Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066) Read online

  “McBride, Nell McBride.”

  Madison shot an accusatory look at Gage McBride. Of course she’d be related to him. A wry grimace crooked his lips, and he lifted a broad shoulder. She returned her attention to his loud-mouthed relative.

  “Ms. McBride, I’m sorry if Harrison’s unthinking remarks have left you feeling as though you’ve been misled. That was never our intention. We at Hartwell Enterprises take pride in the fact we are the premier developer of destination resorts in North America. And we didn’t earn the designation by operating in anything less than good faith with our communities. There is a very strict protocol that must be adhered to before we can sign off on an offer to purchase and develop. If you allow me to show you, I have parsed the report into more easily understandable terms. I—”

  “Is she saying we’re stupid, Nell?” asked an older man wearing a green plaid shirt, his white hair military short.

  Nell McBride nodded, her candy canes madly swinging. “Yep, I think that’s exactly what she said, Fred.”

  Up and down the rows, angry muttering broke out.

  Alarm flashed through Madison. She’d barely started, and already she was losing them. She held up her hand. “No, that is not what I said. Not at all. I’ve simply parsed the data that is most relevant to your community and concerns.”

  “Go ahead, get on with your parsing business.” Nell McBride waved her fingers at the easels.

  Madison took a calming breath, then set her pointer on the first line of the graph. Her tension eased as she explained the data. She took comfort in the numbers, in the knowledge that at least in this, no one could question her motives. It was based on logic, not emotions. Moving on to the comparative analysis she’d conducted on the town of Christmas, she highlighted the salient points.

  An hour into her presentation, she heard a noise every public speaker dreads—someone was snoring. Loudly. She raised her voice and soldiered on as she’d learned to do in previous presentations when this happened to her. Although it was incomprehensible to Madison, there was always one person in the audience who found the information she imparted somewhat… dry. Then, one after another, the citizens of Christmas joined in a rousing snore fest. Without turning, Madison knew who the ringleader was.

  “Knock it off,” the sheriff ordered in his deep, authoritative voice.

  She looked over to offer her thanks. Her mouth dropped. There was no mistaking the look of a newly awakened man—the red imprint of a hand on the sheriff’s sun-bronzed face, his heavy-lidded eyes. Rising to his feet, he avoided meeting her offended stare. “I said that’s enough.”

  The mayor came up beside Madison, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry about that,” he murmured, then addressed the now-silent audience. “Ms. Lane took time out of her busy schedule to speak with us, and I expect you to be courteous. If she has no objection, we’ll move on to the question segment.” He raised a brow, awaiting her agreement.

  She nodded, wondering if she could ask him to kick Nell McBride and the gruesome twosome out.

  The mayor disengaged the mic and led her to the empty chair beside him. She sat down with a sigh of relief, then Nell McBride stood up. Madison groaned.

  “I saw you nodding off, Ethan O’Connor, so get down off your high horse, sonny.”

  Madison narrowed her gaze on the mayor who shifted self-consciously in his chair. He cleared his throat. “You have a question, Nell?”

  “Sure she does. Give her hell, Nellie,” the old guy on Nell McBride’s right said, then Fred or Ted or whoever the hell he was added his two cents. “Yeah, give the city slicker the what-for, Nell.”

  The head elf nodded to her posse before narrowing her shrewd gaze on Madison. “You and I both know the only reason you’re here is to do damage control. You don’t give a Sam Hill about our town, but you do care about your company’s reputation.”

  Madison was not about to let this woman ride roughshod over her. “Ms. McBride, Hartwell Enterprises has an exemplary reputation, and that piece of sensationalism the Times printed will soon be yesterday’s news. Both parties had until November 24 to withdraw their offers, and after careful consideration, unfortunately we had to withdraw ours.”

  When Nell McBride opened her mouth to object, Madison quickly held up a hand. It was time for a change in tactics. “Have any of you considered what a development of this size will do to your community?”

  “Yeah, our kids won’t have to move away to get jobs,” a man yelled from the back row. Several people echoed their agreement.

