Read Online Colorado Christmas by C. C. Coburn - Free Book Online Page A

I appreciate it. To be honest, I always figured I didn’t quite fit in with the ski patrol.”
    Lloyd frowned. “You’re kidding, right? Okay, so you’re a bit high-spirited, but you’re also fearless. I knew if there was any sort of emergency, you were the guy we could depend on. That’s why I want you back on the patrol. The pay’s increased since you were doing it, too.”
    Lloyd tipped back his head and chugged a whole beer, then set the bottle on the counter. He wiped his hand across his mouth. “You’ve got the right stuff, buddy.”
    Will’s spirits lifted at the heartfelt compliment. Maybe he should spend more time with Lloyd. The guy was doing wonders for his ego.
    “This town could use more people like you,” he said, clapping his big paw on Will’s shoulder. “I’ve gotta get home, but I wanted to say I hope you’re planning on staying for a while. The place always seems more lively with you around.”
    “If you took the job with the ski patrol, the judge might find you more attractive,” Jack suggested when Lloyd left.
    “It’s not an option, so forget it,” Will said, putting a stop to that line of conversation.
    “The development company is going to make a killing pulling down those buildings and putting up a mall and condos. But what if you raised enough money by selling off your land to buy them back? I could renovate some of those old beauties to create shops with apartments above them, similar to Mrs. C.’s.The houses would come back to life with some TLC. I’m not sure what you could do with the livery stables—maybe a museum. There are lots of possibilities. Plus there’s some land that could be used for more housing, keeping the Victorian theme, of course.”
    Will replaced his beer on the bar and looked hard at Jack. “What are you saying?”
    “Those buildings are brimming with the quaint charm that attracts people to Spruce Lake. Renovating them into a mix of retail and residential use would revive that end of town.”
    Will shook his head. “And Matt thinks I’m the dreamer in the family.”
    “What’s gotten into you?” Jack demanded. “You’re acting like a bear with a sore head. Where’s your enthusiasm? Where’s your vision?”
    “If selling off my land could raise the capital to buy the buildings—provided the company’s willing to sell them,” Will hastened to add, “I still couldn’t afford to renovate them. They’d sit derelict for another couple of decades.” His shoulders slumped. “And then everyone would blame me for letting that part of town go even further downhill.”
    “Don’t doubt yourself, Will, you can do this. I said I’d renovate the buildings. You know I’d do a great job and I’d enjoy the challenge. And you wouldn’t have to pay me, just give me that old church as payment for services rendered.” Jack smiled. “I like the idea of living in a converted church and I could make that little beauty into a decent home.”
     
    W ILL WALKED BACK to Mrs. C.’s that night, his mind filled with ideas— provided he could buy back the old buildings. Jack’s suggestion of renovating the site into shops, apartments and housing had inspired him. They’d retired to a booth and spent the next few hours drawing floor plans of shops and apartments on the paper tablecloth. Rusty kept up a steady supply as Jack’s plans took shape. He was familiar with the size of the buildings and wasn’t a half-bad artist, Will decided as hisbrother drafted proposals for the overall appearance of the buildings.
    Restoring Main Street would necessitate Will’s staying in town long-term and, for the first time in his life, the prospect didn’t fill him with dread. Instead, he felt newly energized. Exhilarated.
    As project manager, he’d have a worthwhile and fulfilling job. It might even make him attractive to the judge.

Chapter Seven

    Nicolas McBride was terrified.
    Johnny Cooper’s immense bulk blocked his way out of the school grounds, preventing