"A stroll, certainly. But as you say, the property in question , I haven't even looked at what is available, and perhaps we should." She replied. "In fact, we might just see what property might be for sale, and then of course, it will be finding out who owns said properties." The she laughed.

"Here you are, suggesting a stroll to relieve the stress of all of this, and I in turn make more work of it. But a stroll and looking at properties perhaps west, or even south of town. I don't know about north, for obvious reasons, but perhaps near the fair grounds."

"Oh, no, dear lady, it's no problem," Jonah commented with a chuckle, offering his arm, "if we accomplish something during our stroll, then the time will be well-spent."

He started toward the area of town where the fairgrounds were, explaining, "Near the fairgrounds might not be a good choice," he explained as he started in that direction, "there are times when there will be a lot of noise and commotion...not conducive to healing."

And the last thing he wanted was to have to listen to cowboys 'whooping it up' all night. "But it would be good to be out a bit from residential areas, a hospital can have its noises...and odors, as well, and we don't need complaints."

He'd never really thought about locating a hospital before, but there certainly were things they'd have to consider in that regard.

"Oh, no, dear lady, it's no problem," Jonah commented with a chuckle, offering his arm, "if we accomplish something during our stroll, then the time will be well-spent.”

“I certainly can’t argue with that.” She smiled as he spoke and they started off.

He started toward the area of town where the fairgrounds were, explaining, "Near the fairgrounds might not be a good choice," he explained as he started in that direction, "there are times when there will be a lot of noise and commotion...not conducive to healing."  

“No, I shouldn’t think so, even if the celebrations are few and far between, they do get noisy.”

And the last thing he wanted was to have to listen to cowboys 'whooping it up' all night.  "But it would be good to be out a bit from residential areas, a hospital can have its noises...and odors, as well, and we don't need complaints."

He'd never really thought about locating a hospital before, but there certainly were things they'd have to consider in that regard.

“I had thought perhaps just past the end of town, actually, in either direction might be suitable. Far enough out to not interfere with growth, perhaps off the main trail. Somewhat secluded, not intrusive, nor subject to the noise of town either.” She offered. Though she had not considered placement for sometime, the idea of just outside of town had been there from the start.

“Honestly, Jonah, with everything else going on, I just haven’t given any thought to placement.” She smiled again, "Thank you for bringing me back to finding a location. It would be a considerable walk, but perhaps taking a buggy out there might be the thing.

"Forgive me, it's been a long day for you, of course we can take a buggy."  Changing direction, he headed to the alley behind the hotel, where his buggy was tied.  It would indeed make the tour more expedient, as they could cover more ground.

After assisting Leah into the buggy, he sat beside her and gathered the lines.  "Well, as there isn't a specific site as yet, I propose we head west of town...my residence, and the current clinic is there, so it would make the transition easier, should we find suitable land."  And it would be less travel for him between the hospital and home.

"A place with plenty of shade, perhaps a creek, I've heard that such places can be healing to the soul and expedite the body's healing."  Jonah wasn't sure if such things were merely hooey, or if there was credence to them.

"So, close to the railroad, but not too close?'  Access to trains would certainly be helpful for patients that needed more advanced care only available in the bigger cities like Helena, but then, there was the issue of noise again.

"So, where do you think this train is going to run?"  He chuckled.  "I've never been one for land speculation, but of course, whoever owns land near the tracks stands to make a good profit."  Knowing his luck, the plans would change at the last minute, and the land would be useless!

"Point me in the right direction, and we'll see what there is!"

"So, close to the railroad, but not too close?'  Access to trains would certainly be helpful for patients that needed more advanced care only available in the bigger cities like Helena, but then, there was the issue of noise again.

“Yes, I can see the benefits to being somewhere close to the railroad, and I can see the detraction's from it as well.” She agreed.

"So, where do you think this train is going to run?"  He chuckled.  "I've never been one for land speculation, but of course, whoever owns land near the tracks stands to make a good profit."  Knowing his luck, the plans would change at the last minute, and the land would be useless!

“The train’s route has already been decided, the most direct route turns out to be the easiest as well The right of ways I procured and gifted to Kalispell will allow the town to decide what is to be placed along the track, aside from the station and warehousing. If they bother to read the fine print they will note that those decisions will be placed on a ballot, and voted on by the citizens of Kalispell, proper. It also call for the creation of a Railroad Commission, separate from the Town Council. Well, a lot of legalese to keep current and former Town Council members out of the commission.” She explained.

"Point me in the right direction, and we'll see what there is!"

“So, I would say, South a ways, but not too far."

"South, all right."  It was a nice day for a ride, at least, and even if there wasn't much accomplished, it would give Leah a chance to relax and leave the disastrous meeting behind. 

"So..."  For a moment, Jonah hesitated, going over their past conversation to be sure he hadn't missed anything.  "You bought the land, then gave it away, a noble enterprise, I'm not disputing that, but...why didn't you just set aside a part of the land specifically for the hospital?  Seems that it would have saved a great deal of problems."

Of course, there had to be a method to her madness, Leah Steelegrave didn't do anything without thinking it through all the way, and she was as sly as her father, praise God she wasn't as evil!

Leah smiled and laid a hand on Jonah's forearm, "Jonah, why would I want the hospital close to the railroad? Now, let me finish, when I was in the capitol working to get these right of ways, there was no thought to an extra parcel of land for either building. There was no thought to having either close to the tracks, when there is plenty of land available, well, at least for the foreseeable future."

Jonah, Kalispell is going to grow. It will outgrow the Thorntons and the Steelgraves, and that will happen before our old eyes know it. And, it will continue to grow and demand services such as we are bringing. So then, the idea is to place these facilities away from what we now see as the town, with enough room to grow with Kalispell. " She explained.

"So you're saying that in the not too distant future, the hospital that we are building on the outskirts of town will be smack in the middle?" It hadn't ever occurred to him to look at it that way...he didn't usually ponder much on futures besides his own, and certainly not where a town might be in a few years. And honestly, even if he'd been asked, he wouldn't have given Kalispell much of a future beyond what it was, a cow-town on the edge of civilization!

"You really think this place has a chance to be more than...what it is? Even beyond the county seat?" Maybe he'd learn to dabble in land speculation!