For Love of Charley by Katherine Allred Page A

lot of plans for this
area. It’s going to involve changes for all of you, but in the long run, we
think it can only help the economy. If there are any questions, I’ll be more
than happy to answer them.”
    Victor Channing leaned back in his chair.
“I believe there are a few, Mr. Jordan. Our streets are just like they have
been for the last hundred years. The traffic flow alone will be horrible. I
don’t think we’re equipped to deal with something like that.”
    Cole gestured toward Kristy and she began
handing out folders. “What you have in front of you is a proposal drawn up by a
city planner who studied Canyon Bend. With the addition of a few traffic lights
and some rerouting, there shouldn’t be a traffic problem.” He paused. “Maybe I
didn’t make myself clear at the beginning of this meeting, and if not, I apologize.”
    His gaze moved to Channing. “I wasn’t
asking your permission to carry out these plans. I’m here merely as a courtesy
to let you know what’s about to happen. How you handle those changes is
strictly up to you.”
    Channing smiled. “Well, now, Mr. Jordan.
You can’t very well carry out your plans if Canyon Bend doesn’t implement these
changes, can you?”
    “Mr. Channing, that won’t even slow me
down. It’s simply a matter of building a relatively short bypass around Canyon
Bend. The land already belongs to me and the county has agreed to maintain the
road if we turn it over to them after it’s built.” He shrugged. “Of course,
that means Canyon Bend won’t receive any of the business we generate, but
that’s your problem, not mine.” Cole almost smiled at the low murmur of
indignation from the merchants in the audience, and began packing up his
equipment. “One last thing. There are several experts here tonight that are
willing to work with you and answer any other questions you might have. They’ve
agreed to stay after the meeting and talk to anyone who’s interested. In two
weeks, if I haven’t heard from you, work will begin on the bypass. Once it’s
started, it won’t be stopped, so I suggest you let me know what you’d like to
do before then. I’m sure you know where to find me.”
    Without another word, he turned down the
center aisle, Kristy following him. As soon as they were outside, Cole stopped.
“Damn. I promised myself I wasn’t going to let Channing get next to me.”
    “I don’t think it was Channing that got
next to you. It was Charley—” She broke off abruptly as the door opened behind
them.
    “Excuse me. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I
just wanted to apologize for Uncle Victor.” Charley’s gaze moved between them.
    Cole deposited his load in the back of
Kristy’s car. “Why? Are you responsible for his attitude?”
    “Of course not. Uncle Victor makes up his
own mind. But I really believe he just wants to protect Canyon Bend, Cole.”
    He closed the car door and faced Charley
again. Frannie had come out and was standing next to her. “Yeah, good old
Victor Channing. Always trying to protect something.” Cole couldn’t keep the
sarcasm out of his voice. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. “Sorry.
That was uncalled for.”
    “I don’t blame you for being upset. I’ll
talk to him again. I’m sure he’ll eventually see how much good this will do the
city.”
    Cole’s jaw clenched. “I don’t need you to
talk to him. As I pointed out before, there’s nothing he can do to stop me. He
may as well find that out now.” He put one hand on Kristy’s arm.
    “Kristy, this is Charley Hart and her
cousin Frannie Hart. This is Kristy McIntire, my executive assistant and
soon-to-be stepsister. You’ll both probably be seeing quite a bit of her when
things get rolling. Kristy is in charge of the Duncan Mills project.”
    “Stepsister?” Frannie was looking at Kristy
with great interest.
    Kristy smiled at her. “Yes, Dad finally got
Maggie Jordan to agree to marry him. Only took him five years,” she