Up to Snow Good - Kelly Collins Page 0,50

Max added, “all we’re asking is that you help spread the word and encourage them to vote.”

Lucille shrugged her shoulders and raised one brow. “Well, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, not at all, but you know, Max, your part in your father’s business will be beyond recovery if this happens?”

“I’ve already turned my back on my father.”

“He turned his back on you,” Lauren corrected.

Lucille said, “What if, by spreading the word, I wind up setting off a lot of votes against you? You may be better served to bring it up there and then.”

“We think it’s more important that word gets out about the meeting, so people are there for it,” Lauren said.

“My father will suppress it in any way he can.”

“Word of mouth is our best hope,” Lauren added. “If you side with us, that would go a long way toward impressing the rest of Moss Creek, at least enough to get the ball rolling with a yes vote.”

Lucille sighed, shaking her head. “You’re playing a risky game here.”

Max looked down at the ground and then back up at her. “It’s not a game, Lucille, it’s about the future of our family, the future of this town.”

Lucille seemed to give it some thought before nodding with a shrug. “I’ll do what I can, and I sure wish you both a lot of luck. You’ll need it.”

Sally’s Country Kitchen wasn’t far from Lucille’s place, and the sometimes friendly proprietor was there to greet them, along with her few other guests. Lauren had warned Max that she wouldn’t be helpful, and they should leave her out of the proceedings, but Max had different ideas.

“Well, I’m sorry to hear about the lodge, but you know how I feel about this, Lauren. I don’t like to get involved in people’s personal matters. After all, you and I are competitors.”

Max said, “That may be true. But think about it; you’ll either be competing against us for the next thirty years, or you’ll be competing against my father, and you know how he feels about competition. First, it’s the lodge, and next, it’s the Country Kitchen.”

Sally turned her blonde head to think about it, false eyelashes flapping on her painted lids.

“It’s more than that,” Lauren said. “I know how you feel about business, but we’re still people, aren’t we? We’re friends and neighbors.” Lauren pulled herself closer to Max to help make her point. “One thing I’ve learned from all this is it’s the human connections that matter. The lodge kept my family together, it brought Max and me together, and it can unite the people of Moss Creek for one great stand against tyranny.”

“Tyranny,” Sally repeated as she waved them off. “It’s just a lodge, sweetie.”

“No,” Max said, “it’s not just a lodge. It’s a matter of principle. That’s not just one lodge, it’s a thousand lodges, and restaurants and houses and homes; it’s a symbol of corporate greed as it devours the individual. Moss Creek is a small town, with small-town folks. We want to stand together; we want to be neighbors and friends. This isn’t Los Angeles or New York. You know your customers’ names; you know your neighbors’ pets. That’s what makes Moss Creek special, it’s what makes us great. Don’t let it be lost or destroyed. Don’t let us forgo the very best of who and what we are.”

Sally seemed to give it some thought, but Max wasn’t convinced she’d be any help at all. She was even likely to campaign against them. But they needed all the support they could get, and if there was even a chance that she might help, they had to take it. It wasn’t the only risky move on their list, but it was perhaps the most dangerous.

Back at the lodge, Patrick and Cindy and Ruthie were clearly disheartened. Lauren’s heartbeat quickened as she urged them to remain hopeful.

“Tell everybody you know to turn up at that meeting,” Lauren said. “Make sure they’ll vote with us.”

Max nodded. “This lodge has been good to you. I think you owe it to the place, and to Lauren.”

Lauren shook her head. “No, you shouldn’t do it for me.”

“Do it for yourselves then,” Max said. “For your sense of pride, of honor.”

“Look, we love this place,” Patrick said, “and we couldn’t be more indebted to Lauren, to the lodge, but I will be an electrician right here in Moss Creek, and your father will crush my career before it begins if I rise up against him.”

“We’ll