking over at Joshua.

Mayor Allen followed her gaze. “Josh? I’m not sure I understand. You had your own architectural firm in San Francisco, and you’re doing some consulting work for the town, but what’s that got to do with the type of company Myka’s proposing?”

Josh stood and looked at the people gathered there. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Joshua Nez. I grew up in Independence. Most of you probably remember my dad, Adam. Like the mayor pointed out, I’m no expert in selling handmade crafts, but I did start my own company, and most of the initial steps are the same. I can help you all navigate the sea of forms and licenses that the chief mentioned.”

“Folks, take a hard look at who’s talking,” Will cut in. “Are you really ready to trust someone with a history as a troublemaker? Here he is back out of the blue, telling you how to spend your hard-earned money. Does listening to him sound like a good idea?”

There were several murmured comments among the crowd.

“I seem to recall you standing in front of the high school principal more than once, Will, yet you’re the town’s police chief now. I’ll match my integrity to anyone else’s in this room, including yours,” Joshua said, then he turned away, clearly dismissing Will. “What I’m offering you are the skills I’ve acquired since leaving this community. I can help with the paperwork, but I won’t join the partnership Myka’s proposing. The company will belong to you all.”

“Why are you doing it, then?” Henry Vaughn called out from the back of the room.

Myka knew Henry well. He was one of the best furniture makers in the area and he’d been a friend of Adam Nez. Since his pieces couldn’t be easily shipped, and the train no longer serviced Independence, Henry’s orders had dwindled and he’d had to close the doors of his shop. He’d be a good candidate for the partnership—if he could be sold on the idea.

“If I can help my friends while I’m here, I see no reason not to,” Josh said. “But your futures are in your own hands. I have plans of my own. My firm took a hit and had to close down, but I’m still an architect. I haven’t given up on my dream and I’m looking to start a new company—elsewhere.”

“It’s hard to follow someone who doesn’t plan on sticking around,” a man off to the right said.

“There is no ‘follow,’” Joshua quickly responded. “Whatever happens tonight depends on all of you, not me. I’ve offered my skills and knowledge free of charge—for as long as I’m here. If you don’t want my help, that’s fine.” Joshua looked around, then turned and walked out.

The room suddenly became quiet.

Myka looked at the faces around her, angry at Will and his vindictive attitude, yet pleased with Joshua’s response. “The way to get through tough times is to toughen up, take every helping hand that’s offered, and fight your way out,” Myka said. “We either join forces now or end up like Soledad, with empty streets and abandoned homes and schools. The choice is ours.”

“I’m with you, Myka,” a woman’s voice piped in from the right.

More heads nodded, and soon people began asking questions about creating the new business, including Henry Vaughn.

“Joshua Nez is outside, and we need him to fill in the details,” Myka said. “He can guide us as we take those first few steps.”

“So go get him back,” someone called out.

“What if he refuses now, all things considered?” said one of the men in the front row.

“He cares about this town, which is why he came tonight, but if he says no, I can send the police to haul him in for questioning,” Myka said.

Will laughed despite himself, and soft chuckles went around the room as she walked out.

Myka found Joshua sitting on the steps, arms crossed, looking up at the stars.

“Sorry, Myka, but I can’t help you with this. They see me as the punk I was—not the man I’ve become. They’ll second guess everything I say or do.”

“They’re ready to listen now, Joshua. Forget about Will—he’s a jerk. Give the others a chance.”

He stared into the distance for several long moments. “You stuck your neck out by speaking on my behalf tonight. That might come back to haunt you.”

“If it does, I’ll deal with it.”

“If I say yes, what’s going to happen once I leave town? My future lies elsewhere.”

A chill spread all through her. Loss. She’d dealt with that before and had avoided it in any way, shape or form since. Refusing to let him see her insecurity, she smiled and spoke in a steady voice. “By then, hopefully we’ll have things set up and running like a well-oiled machine, but if we don’t, we’ll cope.”

“There’s something I need to know first,” he said. “When things don’t go as planned, even if it’s only a temporary setback, people begin to assign blame. It’s human nature. Are you really ready to face that kind of pressure without letting it eat you up inside?”

“The responsibility for the company will be a shared one, but you’re right, some will automatically look to me. If that happens, I’ll face it squarely, and do what has to be done. Like you, I stand up for myself.”

