Phantom Politics

George H. McVey

Introduction

Harry Gladstone just wanted to expand his family’s bed and Breakfast into an upscale Inn. He had the plans and the funds. His father, Mayor Hal Gladstone, wanted him to follow in his footsteps as the next leader of Gladstone, Colorado. The problem was, Harry was in love with Glenna Schumacher who also wants to be the next mayor of Gladstone. Harry would give anything to let her be mayor and just chase his own dream, but becoming mayor is expected of him. Wanting the enemy isn’t.

Glenna Schumacher has always been drawn to the heir apparent of the Gladstone legacy. Only problem, she isn’t his type. She wants to see the “good ole boy” network disbanded, and politics in Gladstone run in a way that benefits every citizen of Gladstone, not just the founding family. Still “the heart wants what the heart wants.”

Can these two find their way to the love they both feel, or are the expectations of the small town enough to keep them apart? Can Glenna learn to trust a Gladstone enough to give her heart to Harry? Can Harry withstand the pressure of the whole town to follow in his father’s footsteps, to show Glenna she matters most to him? Will the Ghost of Grandpa Harold and his trusty steed Thor be able to help this couple find love, and a Happily Ever After, in the midst of a town filled with Phantom Politics ?

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Kristen Osbourne, Amelia Adams, and all the other writers at Sprint writers central. They challenged me to try something new, then supported and cheered me on when I took the challenge. For that I’m eternally grateful.

Acknowledgement

My thanks this time goes to many people.

To my wife, Sheri. I knew when I saw you that first time, you were the one for me. Now thirty-five years later, that is still true. You, my love, are still the one that makes my heart sing. The one I’ll love until my very end.

I always thank those who make my book better; this time isn’t any different. To my proofreader, Sarah Meester , without whom my editor would hate me and pull her hair out.

Next, let me thank my beta readers on this project. I have a group of twenty-two who faithfully help me with each new manuscript. Each of their opinions and suggestions made this a better book.

Thanks also goes to my editor on this project, Carolyn Leggo. She’s been a friend and reader for years and I am blessed to have her help on this project. As I always say, any mistakes found in this book are mine alone. I probably changed something at the last minute.

To my cover creator, Samantha Fury, as always, you take my vision and turn it into a perfect expression.

More than thanks goes to my friends and family. You know who you are, the people I ignored as this project took on a life of its own. Your understanding and kindness in not holding it against me is appreciated.

Finally, to you, the reader. Without you there would be no point in what I do. I give life to my characters but you share that life and make it more real. I pray that this book brings you enjoyment.

Prologue

Young Harry Gladstone was startled by the banging on his family’s door. Whoever was out there knocked so hard that the whole door shook. His father, Mayor Hal Gladstone headed for the door. “Keep your shirt on. What the heck is wrong with you?” He jerked the door open no doubt to give the person a piece of his mind, but one look at his brother’s face stopped that. “What’s wrong?”

Uncle Henry looked scared, but what could scare a grown-up, Harry thought. “It’s Sammy, she’s lost in the woods.”

That was all that needed to be said. Harry’s mom and dad were instantly grabbing jackets. “Get your jackets, kids. We need to go find your cousin Sammy.”

That was all that was said because that was all that needed to be said. This was Gladstone and when a citizen of Gladstone was in trouble, the whole town showed up.

Once they arrived at the old covered bridge, Harry saw Nancy, Sammy’s sister, was crying and saying, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose her.” Over and over. Harry and Leanne, his sister, ran over and hugged her.

Dad looked at the three of them together. “You kids don’t need to worry about Samantha. I know it’s scary to think of her lost in these woods, but Grandpa Harold will watch over her. You’ll see, he’ll bring her back to us safe and sound. Now you three stay here by the fire and wait. I’m going to go see how the search goes.” He then hugged each of the kids and walked toward the covered bridge that was now part of the walking and riding trail through Phantom Horse Park.

Nancy looked at her cousins and tried to wipe her tears. Why hadn’t she obeyed their dad and watched Samantha? It was her fault her sister was lost all alone in the woods. If Uncle Hal was wrong then she’d have killed her sister. Her baby sister. “Do you think Uncle Hal is right?” She asked her cousin Harry, “Do you think Grandpa Harold’s ghost will bring Sammy back to me?”

Harry pulled her into a hug and she climbed on his lap. She really was too big to sit on her cousin's lap, but he knew it made her feel safe. “Dad’s always right, Nancy, you know that. After all, he’s the Mayor, he knows everything there is to know about Gladstone. If he says Grandpa Harold will bring her back to us then that’s what will happen, just you wait and see.”

Almost as in answer to Harry’s statement they saw a flash of glowing white over on the far side of Phantom Horse Bridge, and then heard a shout of joy and the two quick blasts of a rifle signaling that Samantha had been found safe and sound. But Nancy and Harry looked at each other. Had they really just caught a glimpse of the Phantom Horse and Rider of Gladstone, Grandpa Harold himself?

One

Twenty years later…

Harry Gladstone left Main Street Architect and Construction with a blueprint tube under his arm. Mike McGregor had come through for him. He’d asked him back in July to draw up some plans to expand his ancestral home, the Gladstone Bed and Breakfast, with 50 more rooms; 25 on each side while maintaining the look and style of the old Victorian mansion and expanding the dining room to a full fine-dining restaurant.

