Steadfast (Iron Horse Book 3) Read online

  Steadfast

  Danielle Norman

  Copyright © 2019 by Danielle Norman

  and F Squared, LLP

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission from either the author and or the above named publisher of this book with the exception for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction.

  The name Danielle Norman® is a registered Trademark

  Contents

  Steadfast

  1. Holland

  2. Holland

  3. Reid

  4. Holland

  5. Reid

  6. Holland

  7. Reid

  8. Holland

  9. Reid

  10. Holland

  11. Reid

  12. Holland

  13. Reid

  14. Holland

  15. Reid

  16. Reid

  17. Holland

  18. Holland

  19. Holland

  20. Holland

  21. Holland

  Thank You

  Meet Danielle

  Let’s Socialize

  Also by Danielle Norman

  Enough

  Stetson

  Getting Even

  I’d like to dedicate this to Stuart Reardon, although you have no clue that I exist. I would like to believe that if I were younger and thinner and not happily married or you were in to older chunky chicks and not in love with your girl then maybe just maybe our worlds would have collided.

  Steadfast

  Danielle Norman

  Sometimes you win; Sometimes you learn. Unknown

  Chapter One

  Holland

  To say that I was pissed was an understatement. The last thing I wanted to do was to sit in some boring ass town hall meeting. I blamed this on my sisters. They strong-armed me to coming by saying things like, “We always do it,” “It’s your turn,” and “You’re one-third owner.” Okay, all of that was true, but it didn’t change the fact that this was the last place I wanted to be.

  I walked up the steps to the old Geneva community center, which I hadn’t been inside since I was little. The last time I’d been here was in first grade and my dad forced me to join Girl Scouts. Thank god, Dad only made me do that for one year, but remembering the way he used to pretend to eat whatever concoction I had made or how he’d worn that tacky scarf I had knitted with popsicle sticks made my heart heavy with loss. People would have thought my badges were the equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, he revered them so much.

  Staring up at the night sky, I blew him a kiss before pulling the door open. The difference between the cold fresh night air and the heated stale air of the old building was heavy. I sneezed as the smell of dust burning on a radiator that didn’t get used often tickled my nose.

  Moving into the room, I smiled at the sight of so many people, for a moment, I felt like I was in an episode of Peanuts. You know how they always show Snoopy talking and it sounds like, wah, wah, wah, wah. That was what it sounded like to me. So many people were talking that nothing seemed coherent.

  I removed my coat and hung it on a peg in the back of the room before making my way to a couple of ranchers who had been close friends with my dad. I didn’t get to say anything before a whoosh of cold air blew in, causing everyone to turn and my ire to grow. Great, just fucking great, if it wasn’t Dick Brooks. Yes, I knew his name wasn’t really Dick, but it was so much more fun to call him that instead of Reid. In my typical greeting, I moved to lift my middle finger, but he was faster, and he grabbed my hand, holding it down.

  “Don’t. You know what that means, don’t you?” His deep voice sent warm shivers down my neck.

  “Yeah, it means fuck you,” I hissed.

  “Exactly, and if you aren’t careful, I might think you are propositioning me.”

  “You wish.”

  Reid took several steps back and looked up and then down my body, taking me in. “Maybe, maybe not.” He strode off, leaving me with my mouth gaping wide open. Fuck. I was seldom at a loss for words, but for some reason, I had been finding myself at a loss a lot more often when he was around.

  “All right, everyone, if you could please take your seats,” a man in a fancy business suit said. Suit, really? Geneva was not a suit kind of town, unless it was for your funeral. Even for church, we wore jeans. I already distrusted this man, whomever he was.

  I followed the crowd to the rows of folding chairs that had been set up, and tried to sit as far from Reid as I could but ended up about three seats in front of him. I turned and glared at him. If looks could kill, I would be decapitating that motherfucker right here in this tiny building. He locked eyes with me and was stunned. Dick, I mouthed.

  “We’re glad to see so many of you here tonight. First, I’d like to make some introductions. I’m councilman Shane Stuart, to my left is Johnson Holbrook, and to my right is his son Michael Holbrook.”

  “As in Johnson Holbrook, the land developer?” Mr. Kirby asked. He was one of the men I’d been headed toward when Reid had come in and he owned a small ranch up the road from mine.

  “Yes, he is.” The councilman waited for a second, as if expecting us to applaud, but no one was clapping.

  I stood. “So, I’m assuming that Michael works for Johnson? In what capacity?”

  “Good question,” someone behind me whispered, and for some strange reason I had a feeling that it had been Reid.

  “I handle all contracts for the company,” Michael said.

  “And you, councilman?”

  “I’m not involved with their business at all. I’m just the representative for this area.”

