Tuesday, November 1, 1910
Election Day was a blustery morning, but at least it wasn't snowing. About thirty early voters milled around outside Town Hall. Mayor Tallard and his opponent, Hubert Fry, both worked the crowd. Julius went to the front door of the Town Hall and unlocked it. As he opened it he asked, "Are you ready for democracy in action?"
The crowd showed a fair amount of enthusiasm. 
"Then how about some hot coffee?"
They cheered.
Julius continued, "As is our tradition, I will offer the first opportunity to cast a ballot to our current mayor Rafe Tallard."
Everyone clapped.
Rafe Tallard turned to his wife; he answered in voice and in sign language for her. "And I, per tradition, refuse and will accept the dubious honor of being the last person to vote today at 7 pm. I will offer the first vote to our newest voter, who turned eighteen-years-old last Wednesday. Visiting us from Jennings University in Helena, ladies and gentleman, Miss Diane Ellen Grossman."
Diane walked up and hugged the mayor.
She curtseyed: "Thank you." She turned to the crowd. "Citizens of Eagle Creek, let's make history!" 
Men tossed up their hats and shouted, "Yeeeee-haw!" another Eagle Creek tradition.
People began to file into the building. Mayor Tallard and Hubert stayed outside and shook hands.
An hour later the coming and going dissipated enough for Mayor Tallard to speak to his opponent.
He walked up to Hubert and stuck out his hand.
Hubert smiled and gladly shook it.
"This is quite a town you've built."
He shook his head. "I didn't do anything except thirty years ago I signed some papers to make sure we could get a post office. That was the first official act, and I thought it would end there. Augustus Grossman was the one who suggested I ought to be the mayor. I took a wagon ride up to River City and got a library book on civics. I wrote letters to the State Assembly, three months later, Eagle Creek was on the map and I was the mayor."
"And this will be your eighth term?"
He shrugged. "Or maybe I'll retire, this is an election, remember?" 
"I've noticed. I'm impressed that everyone in town highly regards you. Me, I'm an outsider. I moved in last December and I liked the town so much that I got the fool's notion to be the mayor. And I want the job but ninety percent of the folks I talk to all say, 'Why? Rafe Tallard has always done it?'"
Rafe nodded. "I suspected as much. You must admit for a new arrival to want to lead the city is suspicious. Not that you have nefarious goals in mind but this town is more like a family than it is a municipality."
"I guess so. Look, I'm not doing this out of spite or because I think you are doing a poor job."
Rafe interrupted him, "From what I've heard, you haven't said anything derogatory about me, I appreciate that very much. Such nonsense only frustrates people and discourages them from being involved in public affairs."
"My father taught me to do all things with honor whether that's running for office or raking a yard." 
Rafe smiled. "I like that. I like that a lot."
"I just want to do my best, always."
Rafe said, "Excuse me a second, I'm going inside. Do you want a refill of your coffee?"
"Much obliged."
Rafe stepped in the door. As he was pouring the coffee, he overheard Paula Conrad and Peggy Watson speaking to each other; they were counting votes. 
Peggy said, "Just as I suspected, so far we got seventy-three votes for Rafe and a grand total of five for the other fellow."
Paula chuckled, "Rafe was practically born into this job; it's all he knows how to do."
"I guess that's true. All the kids are gone; he's got nothing else to occupy his time. He's sixty-six, what else does he have to do?"
Paula sighed. "That's the true beauty of this place, it never changes."
Rafe thought for a moment. He took the coffee cups back outside.
He handed Hubert a mug. "Thanks, I really need it. I am freezing out here. My wife said I shouldn't have done all that walking the last four days. I knocked on every door in town."
"'Every door in town'?"
"Sure, how else can you get to know people? You're an old warhorse; I'm sure you did the same thing."
Rafe shook his head. "No. Four times I ran unopposed. The other times I ran against one issue candidates; people who were mad at me because I didn't rework their sidewalk on time or had the band-shell painted tope instead of light-blue. It's not that I'm anti-social by any means, I just, don't really have occasion to go out and meet people because everyone in town knows me."
Hubert shrugged. "I don't know you."
"No. What I mean is..." Rafe paused. He looked around. He said to Hubert. "You want this job so badly you'd walk around in the snow to try and talk to people?"
"Of course."
Rafe trilled his lips. He finished his coffee.
He asked Hubert, "Drank enough?"
