Good morning, Miss Steelgrave. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. What can I do for you today?"
The greeting startled her as Leah was deep in thought involving her stocks. Often considered an empty headed vicious woman, all but the empty headed part was correct. Holding stock in both the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, and the fledgling Standard Oil of Ohio as well as the Farmers and Merchant Bank of Los Angeles Leah Steelgrave was well on her way to considerable wealth of her own.
“Good morning Stanley.” She replied as she rose to her feet. “I have come to check on my investments, and of course, to see if you might have some other tid-bits from your colleagues in the east.”
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Croft guided Leah towards his desk and after they both sat down, he reached for a piece of paper that was on his desk. When he had quickly checked the paper, he motioned to Luke and asked for Leah's file.
As he waited for the file, Croft addressed the woman seated in front of him, "Well, Miss Steelgrave, there's not much from friends in the east. Most of them, usually take their summer holidays at this time of year. There should be some news in early September."
His speech was interrupted by Luke, who handed him the file. Taking a few minutes, to read over the notes, Croft smiled. "As for your other investments, they seem to be doing fine. Other than the normal ups and downs you are still in a good position, financially."
Leah smiled. "I hadn't thought of holidays, but then I would suppose there could be a great deal of stress in their lines of work." She could be uncompromising to be sure, yet she could also be understanding in some instances. "I'd like you to look into shipping for me. You know, steam ships, overland, I've seen some promising possibilities, but I would of course, trust your judgement, and that of your contacts."
She reached into her purse and withdrew a small packet of bills and presented them to Stanley Croft. "Five hundred dollars. Your fee, and the rest for shares in Standard Oil of Ohio. I have a feeling on that one."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Croft jotted down the requests from Leah before taking the five hundred dollars. "Luke, could write out a receipt for Miss Steelgrave. Make sure that you state that part of the amount is the fee and the rest is for shares in Standard Oil."
"Yes, Mr. Croft," Luke replied.
A few minutes later, Luke handed the receipt to Leah. He turned to Croft, "If you don't need me for anything else, I would like to take a break while things are quiet."
Croft nodded, "That will be fine, son."
After Luke had left, Croft turned his attention back to Leah, "Now is there anything else I can help you with?
She smiled her sweet smile at Croft. He was, she thought, quite good at handling her affairs discretely. He always provided her stock certificates when the arrived, and proved to be an honest man. She appreciated that.
"I may be in later to view my certificates," she stated as she rose from the chair, "but for now, you've been most helpful, as usual. Thank you sir, and a pleasant day to you." With that Leah Steelgrave, independent woman, walked out of the bank and directly to the doctor's office.
She enjoyed Kalispell, far more than the family controlled Whitefish. She had never felt comfortable in the neighboring town. Here she was a curiosity, and that fed her ego. And besides that, Kalispell was far more entertaining than that rough crowd to the north. Arriving at office of Jonah Danforth, she paused, the rapped gently on the door.
With his wayward supplies finally delivered, Jonah was busy arranging shelves of books and stowing equipment, such as there was, in cabinets where he could find it when he needed it. There wasn't really a lot, he had the basics for taking care of most common ailments, and had gathered a few more things, and the books were there more to instill confidence in his skill. He'd found that a healthy supply of books, particularly with Latin titles, impressed people, and people who were impressed believed, and wasn't that half the battle?
He was actually relieved at the rap on the door, he was bored and almost anything was a welcome diversion, especially when it didn't have the urgency of a crisis. Or unless it was Old Mrs. Tillery with her ingrown toenail...again.
"Yes?" He smiled as he opened the door to a very pleasant surprise, wishing now that he'd taken the time to put on his jacket so that he wasn't just in his shirt-sleeves and vest. "Can I help you?"
"Yes?" He smiled as he opened the door to a very pleasant surprise, wishing now that he'd taken the time to put on his jacket so that he wasn't just in his shirt-sleeves and vest. "Can I help you?"
“Oh Doctor Danforth, perhaps I should come in more than once a year so that you would remember me.” She said coyly. “I was thinking that since I was in town it would be an excellent opportunity to see you about a check-up on my arm, you know, the one I broke last fall?”
It had healed properly, though there was still some pain, though her research had revealed something known as 'phantom pain.' She calculated that it would be a good excuse to perhaps ferret out information on this Pike fellow.
Gun shot wounds seldom heal themselves.
“Have you been busy?” She asked, to begin her delving.
Oh Doctor Danforth, perhaps I should come in more than once a year so that you would remember me.” She said coyly. “I was thinking that since I was in town it would be an excellent opportunity to see you about a check-up on my arm, you know, the one I broke last fall?”
"Ah, yes, of course." He didn't know what game she was playing at, but he'd only been here a few weeks. Not that he cared, any excuse to see a pretty lady...although he would have to take care to keep things on a professional level, at least for now.
“Have you been busy?” She asked, to begin her delving.
"I've had some work," he commented, standing back so she could enter. "Come in, please, so I can take a proper look at your arm." He led the way to an exam room, then nodded to a chair. "Please, have a seat...and remind me of your name?" Hopefully, she wouldn't be too incensed that he didn't know her name, but it would make things easier. "Would you like some tea?"
“Please, and Doctor, excuse me I confused you with the fellow who was here last year. I believe my haste I confused the two of you.” Leah explained, and actually, she was. She had acquired Danforths name from her mother, and believed that was the local man she had seen. Generally, she and he family went to Billings unless of course it was an emergency.
She actually blushed at he faux pas. Cunning, smart, she should never have made such an error, but perhaps she could salvage something from her error.
“Leah, Leah Steelgrave. Actually, I only saw him the one time.” She began again, “It was suggest that I come to see you, so I naturally assumed that you were him. I am terribly sorry.”
“Please, and Doctor, excuse me I confused you with the fellow who was here last year. I believe my haste I confused the two of you.”
"He must have been exceedingly handsome and charming." Jonah gave her a cheeky grin with a slight bow. She was engaging, no question on that, and a young lady who was accustomed to getting her way and being catered to.
“Leah, Leah Steelgrave. Actually, I only saw him the one time.” She began again, “It was suggest that I come to see you, so I naturally assumed that you were him. I am terribly sorry.”
Steelgrave....that explained a lot! "Don't worry about it." He nodded to a chair. "Please, have a seat, did you want that tea? And I have some cinnamon cake...made by one of the ladies in town, so you needn't fear the quality." He chuckled. "I've a growing collection of cakes, jams, cookies, not to mention chickens and rabbits in payment for my services. I had never fancied myself a farmer, but I have managed to make a coop."