"That has been suggested more than once Jonah," Boone replied. "However, I have been deemed sound by several experts at the Bon-Ton Saloon in Columbia Falls, where I am often treated to a libation, on occasion, I should say. Wouldn't want to leave the wrong impression, you know."
Elinor smiled, and said, "Josiah Boone, I doubt that seriously, in all the years that I and my children have known you, I do not recall one day that I saw you with a drink. Coffee, by the gallon, even in the Stardust, but spirits? Not on your life."
Then she looked at Jonah, "Well now, that does remain to be seen. You do know that I left Elias quite suddenly, at least he would believe so. Whether I stay or not, well now, that depends, and not at all on him. So, we shall see."
"Mother, are you going out to the ranch?" Leah asked, "I doubt my father would do anything rash. He has quit drinking, or at least that' the rumor from some of his men."
Elinor's smile broadened, "Well, there's an improvement. But, no, not in my plans. At least not in the foreseeable future, that is."
"If you go out to the ranch, let us know when," Jonah asked Elinor, "and when you expect to be back...please." Well, he didn't want to be ordering the woman, but neither did he want her to run out to Evergreen and just disappear. "And maybe tomorrow we can all take in a picnic or something?"
He glanced to Josiah and Leah to see if they were frowning, but he really couldn't tell what they might be thinking. "We could get some fired chicken or something from the cafe here..." So they knew he wasn't pretending to be able to cook!
Elinor smiled again, but more of a confident smile than one of happiness. "Not to worry Jonah, I have friends on the ranch." She revealed. "There are several of the long term hands who would take my side should Elias try anything, but even though I left him, I doubt he would try anything."
The look on Leah's face said there was room for doubt. "Santee, McKenny, Doc Gilcrest, and Bannister are all here in town, across the street from my cottage. Who were you thinking of?"
"What of Granger? Cuirly Ryan? Dutch and Treach? Are they still there?" Elinor quizzed. "There are others, but those, I could rely on if I needed them." Then it was as if there was no warning as she said; "I will be sure to let you know those plans well in advance, I promise, and a picnic? A bit chilly yet but why not?"
Josia grinned, "Same old Elinor, count on her to do the unexpected. But because there's always a threat of rain, why not have this picnic inside the hospital? Can't start a fire, but I believe the stoves are delivered and in."
That brightened the mood even more.
"Thank you," Jonah replied with Elinor said that she'd let them know her plans, something he wouldn't have cared about before coming to Kalispell.
Then Josiah made his suggestion on the picnic and Jonah nodded. "We'd not have to worry about the weather in that case," he agreed, "or ants. We can spread a blanket on the floor..." He had other ideas, too, but that was for later.
"So, when should we do this? And Mrs. Steelegrave, when do you think you might go out to Evergreen?" He glanced at Leah, wondering if he should mention that Elias had recently had had a medical emergency...after all, it had essentially come out all right, and he'd leave it up to Leah to bring it up.
"Last I heard they were. Most of the old hands are still there." Josiah informed her.
"So, when should we do this? And Mrs. Steelegrave, when do you think you might go out to Evergreen?" He glanced at Leah, wondering if he should mention that Elias had recently had had a medical emergency...after all, it had essentially come out all right, and he'd leave it up to Leah to bring it up.
Leah caught the look and straight faced said, "Dad had a heart attack on the first of the month." She paused a long moment for that to sink in, and the term Dad was not lost on any of them. Jonah went out to help. His Chinese houseboy Ling treated him when it happened, you know them, they have things we have never heard of or ever used before. So he is recovering."
"Well, that is news, unwelcomed for sure. I always said if anyone kills him it will be me. So I guess your brothers are out there?" Elinor asked after her statement.
"I wouldn't know, we wired them but got nothing back, not from any of them which certainly won't have made him happy." Was Leah's response. "But the picnic, we should do it tomorrow since it's already so late. And, well, Jonah can give you any details you might want to hear." Her tone was not jubilant.
Jonah couldn't help but chuckle at Elinor's quip about being the one to help see Elias to his demise, and she may well have the opportunity, if she was serious.