He nodded.

“I know all about dreams that go south, Joshua. I had a loving husband, a good job and a wonderful home.” She swallowed hard. “When all that ended, I was lost for a long time, but these days I take pride in knowing I can do whatever I have to. Asking for help isn’t easy for me, but this isn’t about me. It’s about a place we all love. If I end up losing it, too, I want to know I had the guts to fight for it.”

“Then I’ll help you. Let’s go back inside and get started.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

F
ORTY
-
FIVE
MINUTES
later the meeting ended, and people began streaming back to their cars. What a crazy thing life was! The same people he’d considered his enemies at one time were now looking to him for answers and advice.

The last to leave, Myka eventually met him on the steps. “We’ve got lots of people ready to jump in. Henry’s getting some of his friends together to decide what wood crafts and toys they could sell. Also, several women will send me photos of their work. Then I’ll decide what can be marketed.”

“The pressure begins. Do you think some will want to sell the equivalent of Evie’s refrigerator art?”

She smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I’ll just have to find a way to play the bad guy.”

“
You
playing the bad guy?” He laughed, but Myka poked him in the ribs.

They were walking toward Joshua’s truck when Will and Betty stepped away from a group of a dozen or so people and approached.

Will glanced at Myka, then cut in front of Joshua and fixed him with an ice-cold glare. “This town may be ready to trust you, but I’ll be watching every step of the way.”

Will turned to Myka, and in a gentler voice, added, “Josh will make a move on you—it’s just a matter of time.”

Myka tensed, not knowing how to respond.

“Okay, that’s it, big brother,” Betty said, grabbing Will’s arm and tugging at it. “Let’s go.”

Will kept his focus on Myka. “Be careful. He’s got time on his hands now, and you’re living right next door.”

Myka watched Will walk away with Betty and Daniel. “I don’t understand why he behaved so badly tonight,” she said. “You seem to bring out the worst in him.”

“In his shoes, I might not act any differently.”

“What do you mean?”

“Will misses his brother, Myka, and seeing you going on with your life is just another reminder that Tanner’s gone for good.”

She took a breath, nodded and climbed into his truck. “You might be right, though I felt like smacking him a couple of times tonight. Accepting that someone’s never coming back is incredibly hard. When Tanner passed away, the reality that he was gone forever almost crushed me. Then one day I realized it had been hours since I’d thought about him. That was the first step of many, but life is like that. No matter how much it hurts, the sun still rises and days go by.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” he said, driving slowly down the street. He’d listened to her carefully, wondering if Myka was still in love with Tanner, but what he’d heard in her voice hadn’t been grief. The wound had healed, but the scar remained.

“Dad has some old snapshots, and your folks are in a lot of them. You and Tanner, too. Why don’t you come over and take the box? I’ve already separated the ones I want. If there are any you’d like to keep, you’re welcome to them.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The drive home didn’t take long, and soon Josh parked in his driveway. As they were approaching his front door, they heard a creaking sound coming from the back of the house.

He stopped in midstride and held her back. “Do you have many break-ins around here?”

“Not at all. Even if you left a door open, which is my guess, no one’s likely to just walk in.”

“I haven’t settled into a routine, so it’s possible I may have left the back door unlocked,” he said slowly. “I’ve done some heavy duty cleaning lately, and I remember propping it open to let the fumes out. Stay here while I go take a look.”

“Wait,” she said, reaching for his arm. “Let me call Will or one of his officers. That’s their job.”

“No, I’ll handle this myself,” he said, and jogged around to the back of the house. Will was the last person he wanted to ask for help. Joshua slipped silently through the open door. As he entered the kitchen, he immediately spotted the intruder and froze. A big mutt was standing on its hind legs reaching for the bag of dog treats on top of the fridge.

As Joshua drew in a breath, he nearly gagged. The massive dog had clearly been sprayed by a skunk.

The mutt grasped the bag in its jaws and calmly turned around to look at Joshua.

This had to be Bear. He was black with an enormous head, floppy ears, and a short wide muzzle. His body was heavy boned and muscular. Myka had mentioned that the dog was big, but this animal was a tank with legs.

“Good boy,” Joshua said calmly, not wanting to alarm such a powerful creature in close quarters. Moving slowly, he reached over and flipped on the overhead light switch.

