If Josiah had such confidence in him, who was Jonah to question it? He suspected they were well-founded in their confidence in him, and Josiah was no fool. Besides, if Jonah could stay on this path, the reward was incalculable, his heart's desire.
When Leah asked her mother about her reason for coming to Kalispell, Jonah glanced at Josiah and shrugged. "Perhaps Josiah and I should excuse ourselves," he suggested, "so you ladies can discuss this alone?" He wasn't sure if Elinor would prefer to talk to her daughter about this in private.
"And why would that be?" Elinor asked. You are both a part of this hospital, need I say an integral part, so whatever I have to say to Leah, you are most welcome to hear."
"Yes, by all means, without you two there would be no hospital!" Leah stated firmly.
With a chuckle, Josia spoke up, "Nice to be a part of something so important to not just Leah here and Kalispell, but to the Territory, so fire away, I'm all ears."
"As we all know, I ran off close to a year ago, and in that time, I made several important friends. Close friends in powerful positions back east that can benefit us out here in the west." She began, "Now I realize that I am no saint, never have been. At any rate, I have accumulated an interest, small, but an interest in two railroads." She paused, "The Northern Pacific and the Great Northern. I have managed to acquire an eighth interest in ownership in each and a great deal of shares as well."
"The Great Northern's end of track is in Helena and at Shelby, that's where they will come further west. The Northern Pacific is still trying to work out what it's doing about the frontier. But, they have an eye to the west, that's for sure. So, that is what I'm doing here."
"Ah, well, there's good news!" Jonah declared with a smile. "A little influence in getting the railroad to come through Kalispell is not a bad thing." He glanced at Elinor. "So, does that mean you will be dabbling in some land speculation? Perhaps buy up what you can before Elias gets wind of it?"
Now, wouldn't that be something? Ol' Elias finding out that his estranged wife had bought prime properties in town, then selling them to the railroad before he even knew what was happening!
"Well then, tell us what you can Elinnor, please. " Josiah said
"There was a survey crew through here, oh, close to a year and a half ago, I believe." Elinor began. Elias pooh-poohed it and said it would be five years before anything happened. He, of course, was interested in property values at the time and wanted to look over a couple of what he called prime lots. He never did."
"And you have?" Josiah asked.
"Yes. I have." She responded. "The lots are where the hospital and the orphanage will sit. It had to be cleared through an investment firm I have some shares in. But the scope is much much bigger than in-town lots. Perhaps as much as two miles on either side of town. That does not include the right of ways that Leah already obtained."
"So, if I was crafty, I'd ponder out what might be the best route through the mountains and buy up what I could, so I could sell it at a huge profit to the railroad." Jonah chuckled, he wasn't nearly that clever! But there was no doubting the train would come through town, and that property would be all the more valuable.
"I don't suppose Elias is going to be very happy when he finds out that his own wife secured the opportunities right under his nose." Jonah chuckled, it was really a nice thought, and in a way, he wished he could be there when Elias found out!
"Why Jonah Danforth!" Leah declared. "I can't believe you said that. I mean, you're just not that kind of man. Now my father is, and," She sent an appraising look at her mother, Mother, are you saying that you are buying up property for yourself and this investment firm?"
"I already have several plots, just outside of town, not big ones, but big enough." Elinor related with a rye smile.
"I don't suppose Elias is going to be very happy when he finds out that his own wife secured the opportunities right under his nose." Jonah chuckled, it was really a nice thought, and in a way, he wished he could be there when Elias found out!
Elinor looked at him and said flatly; "He will be enraged. As to what he might do I couldn't say. But whatever revenge he plans to take once the news is out, and even without my presence here, will be as ugly as he is if his heart doesn't give out first."
"Well, then, with luck, the news will make his heart give out!" Jonah chuckled nervously, regretting the words as soon as he spoke them, for it was never right to wish ill on anyone...mostly!
"At any rate, I suppose it depends on when and how he finds out. If he even decides to make inquires into properties, will he be able to find out who owns them?" Jonah wasn't too sure how that sort of thing worked. "Or, does he even know the name of your firm?"
Elinor laughed out loud.
"I doubt my father will react so violently, at least so far as his health is concerned," Leah said, but she was smiling. "In fact, I doubt that anything I might do would have that effect on him, though I've wished it would many, many times!" She was no longer smiling.
"I have seen the man on many occasions over the years, he has some problems with his health, and heart failure was not something that I ever saw as a real possibility. There are other things I believe that could take him down, now a heart attack?" Josiah stated in question. "This does not bode well, at all!"
"No, Josiah, it does not. And should he die on us, who stands to inherit? The boys wherever they are?" Elinor asked, "Certainly not you Leah. And I doubt that it would be me. I'm probably out of the will. He's not the type to overlook something like that."
"Well, it should be interesting to see what happens when he finds out that Leah is being wooed by a commoner!" Jonah laughed, then shook his head. "Does it really matter to either of you ladies to whom he leaves his empire? You've done remarkably well on your own."
He had always been fascinated and impressed by Leah's business sense, and he had no doubt she would do well with no help from anyone.
"Maybe Cole? I don't suppose it matters, so long as they leave Leah alone. Now, that would be a cruel joke, leaving it all to Leah, then..." Well, he wasn't going to voice that conclusion, and he fervently hoped Elias wouldn't think of that. If he did make Leah the sole heir, he also would make her the target of her psycho brothers.
"Well, it should be interesting to see what happens when he finds out that Leah is being wooed by a commoner!" Jonah laughed, then shook his head. "Does it really matter to either of you ladies to whom he leaves his empire? You've done remarkably well on your own."
"Commoner, you make me laugh, Jonah. I mean you would be considered one I suppose, but how he feels about you or anyone else courting my daughter would be a real mystery, except he won't have any of it. You can count on that!" Elinor stated.
"Mother please, even though you are right about him." Leah replied, and that fact made her shiver slightly. "That ranch belongs to all of us, not just my brothers."
"Maybe Cole? I don't suppose it matters, so long as they leave Leah alone. Now, that would be a cruel joke, leaving it all to Leah, then..." Well, he wasn't going to voice that conclusion, and he fervently hoped Elias wouldn't think of that. If he did make Leah the sole heir, he also would make her the target of her psycho brothers.
"Case will have something to say about that, I'm sure!" Josiah said almost quietly.