"Thank you, Miss..?" the gentleman looked up at her.
"Straub," Constance answered, "Constance Straub."
"I'm Jonah Danforth, and this is Miss Leah Steelgrave. She's been instrumental in the hospital becoming a reality, and that's something we really need here."
"Nice to meet you both," the waitress nodded first to one then the other, "Oh, I wondered what the construction work was about. A hospital is a fine idea."
"Are you enjoying working here? And Kalispell as well. I find it's a pleasant enough place, although it could use a little civilization..." He grinned. "Places like the Lickskillet and hospital are a start to that end."
"I am enjoying it...Mrs. Lutz is a good employer. With a very cute baby too," Constance smiled.
"I am a city girl...from back east, still pretty new here but yes, Kalispell seems pleasant enough," Constance replied.
"I think you'll find it an odd mixture of civilization and barbarism." Jonah shrugged and smiled. "There are some fine establishments and activities, and yet, not far out of town are savages and bandits...why, it was just last year that the bank was robbed."
Well, that wasn't a way to encourage someone to stay! "Fortunately, the law here is pretty sound...Speed Guyer is a good man, and now that Mr. Pike is back, I think we're pretty safe." Except maybe for range wars, but if that happened, hopefully it wouldn't spill intn.
"I'm glad you have found a place here, and hope you decide to stay. The town can use the influence of the culture of the East." Whatever that was!
'Culture of the East,' that made her smile, as if one person might actually make a difference. "Welcome to Kalispell Miss Staub, and yes, I agree with the Doctor here, the culture of the East, no matter how much or how little will certainly improve the town."
"Now Jonah here does tend to go on about the hospital and my involvement, but seriously, it was nothing that a man could not have done, had they deemed it important enough. I will be fortunate to have Doctor Danforth as the Medical Director when we open, in the near future. Still a good deal of construction to be done." She continued. "Where is it you hail from?"
"I'm glad you have found a place here, and hope you decide to stay. The town can use the influence of the culture of the East," the doctor remarked.
"Thank you, doctor," Constance nodded.
"Welcome to Kalispell Miss Staub, and yes, I agree with the Doctor here, the culture of the East, no matter how much or how little will certainly improve the town," the woman then spoke up.
"Well, honestly I do not know if my presence here in Kalispell will do anything for the culture, regardless of where I came from. I am just a newcomer trying to make a living, I'm nothing special," Constance assured them.
"Now Jonah here does tend to go on about the hospital and my involvement, but seriously, it was nothing that a man could not have done, had they deemed it important enough. I will be fortunate to have Doctor Danforth as the Medical Director when we open, in the near future. Still a good deal of construction to be done." She continued. "Where is it you hail from?"
"I certainly do think the hospital is a fine idea and you two are both to be commended for getting it done," Constance replied.
As to Leah's question, Constance answered, "Not that far East. Cincinnati, Ohio."
She left it at that.
"Cincinnati, Ohio is one of the bedrock states of the union, and I'd say we here could use that attitude, but not being a state sometimes dissuades folks from pushing to better all that is around them." Leah said, smiling. "You\'re here and you'll find your way to contribute, I'm sure of that."
Ohio may not seem like the East, but Cincinnati was no small town, there were all classes of people there, and they all had their vision of what it meant to be an Ohioan. But then again, there were those things that divided folks as well. but most found their way to what their beliefs and praising had taught them.
"You're right about statehood," Jonah agreed, "it tends to bring more families, churches, things that seem to urge folks to behave better, at least on the surface." 'Civilization' didn't really mean everything was perfect...in fact, it more often just hid the bad. "The territories tend to draw the...rebels, the ones looking for a place to live without being judged or restricted." Or hiding...
And most of the people in the territories were hardy, resilient, hard-working. Or they were criminals, counting on the expanse of land to keep them far from the law.
"Kalispell has the makings of a good place, so long as temperance doesn't get its claws embedded." While he wasn't particularly fond of drunkenness, the ability to drink was something he thought was important to men who chased cows, scrabbled in mines or chopped down trees all day...a way to relax and blow off steam. Take that away, and violence often replaced it.
"The territories tend to draw the...rebels, the ones looking for a place to live without being judged or restricted."
Leah was shaking her head in agreement. Those were the men that he hired on at the Evergreen, and the type her brother Case welcomed into his gang. There was no sense sharing any of that, it was a given that Miss Straub would hear all about it, if she hadn't already.
"Kalispell has the makings of a good place, so long as temperance doesn't get its claws embedded." While he wasn't particularly fond of drunkenness, the ability to drink was something he thought was important to men who chased cows, scrabbled in mines or chopped down trees all day...a way to relax and blow off steam. Take that away, and violence often replaced it.
"And I agree with all of what Doctor Danforth has said. Especially about our own here." She offered, "And yes, the Temperance movement may be well meaning, however, we may have our own town drunk, but the man is unmarried and has no children that we are aware of. Ezra Klinefield, a harmless soul."
"Unmarried and no children," Jonah chuckled, "that puts him in good company!" Of course, Ezra was far older than any of them, and none of them hid their woes in alcohol...yet. "But she's right, Ezra is harmless, especially compared to some of the more upstanding citizens who hide their nature behind smiles."
He hadn't intended for it to seem like he was talking about Leah's father. In fact, Jonah himself might fit that description when he'd first arrived.
"At any rate, new arrivals are always welcome, and if you've any aptitude for nursing, the hospital will be hiring soon."
"Oh yes! If that were the case, Miss Staub, well, that would be simply marvelous." Leah said, exuberantly. "Of course, I can understand if you feel indebted to Missus Lutz for the job you have, and that would be understandable, and I would add, justifiable, but should you wish to apply for anything, we would love to have you, even on a part-time basis. There will be a lot of positions available."
She might have sounded as if she was poaching Clara's employees, but that was not what she meant, She would be taking out a full-page ad in the Kalispell union announcing the openings that they had, which would be many and varied.
"Not that I would want to put Clara in dire straights for help, but to let you know what will be available." She had cleared that up, she hoped. After all, her thoughts of poaching drove the words just spoken.
They talked about some local Constance had no idea about but then the man changed subjects.
"At any rate, new arrivals are always welcome, and if you've any aptitude for nursing, the hospital will be hiring soon."
The young woman was quick with a follow up too.
"Oh yes! If that were the case, Miss Straub, well, that would be simply marvelous." Leah said, exuberantly. "Of course, I can understand if you feel indebted to Missus Lutz for the job you have, and that would be understandable, and I would add, justifiable, but should you wish to apply for anything, we would love to have you, even on a part-time basis. There will be a lot of positions available."
"Not that I would want to put Clara in dire straights for help, but to let you know what will be available."
"No, I get it but honestly I have no nursing experience or even much knowledge about such stuff. Our house maid would bandage up our childhood scuffles and accidents," Constance answered, "I like working here already. Good luck with the hirings though.