As Angie washed her hands, she said, "Not as thrilled as I will be to see him. He's the reason I became a doctor in the first place." She explained as she threaded the needle to apply the stitches,"Like Weedy there, hanging around watching him work, then, as I got older, helping him. Listening, watching, learning. So after secondary school, I was able to enter Rush Medical College at Rush University. The rest, as they say. is history." She began suturing Pops' wound .
"Not easy for a woman in this field. Not easy at all. I mean, I graduated and was hired on at Mercy Hospital, where I was able to secure a spot on the surgical staff. Again, not really popular with the male doctors, succeeding was how I managed to get by. There, all nice and tidy."
"So when do I get to meet Miss Steelgrave?"
"I'm sure Miss Leah will be back for supper," Jonah commented as he started to dress the wound. "possibly her mother as well, and Josiah, of course. Perhaps Addy and Weedy as well." He chuckled. "From what I understand, Weedy wants to be a pirate, so I don't know that our influence will have much of an impact on him!"
A few added touches, a small bit of laudanum, and they had done the most that they could for Pops for now.
"Leah has guards that travel with her," he added, just so Angie wouldn't be surprised by the influx of people that came along with Leah. "They're good men and stay mostly out of the way." Although he hoped that one day that wouldn't be necessary, for more than one reason.
"Let's get you cleaned up. Mrs. Armentrout will be in the kitchen...she keeps the place running!"
Wonderful aromas rose from the kitchen, both savory and sweet, and as they entered they were greeted by an older woman with a huge smile. "You must be the new doctor!" she beamed. "I heated you some water to wash up. Would you like some tea?"
"Dr. Laruant, this is Mrs. Armetrout, who truly keeps the place running. "Mrs. Armentrout, Dr. Laurant."
This place is certainly busy, Addy had mentioned to me that Miss Steelgrave was at odds with her father. She told me a bit about him, so I knew there were bodyguards. I just don't understand that situation." Was her reply, "Men with guns don't offend me in the slightest. Not that Chicago is filled with them. They serve a purpose, especially out here, as well as the need for protection, I would imagine, other than from one's own father."
"You must be the new doctor!" she beamed. "I heated you some water to wash up. Would you like some tea?"
"I am, and happy to be here at last," Angie said. "And hot soap and water would be a delight. And tea? By all means!
"Dr. Laruant, this is Mrs. Armetrout, who truly keeps the place running. "Mrs. Armentrout, Dr. Laurant."
"My pleasure, and it's Angie, Mrs. Armentrout, and if I can help, I would be glad to." She offered, and she meant it. "I am far more capable than most would give me credit for. So while I'm here in the clinic, at least, I am at your service."
"Not today, dear," Mrs. Armentrout declared firmly, "you've already had quite the day." The woman handed Angie a towel, then indicated a pitcher of warm water and a bowl at the table. "Clean up there, it'll do until you can get a proper bath. There's a room just off the kitchen here that they had put in when the ladies moved in, I just need to heat the water."
"Do you have your luggage with you?" Jonah asked, "Or is it still in the wagon? We have a room reserved for you at the hotel, or you can stay here for a couple nights. I'm sure Leah would be happy to have you. And one more person at the table won't make a difference, isn't that right, Mrs. Armentrout?"
"Of course not." She enjoyed taking care of the folks here, and she was curious to know more about the new doctor. "And, I'm making chicken and dumplings for supper tonight, and there's enough for Addy and Josiah, should they decide to stay." As she spoke, she set out mugs, cream, sugar and slices of spice cake. "Not too much, dear, supper isn't too far off, you don't want to spoil your appetite."
"Luggage? Oh, yes, it's on the wagon, unless Addy thought to drop it off before she left." Angie said, "Well, we'll just have to make do until she gets back. And I'll not be spoiling chicken and dumplings with cake, no Ma'am! But coffee, that I can surely use. It has been the busiest, most wonderful trip of my entire life. I swear. The train and then Addy picking me up and driving here. Nights in the wilderness, days on the trail, I even drove some of the way. I am so glad to be here!"