"Yup."
"Good. Let's go for a stroll around town."
They tossed scarves over their faces to try and keep warm as they walk side by side, down Main Street.
At 6:59 pm, Rafe and Hubert were shaking hands inside the Town Hall.
Hubert chuckled and said to Rafe, "This is the strangest political race in history."
Rafe shrugged. "This is Eagle Creek."
He walked over to his wife, Mavis and signed: "Are you excited?"
She signed: "No, not really."
Will and Jean Clementine walked up.
"Hello Rafe. Jean and I were just about to cast votes for you."
Rafe shook his head. "Don't. I want you to vote for Hubert Fry."
Jean tilted her head . "Huh?"
"I want you to vote for Hubert Fry. I've been mayor for thirty years and that's long enough."
Will asked, "Then why are you running for re-election?"
"Because I don't know my constituency as well as I should."
One minute later Julius stepped inside. He looked at his pocket watch.
"The election for mayor is over in three... two... one...."
Everyone looked to the ceiling, anticipating the ringing of the bells atop town hall.
They were silent.
Julius rolled his eyes. "For Pete's sake."
Everyone laughed.
Rafe chuckled, "Oh yeah, I was supposed to get that clock fixed. See, I'm just not up to par any more."
Paula and Peggy were finishing up the count.
Mavis was seated nearby; wearing a pink corsage Rafe had bought her earlier in the day.
Karen Fry was seated near Mavis. They'd also spent time getting to know one another. 
Peggy and Paula seemed to be arguing.
"No, Peg, no, that isn't possible. Count again."
Peggy smirked. "Fine. Here, you count my stack again."
The women took a few minutes to count and make notes.
Paula growled, "Peggy, some how you've miscounted."
"I did not. You are the one who does not know how to add."
Rafe asked, "Ladies? What's the matter?"
Peggy sighed.
Paula shook her head. "We've counted four times now."
"And?"
Peggy gave him a ledger. "203 for Tallard and 203 for Fry. It's a tie!"
Rafe said, "Peggy, Paula, don't be mad at each other. I have complete confidence in both of your abilities."
Peggy and Paula looked to each other. They both nodded and mumbled, "Sorry."
Paula shrugged. "Then I guess it's a tie."
Rafe said, "Wait a second. I haven't voted yet. And I know for a fact that neither has Hubert."
Julius spoke up. "It's after 7 pm, the polls are closed."
Rafe asked, "According to whom?"
Julius said defensively, "The clock and the town charter."
Rafe shook his head. "The clock is broken and I wrote the town charter."
"It's not legal."
Rafe rolled his eyes. He grabbed a stapler and banged it against the counting table.
"This emergency session of the town council is called to order. I will do the roll call. Mayor Rafe Tallard?
I am present, thus this is a legal emergency meeting. I move that I the poll workers take two more votes."
Julius asked, "How can you...?"
"All in favor say 'Aye.'" Rafe said to himself, "Aye. The matter is approved. Ladies, you have two more votes to count."
Paula said, "But you two are the candidates!"
"We are, but, we're also both citizens who have a right to vote."
Rafe grabbed two ballots. He circled the name, "Hubert Fry."
He handed the other ballot to Hubert and smiled.
"Young man, this town needs new vision. Please, circle your name and drop it in the box. I will then drop in my ballot. I've got a surprise for my wife."
Hubert nodded. "Yes, sir."
He circled his name and dropped in the ballot.
Rafe signed to his wife, "Stand beside me, dearest."
She smiled and gladly stood by his side as he dropped in the ballot.
Peggy and Paula were almost in tears.
Peggy opened the boxes. 
"Two more votes for Hubert Fry. Our total: 205 for Fry and 203 for Rafe Tallard."
Rafe shook Hubert's hand. "Congratulations, Mayor Fry."
He smiled. "Thank you, citizen Tallard."
Rafe reached in his pocket and handed him a set of keys.
"Your first town council meeting is Thursday at 6 pm."
Rafe turned to his wife and signed to her: "How would you like to spend a week in Yellowstone with a room at the Old Faithful Inn?"
Her eyes brightened, they hugged.
"Mayor Fry, we're headed for a victory dinner at Casey's Café. Have you ever had their pork chops?"
He said humbly, "No sir, but, I am willing to give it a try."
Hubert's wife, Karen, joined him.
The two couples walked arm and arm out of the Town Hall.
