“No. I mean, yes, but you don’t understand where I’m coming from.” He raised an eyebrow, which she took as a sign to continue. “You have a town full of people who stare at your name every day with hope. And gratitude. Are you going to betray all of these people? Take away their livelihoods?”

“I don’t know any of these people. I don’t care about any of these people.”

Those two statements landed on Kate’s jaw like a string of one-two punches. What kind of man just…didn’t care?

“If they want jobs, they can herd cattle like the rest of my employees, but I can’t waste money on this Christmas foolishness for another day.”

“But your uncle—”

“I am not my uncle!”

It was a roar, a statement to the heavens; the force of it almost knocked Kate back a step. Somehow, she managed to hold her ground even as she couldn’t quite understand the nerve she’d struck. Everyone wanted to be Mr. Woodward; he was as kind as he was insanely rich. The perfect combination. What kind of man hated a man like that?

“Clearly.”

The sharp flash of emotion dissolved as quickly as it appeared. Clark straightened his jacket.

“I think I’ve heard enough. You can go ahead and give me that phone number now.”

“One last thing,” Kate said.

“Yes?”

“During your… During your little speech, you didn’t even wish us a Merry Christmas.”

His refusal to do so left her with a nasty taste in her mouth. A small gesture it might have been, but its absence was so blatant she couldn’t let it go.

“That’s because I don’t celebrate Christmas.”

“Don’t celebrate Christmas?” Kate choked.

“No. Now, give me the number.”

Dumbstruck, Kate’s brain didn’t quite possess the processing power to say anything as she gave him the number. The cogs in her mind were too busy trying to puzzle out his declaration. But once he had the number, he was gone, leaving her with nothing but questions. There was no goodbye. No, “for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Just a curt “thanks,” as he walked away dialing. Kate stood alone on the sidewalk for only the briefest of seconds before a hand touched her shoulder. She didn’t turn around or tear her gaze from the spot where Clark stood just a moment ago; she knew who would be there.

“How’d it go, dear?”

The pity in Miss Carolyn’s question stung. Kate hadn’t even realized tears were forming in her eyes until they left cold tracks down her flushed cheeks. She failed. She tried to save her town, and she failed. With a weak shrug, she decided a little gallows humor was probably for the best.

“Do you know if any places are hiring?”

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Christmas Eve