Chapter 8

They arrived by train, Mr., and Mrs. Benson. Mr. Benson was the 'official' Post master for the mail in Seattle. He would be handling all the posts and packages that went in and out of the mail. 'Mrs. Benson' would work the telegraph office as she herself was an expert telegrapher. They went directly to Lottie's Saloon and Hotel to register. They would look for a home later when they were comfortably settled in their positions.

"The first thing my dear is to meet the town council!" Said Mr. Benson to his 'Wife.'

"George, we must first freshen up before we meet them? Have Mr., Rochester and Arlington arrived here?" She asked her 'husband.' Benson looked around for any signs of a new bank and a mercantile or store. He saw the store just past the saloon.
"I will inquire at the store my dear, you sir, take up these bags for us. Suite 104. " Mr. Benson said as he put a quarter in the palm of Jason Bolt who happened to be standing near the desk. He said nothing but carried the bags up to the room. While Mrs. Benson followed. He opened the key to the room and waited for her to step in before he brought the bags in. Then he went in and placed the bags in the adjoining room and went back to the door. She slipped a piece of paper into his hand as she gently brushed by him to open the door. Neither spoke a word. Jason left the room and went back downstairs.

Matilda took her hat off and sighed. She was almost too tired of these 'spy games' but she was not going to stop now. She took her gloves and jacket off and went to the powder room to clean up. While she was there, Mr. Benson came back.

"Murial, Murial!" he called for her.

"I'm in the powder room, I will be out in a moment." She said. She came out a few minutes later and looked at George Benson. He was a short man, a little shorter than she was but he was still a good-looking man. He had slightly graying hair, and also blue eyes which reminded her of Jason. She shook her head to get Jason out of her mind. She had a job to do and could not do it with her emotions running wild.

"What time are we to meet the town council?" she asked.

"We are to meet with them at 2 pm this afternoon. It is 1 pm right now. Do we have a little time for a drink and maybe some 'sport'?" He asked her. He called such things like that 'sport' his real wife Murial who was home taking care of the children did not suspect that his job had what others would call certain benefits. Matilda understood this and was determined not to have time for a 'sport,' so she poured the wine and added something to help him get a little sleepy.

"Ah, my dear, thank you for letting me call you by my wife's name. It makes it so much easier to enjoy the 'sport'!" He said. She smiled behind the wine glass and waited. It did not take long. He sat down and fell asleep quickly. The next thing he knew, she was waking him up and fixing her dress top as if they had had a little 'sport.'

"George! George! It is time for us to go?" He woke up and wondered what had happened, but when he saw her hair all disheveled and when he got up, he had to close up his pants, he felt like he had been well satisfied! He finished cleaning up and she straightened her hair, and they were ready to meet the town council.

They went downstairs and out the door of the hotel. They were to meet at the bank office with Mr. Rochester, Mr. Arlington, Mr. Stemple, Miss Lottie Hatfield and the Bolt brothers. As they stepped inside the office, everyone was seated and waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Benson.

"Hello, George and Murial Benson, I would like you to meet the town council!" said Mr. Rochester continuing on: "This is Mr. Arlington, Mr. Stemple, Miss Lottie Hatfield and Jason, Joshua and Jeremy Bolt, owners of the Bolt Mining Company!" George put out his hand and everyone shook it. 'Murial' did the same... Joshua and Jeremy shook her hand as well. When Jason shook her hand, she came back with a slip of paper
Aaron started the meeting and had Mr. Rochester speak.

"As many of you here know, I am now the official banker of this town and I hold all the debts and mortgages for the town. I have asked certain business to be sure to make a payment on any debt they owe. If they cannot do that, they will forfeit all the claims they have to their business and leave the town within a week." There was a clerk who was taking the minutes of the meeting who also carried a folder with certain papers to be presented to those who owed the debts. Aaron was not smiling. He had already spoken to his lawyer, and they could not find the receipt for the missed payment.

"I will now direct my clerk to distribute those receipts that are owed to the Seattle Olympic Bank. Mr. Peabody, please hand out the receipts!" Mr. Peabody did as told. Aaron received one, Lottie received one as did the Bolt brothers. All were astounded.

"What is this?" Joshua said, "Jason, do you know anything about this?" Jason just had that blank look on his face and did not respond to the question. He still seemed not to remember things. Joshua was fuming. Jeremy was worried for his big brother. Jason acted as if he was still not able to concentrate or remember things. He would go up to the mountain and stand there for hours, but not do anything. Big Swede tried to get him to help a little, but it was no use. Jason always walked back to the town. Aaron was unhappy that they had not found the receipt and Lottie was beside herself and angry with Aaron, he had done her books and she had trusted him. She did not want to lose her saloon or hotel. Not when she was ready to expand. She turned to Aaron and said:

"Aaron, how could you? I trusted you! You have ruined me? Do I have enough to make this payment? How could you do this to me Aaron!" She turned and walked out of the room trying not to cry. Aaron for his part was angry that these, these people would take away everything here in Seattle. Joshua was ready to fight for the mountain, so was Jeremy, but they felt lost because their oldest brother who had been their rock, upon whom they trusted, was not his normal self. What were they going to do?

"Mr. Rochester, we can try to give these people some time to gather what they have so that they can at least stay in business?" said 'Murial. But Joshua thought he recognized her and said:

"Hey, you aren't that lady who…." Jason stood up and said:

"Stop all this noise! I need it quiet in here! I can't think! Father is not going to be like this, we have to meet together! Now, Family meeting!" Jason called and walked out of the bank and towards the totem pole. Their cabin was still damaged, no one had been working to rebuild it. Jeremy followed him and grabbed Joshua by the arm. They left the meeting and followed Jason. Around the totem pole and to the back of the dormitory. Meanwhile Mr. Rochester and Mr. Arlington and Mr. Benson were congratulating themselves upon the demise of Seattle's first citizens! 'Murial' was nearby Aaron and slipped something into his hand. He turned around to look out the window and read the note. He then walked out of the bank office and headed over to the jail and then around to the dormitory.