Seven Roses (Haremworld)

A few hours earlier

I couldn’t believe I was sitting in the same room with Axe Teller and an interrogation wasn’t underway. I was usually grilling him about something that could get him sent away when he was sitting across from me. There was still tension, even if the feud was essentially dead. Axe and I didn’t start out as bitter rivals, but when I put the badge on my chest, I had no choice but to hold him accountable for his actions. When he broke the law, I was there with handcuffs. It didn’t help his case that there really wasn’t any crime in Granite Falls unless he was the perpetrator. It was a peaceful life for the most part and when he was in prison, the only thing I had to respond to was lost pup

pies and the occasional rowdy group down at The Water Barn. If the state would have just put marijuana on the ballot, it would have made things easier. I hoped Axe would hold up his end of the deal and stay on the straight and narrow—for Samantha’s sake more than mine. If he didn’t, he would be disrespecting the very gift that Samantha had given me in exchange for peace.

“So why did you hate me so much, Jesse?” Axe reached for his beer and took a drink.

“It wasn’t hate.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m the sheriff in Granite Falls. I can’t just let you break the law and get away with it.”

“I wasn’t hurting anyone. I didn’t sell to kids, not that there are many around here—most of my customers were old people who didn’t want to get doped up on prescriptions.” He let out a sigh. “I made money off of it, but I was trying to do it the right way.”

“There isn’t a right way when the law is involved. The law decides what is right and wrong, not you.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “That is why the two of us never could get along.”

“You won’t have to worry about it again.” He sipped his beer and put it back on the table. “I’m not going to do anything illegal.”

“I hope that’s true.” I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not going to keep a tab on you like I normally do, but if you get mixed up in that shit again, I will still have to arrest you. So you’re going to get a job and try to be a productive member of society?” I chuckled at the thought. “I don’t see that happening. I doubt anyone would hire you anyway...”

“What are we going to do about Granite Falls?” Axe folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“I’ve been thinking about that.” Mayor Danvers walked into the room from the kitchen. “Sorry to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear.”

“This town is on life support.” Axe looked to him. “I mean, I love it to death and I don’t want to leave, but what happens in five years? Ten years? The school barely has enough students to afford turning on the lights. The factory is gone. Almost everyone who grows up here leaves...”

“Yeah...” I nodded in agreement with Axe—agreeing with Axe—that didn’t happen very often.

“I’m working on something, but you have to swear you won’t tell anyone except those of us that will be living in this house—agreed?” He looked to me and then to Axe.

“Yeah.” I nodded and Axe did as well.

“There is a fifty-mile stretch of highway between Granite Falls and the rest of the world. Most people don’t know this, but American Motors is looking at that stretch of land for a new plant. The biggest thing we need to get this town going again is jobs. The plant will bring a lot of jobs—and jobs bring people. I’ve been negotiating with them and we’ve got enough real estate to bring the plant to Granite Falls. At this point, I would practically give them the land if it would get the plant closer to us.” He reached up and scratched his head. “We just need permits and the state owns the land out by the highway, so they aren’t returning my calls.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Axe reached for his beer.

“Not unless you know someone on Capitol Hill.” Mayor Danvers exhaled sharply. “We need this...”

“You guys don’t know anyone on Capitol Hill?” Samantha walked down the stairs, her eyes still a little glazed over from spending most of the day in bed.

“Samantha!” I jumped to my feet. “Please have a seat, what do you want? Coffee—tea—soda?”

“Probably some coffee.” She rubbed her fingers across her eyes and yawned. “I need to wake up.”

“Right way.” I walked towards the kitchen and started a pot before returning to the room.

“So, anyway...” Mayor Danvers sighed. “I don’t want you to think I’m not trying. I don’t want word to get out and everyone to get their hopes up because it probably won’t happen. However, if they do build a plant here—even fifty miles away—it will attract some other businesses.”

“You can’t give up.” Samantha tilted her head. “I might know someone I can call.”

“Huh?” Mayor Danvers’ attention was instantly drawn to Samantha. “Who?”

“My father did some work for a guy named Charles Payne when I was younger. His daughter, Jennifer, and I went to the same college, so we hung out a lot. He’s a real estate developer and if memory serves me correct, he does a lot of work for the state. Let me give her a call when I get back home and see if she can talk to him.” Samantha nodded and smiled.

“Wait...” Axe leaned forward. “When you go back home? You’re leaving?”

“I’m definitely going to come back, but I do have to take care of some things at home before I can just move to Granite Falls permanently. I need more clothes than what I have in my suitcase.” She looked towards me when I entered the room with a cup of coffee.

“Speaking of things you need to do.” Mayor Danvers stood up and walked to his suit jacket that was hanging near the door. “I went ahead and took care of everything for your grandmother’s place. Just sign this paperwork and I’ll get it processed.” He dug into the pocket and returned with a rolled-up stack of papers.

“Thank you.” She smiled and took them from him. “That’ll keep me from having to stop by the courthouse on my way out of town.”