Yes, it would cost him, but his dream of owning and operating the premier, upscale country inn would be reality.

Now all he had to do was get the plans submitted to the planning commission and get his remodel permits. Then Mike and the construction team could get started. Soon Gladstone Bed and Breakfast would be The Gladstone Inn and Minuette’s Fine Dining Restaurant. Not only would he fulfill his dreams, but also help his sister escape the drudgery that their father had trapped her in, to fulfill her dreams as well. What man in his right mind would insist that a three-degree Chef return home to run a stupid fifties-style diner? His father, the Honorable Mayor Harold (Hal) Jefferson Gladstone the fourth, that’s who.

Harry jumped in his suburban and drove to the employee parking lot at City Hall. He had the sticker because he was supposed to be Hal’s chosen replacement for Mayor, and was given the rights of Mayor already. Normally Harry didn’t use those rights, because he had no intention of becoming the Mayor of Gladstone. He wanted to be a simple, yet quality inn keeper and nothing, not Hal and his talk of destiny and responsibilities to the Gladstone legacy or guilt, was going to keep him from his dream. He jumped out of the old 4x4 and, snagging the blueprint tube, headed to the planning office to register his building plans and pull the necessary remodel and building permits to start work on the expansion. He smiled at Gladys and handed her the tube. “Hey Gladys, I need to file these plans and pull both a remodel and a building permit for the Estate, please.”

Gladys frowned. “Are you making changes to the Bed and Breakfast, Harry? I don’t remember Hal saying anything about that.”

Harry gritted his teeth and forced his hands to relax from the tight fists they’d curled into. “That’s because Hal doesn’t know yet. He has no say over the estate. Grandma Gladstone left the estate to me and me alone. You know that. Heck, everyone in town knows that.”

“I do know that, Harry Gladstone, and don’t you take that tone of voice with me.” The gray up-do started swinging left to right as Gladys’ head rocked from side to side in her aggravated state. “While she may have left it to you, we both know that your father expects you to run your improvements past him. It is his legacy and your sister’s, uncle’s, and cousin’s as well. Don’t think I’m going to let you file these behind his back and pull those permits without him having a chance to look at them.”

With that, she picked up the phone and started dialing. Harry knew she was calling Josephine, his father's secretary, who would then text him over at the diner. “Gladys, you have no right to hold up my permits. Don’t make me make a call of my own. I’ll call Bernie if you make me, and report that the city planning office is refusing me permits that I’ve submitted proper paperwork and blueprints for, on property I rightly own. What do you think the City Lawyer is going to tell you will happen to your job?”

Gladys glared at him and spoke into the phone. “Josephine, you need to get Mayor Hal to haul his buns over here to the planning office lickety-split. Harry is threatening me with legal action if I don’t give him permits to make changes out at the Gladstone Estate.”

Then she hung up and held out her hand for the paperwork. “Well, Mister Gladstone, give me your plans and paperwork so I can file them and make certain they are proper and fit the zoning of the property in question.”

Harry shook his head; he knew she was going to take her sweet time and Hal would arrive before she’d get them filed and his permits drawn. But he couldn’t stop her from doing her job and he couldn’t fault her for being thorough at it. It was what she was paid to do. Even if they both knew that if Hal had told her this was going to happen, she’d have had those permits waiting when he walked through the door. As much as he respected and admired his dad for the way the city supported their mayor and how he supported the town, he resented that his life wasn’t his to live as he wanted.

Every firstborn male of every generation of Gladstone was named Harold Jefferson Gladstone, given a nickname fitting for Harold, and expected when the last Harold Gladstone was ready to retire as Mayor, the new one would step up and run for the office. No one but a Gladstone had been Mayor of Gladstone since before Grandpa Harold had died saving Minuette Vaugner from drowning. It was the “destiny” of each Harold to fulfill the role and the town expected it. Only problem was, Harry didn’t want to be Mayor. Bigger problem still, no one listened to him. It was tradition and even if he didn’t run, he’d be elected when Hal was ready to retire, because that’s what Gladstones did.

Just then, like the sudden spring thunderstorm, Hal blew into the room. “Harry, what’s this I hear about you filing plans and pulling permits on the Estate?”

“Dad, I had Mike draw up plans for the expansion Grandma and I had talked about before she passed. I’m just trying to get them filed and the permits so we can get started. I’d like it to be done before winter.”

Hal walked behind the counter and looked at the blueprints Gladys was scanning into the computer. “Fifty more rooms and a restaurant? Kind of ambitious for a part time job, ain’t it? After all, I’m planning on retiring after this term; it will be your turn to run the town.”

“Dad, did Grandpa try to keep you from opening the diner because you’d be the next Mayor? We both know that it isn’t impossible to have your dream and fulfill your obligations to Gladstone.”

“Phantom Horse.”

Harry wrinkled his brow in confusion “What?”

Hal smiled and slapped him on the back. “Phantom Horse. We’re changing the name of the town to Phantom Horse. Having a City Council meeting about it tonight as a matter of fact, and a town hall meeting next week to let everyone know.”

