I hold out my hand. “Jim Johnson,” I say. “Good to see you again.”

He shakes my hand, nodding. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

There’s nothing I can say to that. I should have come before now. The town has taken my absence as a sign of disrespect.

“Can I buy you a beer?” I ask.

“That you can, son.” I try to suppress the shiver that runs down my spine when he uses the term son. He slides into the seat next to mine and I order his drink. “Wanna tell me a little bit about what you’re doing up on that mountain?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say. This is why I’m here, after all. I might have a permanent PR associate in place at the Colorado Club, but she’s focused on getting the Club coverage in high-end international publications, courting celebrities, getting the zero point one percenters talking.

I should have been managing the residents of Star Falls from the beginning. Instead I’ve buried my head in the sand, hoping I could build a resort on the edge of town and maybe no one in Star Falls would notice.

“You’ve probably gathered it’s a retreat. A place where people from all over can come and appreciate the great state of Colorado.”

He narrows his eyes and takes a slug of the beer that’s been put in front of him. “Is that right? And you going to encourage these visitors down to our town?”

This strikes me as a trick question. On the one hand, he might see the benefits of having people with a pocketful of cash spending it in Star Falls. On the other hand, he might not want a bunch of strangers interrupting their peaceful way of life.

“That’s something I’ve been thinking about,” I say. “I’d like your thoughts on whether that’s something you’d like to see.”

He lets out a small chuckle.

“I’m creating a lot of jobs,” I say. “Opportunities. If people want them.”

“I hear you’re shipping people in from out of town.”

“There will be plenty of staff housing so people don’t have to be local, but I’m advertising in the Star Falls Gazette. Got it online too. And there’s flyers being handed out at Marty’s Market and the post office. We’re just not seeing the interest from the town.”

A silence settles between us. Jim isn’t a bad guy. He’s not about to run me out of town for daring to change small-town life in Star Falls. At the same time, he’s protective of this place and its residents. Perhaps more so than his wife.

“How’s Mrs. Johnson?”

“You can call her Sue. She’s good. We can see the lights of your place from our back porch.”