Chapter 256 – Laurel and Mona Make a Proposal (long)
Abigail had planned to stay at the cafe most of the day, but that changed shortly after the breakfast rush. She had been grateful that Elizabeth Rose and Patty said they would stay as long as needed. As the breakfast rush started to wind down, Mona Weaver and Laurel Miller entered the cafe and asked to speak to Abigail. After a moment, Abigail led them over to the mayor's office.
"Wynn." Abigail said.
"Yes." Wynn said.
"These ladies would like to speak to me." Abigail said. "I know you have your stuff laid out here."
"It is okay." Mona said. "They can stay. We just didn't want to talk in front of everyone else."
"As long as you are okay with it." Wynn said. "Dee has been in and out running looking for things. I will just continue to work on this end of the table."
Laurel and Mona both nodded.
"Okay, then." Abigail said.
She led them to the far end of the table, closer to her desk and they all took a seat.
"So what can I do for you?" Abigail asked.
"We heard there used to be a laundry here in town." Laurel said.
"Yes." Abigail said. "It was in the last building on this side."
"As you know." Mona said. "We have joined forces and have taken in laundry and sewing to supplement our incomes. We are realizing we need a bigger space. We were wondering how much it would be to rent the building and have our laundry business there. We understand that there is an apartment above the building. We wouldn't mind those being rented out or me and my boys could move in there if that would be easier."
"I can get you a contract to rent the building." Abigail said. "It would be twelve dollars a month rent and I would need first and last month as well as an additional deposit of ten dollars. Once the money has been paid, I will get you the key and you will be responsible for cleaning and getting the space ready."
"We can do that." Mona said. "It might take a few days for us to get the money together."
"Then let me get the contract." Abigail said. "You can return it with the money. It is thirty-four dollars total and I can split that into two payments as long as I have the money by the end of the first full month."
"We can do that." Laurel said.
"Then I wish you luck." Abigail said. "Please let me know if there is anything else that I can do for you. Good luck ladies and I suggest that you might also put an ad up in the mercantile and maybe if you have the funds, an ad in the newspaper."
"We will." Mona said. "Thank you so much. I am so glad for the opportunities that this town has given me and my boys. Most towns are not as welcoming to a widow who is trying to support her family. That is part of the reason that Wyatt took it upon himself to go to work and we came to the settlement."
"I am glad that you are finding this to be a good place." Abigail said. "Your boys are a delight and I am glad to have you here in Hope Valley."
"Thank you again." Laurel said. "We will let you go, we know that you are busy."
The two ladies stood up and left the office. Before Wynn or Abigail had a chance to comment on things, there was a knock at the door. Wynn got up and saw that it was Andy and another man.
"We need to speak to Mayor Stanton." Andy said.
"Come in." Wynn said.
Wynn stepped back and the two men entered the office and Abigail stood up.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" Abigail asked.
"I have paperwork and money for you." Andy said. "I also wanted to introduce you to my new Superintendent of Mining Operations. I will still be hiring someone to run the office and oversee all the paperwork, but for now he will be doing it as we get going."
"Welcome." Abigail said., extending her hand. "I am Mayor Abigail Stanton and I also own the cafe."
"John David Walker." He said, shaking Abigail's hand. "But most people call me JD."
"So are you married? Family?" Abigail asked.
"Yes." JD said. "My wife and four children will be joining me when school is out. For now we will be in the large three bedroom apartment above the mining office and mine supply buildings. I might want to build a house later, but for now, we will be fine in the apartment."
"Here is the paperwork for the apartment and the additional building." Andy said. "As well as a check for the amount we talked about. That should get JD through until June first"
Abigail took the paperwork and looked it over and saw it was all finished.
"Thank you." Abigail said. "I can put you on the list for one of the row houses if you want, but if you are fine with the apartment, I am okay with that as well."
"I think I would like to stay in the office for now." JD said. "I am not sure how Erin is going to feel living so close to other people. I saw that the row houses are pretty close together and our youngest likes to cry a lot still. Also, our older daughter is a bit mischievous, and I think being in town might be easier to start. Besides, there is a large grassy area behind the buildings where Erin can play with the children."
"If that changes let me know." Abigail said.
She looked at Wynn, who had gone back to his work.
"I am sorry." Abigail said. "I forget my manners for a moment. JD, please let me introduce you to Deputy Commissioner Wynn Delaney, Sr. He is in town for a bit longer and will be around at times."
Wynn stood and offered his hand.
"John David Walker."
"Nice to meet you." Wynn said. "Like Abigail said, I am still around this week yet. Then it sounds like my wife, son and I will be leaving. But we plan to be back. We love this town."
"Nice to meet you as well." JD said. "Andy here was telling me that there was a full-time Mountie, but I didn't realize that there would be so many."
"Please have a seat for a moment." Wynn said.
