We may think we leave the past behind but it has a habit of catching up with us
Judge Ben Robertson had just returned from an enjoyable day of finishing when he was greeted with the news that a meeting had been called by Dick Orr. Not knowing why the unscheduled meeting was being held, Robertson had quickly made his way over to the municipal building.
As he was approaching the building, he saw two federal Marshalls exiting. He wondered briefly why they were around before continuing on. If this meeting had anything to do with the hospital, he might be already too late.
After receiving an unbiased assessment from the owner of the bank, Charles Wentworth, Robertson was convinced that the only way the hospital and orphanage could proceed was to have Leah sign legal agreement to step away from the project completely if her father became involved. If Leah agreed to this, then his vote would be yes.
Stepping inside the meeting room, Ben was greeted with a number of people shouting, "Take a vote!"
Going up to the podium where the rest of the town council was gathered, he made his apologies as he took his seat.
Orr saw the Judge enter and made a small calculation in his head. Apart from anything that the Judge might have to say on the matter, in terms of votes, the situation was still the same: if the die were cast and it was two votes for and two against, he, as acting chair, would have the casting vote.
That confounded quack Danforth, no doubt showing off for the benefit the Steelgrave beauty, was loudly calling for a vote and 'Tricky Dicky' smelling which way the wind was blowing, loudly rapped his gavel on the sound block as Robertson took his seat. He held up his hands in a plea for silence.
He then began to explain the complicated process by which the affair must move forward, according to the overwrought and minute rules and regulations of the Town's internal constitution, drafted long ago by a lawyer as tricky as Dicky himself.
"Very well, very well. A public motion has been put by Dr. Danforth that the Committee vote on the proposal to give permission to build a hospital in Kalispell. Such a demand requires seconding by a member of the Committee itself. Do any of you gentlemen second that proposal to vote upon the motion?" he turned to Wentworth, Anderson and now Robertson. It only needed one of them to say an unequivocal 'yes'.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
John Anderson avoided the look from Orr, his feeling, let someone else do it. He was content to just cast his vote, which of course would be by secret ballot as they always were. And he also felt it was none of anyone's business which way he voted on any subject, one of the reasons he rarely spoke on any of them. He kind of smiled to himself, and that was when things changed, completely.
Mary Agnes Anderson stepped through the doors and into the room. Another citizen to witness what was about to transpire, whatever that was, and, however that went. But, the vote would be secret, so no one would ever know how he voted, personally. It had not dawned on him that if all the votes were 'NO' she would know instantly, if all the votes were yay, well then, it wouldn't matter, even if there was just one yay, he would be alright.
----0----
Mary Agnes Anderson strode into the proceedings not to keep an eye on husband John, but to see what trickery and deceit Orr would play on those present. She had heard that the Governor had been to this meeting and she wondered just what the man interest in Kalispells Town Council was. She had seen McVay on her way in, so it would all be in the paper sometime tomorrow. So she made herself comfortable as Dick Orr droned on about Kalispells Constitution, and the current approved rules of order of the Township of Kalispell, continuing to emphasize how the general populace was not allowed voice or vote.
We may think we leave the past behind but it has a habit of catching up with us
As he listened to Orr go on about the rules and regulations, Judge Robertson knew that there would be no chance to approach Leah or talk to the other council members about his idea. This snap meeting had killed whatever leeway the council had in the situation. Since the vote would be silent and having no guarantee that Elias Steelgrave wouldn't interfere, there was only he could go. The town didn't deserve to be caught in the middle.
"Very well, very well. A public motion has been put by Dr. Danforth that the Committee vote on the proposal to give permission to build a hospital in Kalispell. Such a demand requires seconding by a member of the Committee itself. Do any of you gentlemen second that proposal to vote upon the motion?" he turned to Wentworth, Anderson and now Robertson. It only needed one of them to say an unequivocal 'yes'.
Standing up, he answered, "Yes."
" ... - - - ... "
Hector had budged up a place when Judge Robertson had arrived, of course, and was now perched on the end of the big, impressive council table, scratching away with pen and ink; trying to make as accurate and legible a record of the Council's deliberations as possible. Generally, his minutes were precise and concise, although he did allow himself some leeway when he described the poetic interruption of Miss Orr, lavishing a good deal of ink and a considerable expanse of paper on a description of the beautiful Miss Miriam Kaufmann's fanciful costume.
