and just a couple tables away she spotted Barbara Harris
with Jed seated to her right. He was staring directly at
Maggie with what seemed to be a confused expression. She
smiled pleasantly and waved his way to signal that all was
well and not to worry. Barbara waved back then turned to
make a comment to Jed, smiling and nodding at Maggie as
she did so. Maggie suspected the older woman was speaking
133.
134Melody Carlson
of her, but felt no concern as she turned her attention back
to Cohn Byers.
"This is such a small town," she said apologetically. "It's
impossible to go anywhere without seeing people you know,
so you just learn to expect it. But I do think that's part of its
charm too."
"Pine Mountain is certainly charming," he agreed. "I'm
surprised it's gone so long without much development-until
now that is."
Cindy approached their table, and Maggie could tell by
her eyes that she was full of questions, but she simply smiled
and asked if they'd like to order drinks and then recited the
specials of the day to them. Maggie knew she'd have to tell
Cindy the details about this later. She didn't want to give
anyone in town the wrong impression. Hopefully, they
wouldn't see this as an endorsement of the development, but
as a sincere effort on her part to be truly nonpartisan.
Cohn was excellent at making small talk and, without
really saying much, managed to keep the conversation
flowing smoothly until the waitress came to take their
orders. Then he moved on to business matters. "I figured you
might like to come down to see a development as soon as
possible," he began. "There's a community in Nevada called
Desert Winds that has its own airstrip, and it isn't a very long
flight from here. That might be a good place for you to
start."
"That sounds fine. But first, Mr. Byers-"
"Please, call me Cohn." He smiled. "That Mr. Byers stuff
always makes me feel old. I think it could send me straight
into a midlife crisis."
She glanced quickly at his left hand. No ring. But that
didn't always mean anything. When she looked up she knew
that he'd caught her peeking and hoped he didn't assume it
was because she was interested in something beyond a busi-
ness relationship, which she certainly was not! So with a
journalist's curiosity she asked, "You must travel a lot. Do
-you have a family?"
Looking for You All My Life135
"I'm divorced, going on ten years now. Both kids are
grown. One in college, he graduates this year. And one who's
about to make me a grandfather." He laughed. "I think it's
Heather's way of getting revenge at me for me leaving her