“So, Razzle. Where'd that name come from?”
“A book at daycare. The boy had a dog called Razzle Dazzle, and I like it.”
“No other explanation needed then. Razzle is the perfect name, and you can call him Razz on the day's he's annoying you.”
Billy laughed, more a snuffle, as it was muffled by his hand.
“You meant to be in there doing something?”
“Drawing and stuff, and Aunty Milly says if I behave she's buying me a treat on the way home.”
“Aunt Milly?”
“I think Uncle Ethan calls her Militant,” Billy said slowly, his eyes serious. “But she's real nice to me.”
“Of course she is, because let's face it, you're a suck-up, and a good one. So pretty much everyone loves you.”
Billy snuffled again.
“I probably shouldn't have said suck-up, so let's keep that between us, okay.”
“’Kay.”
Aunty Milly? Brad couldn't wait to tell Ethan that one, and maybe pass on to his big brother that the boy seemed to like the town grouch, so maybe pull back on the insults when he was in hearing range.
“Okay, buddy, time for you to haul a—butt back in there, and no listening at the door, okay?”
“’Kay.”
Newman arrived looking nothing like the man Brad knew. Gone was the messy hair and old clothes, replaced by chinos, a dress shirt, and loafers. He looked smooth and controlled, and just what was needed to calm the people who were buzzing with the news of what was proposed for the Buchanan land.
“If I could have your attention, please.”
Soon Cubby had everyone settled down to listen.
“I'm sure the town grapevine has been working, and you all know why we're here, and what's at stake, so I'll hand this over to Newman now to outline what we know, which isn't much at this early stage, but we're working on it.”
Brad listened as Newman spoke, then Annabelle. They explained about what was proposed, and that they were unsure as yet what the will of the late Mr. Buchanan stated, but if it did not request the land be used for a reserve, the bottom line was likely the Falkirk Consortium could win this fight and end up doing whatever the hell they wanted.
People asked questions, and the discussion continued in a surprisingly orderly fashion.
“It’s my understanding this entire thing is spearheaded by the father of Ethan and Brad Gelderman, and that he’s a Texan billionaire.”
Brad straightened from his slouch to see who’d said that, and found a man he didn’t recognize. Finding Ethan seated beside Jake, he met his eyes briefly, and his brother shrugged, indicating he didn’t know the man’s identity either. They’d known this would get out, now he guessed they would see how the town would react.
“Yes. EG Gelderman is the head of the Falkirk Consortium,” Newman said.
“How do we know they’re not involved in this? How do we know they didn’t lead him here?”
Cubby grabbed Annabelle as she lunged at the microphone, anchoring her in place at his side with an arm around her waist.
“Not sure why they would, seeing as one of them has made his home here. Seems you have a lot of information, sir. Care to tell us how you came by it?” Newman’s voice was calm and even.
“It’s not important how I came by it, only that I did.”
Brad had wondered if his father would find out about this meeting and send in people to stir up some trouble. Seems he had and did.
“Will you give us your name, sir? Being raised here among these fine people, I know most faces, but yours eludes me.”
