Leah stood looking at the outside of the first and only floor of the hospital. Doors were hung and closed, Windows were installed and shuttered in anticipation of the coming winter weather which could arrive any day, whether it remained or not remained to be seen. It was a fine beginning, that was an understatement to be sure. The crew had been driven to get it completed before Mother Nature had her say.
She had asked Doctor Danforth to come see how things were shaping up. She rather expected to see Mason Aldridge on site, but he apparently not present. She could hear the ringing of hammers and the sounds of saws from inside. Men working on a dream come true. Her dream, her gift maybe for her past indiscretions, perhaps for what her father had done, not that it mattered. Out of the dust and a persistent dream rose the beginning of the hospital that the county as well as the town needed. Desperately needed, whether they admitted or knew it or not. This building would make a difference in people's lives that they could only imagine for the time being. From childbirth to serious, as well as not so serious, injuries. Lives would be saved in that building.
She stood gazing at the structure, waiting for Jonah, if he could get away from his practice. Or. Alderidge should he happen to be there or should show up. It really didn't matter to her, she was there to see the progress and revel in it, celebrate it for what it was. Sucess. That was part of what the building represented. Proof that something could be accomplished against all odds until Matt Wentworth changed all of that.
She took a step toward the doors.
@Bongo, @JulieS
He was running a bit late, but even so, Jonah had taken the time to pluck some wildflowers that grew along the roadways -- some blue chicory, yellow cornflowers and and orange devil's paintbrush -- but now, as he approached Leah, he wondered why he'd picked them, and was feeling a little embarrassed that he had them clutched in his hand. Some of them were already starting to wilt and droop, but it was too late to toss them aside, Leah had spotted him, so her just approached her awkwardly.
"So, um...it's looking nice," he commented, glancing from the flowers to the building to the young woman. "I'm sorry I was late, little Chad Jackson tried to make a pet of a porcupine, and...well, found out you can't do that!"
He chuckled, then shrugged. "Can we look inside?"
Mason, far from being idle, had taken some time out from supervising the hospital project to check out a couple of properties in town that were for sale. In the few weeks he had been in town, he had learned a lot of things about Kalispell. The town and the surrounding area had potential for growth and he was planning to be a part of it.
As he made his way back to the building site, he mentally went through the things he had in mind. The first was to get some sort of contract with the town council to do things like repairs and upgrades to public spaces and facilities. Then there was also the housing shortage. Plenty of people who had survived the Whitefish disaster las winter were either living in makeshift dwellings or boarding at various homes in and near town. With a population that was securely housed, there would be the need for more businesses, hence the reason why he was looking at some properties. There were a few rundown properties he could probably get at a cheap price and repair with little cost.
When he got to the site, he could see Leah talking to Doctor Danforth, a man he met shortly after arriving in town. Danforth seemed a decent sort of guy and it was clear (at least to him) that the man was very besotted with Leah.
A smile appeared on his face, when he approached both of them, "Good day, Miss Steelgrave. Doctor Danforth. I hope you both approve of the progress we have made so far."
@[Flip]
Leah smiled at the flowers she spied clutched in Jonah's fist. 'How sweet,' she thought, but then that was Jonah. The best part was that look of 'what have I done?' she had seen before when he had subconsciously done something that concerned her. Actually, she liked that about him. "Hello." She greeted.
"So, um...it's looking nice," he commented, glancing from the flowers to the building to the young woman. "I'm sorry I was late, little Chad Jackson tried to make a pet of a porcupine, and...well, found out you can't do that!"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, that must have been painful for him. And yes, it looks splendid, well, to me anyway. The dream is becoming the reality." She replied, still smiling. "Would those be for me, or are they to be laid at the front door?"
He chuckled, then shrugged. "Can we look inside?"
"We most certainly can! After all, you are the Medical Director of this fine, though unfinished hospital." She stated.
A smile appeared on his face, when he approached both of them, "Good day, Miss Steelgrave. Doctor Danforth. I hope you both approve of the progress we have made so far."
"Oh, you startled me," Then she laughed, "I was lost in the absolute wonder of it. And yes, I am delighted with the progress so far. In fact, it would appear it can be covered as I was told the men would be doing to protect it from the coming winter." She looked to Jonah for his input.
Bongo, JulieS
"Would those be for me, or are they to be laid at the front door?"