“Why in the world would you do that?”

“Been thinking on how we can generate more revenue from the tourist industry. I saw this TV show last week that gave me a brilliant idea on how to use our most precious resource.”

“What’s that?”

“Grandpa Harold’s Legend, of course. Why, did you know there are TV shows where grown men and women chase ghost stories and try to prove them or catch the ghost on camera? What’s more, places where they find evidence of ghosts get tons of ghost crazy tourists wanting a chance to see the ghosts, or hear them, or feel them.”

Harry’s mouth dropped open. “Please tell me you aren’t gonna go drag one of those lame paranormal research teams from TV up here to look for Grandpa Harold. You told us yourself he only shows up when he’s needed.”

“We need him now or this town is going to wither and die. I called that show, Paranormal Encounter. They’re sending a guy up the week after next, to see if he thinks we have enough for a show. They said if it looked good we might even be their live Halloween special. His name’s Lucas Hart, I gave him the website for the B&B, you probably have his reservation already. Give him the best room, okay? Give him your Grandma’s room, and make sure you tell him how she used to sit up there and talk to your grandpa and her grandma, and even how she claimed to have tea with Grandpa Harold.

This could put us on the map. Oh, and I have a statue coming at the end of this week to go out in front of the house. A life size replica of Grandpa Harold on Thor. It’ll be a great selfie backdrop after we change the name of the B&B, just like all the other shops with the Gladstone name, to Phantom Horse. I done ordered the sign for the diner and a second statue to go out front.”

Dad, I’m not changing the name of the B&B to Phantom Horse B&B. It’s Gladstone B&B after our family, and it will be the Gladstone Inn once my renovation and expansion is complete. Also, did you ask Leanne if she wants a huge horse and rider in front of the diner, or if she thinks it’s a good idea to change the name?”

Hal frowned. “No, I didn’t ask your sister, it’s my diner and I’m changing the name and adding the statue. What’s she got to do with it?”

Harry sighed. “She’s a classically trained, award winning Chef, Dad. Who you begged to come back and take over running the diner because of your heart attack scare, remember? Yet you treat her like a kid who you promoted to manager because you felt sorry for her. She turned down an Executive Chef position to come home, and you have her fixing patty melts and chicken and waffles.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with patty melts and chicken and waffles. Besides, I let her bring in that froufrou coffee machine and all them sissified flavors, didn’t I?”

“You took a world class Chef, with degrees in elegant dining, fine dining management, and pastry and baking, turned her into a short order cook and barista, and expect her to be happy? Dad, she’s going to quit, you know. Especially if you don’t listen to her ideas and let her express herself.”

Hal waved away his concerns. “She’s my daughter. She knows her duty just like you do. Now about those permits, Gladys ain't going to be able to issue them to you today. I need to have Junior go over them and see if they violate the historical building codes.”

“Dad, the estate is not registered as a historic landmark, but even if it is, I went to Mike McGregor because that’s his specialty. You know he gets ninety-eight percent of the Main Street Projects in the state? He knows what he’s doing and he drew up these blueprints himself.”

“Still got to follow proper procedure. Not even sure we can look at them tonight, being as this is a special called meeting and not the scheduled meeting. But call Josephine and ask her when she can get you on the agenda. Until then, no permits.”

And with those words Mayor Hal strutted out the door. “See ya tonight at the meeting, Harry.”

Harry looked from the empty hallway back to Gladys who smirked. “Sorry Mister Gladstone, but your permits are being held pending code inspections. We will contact you when those inspections are complete.” She handed him his tube of blue prints. “Have a nice day.”

“Remember this Gladys, if Hal gets his way, someday I’ll be your boss. I wonder if this city deficiency Hal is talking about, will necessitate any layoffs of city workers? Maybe I’ll start a feasibility study of my own to see how much we could trim the fat around City Hall.”

Harry walked out of the planning office and back to his SUV. He was so stressed when he got in, that he knew he needed to go visit his best friend. She’d have exactly what he’d need to relax and release the tension Hal was bringing to his life.

Two

Glenna Schumacher glanced up at the clock above the door to her office. It was already four-thirty. Another hour and a half and she could go home. The good news was she had no city council business to attend to tonight; and the last hour she actually got to perform a deep tissue massage on one of her favorite citizens, Mysti Stonestar. Glenna was one of the few people in town who called the girl by her self-chosen and legal name. Everyone else that knew her growing up still called her Nancy Gladstone. But for some reason Mystery had her name legally changed two days after her eighteenth birthday.

Now she was the most eccentric resident of Gladstone, bar none. In this town, that was saying something. Of course, a close second was Reverend Begley and his mother-in-law Petunia Flowers. But even with Mrs. Flowers blue beehive hairdo and hot pink supersized Hoveround, Mysti took the prize with her frizzy red hair, going every which way, and the colorful bohemian clothes she always wore. Who knew which crystal she’d be sporting today.

But last week when she’d come in for her session, she’d brought Glenna some passionflower tea and told her to take it after she got home from City Council meetings, where Hal’s crap gave her a headache. She’d been so desperate she’d tried it; not only did it ease her headache, all the muscle tension in her body had disappeared, and she had slept more soundly and peacefully than she had since she moved back to Gladstone. She’d started recommending to her clients with severe muscle tension, that they go see Mysti and get a box of the tea to drink before bedtime.