  I sat and felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, glancing over, I saw the gnarled, callused fingers of one of the older ranchers.

  “We’re here because of an expansion road that is being built to connect I-95 and State Road 417. This new road would exit southbound on ninety-five approximately four miles before the current State Road 46 exit.”

  I tried to envision these locations. I didn’t take I-95 very often but . . .

  “Excuse me, if I’m hearing you right, it seems as if that trajectory would take the new proposed road right over our community.” I looked back to find Reid standing there, arms folded across his broad chest, and his eyes sparkling with an angry glint.

  “If everyone will hold their questions until the end, we might answer them as we go along and save us all time,” Stuart said, somewhat snarky. “At a recent cabinet meeting, the Secretary of the Transportation Commission went over the proposed plans, the companies that had bid on the project, and the lowest bidder was Johnson Holbrook.”

  I was uncomfortable and totally wishing that my sisters were here. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, you know like when they say, someone is walking across your grave.

  “Please.” The councilman held up one hand. “See the possibilities and how this will benefit the intra-community. Right now it takes you, what? At least thirty minutes to get to a hospital? How many of you have to take a cooler to the grocery store just for products like ice cream and popsicles because you can’t get them home before they melt? This road will help you get places faster so the direct benefit to the community is a bonus.” Several of us grumbled because, like me, they were
probably okay going without ice cream and all knew that the paramedics were only seven minutes away. “But for inter-community, the road enhancement will benefit the University of Central Florida, helping ease traffic to its more than fifty-thousand students. It will offer alternative options for moving traffic from I-95 when there are shutdowns or easing the flow from the Atlantic side inland.” The councilman paused for several seconds, and something in me told me the man had been in theater when he was in school. He definitely knew how to wield a dramatic silence. “As you can all see, this has been thoroughly thought out and the benefits are overwhelming. We have contracts for many of you that are an above fair price.”

  “Above fair for what?” I asked, but I didn’t stand to ask it.

  “Please,” Councilman Stuart commanded, “wait until the end. We have a copy of the proposal for everyone who’s affected. Some properties may only be asked to sell a small parcel of land so that we can sink a support beam, others may be larger parcels to feed a new exit ramp into the town of Geneva. With all of this said, I would like to turn the floor over to Mr. Holbrook.”

  “Thank you, Shane. As your councilman clearly stated this is a done deal, ladies and gentlemen, now it is up to you how much you profit from this deal. Once we begin, the state will declare eminent domain, for those of you unfamiliar with the term, it means that for the greater good of the community and people. It is believed that this expansion road will decrease traffic on State Road 46, which has a high casualty rate due to the long straight distance of a single lane. The expansion will also enhance the appeal for future development to improve property values and economics.”

  “In other words, it will destroy our small town,” I chided.

  “What is your name?” Johnson Holbrook asked, directing his gaze straight at me.

  I pushed out a heavy breath and stood. “Holland Kelly, and I want to know exactly how you’ve been developing this idea. I would think that it would take more than a single cabinet meeting for a road that connects from an interstate, which is state owned, to connect to a state road, which is also state owned to be approved, right? You’re talking about appropriating funds from the Florida Transportation Commission—”

  “Young lady,” Oh, I hated when people used that condescending term, “I’m glad to hear that you know how to use Google, but perhaps you should learn how things really work.”

  “Well, why don’t you enlighten us, I’m sure your fancy education that affords your fancy suits can teach us poor country folks a thing or two.”

  When Shane Stuart reached into his briefcase and pulled out a gavel, I almost laughed. He had a real, honest to goodness, fucking gavel. “Enough, Miss Kelly, you may sit.” He banged it three times.

  “No, Shane, let the chit finish.” Holbrook held out one hand as if placating him.

  “I’ll be the first to agree that Holland is fiery but do not disrespect her.” Reid almost shouted from behind me. “You are attempting to take away her home and livelihood, so I would think that you would be a bit more professional.” I smiled, a bit shocked by Reid’s defense of me.

  “And you are?” Shane asked.

  “Reid Brooks, I own Old Kentucky Stables.”

  “Mr. Brooks,” Johnson Holbrook interrupted. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  Reid just nodded and then sat. So, I followed suit.

