Chapter 261 – Trouble with Florence

Wynn took a deep breath and looked at Abigail. She looked tired and in need of a break.

"Are you okay?" Wynn asked.

"Thank you." Abigail said. "About how I thought it would go. Thank you for shutting Florence down. Frank told me the same thing about shutting her down and I tried, but she doesn't seem to listen."

"She had better." Wynn said. "I have no problem having her arrested for creating a public nuisance. She can sit in a cell for a few hours and see what it is like. When is her term up, anyway?"

"It will be up for reelection next year." Abigail said. "Her and Norman Wolf both will need to reapply and run next year. The open seat along with Christine, Jasper and Ned will be in nineteen thirteen and Adam and Lee the year after that."

"Well." Wynn said. "See if you can encourage someone else to run for her seat."

"I have thought about it." Abigail said. "Especially with all the new people that are coming in. It will be interesting to see."

"I will have one of the cadets or other Constables type these up." Dee said. "They will be ready for you when you come back."

"Thank you." Abigail said. "I have never looked forward to a few days away like I am this trip to Union City. I know that it will be busy and a lot of traveling, but I really need it."

"Well." Wynn said. "We will be going with you and we only need to take the stagecoach to Buxton which is about three hours or so. Then we can get on the train and it is about an hour ride or so to Union City. There a car will meet us. I have arranged for it to take us to the hotel and you and Frank will have use of it all weekend. It will just need to be left back at the Mountie station before you leave or have one of the Mounties drive you to the station and take it back."

"Thank you." Abigail said. "You didn't have to do that."

"It was my pleasure." Wynn said.

"So when are you leaving Union City?" Abigail asked.

"We are boarding the evening train on Friday." Dee said. "It leaves at seven to Regina, where we will stay for a day or so and then board a train heading back to Hamilton on Monday afternoon."

"You let us all know when you get back." Abigail said.

"We will." Wynn said. "Now it has been a long day and we have more ahead of us as we travel, so how about we all go get a bite to eat and turn in."

"That sounds wonderful." Abigail said.

The group got up and closed the office before they headed to the cafe. Frank and Elizabeth Rose immediately placed hot plates in front of the three people. The kitchen was almost completely done and Patty had already been working on prepping for the next morning. Abigail was extremely grateful. She was going to have to find something that she could do to pay Elizabeth Rose and Patty back for all their help. She knew that they would never accept payment, but maybe if she made them something, it would be different. She would have to think about it.

After they ate, Wynn, Elizabeth Rose and Patty headed to the hotel to turn in for the night. Frank and Abigail sat and talked for a little bit. She was tired, but he wanted to make sure that she was alright after the meeting. She tried to assure him she was, but he could see the frustration and worry on her face. Frank didn't push and finally just gave her a kiss and said they would talk later. He left her after he made sure everything was done. Abigail locked up, turned down the lights and headed upstairs. She looked in on the kids and then went to her own bed.

… … … …

Wednesday ended up being a bit of a whirlwind. Florence apparently didn't learn and had been running her mouth all over town. Jacobs got wind of her gossiping and twisting things that were said at the meeting the night before. He only knew she had twisted things as he had seen the notes Dee left to have someone type up. He looked them over before deciding who he was going to assign the chore to. He sent a message in Irish to his grandfather and uncle asking what he could do. While he waited for that, he took it upon himself to type up the minutes of the meeting himself, despite the fact he should have been going over the last of the paperwork they had received from headquarters in the Henry Gowen matter. When he got a message back from his grandfather saying the mayor was well within her rights to remove her, Jacobs had his answer. He spoke to Wynn and Dee before he was going to go to Abigail because he hadn't wanted to overstep. They assured him she would appreciate it as Abigail had seemed to be at her ropes end with Florence.

Jacobs was just finishing up the paperwork he needed before speaking to Abigail, when she walked in, slammed the door, held up her hand indicating one minute and walked to the back room. The three men sat stunned for a moment and before Abigail came back, Frank quietly entered the office. The other three looked at him and he shook his head. Jacobs took a deep breath, stood up and started to move toward the back room. Frank grabbed his arm.

"Give her a moment." Frank pleaded.

Jacobs shook Frank off.

"I can help." Jacobs said. "Her being upset is just the thing I need right now."

Jacobs went to the doorway and stood there. He didn't approach Abigail, but spoke softly.

"I know that you are upset." Jacobs said. "And I am assuming that you are angry with Florence right now. I heard some of the things she has been running her mouth about this morning. But I have a solution. It is different and it might not go over well, but it is completely legal. If I have overstepped, I will stop."

Abigail looked at him.

"I will be out in a moment." Abigail said. "If I make a decision right now, I will always wonder if it was out of a moment of anger or was it truly the right thing. So give me a moment and I will come out. I can also assume that Frank followed me."

Jacobs nodded.

"Tell him to go back." Abigail said. "I will be fine and I will talk to him later. It is busy over at the cafe and we have a lot to do before we leave in the morning."

"I will try." Jacobs said. "Also so you know, just because the Delaneys are leaving with you in the morning, I will stay until you return. I know I need to get to my post and get things in order there, but being here and making sure things run smoothly while you are gone for a weekend is important as well.."

Abigail nodded and Jacobs turned to head back to the main room. Wynn, Frank and Dee looked at Jacobs.

"She is calming a moment before she makes a decision." Jacobs said. "Frank, she asked that you head back over to the cafe and she will talk to you later. But first tell us your version of what happened."

