Hannah Cory stepped aside as the door to the Marshal's office opened and John Anderson exited with barely a nod at her. That was understandable. After years of seeing the young woman clad in riding clothes, wearing a badge, and carrying a rifle, and her hair a wild mane, it was likely the man did not recognize her. Deputy Marshal Hannah Cory had been replaced by the mayor's only daughter, a young woman that wore a dress and slippers and had tamed her wild hair into a neatly coiled bun with only a few strands artfully framing her face and emphasizing her cat-like eyes.

For years, Hannah had worked as Marshal Scott Cory's deputy marshal. After the former mayor had had to step down amongst rumors of corruption, Scott Cory had been elected to serve out the rest of his term. Henry Guyer had been chosen to take his place and Hannah had regretfully resigned when her father said they needed to set an example for the town. Now, however, Scott Cory was stepping down and not running for re-election, leaving Hannah at loose ends once that occurred. During his tenure, she had helped keep everything flowing in his office, taking meeting notes, addressing minor concerns.

What was next on her horizon, she wasn't sure.

Hannah smiled as she entered the office. She did not know Guyer well as she had only worked for him briefly, but what she knew of him, she liked. They had had a few interactions once she took the job in the mayoral office, but nothing unpleasant.

She extended her hand, "Marshal Guyer, it's a pleasure to see you." Mayor Scott Cory had made it a policy not to interfere with law enforcement unless word of major corruption or illegal actions on the part of the marshal or deputies. To date, that had not occurred. However, he anticipated a backlash from the front page article in the Kalispell Union and wanted to make sure the mayor's office was on the same page with the Marshal's plans.

Hannah unfurled the newspaper she had carried tucked under her arm, "My father sent me..."

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"Good," Hannah nodded approval to Guyer's explanation. "My father suspected that the newspaper had it all wrong, but figured it was best to be on the same page with you, so to speak. He'll back your decision, of course." She shook her head and grinned, "A random patrol to watch over things is a long way from being martial law."

"And how is your father? Rumor has it he is considering retirement. Is that true?" Speed asked.

Hannah had turned away to look over the old, familiar office. Turning back to Guyer, she smiled, "He's ready to leave politics behind and settle down on the farm, maybe help out here and there if needed. He stepped up when asked, when Crowley was found to be as corrupt as the day is long, but his heart isn't in it. He will announce soon." Hannah tapped the newspaper she carried, "We'll both be looking for what's next in our lives."

It had been awhile since Hannah had had an occasion to just talk to the Marshal. While she'd only worked for him briefly, she had developed a sincere liking and respect for the man. Now, she listened attentively, taking in his perspective on the upcoming mayoral election. Hannah had also gained a new respect and incentive for the town of Kalispell and its people while assisting her father with his daily duties administering to the town.

"I think," Hannah replied with a sincere smile, "that my father would say that he owed the town. It has given him a home, a career, and a decent place to raise his daughter. I've learned quite a bit myself over the course of the last year or so...enough to know I'd far rather be in riding pants and carrying a badge than running this town...good as it and its people are."

This led her to Speed's observations regarding the candidates vying for the town's highest elected office. She shook her head, "Before Mr. Wentworth got into the race, Dad was thinking hard about running again. Not much to choose from between Hiram Priest and Pettigrew...except Priest is as shady as a person can get and not be in jail. Pettigrew is alright...seems honest...just maybe not what this town needs in a mayor. I believe Mr. Wentworth has the background, especially in business management, to do a good job."

As the person that organized most of her father's meetings and events, she had dealt with Matt Wentworth off and on over the year. He seemed like a good man and was always kind and respectful to her....even back when she wore a badge and carried a gun.

Hannah sighed, "The railroad? I didn't know that the decision had been made for it to put a railhead here yet. The town could use it, but I don't care for the idea of the riff-raff it will inevitably bring with it. Speaking of... think we'll make it to winter without things exploding between Lost Lake and Evergreen?"

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"You know, that's the thing, the rumors have spread like wildfire. I had not heard anything about any decision being made, though I believe that Governor Houser had said something about it when he was here to support the hospital idea." He smiled, "Not bad having the Governor wanting the hospital, Miss Steelgrave worked pretty hard to get things moving this way in Helena."

"Rumors, lies, and portents," Hannah laughed, "sometimes it's the same as guns, lawyers, and money...especially if the Kalispell Union tells the story," she replied to Guyer's comments regarding the railroad. "At least I know that I need to chase down some information and get the facts straight before anything happens. When I have the information, I'll drop in and let you know."

Hannah shook her head in response to the marshal's remarks regarding Lost Lake, the Evergreen, and the hospital. "You'd think Elias would want a hospital. We could lead the northwest in that regard, make the region more attractive, bring in more investors and settlers." She tilted her head and regarded Speed with a curious expression, "Do you know what bee is in his bonnet over the hospital?"

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“Yes, you would certainly think a hospital was wanted by everyone, but Elias is not the only one who is or was against it. The fight with the Town Council was certainly something, and Judge Robinson's disappearance just as it all came to a head, that was a real blow to those wanting to halt progress." Guyer explained. "But, by and far the biggest threat to the hospital would be her own father. Elias is not against the hospital; he seems to be against anything his daughter might undertake without his permission."

“Honestly, I was surprised to learn that Leah Steelgrave had an altruistic bone in her body,” Hannah replied with a fleeting smile. Her only experiences with the Elias Steelgrave’s only daughter had been fleeting and less than pleasant. The woman had a reputation of being malicious and one of the old man’s more effective tools for dealing with rivals…especially wealthy male rivals. That she was a major player and proponent of the hospital had surprised and intrigued Hannah. Her first instincts were to wonder what game Leah Steelgrave was playing now. However, her intentions, so far, appeared sincere.

"Now the railroad, that's a whole nother kettle of fish!" He stated. "I know there was word that in fact, the railroad was coming through here, and that would be why Leah obtained the right of ways to trade for property to build the hospital and the planned orphanage." He chuckled, "And to think grown men were against such a plan, and with a valuable trade offered. That needs to be watched as well so that certain interests are not held by the wrong people. Though I'm sure Matt Wentworth will have something to say about that."

“Mr. Wentworth will keep it all on track, so to speak,” Hannah agreed. “I was under the impression that the California-Northern railroad was competing with one of the major lines for the run from Missoula to Kalispell. William Carter, the man that built the railroad for his private use, passed away leaving everything to his son, Devlin. The son is the one that wants to expand the railroad and bring it here from Missoula. I think he fancies himself as railroad tycoon since the old man had the private lines in California and other areas of the northwest.”

Hannah paused in her narration to collect her thoughts, “Mr. Devlin Carter paid my father a visit. He wants the contract to bring Cali-North here and suggested he might be interested in other business opportunities here in Kalispell. He wasn’t shy about mentioning that his father was a long-term client of one of our residents, Miss H.G. Mercer.” She tried to keep her expression and tone neutral when speaking of Devlin Carter. Truth was, while he had given her no overt reason to dislike him, there had been something off about the man. She had not liked his eyes and he had given her a bad feeling although Hannah’s research into the man’s background had yielded no skeletons. Her father had pointed out that they did not have to like him if he was willing to put more capital in the town.

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