Privately, she couldn’t help but think about what this meant for her budding romance with Nick. If the film production was shut down, Nick might have to leave earlier than expected, and their time together would come to an abrupt halt.
Reva straightened. “Yeah, maybe you should give Nick a heads up. In the meantime, it’s important we all show up for the meeting. Bring anyone who you think would support defusing Nicola’s plans. She was wielding some hefty threats in my office. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and have the permits pulled.”
Charlie Grace’s eyes widened. “Could she do that?”
Lila shook her head. “We all know she’s connected to people in high places. Rumor has it she’s been known to push Wooster into turning down loan requests to manipulate people around into her way of thinking.”
Reva held up her open palms. “Okay, let’s not borrow trouble. Let everyone show up and voice their opinions and hopefully, we’ll find a way to reach a consensus.”
“That’s a good idea,” Charlie Grace chimed in. “It’ll give everyone a chance to be heard. Maybe Nicola will back down when she hears how many do not follow her lead.”
The girls disbanded and promised to work hard to get a good attendance at the meeting. Even so, Charlie Grace’s head buzzed with worry as she climbed into her pickup. Before she headed home, she texted Nick.
“Hey, I just came from a meeting with Reva. It appears there’s some opposition to the television production prompting an emergency town hall meeting tonight. Call me when you can.”
The future of Nick’s production and, in some ways, Charlie Grace’s blossoming romance hung in the balance. She couldn’t help but feel that the decision reached that evening would shape not only the fate of the television production but also the course of her own heart.
32
The town hall stood dead center in the middle of Thunder Mountain, an aging wooden structure with a pitched roof and a clock tower, worn down by time and harsh Wyoming winters. Despite its age, the building was bursting at the seams with a crowd larger than any it had seen in years.
Coffee was brewing on a table in the back and the smell of freshly baked cookies permeated the air as the attendees made their way to metal folding chairs lined up facing a podium at the front of the room.
The room buzzed with chatter as Reva stood leaving Charlie Grace, Lila, and Capri seated, and made her way forward. She tapped a gavel on the podium, trying to hush the buzzing crowd.
“Let’s get started, shall we?” she said into the scratchy-sounding microphone.
When she failed to gain the attention of everyone in the room, she pounded again—this time a little harder. “Could I please have your attention?”
That seemed to do the trick as all eyes drifted to the front of the room and a hush fell across the assembly.
“Thank you,” Reva said. “And thank you all for coming out tonight.” She cleared her throat. “As many of you may have heard, concerns have been raised about the television production near here. Let me say right up front that the city of Thunder Mountain has no official jurisdiction over the matter?—”
Nicola Cavendish popped up from her chair, her voice surprisingly loud for someone of her petite stature. “Thunder Mountain may not have an official capacity in this situation, but we all know that official or not, we have the ability to influence what goes on in our area.”
Capri leaned over to Charlie Grace and whispered, “Our area? The production is nearly fifty miles away.”
Charlie Grace quietly nodded, then checked her phone for a response from Nick. She’d texted him several times since learning of the meeting with no reply. Puzzled, she pocketed her phone.
She turned her attention to the front where Reva tried to maintain an outward appearance of patience. Subtle cues in her expression and posture betrayed her growing irritation. “Thank you, Nicola. Let’s keep an order to the meeting.”
Not to be swayed, the banker’s wife continued. “Thank you, Mayor. I’ll go first. As most of you know, I insisted upon this emergency meeting because I believe our town’s very existence is at stake. An influx of people will threaten our way of life and has the potential to turn our beloved Thunder Mountain into one more resort town. Housing prices and property taxes will skyrocket. Not to mention, the well-being of Grand Teton National Park is under threat. I learned many of the scenes will be filmed on the pristine shores of Jenny Lake.” She gasped and her hand went to her chest. “Can you imagine the impact that will have?”
Brewster Findley pulled off his baseball cap and dusted it against one knee. “Did you say our property taxes will go up?”
From behind her, Charlie Grace heard Betty Dunning’s frightened voice. “I can’t afford that.”
“Yeah, Thunder Mountain is our home, not a vacation rental,” shouted Doc Strode. “None of us can shoulder extra taxes. Especially the residents of Thunder Mountain who are retired and on fixed incomes.”
Reva squared her shoulders and held out open palms. “Please, let’s not get ahead of things. While I agree that protections must be in place to address the issues raised, there are two sides to consider.”
“Yeah,” Brewster Findley shouted. “We can’t neglect the fact that tourism will bring added income.”
Capri stood. “I agree. It’s inevitable that the production company will go forward with the filming ofBear Country. We’re a little late in stopping it. The best we can hope for is to manage the impact and embrace the benefits,” she reasoned.
“And not let this divide our town and cause turmoil,” Charlie Grace added.
A few murmurs of agreement emanated from pockets of the crowd.