Wynn took his seat and the others sat as well.
"Right now." Wynn said. "There are additional Mounties around because of various circumstances, including the slide at Silverton as well as Rock Creek. Most of the Mounties you see will be leaving this week or the next. Corporal Jack Thornton, who was injured while trying to rescue a child at the Silverton settlement, is the full time Mountie here. He will continue to do that once he is back at full duty. Until that time, there will be one or two additional Mounties in town to help him. We also have retired Inspector Bill Avery who is the town sheriff. I respect these men and I will trust what they tell me."
"Yes, Sir." JD said. "Most of the places I have worked have had private mine security and haven't warranted a full time Mountie."
"That is very true." Wynn said.
Dee quietly came in and took a seat at the table as they spoke.
"I will finish that thought in a moment." Wynn said. "But first let me introduce my son, Constable Wynn Delaney, Jr."
"Please call me Dee." He said.
"John David Walker." He said. "But call me JD.
"Nice to meet you." Dee said, shaking his hand.
"Now, what I was saying." Wynn said. "You are right. Most mining towns don't have a full-time Mountie. Hope Valley got one for various reasons, including the disaster that happened here just over a year ago. It will remain having at least one full-time Mountie as long as Corporal Jack Thornton chooses to live here. There will also be between ten and fifteen Mounties within a couple hours' ride of here. They will be split between Benson Hills and Buxton. Right now Benson Hills will be led by Sergeant Jeremiah Jacobs after he leaves here in the next week or so. Then there is Buxton which is led by Captain Alexander Taylor. Those two towns handle all the transfers that come through this region, so they have several Mounties, but they also oversee larger areas. Do you have any more questions?"
"So no Pinkertons?" JD asked.
"No." Wynn said. "When Pacific Northwest ran this town and mine, they had Pinkertons that ran roughshod over the people of this town and I have a feeling the sight of them might not go over very well around here."
"I agree." Abigail said.
"Okay." JD said. "But I would still like to hire some security for the mine."
Wynn looked at Andy with raised eyebrows.
"I have tried to explain that this town is safe and with the Mounties and sheriff it is a different situation." Andy said.
Wynn looked at Dee and then Abigail, then back at Dee. Wynn took a deep breath and before he could speak it was his son who spoke.
"Hire security if you want." Dee said. "But just know that the Mounties will run a thorough background check on them and Corporal Thornton will have no problem arresting them if they step out of line. Sheriff Avery is more likely to just shoot them. They will need to defer to the Mounties and Sheriff Avery on all matters and their word is final. They would need to know they are only responsible for safety out at the mine, but that the Mounties and Sheriff Avery have carte blanche to step into any matter they feel is needed and settle it how they feel. If that means arresting people, so be it."
"Thank you, Dee." Wynn said. "I fully agree. Just know that if you hire Pinkertons or other security and they try to bully or run roughshod over people of this town, you will have to answer to me. I have warned Andy about this and he knows my feelings on Pinkertons. So tread carefully. This town will not be very welcoming to you if you try to come in and take over."
"The gentlemen are right." Abigail said. "This is my town and as the widow of the former Superintendent who was killed by Pacific Northwest for greed, I will not allow it to happen. You try to bully people in this town, I can and will make life very difficult for you. This town is full of mine widows and personally, I wouldn't cross them. We are a strong group and we stand together."
JD sat there slack-jawed.
"I tried to tell you." Andy said. "This town is run by women. They will more likely shoot you if you cross them. You should be glad that Corporal Thornton's mother is not here, she would have already shot you for the way you spoke to the mayor and Deputy Commissioner."
"He is right." Dee said. "This town has been through more than most and they know what is important. They can be very welcoming and caring, but cross them and you are on your own. From what I have learned, most of the women in this town are a good shot and there are some that I would put head to head with the best Mountie sharpshooters and the Mounties would probably lose. It was clearly spelled out to Mr Yeager what the expectations were when he bought the mine. He was informed that all the people he hired needed to be onboard with those expectations if they were to last around here."
"So what is it going to be?" Abigail said. "Are you going to respect this town and the people that live here or you are going to be difficult, which in turn will lead me to be difficult."
JD sat there for a few moments and as he was thinking, Jacobs came in. He had been outside and heard part of the conversation.
"I can leave." Jacobs said, after stepping in.
"No, sit." Abigail said. "I know that you have plenty of work to finish before you leave."
JD looked up to see the massive Mountie take a seat and pass an envelope to the younger Constable. He swallowed hard.
"We are waiting." Abigail said. "I don't have all day to wait while you decide if you are going to be a part of this town or not."
"I have never answered to a woman in my life and I am not about to start." JD said.
"Then you are not going to survive here." Jacobs said, without looking up from his stack of papers.
"I wasn't speaking to you." JD sneered.
