Free Deadly Election (9781101619223) by J. R. Roberts Page B

tell him I said this,” Carla replied, “but he’s doing pretty well.”
    “Yeah?”
    “His answers are pretty good, and that’s even without Will Gryder’s coaching.”
    “Is he tellin’ them all what they wanna hear?” Heck asked.
    “Not exactly,” she said, “but he’s telling them howhe feels, and that seems to be doing the trick. But as we go along, the questions are going to get harder.”
    “He’ll handle it,” Heck said. “That boy can handle anything.”
    After the meeting with the Merchant’s Association, it was time for supper with the next group.
    “Who are these people?” Clint asked.
    “We’re eating with some of the wealthiest couples in Austin,” Gryder said. “By dessert I want you to convince them to contribute.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    Carla and Heck were already in the coach, Heck once again riding shotgun. Clint and Gryder got in the back with Carla.
    “Where to?” the driver asked.
    “Stockman’s Steak House,” Gryder said.
    “Hey, that’s one of the best restaurants in town!” he said.
    “That’s the point,” Gryder said. “Not only the best restaurant in town, but the best steaks.”
    “Well,” Clint said, “that suits me just fine.”
    “Me, too,” Heck agreed.
    When they got to Stockman’s, there was a room in the back of the restaurant reserved for them. They arrived before any of the guests.
    “Clint, these people are very important. You’ll have to pay special attention to them all.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    “The men
and
the women,” Gryder went on.
    “I’ll keep that in mind.”
    The first couple arrived, and Gryder went over to greet them.
    Clint walked over to Carla.
    “Would you do me a favor?”
    “What kind of favor?”
    “Would you stay with me during the meal?”
    “Stay with you?”
    “Yes, sit with me.”
    “But…why?”
    “Because they’re all going to be couples here,” Clint said.
    “Ah, you think they’ll take to you more if you look like a couple, too.”
    “That’s the idea.”
    She shrugged and said, “Well, sure, why not?”
    “Don’t mind me,” Heck said. “I’ll just sit by myself.”
    “I’d get you a girl, Heck, but you have a wife someplace, don’t you?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do. Don’t worry about it, boy. I’ll be keepin’ an eye out for trouble while I work on a big, thick steak.”
    As more couples arrived, Gryder brought them over to meet Clint, who in turn introduced them to Carla. She got into the spirit real quick, and hung on to Clint’s arm until they all sat down to eat.
    The steaks were thick and juicy, the beer was cold, and all the guests were interested in what Clint thought he could do for Texas.
    Once again Carla was surprised at how well Clintfielded questions, and worked on both the husbands and the wives. From the look on Will Gryder’s face, he was pleased, too.
    “And what about you, my dear?” one woman asked Carla.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, when Mr. Adams gets into Congress, will you be right there with him?”
    “I’m sure I will, Mrs. Adcock,” Carla said to the woman. Then she added, “After all, I am his assistant.”
    “Is that all, my dear?” the older woman asked.
    “Angela,” her husband said. “Behave yourself.” The man looked at Carla. “I’m sorry, my wife can sometimes be…incorrigible.”
    Carla simply turned her head, keeping a pleasant look on her face, even though Clint knew that inside she was seething.
    He admired her.

TWENTY-NINE
    After the last of the rich couples had left, Clint turned to Carla and said, “I wouldn’t be friends with any of those people.”
    “Don’t fool yourself,” she replied. “They don’t want to be friends with you either.”
    “Then why were they here?” he asked.
    Will Gryder joined them and said, “They want to be on the winning side.”
    Clint, still seated, looked up at him and said, “You know, I’ve never asked. Who’s my opponent?”
    “The incumbent,” Gryder said.