Matt nodded, "Yes...yes I think Hector Wigfall should retain his position.  If you could let him know as soon as possible, it will be greatly appreciated. I have one more person to ask to join the council but I have wait until sometime during the week when she comes into town."

"She?! Another Lady?!! Ho ho ho, my, my Mr Wentworth, you will have us accused of having our own personal harem!" he laughed, then coughed, realising that joke was not only weak, but in incredibly bad taste for a gentleman to make. 

"I er, ahem, please forgive my levity, Mr Mayor, but if that was my first thought, it will also be that of the majority of the townsfolk. Do you really think it is wise to have a full fifty percent of your council, Fifty Percent I say, Suh, made up of the weaker and let us face the fact, more emotional and less intelligent sex?!" he asked wonderingly. 

All of a sudden the velvet curtain whipped open and Jemima popped out with a look of wild enthusiasm on her usually placid almost bovine, features.

"Mister Mayor, Sir, I think that is the most wonderful idea I ever heard!!" she gushed at Matt "We women don't have the vote yet, but we will one day! And until that day we will still make up half the population of this Town, and of this country, and our talents should be utilised as much as those of the menfolk in the good ordering and running of things!"

If Miss Wigfall's ideas might have seemed a little ahead of their time, it was by dint of her involvement in the Spiritualist church which was an early bastion of of women's rights movement before it even had that name. 

Pettigrew was not impressed.

"Miss Wigfall, you will attend to your sewing machine, if you please, and leave men to talk of men's business!" he barked. 

Jemima gave an obedient "Yes Sir" but also gave Mr Wentworth a smile first, before she disappeared behind the curtain again. 

"You will have to excuse my employee's enthusiasm, Mr Wentworth!... Or maybe no excuse is needed, as she appears to be of your party, Suh!" he conceded. It had to be said, though, not all the women of Kalispell would be as receptive to the idea of two of their sex being sat upon the council: but that was an issue to be faced anon. 

JulieS

"As you know most business owners are not willing to risk their livelihoods and upset Elias Steelgrave.  You also know that he has the support of the likes of Nolan Ashworth and Carson Tyndall.  So...I had to look to those who are not reliant on him in any way.  I was also looking for people who aren't that reliant on Lost Lake either...although Harriet Mercer lives there, she is still a lawyer and knows the law. If Lost Lake were to do things illegally I know she would see to it that those involved would come to justice."

Pettigrew nodded, sagely.

"Well, Sir, the proof of the pudding shall, as they say, be in the eating! when do you propose..." he paused, and then barked "Miss Wigfall, I believe I asked you to return to your sewing machine!!" How the portly draper knew, without turning around, that the frowsy shopgirl was still peeping through the curtain at Mr Wentworth was a mystery. Maybe he could hear the panting. 

"... I say, when do you propose to hold your first meeting?" the ginger haired dressmaker asked. 

He didn't know much about Alders, but apart from Wentworth, who looked every inch a leader, the rest of the Town Council would be a rum-looking bunch, to be sure!

JulieS

"The first meeting may be the end of this week or early next depending on whether or not I get Harriet Mercer to join the council.  If she declines then I will have to find someone else.  My list has excluded some names for various reasons including some personal ones and so, finding someone suitable will be hard."

"Well, in my personal experience, Mr Wentworth, sometimes having personal friends involved in business with you, be it commercial or official, can be more of hindrance than a help,: the friend expects favours - or for you to always agree with them. I hope you will find me a friend, Sir, but you will also be able to depend upon me never to ask any favours or expect us to always see eye to eye on every matter. No indeed. Nobody will be able to accuse us of being a mere Cabal!" Worcester expressed himself honestly, if a little windily. 

"If you have any questions, just drop by the mayor's office or the hotel as I will be most likely be at one or the other.  However, I now have to get back to the hotel and see how things are.  My assistant manager, Kurt, is still learning the ropes and I should go and see how he is going as we've got a few people staying there who are making some last minute visits to friends and family before the winter sets in."

"Yes indeed, business must be carried on!" nodded Pettigrew with a laugh. "I don't mind telling you, husbands seem to be getting stingier by the month around here, judging by the number, or rather lack of new made to measure dresses being ordered of late!" the draper grumped. 

He held out his hand, "Thanks, again for accepting my invitation."

"Oh, er, my pleasure, Mr Mayor, my pleasure! I shall look forward to it immeasurably!" nodded Wus, looking serious and giving Matt a firm shake. Why, he was pleased as Mr Punch by this turn of events and as soon as Wentworth had gone, retired to his quarters above the store and began in earnest writing draft bills for the Committee's perusal, memoranda, and other council-y documents, in his broad flowing copperplate hand, which had something of the last century about it as, to be honest, did he.