Glenna got up to get her table ready when the phone rang. “Hello, thanks for calling the Lazy Day Spa. I’m Glenna, and it would be my pleasure to schedule you for a Lazy Day. Just tell me what day is best for you.”

“Hey Glenna, that’s a catchy new way to answer the phone. This is Josephine.”

“What’s he want now, Josephine?”

The woman on the other end chuckled. “Mayor Hal asked me to call all the councilpersons and ask them to attend an emergency meeting tonight to discuss a possible solution to, and I quote here, ‘The economic disaster about to destroy our beloved town.’”

“Oh dear God, what has that crazy lunatic come up with now?”

“I don’t know, that’s all he told me.”

“And this can’t wait three weeks for the normal meeting? I mean we just met last week and talked about nothing for two hours. Is this really that desperate a situation?”

“I’m just the Personal Assistant. I don’t have a clue. He said call, so I called. But, I doubt it. Expect Harry to be in fine form tonight, too; Hal just peed in his cornflakes again.”

“Awww, did the Quarterback not get the trophy from mayor daddy today?”

Josephine laughed out loud. “Oh Glenna, why couldn’t you be my boss? This job would be fun if you were mayor. No, he’s holding up renovation and expansion permits for the Bed and Breakfast. Seems Harry wants to expand into a small upscale inn. Hal, of course, wants him to be the next mayor, not an inn keeper.”

“Really, why can’t that man just let Harry follow his dreams. As much as I don’t want another Gladstone to be mayor, there is no difference between Hal running the diner and Harry running an inn. What time is this emergency meeting tonight?”

“Officially it’s in the council chamber at seven; but you know Hal and the boys will have already hashed everything out over burgers at the diner beforehand.”

“Of course they will, and once again my voice and vote won’t count for Shinola.”

“Sorry. Gotta run, still need to call Bernie and let him know. At least he’ll be as ignorant as you. They never invite him to the diner either, you know.”

“Yeah, but if it has any legal ramifications, Hal will have already talked with him. Thanks for the info, Josephine. When I’m Mayor I’ll get you a raise.”

“I’ll hold ya to that. Bye, Sugar.”

Harry pulled up in front of a strange little shop on Main Street painted Tardis Blue with a sign that read Mysti’s Crystals and Gifts . A small sign stated Tea Garden and Psychic Readings. There was a wooden bench setting in front of a storefront window that was filled with bells, gongs, wind chimes, a selection of specialty teas, and crystals of every size, shape and color. He climbed out of his ride and entered the shop. Just a few minutes with his favorite person and he’d be able to handle the rest of the night.

He saw his cousin Mysti Starstone as she came rushing up to him. He opened his mouth to pour out his frustrations when she placed her hand over his mouth. “Not a word, Harry Gladstone.” She lifted his left arm out in front of him. “Don’t let me move this arm.” Then she proceeded to push down on it. After a few seconds, she was slowly moving it down. “Oh dear! This will not do, no, no, no!”

“Mysti…?”

Her hand went back over his mouth again “Harold Jefferson Gladstone the Fifth, didn’t I tell you not to talk? No, you keep quiet.”

She walked behind him and pulled his shirt out of his pants and ran her hand up his back until it rested between his shoulder blades. “Cough three times as hard as you can, please.”

Harry knew his cousin, he loved her like no one else, but when she got in this frame of mind the only thing anyone could do was follow her instructions or leave. He coughed three times. With each cough, his cousin pressed harder and harder into the space between his shoulder blades until the pain was almost too much. “Oh Mercy! This is not good, no sir, not good at all.

She pulled her hand out of his shirt and moved behind her counter and started looking for something on the shelves filled with bells and cymbals. “Your harmonics are completely scrambled. You know you can’t bring that mess in here. You go out and wait on the bench. I’ll bring you what you need to get your harmonics balanced again so we can visit. I don’t know why you let Uncle Hal get you in such a state.” She looked up to see him still standing where she’d stopped him. She pointed out the door he’d just come in “Go on, sit on the bench. I’ll be right there.”

He went out and sat. A few seconds later, his cousin came through the door with two of the smallest cymbals he’d ever seen and an orange colored sheer head scarf. “Now listen, it's your Sakral Chakra, it resides in your lower trunk and is stimulated by the D tone. Okay, you take these sagats and hold them over your stomach. Make a tone like this.” She demonstrated placing the cymbals on her thumb and first finger then quickly striking them and holding them open so a tone rang out. “At the same time, you copy the tone like this OOOOooo. I’m going to wrap this tangerine scarf around your eyes because you need to visualize the color. This will help you do that. Got it?”

“Is this necessary?”

She took his right hand and put the cymbals in them and proceeded to wrap the scarf over his eyes. “Yes, it’s necessary. I’m trying to help you, Harry. Stop fighting me.”

Harry sighed and tried to fit the little cymbals on his hand like she did but he couldn’t. She smiled at him. “You can just hold one in each hand, but keep them over your stomach as you strike them and don’t forget to visualize and vocalize. I’m going to go make us a revitalizing tea to stimulate your life force. You work on your harmonics.”

