yet, but we might stumble across something while we’re here.”
Vaughn sighed. “That doesn’t sound promising.” He glanced around. “How about if we find a quiet restaurant and discuss it over lunch?”
He didn’t need to ask twice. She was as anxious to get away from the crowds as he was. They found an Italian place Joanie and Brandon Wyatt had once recommended and were seated almost immediately. Sitting at their table with its red-and-white-checkered tablecloth, Carrie could see why her friends liked it here. The casual atmosphere was perfect. If the food was half as good as the smells wafting from the kitchen, she was in for a treat.
Carrie quickly made her decision and closed the menu. Lowering her gaze, she pushed thoughts of Value-X from her mind for the umpteenth time. Her worries kept intruding on the pleasant day she was hoping to have.
“You’d better tell me,” Vaughn said. His hand reached for hers and he gently squeezed it. “Something’s wrong.”
Apparently she hadn’t done a very good job of hiding her concerns. Rather than blurt everything out, she stared down at the tablecloth for a long moment.
“We learned this morning that Value-X is considering Buffalo Valley as a possible site,” she finally said. “Apparently they’ve already negotiated for a piece of land. I don’t need to tell you what that’ll do to our community.”
“It might be a good thing,” he said slowly. “Try to think positive.”
“If this is progress, we don’t want anything to do with it,” she muttered. Vaughn couldn’t possibly understand. She was sorry she’d brought up the subject. “We happen to like our town just the way it is.”
“It isn’t that—”
“We’re going to fight it,” she said confidently.
“How?” Vaughn asked. “Isn’t that a little like David fighting Goliath?”
“Perhaps, but like David, you can bet we aren’t going to idly sit by and do nothing.” Already plans had started to form in her mind. “Other communities have succeeded. We can, too.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“Damn straight I am.”
“Don’t you think you’re overlooking the positive aspects of a company like Value-X opening a store in Buffalo Valley? They have a lot to offer.”
Carrie glared at him. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“I guess not. Help me understand.” Vaughn leaned back in his chair, his expression serious.
“Value-X will ruin everything. We don’t want it, we don’t need it.” Carrie struggled to keep her voice even.
Vaughn studied her. “I imagine you’re a formidable opponent when you put your mind to something.”
“It isn’t only me,” she told him. “The entire town is up in arms. We haven’t come this far to let some heartless enterprise wipe out all our efforts.”
Vaughn frowned. “Value-X will mean the end of Knight’s Pharmacy, won’t it?”
That was only the beginning as far as Carrie could tell. “And AceMan Hardware.” She ran one finger across the tines of the fork. “The only business I can’t see it affecting is the Buffalo Valley Quilting Company.” Carrie shot him a look and wondered why she hadn’t thought of this earlier. “That’s it!”
“What is?”
“A quilt. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for your mother.”
Vaughn didn’t appear convinced. “A quilt?”
“They’re special. Hand-sewn, and you could go traditional or innovative.”
“How much are they?”
“I don’t know the full range of prices,” she said, “but if the quilt is more than you want to spend, there’re table runners and place mats and lap robes.”
“Hmm.” The idea seemed to take hold. “That does sound like a gift she’d enjoy.”
“I’m sure she would,” Carrie said. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.”
“So how do I go about this?”
“If you don’t want to drive back to Buffalo Valley so soon, I could choose one for you,” she offered.
“Perhaps Mom should pick it out herself.”
“Great idea—and I know Hassie would love to see her.”
“I think it would do my mother a world of good to renew her friendship with Hassie.”
The waitress arrived and took their orders. Seafood linguine for her, lasagna for him. And a glass of red wine for each. “Hey, it’s Christmas,” Vaughn said with a grin.
He took his cell phone from his jacket and flipped it open. Within seconds, he had his mother on the line.
“What about tomorrow?” he asked, looking at Carrie.
“I’m sure that’ll be fine.”
“Hassie will be there, won’t she?”
Carrie nodded. “She’s scheduled to work in the morning, but she has the afternoon free. I’ll cover for her, if need be.”
He relayed the information to his mother, then ended the conversation and slid the phone back inside his jacket. Smiling at her, he said, “Thanks, Carrie.”
A warm feeling came over her, and once again she lowered her gaze. Vaughn Kyle—kind to old women and a thoughtful son. He was exciting and he was interesting and he made her heart beat furiously. She could only regret that he was heading back to Seattle so soon after Christmas.
“I suppose you heard,” Hassie said when Leta Betts came bustling into the pharmacy late in the afternoon. The word about Value-X had filtered through Buffalo Valley, and the town was rife with speculation. Nearly everyone she knew had stopped by to talk it over with her, as though she had a solution to this perplexing problem.
“I don’t like it,” Leta muttered, walking behind the counter of the soda fountain and pulling out a well-used teapot. “Want me to make you a cup?”
“Please.” Hassie had filled prescriptions all afternoon, between interruptions, and she was ready for a break. She’d known that Leta would come by at some point; fortunately, there was a lull just now, which made it a good time to talk to her dearest friend.
“Where’s Carrie?” Leta found two mugs and set them on the counter.
“It’s
