Nadia Nichols - Montana Standoff

Molly pressed the portable phone to her ear as she spoke. “I don’t know what to do, Dani,” she said.

Her friend’s sigh was loud. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Dani said. “Call Steven up and tell him what’s going on. He’ll understand. He sounds like a really nice guy. Besides, Manning’s project may not take that much time.”

“Oh, Dani, the way I feel now, if it only took a week, that would be seven days too long.”

“Call him.”

“I can’t. If Steven wants to see me again, he’ll call me. I gave him every opening to do so. And if by some miracle he does I’ll tell him what Manning said and see how he reacts.”

But he won’t call, she thought to herself. Why would he? We’re standing on opposite sides of a tall fence that divides two very different worlds.

Dear Reader,

Montana is the kind of place that inspires a passionate following of people who seek to protect and preserve what remains of the wild beauty of the legendary American West. The Yellowstone ecosystem is very much a part of that passion, and Montana Standoff is based on real-life tales of people who have fought, and are fighting still, against the threatening power of Big Money and the government giveaway of our public lands. This story is about ordinary people who are making huge sacrifices and big differences to save the very best of our wild heritage for future generations to enjoy.

Steven Young Bear, the grassroots environmental lawyer who first appeared in Montana Dreaming and then in Buffalo Summer, believes that a strong enough conviction of the heart can not only move mountains, but save them, as well. His fight seems doomed from the outset, going up against a Goliath of an adversary—a huge, powerful multinational mining conglomerate with a lawyer named Molly Ferguson steering the way toward bottom-line corporate profits at the expense of everything Steven is struggling to protect.

If you think that one person can’t change the world, think again. Each and every one of us can make a difference.

Nadia Nichols

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This book is dedicated to all those ordinary people

who are out there fighting to make life better for our

grandchildren’s grandchildren. Thank you all.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MOLLY FERGUSON’S AFTERNOON at the law firm of Taintor, Skelton and Goldstein had been relatively uneventful until Tom Miller tapped on the door to her office, leaned his upper body against the frame and gave her a long and meaningful stare. The absence of his usual arrogant smirk put her immediately on guard.

“May I come in?” he asked.

Tom was an egotistical jerk, and Molly’s refusal to date him had made things awkward around the office. She’d been relieved to hear that Tom had just accepted a position in a California law firm and would be gone by the end of the month. Molly laid aside the brief she’d secretly been studying in the off chance she might one day be called upon to do something remotely important. “Certainly. What’s up?”

He approached her desk with a mysterious expression and a thick file folder in one hand. “We were hoping Brad would be in today, but he just phoned again to tell us he’s sicker than ever, and he only just remembered that there’s a public meeting he was supposed to attend tonight on behalf of one of the mining companies we represent. Brad said it was no big deal, just a courtesy to inform the local citizens about the proposed mine and all the benefits it will bring to their community.” Tom paused for effect and smiled. “Skelton was wondering if you could cover for him.”

Molly’s heart skipped a beat. Was she hearing him right? Was she actually being asked to do something other than file briefs? After eleven tedious months of being nothing more than Brad’s glorified secretary, was she finally going to do some real work? “Of course I’ll go,” she said, hoping she didn’t appear too eager. “What time, and where?”

“Seven in a place called Moose Horn, which, according to the latest census, has a year-round population of twenty-seven adults of voting age.” Tom held up the thick file. “You probably won’t have to say a word, but better study up, just in case. The meeting’s being held at the town office, which is about a two-hour drive south of here. You could hop a commuter flight, but that means you’d probably be stuck in Bozeman for the night.”

“I don’t mind driving, but that won’t give me much time to look over the file,” Molly said with a twinge of anxiety, her eyes measuring the thickness of the folder.

“You’ll do just fine.” Tom smiled his most charming smile. “Brad says you’re up to speed on all the legal issues that might be raised at a gathering like this. You shouldn’t have any problems. Moose Horn’s town office is also the fire and police station, and the town library is housed upstairs. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding it. It’s probably the only building for miles around. Look for a man named Ken Manning. He’s the company geologist and mine rep, and he’ll be giving the presentation and fielding most of the questions. We weren’t able to get hold of him to tell him you were replacing Brad, but like I said, it shouldn’t be any big deal.”

“Fine.” Molly reached for the file. “I’d better get started, then.”

Tom held it beyond her hand. “Sorry about ruining your Friday night. I’m sure you had some plans?”

“John was taking me to hear the Mountain Symphony Quartet at the Pavilion, but I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“You’re still seeing that guy? Is it true that he’s been married three times already?”

Molly felt the heat rise into her face. “John’s a very nice man. The file, please?”

“Of course he is,” Tom said. “He’s a very nice man with three divorces under his belt. If you want my opinion, you should be thanking Brad for coming down with the flu and getting you out of that date. And there’s still time for you to discover how good a real man can be. I’ll be around for another week.”

“The file,” Molly repeated, and Tom tossed it on her desk with a smirk.

“You lose,” he said.

Molly frowned at Tom’s departing back. “I don’t think so,” she muttered under her breath, and then began scanning the first page. John wouldn’t be happy. He’d been looking forward to hearing the quartet play. It was almost four o’clock, and he’d no doubt be teaching a music class. She glanced at the phone. No point in putting it off. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate until she made the call. She picked up the receiver and dialed. His secretary answered on the first ring.

“John’s in the middle of a private lesson with a rather important client,” the snooty woman informed her. “Are you quite certain that you wish for me to disturb him?”

“Yes, please,” Molly said with as much haughty loftiness as she could inspire. “It’s actually really important.” She drummed her fingers on her desktop as she waited. And waited…

“Hello?” John’s voice was brusque.

“John, it’s Molly. Listen, something’s come up and I have to attend a town meeting in Moose Horn at seven tonight. I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone our dinner, and as for the recital—”