Chapter 13

If his wife hadn’t been involved in the scene, Chase probably would have found it as humorous as the other bystanders.  Tori, however, was in the middle of everything and therefore, Chase felt a wave of heat wash across his face as he took in the scene before him.

The old court house, considered an eyesore by some, a historic landmark by others, was slated to be bulldozed.  The demolition crew was there, standing at the ready, and a small group of protestors, mostly all older women, were standing in front of the building as human shields.  The sheriff was there, the mayor was there and everyone else who lived and worked in the few blocks of downtown where there, watching.

Chase’s truck was parked smack-dab in the middle of it all, blocking the heavy construction machinery.  Tori was standing in the bed of the truck, her eyes blazing with cold blue fury and not about to budge.

“Come on down from there, little lady,” Sheriff Anderson was saying.  He was an older, calm gentleman with gray hair and a tan uniform.  He always wore his Stetson on his head and he rarely lost his cool.  Unfortunately, Chase had a feeling that today, after dealing with Tori, Sheriff Anderson may do just that.  “I don’t want to have to arrest you.”

“Arrest me, sheriff,” Tori declared.  “I’m not afraid.  But who you really should be arresting is that slimy developer over there who’s willing to tear down a piece of your town’s history for the all-mighty dollar!”

The old ladies behind Tori cheered and a few on-lookers nodded in agreement.  Chase groaned in agony.

Sheriff Anderson pulled out his handcuffs and held them up for Tori to see.

“All right, then, young lady.  If that’s how you want it…”  Sheriff Anderson started toward Tori and Chase immediately stepped in.

“Now hold on, sheriff,” Chase announced and he could feel everyone’s eyes upon him.  He was well known in this county and he’d be even better known after today’s fiasco.  “Can’t you all work out some sort of agreement over this?  I mean, it’s just a couple of old ladies and one…hell-cat in a truck.”  Chase glared at Tori.  “My truck, I should add.”

“Hell, McNamara,” came a voice from the left.  Johnny Haskins, local realtor and developer approached.  He was wearing a three-piece suit, he always wore a 3-piece suit, and his balding head was reddening from the sun and no doubt from the hassle of the small protest.  “Don’t tell me that little gal there stole your truck?”

“Nope, I gave it to her,” Chase admitted and when both the sheriff and Johnny Haskins gaped at him, he added quietly, “This here’s my new wife, gentlemen.”

The men laughed and when word spread around the by-standers that the fiery little blonde in the bed of the truck was Chase McNamara’s new wife, a few snickers ensued.

“Well, then get her down from there,” Johnny insisted, “so I can go about the business of tearing this building down.  I have plans for an apartment building here.”

“Apartments?” Tori screeched.  “You dare destroy the history and culture of this town for apartments?  You, sir, should be the one arrested for such an atrocity, not me!”

“Tori,” Chase warned lowly.  “Why don’t you come down from there and we’ll all discuss this rationally.

“No,” Tori replied and the men next to Chase gaped at him again.

“Can’t control your woman, McNamara?” the sheriff asked and Chase glared at him.

“Could you control her?” Chase countered and the sheriff appeared contrite.

“Nobody controls me, gentlemen!” Tori retorted.  “And it’s entirely within my rights to protest.  If either one of you lays a finger on me, I’ll have lawyers all over this town.  And the media…I do know a reporter or two from Dallas.”

“Would she do that?” Johnny inquired of Chase.

Slowly Chase nodded.  Indeed, his new wife would do just about anything to make her point.

“Look, I still think everyone should sit down and talk about this before…”  Chase glanced around, it was already out of control, but he said, “before this gets out of control,” just the same.

“What’s there to talk about?  I own this here property fair and square and no…biddies with blue hair and one mouthy little girl is gonna stop me from doin’ what I want to do with it,” Johnny declared.

Chase sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair.  He replaced his hat and then heard Tori announce, “I’ll buy it from you.”

**

If Chase was steamed he was doing a good job of hiding it from the small group that had gathered in the realtor’s office.  Tori did notice, however, a narrowing of his dark eyes that proved to her he was somewhat angry over her handling of the protest situation.  Just how angry, though, she didn’t know.

But she was in the right.  No developer had the right to tear down history.  History had to be preserved and as she had been standing in the back of that truck, blocking the bulldozer, an idea about how to use that building smacked her in the face.

The only trouble was…would Chase buy her new idea?

“So, you’re willing to buy that building from me, Mrs. McNamara?” the realtor and devil-developer, Johnny Haskins, asked.

“It’s Ms. Ambrose, and yes, I will,” Tori stated with her chin held up high as a sign of defiance.

Chase grimaced slightly, but said nothing.  He just kept standing behind everyone, elbow cocked up on the file cabinet and hand twirling his cowboy hat in a show of…of what?  Nervousness, anger, pride?  Tori wasn’t sure, but she was certain she’d hear about it as soon as they were alone.

“Sure, you could buy it for the assessed value, Ms. Ambrose,” the realtor said, slightly mocking as he stated her name.  “But what about all that money I would lose on profits and future sales?  I can’t just forget about that.”

“Then I’ll give you triple what its worth,” Tori announced and Chase suddenly snorted in frustration and walked forward.

“Now Tori, that’s no way to do a business deal,” Chase insisted.  “You don’t offer that much unless you know for certain just how much that is.  And darlin’, you don’t even know how much that pile of collapsing rubble is worth.”

“It’s not collapsing ruble, Chase,” Tori argued.  “The local historic society said with some minor repairs, that building could be operational again.”

“Our local historic society,” Johnny piped up sarcastically, “is nothing but a handful of old widows with nothin’ better to do than make the rest of us uncomfortable with their nagging and protesting.  And as for those minor repairs, little girl, you’re looking at an almost complete restoration.  It’ll cost you a pretty penny to restore that and I doubt your husband will dole out that kind of money when it won’t yield any sort of equitable return.”

The realtor was just oozing with patronization, as if Tori were just a child who knew nothing of the world.  She understood something about profit and capitalism, but she wasn’t interested in that, she was only interested in doing something helpful.

“I have my own money, sir,” Tori snapped.  “And the amount of restoration shouldn’t matter when you’re talking history.  And as for turning a profit, I have no intentions of turning that building into a profit-making venture.  Rather, I’m going to turn it into a charity.  A charity for teen mothers and victims of domestic abuse.”

The room went utterly silent and Tori looked around her.  Chase too was silent, but he was no longer looking at her with narrowed eyes, rather there was a small hint of surprised pride there.

“That’s what you want to do, honey?” Chase slowly asked.

Tori nodded.  “I got the idea when we visited Paula’s office.  Remember she said she wanted to expand but there wasn’t money?  Well, now she can.  She can expand out here and this will be a safe place for women to come, away from the city, to be cared for.  Just think how well this could work.”

Chase smiled lovingly at her.  He touched her face and Tori beamed.  He was proud, she had finally done something he liked.

“I’m glad you’re being so thoughtful, Tori,” he said.  “And I think Paula would love your idea.  My only hesitation is this town.  Trying to get that approved…”  He shook his head.  “It just wouldn’t work.”

“I could try,” she said.  “I never give up until all options are exhausted.  And even then…”

“Yes, even then you drive my pick-up in front of a bulldozer,” he quipped lightly.  Then he dropped his hand, straightened and announced to the room, “Okay, Haskins, what will it take for you to hand over that property?”

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Reluctant Bride – Chapter 14 (coming soon)