Please Don't Feed the Mayor Page 10

  As he and Melanie got to the end of the street, Bryce grinned.

  “Don’t look now,” he said. “But I think we’ve attracted an audience.”

  Melanie took a discreet glance over her shoulder. The raggedy children who’d been following them began to disperse, looking around in an exaggerated parody of hide-and-seek.

  “Poor things,” she whispered. “Not much to do around here. We’re probably the most exciting thing they’ve seen in a while.”

  “Well, in that case,” Bryce said, “I think the least we can do is give them a show.”

  He reached into his pockets and pulled out a few quarters.

  “Mel,” he said loudly. “I think you’ve got something in your ear.”

  “I do?” she said, batting at her face.

  He frowned and gave her a meaningful look.

  “Oh,” she whispered. “I get it.”

  Melanie gave an enthusiastic nod.

  “Yes! I think you’re right! What could it be?”

  “Here,” he said. “Let me take a look.”

  One of the bolder urchins inched forward as Bryce stretched out his hand and cupped it behind Melanie’s ear.

  “Why, look at this,” he said, holding up a shiny new quarter.

  “My goodness,” Melanie enthused as he handed her the coin. “I had no idea that was there. Thank you for finding it.”

  Several more children had drawn closer by then. A small hand reached up and tugged at Bryce’s coat.

  “Can you find one in my ear, too?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said, winking at Melanie. “Let me see.”

  Nine more quarters were quickly “rescued” from tiny ears, and as Bryce amazed the children with his legerdemain, those who’d already received a quarter asked if they could pet Shep. Melanie saw curtains parting in the houses around them and one or two adults appeared on their front stoops.

  She nodded at the faces looking out from the windows.

  “I think you may have charmed their parents, too.”

  “Think it’ll help?”

  “It might,” she said.

  “Just in time, too,” Bryce said. “The cash machine has run dry.”

  As the three of them set out again, the children tagged along, begging for more magic tricks.

  “You look like the Pied Piper,” Melanie said. “Got any more tricks up your sleeve?”

  “A few,” he said. “Why don’t you see if you can make any headway with their folks while I hunt for props?”

  Melanie waved at a man standing in front of the next house.

  “Hi there,” she said. “I’m here to talk about the election.”

  * * *

  Three hours after their arrival, Shep, Bryce, and Melanie finally got back in the car. The tally was thirty-one yes votes, seven undecided, and only one no. As they drove away, the children cheered and waved, beating tiny hands on Shep’s window in an effort to give one more pat of support. Bryce’s tricks had indeed worked magic, Melanie thought. The street that had been all but shut against them when they arrived had turned into a real success.

  Bryce was looking out the window.

  “Do you ever worry that bringing in more people will make it harder for folks like that to get by? If rents go up, they’ll be out on the streets.”

  She shook her head.

  “The reason they’re living like that is because they don’t have jobs. Once we get more people to move here, we’ll be able to attract an employer who can provide them.”

  “But Fossett doesn’t have the infrastructure to add a lot of new people. You could just end up with a lot of traffic and noise. Are you sure it’s worth it?”

  Melanie felt her lips tighten. Did he think she hadn’t thought about that? She’d spent the last four years wondering if trying to help her town had been the right thing to do, and now that she had a plan that might actually work, she didn’t need anyone trying to undercut her confidence.

  Of course, she thought, his question had nothing to do with whether or not her plan would work; it was just the next step in Bryce’s effort to get her to change her mind about the two of them. Would there be challenges ahead? Of course, but that didn’t mean she should simply give up and let Fossett fail. She’d made a plan and she was going to see it through.

  “I’m not really worried about it,” she said. “Those things will take care of themselves.”

  He shrugged.

  “For their sake, I hope you’re right.”

  They were almost to Main Street when Melanie saw a streak of brown and white go darting through the bushes.

  “Oh no,” she said, pulling to the side of the road.

  Bryce looked around.

  “What? What is it?”

  She set the parking brake and opened the door.

  “The Stubbses’ goats got out again.”

  Melanie stepped out of the car and opened the back door.

  “Come on, Shep,” she said. “We’ve got work to do.”

  The collie had apparently seen them, too. He was already struggling to get out of his harness.

  “What about me?” Bryce said. “Can I come?”

  She shook her head.

  “No, you follow us in the car. The Stubbs farm is just down around the corner to the left.”

  He got into the driver’s seat as Shep leaped out of the car. Bryce turned up the heater and rolled down his window.

  “Mind if I listen?”

  “No, it’s fine,” she said, her attention already fixed on the errant animals. “But whatever you do, don’t get too close and don’t honk the horn.”

  “Because of the rooster?”

  “No,” she said. “Because they’re fainting goats. If you scare them, they’ll be lying all over the place.”

  Melanie turned and faced the immature goats gamboling across Main Street. They were in luck, she thought. Kids were easier to control than adult goats. Shep stood at attention by her side, waiting for the signal. She raised her arm.

  “Away to me, Shep.”

