"Well, all and all, the best we can do is be wary and be prepared, and hope that it was all for nothing," Jonah commented. "We at least know that there's a potential threat, so we know to watch for that. We just have to balance that with living our lives."
Living under a threat could take up all your time and effort, making life miserable, but it was difficult not to let it take over. But they were all strong people, and he was sure, especially together, that they could see this through.
Josiah smiled at Jonah's words. "Hard to know there could be a real problem coming your way, but then again, we won't be in this alone. There are those men who guard Leah here, as well as the law. Plus should push come to shove, there will be others. An attack on us, or the hospital is an attack on Kalispel."
"I would hope so," Leah said, and there was no smile. "A fight, if that's what Elias wants, is exactly what he'll get!"
Elinor shook her head, "The man may be evil, and he certainly can be rash at times, but to attack Kalispell? I think not, but I've been wrong about him before."
"Mother, you know he won't be the one, it will be his men if there's an attack on our town!" Leah stated. "Perhaps we are giving him far too much power over us. He's done nothing to this point."
No one disagreed, but each of them was concerned of what might happen.
"But if I'm not mistaken, those men don't do anything without Elias' orders," Jonah observed, "and anything he orders them to do makes him as culpable under the law." At least that was what he'd heard, so that it might be reasonable to believe that there was as much threat from the Steelegrave lackeys as there was from the man himself.
"We have plenty to do, more important things to worry about, and I, for one, don't intend to let him intimidate me. We'll live our lives, mindful that we need to be alert and wary, and we'll have the finest hospital this side of the Mississippi!"
No sense in letting Elias win without even putting in any effort.
"Yes, but not always. Elias did not order the raid on Aurelian Redmond's farm, but it was done anyway. His men get snout fiull lof whiskey and anything is liable to happen!" Leah stated. It had been proven that it was his riders who had done it, by the Redmonds.Their word was as good as the gospel!
"That is the problem with the character of men that he's hired," Josiah confirmed. "And that is the reason he hires them."
"I'm afraid I'll have to agree with you on that." Said Elinor, "Though some are not so bad as most of the others, though I couldn't speak to those he's hired since I left the Evergreen."
"Given the type of men out there, I agree that we need to always be mindful of what could happen," Josiah added. "But no sense running scared because of it!"
"Add alcohol to that mix," Jonah suggested, "and there's no telling what some of those men will do." If Elias couldn't keep his men in check, that was a whole different problem. But maybe they'd think twice about going after his family. "As you say, though, we just have to carry on, and make the hospital a huge success."
That might prove to be another thorn in Elias' side, but as had been pointed out, since it was in town, and part of the community, making it a difficult target.
"We've plenty to concentrate on with the hospital, and Dr. Laurant's arrival, we need to be sure everything is ready as it can be, so when we show her around, she can see the potential."
"Elias issues directives and ultimatums, if I remember correctly, he has men that ensure his wishes are carried out to the letter." Josiah said.
"Correct, Josiah. The man hjas men that do exactly as he says. The attack on Redmond's farm was a folly of some of his men and we do not know the repercussions they may have suffered for that dalliance." Elinor added. "Then too, he may have just laughed it off. You can never be too sure about how Elias will react. Tell me about this Dr. Laurant."
"Old friend of the family worked with her father, a fine doctor. She is a surgeon and a good one." Josiah bragged. "She will be a fine addition to the staff, don't you think Jonah?"
"Well I think so, and I've never even met her, but her letter and referrals were impressive," Leah stated with a smile.
"We'll just have to be sure to dazzle her so that she doesn't want to leave!" Jonah chuckled, then glanced at Josiah. "It's good that she knows you, so there's something familiar." It occurred to him that this was beginning to feel like a family, even if they hadn't all actually met yet.
He was sure that the young woman would do well, so long as she was able to ease into the way of life here. At least the worst of Winter was past and the weather was starting to improve. In a few weeks the fields would be blanked with color...and it would be nice enough for a picnic...not with Dr. Laurant, of course, nor Elinor, but with Leah...just Leah!
"Now we just need some more nurses...Miss Armentrout seems skilled enough, I think we should approach her about joining us, perhaps even taking charge of the other nurses?"
"Wasn't there a nurse that was interviewed a while back?" Leah asked, recalling that something had been said about a nurse applying.
"Yes, yes, there was an applicant who was tending Hector Wigfall," Josiah replied, "An Adelheid Armentrout, related to Misses Armentrout, your cook and housekeeper, right Jonah?"
"Well, that would be one though we haven't heard any more from her, and your Missus Armentrtout? She sounds perfect if she would consider taking the job, although that would deprive you of a housekeeper and cook, Jonah." Leah stated. Wondering if Hector wasn't out of the woods by now.
"I think from what I'm hearing, and what I've seen, it will be a while yet before there's a real need, but it never hurts to advertise for help wanted. It does pay off." Elinor added.
"Yes, it was the young Miss Armentrout to whom I was referring," Jonah pointed out. "I haven't discussed the hospital much with Mrs. Armentrout, although I do know at present she isn't interested in anything that will take up a full day. She has her younger children still to see to. Once the hospital is running, I won't need her as much at the clinic...the house, so she may agree to taking some work at the hospital."
The elder Armentrout would do well at running the logistics of the kitchen and the housekeeping, and that was something she could do on a part-time basis.
"We'll just need the housekeepers and cooks as well as nurses. Old Granny Miggins can cook, can't she?" He grinned.
The laughter exploded! "Jonah! What are you saying?" Leah asked after recovering from her bout of laughter. "She'd be a holy terror in the hospital!"
"At the very least! The woman carries a shotgun, for God's sake!" Josiah said humorlessly. "But yes, we'll need housekeepers and cooks. Kitchen staff, including dishwashers."
"Perhaps it would be best to start that search now," Elinor put forth. "And not just here but Columbia Falls and just about every small town around say a radius of a hundred miles? Maybe farther?"
"Granny Miggins! That was rich, Jonah. Livened this bunch up it did."Josiah said as he began to laugh again at the thought of the woman patrolling the kitchen with her trusty double barrel 'Street Howitzer.'
Well then, what we need to do is go and see McVay about fliers, or maybe even an issue of the Union with the ad in it." Leah suggested.
"Yes! Exactly, an issue with good news and stories plus a full-page ad. I'll pay for it!" Elinor offered. The table fell silent as that was going to cost some money.
