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“Sounds like a good idea,” I said.

“I thought so. Why, though? Are you interested?”

Here goes. It’s now or never.

“Actually, yes,” I said. “I know that you never wanted to do anything with it because the Andersons got it zoned for commercial development, and you didn’t want to give them the satisfaction, but you know anyone who does buy it will have to use it for commercial, right?”

“Yeah, I know,” he said, somewhat dejectedly. “It’s such pretty property. But I just won’t sell to the Andersons. That’s why they did it. They got it all zoned commercial so I’d sell it to them, then they’d do whatever they wanted with it, including zoning it back if they so chose. I just couldn’t let them win.”

“Well, maybe I have an idea,” I said. “What if I buy it and develop it?”

“You?” he asked. “No offense, Jesse, but you ain’t exactly a businessman. I’d half expect Collin to come in with some plan, but you?”

“No offense taken. You’re right about that. But the thing is, it’s not really for me. It’s for Charlotte Garafalo.”

“Charlotte?” he asked. “Tamara’s sister? I thought she moved out to Oklahoma.”

“She did,” I said. I recounted how she’d gone to work for the Bethel company and how she rose through the ranks. How she felt like she knew the ins and outs of the hotel business and her idea to build one in the county.

“I see,” he said. “So you want to buy it to give to her?”

“Sort of,” I said. “I want to buy it and develop it with her. I plan on marrying that girl.”

He grinned. “As I live and breathe, Jesse Galloway is actually sweet on a girl? I’ll be damned. Darned. Darned. Sorry, Lord.”

“I am,” I said. “And I believe in her. Completely. I’ll even sweeten the pot and make you a part owner of the hotel once it’s built. No financial risk on your part.”

“That’s awful nice, but not necessary,” he said. “If I sell that land to you, I sell it knowing that I got my money’s worth and that it won’t be destroyed. I trust you boys not to make me regret it.”

“Well, what were you looking for, price wise?”

He went quiet for a moment, stroking his chin contemplatively.

“You know, I haven’t really put much thought into the price,” he said. “I was going to have a surveyor out to figure it all out. I’ll tell you what, though, you get me an estimate and make me an offer. I trust it will be fair.”

“Really?” I asked. “You’re willing to sell it to me without a price attached?”

“Son, I knew your father for fifty years before he went to the Lord. I’ve known each of you boys since you were in diapers. Hell, I helped change a few of them. I’m an old man now, and I don’t need a whole lot. You need that land way more than I needto make some big profit. You make me an offer, and I’ll trust that it’s good.”

He held out his hand, and I could barely keep the excitement inside. I took it and shook.

“Thank you, Mr. Pratchett,” I said.

“Terry,” he said. “You’re old enough now, and we’re making a deal between men. If I can call you Jesse, you can call me Terry.”

“Thank you, Terry,” I said. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

On the car ride back, Owen and Collin pestered me a bit about what we’d talked about. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and spilled the beans, swearing them to secrecy. Collin was the first to talk.

“So this thing with you and Charlotte… it’s for real?”

“After all this time, after all the girls I’ve dated, yes,” I said. “I’m done. Everyone else was just a placeholder until I had Charlotte.”

“Well,” Owen said. “It’s about time.”

“Hey, I got one more stop,” I said. “Do you mind?”

“Naw,” Collin said. “Where to?”