  The border collie took off, circling around to the right. Not at a gallop, but briskly in a sort of semi-crouch, his head and shoulders low, his tail down with the tip turned upward.

  “That’s the outrun,” Melanie whispered. “I’ve sent him to a point beyond the farthest member of the group. At this point, I don’t want him getting too close.”

  She walked forward slowly, Bryce inching the car along beside her.

  In response to Shep’s approach, the goats—who until then had all been going their separate ways—began to draw closer to one another.

  “See that?” she said. “They know there’s safety in numbers. Once they stop running all over hell and gone, Shep will be able to move them as a group toward where he wants them. That’s called the lift.”

  Bryce pointed.

  “Look at the way he’s staring at them.”

  “That’s important,” Melanie said. “All prey animals react instinctively to the sight of a predator. When Shep approaches them like that, he makes them think he’s a wolf and they start banding together to fend off an attack.”

  “They’re playing the odds,” he said. “If Shep were a predator, they figure he wouldn’t be able to kill them all.”

  She and Bryce were almost to the ranch now. Thankfully, the gate where the kids had gotten out was on the opposite side of the driveway from where Everett parked his truck.

  “Here comes the drive,” Melanie said. “This is the crucial part. If one of them balks now, they’ll break like billiard balls.”

  She looked at Bryce.

  “Stay here while I get ready to close the gate.”

  Shep had circled the goats into a more-or-less coherent group and was moving them slowly toward the gate where Melanie waited. The adult goats were watching from an adjacent pen and bleating a worried welcome. Encouraged by their parents, the kids began to run. When the last one stepped inside, Melanie latched the gate behind them and glanced down at
the dog.

  “That’ll do, Shep.”

  Bryce got out of the car and went over to join them.

  “That’s it, just ‘That’ll do’? Doesn’t he get a treat or something?”

  “Oh no,” Melanie said, patting the dog’s side. “ ‘That’ll do’ is the response every herding dog lives for. It means he’s a worthy member of the pack. I guarantee you, Shep would rather have that than all the dog treats in the world.”

  “Well, if he can’t have a treat, can he at least have lunch?” Bryce said. “I’m starving.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The sign outside Gunderson’s store said:

  If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!

  Bryce looked at Melanie.

  “Is that a promise or a threat?”

  She laughed. “Probably a little of both. Come on.”

  The three of them headed inside and walked back to the deli counter, where they ordered ham and Swiss sandwiches on Mae’s homemade rye bread, then scoured the aisles for snacks and drinks while the sandwiches were being made. Bryce snagged a bag of Doritos and a Coke and Melanie opted for an orange Nehi, two Red Delicious apples, and some Oreos, plus a small bag of kibble for Shep. Walt was waiting for them at the front counter.

  “Hey, Bryce. Long time, no see.”

  “Good to see you, Walt. You’re right. It’s been a while.”

  Melanie set their purchases on the counter.

  “I think Shep needs a walk,” she said. “Do you mind getting this? I can pay you back later.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Bryce said. “You two go ahead. I’ll meet you back at the car.”

  The store had been in the Gunderson family for generations and it looked as if their checkout process hadn’t been upgraded in years. Bryce found himself tapping his foot as Walt carefully rang up each item, and realized that the go-go pace he was used to had reduced both his attention span and his patience. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that there was no hurry.

  “I hear you’ve left the DA’s office,” Walt said, ringing up the second sandwich. “Working for a big law firm now.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Sorry to hear it. Seems like all the good lawyers are leaving government service. Pretty soon, there’ll be no one left to take down the bad guys.”

  Bryce had heard the argument before. He’d made it himself, in fact, not all that long ago.

  “Oh, there are still plenty of good prosecutors around. The DA in Portland is one of the best.”

  “Yeah, but budgets are always tight when the public’s footing the bill. Sometimes it feels like justice is for sale in this country.”

  He tucked the sandwiches into the bag, holding back the bag of chips.

  “It was good of you to come down here and give Melanie a hand.”

  “It was no problem. I was happy to help.”

  Two apples went into the bag next, then the Oreos, kibble, and chips. Walt put the drinks in a separate keep-’em-cold bag and rang up the total.

  Bryce took out his wallet.

  “What do you think of the plan to make Shep the mayor?” he said. “Will it work?”

  The older man stared at the open till.

  “I don’t know. The town’s thinned out since the timber industry folded, and it’s changed the nature of the place. In some ways, of course, it’s worse. Without the good-paying jobs we once had, several retail shops have closed, and we’re down to only one school now, too. Other things, though, are better: There’s less drunkenness, for one thing, and less violence overall. Plus, without all that heavy equipment rumbling through town, the place is a lot quieter than it was. The lack of public services is hard, too, but when people know they have to rely on themselves, neighbors take time to check on one another. I’m not saying it’s ideal. I’m just saying it hasn’t all been bad, either.”

  Bryce considered that for a minute.

  “It seems like there ought to be some way to keep what’s good about Fossett while still improving its economic circumstances.”

