Lydia moved casually about the seamstress shop, sampling materials with her fingers and greeting the other ladies shopping.

"Miss St. Claire." An elderly woman in a stylish bonnet and a cotton twill walking skirt, paused to speak. "I do hope we will be seeing you again soon in the church choir. Such a lovely voice should be shared."

"How very generous, Mrs. Sharpe. I do hope to attend again. Singing is what I enjoy most."

"Well you must." A lace, glove covered hand rested upon her arm. "Have you heard anything about changes on the riverboat dock?

"Odd you ask. I have heard a rumour about a hotel."

"A hotel! My goodness, what will the Hasboroughs say. Their hotel is a landmark here in The Falls."

"Well it was a random rumour" Lydia smiled to herself. Not for long. She took in a breath, reminding herself that this was the preparation Galen mentioned. "I heard it was something to do with the railroad."

"I wonder what it could be?" Mrs. Sharpe placed a dainty finger on her chin.

"Yes, it would certainly be nice to know more." Lydia leaned in conspiratorially.

"You know June Connor don't you?" Mrs. Sharpe asked.

"Yes, we're friends and neighbours. Why?"

The bonnet tilted closer. "Apparently, she told Mrs. Arnott at the library, that she heard there were going to be changes on the riverboat dock too."

"My, it sounds a little more than rumour, doesn't it?"

"I have some sources I can ask. Don't forget about the choir now." A few more exchanges were made sotto voce, then Mrs. Sharpe sailed from the store, leaving an amused Lydia in her wake.

A smile sneaked on to Lydia's face. Seeds planted.

******

Several days had passed and the town was buzzing with the strange rumours about the docks, and as they grew they gradually caught the attention of Darcy Huber. He tried getting information from different townspeople and clients, but the word was all the same; something was happening with the docks yet nobody knew what. Finally, Darcy went to see Ellis Wayne at the bank, assuming he would know of any new business or transactions taking place.

"Mr. Huber, come in, sir, come in." Ellis proffered a seat and returned behind his desk, smiling in anticipation. "How may I be of service?"

"There's a rumour going around about a change at the riverboat dock. What do you know about it?"

Ellis felt all giddy inside. Here it was, his part to play in the big scheme. He composed his face and leaned an elbow on the desk. "Yes . . . yes, there have been some enquiries from the railroad company about the economic situation here in Barrow Falls, and the population. Things like that."

"What? What for?"

"They didn't say I'm afraid. It seems they were just investigating potential opportunities."

"They're already here, what opportunities?" Huber was sitting forward, a scowl locked on his face.

"My goodness, how would I know. Expansion maybe? Population is growing, Mr. Huber."

Ellis leaned back in the chair as Huber stormed out of the office, his grin uncontrolled at how well his bit part in the performance played.

******

Galen held the wires he had received, toward Lydia. "Yes from everyone. I told you."

"And when are they coming?"

"Edward and Henry will be here in two days by train. Jake at the same time. He's coming on the boat, ironically enough."

"Well, the rumours are certainly rampant. I even heard from Mrs. Wayne that Ellis had to keep from celebrating his part out loud." She laughed.

"This is going to work, Lydia. I know it. And Abner said that his appearance at the docks more often have Huber's men all jumpy."

"I'd like to hear again how exactly this is all going to work, Galen. Let me get us some of that gift whiskey and you can explain it to me."

They sat together on the porch, taking in the scent of the flowers Lydia had planted in front, and relaxing in the warm, fresh air.

"Alright," Galen began. "Edward is going to arrive along with Henry, as representatives of a new railroad, riverboat consortium, interested in constructing a big new hotel for the expected increase in business through their new consolidation.

"They will be active, photographin' and measurin' the intended site. Doin' enough to attract attention. When Huber confronts them, and there's no doubt he will, they'll tell him about the railroad riverboat merger, and the construction of the new hotel, and where it'll be located." He paused and took a swallow of his drink.

"They're going to tell him they would have preferred to build where his offices sit, but to negotiate a sale, and the cost of tearin' everything down, they chose to move up river a bit and build on vacant land. They'll also tell him that they would be movin' the site of the boat dock loading ramp to become the grand entrance to the hotel."

"Doesn't Huber own all that property along the dock?"

"Not the dock itself. The town owns that. He owns all the sheds on the dock - except Harley's little piece, and of course his big brick office by the ramp."

She sipped her drink. "So the idea is, Huber becomes isolated at the end of the dock, and the new ramp will be in front of the hotel. What part does your lawyer friend play?"

"Jake is going to come, representing clients the railroad want to buy out. He'll tell Huber they already made an offer to Harley to keep the area around the new dock and hotel from being spoiled by old structures. He will also tell him that he could get him some money for the removal of the shed on the hotel side of the carpentry shop, which the railroad riverboat consortium want gone.

"He'll also hint that if Huber would clean up his debris from the boardwalk, they might sweeten the pot."

"But I don't see how this does anything."

"Edward and Henry are going to tell Huber that part of Harley's deal includes a new space on the hotel property as part of the compensation for tearing down his shop. Maybe even a hint at shares in the new consolidation of the Railroad, Riverboat Consortium.

"They'll tell him that if the land was empty, they'd build the hotel on his site in a heartbeat."

Lydia tipped her head back and let out a long breath. "Do you really think he would fall for all that?"

"I'm hopin' his greed, and losin' out to Harley will do that. Yes."

"You're hoping this will drive him to tear down his own offices, expecting to be part of the new hotel? Galen, who would do that?"

"Like you said, I'm hoping Huber will - when Edward tells him buildin' on his site would mean they wouldn't have to deal with Harley, and they wouldn't have to move the ramp."

"Oh, Galen, this is too- you're the one expecting too much." Lydia caressed his cheek.

"I don't think so. Edward will tell him he would likely get the same deal Harley was offered in the new hotel. But his building would be too costly for the consortium to tear down, and they want to start the construction as soon as possible."

"And you really think he'll go for that?"

"When Jake tells him he could get top dollar for the property deed, and adds some snake oil showmanship - I think he will. I sure hope he will." Galen stood and leaned on the railing. "It may all fall flat, Lydia, I don't know. But I've spooked the herd, and I'm riding along with the stampede."