It Had to Be Them (An It Had to Be Novel Book 4)

by Tamra Baumann

  Or not meant to, in their case. Coming home and seeing Ben had conjured up all the hurt from when they’d parted ways. Some wounds to the heart cut too deep to mend. She was happy that Ben’s sister seemed to understand. Maybe Casey would be a good person to ask about what she’d heard regarding Ben in the diner. “Rachel told me that Ben had changed after I left. Something about dating. What was she referring to?”

  “Oh. That.” Casey wrinkled her nose. “Ben started dating . . . a lot . . . after you guys broke up. He explains things right up front to women, that he doesn’t commit to one person, and yet still he has a long list of willing ladies to choose from.”

  Long list of willing ladies? “Like all three or four single women even close to his age still living here?”

  “No.” Casey laughed. “In Denver. He flies Dad’s chopper to visit patients in the hospital all the time. But he hasn’t been involved in a serious relationship since yours.”

  Didn’t sound so different from her, except he probably slept with a lot more of his dates. The sleeping with other women part shot a little pang of jealousy to her heart that she had no right to feel anymore. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t fought for her. Maybe when it came right down to it, he was afraid to commit all the way and get married? Cold feet? “I haven’t stayed in one place long enough to have a real relationship either.”

  “I imagine so much travel would make it difficult. And there’s always the part about finding the right guy again. I wasn’t sure I ever would after my divorce. You and Ben were together much longer than I was married.”

  Seven years counting high school. All good ones, until that last day when Ben changed his mind.

  “Yeah. I guess after things fell apart with Ben, I became pretty picky.”

  Casey nodded. “Nothing wrong with that. But I’m curious. Have you found a place in all of your travels that makes you happy? Somewhere you feel at home?”

  Had she? No one had ever asked her that before. “I guess so far, while I loved helping in developing countries, and had fun in Tahiti, I was happiest in Denver.”

  “When you and Ben lived together?” Casey smiled.

  “Yeah.” When Casey’s grin turned to a smirk, Kline added, “But it wasn’t because of Ben, per se. I liked the bigger-city feel of Denver, is all.”

  “There is that old saying that home is where the heart is . . .” Casey waved a hand. “But enough of that. Where are you off to?”

  Kline hitched up her little daypack. “Birding. There are a few places I like just over there.” She pointed to the meadow across the street surrounded by tall trees.

  “That’s where the new distillery is going to go.”

  Kline’s spine stiffened. They were going to build a distillery, and ruin her and her dad’s favorite birding spot? “Where exactly, Casey?”

  “If you walk over there, you’ll see the survey sticks marking the boundaries. I’ve got to get back to work, but can you join us for girls’ night at Brewsters tomorrow evening?”

  Distracted, Kline just nodded and waved a hand as she headed across the street to check out this distillery business for herself.

  Ben sat down in his father’s office and waited for him to finish his phone conversation. He had to try one last time before their council meeting later that evening to convince his father that he needed the land earmarked for the distillery for a new clinic.

  While he waited, he rearranged all the crooked things on his father’s desk. When he glanced up, his father held out his hand for the stapler still in Ben’s and then slapped it down while he listened to the caller.

  Ben really wanted to move the stapler where it belonged, but he sat back and folded his hands in his lap instead.

  Once his father hung up, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his barrel chest. “What was so urgent it couldn’t wait until later?”

  Ben slid a piece of paper across the desk. “I ran some numbers for you. Seeing how the real estate available for commercial use is so limited around Town Square and my clinic is a one-story building with a big footprint and a large parking lot behind, you could use all that space and add higher-quality shops that would appeal to our exclusive clientele. Then it’d make more sense to move the clinic and build a two-story facility where you’re proposing the distillery would go. We’d make up for the added cost by bringing in a few more docs. Dr. Richards and I can’t keep up with the demand as it is and people are driving up to a hundred miles away for medical services that we could easily provide with a new facility and better equipment. There’s a serious need for it, Dad.”

