Part 21 (2/2)

quickly to the front door, holding it wide open and nodding

as if she had suddenly gone mute.

Once on the porch, Rick turned to her and said, ”You

better not make us look bad in your paper, Maggie. This

development has the potential to help this whole sorry town

get back on its feet. I don't think the local businesses will take

it kindly if you do anything to discourage growth and devel-

opment of this kind.” Then he grinned slyly. ”And anyway,

we all know that you and the paper are pro-development-

you made that real clear last summer. You wouldn't change

your stance now, would you?”

She pressed her lips tightly together and, without

answering, solidly slammed the door almost in his face. She

knew it was childish and rude, but she couldn't help herself.

”I've got everything I need now,” she said out loud as she

marched back into her office and flipped on her computer

switch, waiting irritably for the machine to warm up. Then

she furiously began writing her story, pounding on the key-

board as if it were personally responsible for this whole hor-

rible affair. Only after nearly an hour did she pause long

enough to phone home and let Audrey know that she'd been

sidetracked at the office. By the time she finished her piece

and was on her way home, she knew that it was one of the

finest stories she'd ever written-full of pa.s.sion and heat and

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