"Oh, well..." Jonah felt heat rise in his cheeks. He couldn't very well give such pathetic blooms to Leah, and she had given him an out of sorts, to claim that they were for the door?
Any immediate decision was mercifully postponed as Mason Aldridge arrived.
"Good day, Miss Steelgrave. Doctor Danforth. I hope you both approve of the progress we have made so far."
"Oh, you startled me," Then she laughed, "I was lost in the absolute wonder of it. And yes, I am delighted with the progress so far. In fact, it would appear it can be covered as I was told the men would be doing to protect it from the coming winter." She looked to Jonah for his input.
"You've made remarkable progress, indeed." The hospital would certainly be ready by Spring, barring any unforeseen circumstances, and Jonah would be glad for it, for Leah's efforts to finally pay off. "Hopefully, the winter won't be too harsh, and will be a short one." No incidents like the one last year in Whitefish!
"Good afternoon, Mr. Aldridge." Jonah switched the sad bouquet from to his left hand and held out his right, then reconsidered...it was damp and a bit sticky from dew and sap, but there was no choice now but to awkwardly wipe it on his pant leg and offer it again!
When Jonah offered his hand the the second time, Mason took and shook it firmly. "It's good to see you again Doctor."
Now that Whitefish had been mentioned, Mason took the opportunity to say something about it.
"Yes, from what I've heard the Whitefish disaster is still being felt from some of the residents here in town. We've employed a few of the men who survived it to work here on the hospital and orphanage, however in the long term that won't be enough. The town needs ongoing projects to keep those who were already living here and not just the refugees from Whitefish employed so that they can provide for themselves and their families."
@[Flip] Bongo
"I fully intend to hire as many locals, and they are all locals, no matter where they came to us from, as possible for the hospital. Though I do agree with you that there needs to be more opportunities for people to find work." She said in agreement with Aldridge.
"Now I have heard that Marshal Guyer acquired two mining properties, copper mines, but that was before he was wounded, once he's back on his feet again I believe he will be hiring men for those projects." She added, "Now the Doctor here and I are going to begin our search for experienced medical people to fill out our staff. Isn't that right Jonah?"
Bongo, JulieS
"There will be jobs at the hospital, too, I suppose," Jonah commented as he tried to compose himself, no easy task in the presence of the lovely Miss Steelgrave, "there will be unskilled positions, cleaning, maintenance, cook...Mrs. Armentrout will be offered head position for that, of course." After all, the woman had done a good job for him so far, and he figured she'd welcome the steady income that a job at the hospital would provide.
"Of course, once the actual construction is done, I imagine the concentration of funds will go to those institutions." Leah had already offered so much to the community, it was someone else's turn to take on new construction, and the current projects needed their attention.
"Shall we look around inside, see how it's looking so far? And find some water for these?" He held up the sorry flowers.
"But of course. Pick flowers sometimes don't last out here for whatever reason, and something to put them and the water in would be good. Maybe this empty can, if it's empty enough." She said, pointing out an empty can. "And to continue, I understand word has spread about this endeavor, probably thanks to the Territorial Government who want this to succeed." She started for the can, paused, then retrieved it. "Perfect."
"Now, Mister Aldridge, we will be searching far and wide for educated and experienced staff willing to come west, perhaps some who are already a part of the western landscape, but want a change of scene." She went on. "Jonah here, and Doctor Boone just won't be enough as far as the Medical staff is concerned, and please, don't think I'm any expert on the running of a hospital, as I am not. But I do read, in fact, I read everything I can find on hospitals."
She reached the door and turned the nob, pulling it open.
Bongo, JulieS
As Mason listened to what Leah and Jonah had to say, he couldn't help think that it was understandable that the both of them would be focussed on what the hospital could offer the community. He, however, was looking more at the other parts of town that had potential for future growth. Besides, all of the educated and experience staff they were looking for would want something to do in their spare time and somewhere to live.
As Leah went to pick up the empty can, Mason couldn't help but notice the flowers that Jonah was carrying. The doctor's gift only confirmed the rumours he had heard about the nature of the relationship between both him and Leah. Even if Leah couldn't see it right now, it looked like the doctor had finally decided to make a move.
When Leah opened the door, Mason smiled, "After you Miss Steelgrave and Doctor Danforth."
@[Bongo] Flip