The dog didn’t move, but it growled, a low, menacing sound that made Joshua’s skin crawl. He remained perfectly still, trying to figure out his next move. Right now, he was between the animal and the door—its only way out. A cornered tank...

Joshua took a slow step to one side, granting it passage, but instead of bolting for the exit, the dog just barked, a sound that was deep and menacing.

A second later Myka appeared. “Bear, you big dummy! You scared me half to death! Where have you been all this time?” Suddenly she gagged and put her hand over her mouth and nose. “Aw, gross! You tried to make friends with the skunk again, didn’t you?”

She crossed the kitchen and grabbed the dog by the collar. “Come on, Bear, we need to get that stink out before you choke us to death.”

The animal’s growling became softer but, if anything, the sound was more menacing than ever. What was worse, he never took his eyes off Joshua.

“We’ve got to get him into the bathtub,” Myka said, but Joshua didn’t move a muscle. “Joshua, move. He needs a bath, and we can’t do it outside. It’s already too cold.”

“He doesn’t want me to move,” Joshua whispered. “Look at him.” No way Myka would be able to hold that beast back if he lunged. He had to come up with a plan.

“Relax. He’s just trying to figure out who you are. Now get moving and find some towels,” Myka said, trying not to choke.

As Joshua stepped aside, Bear growled, but Myka jerked on his collar. “No!”

The dog stopped immediately.

“Meet me in the master bathroom,” Myka told Joshua. “Your dad and I had to do this before. He kept a special skunk descenter in the pantry so get that and some baking soda, too.” She coughed. “Hurry.”

Moments later, he met her in the bathroom. The dog was sitting at one end of the tub as she soaked him all over with the handheld shower wand.

Myka pulled her shirt up to cover her mouth as she lathered Bear with the emzyme shampoo, but the smell seemed to increase the wetter the dog got. Pretty soon, both Myka and Joshua were gagging hard. “Get something to cover our faces. Bandanas, anything,” she managed.

Joshua returned moments later with two dishcloths. He’d tied one around his face, and he started to do the same for her when the dog growled.

“Quiet, you big dummy!” Myka said, and the dog stopped. “Get me some vinegar. The descenter needs a little boost.”

“Don’t have any. I’ve got beer and I’ve got water.”

“Run over to my place—the key’s beneath the planter. Go to the cupboard on the right, beside the kitchen sink, and grab the vinegar. It’s in a big plastic bottle. Then get towels from my hall closet,
lots
of towels. He’s got a short coat, but there’s a lot of dog here.”

“Hadn’t noticed” he said.

* * *

A
LMOST
THIRTY
MINUTES
LATER
they were both soaked to the skin, but the dog had stopped smelling like an exploded septic tank.

They sat in the kitchen, cups of warm coffee in hand, while Bear lay at Myka’s feet, happily snoring away.

“That animal doesn’t trust me,” Joshua said.

“You helped me towel dry him, and he didn’t grumble, so he’s okay with you. Now that he’s had something to smell besides skunk, he understands that you’re a friend.”

“He knows I’m
your
friend, but I don’t think he’s ready to consider me his bud.”

“Now that he’s cleaned up, would you like him to spend the night? Both of you could get to know each other,” she said, and added, “oh—and before I forget, he sleeps on the bed. Adam let him have the left side.”

Seeing Joshua’s eyes widen, she laughed. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She placed her hand on the dog’s back. “Unless you really want Bear, I’d like to take him home.”

“Fine by me.”

“Great. Now help me carry his bed, dishes, and toys over to my place.” She curled her hand around Bear’s collar. “Come on, guy. You’re mine now.”

The dog looked up at her and wagged his tail.

“You’ve got a real way with animals,” Joshua said, walking over to pick up the enormous doggie bed.

“No, I just know this particular dog and I like him a lot.”

Once Bear’s stuff was placed in his new home, Myka immediately reached on top of the cupboard and brought down a stuffed toy squirrel. She tossed it to the dog, who caught the toy in midair, shook it, then brought it back to her.

She played tug of war with Bear, ignoring his growls.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay with him?” Joshua asked.

“Oh, yeah! He’s just playing. Look.” She stopped tugging, looked at the dog and said, “Bear, sit!”

The dog obeyed instantly.

