Pregnant by the Texan(80)
The TCC president, Gil Addison, appeared at her side. “Welcome, Stella.”
Dazed, she tried to fathom what this was all about. She looked at Gil.
“This little surprise is to show you the support you have from the entire town of Royal. We all want you to accept the position of acting mayor until an election can be held and a new mayor chosen.”
“I’m speechless,” she said, smiling and waving at people.
“Stella, I have a letter from the mayor that I want to read to you and to all,” Gil said. “Let’s go up to the front.”
“Did you know about this?” she asked, turning to Aaron. He grinned and gave her a hug.
“A little,” he said, and she realized that Aaron might have been behind organizing this gathering of townspeople.
Gil smiled. “Aaron, you come with us,” Gil said, and led the way. There was an aisle cleared to the stage at the front of the room.
As she approached the stage, people greeted her and shook her hand and she smiled, thanking them. Dazed, she couldn’t quell her surprise.
At the front as she climbed the three steps to the stage, more people greeted her. She shook hands with the town council and other city dignitaries. The sheriff greeted her, and the heads of different agencies in town crowded around to say hello.
“Stella, Stella, Stella,” several people in the audience began chanting and in seconds, the entire room was chanting her name. She saw her friends Paige and Edie in the front row, smiling and waving.
“Mercy, Aaron, what is all this?” Dazed, embarrassed, she turned to Gil. “Gil—” She gave up trying to talk with all the chanting. Smiling, she waved at everyone.
Gil stepped forward and held up his hands for quiet. “Thanks to all of you for coming out tonight. The Texas Cattleman’s Club is happy to have nearly everyone in Royal come celebrate the Christmas season and the holidays. We have a bit of business we wanted to discuss before the partying begins.”
The crowd had become silent and Gil had a lapel mike so it was easy to hear him. “We have some people onstage—I imagine everyone here knows them, but in case they don’t, I want to briefly tell you who is here. Please save your applause until I finish. I’ll start with our sheriff, Nathan Battle.” Gil ran through the list, reeling off the names of the town council members and heads of various agencies, and when he was done, the audience applauded.
“Now as you know, Mayor Vance was critically injured by the tornado. He is off the critical list—” Gil paused while people clapped. “He is still in the hospital and unable to join us tonight, but he has sent a letter for me to read, which I will do now.
‘To the residents of Royal,
I am still recovering from the storm and most deeply grateful to be alive and that my family survived. My deepest sympathy goes out to those who lost their loved ones, their homes, their herds or crops. We were hurt in so many ways, but from the first moment after the storm, people have helped each other.
It was with deep regret that I learned that Deputy Mayor Max Rothschild was also killed by the tornado. Since I will not be able to return to this job for a few more months, Royal will temporarily need an acting mayor. I have talked to our city officials, agency heads and concerned citizens, and one name comes up often and we are all in agreement. I hope we can persuade Ms. Stella Daniels to accept this position.’”