Matt smiled at Leah's faux pas. It was true he had been thinking about running for mayor but he hadn't made a decision. There was a lot to consider, especially what he would do about his other job here in Kalispell. Becoming mayor would mean giving up his job with the Secret Service. He couldn't run a hotel, run a town and keep up with his responsibilities as an agent. Something would have to go.

However, there was also something else. This problem with Ben Robertson and the delay he caused in the hospital project, wasn't something that just happened. Ben would have to go digging through the town records to find this ordinance and he wouldn't have done it unless he had a good reason to. Whatever that reason was, Matt had a feeling that Elias Steelgrave was somehow behind it all. Elias was the only person he could think of who would want to see Leah and the hospital fail.

The main reason for his coming to Kalispell was to keep an eye on Elias. The Secret Service suspected the Steelgrave patriach to be involved in a number of illegal deals, but they had no evidence. Having someone here watching Elias was the only way they might be able to get the proof they need to convict him. However, it was something he would have to think about later.

"I agree with you about Latham. As for myself, I'm still haven't quite decided if I want to run for mayor. It's a big responsibility. However, there's one thing I am sure of. Getting this hospital project going will not be to your father's liking and he will try his best to stop it."

"Yes, I know what will happen if your father gains control of not just Kalispell but the whole region. In fact, it could even affect Montana's chances of becoming a state. I have it on good authority that your father has been very active in other parts of the territory as well not just here."

Matt stood up and took a deep breath. The Service would approve of him running for mayor as it would disrupt Steelgrave's plans, especially if he won. The chances of him winning, however, were good but not great. He was going to need all the help he could get to win this.

"All right, I'll run for mayor, however there's a lot of risk involved. If manage this right, we should be fine, but I will be needing your help and influence. I probably have some support, but I will be needing a whole lot more if I am going to win this. Latham will have all of your father's resources behind him, both legal and not so legal."

"Yes, I know what will happen if your father gains control of not just Kalispell but the whole region.  In fact, it could even affect Montana's chances of becoming a state.  I have it on good authority that your father has been very active in other parts of the territory as well not just here."

"Oh yes, and he still is. His candidate for Governor failed, but he has other irons in the fire. He is after control, possibly a run for Governor is a part of whatever plan he has. I don't know, much has changed in the past months since I was last at the ranch." Leah divulged.

"All right, I'll run for mayor, however there's a lot of risk involved. If manage this right, we should be fine, but I will be needing your help and influence.  I probably have some support, but I will be needing a whole lot more if I am going to win this.  Latham will have all of your father's resources behind him, both legal and not so legal."

"Wonderful! Anything to stop the number of Mayoral candidates, or possible candidates. The dress maker, of course Cole Latham, and there are rumors of a couple more, I believe. But you know how rumors spread. And Matthew, seriously, my father will put some assets behind Latham, but it is just a Mayor, his eyes would be Governor or Territorial senate. Those would be the controllers he wants. Kalispell? To a degree, but not enough to get what he wants. Try the man that brought statehood!"

"All right, as long as we keep the truth about the ordinance just between the two of us, we shouldn't have a problem where that is concerned," he said warmly.

A thought then occurred to him. "I know that we both have people who we would like to tell about this but we will have to use some discretion. The preference is that the less people who the better but if either of us must tell we have to be sure that won't say anything or that they can't be easily influenced. We might have to bring the marshall into this at some point but I'm hoping we can avoid it. Marshall Guyer is a good man, but he won't tolerate anything that is underhanded even if the intentions are honourable."

For a moment, he debated what to say next. Keeping Elias occupied with stopping his daughter would serve a number of purposes, especially where the investigation into his holdings was concerned. Running for mayor would require him to retire from the Service, but he was aware that there was someone else he could call on to take his place. Having just told Leah to be discrete and then not to do it himself would look contradictory. If was going to trust her in keeping the ordinance a secret, then he would have to trust on this.

