"No," I assured him. "We have a lot to do, Luke. This place isn't ready for a busload of kids. Until we can pass a state inspection, we can't do anything."
"Which means the cabins," Luke said.
"And a plan," I reminded him. "Luke, I need teachers, food service, and so much more. When Gran ran this place, the camp was always jumping. Cleaning services, regular inspections by social services, and more. Never mind that we'll have a range of ages, so that makes it even harder."
"How did school work when you were here, Cy?" Luke asked. "One teacher per grade, or what?"
"Three teachers," he clarified. "They each taught two classes for multiple grades. I'd say there were about five of us per grade, and we were all high school age."
"Or middle school," I reminded him. "We had a few eighth graders, but they had one teacher for anything under high school. Similar to a one-room schoolhouse idea."
"Huh," Luke said, nodding to show he was thinking about that. "What if we asked some teachers how to set it up better?"
"Do you know any?" I asked, because I sure didn't.
"I know how to use the internet," he assured me. "And no, not just for porn. I'm just thinking that the fewer employees this place has, the more money can be put into the kids. And I'm really hoping that Faith can go to school here."
"With the criminals?" I asked.
He chuckled. "Yeah, something like that." Then he paused again. "Huh. What if we offer a for-pay service as well? Parents who want another school could be charged to send their kids here. No bus service. No extras, but they could be dropped off and picked up."
"That's not a bad idea," Cy agreed. "Especially with what we're looking at with Faith?"
"But no one would want to," I reminded them. "Criminals, remember? Just look at how this whole town thinks about this place!"
"Which is Paul Simmons' goal," Cy reminded us. "That man wants to destroy Southwind."
"Why?" I asked. "I mean, I get that Gran not letting his son work off his problems here is annoying, but this long after?"
"Because it closed," Luke said, "and he was so sure he'd won. Vi, Mr. Simmons' problem isn't what you're doing. It's thatyou'redoing it. You, a strong woman who makes him look pathetic. All he can see is his power slipping away, and he lives to be the big man in town. The fact that buying this place would be easy for him, and then he could turn around, sell it as ranchettes, and triple his investment?"
I could feel my teeth grinding at that idea. "I'll let the place sit fallow before that happens."
"Then tell him that," Luke said. "He keeps thinking that if Southwind fails, he wins. You need to make it clear to him that if Southwind fails, then you still aren't going anywhere. Make it clear that the harder he bullies you, the more stubborn you'll get. Lift your chin the way you do, stop hiding here at the big house on the hill, and insinuate yourself in town."
I pushed out a breath, because I knew he was right. "I've been going to church with you, isn't that enough?"
"Not by a longshot," Luke assured me. "People hang out at the grill. They have book clubs and wine nights. They do play dates with the kids. You? You sweep through a room, making it clear that you're untouchable, and people believe you."
"They need to relate to us," Cy realized. "Right now, it's big city against the country life they know."
"So, I need to go back to the grill?" I asked. "Because, in case you forgot, that's where you got your ass beat, Luke."
"Violet, not even the assholes around here will hit a girl. If they try, another asshole will step up. It's one of the rules of being a country man. We pray to God and take care of women. Or at least we like to think we do."
I just pointed at Cy. "Which means he can't go."
"Wouldn't recommend it," Luke admitted. "Cy's out to the whole town now. After David's sermon, that's gonna be some good gossip. But Cessily needs to talk to Officer Dan, and you both are cute. So go tell her to get on that. I also need to know who I'm taking Faith to for some counseling."
"She talked to me about that," Cy broke in. "I called the people on the list and picked one. Told him she might become a regular client if this works out. He said he'll fit her into the schedule as soon as he can, and every week after that if you buy the month up front."
Luke grunted. "How expensive is that? Cess says it has to come out of my account."
"The block gets you a discount," Cy assured him. "All month for seven-fifty."
"Ouch," Luke breathed. "Yeah, I'll do it, but damn, that's gonna hurt after a while."
"You're fine," I assured him. "We can cover everything else. Just know that if Meredith wins, though, your child support will go up."
