"I suspect Miss Wigfall will land on her feet, like the proverbial cat," Jonah commented with a chuckle, "she seems to have a way about her..."  He shrugged.  "And besides, she didn't actually do anything, despite her threats, and that she was restrained from carrying out her plan."

At least, with no corpse at the end of her efforts, there wouldn't be any capital charges.  "It will at least divert some of the attention away from the hospital doings, but I do have to feel sorry for the young woman.  She has her convictions, and I suppose she thought she was doing something righteous."

That it involved Leah's family was something else.  Even if Jemima was released, there might be some sort of retaliation.

"Far worse has happened in this town and been ignored, no doubt the sensation will wear off soon enough."

"Unfortunately, Jonah, she fired a gun at my father, putting the bullet through his hat, instead of his head. Now I know she probably meant well, but the problem is, whether the court convicts her or not, she tried to kill my father, lo that she missed, and that alone has consequences I'd rather not think about." Leah explained.

"So, Doctor Danforth, shall we make our way to the Lickskillet? Those chicken and dumplings might just be waiting, but the coffee will to be sure, and that would be fabulous, would it not? Besides, it's cold standing around while the day slips away," She presented her arm.

"I suppose it was just a matter of time," Jonah muttered with a chuckle.  Poor Jemima was a very confused young lady, and he doubted that would improve with time.  Still, the adage said that there was 'someone for everyone', and maybe once her 'someone' showed up, she'd find her peace.

"I agree, the Lickskillet is calling!"  He offered Leah his arm.  "Mrs. Lutz has done an amazing job in Mrs. Pike's absence.  I do hope she keeps it running, although I'm not sure how, considering both ladies are having babies.  I'm not sure when the Pikes will be back, but I assume before the child is due."

That was sometime in late Spring, so there was ample time.

"I heard they were in San Francisco.  I think I'd like to visit there one day."

Leah giggled, "Oh Jonah, now you're being silly! They are back. Now I didn't see them, but they, Emiline, and some of the hands, had been in the Lickskillet for supper last evening." She slipped her arm under his and rested her hand on his wrist. "And yes, they had been to San Francisco, or that was the rumor, as well as Nevada, I was told. But they have returned, with a herd of cattle."

Now with Mister Pike back and with the Marshal recovered enough to return to his duties. Why it's almost like it was, almost." She added, "We just need to focus on the needs for the hospital and hope that maybe this winter will be light after that disaster that was last winter."

Laughing, Jonah shook his head.  "You mean to say they went all the way to San Francisco and brought back cattle?"  He was teasing, of course!  "I knew Mrs. Pike was expecting, but I didn't expect she'd be expecting cows!"

He opened the door for her, then followed her in.  "Hopefully, Mother Nature got all her wrath out last season, and we might even get lucky and have a late winter."  The longer the snow held off, the longer they had to make progress on the building.  "It's in the Good Lord's hands, and with luck, He'll be in a good disposition!"

"I knew Mrs. Pike was expecting, but I didn't expect she'd be expecting cows!"

That drew a raised eyebrow look from Leah. "Honestly Jonah, Sometimes..." But she enjoyed his occasional outburst of humor. They reached the Lickskillet and, as the gentleman that he was, Jonah had opened the door for her and then followed her in.

"Hopefully, Mother Nature got all her wrath out last season, and we might even get lucky and have a late winter."

"Yes!" She agreed.  "A light winter would benefit the hospital's progress to no end. And, with the arrival of medical supplies, furniture, and whatnot. It is too bad that the railroad is not completed, that would simplify life a great deal."

"It's in the Good Lord's hands, and with luck, He'll be in a good disposition!"

"That it is Jonah, that it is." She agreed.

@Wayfarer @Bongo

Chuckling, Jonah held a chair for her then settled across from her.  "I suppose all our fates are in the Good Lord's hands, not that we can't maybe give Him a nudge now and then.  As for the railroad, it will compliment the hospital, and may even put Kalispell in contention for the capitol whenever statehood is declared."

Even though there was still a good deal of the country that was considered territories, it was just a matter of time before they were all divided into states.

"And besides, I think Kalispell is far nicer than Bannock, or Helena.  A hospital, railroad, Mason's Hall, brewery, opera hall...all the hallmarks of a worthy city."  He laughed.  "We do have a good number of saloons, so that's a start!"

Leah smiled as Jonah pulled out the chair for her, and talked about the coming railroad and how it would complement the hospital, which she agreed would be good for the hospital as well as the town. Mentioning statehood, she believed, was a first for Doctor Danforth.

"I'm not sure we would be considered the model for the State Capitol," She began. But you know, Jonah, it's not out of the realm of possibility. There are worse sites available."

"And besides, I think Kalispell is far nicer than Bannock, or Helena. A hospital, railroad, Mason's Hall, brewery, opera hall...all the hallmarks of a worthy city." He laughed. "We do have a good number of saloons, so that's a start!"

'Yes,' she thought, 'a start.' "Now I won't argue the point, we are much nicer than Bannock or Helena,  which is already too big for its britches if you ask me, and I've friends there!" And you are right, we have almost all the amenities, Helena doesn't even have anything to compete with our Municipal Building! Not to mention the Belle St. Regis Hotel! No sir, we'll be on the fast track for the capital city selection when that time comes."

"We don't seem to have major problems with the Indians here, either," Jonah commented, not that a flare up wasn't a possibility at any time.  "They are more reserved here, I think.  Certainly, I hope there is nothing here such as what occurred at the Little Big Horn.  That was a disaster!"

Details were still sketchy, but what had been in the papers sounded brutal and inhuman, and while there were occasional attacks here, they were isolated, and if one stayed close to town, it was reasonably safe. 

"At any rate, I think it's still a few years off, if we don't get taken in by Idaho or Oregon...I'd wager state politics make what you went through for the hospital look like child's play!"

That made her laugh out loud because there was quite a bit of truth in his statement. "You know, that reminds me of old Dutton Peabody, you remember him. The man was a lot of help early on, and once I reached Helena last year, he was an amazing resource. He knew almost everyone, and he knew how they could help with the right-of-way issues which were the biggest obstacles to getting anywhere. His name should be on the cornerstone!"

Yes, Dutton Peabody had been a great deal of help, and having the Governor's ear had certainly cleared a path for what should have been a quick deal with the town, and the immediate beginning of the hospital in the spring. 

"But we are started in the right direction at long last, and I see no real problems ahead, other than weather." She added, "Oh, I am so relieved to see all that's been done already in such a short time. It's just wonderful!"