"Florence was running her mouth." Frank said. "She was sitting with Dottie Ramsey and another younger woman. I don't think they knew or cared that Abigail was in the kitchen. Elizabeth Rose and Ann were handling the customers. Anyway, Florence was talking about how Abigail is out to just make a name for herself and she doesn't really care about the town and suggested that Dottie would be a better mayor since she helped Silas and then Henry. Then Dottie suggested that Florence start a petition as a member of the council to have a special election for mayor and to change the towns by-laws that instead of a new mayor being named from the council, that there is a special election and that the senior member of the council would stand in as mayor until then. Florence said something about it would be easier to get all the new residents on board before they have a chance to get to know Abigail."

"Thank you." Jacobs said. "It is more than I heard this morning, but it is also more that I can use in my solution."

"I will leave you be." Frank said. "I will speak to Abigail later. If you need me, I will be at the cafe. I have everything ready to leave tomorrow."

"Thank you for your help." Wynn said. "I will speak to you later."

Frank nodded and left the office, just as Abigail came out of the back room. Jacobs looked at her and without asking, she shared her point of view as well as a little history with her and Florence. Abigail shared how Florence felt that her Paul should have been named the superintendent or assistant superintendent, but Noah had more experience and it was Henry Gowen who chose Ansvil because the position had been empty since Noah had stepped into the superintendent position.

"You said you have a solution." Abigail said.

"Yes." Jacobs said, pushing some papers toward Abigail.

She took a seat and looked them over. She then looked at Jacobs.

"You would really arrest her." Abigail said. "I mean getting her off the council would be nice, but she has two small school age boys."

"Then getting arrested would be her choice." Jacobs said. "She can get out of this without spending time behind bars, but it is up to her."

"I guess." Abigail said. "But this feels so extreme."

"Abigail." Dee said. "It might be extreme. But she has had more than enough chances and she has been spoken to before about running her mouth. So I agree with Jacobs that no matter what happens, then it is her choice."

"Dee is right." Wynn said. "What happens will be her choice."

"Then let's have Bill bring her over." Abigail said. "Maybe being escorted over by the Sheriff will start to show that this is serious."

"I will go ask him." Dee said.

Abigail nodded and Dee left to find Bill. It was only a few minutes and Dee was back.

"Bill will be here shortly." Dee said. "Florence was not happy and Bill was angry."

Jacobs stood and straightened his serge. He was about to go over to the cafe himself, when the door opened and Bill had a hold of Florence's arm and basically pushed her into the office, with her protesting.

"Shut up!" Jacobs said in a loud and authoritative voice.

Whether it was what he said or how he said it, Florence shut her mouth mid protest and looked at Jacobs. She glared at him, but he remained unfazed. After a few moments of silence, Florence was getting more irritated and huffed at Jacobs.

"What is the meaning of this?" She huffed.

"You were not given permission to speak." Jacobs said, as he came to look down on the woman. "You will only speak when asked to and if you can't handle that, then this meeting is pointless and Bill can take you over to the jail and you can wait there until transport can be arranged. Am I clear?"

"I didn't do anything." Florence sneered.

"That wasn't what I asked." Jacobs said. "I asked you if I was clear about what is going to happen. Now again. You will only speak when directed or do you want to spend the day with Bill in jail?"

"Fine." Florence said. "What do you want?"

"Florence Blakely." Jacobs said. "You have been running your mouth all over town this morning about things you were told were private town business. So here is what is going to happen. You are going to sign these papers resigning from the town council and you will be banned from running for five years. You will also refrain from talking about things you learned at the meetings."

"And if I don't want to do that?" Florence asked.

"Then you can sit in jail until transportation can be arranged." Jacobs said. "Because you will be charged with creating a public disturbance, interference with a public official and I could probably make the case for attempted overthrow of a government official and slandering a public official. You will be held while these things are investigated and then until a trial could happen which shouldn't be more than a year or so. If convicted you are facing up to ten years behind bars and hefty fines."

"What about my boys?" Florence huffed.

"They will either be placed with family or sent to an orphanage until you are released." Jacobs said. "Or you can sign these papers and keep your mouth shut, then you will be able to take your boys home after school today. Your choice."

Jacobs held out the papers. Florence huffed and puffed for a minute, before snatching the papers and holding out her hand for a pen. She scribbled her name across the papers where Jacobs pointed. She then slammed them down on the table and turned to leave.

"I didn't say that you could go." Jacobs said.

Jacobs picked up the papers, signed them, passed them to Abigail for her to sign. He then looked back at Florence.

"Don't try me." Jacobs said. "I will be in town until Monday and I will be checking with Bill about things. If you continue to run your mouth all over about things that you have no business talking about, you will face consequences. Also you need to apologize to Abigail. It was completely out of line for what you have said about her. She has worked hard to consider everyone when making decisions about the town. She made a hard choice to allow the town to grow or face it dying. So since you don't know what you are talking about, you need to keep your mouth shut."

"I agree." Wynn said. "You have no right to say that Abigail is only out for herself. She hasn't made one decision that she hasn't weighed what was best for the most people. I don't know what your problem is with her, but I have had enough of you running your mouth about things you don't know about and taking a bit of information and twisting to entertain your shallow friends. I don't want to hear another word of that coming from you. I will not tolerate it. There are too many things going on and this town needs to pull together and not create intentional division."

"I am not apologizing." Florence said. "I signed your papers and I am leaving the council. But that is all I will do."

Florence turned to leave and Bill stepped in her way.

"Let her go." Abigail said. "She will regret her decision."

Bill moved aside and let Florence go. Abigail then sat down and started writing something,

"Bill before you go." Abigail said. "Can you wait a moment and then take this over to the newspaper office. I need to get a notice that there will be two open seats and a special election on August eighth."

Bill nodded and waited while Abigail wrote it up. He then took it and left the office. Jacobs picked up the paperwork, put one copy on Abigail's desk and filed the other in a folder to take over the jail office to file.

… … … …