“Your dad trained him.” She hugged Bear, then glanced at Joshua. “Can I borrow some of your aftershave? I’d like to add a nice boy scent to his coat, not just skunk deodorizer.”

“Yeah, but for him, you’re going to need a gallon, not just a splash.”

She laughed. “A few drops will do. I just want something nice smelling in my bedroom.”

That was the last thing Josh should be thinking about, Myka was alluring without even being aware of it.

Bringing those thoughts to a crashing stop, he added, “Tell me something, Myka. Why does this dog mean so much to you? You were really hoping I didn’t want to keep him. Am I wrong?”

“Yes and no,” she said, leaving Bear with his toy and joining Joshua at the kitchen table. “Bear needs someone. The person who was his entire world passed away. I know what that feels like. And, like him, I wanted to run away, too,” she said. “Bear and I are two of a kind. The difference is that he’ll always need someone to look after him, and I learned to take care of myself.”

He glanced down at the dog, who seemed perfectly at peace now. “I’ll go get some aftershave.”

By the time he returned, Myka had offered the dog a bowl of kibble, and the animal had made himself at home. Josh watched as Myka put a few drops of aftershave on her hands, then rubbed Bear’s coat along the flanks.

“Thanks!” she said, returning the bottle to him. “Nice aftershave. I’ve noticed it before—on you. Very masculine.” She reached out and touched his arm, inching closer. “I really appreciate all your help tonight.”

“We make a good team. Remember that car wash back in eighth grade? Raising money for the field trip?” He smiled, recalling the details.

“What I remember was the water fight we had with those garden hoses. We were both sopping wet, and Mr. Kelly drove us home in the back of his pickup. Under that blanket together...”

“We were both too shy to cuddle and stay warm.”

“That was then, this is now.” Myka let go of his arm, then sat on his lap, wrapping both wet sleeves around his neck.

Bear barked and came over, resting his big muzzle on her leg.

“Another chaperone. I can’t get a break,” Joshua moaned, careful not to make any sudden moves.

“Yeah, I’d better get off before he gets possessive,” Myka replied, standing. “Next time, our pal here gets sent outside.”

Joshua gazed through the open doorway into the living room and saw Tanner’s photo on a shelf. Had she placed it there to keep his memory alive, or had it been there for so long she’d stopped seeing it?

“As much as I’d like to stay, I’d better go home,” he said. “I need to do some more research on LLCs and New Mexico regulations before calling it a night.”

“Well, here’s to a great evening.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.

After saying goodbye, Joshua walked home slowly. Maybe Will was right and he should stay away from Myka. Tonight, he’d caught a glimpse of just how vulnerable she really was. In their own ways, they’d each been to hell and back. Yet, at the end, she’d shown they could still have fun together.

Once inside, Joshua checked the back door, wondering how the dog had gotten in. A moment later he had his answer. The mechanism was sticking, probably from accumulated dust, and the bolt had stayed open. Bear could have opened the door with a push from his muzzle or paw.

Josh tracked down some spray silicon below the sink, fed a little into the works, and moved the knob and bolt until it worked smoothly again. Then he locked up.

Crossing the main room, he went to his laptop. His dad’s computer was still sitting on the large wooden desk. He took a deep breath. He might as well start using it. It had a larger display and files that might be important now.

Joshua began going through his dad’s many emails. Most of the ones between Mayor Allen and his dad dealt with restoring rail service to the town. The trains came in via a spur located on land that had once belonged to Silas Brooks. Without proof of ownership—supposedly in Brooks’s missing will—the town hadn’t been able to cut a new right-of-way deal with the railroad. Going through the courts so the county could assume ownership could take forever, so the best solution was for them to find the will.

The mayor and his dad had searched everywhere, including Brooks’s safety deposit boxes, but the document had yet to surface.

Joshua sat back, lost in thought. The company Myka was working to get off the ground would benefit from having rail service. That would really cut shipping costs, particularly on the larger items. It made sense for him to continue his dad’s work and see where it led.

After a moment, Joshua checked his own email account. Most of the messages were spam, but two were from architectural firms he’d applied to. The first was a generic “thank you for your interest” rejection letter from an Albuquerque firm. The second, from a consulting company in Seattle, informed him that the owners had decided to retire and were in the process of closing down for good.