"Why ever would we need to ask Leah first?" Jonah looked at the men in all seriousness, then laughed. "It might take a good deal of convincing to get her to agree, but we can try."
He led the way in the back door, where the kitchen was. The aroma of fresh-baked bread met them -- Mrs. Armentrout had been here and left some treats for Jonah!
"And there's another advantage...I'm sure Mrs. Armentrout would be more than happy to expand her menu a bit, and she's a wonderful cook." He'd have to talk to the woman, pay her more, but he was sure something could be worked out.
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
"We don't an' she won't take kindly ta bein' told what ta do!" Gilcrest stated. "Danged woman's about as independent as a she wolf."
"Listen to Doc here, like he knows, and Jonah, he does. You ain't seen that side of her as yet." Bannister agreed. "So you ask, explain the why's of it to her and see where it goes, if she sees what we see as a possibility, then we got no problems."
(I cannot use 'post' all those pictures come up on the right side of the post)
"Ah, yes, throw the hapless doctor to the she-wolf!" Jonah chuckled, then glanced at the men. "Tell her I said that and I'll deny every word!"
He led the way through the kitchen into a hallway. "Normally, these rooms would be the dining room, parlor and whatnot, but they are used as clinical rooms and offices. Once the hospital is up and running, they can be converted to quarters for you gents. Anyone coming in would have to go by you first."
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
"You ain't too far off Doc, best you keep that in mind. Ain't sayin' that's her taday, just saying' it's fer sure in there, an' she ain't been too shy about showin' it! That is when it's called for." McKinney reminded the physician. "Seems you've give 'er the calm she never found put to the Evergreen."
"We ain't seen no hapless nothjin', er we'd not be here. You done right by the woman, an we that cares about her respect that, so you shjould knolw, one of us will shadow yoiu the way we do Miss Leah." BAnnister said. And as to these rooms, they';ll do just Jimdandy! Better'n most of us have ever seen, just fine Doc, just fine."
"And even better than luxury, the ladies you are trying to protect will only be upstairs and not across the street." Jonah chuckled. "I suppose it will be like a boarding house. We'll have to spruce it up some before we present it, and I'll have to think of what to say to make it sound amazing!"
He wasn't really sure how Leah would take the proposal, she might see the sense and acquiesce, or she might protest. "The best we can do is encourage it," he added as he started upstairs.
Off the landing were four doorways and a staircase leading up to the third floor turret room. "These are the bedrooms...I'd have to have them...lady'd up!"
His own room was sparse and untidy but at least clean. One of the other rooms was fitted as a long-term medical room, another a sort of office/library, and the forth was just storage.
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
"And even better than luxury, the ladies you are trying to protect will only be upstairs and not across the street." Jonah chuckled. "I suppose it will be like a boarding house. We'll have to spruce it up some before we present it, and I'll have to think of what to say to make it sound amazing!"
Bannister nodded, "Be real handy whenever 'lias decides to do somethin'."
"Funny, mebe he decides ta do nuthin', that's happened before, 'course thet don't mean his wife an' daughter!" Gilcrest pointed out.
"The best we can do is encourage it," he added as he started upstairs.
"An' that makes sense," Santee agreed, "But I ain't settin' no store by whot he might 'er might not do.
Off the landing were four doorways and a staircase leading up to the third floor turret room. "These are the bedrooms...I'd have to have them...lady'd up!"
"Good thinking, Doc!" Dex McKenny agreed with a laugh, "Women folk need them doodads, ribbons, an' such."
"You know that when he learns what you've done here, that will set him off!" Bannister told the Doctor. "Not that that means he'll send his boys, or that he won't. He'll be real unpredictable, like he is most times."
"You real sure you wanna do this Doc?" Santee asked.
"I do, if the ladies will agree to it." Jonah nodded. "I'd feel better knowing they were in an area that was a little easier to defend." He just prayed that it would never come to any direct conflict with Elias Steelegrave.
"I'll speak with Mrs. Armentrout in the morning about the arrangements, then talk to the ladies. It may be a day or two, I want to be sure everything is in place so that it is as appealing as possible. Leah can be...stubborn," better than 'pig-headed'! "and I'd like to leave her as little to protest as possible."
Not that he wouldn't respect whatever Leah and Elinor decided, he certainly wasn't going to coerce them.
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
Bannister was pleased with the idea of the house as the base, it would be better than where they were, spread out and harder to protect with the few men he had.
"Well then, we'll leave this to you to talk with the ladies then. Ain't nothin' I'd want to do. I mean I could, just not somethin' I'd care to do."
The men with him all seemed to be nodding. None wanted the task of telling or asking Leajh Steelgrave to move to a much safer location which may seem like a prison as opposed to the freedom that she and her mother currently enjoyed.
"It'll be a couple days, so I can think things out and make arrangements," Jonah explained. The chances of selling the deal would be better if everything was in order. Of course, Leah had been here before, several times, but that was downstairs. At least she knew Mrs. Armentrout, and as for as Jonah knew, she liked the woman, so that was one less hurdle.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your help. I know you have known her much longer than I have, and have been at this longer, but I appreciate you helping me and teaching me." He wasn't accustomed to having friends, it had been a long while since he'd stayed anywhere for any length of time, and he was usually spending his time avoiding men like these.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Alright Doc, sounds good," Bannister said. "We'll be headin' back to the house, you let us know if there's anything to do, but you come by tomara and we'll go unravel some more cartridges. Get you well used to using both the gun an' the holster."
"You'll be in fine shape with thet there pistol 'o yers! Thet's fer shore!" Gilcrest chimed in with a nod and a wink. The men let themselves out, Jonah walking along behind them.
The men went to their horses, mounted, and turned back toward town proper.
(good place to end this one)