With that she turned and bounced into the store. Harry sighed and gripped a cymbal in each hand, feeling like an idiot, but knew she wouldn’t talk to him ‘til she was convinced he’d removed the negative build up from his aura or whatever it was she thought she detected. So, he began to bang the tiny cymbals and say “OOO”. It sounded nothing like what Mysti had. No, he was sure he looked and sounded like that stupid wind-up monkey she’d had as a kid.

Mysti came back out carrying two mugs of some kind of tea. She started laughing. “What are you doing? That’s not how I showed you to do it.”

He huffed “Be honest, this doesn’t do anything. You just wanted to see me make a fool of myself.”

She set the mugs on the ground and took his hands in hers. “Well that is a great side effect but this will help if you do it right. I’ll help, but you have to vocalize with me, okay?”

“Fine, but only because I know you’re trying to take care of me. I still think I look like a fool.”

She smiled and reached up and unwound the scarf. “Well the scarf was just for my enjoyment but the rest will help.” Then she sounded the cymbals and sang out the note, nodding for him to do so, too. For the next five minutes they harmonized. Then she stood up. “Now drink your tea, while I go lock up, and then you can give me a ride over to The Lazy Day Spa. We can talk while Glenna does my deep tissue massage.”

He drank his tea and was surprised to find that Mysti had been right, he felt better and more centered after their little session. He stood and unlocked the Suburban. He knew he’d have to hear all about how he was polluting Mother Earth again, but there was no way he could drive a little electronic thing like she drove when she couldn’t ride her bike.

She came out and frowned at his gas guzzler but just sighed and climbed in. “Tell me, what did Uncle Hal do this time?”

“How do you know it’s Dad?”

She looked at him “It’s always your dad. Haven’t you figured that out by now? He gets you and Leanne stressed out so bad some days I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to help you get balanced.”

“I got my plans from Mike today for the inn.”

Mysti clapped. “Oh good, so expansion starts when?”

“Who knows! Dad has stated that the council will have to see if the plans violate any historical building code; and he doesn’t know when that can get done because it’s not on the agenda and I should call Josephine and get a slot. Looks like it might not happen ‘til next spring, if then.”

His cousin got a faraway look in her eye. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. I’d say you’ll be building before you know it. Like by end of the week.”

He shook his head. “No way, I just told you Hal isn’t going to let it happen.”

Mysti put her hand on his and looked him in the eye as he parked at The Lazy Day Spa. “Harry, you know I see what I see, and Mike will be digging footers by end of the week.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Yes, you will, now come in with me, you need to talk to Glenna.”

Harry sighed. Only his quirky cousin would think he ever needed to talk to Glenna. He’d had a crush on her since high school but she hated him. But he knew Mysti, she wasn’t going to let him leave ‘til he did what she said. So, he got out and followed her in.

Three

Glenna came up front at the sound of the front door chime. She stopped when she saw that Mysti wasn’t alone. “What is he doing here, Mysti?”

Mysti frowned. “Not you, too. I swear that man causes me more work than any one psychic healer needs.”

She walked over to Glenna removing an amber colored crystal on a rawhide cord from her own neck and tied it around Glenna’s. “Here, you need this worse than me.” She walked behind Glenna, pulled her blouse out of her pants, and ran her hand up her bare back until it rested between her shoulder blades. “Cough three times for me, please, as hard as you can.”

Glenna looked at Harry who was shaking his head. “She won’t stop pestering you ‘til you do it.”

Glenna nodded and swallowed hard. Her mouth always went dry when he was around. His dark hair and gray-blue eyes made her knees weak and pulse race. When he spoke, the deep timbre of his voice washed over her like a warm bath of massage oil. If he wasn’t Harry Gladstone, she’d kiss him senseless, but he was, and that meant he was off limits. Heck, he was the enemy.

A slight clearing of the throat from Mysti, and Glenna coughed three times. “Oh goodness. You’re in worse shape than Harry was.” Mysti pulled her hand out from under her shirt and turned toward her cousin. “Harry, come here. I didn’t bring the sagats with me so you’ll have to fill in.”

Harry frowned as he walked up to his cousin, who grabbed his left hand and placed it on Glenna’s left cheek. The jolt of electricity that ran through her was strong enough to cause her to shake. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to have Harry help me balance your Sakral Chakra. Now stop fidgeting.” She took Harry’s other hand and slid it up under Glenna’s shirt until his right hand lay just above her belly button.

“Umm, Mysti? I’m not comfortable with this.”

The woman looked at her and winked. “Just relax. I promise this will make you feel better.”

Harry looked as uncomfortable as she felt. “Mysti, what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to sound those tones like I did for you earlier, Harry. Keep your hands pressed tight where they are and look into Glenna’s eyes and breathe deep. On the out breath, I want you to make that oooo sound. Glenna, you breathe with him and when he makes the sound, I want you to match the pitch and do it with him. Got it?”

“This is silly, Mysti.”

“Glenna Schumacher, if you want me to lay down on your table, then you know I can’t do that ‘til your negative balance is made right. So, you breathe and chant with Harry. I don’t know why you two are complaining, we all know you both are attracted to each other.”