  Ben discreetly wiped his sweaty palms on his slacks and swallowed the desperation rising in his throat. He couldn’t let his father see how much it meant to him. He wanted to bring the best medical care to those who didn’t go to the doctor for years at a time because it was too inconvenient. His father wasn’t about helping people, though. He was about the almighty dollar.

  Dad studied the pages it had taken Ben hours to create. “This is a compelling argument, but you’re forgetting one thing. There’s no way I’m allowing Anderson Butte Whiskey to be brewed on Grant land.” He slid the papers back to Ben.

  “Who cares if the distillery is located just outside of town? It’d probably be better that way for the noise and traffic the facility will bring.” Ben slid the papers back. “And did you see the difference in the bottom line? Moving the distillery could potentially bring double the income.”

  Dad picked up the papers and threw them in the trash. “Potentially is not the same as hard dollars, Ben. Just stick to healing people and I’ll stick to what I do best. Making money!”

  Ben’s heart pounded as he leaned forward to make his case. “You’re just feeding into your ridiculous age-old feud with the Grants instead of considering what’s best for everyone in town. And you can’t stop me from presenting this to the others tonight. Then we’ll take a vote.” He stood and turned to leave before he lost his temper for the second time in two days.

  Dad laughed. “Go ahead, waste everyone’s time and present your numbers. But no one is going to vote against me. They all know better.”

  Ben walked out the door and just barely refrained from slamming it. He hated that his father was right. Dad had appointed everyone on the council. They were all too afraid to do anything to cross him. Except for Ben’s grandmother. And maybe he could get Fred on his side. Then they’d have a real fight.

  He was in such a foul mood over Kline anyway that he looked forward to the battle.

  Kline walked through the tall grass and checked out the survey stakes that delineated most of the meadow as a building site. There was no way they could construct that large a building without disturbing the surrounding trees. She hated to see any part of the forest removed, but especially a quiet meadow surrounded by trees that had a river flowing a few feet nearby. It attracted all sorts of wildlife because there were no homes or humans to disturb the animals. That’s what made it the best place to go birding and still be close to town.

  The air grew cooler as she walked a few feet into the shadows of the forest. She found a nice spot near the river and sat down, her back against a tree. After digging her phone out from her backpack, she pulled up her birdcall app. She hoped to bring an owl to her, or maybe a male kestrel who hadn’t migrated south yet. Just as she was about to play a call, she heard a monotone “Whup, hoo-hoo,” followed by a nasal whistled “Toweeeeeeip.” Kline quickly stood and approached the edge of the cliff that had a rushing river at the bottom of the deep ravine. Owls liked to make their nests in the rocky walls above the water. Her guess was that the call was coming from a Mexican spotted owl, or Strix occidentalis lucida in scientific terms. Her heart rate sped up at the thought of adding a federally threatened species to her lifetime list of identified birds.

  Walking slowly and as silently as possible along the bank, she heard the call again and glanced up into a nearby tree. There sat the owl, watching her. She quickly spread her fingers
on her phone’s screen to zoom in and snapped a picture to confirm the species sighting. Then she slowly backed away.

  She hurried to her backpack at the base of the tree and found her bird guide to double-check that she had identified the owl correctly. If she were right, they weren’t going to be able to build anything the size of the distillery nearby. It was against the law to knowingly disturb the critical habitat of a bird that is covered by the Endangered Species Act.

  Paging through her book, she finally found the bird. The guide said that the owl was most often found on the west coasts of the United States and Mexico, but some lived year-round in Colorado. It was large, had a round head, dense mottling on the breast and belly, and no ear tufts, so it looked like the right owl to her. Just to be sure, she sent the picture to her ex-boyfriend, Nate, who did biological assessments for the Feds now.

  Ninety-nine percent sure she was right, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed for the mayor’s office. A few people had mentioned the groundbreaking ceremony soon, so she needed to let Ben’s father know he might have to wait until a biologist determined whether they could build anything near the owl’s nest.