"Proposed: vote on Kal. Hospital - Dr Danforth" he scribbled "Seconded: Judge Robertson" He didn't make a note of how Mr Anderson had visibly started and paled when his wife had walked in, although the hawk eyed youth had certainly noticed it.
He started himself when 'Uncle Dick' called his name.
"Mr. Wigfall, we will require four slips for the vote." Orr boomed. Hector sprang into action with a sort of swift dignity that he hoped would impress Miriam watching from the public seats. He even flashed her a smile as he did his clerkly duty.
As Richard Orr reached for his gold-nibbed fountain pen from his inner pocket, he gave an inadvertent flash of the huge revolver he habitually carried under his jacket. "This is a simple, confidential Yes or No vote, gentlemen. You may abstain, of course, if you can spell it!" he joked, apparently quite at ease over the whole matter. "A majority vote will trigger an order of the Council convening a Hospital Board meeting." he explained. It all sounded very authoritative; Hector sometimes wondered if Uncle Dick sometimes just made this stuff up.
"We don't have a ballot box gents, we'll have to put 'em in Hector's hat!" he chuckled deeply as he ostentatiously wrote on his slip of paper and then, with immense showmanship, held the 'secret' voting slip up for all to see: there in a fine copperplate hand was the single word: Yes.
"Jesus, Orr's voted For!" a voice gasped from the back of the hall.
Matilda had been quiet a while now but inwardly she seethed. Who the hell made up these council rules. For she did have some experience with other town councils - Chicago, Helena being two. All votes were public, the council members had to reveal their stands to all who wished to know. Somehow, this method was a travesty which could allow an unpopular councilman to get away with his outrageous votes.
Still not like she could do a damn thing about it.
"Jesus, Orr's voted For!" a voice gasped from the back of the hall.
Still, Leah felt her stomach drop and the sick feeling of failure engulf her. She watched, feeling as utterly helpless as she was while the men each deposited their slip of paper in Hector Wigfall's cap. That Richard Orr had flashed his 'yes' vote to those present gave her a fleeting feeling of hope, though she felt doomed. She began to doubt why she had ever begun this project in the first place.
The Governor had said there was an alternative, of that she knew nothing. She supposed that she would learn that location, or plan, when she joined his party for dinner. That Dutton Peabody had influenced Houser to come to Kalispell and support this idea was evident to her, and that made her smile in this moment of anxiety over the vote.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
It was a pivotal moment, and Speed was well aware of it. His right hand dropped from his belt to closer to the holster. He looked to Charlie, who was in conversation with young Miss Mudd, and he had no way of knowing whether the new deputy was aware of what was happening or not.
The young man was across the room, stationed opposite of him offering better coverage of the room. Not that he expected gun trouble from those present, but there could be quite a problem on had if the vote went against the wishes of the crowd. He wondered if any of those men on the dais understood what that could mean for their re-election, not to mention their safety.
Pike could feel his blood coursing through his body boil, as the vote began. Unarmed, and with no badge, he suddenly felt naked in light of what might happen, no matter which way the vote went. To him it was common knowledge that there were strong feelings both ways on this issue, the sad part being that it was not about the hospital, but about the Steelgrave name.
He admired her courage in all of this, the heckling she had endured, the threats he knew had been sent her way, and all the while her resolve to remain steadfast had not buckled. However, he saw her head drop slightly as the balloting commenced.
In that moment he wanted to beat Richard Orr within an inch of his life! The pompous ass!
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin nearly dropped his pencil when he looked up to see Orr flash his 'yes' vote. "Grandstander." He muttered, not caring if anyone heard the remark or not. Realizing of course, that his popularity vacillated with whatever was in the current issue.
To him this was the way of most town Councils, small, narrow minded, in it for themselves their constituents be damned! He knew that there was no money in it for any of them, and money spoke. The job, and they received a stipend monthly, was to to do what was best for the community, what would serve the people rather than what would serve them.
And it seemed there was always a four-flusher in charge of these debacle prone boards. Always. A man smart enough to be better, but corrupt enough not to give a good goddamned! Not about the town, it's citizens, or the welfare of anyone, except himself. And that would be "Tricky Dick" Orr.