"I plan on doing just that, and both sound really good. I can see where either would come in handy out here. I'll save the dresses for more important moments, if there are any." She replied, "In fact, I believe that I'll be investing in a whole new wardrobe more appropriate to the area and the climate." And then she laughed out loud. "This is going to be a real experience, living and working out here, even with a hospital.
"Now making an impression? That will be out of my control, but as you say, I will certainly make one, like it or not!" She said with a smile. "So let's get us there. I can drive if you like, you've taught me so much, Addy, I appreciate that, you have no idea.".
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"They will surely remember you!" Addy chuckled. "First few day'll be pretty hectic, everyone's gonna want ta meet ya, see whatcher all about. But ya don't gotta worry, they're mostly well meanin', an' you seem ta have yer wits in th' right place."
No pretensions, no silly expectations, Addy was sure that Angelique would settle quickly and be (mostly) well-respected.
They were passing houses more frequently now, and soon they were approaching the edge of the town itself. "Doc's office is on th' other side'a town," Addy commented, "so you'll get a good gander at th' place."
Addy was just full of good intentions and positive thoughts about their arrival in Kalispell, something she was looking forward to. Excited? To say the very least! Worried, of course, but willing to step right out and let folks know thety had themselves another doctor. Not to brag, just to say she was there, and that they were welcome to come see her, if only just to chat.
"This is the moment I've been waiting for, to get to this town Josiah had talked so much about." She said, to meet the \people he had spoken of, to become a part of the town and everything. Will we get to pass the new hospital, finished or not? I'm anxious about seeing it! Oh, Addy, I can't tell you what this all means to me."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Addy grinned, caught up in Angie's excitement, it was hard not to be, and it gave her a new appreciation for the town. As they passed through, she pointed out particular buildings, but their goal was the doctor's office. And yes, down one of the side streets, complete from the outside, even though there were still some men working on it.
As they passed the stage/freight barn, Weedy ran out, all grins. "Ma! You're back early!" The tow-headed boy trotted alongside the wagon. "Where are you going?" Because, normally, she would be stopping here.
"Doc Danforth's," she explained, "Pops got himself hurt, he's in th' back."
Weedy nodded and slowed a bit so he could grab on and hop in the back.
"That's Weedy," she explained to Angie, chuckling. "There's th' Doc's house." She nodded to the big Victorian house on the far edge of town. And before she stopped, Weedy had jumped down from the wagon and was dashing up the stairs, yelling for the doctor.
"Hello, Weedy." She said as he leaped into the back with Pops, a man he knew. It was not that she was ignored, Weedy was just more interested in Pops and his condition than some lady. The ride through town had been too fast for her to see everything but the glimpse of the hospital under construction was inspiring.
"There's th' Doc's house." She nodded to the big Victorian house on the far edge of town.
"Oh, what a beautiful house!" She exclaimed, "He has his clinic inside?" It was indeed a beautiful house, and a lovely setting for the clinic which she believed was just temporary until the hospital was completed.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Whole place is a clinic," Addy commented as she pulled the horses to a stop then set the brake, "leastways until th' ladies moved in. Doc had a couple'a rooms ta himself upstairs, but th' rest was used fer clinic rooms an' offices, an' patients that had ta stay longer."
That's where a hospital would come in handy, to provide more formal accommodations.
"Come on, now, let's grab Pops an' get him inside." She knew that was all she would have to say.
Shifting the man out of the back of the wagon, and, of course, awakening him, although he was pretty groggy and didn't protest much, Addy got him under the shoulders and left it to Angie to get his knees.
And once they were on the move to the house, there was no stopping them!
"Miss Chappel..." Jonah ran out onto the porch, having been alerted by Weedy, and he was willing to help carry the man, but the two ladies seemed to have everything in hand and had no intention of stopping.
"Where ya want him?" Addy growled. "Oh, an' this here's Doctor Laurant. Doc, Doc Danforth."
"Oh, um, this way..." Leading the way, Jonah showed them down the front hall and to a room on the left, where a bed was waiting. "There...what happened?"
"He was caught in a trap. We, Addy and I were able to get him free of it, carry him inside, and I cleaned and dressed the wound the best I could with what I had in my bag."Angie said quickly. "Barley missed the bone, but he's lost a good amount of blood, and there's damage, I suspect, to the blood vessels. It's a pleasure to meet you, at last."
"And, Josiah Boone? Is he around? I cannot wait to see him, he is the reason that I'm here. Oh, Doctor, this Miss Steelgrave? When do I get to meet her? I've heard so much about both of you, and the hospital, of course." And suddenly she was out of words. A wave of fatigue washed over her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Dr. Laurant," Jonah commented with a smile as he helped to strip Pops down and expose his wound, along with all of him! Good thing the poor man was pretty much oblivious, or the scandal would have traumatized him.
"Looks like you did a fine job, especially since you had limited resources," he continued as he unwrapped the wound. "Flesh still looks pink and healthy. Rummage in that cabinet there, you should find some iodine, needled and thread. We can tackle this together and get Ol' Pops back on his feet in no time!"
For the first time, he really looked at the woman -- she was pretty. Somehow, he'd been expecting an old cow who had turned her back on convention because she didn't fit in.
"I believe both Josiah and Miss Steelegrave are roaming about town. Mrs. Armentrout is here, she sees to the daily running of the place."
The only other person he was aware of was young Weedy, watching anxiously from the doorway, keeping a respectable distance.
Addy had likely gone to the freight barn to put the horses up.
"Well, that's why I'm here, to cure the sick. I think the wound is clean enough. I was surprised that it was not worse than it is, considering the trap he was caught in was quite old and rusty, but it seems to have cleaned up as well as could be expected."
She got the suturing things that Danforth had requested. I will assist unless you would rather I do the closing of the wound." Having never worked together, knowing what each other would do, or how they would like it done, was unknown as yet; that would come in due time. But no matter, this was the beginning, and it was going to be fun working together for the first time.
"Doctor," She said, "Ready when you are."
"Oh, please...he's been your patient thus far," Jonah commented, "no sense in changing that now, and besides, I'll know where to find anything you might need."
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to assist her. "He really is fortunate that you were along with Addy. I don't think she normally stops at that station on her way here. Do you have accommodations for the night?" He glanced toward the door. "Weedy, go see if you can track down Dr. Boone, let him know his friend is here."
With a nod, the boy turned and ran out the door.
"I'm sure Josiah will be thrilled to see you, he's got nothing but praise for you."