  “I can’t deny that, but are you willing to pay the price? I haven’t had the opportunity to spend any time here, but it’s obviously a beautiful town, quiet and family oriented. If the project we’d envisioned had passed, that would no longer be the case. A resort of the size we planned would attract upwards of three million visitors a year.” Hartwell needed the resort to draw at least three million visitors a year to be viable, and given the town’s out-of-the-way location, it wouldn’t have. “Your crime rate would increase exponentially. I noticed your lovely shops on Main Street, and while initially you would see your business increase, have you thought of what will happen when the competition moves into town?

  “And believe me, it will. Noise levels, traffic levels will all increase. Christmas as you know it will no longer exist.” The audience fell into a contemplative silence. Several people nodded at their neighbors. Finally, she’d gotten through to them.

  “Christmas isn’t going to exist at all,” Nell McBride said, “if our young people move out of town and the folks with businesses have no one to sell their goods to, now is it? Tell Joe Hartwell to give us an extension. Give us another few weeks to come up with a solution to the problems you were going on about.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. McBride, that’s impossible. Perhaps if there was a chance the state would approve the proposed bypass, we may, and I stress may, reconsider our stance.”

  “We have faith in our mayor. If you give him some time, he’ll get the state to come around on the bypass. Harrison Hartwell saw the potential in our little town. When he was here, he said we were going to be the jewel in the Hartwell crown. Since you’re the one who wrote the report that put the nail in our coffin, you owe us the opportunity to show you what we have to offer. Spend a few days here, and you’ll see what your boss saw in our town.”

  “Harrison is not my boss, Ms. McBride. I’m his,” Madison said, forcing her lips to curve. “As for Mr. O’Connor making headway on the bypass, I’m sorry to say I don’t share your optimism. Not in this economy. And I’m afraid a few days in Christmas is unlikely to affect my decision.”

  The older woman’s chin jutted out. “Then stay longer.”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t. I have a meeting scheduled first thing Monday morning.”

  “Have another town to kill, do you?”

  Madison’s fingers tightened painfully around the microphone. “That’s actually not part of my job description, Ms. McBride, but I do have a job to do. You can believe it or not, but I’m sorry that in this particular instance, it resulted in us not going ahead with the project.”

  A man stood up at the back of the room. With his snow-white hair and beard, he looked like Santa Claus. Except he wasn’t dressed in red, he was dressed in furs. “Name’s Coulter Dane. Just wanted to be sure you people no longer hold an option on my land.”

  Madison recognized the name. One of the Danes had approached Harrison with the deal. The family owned the majority of the property Hartwell had been going to purchase.

  “No we don’t, Mr. Dane. You should be receiving a letter from our lawyers any day now to that effect. I’ll reconfirm when and how it’s being sent and get that information to you first thing tomorrow.”

  “That’ll be fine. I was just confused seeing as how Harrison Hartwell called me up this morning to tell me I’d be receiving a check for the agreed-upon amount within a week or so.”

  Unable to conceal her shock, Madison’s mouth dropped ope
n. What the hell was Harrison up to? The way he was undermining her, it was no wonder these people thought they had a chance of reopening negotiations.

  “I’m terribly sorry for the confusion, Mr. Dane, but I have not authorized a check for the purchase of your property, nor will I be.” Thank God the fact a big fat check wasn’t coming his way didn’t seem to bother the man. If anything, he looked relieved.

  Everyone turned as a lanky, twenty-something kid burst into the hall. “Hey, did you hear? The reporters are saying the lady from New York ran over Santa.”

  The crowd gaped at Madison with accusing eyes. Half the front row rose angrily to their feet, Nell McBride among them. “So killing Christmas wasn’t enough for you. You had to go and kill Santa, too,” she shouted.

  Madison’s frustration got the better of her, and she snapped, “For God’s sake, it’s a stupid sign, and I didn’t run over it on purpose. I hit Santa when I swerved to miss Rudolph.”

  “Stupid? Who do you think you are calling my sign stupid?” Nell McBride barked.

  All at once, people began to shout their derogatory opinions of Madison and Hartwell Enterprises. Chairs toppled to the floor as the angry residents of Christmas jumped to their feet.

