"Of course." Jonah nodded, wanting to believe that Elinor wouldn't hold back any information that could be important to Leah's safety, but then, she'd walked out on her daughter, leaving the girl to fend for herself.
He took a breath. He'd have to find a way to reconcile that, for Leah's sake, until Elinor proved otherwise.
"Well, at least we know what to watch for," he continued, "and there are more of us, so I think we'd have a good chance of seeing anything coming."
Of course, it would be even better not to have to worry about petty family power struggles at all, but Elias wasn't likely to back down any time soon.
"Well, at least we know what to watch for," he continued, "and there are more of us, so I think we'd have a good chance of seeing anything coming."
"That's true, Jonah, and we'll be better prepared in any event," Leah said, unsure that her statement was true. She did not know this Fairchild, however, she did know Carson Tyndall and had for years. She always found him to be pleasant and professional. But that could have changed since she last saw him.
"Mister Tyndall is not to be underestimated. The veneer can be rubbed off quite easily,m and he can be as ruthless as your father." Elinor explained, "Oh hell! Forgive my vulgarity, gentlemen. When dealing with the men who work with your father, be assured that they must be as nasty as he is, or he rolls over them. Carson is one of the best attorneys in Helena, but he can be as crooked and ruthless as your father."
"So, if he comes here, as you suspect he will, do you think we will have to deal with him?" Josiah asked, what had seemed to be an idyllic reunion was fast becoming something else entirely.
"No. Not him, Fairchild perhaps, but really, I don't think the hospital is on their agenda." Was the reply, "If anyone would need to deal with the three, it will be me."
"You're welcome to them," Jonah quipped dryly, realizing that Elinor's return might be a good thing, as it would likely take some of the pressure off Leah when it came to dealing with her father. "Just be careful...the hospital isn't ready yet!" He chuckled, even as he realized that that wasn't something to joke about.
"I do think that whomever we choose as an attorney, he should be local, someone we're sure isn't in Steelegrave's pocket. And someone who is strong enough to stand up to him."
With any luck, none of this planning would be necessary, but it was wise to be prepared.
Leah smiled. Perhaps Jonah had said what they were all thinking, except her Mother, who seemed comfortable confronting these men, if not looking forward to it. "If the hospital is not why they are coming, then I sense that might be because you are here."
"Then you would be correct," Elinor replied. The woman showed no emotion about why the men might be on their way to Kalispell, probably because she knew full well the reason for their visit. "There are some things I will share with you all when the time is right, but, that is not this evening over our supper." She smiled, clearly knowing what it was she was about, and what she wanted to divulge and when. "So your choice of an attorney is good, if one is to be found here, such as Harriet Mercer, or what was his name, oh yes, Dutton Peabody. So, you're on the right track."
Jonah was a little miffed that Elinor might be withholding information that could mean safety or not for Leah, and with the woman's past history toward her daughter, he wasn't so sure that she had Leah's best interest in mind.
But for now, for Leah's sake, he'd try to give Elinor the benefit of the doubt and be civil.
"It will give us something to look into," Jonah agreed, "and then we can discuss investors. I imagine the Pikes might consider investing, and maybe Marsha Guyer." Then he had a thought and frowned. "So, can we turn down potential investors? If, say, Elias decides to invest, we can refuse him, right?"
Wouldn't that prove interesting!
Leah sat quietly for the moment, yes her mother had returned, yes, she had left Elias, and for that matter her as well, and now she was back. Why? That was something she needed to know. Yet she had heard nothing about it in the suite, and now, over supper was not the time to try and get that answer. She knew her mother well enough to know that there was a serious reason for her return that she would divulge when she was ready.
"Investing in the hospital makes perfect sense, and I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before." She said, "It would make the investors the owners of the hospital, and their investment would help with the continual running of it. Updated equipment being foremost."
Josiah smiled and nodded in agreement. "Profit will not be the hallmark of this place once she is complete, but service will be. The idea that folks coming to us for help need to be able to pay is just foolhardy. They pay with chickens, and all manner of things that will be useful, mostly in the kitchen. But then there will be those who can, and will pay cash money for our services." He nodded, "Yes siree, investors is a smart move on our part."
Elinor simply smiled.
Well, he supposed that if neither Leah nor Jonah had a problem with investors, than it must be a good idea, and he shouldn't object. But, it did seem wrong to have other people owning part of what Leah had worked so hard to make, so it was difficult not to be skeptical.
"So, then, do we start looking for investors now, or once we're up and running?" Again, he had no idea how this sort of thing worked. "Do we advertise, or just approach folks we think might be interested? And...what happens if Elias wants to invest?"
Leah sort of smiled at Jonah, always joking but always sincere. "So far as I know, investors will get a percentage of any profits made during the year, and I have invested in several companies over the years that pay handsome dividends. This, however, may not be one of them—at least not at first. Remember, we are far removed from the big cities, and those wanting to invest may only be locals, at first."
Josiah snorted, "All things in good time." He said, "It may not be easy or profitable at first, but in the long run, I believe the hospital will do well."
"Well said, Josiah. Profits will come, and this hospital will be paying out dividends." Elinor stated flatly. "Perhaps we advertise in the paper here to test the waters. And yes, I do believe some will step forward to invest in their hospital."
"Very well, then." Jonah nodded, although he had always thought of this as Leah's hospital, and it seemed odd to be giving part of that away. But then, she had already put so much money into this project, and he had no idea how much she had, so maybe it was necessary to seek help with the funding?
Besides, it wasn't right for Leah to use all her resources without any help, and he certainly hadn't been able to contribute to the financing. Soliciting investors might give them funding to help ease Leah's burden.
"We have what we need to get started, but it's right, that we will need to keep up with the times, the new inventions and gadgets, and that will take money, not chickens, even Mr. Sanders prized Appenzeller Spitzhaubens!"
Leah nodded, "Yes we do have just about everything we need to open those doors, once it all gets here, that is." Then she let out a laugh. "And that will be as soon as we have the second floor completed."
"Maybe Jonah, if you look at investors not as owners, but those who have 'loaned' us money." Elinor pointed out, "I just thought perhaps it would be good to look at investors as such. Only when there is a profit do we need to pay dividends. Excuse me, not we, but you."
"Josiah smile as he nodded his head in agreement as he spoke, "And that, that might be a year or two away, then again, maybe sooner, who's to say?"