"There's one more thing I need you to do for me," he said solemnly, "I have something to tell you that you must keep to yourself as well."

The situation had at first been a crushing blow after the evenings celebration with Jonah. Once more her spirits had been lifted to the heavens, only to be dashed against the rocks, as it were. Now, now there was a way to culminate all of her hard work, and that of Jonah, and even Doc Boone, and all those that had done what they could where and when they could to see this project through. Now, with just a bit of underhandedness, she and all of Kalispell could finally get the hospital and eventually the orphanage that they wanted. Well, most of them anyway.

She looked at Matt with new eyes, as she realized whatever he was about to tell her, he was far more than he had appeared to be, and that could be either good or bad, depending.

She smiled, looking at him, "Well Matt, fire away. You have my word I'll say nothing." Yes, a secret, no matter how bad, she would honor his wishes, and her given word.

"That's what I was hoping you would say."

Matt grabbed the chair he had been sitting on and pulled it closer to Leah. It was his way of showing that he trusted her and that he was keeping her at arms length. Once he was seated he leaned forward. "There's no way of putting this lightly so I will just tell. Shortly after the war finished I was recruited into the Secret Service. I am still working for them."

He paused as he let Leah take in what he had just said, "An opportunity arose here in Kalispell for me to be sent here to keep an eye on your father and to gather any evidence I can find in order to bring charges against him. As you know your father has a hand in a great deal of things. We don't know how many or who is on his payroll. Keeping him occupied with trying to interfere with your plans may give us a chance to get what we need."

"The problem is that if I become mayor, I can't run the hotel or continue my duties as an agent. If you're wondering, I do own the hotel. Being a businessman has helped me get into a few places to carry out my duties. The main reason why I am telling you this is that I know of someone who is taking a break from the Service that I would like to bring in to help run the hotel. Outside the two of us he will be the only one who knows."

He smiled warmly, "I know I said that you shouldn't tell anyone but I am hoping you won't mind that I am bringing in someone else. As far as you're concerned, he will be only a hotel employee and will act as such. You won't have to speak to him unless you have to and vice versa."

"You aren't the first to be assigned to take down my father." She said. "It has been something we have lived with for years, as you probably are well aware. I believe it is part of the reason my brothers, with the exception of Case have left the ranch and simply moved on with their lives."

"You have my word your secret is safe with me, I could care less if he's arrested and goes to prison. He has that coming if he's not killed first. And please, bring in who you like should you win, and I have full faith that you will." She knew that sooner or later someone would come. First it had been the local Law, then the Pinkerton's, now, the Secret Service. Moving to the Territories kept Government Law at bay, but only for so long it would seem.

"My only concern is the swift start to building the Hospital and it's timely completion so it can be of use to the territory. You do what you have to, Matthew, I'll support you in that."

Matt smiled, "That's all I wanted to hear. You can trust me to help to get this hospital up and going. If all goes to plan and I do become mayor then what we are doing now won't matter. The only thing, we have to worry about is if Cole Latham gets in but I think that is something that won't happen especially as most people know that he works for your father."

He went over to pick up his hat, and turned to Leah, "Now, how we go sign those papers and get that first lot of soiled turned over before the day is out."

Her smile could not have been broader, her eyes could not have sparkled more with the forming tears of absolute joy at hearing Matt suggest they go and sign the papers that would give her the land she needed and had fought for for so long, it was now, minutes away from being a reality. "I don't know what to say, I mean I know where the vacant plots are, but I've not presented that information. I suppose we can do that at the signing. Oh Matt, really, I, I truly don't know what to say, other than this is a dream come true. We should hurry before something happens that changes everything!"

It was a rare thing to behold, Leah Steelgrave joyfull, Happy and excited. There were wires to send, local folke to rally to begin the process. A trip to the bank to receive funds that would be forwarded from Helena. So much to do, but in reality, plenty of time to do it.