  Sheriff McBride strode to the front of the room. His eyes meeting hers, he gave a disappointed shake of his head before turning on the angry mob. “Settle down!”

  He actually thought this was her fault? Okay, she’d had enough. Thanks to his relative and Harrison’s meddling, there was nothing Madison could say that would change their minds. Retrieving her coat and bags, she pushed back her chair and came to her feet.

  “Were not finished here. You—” Nell McBride began before the sheriff cut her off.

  “It’s over, Nell. Let’s go.” Once he’d ushered the furious citizens of Christmas to the doors, the sheriff made his way back to her. He handed her a set of keys. “The body shop couldn’t have your vehicle repaired before tomorrow. Someone will return it to the rental company for you. They got you a replacement. It’s the black SUV parked at the back of the building.” He lifted his chin to the door behind them. “I’ll go out front and tell them she’s in a meeting with you, Ethan. That’ll give her time to get away before they realize she’s gone. Ms. Lane, it’s been… interesting. Just do me a favor and try not to hit anything on your way out of Christmas.”

  Smartass. She plastered a fake smile on her face. “As long as you don’t have any elves jumping out of the woods waving good-bye signs, I should be good.”

  Just when she thought she couldn’t wait to see the last of his too-gorgeous face, he flashed a sexy grin and winked. Then, with a nod to the mayor, he strode from the hall, closing the doors behind him.

  Mayor O’Connor’s cell rang as she said good-bye to him at the back door. “I’m fine. Take your call,” she said, heading to the SUV.

  He scanned the lot that was empty save for the two unoccupied vehicles beside hers, then nodded, answering his cell. Lifting his hand in farewell, he closed the door.

  Madison caught a flash of color to her left as she slid behind the wheel of the SUV. Concerned she might be risking life and limb by sticking around, she turned the key in the ignition. Her cell rang. She was tempted to let it go to voice mail until she saw who it was.

  “Madison, how did the meeting go?”

  Her hands strangled the wheel. “No thanks to you, I got out of there alive. What were you thinking, Harrison? You had those people convinced there was actually a possibility this deal could be pushed through.” At the sound of voices coming from the side of the building, Madison did a quick shoulder check, about to pull out.

  “As far as I’m concerned, you’re being overly cautious, and I feel a full review is in order before we let go of this property.”

  “You are not in a position to demand a review. But I am in a position to demand you write a letter of apology to this town and explain to them you were not authorized to make the promises that you did,” she said, as she backed up.

  A loud bang, then another, rocked the SUV. She slammed on the brakes, jerking her gaze to the rearview mirror. Ted and Fred pointed at her, shouting, “You killed Nell!”

  “Oh, God, no… no,” Madison cried. Heart in her throat, she jammed the gear into Park, then fought with the door handle. Her hand shook so badly she couldn’t get it open.

  “What was that?”

  “Shut up, just shut up. This is all your fault,” she yelled over the loud buzzing in her head. Using both hands, she managed to open the door and stumble from the SUV. The two older men were yelling at her as a crowd began to form, but all she could see was Nell McBride, her earrings flashing, stretched out on the snow-covered ground with her eyes closed, hands neatly folded on her chest.

  Chapter Four

  Gage scanned the thinning crowd outside the town hall for his aunt, half-expecting to find her lined up with the two dozen citizens of Christmas waiting to give the reporters their next sound bite. At that moment, Brandi, Holly, and Hailey were giving them both an eyeful and an earful.

  He winced. If Ms. Lane thought the press had done a number on her reputation before, he wouldn’t want to be around when she caught the late-night news. She didn’t deserve what they were saying about her. She’d just been doing her job. And if today was any indication, she was damn good at it. Her presentation could have used a little work, though. She’d practically put him to sleep. He gave his head an amused shake. He couldn’t recall ever meeting a woman that enthralled with numbers.

  A rap on the glass doors behind him drew his attention. Ethan motioned him inside.

  Gage radioed his deputies who were across the street directing traffic. “Keep ’em moving. I need a word with the mayor.”

