years. Money down a rat hole, mostly. And the premium is high enough.”
“Mr. Coates, I hope you never have to use the policy. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.”
Roland humphed and snorted, but he signed on the dotted line, and Randy was wondering if he’d get enough other business that month to cover what this one would be costing him.
“But tell me about this road.”
That took just a moment for Randy to catch up with. “You’re meaning Gold River Highway?”
“If that’s what they’re calling it. I’m talking about the one that’s coming over the mountain and into Hemlock.”
“Yes, sir, that’s Gold River Highway.” He hadn’t heard Coates’ opinion on the possible effects to the neighborhood.
“When is it being started?”
“Started? You mean, when would they start on the construction?”
“What else would I mean?”
“Now, you don’t need to be concerned as it’s not even certain that they ever will. We don’t have funding for it yet, and even if we did, the Board of Supervisors would still be voting whether to accept it, and there are already a few of the neighbors expressing their opinions against it. And I’d guess the board is leaning just a little bit toward a no vote. So I’m recommending that everyone stay calm and we’ll see what happens.”
Mr. Coates was just staring at him. “They might not build the road?”
“I’d call it far from certain.”
Roland did not look calm. “You’ll be voting on the road?”
“Well, sure. And I’ll be protecting the interests of Mountain View and Wardsville.”
“What are you going to vote?”
“That’s what I was saying. I want to keep that road from barreling right down Hemlock as much as anyone.”
“McCoy, what are you going to vote? Yes or no?”
“Well, no. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
“No? Against the road?”
“Yes. Or I mean, yes, I’ll vote no.”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought. Rip up that paper. I’m not insuring my business with a fool.”
This was going to take a bit of working out. Randy stared for a moment, sort of frozen, and then he got himself breathing again, and then thinking. “Now, Mr. Coates, sir, you’re telling me you want the road built?”
“Of course I am. I’m speaking plain English, and you could learn to do the same.”
“Well, sir, now, so far I’ve only heard opinions to the contrary. But if that’s the case, that you’re favoring the road, and it really only does make sense that you are, that’s an important piece of information. Very important. On the weight of that, I’ll retract my statement and just say that when and if the funding comes through, I’ll make sure I’ve heard from everyone on both sides.”
“Now you’re saying you’ll vote for it?”
Randy took another breath and tried to pick just a few words out of the crowd that came to mind. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Haven’t decided. When will you decide?”
“When it’s time to vote.”
“And when will that be?”
“If we get the funding, which is hardly likely to my mind, then we’ll have the last vote in December.”
Mr. Coates didn’t like that, either, but it didn’t look like he’d be yelling at Randy over it. “I won’t know about the road till December?”
“That’s the schedule, and there isn’t anything that would change it.”
“December. Very well. Go ahead and take that contract before I change my mind again. But you’ll be hearing from me.”
“Yes, sir, that’s why I’m here.”
“Bunch of political foolishness. Give me stroke before it’s over.”
About the last thing Randy was going to suggest was that Roland have a doctor check his blood pressure, as that would be Everett. But on the other hand, that might just be taking care of two birds with one stone, with the two of them each giving the other a stroke.
With that unworthy thought, he left for his walk back home. It was a perfect blustery March day and the
“Mr. Coates, I hope you never have to use the policy. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.”
Roland humphed and snorted, but he signed on the dotted line, and Randy was wondering if he’d get enough other business that month to cover what this one would be costing him.
“But tell me about this road.”
That took just a moment for Randy to catch up with. “You’re meaning Gold River Highway?”
“If that’s what they’re calling it. I’m talking about the one that’s coming over the mountain and into Hemlock.”
“Yes, sir, that’s Gold River Highway.” He hadn’t heard Coates’ opinion on the possible effects to the neighborhood.
“When is it being started?”
“Started? You mean, when would they start on the construction?”
“What else would I mean?”
“Now, you don’t need to be concerned as it’s not even certain that they ever will. We don’t have funding for it yet, and even if we did, the Board of Supervisors would still be voting whether to accept it, and there are already a few of the neighbors expressing their opinions against it. And I’d guess the board is leaning just a little bit toward a no vote. So I’m recommending that everyone stay calm and we’ll see what happens.”
Mr. Coates was just staring at him. “They might not build the road?”
“I’d call it far from certain.”
Roland did not look calm. “You’ll be voting on the road?”
“Well, sure. And I’ll be protecting the interests of Mountain View and Wardsville.”
“What are you going to vote?”
“That’s what I was saying. I want to keep that road from barreling right down Hemlock as much as anyone.”
“McCoy, what are you going to vote? Yes or no?”
“Well, no. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
“No? Against the road?”
“Yes. Or I mean, yes, I’ll vote no.”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought. Rip up that paper. I’m not insuring my business with a fool.”
This was going to take a bit of working out. Randy stared for a moment, sort of frozen, and then he got himself breathing again, and then thinking. “Now, Mr. Coates, sir, you’re telling me you want the road built?”
“Of course I am. I’m speaking plain English, and you could learn to do the same.”
“Well, sir, now, so far I’ve only heard opinions to the contrary. But if that’s the case, that you’re favoring the road, and it really only does make sense that you are, that’s an important piece of information. Very important. On the weight of that, I’ll retract my statement and just say that when and if the funding comes through, I’ll make sure I’ve heard from everyone on both sides.”
“Now you’re saying you’ll vote for it?”
Randy took another breath and tried to pick just a few words out of the crowd that came to mind. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Haven’t decided. When will you decide?”
“When it’s time to vote.”
“And when will that be?”
“If we get the funding, which is hardly likely to my mind, then we’ll have the last vote in December.”
Mr. Coates didn’t like that, either, but it didn’t look like he’d be yelling at Randy over it. “I won’t know about the road till December?”
“That’s the schedule, and there isn’t anything that would change it.”
“December. Very well. Go ahead and take that contract before I change my mind again. But you’ll be hearing from me.”
“Yes, sir, that’s why I’m here.”
“Bunch of political foolishness. Give me stroke before it’s over.”
About the last thing Randy was going to suggest was that Roland have a doctor check his blood pressure, as that would be Everett. But on the other hand, that might just be taking care of two birds with one stone, with the two of them each giving the other a stroke.
With that unworthy thought, he left for his walk back home. It was a perfect blustery March day and the
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