Jacobs closed his eyes, set his stack of papers down, stood up and walked over to stand over JD Walker. Before either Wynn or Dee could react, Jacobs had grabbed JD by the scruff of his neck and brought him up to eye level.
"You will not speak to me that way." Jacobs said. "I have earned the respect that this uniform represents and you will respect it or I will throwyou in a jail cell myself."
He emphasized the word throw.
"Jacobs!" Wynn said, in a commanding tone.
Jacobs looked at his commanding officer and saw his face. He dropped JD and went back to his seat. He didn't apologize, but went right back to his paperwork. JD huffed and looked at Wynn to do something.
"I told you crossing the Mounties or the women in this town wasn't a good idea." Andy said. "Now, are you going to fall in line or I am going to be looking for a new Superintendent as well as an office manager."
"You can't be serious." JD huffed. "We have a contract."
"Which he can terminate at any time for cause." Dee said.
JD huffed and stormed out of the office.
"I am sorry." Andy said. "I will speak to him."
"You better." Wynn said. "Because he spent his one chance with me and my men."
"Also if you are looking for an office manager." Abigail said. "Speak to Mrs Thornton. Her friend who is coming to teach in the fall has a husband who has a business degree and I think he was still looking for work. It sounds like they are free to come anytime after the end of the month."
"I will do that." Andy said. "At least to get a name I can look into. Do you know where they are from? Do they need housing?"
"Daniel Swift." Dee said. "He is from Montreal. He has degrees in architecture, business management and accounting. He was working for his father and brothers. They own a number of hotels in the Montreal area. His wife Deb is coming to teach for Mrs Thornton while she takes off for the baby."
"Thank you." Andy said. "He might be the perfect person, then he could also oversee my boarding house and do the books for all of that."
"He is a good man." Dee said. "I met him when I was in Montreal about three years ago. He is eager to leave the area and make his own path away from his family."
"I will send a wire when we are done." Andy said. "Speaking of school, how is that going to work for next year, so I can tell my families how to plan?"
"I haven't spoken to the full council yet." Abigail said. "But the consensus among the mothers at this point is for it to remain a fully private school next year and then look at the town taking over the school, but still running it like a private school. Right now, the mothers have been paying what they can, but the proposal I am going to bring to the council tomorrow is that each family pay a dollar a month per child, up to a maximum of five dollars a month. But they are also responsible for providing pencils and two workbooks a year for each child. The alternative is charging more per month."
"How many students are there right now?" Andy asked.
"With the settlements." Dee said. "Beth has thirty-three or thirty-four. She will only lose at most three at the end of the current school year, but there are four we know about starting in the fall and that doesn't include anyone that moves here."
"I think that two dollars a child is reasonable." Andy said. "I also understand if not all parents can pay that, so then they continue to pay what they are able and let me know how many there are of my families and I will make up the difference."
"Okay." Abigail said. "The contract also has housing included in it, so the new teacher, Deb and her husband will be in the teacherage that was moved over by the schoolhouse. Elizabeth has refused to let the mothers pay for her housing as she lived with me until shortly before her wedding."
"And the Mounties have been giving Jack a supplement to provide his housing since he moved out of the saloon hotel." Wynn said.
"Okay." Andy said. "I know private schools back east that charge up to twenty dollars a month per child. So two dollars is more than reasonable. As long as both teachers are in agreement with that. Because it sounds like you are going to be needing both of them."
"Yes it does." Abigail said. "We were working out how that was going to work, but at the moment we aren't sure."
"Let me know." Andy said. "So, as I was looking around, there are two potential buildings for the library and as far as I can tell, they are both town owned."
"Okay." Abigail said. "What were you thinking?"
"So there is a building just down from here." Andy said. "Not the end one, but the one next to it. The other building is the one over by Coulter Enterprises. I think that one might be better as it is closer to the schoolhouse."
"I agree that the one by Coulter Enterprise is better." Wynn said.
"That building is already divided and it would be easy to have the meeting room, without building anything more." Dee said.
"Then that one sounds perfect." Andy said. "That was the one I was leaning toward as well. Mother wants the library and up and running before next school year."
"So do you have the proposals for me?" Abigail asked.
"They are in my room." Andy said. "I was just waiting to see which building and fill that in."
"Then please get that to me today." Abigail said. "I will bring it to the council tomorrow night. Please indicate the building by Coulter Enterprise."
"I will." Andy said. "I will get that to you as soon as I can this morning."
"Thank you." Abigail said. "Anything else?"
"Not at this time." Andy said. "I need to go have a serious conversation with JD."
"If I am not here." Abigail said. "Please leave the proposal with the guys and they will make sure I get it."
"I will." Andy said.
Andy then stood, nodded to the guys and then left. Abigail waited a moment before turning them to ask a question.
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