  “I agree,” Walt said. “But most of us don’t have the determination and energy that Melanie has. As long as she’s hell-bent on making the town what it once was, I’m not sure that’s possible.”

  “Have you told her that?”

  “Oh, sure. More than once.”

  “But it didn’t change things.”

  Walt shook his head.

  “I’ve known Melanie since she was a baby and I love her like my own, but when she takes something into her head, she’s as tenacious as a bulldog. I find it’s better just to go along until she figures things out, one way or the other.”

  He gave Bryce a knowing look.

  “You may have noticed the same thing.”

  He nodded. “A bit too late, unfortunately.”

  Walt counted out his change.

  “Well, time goes by. Some things that were important don’t seem so from a distance. I take it you haven’t changed your mind about moving here?”

  “I don’t see how I can,” Bryce said. “My job—no matter what you may think of it—requires that I stay in Portland.”

  “And you think you can convince her to join you?”

  Bryce felt caught out by Walt’s perceptiveness.

  “I’d like to, yes. But like you, I’d rather she came to that decision herself.”

  The older man nodded.

  “Well, whatever you do, be careful. I don’t want to see either one of you get hurt again.”

  “Thanks,” Bryce said, slipping the change into his pocket. “Believe me, neither do I.”

  * * *

  They ate lunch in the car, neither one of them in the mood to sit outside in the cold. Melanie kept a collapsible dog bowl in the glove compartment; she poured out a measure of kibble for Shep and set it on the floor. He devoured it in seconds, then perched on the back seat, staring hopefully at their sandwiches.

  Bryce ate quietly for several minutes. Walt’s comment about his job had hit a nerve. Since leaving the DA’s office, he’d had his own crisis of conscience. He was honest enough to admit that money had been the deciding factor in making the move to Norcross Daniels, but there were days when he felt as if he was walking a fine line between advocacy and collusion. Plus, there was still the whole Colton thing hanging over his head. Who knew how long it would be before that was resolved? He found himself dreading the day he’d have to return to work.

  “You okay?” Melanie said.

  “Hmm? Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about something Walt said.”

  “Anything you want to share?”

  He shook his head.

  “Sorry.”

  Bryce took another bite of his sandwich.

  “This was a good choice. Thanks for suggesting it.”

  She smiled.

  “You were a hit with those kids back there. I had no idea you knew all those magic tricks.”

  “What are you talking about? I practically wooed you with my magic tricks.”

  “Not rope tricks. You’d have been lucky to get a second date if I’d known about those.”

  He opened the bag of Doritos.

  “Speaking of dating,” he said, popping one into his mouth. “You seeing anyone these days?”

  She gave him a look.

  “Oh yeah. Can’t you tell? I’ve got eligible bachelors falling all over me.”

  He covered his smile with a sip of Coke.

  “You never know. They could be hiding in the bushes, ready to carry you off.”

  “Yeah, right.” She started fishing around in the bag. “How about you?”

  He took out another chip and shook his head.

  “Too busy. Since the move to Norcross, I’ve been pretty much married to the job.”

  Melanie bit into an apple and chewed thoughtfully.

  “What about Sofia What’s-her-name? You ever go out with her?”

  Bryce nearly choked on a Dorito.

  “Who?” he croaked, smacking a fi
st against his chest.

  “You know: dark brown hair, killer bod. She was two years ahead of you at law school. Man, did she have the hots for you.”

  He shook his head. The sting of spicy nacho cheese was making his eyes water.

  “Oh, my god,” Melanie said. “You did, didn’t you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he wheezed, taking another swig of Coke.

  “Well, if you didn’t, then you missed out,” she said. “Man, I was so jealous of her back then.”

  “Can we please change the subject?”

  “Sure. What do you—”

  Her phone buzzed.

  “Hold on a sec,” she said. “It’s Kayla.”

  Bryce took another slug of Coke, relieved to be escaping the subject of Sofia Cardoza. It never occurred to him that she might have been interested in him back when they were in law school. He found the notion vaguely unsettling.

  Melanie glanced at him and shook her head.

  “No, of course,” she said. “I understand. Yes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  She hung up and looked at Bryce.

  “Helena fell and broke a tooth. Her husband’s taking her to Corvallis to see a dentist, but there’ll be no one to watch the shop this afternoon until she gets back.”

  She stuck the phone back in her pocket.

  “I can’t believe this. Just when we were starting to make some headway.”

  “It’s okay,” Bryce said. “Shep and I can manage alone.”

  Melanie gave him a skeptical look.

  “After the outing you two had yesterday?”

  “That was an accident—no big deal. Besides, it’ll only be for a couple of hours.”

  “Well . . .”

  He grinned.

  “Either that, or I watch the shop while you take him.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “Ever worked as a barista?”

  “Nope.”

  “Never mind.”

  “Come on,” Bryce said. “We’ve got the map. We’ll be fine, right, Shep?”

  Having given up his quest for a handout, the border collie was dozing on the back seat. He glanced from Bryce to Melanie and thumped his tail.