Matty gave Gail Hirst a hug, as she walked into the motel room.

"Want a coffee?"

"Thank you," Matty smiled, as she sat.

"As long as you have a little upgrade for it."

"On the table," Gail laughed, as she sat, passing Matty a coffee.

"Seems I missed all kinds of excitement yesterday."

Matty laughed.

"Don't know how you could have."

"I sleep like a rock," Gail informed her, "and I had to run to Deer Lake to meet with the lawyers Daddy sent down and I drove back here late last night."

"Why didn't you just stay in Deer Lake with your husband?"

Gail sat back in her chair and lit a cigarette.

"Let him sweat for a little while and besides, I just love it here and I am actually enjoying my time away from Simon. He does tend to be a little anal at times."

"So your lawyers are taking over?"

Gail shook her head, as she sipped her coffee.

"Not really. They are going to stay in the background."

"And let Cammie handle it?"

"Fuck no.

Cameron will be doing exactly what they tell him to. Daddy doesn't want his name even remotely involved in this mess. So, on the surface, it will look like Cameron will be in charge."

Gail opened a folder and passed several documents to Matty.

"What's this?"

"This is our official counter proposal."

Matty lit a cigarette and started reading. Gail sat silently, as she did.

"This is ...."

Matty looked up at Gail.

"This is above and beyond."

"Daddy and I had a long talk and I told him all about what you and Bill are doing here. I sent him all the pics I have taken here and he just fell in love with the place.

He might be a rancher from Alberta, but he just loves the ocean and he has never been to Newfoundland, but he is hoping to be here one day, maybe when you open the motel out in Sandy Cove."

Matty sat back in her chair.

"No strings attached, Gail," she reminded her.

"None expected Matty."

Matty took a deep breath.

"I have to talk this over with Bill first."

"Of course."

Gail snuffed out her cigarette and leaned on the table.

"Look, Matty. I don't even know where to start to apologize for what Simon did. In all honesty, there are times when I think I should just divorce the asshole and throw him to the wolves, but ..."

"I know. You still love him."

"I do. He will pay for this for the rest of his fucking life, but, I will not divorce him.

That proposal is the only way I know of to pay retribution to those who suffered at the hands of the goons that attacked the Bay."

"Let me talk this over with Bill.

Are you staying tonight?"

Gail nodded.

"I am. Your tourism rep, Tanya, I believe, has booked one of the boats to take me on a tour around the Bay and the shoreline. We are going to try cod jigging and have a boil up on one of the beaches."

"Just make sure they don't have an extra anchor on board."

Gail looked confused.

"Why would they do that?"

"Inside joke."

Matty stood up and hugged Gail.

"You have a great day and I will talk to you later. Maybe you can join Bill and I for a drink."

"I would love that."

"I will call you later."

Matty took the document and left the motel. As she walked across the parking lot, she called Tanya Rideout.

"Matty. What's up."

"I hear you are taking Gail Hirst on a little boating expedition."

"Yea. She booked a tour."

"Give her the royal treatment. Make sure she has a great time."

"Will do, boss."

"And Tanya."

"Yes Matty?"

"No hundred pound anchors."

"Shit," Tanya laughed.

"I will have to call Henry and cancel the order."

"Fucking smartass."

Tanya laughed.

"I loves you too, Matty.

Don't worry. Gail will have a good time."

"Thanks sweetie."

Matty ended the call, just as she walked around the house, to the rear veranda. She saw Bill standing on the lower deck.

"You look deep in thought."

Bill turned, just as Matty reached his side. He kissed her quickly.

"Not really. Just looking out over the ocean."

He sipped his coffee.

"I got the official reports this morning from OHS and the Department of Health."

"Let me guess. A+ rating?"

Bill laughed.

"Above and beyond that, my love. I printed off the reports and added it to all the shit we have to show the Premier."

Bill leaned against the rail, facing Matty.

"Got the official email from Daniel this morning. He will be here just after lunch on Friday. I called him and arranged for him and Wendy to stay with us."

"Cool."

Matty held up the documents in her hand.

"This is Gail's official counter proposal."

She took Bill's mug.

"I'll get you a fresh coffee. You look it over."

Bill sat on the bench attached to the lower veranda and read.

Counter proposal from Gail Hirst on behalf of her husband Simon Hirst

With reference to the proposal presented to Cameron Penny and Simon Hirst, seeking damages and retribution for the incident which occurred on Monday, October 5, 2020, in Tuckamore Bay, in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador.

After careful consideration, I propose this counter proposal, which, according to the stipulations of the proposal presented by Matty Dove, on behalf of the residents of Tuckamore Bay, will withdraw any and all charges against Simon Hirst, for incidents which occurred on that day.

This counter proposal shall be offered for the period of seven (7) days. After that period of time, if the legal representative of Tuckamore Bay, Matty Dove, has not responded, the proposal shall be withdrawn and further negotiations proposed, at a date agreed upon by both parties.

Simon Hirst agrees to return all documents, images, correspondence, physical findings and all and any materials that depict any association with Tuckamore Bay, with specific reference to any mention of gold findings.