“You’re wrong this time cousin.” Harry said. “Glenna doesn’t even like me and the feeling is mutual.”

Glenna frowned. He didn’t like her? “Right.”

Mysti waved dismissively. “Whatever. You both know I’m never wrong on the important stuff, so shut up and breathe and chant together. I need my massage.”

Glenna wanted to argue more but she saw Harry subtly shake his head and the hand on her stomach gave her a light stroke that did wonderful things deep inside her.

“Oh, that’s good! Your vital energy just soared, and you haven’t even started chanting yet.”

Harry smiled at the embarrassment on her face. “Ready to start?”

She nodded slightly and they both drew in air together. Harry breathed out with a deep OOOOOOO and Glenna did her best to match him, only an octave higher. After about ten breaths Mysti stopped them, and Glenna had never felt the loss of touch more deeply than when Harry pulled his hands off her face and belly.

Glenna lead Mysti back to the room she’d set up for her. “Okay, go get undressed and under the sheet. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Okie dokie.”

Harry watched as Glenna led Mysti back to one of the massage rooms. He had tried very hard to control himself when Mysti had placed his hand on Glenna’s bare flesh. He had fought it but couldn’t keep himself from one quick stroke of her stomach. God, she was so beautiful, her skin the color of caramel, just begged to be licked. Her scent, that had driven him crazy since high school, had been even more intoxicating with her breathing out her ooo tones into his face. Her deep brown eyes had stared so deep into his, he was sure he’d never find his way out. He thought back to high school. He’d been sure he was going to be captain of the debating team, right up until he’d had to debate against Glenna.

She’d passed him on the way to her podium for the first debate and he’d smelled her. The combination of cinnamon, mint and some kind of exotic spicy aroma, he’d never smelt before, had turned his brain to mush. She crushed him in the debate and became the captain.

Everyone had been sure she’d become a lawyer, because she never lost a debate. Then, a few years ago, she showed back up in town for her mom’s funeral and stayed to work as a massage therapist. She’d shocked everyone when she won the open city council seat, beating out Hal’s buddy Arthur Cunningham.

He watched as she turned back to him. “So, do you have any idea what Hal thinks is urgent enough to call an emergency meeting tonight?”

He grimaced “Yeah, you’re going to hate it as much as I did. He is going to force a vote on changing the name of the town to Phantom Horse.”

Her beautifully formed cupid's bow mouth dropped open in shock “WHAT? Has he lost his mind?”

“No more than usual. He saw a TV show the other day and has figured out how to, in his words to me, ‘tap into an unreached segment of the tourist industry.’”

“You’re kidding, right? By changing the town’s name to Phantom Horse? How?”

“He’s contacted the producer of Paranormal Encounters to come and bring the API team to investigate the legend of Grandpa Harold. He thinks if they do the show, we can get ghost hunters to come here on vacation trying to see the Phantom Horse and Rider.”

“That’s ridiculous enough, but why change the name?”

Harry laughed. “I asked him the same thing. You know what he told me? ‘No one will remember Gladstone, but when they ask what was that town with the Phantom Horse and when they look for it, they’ll find Phantom Horse, Colorado.”

Glenna shook her head. “I heard you got your remodeling plans but couldn’t get your permits.”

“Yeah, Hal had Gladys put it on hold ‘til Bernie can make sure they don’t violate any historical building code.”

Glenna frowned. “I didn’t think the Estate was listed as a historical building.”

“It isn’t.”

“Then there’s nothing for Bernie to investigate.”

“I know, but Hal told me that it won’t be discussed ‘til it’s on the agenda, and I need to call Josephine to get it on. How much you want to bet he told her not to find space for it next month?”

“You’re probably right, but if he’s going to make me go into a meeting tonight for no reason, then I’ll bring it up and we’ll get it resolved tonight. Can I see the plans?”

“How about dinner over at the Backwoods and we look at them. Because if you don’t go give Mysti her massage, she’s gonna come out here in her birthday suit and embarrass us all.”

Glenna startled. “Oh crap, I forgot she was in there. Yeah, I’ll meet you there right after we’re done here, okay?”

“Sounds good, I’ll go get us a table. Then we can go to this stupid meeting and try not to kill Hal. Please Glenna, don’t kill Hal; then I’d be forced to be mayor and I really don’t want to be mayor.”

“Whatever. See you in a bit.”

Harry knew he should have turned and left, but he stood and watched the sway of Glenna fabulously perfect caboose as she entered the massage room.

Four

Harry entered the Backwoods Bar & Grill BBQ and walked over to the bar. It was only about five-thirty and Toby Campbell was behind the bar as normal. Toby motioned he’d be right over to get Harry’s drink order in a moment. He was flirting with some blonde.

Harry couldn’t think of a time in the past three years when he’d come to the Backwoods and not seen Toby behind the Bar, well, unless he was in the back minding one of the stills used for making the Backwoods signature flavored moonshines. Since he’d gotten out of the Marines, it seemed all Toby cared about was his family business or his fully restored 1949 Indian motorcycle. He’d done all the work himself and the black on black paint job looked amazing.

Toby finally sauntered over to Harry. “Harry, my man, what can I get ya?”

