Summer Days (Fool's Gold #7)(23)

He turned to walk back to the lumber supply yard when an older woman came toward him. She was well dressed, wearing a dark blue suit and pearls. Her white hair was carefully styled in that poufy bubble old ladies seemed to like.

When she smiled at him, he came to a stop.

“Rafe Stryker.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m Mayor Marsha Tilson.”

The combination of her name and the steady gaze of her blue eyes triggered a memory. Rafe frowned. “You’re the lady who gave me the bike.” She was also part of the group that had regularly delivered food and clothing to his mother, but as a kid, the bike had been more significant.

Her smile widened. “Yes. I’m delighted you remember.”

“You were kind to us. Thank you.”

The words were tough to get out. Even after all this time, he didn’t like to recall the past—when he’d gone hungry and his mother had cried all the time.

“You were an impressive little boy,” the mayor told him. “So determined to take care of your family. So proud. You made sure your brothers and sister didn’t have to worry.”

He cleared his throat, not sure how to respond to her statements. “I did what had to be done.”

“You were nine or ten. Far too young to be shouldering life’s responsibilities. Now, I understand, you’re a successful businessman.”

He nodded.

“Fool’s Gold needs men like you.”

“I’m not here to stay. I’m helping out my mother.”

The mayor’s eyes twinkled. “Maybe we can change your mind. We have a very progressive business climate here. In fact, there’s a new casino and hotel going in right outside of town. The Lucky Lady.”

That caught his attention. “I hadn’t heard.”

“You should take a look at what they’re doing. The developer is Janack Construction.”

“I’ve heard of them,” Rafe admitted. Janack was multinational. They took on massive projects, like suspension bridges in developing countries and high-rises in China. If they were building something here, it was significant.

“I appreciate the information,” he told her.

“You could fit right in here, Rafe.”

Unlikely, but rather than say that, he wished her a good day and hurried to the lumber store.

He stepped around the side of the building and pulled out his phone. He dialed a familiar number.

“Jefferson,” his friend Dante barked.

“Having a bad day?”

“Rafe.” Dante chuckled. “No. I was expecting another lawyer to be calling me. You know, it’s all about attitude. What’s going on? Convince your mother to come back to life in the big city?”

“Like that’s going to happen.”

“She’s a determined woman.”

“Tell me about it. And while you’re at it, tell me what you know about a hotel casino project called the Lucky Lady.”

He waited while Dante typed on his computer. There was a second of silence, followed by a low whistle. “Impressive.” He read off the statistics, how many rooms, number of acres, the approximate cost of the project. “Janack Construction has this sewn up. We can’t get in on it.”

“We don’t have to.” He thought about his mother’s

ranch and the thousands of acres with nothing on them. “Maybe my time here isn’t a complete waste. That hotel and casino is going to need employees. There can’t be enough housing in Fool’s Gold, which means a potential opportunity for us.”

“I’ll put somebody on the preliminaries,” Dante told him. “Find out zoning restrictions, if anyone else has been getting permits, that sort of thing. You know.…” Dante paused. “You could use this to help with the judge.”

“How?”

“Your mom wants you to fix up the ranch. I say go for it. Putting money into the house and the land might give you a stronger case. Even if the judge rules against you, you can appeal. With that casino and hotel going in, you’ve got even more reason you want to win.”

Potentially several million in profit, Rafe thought. Money always worked for him.

“If you get involved in the community, you’ll look good to the judge,” Rafe added.

“I’m not getting involved.”

“It wouldn’t kill you.”

“It might,” Rafe said. “We have to win this case, Dante. I’m not going to be defeated by a woman who raises goats.”

“She’s pretty enough.”

“I’m unmoved.”

“Maybe I’m moved enough for both of us.”

Rafe laughed. “She’s not your type.”

Dante preferred his women well dressed, sophisticated and easy. Heidi might have a string of excellent qualities, but none of them matched Dante’s interests.

“Keeping her for yourself?” his friend asked. “Should I be worried?”

“That I’m going to fall for goat girl and go soft?”

“Okay. When you put it like that… I’ll get you a report on the potential for your mom’s land by the end of the day.”

“Thanks.”

Rafe hung up and went inside the lumber store. He was approached by an old guy wearing an apron and a name tag that said Frank.