"Thank you." Jonah looked at the tempting meal, thinking that he might have a problem, too, if this sort of thing was presented all the time! But then, he supposed, Ling likely wasn't the one who made those decisions.
"Well, at least he'll let you give him medication, that should help keep him going a while." He had to wonder what Leah would think of that!
The meal was as good as it looked, and soon Jonah was ready to sink into bed, even if it was closer to dawn than midnight. "Let me know if anything happens with Mr. Steelegrave," he instructed Ling, unnecessarily, he was sure.
As the sun rose Ling was already up and busy. He checked on his employer who was also awake. He looked at the houseboy and forced a smile, he was still weak, but trying rather poorly to project his usual commanding persona.
"You're supposed to rest. Doctor is still here, but will go after breakfast." Ling said in his sing-song manner. I have medication for you, but must rest, gather strength again."
"News of this cannot get out." He said, trying hard to be forceful in his delivery. "CAn't let Thornton know what happened.
"Not get out, maybe Doctor Danforth he say something to daughter." Was the reply from the Chinese. "Not important now. I bring tea. You rest. Tea will help."
"Ling, whatever you gave me, those drops, thank you." Elias said.
Ling nodded and then turned and walked out of the room and within several steps ran into the Doctor. "He resting now. Look better. Worried news get out to enemies. Make breakfast for you."
"Of course I'll be discrete," Jonah promised, suspecting that if the word got out, even if it wasn't from him, that he'd be the one paying. "Although I will have to tell Miss Steelegrave, since we work closely together, and I'm sure she'll suspect something."
He knew that she was astute enough to sense that he was holding back from her, and he didn't need that sort of rift. "I don't think she'd pass that information on."
Breakfast was another hearty, delicious meal, and after a quick check on Elias, who was still pretty weak and not much in the mood for discussion, Jonah was on the road back to Kalispell, 'escorted' by an Evergreen ranch hand, and until they actually got to the outskirts of town, Jonah was really expecting a bullet to the back of the head, followed by n unceremonious burial deep in the woods, where only the bears and wolves would find him.
Perhaps Steelegrave had a small bit of goodness in him after all, and it was a very relieved doctor who turned the horse back to the ranch hand, then headed into his clinic, looking forward to a 'normal' day.
Ling stood in the doorway, he had paid the doctor with a twenty dollar gold piece, just as Elias had ordered. He watched as Dave Jansen and the doctor rode away from the house, in much less of a hurry as they had arrived the night before.
His thoughts on the encounter were positive, although he doubted much of what his employer had said to the medical man who had come despite the usual hostile nature of the ranch hands, as well as the master. But Elias had been in no shape to be belligerent with anyone, however this morning may well be different, though the Chinese, Kim Lee as he was never called by Elias or anyone else on the property, had ways of ensuring Elias Steelgrave was gentle as a baby—Chinese medicine.
He stepped back inside and closed the door.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
There is a truth bout Elias Steelgrave, he lies, even when the truth would serve him better. Now that brings us to his words about daughter Leah and the hospital that is being built in town. No, he had never sent anyone to harass the builders, posed no threat to the property, but inside, deep inside, Elias Steelgrave wanted his name on that building. Only a complete fool would not be aware of it's importance to not only the town but the territory as well.
That was the turmoil that raged inside, from time to time, when he thought about the hospital, or it was brought up in conversation. He had missed the chance to be in the limelight of its construction. He had missed the opportunity to have his daughter in his life, bungled that years ago when he assaulted her. That he was drunk at the time made no difference to the fact, and if it had been known his wife might have killed him. The law at the time may have arrested him for it, but Ben Robertson was the Judge back then, and he was on the Steelgrave payroll.
So he had pandered to Danforth in spite of the man coming to his aid. He had survived, and that was all that mattered. Yes, he was confined to his bed for rest by the Chinaman who held the medications that were needed, and some that put him to sleep. Kim Lee, also known as Ling, which even he does not understand, has certain ties for medications unavailable at the apothecary for whatever reason, Kalispel was close to San Francisco as opposed to say, Chicago or New York.
So then, for the foreseeable future, Elias would not be doing much of anything, even though his thought process still functioned as it always did, what was good for Elias.
Wednesday, March 7, 1876 Cloudy, light wind cutting through clothing, light wind.
Another recovery! Just what he did not need or want, yet here he was, resting. Of course, Kim Lee, or Ling as he was called was there to fulfill his every wish except for the one where he was out of bed, other than a trip to the necessary Where there were men that helped him.
They were keeping an eye on the boss, orders from a Chinaman, but instead of his temper exploding in a rage that could well spell the end of Elias Steelgrave, he accepted the servant's concern as well as his orders. But he was beginning to feel healthier and stronger, knowing he would be up and around in a few days. Maybe not ready to ride, but able to get around on his own, which really mattered to him, at the moment, more than anything!
Of course, the developments in town were unknown to him, though there was no telling exactly how Elinor's return might affect him. It had been a devastating surprise to him that she had left so abruptly. He climbed into the bottle for a long while, more than he already had. But was behind him now, and no longer had a bearing on his reactions or words to such things, or at least he had hoped he maintained better control over his temper, unlike when he shot his foreman in the parlor.
But it was only a matter of time before he was made aware that she was in fact in town. It was only a matter of time that his attorney from town, Cole Latham would be out to the ranch to tell him as much! Then if that were not enough, Carson Tyndall and his associate, a recovering Bradley Fairchild with information no one including, Leah Steelgrave had.