  “That’s one experience I’d rather not repeat,” Ethan said, once Gage joined him inside.

  “You and me both.” He glanced at the hall’s closed doors. “She get away okay?”

  “Yeah, but don’t worry, I’ve got her contact information.” Ethan grinned, fishing a business card from the inside pocket of his jacket.

  Gage frowned. “What would I want that for?”

  Flipping the cream-colored card between his fingers, Ethan shrugged. “If you’re not interested, I think I’ll—”

  “Give it to me.” Gage took the card. “I’ll have to get in touch with her about her insurance,” he said in an attempt to wipe the knowing smile from his friend’s face.

  “Sure you do.” Ethan laughed, then nodded at the reporters. “I doubt this was the publicity Hartwell had in mind when he sent Ms. Lane here.”

  Absently, Gage rubbed his thumb over the gold-embossed lettering. “I should have… What now?” he muttered as the crowd stampeded past the doors with the reporters in hot pursuit.

  His radio crackled to life. “Sheriff… Sheriff McBride, ah, we have a problem.”

  “What the hell’s going on, Ray?” He tried to make himself heard over the shouting in the background. “I can’t hear shit.” He took off after the crowd with Ethan on his heels. As Gage closed in on them, his heart about stopped. Once again, he pushed through an angry mob calling for Madison Lane’s head.

  “Everyone back off. Give me some room.” Over the heads of the crowd, he spotted his aunt and Ms. Lane lying on the ground. Ray was kneeling between them.

  “Holy shit,” Ethan groaned behind him.

  He got that right. Gage shut down his emotions as he made his way toward them.

  “They’re alive, Sheriff. Nell’s unconscious. Ms. Lane fainted, but she seems to be coming around,” Ray quickly reassured him.

  “No thanks to that there city slicker. She ran over Nell on purpose. Arrest her!” Fred demanded, firing up the crowd.

  “Quiet!” Gage ordered as he took in his aunt’s unnaturally peaceful pose and Ms. Lane, who pushed herself into a sitting position. “You call for the ambulance?” Gage nudged Ray out of the way, taking his place between his aunt and Ms. Lane.

  His deputy came to hi
s feet. “Yep, they’re on their way.”

  “Don’t try to stand up just yet,” Gage said to Ms. Lane. He crouched beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder as his gaze swept over his aunt, whose eyeballs jittered behind her lids. He quickly reviewed the scene and came to the conclusion… it was a setup. He drilled a hard look at Fred and Ted.

  “Hey, it wasn’t us. It was her.” They pointed at Ms. Lane, who took one look at Nell and appeared ready to faint, again. Gage wrapped an arm around her, drawing her to his side.

  “Ray, start taking witness statements. Ethan, Jill, clear the perimeter for the ambulance. You okay?” he asked Ms. Lane before withdrawing his arm. She nodded. He leaned over to check Nell’s pulse, strong and steady, then began to examine her for broken bones.

  “What the Sam Hill do you think you’re doing, Gage McBride?” His aunt slapped his hands away. Then, as though realizing she didn’t sound like she was at death’s door, she brought a hand to her brow and moaned. “What happened? Where am I?”

  Ms. Lane clutched his arm. “She’s alive. Oh, thank God, she’s alive.”

  “Oh, yeah, she’s alive, all right,” he muttered with a frustrated shake of his head.

  Nell lowered her hand from her brow, clear blue eyes narrowing on Gage before she said, “No thanks to you, girlie. Where’s your cuffs, Gage? Read her her rights and throw her in jail. She tried to kill me.”

  Ms. Lane’s panicked gaze shot from him to his aunt. “No… no, you have to believe me. I didn’t mean to hit you. I didn’t see you.”

  Gage gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “Calm down. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” He brought his mouth to his aunt’s ear. “You better think this through before you take it too far. She damn well didn’t hit you on purpose if she hit you at all.”

  Nell snapped her eyes closed, letting loose a pitiful moan.

  Ms. Lane buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “Don’t say another word,” Gage warned as Rick Dane, owner of the town’s newspaper, managed to evade Jill before Ethan corralled him.