“Better just make it a light beer. I got that meeting over at City Hall in a bit. And can you let Sheri know I’m taking the six top in the corner. Glenna Schumacher’s gonna be here soon and we’re going to look over the plans for my reno.”

Toby leaned on the bar and smiled. “You gettin’ friendly with the enemy buddy? What’ll Mayor Hal say if he hears you took Glenna out on a date?”

Harry sighed and wiped his hand over his hair. “What is with people tonight? Glenna and I don’t even like each other. She can help me get Hal to approve my plans, but she wants to see them first.”

Toby grabbed a Coors Light from the fridge under the bar and sat the cold bottle in front of Harry before raising his hands, in the don’t shoot pose. “Woah, ease up there kemosabe, didn’t mean to touch a nerve. Glenna usually drinks a white wine spritzer. I’ll send one to the table with Sheri when she comes to get your order. But Harry, I gotta say, I think you protest too much on the dislike between you and the pretty councilwoman. Tension like you two spray at each other can make for some fun dates, buddy.”

“Not happening, Toby.”

Toby raised his hands in surrender again with a half-smile “Just saying, buddy. You two could have some fun, relieve all that tension, and tweak Hal’s beak all at the same time.”

Harry picked up his beer, shook his head, and headed for the empty large booth. He’d just gotten the plans laid out when Glenna slid in across from him. “Sorry, gave your cousin a ride home and picked up some tea I’ll need after the meeting. So, show me your big plans for this inn. How much of an expansion and renovation are we talking about?”

Harry took a long pull on his beer to get the smell of beer in his head instead of that intoxicating smell that was all Glenna. Why did his brain stop around her?

“It will triple the size of the House by adding 50 guest rooms, and a full fine-dining restaurant.”

“So, fifty rooms more? You’ll end up with 70 rooms then?”

“No, sixty, see.” He flipped to the reno plans of the original house. “The original rooms on the second and third floor will be turned into king sized luxury suites. Two bedrooms and a sitting room, with a small bath for the double full-size bedroom and a spa-like master ensuite for the king with soaker tub and glass rain shower.”

Harry’s heart raced as Glenna leaned close to look at the blue print. The intense look on her face, as she bit her lower lip, almost made him reconsider what he’d told Toby. He wanted nothing more right now than to capture that lip between his teeth and tug just a little ‘til she opened her mouth for his. Glenna looked up at him. She’d asked him a question, and he’d missed it.

He was saved from looking like a fool when Sheri Spencer came up and sat a white wine spritzer in front of Glenna. “Y’all ready to order?”

Harry sat up. “Give me the Bacon Mushroom Burger and fries.”

Glenna groaned in pleasure. “I’ll have the same.”

“Uh-huh, should I bring ya both another drink then, too?”

Harry smiled. “Just a sweet tea for me. Got to deal with Hal tonight. Best be sober for that.”

Glenna looked up, “Just a water with lemon for me, please.”

“Okay be up in a few. Hey, answer me a question. When did you two start dating? Everybody’s been asking me.”

Glenna choked on a sip of wine. “We aren’t dating. This is a work meeting.”

“Uh-huh.”

Harry glared at Sheri. “She’s telling you the truth. We have a City Council meeting in less than an hour, and this is a strategy session before we face Hal and the Good Ole Boys.”

Sheri looked back and forth between them. “Whatever you say.” She walked away but not before both Harry and Glenna heard her say, “Council meeting was last week, you two ain’t fooling no one.”

“Great, just what we both need. You know someone will call Hal about our date, right?”

Glenna stared at him. “Oh, come on, Hal knows that’s never going to happen.”

“Right, because you hate me.”

Glenna looked shocked and a bit hurt. “I don’t hate you. Why would you think that? You said something like that to Mysti today, too.”

“It’s true, isn’t it? Ever since senior year debate, you’ve had it out for me. You talk about me like something your cat dropped in the litter box. What am I supposed to think?”

Glenna’s eyes filled with tears. “You thought I had it out for you? I thought you didn’t like me. Do you even know why I joined debate club?”

“Because it would look good on your college applications? That’s why I joined. Mrs. Fields told me all my extracurricular activities were sporty and I should have one or two that showed I wasn’t just a jock.”

“Harry, I was an honors student, I had all the academic extracurricular requirements I needed by tenth grade. I joined, because you had.”

“What? Why?”

“Why do you think, genius? You didn’t even know I existed ‘til I whipped your ass in that first debate.”

“Oh, I knew who you were. Trust me, I knew.”

Glenna bit her lip again. “What do you mean by that?’

Harry leaned forward to whisper to her when Sheri arrived with their food. “Go ahead and tell me how this isn’t a date, again, while you’re leaning forward to kiss her.”

Harry jumped up. “Fine, you’re right, everyone’s right, it’s a date.” He walked around the table to stand in front of Glenna and pulled her to her feet, before she could react, he did what he’d resisted doing all evening. He pressed his lips against the one she’d been nibbling on. At first, she was stiff in his arms and her lips were firm and resistant, and then, just when he’d thought he’d been wrong about what she’d been saying earlier, she melted into his arms, and her mouth gave as good as it was getting. Then, just as his tongue snuck out to taste her lips, she pulled back and stomped on his foot as hard as she could.