  Kline trudged through the tall meadow grass until she hit Main Street again and then she quickly walked the short distance to Town Square. When her phone dinged with a text, she stopped and read the screen. Nate confirmed that it was a spotted owl she’d seen. She quickly tapped back the information about the distillery going in soon and asked what she should do before she slipped her phone back into her pocket.

  After passing by the white bandstand that stood in the middle of the park, she crossed the street and went up the stone steps that led into Town Hall and the mayor’s office. Just as she approached the glass doors, Ben came striding out with a fierce frown etched on his face. When he saw her he stopped, opened his mouth to say something, but then just lifted a hand and kept right on going.

  Ben was one of the most easygoing guys she’d ever known. He rarely got angry. Something must be up. “Are you okay, Ben?”

  He stopped, turned around, and then huffed out a breath. “I’m fine.” He pointed to her backpack. “Been out birding?”

  “Yeah. Found a spotted owl where the distillery is planned and I was just going to tell your dad that he’ll need to wait up on building anything until a biological assessment can be done.”

  Ben cocked his head. “Nothing can be built there? Because of a bird?”

  “I suppose you could build something there as long as it wouldn’t disturb the forest area where the owls nest.”

  Ben’s mouth slowly formed into a big smile. “So say, something smaller and two stories that would fit in the meadow area alone might work?”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’ve e-mailed someone I know in Denver who assesses areas for the Feds. Only an expert like that would know for sure. And now that I’ve alerted him, I’m sure he’ll come check it out or send someone else. They take their threatened species pretty seriously.”

  Ben took hold of her arm and guided her down the steps. “This is perfect. Can you come to the council meeting tonight? So everyone can hear this? It’s at seven o’clock.”

  She threw her thumb over her shoulder. “I was just going in to tell your dad now.”

  Ben kept tugging. “It’d be better to tell everyone at once. So this is serious business, right? If the Fed person says it is?”

  “Yes.” She had to jog to keep up with his long strides. “Your dad won’t be able to get a building permit if the assessment won’t allow it.”

  Ben stopped walking, grabbed both of her arms, and turned her to face him. “You might have just solved my biggest problem for me.”

  She blinked. “I thought I was your biggest problem. You said you didn’t want to be anywhere near me.”

  “Only because all I can think about when you’re around is how much I want you.” He gave her a smacking kiss on the lips. “Thank you, Kline.”

  The quick kiss surprised her, and at the same time left her traitorous lips wanting more even though they’d set the no-touching ground rules between them. But it was nice they weren’t at odds at the moment, because she really would like to be friends with Ben again, so she replied, “You’re welcome. But what’s going on? I don’t get it.”

  “World War Three is probably going to break out tonight when my dad figures out he might not get his way.”

  That Ben’s father ruled the town with an iron fist had always irritated her. “I’ll be sure to wear my flak jacket.” She raised her hand for a high five.

  He moved his hand like he was going to slap her palm, but slowed at the last second and then weaved his fingers through hers. “It’s nice to be on the same team again.” He gave her hand a squeeze and then released it. “See you tonight?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Thanks.” He smiled, then turned and walked away.

  She hated to admit she’d missed being on Ben’s team too. She’d felt like a lone, free agent ever since they’d broken up.

  Kline let her smile bloom as she turned the opposite way to go home. Maybe the tyrannical, gruff mayor was finally going to get his due.

  As Kline passed by her uncle Zeke’s house, it reminded her that she still needed to figure out a way to charge her car, so she turned up his driveway and toward his warehouse-size shop. The familiar whir of power tools filled the air as she stepped inside. But it wasn’t her uncle making all the noise; it was a tall, muscular, blond guy she’d never met. When he saw her, he swiped off his protective glasses and beamed a friendly smile. “Hi. Let me guess. Are you the infamous Kline?”

  “I am. But I was expecting to see my uncle Zeke.”

