Free For Love of Charley by Katherine Allred Page B

around
relieved him of his burden, and Charley recognized them as members of the
Merchants Association. As they moved toward the front of the room, she turned
back to her uncle. “Listen, Uncle Vic. I wanted to talk you before the meeting
started.” She glanced at Douglas and lowered her voice. “I know you didn’t much
care for Cole when he was younger, but please give him a chance. Not only is he
my partner, he’s going to do a lot for this town if you’ll let him.”
    “Why, sweetie, I don’t know where you got
the idea that I didn’t like the boy. It wasn’t his fault that his family didn’t
have any money. You don’t really think I’d hold something like that against
him, now do you?”
    Charley smiled at him. “Of course not.
You’re one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”
    “Thanks, darlin’. But I have to tell you,
as a member of the City Council, it’s my duty to do what I think is best for
the city. I don’t know if what Cole Jordan has planned will help us or hurt us,
yet. If I think it will hurt us, I can’t, in good conscience, go along with
it.”
    “All I want is for you to listen, Uncle
Vic.”
    “That I can do,” he said, smiling. “As a
matter of fact, I think I’ll have a chat with the boy before the meeting
starts. Why don’t you find a seat before the place fills up?”
    Charley found several empty chairs on the
second row and chose one that would give her an unimpeded view of the front of
the room. Twisting a little on her seat, she watched her uncle approach Cole.
    “Channing. Douglas.” Cole gave a curt nod
as the men stopped in front of him. He saw Channing’s gray eyes sweep over him
assessingly.
    “Jordan. Didn’t expect to see you around
these parts again.”
    Cole gave him a sarcastic grin. “Well, you
know what they say about bad pennies.” Most of the crowd had wandered into the
main meeting room, leaving them relatively alone in the entry. Over Channing’s
shoulder, Cole saw Charley watching.
    “I know what they say about cats, too. Just
because they’re born in an oven doesn’t make them biscuits.” Channing’s face
never changed expression, but his voice dropped. “Looks like you’re doing good
these days, Jordan. I hear you own half my niece’s business. Not much I can do
about that now, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high about the rest of these
plans you’ve come up with. This town doesn’t need your money. And if you’ve got
any ideas about my niece, you can forget those, too. You weren’t good enough
for Charley ten years ago, and you still aren’t. Trash is always trash, even if
you dress it up in expensive clothes.”
    Anger washed over Cole in a heated wave
even though he’d been braced for something just like this. But he hadn’t gotten
rich by letting his emotions get away from him. The smile remained. “I think
you’ve forgotten one important thing, Channing. I’m not twenty-one anymore, and
I don’t threaten easily. Why don’t you do both of us a favor and save it for
the meeting? There may even be a few people who actually care what you have to
say.” He stepped around Channing and walked to the front of the room, taking a
seat on the first row near the projector, on the other side of the room from
Charley. Most of the crowd had started to settle, and he glanced at his watch
just as Kristy rushed in and plopped into the seat beside him.
    “Sorry. Am I late? They had problems with
the copy machine, but I finally got them.” She deposited several boxes on the
floor in front of them.
    “You’re in time. I think it will be a few
minutes yet.” He leaned toward her. “The tall guy in the dark blue suit is
Victor Channing. We had a minor run-in a few minutes ago.”
    Kristy casually glanced around. “I see him.
Who’s the big guy with him?”
    “That’s Douglas Ashton. He’s Victor’s
personal assistant. I was about sixteen when Douglas started working for him.”
    “Do you think the rest of the council