"Well, sir, it seems as if we have the town of Seattle at our fingertips. With the prominent citizens out of the way, we can now start our enterprise." Mr. Rochester said to Mr. Arlington and Mr. Benson. Lottie was not too happy; they did not take into account that she was a 'prominent citizen as well! She was about to say something when 'Muriel' tapped her elbow and moved her head toward a door on the side of the room. As the men were pouring their drinks and smoking their cigars, they did not notice the women who left the room.

"You are one of them Mrs. Benson! What do you want with me!" Lottie said quietly.

"Lottie, it is me, Matilda, do you think for a moment I wanted this to happen? I am in disguise! Right now, they do not suspect us because they think we are women, that is to our advantage, don't you think?" Matilda said as she and Lottie left the building.

"Where are we going?" Lottie said worried about what was happening. Just then she saw a group of people over on the other side of the dormitory. The ladies that were still at the dormitory, the other citizens of Seattle and the Bolts, Aaron and Ben were meeting. They were in the planning stage.

"Mr. Stemple, I brought Lottie as well!" Said Matilda as she stepped forward and moved toward Jason to stand by him. Aaron smiled.

"Thank you, Matilda, Okay, may I have your attention, does everyone know what they are going to do? Good, then Jason, you and Matilda come with me and Lottie, we are going to my office. The rest of you take your positions!

Once inside, Aaron had Lottie sit down on a chair.

"My dearest friend Lottie, you have a part to play in this, if you choose to do so and I am hoping you will!" said Aaron as he and Jason and Matilda remained standing.

"Why do you need me? You didn't seem to need me at the meeting?" said Lottie. Jason looked at her and said:

"We, Seattle, needs you! Because you are the only one that can stop these men!" Jason said, Aaron prompted him to continue.

"Your part in this will be not only to see to their demise, but also to see Seattle rise again and triumph over those who are trying to tear us down." Jason knew he was getting to her, so he waited to see if she was going to take the bait!

Lottie looked at all of them from Jason to Aaron to Matilda, she knew if Jeremy and Joshua were there as well as Candy and the others, she would say yes.

"Yes, okay, what is it I have to do?" She said as she stood up and Jason and Aaron smiled.

"Lottie, you will seem to join their side, because you own the saloon, and they still want to take it from you, but they underestimate your abilities. They will be asking you to sell it to someone named… what was her name Matilda? Asked Jason.

"The Lady's name will be a Miss Vanderhoff!" Aaron shuddered, Jason was surprised, She had not said who it was until now.

"I see you remember her, all of you, well, she is again working a con, she has thrown herself in with this venture and we will need her to be compromised. So, what you will do Lottie is provide a room for her. You, Aaron, renew that relationship with her. Lottie, you will find him in the room, you will expose her for what she is, Aaron you already know. What Lottie will say to the gentlemen will soon have them confessing what their scam is and we already have an agent or two nearby to arrest all of them." Matilda said. Aaron was worried, he wasn't sure he could do it. Jason was worried about both Aaron and Lottie. Matilda looked straight at Aaron and Lottie and said:
"Aaron, I sense you are afraid and well you should be, but keep you mind focused on why you are doing it. Do not let your emotions in. Lottie, I am more worried for you, the men do not having a strong female business woman. They think that they can back you into a corner, just stay focused and you will do all right. I need to get back to the bank. Lottie, you will accompany me, we can say we had women's business to attend to." She said this and as she walked out the door, she gently took Jason's hand and squeezed it. He squeezed back. He did not like that she was in danger or that she was with someone else, but he knew that her heart belonged to him. She would be with him soon.

The next morning, 'Muriel' had to go to the dormitory for something. Mr. Benson allowed that but told her she needed to be back before 10am, the time the bank would be opening for business.

Mr. Arlington notified Lottie that he had a buyer for her saloon and hotel and that the buyer would be there on the 1:00 pm stage and would need a room. Lottie looked at him and acted as if this was something she was looking forward to. In fact, as she had been instructed, she also told people that she was thinking of selling and moving closer to her daughter. She prepared the room and waited.

Aaron went to his office as usual; The Bolt brothers went to their logging company as well. Everything was set. There was an air of waiting. Just like there had been for the storm but this time. The waiting did not include anger, and frustration.