"So long as it doesn't outshine your own good sense!" Jonah laughed, thinking that chances were good that none of the men on the council, regardless of how 'man' they were, could hold a candle to Miss Leah and her sense! And it was smart of her not the end up with a hangover in the morning, when there was so much riding on the outcome.

"I'm sure they've come around by now, they certainly have had enough time to look at the details and know what side they should be on." Maybe! And at any rate, he was certain she would forge ahead regardless, but it would be nice if she got a break for once and actually had things work out for her.

"When I came here, I thought I was going to be working a small office, just something local," he mused, "but now...to have a regional hospital..." He wasn't sure if, for him, that was good or bad!

"There will be others, and they will be bigger, but this will be the first outside of the big cities, and of course our Virginia City, An interesting tale, the naming of it." She began, "It is said that they intended on naming the town “Verona,” a misspelling of “Varina,” the wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. However, the newly elected miners’ court judge, Dr. G. G. Bissell, was an equally stubborn Unionist who submitted the name Virginia instead."

She laughed, "One of my favorite stories." She looked directly at him, "Yes, I am sure by now, those who are left on the council will allow us our dream. I am confident of that. It is what is best for Kalispell."

"Virginia City? Isn't that down by the Yellowstone?" Jonah knew that it was remote, and relatively far, but that the area was reputed to be amazing. "Of course, I wager they're on edge these days, what with the Custer massacre. I hear there is some spectacular scenery in that area, and I'd thought it would be nice to see the geysers and boiling mud-pits, but no longer!"

The Indian situation was just a small part of it, more important to him was that it was remote, and had no real redeeming services. While he was currently avoiding larger cities, he still wanted more than a mining camp, even just to visit.

"Kalispell and its drama will keep me engaged for some time, but when I have a chance to get away, it would be to a place like San Francisco, with all manner of entertainment."

"Actually, it is quite a ways to west Yellowstone, but not all that far. Maybe too far to travel in a day. But it might be worth a visit." She said with a smile. "You know Jonah, speaking of drama, I have no idea what might happen tomorrow morning, other than Matthew said it would be signed and I would then be free to pick the plot and begin construction."

That was true, but time was running short, depending on the arrival of the men and material. She had no idea what it was going to take to actually build the hospital, and could they beat the winter snows. What would the fall be like? Would it be wet or dry, or some mix of weather?

"San Francisco? That would certainly be the place to find a plethora of entertainment. Yes, it certainly would,, but then you would be missing all of the excitement of living in Kalispell. And what if Whitefish was rebuilt? Can you imagine the excitement of that possibility? Really, you should consider this your home. Besides, I understand they have a singer at the Stardust Saloon, that's entertainment, isn't it?"

"Rebuild Whitefish?" Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Did they rebuild Gomorrah? Although I suppose it's possible, but that would take some time." He grinned. "Especially if they have to wait on the town council to approve everything!"

Then he smirked and shook his head. "The excitement of Kalispell, eh? Chicken coops and box socials?" He knew she was joking, although to her, this was home, so she had a fondness he had never felt for anything. A place was a place, and so long as no one was looking to tar and feather him, he was content.

"Well, maybe after the hospital is established, we can get an opera house going? Right next to the public library, of course!" He laughed, then shrugged. "I've always been one to let the wind blow me where it wanted to...there just hasn't even been a breeze lately, and I'm all right with that."

"An opera house? And why not! Maybe the town would like to have an opera house, wasn't there plans for a theater, from , ah, that Simmons fellow?" She asked, "An opera house would certainly be a step up from that, and steal Mister Simmons' thunder in the bargain. That is a good idea, but should he start his project I doubt we have the population to have two such venues. But it is something to consider."

There were opera house in the big cities, of course, as well as in a number of mining towns in the state. So it was not too far fetched of an idea. "And would you get yourself involved with it, Jonah? I mean, you would be in on the ground floor, entertainment wise."

"Oh! She exclaimed, "The White Rose, the White Rose Theater, that was it! I'm sorry I guess I haven't kept up with much else besides the project."