  “Now, let’s continue. The reason we asked you all to come here this evening was to discuss this proposal and how we hope we’ll be able to come to some sort of agreement. With eminent domain, the state appointed third party—in this case, that would be me—is only required to pay the just value. If you are not sure what the just value of your property is, look at your tax records. As we all know that never shows our true property value. At least for me”—Holbrook let out a fake chuckle—“it says that my home is only worth one-fifth the going rate. I’m sure that the property taxes are the same for all of you especially since you have such large parcels of land.” I glanced around and saw several ranchers nodding, including Mr. Kirby and Mr. Brown. Damn it, he had their attention. “What I want to do now is to make you an offer that is far above what the state would pay you because, let’s face it, the faster we get this settled, the less amount of money it costs me having to pay the interest fees on the loan advance until the state reimburses me.” He let out his stupid damn chuckle again. “We all want to get through this inevitable mess with the least amount of stress, and I’m sure that each of you wants to be compensated for your property.” Several people in the crowd agreed, but some let out grumbles of disapproval, which did not go unnoticed by Holbrook. “Folks, you don’t have to accept my offer, but if you don’t, I would suggest hiring attorneys and try your luck in fighting eminent domain.”

  “I understand that we can’t fight eminent domain, but how do we know that eminent domain is inevitable?” I asked.

  “Young lady, I’m tired of your outbursts. The councilman is here with me as your public official to represent you and announce eminent domain,” Holbrook snapped at me.

  “Funny, you’re the one that is telling us about it,” I snapped back.

  “Miss Kelly, one more outburst and you’ll be asked to leave so that the other residents may have a clear understanding of what is going on,” Shane Stuart threatened.

  More like I’ll be told to leave so they don’t have anyone asking the right questions.

  I sat.

  “Michael, if you will please hand out the packets,” Holbrook directed his son. “He will call your name, if he does, then your property is being affected by the expansion.”

  “Technically, everyone is being affected because everyone is part of this town.” I turned in my chair because, as much as I hated to admit it, I liked that Reid considered himself as part of the community. “The effects on the animals will be catastrophic not just in attitudes for handling but in their lifestyle and breeding. Crops will be affected by the emissions in the air. Would you want your vegetables or fruits grown along a highway? Think of the pollution that would be absorbed into them or into the soil and water? This is more than just the few hundred acres, this is an entire town.”

  “Well, son—” Holbrook began.

  “I’m not your son. I already told you that my name is Reid Brooks.”

  “Reid,” Michael called out and walked over and handed Reid a packet. “And, Holland Kelly, here’s yours.” Michael tossed it to me. He continued working his way around the room.

  Holbrook began again, “Well, Reid, I’m not at liberty to offer the others compensation, I’m sorry. Now, let’s go on. Inside your packets is a contract with our offered price. We’ve also included a pen so that you could sign the agreement stating that you accept that elevated price. It doesn’t mean your property is sold today. Call it a good-faith offer on our part. You see, what it does, is guarantee that you will not be offered less than that amount for your property.”

  I opened my packets and let out a gasp, the asshole wanted almost one-fourth of our ranch. “I thought you said small parcels?”

  “I said some areas would only require small parcels. Unfortunately, the area over your ranch isn’t one of them.” I swore to god there was a smirk on Holbrook’s face.

  “You asshole. You want me to give up a quarter of my property? That is unacceptable, and I refuse to even consider it!”

  “I’m sorry, but you don’t have a choice.”

  “Bullshit, I’ll fight you, you pig.”

  “Miss Kelly, you might want to be careful, you’re treading into awfully dangerous territory. Please understand that I don’t have to offer you that elevated amount and I can rescind it at any time.”

  “Is that a threat? Are you really threatening me in front of half the town?” The balls on this guy were huge.

  “Calm down, Holland, this isn’t the place to fight him,” Reid whispered from behind me. I turned and shot daggers at him. Finally not able to think of any words, I flipped him off.

  “Enough, Miss
Kelly.” Councilman Stuart banged his gavel. “Everyone has their packets, and I urge you to read them and sign them before you leave. We will stay for a few moments to collect the forms and answer any questions you may have that didn’t get answered because Miss Kelly couldn’t refrain from interrupting. Miss Kelly, you are excused.” He banged his gavel once more, then stood, and slipped it back into his briefcase.

  I needed to get to Reid because I wanted to see his packet, but before I could make my way out of my row, Holbrook stopped me. “Keep it up, Miss Kelly, and I’m sure we can have the road moved to go over the entire Kelly Ranch.”

  “It will never happen.”

  “Never say never. The people in this town look up to Mr. Brooks, so I only have to convince him to sell his measly five acres.” With that, he smiled and turned to Stuart, effectively dismissing me.

  I bit my tongue so hard it almost bled, reined in the urge to throttle the man, and turned to find Reid. He was standing by the door and several ranchers were already gathered around him as if he were the Mayor of Munchkin Land. I came to a stop just outside the circle and fought to gain some control and listened.

  “Don’t do anything yet, let me call my attorney and do some research. I think it’s pretty clear that none of us are willing to sign anything, so that makes us stronger together than we are divided. Please hear me out before anyone agrees to anything. If he comes to you or tries to get you to sign this form again just tell him that you’ll need to have an attorney go over it.”