"He does have some serious heart disease, but he's also a strong man, and I suspect stubborn, so he may yet have ample time ahead of him. And I think having the picnic tomorrow is a splendid idea. I'm sure you are tired from your trip," he glanced at Elinor, "and would like to clean up and rest." He chuckled. "And that will give us time to spruce the place up, so it looks better than it does!"
"Elias was never one to care for himself, always my job to make sure he ate right, that sort of thing. But, maybe this will slow him down." Elinor noted, " I think maybe this incident, something he could not control would probably shake him to the core."
"One can only hope," Josiah stated. "He could do with a change, and so could Kalispell in general, not having to worry about what he might do next, but, about this picnic, no amount of sprucing will make that place look any better than it does at this point, but we can ensure we have enough room close to the stove."
"Yes that is about all we can do right now, but to have been inside, having a picnic before it's completed? Marvelous!" Leah beamed, "Dadf will be who he is, but we can all hope that maybe, somewhere in there, a decent man is waiting to get out. Now, we can likely get everything we need as far as food goes from here, the chicken, maybe a potato salad?"
"Elias was never one to care for himself, always my job to make sure he ate right, that sort of thing. But, maybe this will slow him down." Elinor noted, " I think maybe this incident, something he could not control would probably shake him to the core."
"Perhaps, but from what I've seen, I doubt it," Jonah gave his opinion. And there was no saying how the man would take finding out his daughter was officially courting!
"One can only hope," Josiah stated. "He could do with a change, and so could Kalispell in general, not having to worry about what he might do next, but, about this picnic, no amount of sprucing will make that place look any better than it does at this point, but we can ensure we have enough room close to the stove."
"We can sweep up the sawdust," Jonah suggested, smiling. Really, most of the actual construction inside was done, it was just all the crates and boxes of equipment stacked against the wall.
"Yes that is about all we can do right now, but to have been inside, having a picnic before it's completed? Marvelous!" Leah beamed, "Dad will be who he is, but we can all hope that maybe, somewhere in there, a decent man is waiting to get out. Now, we can likely get everything we need as far as food goes from here, the chicken, maybe a potato salad?"
"I'm happy with about anything," Jonah chuckled, "except maybe Mrs. Adney's pickled okra! I'll talk to Mrs. Lutz before we leave so she can have it packed up for us. Josiah and I can collect you ladies at the hotel, if that's acceptable?"
"Yes that is about all we can do right now, but to have been inside, having a picnic before it's completed? Marvelous!" Leah beamed, "Dad will be who he is, but we can all hope that maybe, somewhere in there, a decent man is waiting to get out. Now, we can likely get everything we need as far as food goes from here, the chicken, maybe a potato salad?"
"You're right about Elias, your father is 'as they say,' his own man. But, all that aside, gentlemen, fried chicken and potato salad sounds wonderful to me." Elinor said, changing the subject. "And the idea of being the very first to, shall we say, use the hospital, that is just to exciting!"
Josiah had his own thoughts about Elias Steelgrave and any possibility of a change in him, though he had seen such change before, the idea that the Steelgrave patriarch would have such a revelation seemed to be reaching quite a bit. However, he had witnessed such change in others, so it was not out of the realm of possibility.
"Maybe a cobbler as well?" He asked with a sly smile.
"I'm happy with about anything," Jonah chuckled, "except maybe Mrs. Adney's pickled okra! I'll talk to Mrs. Lutz before we leave so she can have it packed up for us. Josiah and I can collect you ladies at the hotel, if that's acceptable?"
"Yes!" Leah agreed smiling at the idea of it all. "Have you checked in at the hotel as yet? Do you have any luggage?"
"I have and it has been taken care of. Everything is in the suite." Elinor replied. It looks to me like tomorrow will be a great deal of fun, doesn't it?"
"Well, then, it's settled!" Jonah stood and put some coins on the table. "I need to get back to the clinic, but I'll speak with Mrs. Lutz before I go, so that's taken care of."
Smiling, he held Leah's chair, planning to get in a little smooch before she got away. He glanced at Josiah. "I'd like a quick word with you, too, if you don't mind. And Mrs. Steelegrave, it's been a pleasure to meet you, I can see where Leah gets her...Leah-ness!"