And she was, excited and worn out all at the same time. That was when the door opened, and in walked Leah. "Oh! My goodness! You have to be our Doctor Laurant! Oh. heavens!" It was as if Leah did not know what to do. "Welcome to Kalispell! My we need to get you bathed and and, is that your bag out front?"
"Angie, Miss Steelgrave, please. And yes, I suppose it is. I must look a fright after being on the trail. Misses Armentrout was just telling me about the tub that has been installed, and I can really use a bath. She hjas even offered me the opportunity to stay here for a day or two." She said, "Really quite the welcome, i must say."
"Well, as far as I'm concerned you can stay here as long as you like, though I'm sure Jonah has told you we have a room reserved for you at the hotel. You did tell her, right Jonah?"
"Yes, of course." Jonah gave Leah a light kiss on the cheek, then suddenly realized that he was going to be overwhelmed with all the females in residence, and he was happy for Leah's men, so that he wasn't alone! "There's certainly room, and the house is far more friendly than the hotel, if Dr. Laurant can handle all the chaos!"
But it was a good chaos, friends helping each other and sitting around in the evenings chatting and playing cards. At first, Jonah wasn't sure about the new arrangement, but he had quickly found that he enjoyed having Leah, her guards and her mother here.
"I should have that bath ready in a few minutes," Mrs. Armentout commented, "and I'm sure Jonah won't mind fetching your things."
"Of course not. I'll leave you in the capable hands of Leah and Mrs. Armentrout." With a nod, Jonah headed for the porch.
"Oh, no need to go to extra trouble, I'm not here to be a burden." She said as Jonah went out the door. "Really, this is fine Misses Armentrout, I am just happy to be here, and I really am most capable of making do," Angie argued politely.
"Nonsense, Angie. You're invited, and as soon as we can, I want to take you to the hospital, such as it is. We've started on the second story, and it will not be long before we'll be in business." Leah said. A bath will revitalize you, and we have the means for you to have one. I'll hear no more about it."
"Since you insist. I hate to be an imposition on you; that was certainly not my intent." She said, truly grateful for the reception she had received and the offer of accommodations as well. "Thank you."
"Here you are." Jonah brought Angie's bag into the kitchen. "I assume you'll be needing some of the contents?" After all, if she was going to clean up, part of that was putting on fresh clothes.
"She certainly will!" Mrs. Armentrout declared. "Now, you get!" she addressed Jonah, shooing him out of the kitchen, "find something to do for a while, while we ladies take care of business."
"Of course. I'll go spruce up the green room." Actually glad to get away from all the females, Jonah headed for the stairs to make one of the rooms acceptable for a guest and not a patient.
"Oh, no need to go to extra trouble, I'm not here to be a burden." She said as Jonah went out the door. "Really, this is fine Misses Armentrout, I am just happy to be here, and I really am most capable of making do," Angie argued politely.
"Nonsense, Angie. You're invited, and as soon as we can, I want to take you to the hospital, such as it is. We've started on the second story, and it will not be long before we'll be in business." Leah said. "A bath will revitalize you, and we have the means for you to have one. I'll hear no more about it."
"Since you insist. I hate to be an imposition on you; that was certainly not my intent." She said, truly grateful for the reception she had received and the offer of accommodations as well. "Thank you."
"Your bath will be ready in a moment," Mrs. Armentrout commented with a grin, then she leaned close to Angie and whispered, "I think Miss Leah is excited to find out all about you!" Then she stood back. "Hand me those clothes when you're ready and beat the dust out of them for you!"
++++
After leaving Angelique's things at the clinic house, Addy drove to the hospital where she started to unload the crates she had picked up with the help of the workmen there, and as she was about finished, Weedy dashed up, panting. "They want me to find Dr. Boone, so he can see the new lady doctor!"
"He's around here somewheres," Addy chuckled. "Look around inside, I'm gonna go put th' team up."
"Yes, ma'am!" Weedy ran into the building. "DR. BOOOOOOONNNNE! DR. JONAH WANTS TO SEE YOU!!!!"