Page 26 of Fight for You

My heart swells with gratitude for the people who rallied behind us. We are fighting for something bigger than themselves, and we must face whatever legal challenges lay ahead. I glance at her once more.

“We can't let Mayor Collins intimidate us. We have to keep fighting, no matter what,” she says.

I nod, my gaze never leaving his. “We'll protect this town, together.”

The sun dips, but we stand united, ready to face whatever obstacles may come in the pursuit of preserving the heart and soul of Lawson Ridge.

“Ready to break away and hand out flyers?” I call out, warm brown eyes crinkling with a smile as she approaches me. I carry a stack of freshly printed flyers, which I hand to her.

“More than ever,” she replies, green eyes sparking. Together, we hand out flyers and talk to passersby about the dangers of the proposed commercial center. The townspeople's support is palpable, fueling the resolve as we gathered signatures for the petition.

Just as the crowd swells, Mayor Collins appears in the center of the square again, flanked by her stern-faced legal team. Herpresence is like a chill wind sweeping through, causing murmurs of discontent amongst the gathered protestors.

“Miss Thompson, Mr. Harrison,” Mayor Collins addresses us, her graying hair pulled back tightly. “You have been given ample warning. Cease your protests immediately, or my legal team will take action against you both.”

I clench my fists, heart pounding. The weight of the community's gazes are upon me, waiting to see how Brylee and I will respond to the mayor's threat.

“Mayor Collins, we're simply exercising our right to stand up for what we believe is best for Lawson Ridge,” I say, voice steady and confident, even as the tension in the air seems to thicken.

The mayor's lips thins into a tight line. “You are jeopardizing the future of this town. The commercial center would bring jobs and revitalize our economy,” she counters, her voice rises in volume.

“By destroying what makes Lawson Ridge special?” I retort, staring Mayor Collins straight in the eye. Murmurs of agreement rose from the gathered crowd, their frustration with the mayor's actions clear in their tense expressions and clenched fists.

“Enough!” Mayor Collins snaps, her eyes narrowing. “You have until seven to disperse, or I will have no choice but to unleash the full force of the law upon you.”

With that, she turns on her heel and stormed away, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. As we exchange glances, we must continue our protests while minimizing the risk of legal action. But one thing is certain: we are not backing down. For the sake of the beloved town, we will stand our ground, no matter the cost.

As Mayor Collins disappears into the distance, Brylee and I stand rooted to the spot, my heart pounding. The crowd's murmurs swells like a stormy sea, but I can barely hear it over the rush of thoughts swirling in my mind.

“We can't let her intimidate us. This town means too much to both of us.”

“Agreed,” I reply. “We knew this wouldn't be easy, and we're not backing down now. We need to consider our next move.”

As we stand there, locked in each other's gaze, the weight of the situation presses down. It is as if we are caught between a rock and a hard place – the desire to protect Lawson Ridge from losing its soul to commercialization and the fear of the consequences that awaited if we continue to defy Mayor Collins.

I imagine what it will be like to walk through Lawson Ridge's streets if the mayor has her way – sterile, devoid of charm, and bustling with strangers who didn't understand or appreciate the town's history.

“I'm scared,” she confesses, voice trembling. “But I can't stand by and watch everything that makes this place special fade away.”

“Neither can I, Brylee,” I say. “I've spent my life caring for the animals and people in this town, and I can't bear the thought of it all being replaced by cold, concrete buildings.”

For a moment, we allow ourselves to be enveloped by the energy of the crowd, fears and doubts temporarily silenced by the power of our shared convictions. We will face challenges and that there is a chance we can lose everything, but the fire within us burns too brightly to be extinguished by fear.

“Whatever we decide to do next,” I say, voice steady despite the uncertainty that still lingers in the air, “we'll do it together. And we won't let Mayor Collins or anyone else take away what makes Lawson Ridge our home.”

“Absolutely,” she agrees, squeezing mine once more. “Together, we'll protect this town and everything we hold dear.”

As we turn to face the crowd, there is a surge of strength and determination coursing through my veins. The road aheadwon't be easy, but with her support and the love we both have for Lawson Ridge, we are prepared to fight for what matters most.

20

Brylee

I stand on my front porch, absently twisting a lock of my hair. The breeze whispers through the tree.

Is that... Tucker.My heart skips at the sight of my ex-husband's truck. The last time I saw him was when we signed our divorce papers.

“Who's that?” Leo asks, emerging from the house behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. His warm brown eyes meet mine with a hint of concern.

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