"Harry Gladstone, if you’re going to kiss me like that you'd better mean it, and not do it just to spite the waitress.” She grabbed her plate and stormed over to the bar where she had Toby put her food in a to-go box. She left without even looking back.

Sheri looked at him with something like pity, mixed with humor. “I guess you’re right, it wasn’t a date.”

Harry sighed and sat back down. He quickly ate, dropped thirty dollars on the table, and grabbed his blueprints to leave. He stopped when he reached the bar. He wasn’t in any mood to face Glenna after the mess he’d just made. So, he decided to skip the council meeting. He reached into his pocket and turned his phone off. He knew Hal, and when he wasn’t there he’d have Josephine call him.

Well, too bad! Hal needed to learn that Harry was a grown man and didn’t have to listen to every word his father said anymore. He had no say at those meetings, and truth be told, he didn’t ever want any say at those meetings. He wasn’t going to become Mayor and tonight he was going to do something else he’d never done before. He was going to drink ‘til he couldn’t remember what a mess he’d made of his one shot at convincing Glenna that he really, honestly cared about her.

Toby came up to him. “Thought you had a meeting to get to?”

Harry shook his head. “Nope, only meeting I got tonight is with your strongest shine. Make it cold and strong and keep them coming ‘til either my money runs out, or I pass out.”

Toby looked like he was going to say something, but just shook his head. Soon he sat a highball with ice and a mason Jar that said Backwoods Moonshine on the label in front of Harry. “It’s the strongest proof we can legally brew, Harry, but be careful with it. You don’t drink much and it kicks a subtle punch.”

Harry glared at him as he poured the glass full and then slammed the drink back and poured another.

Toby shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t.”

The bartender walked away still shaking his head.

What did he know anyway? It’s not like the girl Toby loved hated his guts. Harry slammed back his second glass and poured again. Time to forget.

Glenna sat in her car. She was struggling to get herself under control. On the one hand, that kiss had been perfect, everything she’d dreamed it would be since high school. But he’d only done it out of spite, to mess with Sheri and that hurt. It didn’t hurt just a little, it hurt like nothing had hurt since her mother passed away.

To think that Harry would kiss her like that, without really feeling the way she did, was worse than him thinking she hated him. She should go back in there and show him what he was missing by treating her like that. She could lay a make-out session on him that would burn so hot, Hal would smell the smoke of it from the diner. Once Harry knew exactly what he was missing, she’d walk away like it didn’t even matter. Which sounded great in her head, but she knew she’d be as done in as she wished he would be.

She sighed, looking at her watch. If she wanted to be on time for the council meeting she’d need to leave now. So much for rocking Harry’s world. Instead, she’d just have to do it by solving Harry’s problem, and she had an idea on just how to do that. If she drove fast, she might even have time to do it before the meeting started.

She turned the key and pulled out of the parking lot. She pushed her Mitsubishi Mirage as fast as she dared on the way to City Hall. She wanted about five minutes alone with Hal Gladstone before the meeting officially started. As she pulled into the parking lot, she saw Mayor Gladstone and the other council members heading to the entrance. When they saw her, they stopped to wait for her. That was one thing she had to say about the Good Ole Boy brigade, they were true gentlemen. They may resent her for being part of the council, and they may treat her like an amusement inside the council chamber, but they were polite and protective of her as a woman who lived in their community. The other good thing was, never had their dislike of her come from the color of her skin. Only of her taking the seat they felt rightly belonged to Arthur Cunningham.

As she caught up with them, Hal nodded to her. “Miss Schumacher, I saw your dad today. He asked me to ask you to stop by and see him this week. I think Carl misses you.”

“You’re probably right, I don’t get over to see him as often as I should since I moved into my own home.” She bit her lip. “Mayor, could I have a few minutes of your time alone before we start this meeting?”

She watched as Hal looked in her eyes like he was searching for some trick. “Can’t it wait ‘til after the meeting? This is an important matter we have to discuss.”

“I realize that, but I think you’ll find giving me a few minutes is worth the delay. I promise you’ll be pleased with what I wish to discuss.” She paused, tilted her head partly sideways, and raised her left eyebrow. “Well, mostly pleased.”

Now it was Hal’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You’ve got me intrigued, Glenna. Okay, come with me to my office. The rest of the council can head into the chamber, since I don’t see Harry, yet. Maybe that will give him time to arrive.”

They all proceeded in the building, with Bernie Slater holding the door for her. She smiled at the young lawyer. He was almost as much on the outside of the GOB club as she was. Only difference was that he was the chosen replacement for his father. The first of a new generation of leaders for their community, hand-picked by the older council to support Harry when they moved him in as mayor in a few years. Well, not if she had her way they wouldn’t. Harry wouldn’t be the next mayor, she would.

They got out of the elevator on the top floor and the council went to the right, while she and Hal went to the left to enter the outer office of the Mayor’s suite. Glenna smiled at Josephine, who was just putting a couple of carafes of coffee on a tray with seven mugs to take to the conference room.

“Josephine, I need a minute with councilwoman Schumacher. Will you make sure the recorder is ready to go when we get started?”

“Of course, Mayor Hal.”

“Good. Oh, and call Harry again. He isn’t here. Tell him I’m not happy.”