A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher

enough,” Morgan said.
    Leaning forward, his forearms resting on the cluttered surface of his desk, Nathan looked at Gwen. “I know that isn’t what
     you were hoping for, Miss Arlington. Not even what you expected. But this I promise you: I will be fair and will remain open
     minded throughout the campaign. What I want most is for the person who’ll be the better mayor to win. I believe that is what
     you must want as well.”
    Gwen’s posture was ramrod straight. “
Do
you think Mr. McKinley would make the better mayor?”
    “Not at this time.” Nathan smiled slightly as he shook his head. “I believe it’s up to you to win or lose the election.”
    “I agree. And I intend to win.” She stood. “Thank you, Mr. Patterson.” She turned, her gaze meeting with Morgan’s. “Good day.”
    Morgan didn’t move from his chair until he heard the door open. Then he felt compelled to rise and go after her. “Miss Arlington,”
     he called as he stepped onto the sidewalk. “May I have a moment more of your time?”
    She took three additional steps before she stopped, hesitated, then turned to face him. “If you wish.”
    “I hope you feel Mr. Patterson’s decision is a fair one.”
    “Yes.” She took a deep breath and released it. “I suppose it is, given the circumstances.”
    “You must understand I didn’t know you would be my opponent when I decided to run for mayor.”
    “How could you have known?” Gwen tipped her head to one side. Her blue eyes studied him. “Why
are
you running, Mr. McKinley? You’ve only lived in the area for a year or so, and even then you’ve spent almost no time in town.
     What makes you think you know what will be good for the citizens of Bethlehem Springs when you’ve kept yourself a stranger?”
    “That’s a good question. One I plan to address when I write my piece for the newspaper.”
    “But you don’t want to tell me your answer now.”
    “Well” — he shrugged his shoulders — “you
are
my opponent in this election, Miss Arlington. There’s no point giving you more advantages than you already enjoy.”
    “It’s wise of you not to underestimate me, sir, for I intend to use every advantage at my disposal.”
    “I never underestimate my opposition.”
    “Not even when the opposition is a woman?”
    Morgan couldn’t help himself. He laughed. “
Especially
not when the opposition is a woman.”
    Gwen fought the urge to smile. She wouldn’t fall victim to this man’s attempts to appear friendly. He didn’t fool her. “If
     you’ll excuse me, Mr. McKinley, I really should be going.”
    “Of course.” Still grinning, he tipped his hat to her. “Good day to you, Miss Arlington. I believe the next few weeks shall
     prove quite interesting for us both.”
    It struck her then that as much as she disliked him, he had a certain charisma, an obvious charm. It was possible he could
     use it to best her in the election. She would have to remain wary and alert. She would have to remind others that he’d made no
     attempt to become part of the community until he wanted to win an election. How did they even know he would stay in Bethlehem
     Springs once his resort was completed? He had no ties here, and from all she’d heard about his wealth, he could go anywhere
     in the world. Why should they believe he would settle in Bethlehem Springs?
    No, he was not someone to be trusted, and she would
not
lose this election to him. So help her, she wouldn’t.

SIX
    Crinkled sheets of paper cluttered the table and the floor around Gwen’s feet. For more than an hour, she’d tried to write
     her article for the newspaper — the one that would explain what she hoped to accomplish as mayor. Everything she penned sounded… well, silly.
    With a groan of frustration, she rose and began to pace from dining room to parlor and back again, hands clasped behind her
     back.
    “Maybe I won’t make a good mayor,” she said aloud.
    “Of course you will.”
    Gwen looked up to find