Part 156 (1/2)

Maggie set the paper aside, and said quite calmly, ”Now,

if you'll excuse me, I have a newspaper to run.”

They stood and began to move toward the door. ”Oh,

one more thing,” said Buckie. ”I'm not saying this offi-

cially-it's just a suggestion.”

Maggie looked up. ”And what would that be?”

”Some of us think it's about time for you to step down

from the Pine Mountain Business a.s.sociation.”

She blinked at him in surprise. ”Are you kicking me

Out?”

He cleared his throat. ”Well, it does seem slightly com-

promising to have someone who's vehemently opposed to

development a.s.sisting in an a.s.sociation where the sole pur-

pose is supposedly to promote commerce in our commu-

nity.”

She clenched her fists but remained in control. ”Fine. If

the a.s.sociation wants me to step aside, I'm more than

willing. I've said from the beginning that I was only helping

Out initially just to get the whole thing off the ground. It was

never my intention to wear out my welcome.”

Kate leaned over her desk. ”It's not that we don't appre-

ciate all you've done, Maggie. I mean, you've had some

really great ideas and ~

Maggie waved her hand. ”It's okay, Kate. I understand.”

”I'm sorry, Maggie,” said Kate as the two of them left her

office.