Chapter 2 #2
“It isn’t a good idea,” Hawk countered. He leaned back in his chair, careful of his cast. “We don’t need a bunch of outsiders running through town and creating havoc. Plus, it’s not like we want to encourage the tourist trade. I ran to Billings last week and hit traffic. Actual traffic.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “Come on. There are no traffic jams in Montana. You probably saw a couple of bison in the road. That’s not real traffic.”
“Yeah, there was,” Hawk muttered.
Jem cleared his throat at the front of the room and tapped the microphone. “All right, we only have one item on the agenda.” He peered down at his notes, then back up. “Young lady, go ahead.”
Bianca stood and began pitching her idea for the movie.
It was a Western, a romance, and she promised they would be in and out within three weeks.
Her voice carried easily through the room, confident without being pushy, and Adam found himself enjoying the way she held herself, shoulders back, chin lifted.
“What about the environmental impact?” Madge Wilson, a retired librarian and current county commissioner as well as council member, asked.
Bianca shook her head. “There won’t be any environmental impact.
We plan on using actual rain, and the movie takes place during spring, so we don’t need to create snow.
There’s no artificial volcanic ash or anything like that, and we promise we’ll clean up any mess we do make.
” She paused, then continued. “I’m scouting locations, so if anybody would be willing to offer their ranch or farm for a shoot that may take a few days, we’re happy to pay.
In addition, we’ll need extras, so locals can get some screen time.
We’ll also need places to put actors and crew, thus boosting the local economy. ”
Adam couldn’t help noticing her small waist and long legs.
She was tall and was built right with plenty of curves.
She glanced toward him again, and their eyes met.
Hers were the tawny brown of a new fawn, much lighter than his own.
God, she was cute. Freckles dusted the bridge of her nose, and her eyes were animated as she spoke. She really believed in this.
Mrs. Hudson rose slightly in her seat. “As you know, Bianca is one of us. She was raised here until she was, what, eight?”
“I think it was closer to six,” Bianca admitted with a smile.
“Well, she’s local, and she’s coming back home,” Mrs. Hudson said firmly. “I think we should welcome her.”
Freddie Ironwood, a member of the Kooskia Tribal Council as well as a city council member, tapped his gnarled hand on the table. “I don’t mean to be negative, but we only have one motel and a B&B. It’s not like we can house many of your crew.”
Bianca smiled. “That’s all right. We’ll fill the motel and the B&B, of course. We’ll bring in trailers, rent or buy space for them, and we’ll use hotels in the closest cities and drive people in. We want to create the least amount of interference with Mineral Lake and Maverick County as a whole.”
Councilwoman and Tribal Council member Phyllis Rainwater winked a sparkling brown eye at Bianca. “We don’t really see any environmental problems.”
“That’s so kind of you, Councilwoman,” Bianca said. “In fact, the director would love to include the local tribe in some of the story, if you like. You’d have full artistic approval over anything added.”
Phyllis smiled. “That’d be real nice, and we can set up a meeting with the chief and council,” she continued. “I don’t see why we wouldn’t want to be involved.”
“I’m so happy to hear that,” Bianca said. “I haven’t seen Chief Lodge since I was a little girl. How is he?”
“Oh, he’s fantastic.” Phyllis grinned. “Still riding a bronc every chance he gets, and he’s going to officiate Hawk and Dawn’s wedding next month, so he’s been careful not to get injured this spring.”
Laughter rippled through the room. The chief was tough, well loved, and very much a part of the town, and Adam wondered if this movie might be harder to stop than he’d thought.
“It looks like we’re all settled. Is there anybody who is against this movie?” Jem asked.
“Yeah, I am,” came a low voice from the back.
Adam started and turned to see Billy Rockefeller stand.
“Ah, crap,” Hawk muttered at Adam’s side.
Rockefeller headed up a group that lived outside of town called the Concerned Citizens, who were pretty much a bunch of bozos who liked to shoot guns and were against any kind of development. Adam crossed his arms as the man spoke, already bracing for it.
“We don’t want a bunch of outsiders coming in and polluting our land,” Rockefeller said. “You want to put up an RV park? Do you have any idea what would go into that?” He lifted one finger. “You need water. You need sewer. We are against that on any of our land.”
Bianca cocked her head, calm and composed. “We wouldn’t put in an RV park. We’d bring in self-contained trailers. We don’t need water or sewer for that. We’d bring our own.”
“We don’t want a bunch of people running around town and causing traffic,” Rockefeller shot back, “and there’s no way you can guarantee this would be wrapped up in three weeks.”
He was thin, wearing a blue sport coat over tan Dockers, and several of his people sat behind him in a mix of suits and flannels. There were about ten of them.
“Anybody else?” Jem asked.
Mrs. Poppins stood up beside Bianca, her posture proud. “The Lady Elks are fully in support of the movie, and we would like to be extras.”
A ripple of amusement moved through the room.
“How much do we get paid?” someone called.
Bianca smiled. “If the city council approves the movie, we’ll negotiate a contract covering payment to the city and any extras. Keep in mind that anyone who’s an extra will definitely be filmed, but it doesn’t mean you’ll make the final cut. I can’t guarantee that.”
“Oh, we understand, dear,” Mrs. Poppins said. She craned her neck. “Hey, Adam, did you decide they could use the bar for a scene or two?”
Bianca turned, her eyes twinkling, a small smile tipping her pink lips. “Yeah, Adam. What do you say?”
Adam stood. His mother had raised him better than to speak to ladies while seated. “I guess that’ll be a contract we negotiate as well,” he murmured. Another wave of peachy-pink washed across Bianca’s cheeks, making her look fucking adorable, and a protective instinct tightened in his chest.
“Excellent,” Mrs. Hudson said brightly. She turned back to the council. “Time to vote.”
“Wait.” Pike Thatcher stood, his Stetson in his hands.
He and his brother worked the ranch next to Adam’s now that they’d both retired from the rodeo at the ripe old age of thirty.
“I don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Lady Elks, but I’ve seen what movie crews can do to small towns.
I vote no on this one. The weather hasn’t been cooperating, and we’re all swamped with downed fences and wandering cattle. ” He sat, tugging on his flannel.
“I agree.” Boyd Kessler stood, his wranglers worn from washings.
He was in his early forties with dark brown hair and mellow blue eyes.
He owned a smaller ranch and also worked in construction around town.
“We’ve got too much going on to deal with Hollywood people, right now.
Maybe next year. I’m sorry.” He also sat, not looking at Mrs. Hudson.
Jem brought the gavel down. “All right, let’s vote.”
All four members voted affirmative. That was it.
The council moved on to old business Adam didn’t bother following, and soon the meeting was adjourned. Chairs scraped, voices rose, and people began to file out. Dawn moved forward, spoke quietly with Mrs. Hudson, then met Bianca and brought her over.
“Hey, Bianca has agreed to join us for dinner,” Dawn said.
Adam glanced at Hawk. “We’re going to dinner?”
“Yeah,” Hawk said, grinning. “The four of us.” He tilted his head. “Right, Adam?”
Adam didn’t answer right away. He was too busy watching Bianca smile like she’d just stepped into a situation she hadn’t expected, and finding that he didn’t mind that one bit.