Ah, well, I'm afraid I can't really say on that."  Jonah gave a slight shake of his head.  "He was fairly ill at that point, not much in the mood to be talking."  Then he frowned as he looked at her.  "Protection?  Do you really think that will be necessary?"

“Jonah, out here all things are possible, most of them probable. There are unscrupulous people everywhere and if you think about what we are about to embark on, there will be a lot of cash involved and our town Marshall may not always be available to see to our protection.” She explained.

"I haven't been in town long enough to know who might be useful for such a task.  Would they live there as well?"  He chuckled at that.  "Teach them to nurse and we can kill two birds with one stone!"

She laughed. “No, they would not live in either local, nor wold they nurse. We’ll get nurses to assist you with the patient load, proper folks to administer to the orphanage and the children. It will take some doing, but it can, and will be done.” She appraised him for a long moment. “I trust you are in?”

"Yes, yes, of course." Jonah nodded, deciding at that moment to really go all-in, so long as there were no major complications. After all, he was intending to be here for some time, as back-water as it was, so he may as well do something worthwhile. And if it helped his standing, all the better.

"So, what do you think the next step should be? I don't imagine that we need approval to open a hospital, although I imagine there would be some sort of overseeing of an orphanage?" He honestly didn't know the logistics of such things. "Of course, we do have an attorney in Miss Mercer to help with those things."

"Yes, yes, of course."  Jonah nodded, deciding at that moment to really go all-in, so long as there were no major complications.

“Good. Really Jonah, what would a hospital be without it’s doctor.” Leah beamed. Suddenly this was not going to be just work, but fun!

"So, what do you think the next step should be?  I don't imagine that we need approval to open a hospital, although I imagine there would be some sort of overseeing of an orphanage?" He honestly didn't know the logistics of such things.  "Of course, we do have an attorney in Miss Mercer to help with those things."

“I agree, we’ll probably need to meet with the town council about this, but really, what possible opposition could there be to building these two needed projects.” She smiled wide, “We have an attorney, well, we hope to have an attorney to speak on our behalf, funding, I promise will not be a problem. The land acquisition, there could be some problems, but I believe nothing which we cannot over come together.”

“This is so exhilarating!”  Said a woman who had never done a single thing for anyone but herself in he entire life. For her, the moment was beyond anything she had ever known. It was pure of selfishness, a benefit to others who needed the two undertakings. She could hardly wait to meet with Miss Mercer.

Jonah couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, thinking that perhaps there was something more to her excitement, but that wasn't his to judge. He was just happy that he could bring such a smile to her. Pretty, rich, intelligent...maybe a bit intimidating, but a smart man would see her as an asset and a valuable business partner. Maybe, together, they could actually do something with this?

"The house will give us a start," he observed, "and maybe the property around it is available? We have half an acre, and it would be so much easier if we could buy the land around it to expand." He shrugged. "It's close town but away from the chaos." Grinning, he raised his glass. "To the Leah Steelegrave Hospital and Children's Home...well, maybe we should leave the last name off?"

"The house will give us a start," he observed, "and maybe the property around it is available?  We have half an acre, and it would be so much easier if we could buy the land around it to expand."  He shrugged.  "It's close town but away from the chaos."  Grinning, he raised his glass.  "To the Leah Steelegrave Hospital and Children's Home...well, maybe we should leave the last name off?

She responded to the toast, then said. “The house is a perfect start.” She agreed, taking the last bite of her meal, then adding; “Property, whether it is around the house or in another location in or near town is actually the smallest of problems.” She smiled. “We’ll not use the Steelgrave name, nor mine on this project. Perhaps as we move forward with you friend Miss Mercer’s name, or Kalispell. What makes a difference is that the town will have a real hospital, and an orphanage close by. When the railroad gets here, we’ll be prepared. Wouldn’t you say?” She was absolutely alive with the possibilities.

Of course, and you are right, it's best to keep the Kalispell name, make it about the town and not individuals."  That way they might have a better chance, too, at getting supporters.

She smiled, and it was as uncharacteristic as for once it was genuine. There was a rush of excitement coursing through her at the prospect of this endeavor. “Yes, and it gives the appearance of belonging to the town, that it was created by the town, for the town. Which it actually will be, We will simply own the property it sits on, and you it’s director.”

He smiled.  "Never thought..."  There was a slight shake of his head, then he shrugged.  "How about you come over and look at the house, see what we have to start with?"  Then, realizing how that might sound, he amended, "Professionally, of course.  You might have some ideas on how we can use the space most efficiently."

Leah actually laughed aloud almost as a schoolgirl would. “Perhaps Jonah, you might consider what people would say at my going to your home after dark. You realize that I do not have the best of reputations in this town. I am still a Steelgrave, they like my money and that I spend freely here.”

“However, they, the ladies of the town, think me far beneath them, and such a rumor as my going with you to your home after dark would do you or our project no good at all.” The concern in her voice was evident because her being seen at the residence on any man after dark had and would spark ugly rumors. “Think of how Miss Mercer might receive such rumors, and what damage it might do.”

She smiled. “I can meet you in the morning and we can certainly look over the property.”

“Perhaps Jonah, you might consider what people would say at my going to your home after dark. You realize that I do not have the best of reputations in this town. I am still a Steelgrave, they like my money and that I spend freely here.”

"I appreciate your concern," Jonah commented with a nod, "I suppose I don't have a particular reputation yet, and it's best to keep it that way...it's just too bad people want to think the worst."  He surely didn't want old biddy tongues wagging about him!

“However, they, the ladies of the town, think me far beneath them, and such a rumor as my going with you to your home after dark would do you or our project no good at all.” The concern in her voice was evident because her being seen at the residence on any man after dark had and would spark ugly rumors. “Think of how Miss Mercer might receive such rumors, and what damage it might do.”

"Ah, yes, the good lady does have her morals."  While he was sure that Harriet would fully approve of the project and would understand the business agreement, he also suspected that she would insist on keeping appearances, well, appear proper.

She smiled. “I can meet you in the morning and we can certainly look over the property.”

"That will be fine."  Jonah chuckled.  "It will give me time to clean the place up a bit and make certain that my union suit is stowed away and the bed is made!"  He gave her a friendly wink.  "And I'll have coffee on...unless you prefer tea?"

"That will be fine." Jonah chuckled. "It will give me time to clean the place up a bit and make certain that my union suit is stowed away and the bed is made!" He gave her a friendly wink. "And I'll have coffee on...unless you prefer tea?"

Leah smiled at the offer, “Tea would be fine, Jonah. And please, understand that who I am, who I am perceived to be, may not be one in the same. Parts will be true, parts will be surmised to be true and some, well, some will be made up, but none of it will be good, and several men’s reputations have been ruined due to their association with me. I’d prefer that not happen to you, nor Miss Mercer.” She smiled again. “This has been delightful.”

"I do appreciate your altruism," Jonah commented with a smile. "And perhaps that will help shed you in a new light to the people here. It can be difficult breaking old impressions, but I think you may have some success at that once the town knows your generosity."

Unless, of course, their minds were so tainted that they would just see her efforts as a ruse to win favor, and there was nothing you could really do for that.

"I'll look forward to seeing you in the morning, then, and have tea ready." He'd have to talk to Harriet and let her know what was going on, although she may object to the players, she certainly would approve of the plan.