  “He’ll be right back. He just went for some donuts at the diner. I’m Josh. Meg’s husband.” He wiped his hand on his jeans and then stuck it out.

  “Nice to meet you.” She returned the shake. “You used to be in the FBI, right?”

  “Yeah. I’m liking this line of work a whole lot better. Although, the grapevine around here rivals the FBI’s intelligence network. It’s been all lit up about you. Everyone’s excited that you’re back.”

  If she heard that one more time, she’d scream. “I appreciate it, but I’m not staying.”

  Her uncle called out, “We’ll see about that, Kline. We’re all determined to change your mind.” He opened his arms for a hug as he approached.

  “Believe me, I’ve noticed.” She circled her arms around her uncle’s tall, thin body and gave a hard squeeze. “You need to eat a few dozen donuts, Uncle Zeke. You’re still too thin.”

  He patted his stomach. “You’ll be happy to know I’ve recently gained five pounds. It’s all the great dinners Ruth is feeding me these days. But not tonight. She has a council meeting, so I thought I’d grab a snack so I don’t starve to death.” He held up his bag of donuts and winked at her.

  Her uncle had always had a crush on Ben’s grandmother and an insatiable sweet tooth. She was glad to see him so happy. “I guess I’m going to that meeting tonight too. Who all is on the council these days?”

  Josh answered, “The mayor, Toby, Mrs. Anderson, Fred, and Pam.”

  Her uncle offered her a donut, but she shook her head. “Not a single Grant?”

  “Nope.” Zeke stuffed a bite of powdered donut into his mouth. “You know the mayor. Wouldn’t want anyone who might disagree with him on the city council.”

  “Figures. Hey, do you still own that big piece of land on the edge of the town limits?”

  Her uncle nodded. “I’m going to let Josh use the forested portion on the far north end. He’s starting up a camp for kids next summer. Why?”

  “Would you be interested in parting with some of it for the distillery? It’d be a perfect place for it, especially because the strip mining that went on all those years ago has left the whole front half by the road pretty barren.” She filled them in on the owl.

  Uncle Zeke glanced at Josh. “Would having a distillery at the en
trance to the camp road work for you?”

  Josh shrugged a broad shoulder. “The camp will be way at the rear, so I don’t see that being a problem. But it’s your land, Zeke—do whatever you want. I just appreciate you letting me use a portion of it.”

  “Well then, I guess I might be interested. For the right price, of course.”

  “Of course.” Kline smiled. “If I get a chance, I’ll throw that out as an option tonight. It’d be the best place for it. But I really need your help with something else. I need a way to charge my electric car.”

  “No problem.” He popped the last donut in his mouth and then held out the empty bag. “Write down the make and model on this.” He handed her a pen from his top pocket.

  After she’d written down all the information, she handed the bag and pen back. “Thanks.”

  “Let me get Josh to find us some parts on his fancy phone there, and I’ll get you all set up. Give me a few days?”

  “That’d be perfect.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll let you know how the meeting goes. Ben said there should be fireworks tonight.” She lifted a hand. “Nice to meet you, Josh.”

  “You too, Kline.”

  When she turned to go, her uncle said, “I might just have to show up to the meeting tonight. I’d love to see the mayor’s face when you tell him he can’t have his precious distillery because of a bird. I’m proud of you for standing up to him, Kline.”

  “It’d be the Feds standing up to him, not me. I just hope he doesn’t shoot the messenger.”

  Ben caught up with his grandmother on her slow trek up the stairs to Town Hall and slipped his hand under her elbow. “Hi, Grandma. Let me help you.”

  She swatted his hand aside. “I can walk up the darned stairs on my own. I’m not all the way over the hill yet.”

  “Okay.” Ben released her but stood close behind just in case. She wobbled with every step. “Hey, I need a favor tonight.”

  Grams huffed a little as she raised herself up the next stair. “And I need you to work things out with Kline. But you’re being awful stubborn there, so why should I help you?”