Proof of deletion of cellphone records, text messages and emails shall be presented and verified by a non involved third party, of Tuckamore Bay's choice.

With reference to monetary damages to be paid to Tuckamore Bay and the individuals listed below:

Henry Tucker

Harry Tucker

Mabel Tucker

Harriette Tucker

Matilda (Matty) Dove

Lindsay Pike

Bill Williams

It is my consideration that a one time, lump sum payment of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) be presented to the representative of Tuckamore Bay (either Bill Williams or Matilda Dove), to be allocated by whatever means determined by the representative(s) and/or a representative(s) selected at a later date.

This shall be a one time payment and no further damages can be sought.

I, Gail Hirst, also offer, as consideration, that if, in the future, the community of Tuckamore Bay shall be in need of monetary assistance to further the upgrade and expansion of Tuckamore Bay, such monies shall be offered to Tuckamore Bay, as a non interest loan, for a period of up to five (5) years. If payment of any such loans should extend past that time frame, pay back shall be renegotiated to the approval of both parties.

All business, in the name of Simon Hirst have been sold to an independent company, of which, Simon Hirst has no dealings, in any way, shape or form, with and Simon Hirst will not, in the future be connected to any business ventures, as an owner or member of the board.

With reference to the exclusion of Simon Hirst, his family or employees of Hirst Enterprise, from being able to visit the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I ask that this particular stipulation be withdrawn.

Hirst Enterprises does not operate any businesses in Newfoundland & Labrador, but many former employees have family in the province, so I ask that the travel ban not be included in this counter proposal.

With reference to the acquisition of a Tim Horton's franchise for the community of Tuckamore Bay, I will be happy to accommodate such a request, upon approval from the franchise department of Tim Horton's.

I understand and accept the fact that this proposal, if accepted, will only exempt Simon Hirst from charges presented to the RCMP and the Newfoundland & Labrador court system, by the community of Tuckamore Bay and that any further charges, which could be presented, during the prosecution of the individuals listed below, will be as presented.

Carl Bellows , Frankie Haim , Neil James , Mike Lemon , Ollie Trask , Edward Vatcher.

These charges, if any, seal be handles as a separate identity.

I understand that further charges could arise from this incident, which will be dealt with, as presented.

This counter proposal presented, by hand, to Matilda (Matty) Dove, on this day Monday, October 11, 2020.

Bill put the document under his leg, as Matty passed him a coffee.

"What do you think?"

Matty sat by his side.

"What did you think?"

Matty sipped her coffee.

"I like Gail and I think that she is genuine through all of this. I will still have to check into a few things, but this proposal is strong and I think we should accept.

Simon is still going to be nailed to the wall. The RCMP could still press more charges. For certain, Simon will be dragged into the whole mess with the remaining five men that were with him and for fucking well sure, Calvin Parsons will do his best to drag him through the shit with him."

Bill nodded.

"Okay, so we accept this thing and then what? We haven't shown the others the original proposal, right?"

"No. Just me and you and Cammie. Of course Simon and Gail and her family. But no one else from the Bay."

"So, we are still left with how we handle the money?"

Matty nodded.

"I think we handle each one individually. We come to an agreement with them and have them sign a confidentiality paper, so no one else finds out.

We use the rest of the money to continue what we have started and take some of the pressure off you and your bank account. We could still run into some bad times in the future and we have made a commitment to everyone here in the Bay, to assure they have work, or a steady income."

Bill took a deep breath.

"Have we bitten off more than we can chew, Matty?"

Matty put her coffee on the floor of the veranda and sat on Bill's lap, leaning against his chest. Bill put his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

"I don't know, Bill. But what I do know is that as long as I am with you, I can face pretty much anything."

Bill rested his chin on the top of her head.

"So we accept this thing?"

"I think we should. Talk to the others. Get this part of this whole shit-storm behind us.

I will get it all together and present it to a judge in Corner Brook and then we will sit with him and the RCMP and Cammie and Hirst and get this end of it done."

"How long will that take?"

Matty rubbed her hand across Bill's chest.

"A couple days for me to get our end done and get it presented to the court in Corner Brook and then it will be up to whatever judge gets the case.

The actual meeting will be just a formality. We all sign off and its over."

"What about the other men?"

"I don't know hun. It all depends on how they plea. If they all plead guilty, it will be up to the courts to sentence them. If even one pleads not guilty, then we will have to go to court, unless ..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless we can get the RCMP to press the charges, based on their investigation. Then it will be up to the government to prosecute the cases."

Matty sat up and looked at Bill.

"I am not a criminal lawyer, hun. I don't really want to be involved in all of this."

"Can you talk to Don?"

Matty nodded.

"That is a good idea. I will call him later and maybe drop in to see him when I take the documentation to the provincial court."

She gave Bill a long gentle kiss and stood up.

"I best get the fuck to work."

She started for the stairs to the upper level, but stopped and turned around.

"When this shit is over, do me a favor."

"Anything."

"Take me far away from here for a vacation. Even just a few days."

Bill nodded.

"I will my love."

Matty blew him a kiss and walked away.

"Nice ass," Bill called behind her.