"Oh, shoot?" Angie questioned, "Louis, that's my pa, would not allow me to not learn to shoot! It was a must with him. Pistols rifles and shotguns, so yes I believe I can handle a gun if need be. I have a derringer with me, Pa said it might not be safe traveling without some sort of protection" There was a note of pride in her voice about the ability.

"Now, about this multiple hitch, yes, I would most certainly like to learn that. One never knows when one would need that expertise." She said. "You see, I'm not well versed in the handling of animals, probably too much time in school learning to handle injured human beings." Then she asked, "You have a school in Kalispell I take it?"

"Well, that's what my father always said, even in the city one could never be certain of one's safety. Luckily I never had any problems, but I always had a derringer with me. I'd feel naked without some sort of pistol with me. I suppose out here besides the red man, wild animals, and nefarious white men are reason enough to go armed as a woman."Angie agreed

Yes, she understood that this was wild county with wild men of any color who respected no one or nothing but strength!

"I do like to think of myself as a fairly quick study. Finished in the top dozen in my class, so there's that." She imparted, then laughed. She felt completely at ease with Addy, and she thought they would get along just fine and become fast friends. "This country is so beautiful compared to the concrete and cobblestones of Chicago, I believe I'm going to love it out here!"

"The city can be, and is, a perilous place to live if you're not aware of those dangers." Angie said matter of factly. Night can be hazardous to anyone out walking and, the later it gets, the worse it is."

"But I know that I did not leave the snow and cold behind, no, I just added trees and mountains instead of buildings and pavement, such as it is." She continued. "And the air, the air is so much better! Fresh clean air without the smoke and the stench one can find in the heart of the city. So much better out here. And I've heard of the red man, and, I am aware that they are still at war with us." She shook her head. "But then we have criminals in Chicago who are at war with everyone. Not a lot of difference as far as I can see."

And then Addy mentioned Kalispell, the town to which they were headed, Elias, his son, and finally, she spoke kindly of the daughter Leah who had commissioned the hospital where she would be working.

"So this Leah Steelgrave, she's unlike her father, maybe a polar opposite. She cares then about her community, which I see as evidenced by the need for this hospital, I cannot wait to meet her!"

"Leah's a strong lady, she's had a lot ta overcome, an' she's done a right fine job of it." Addy chuckled. "Takes a lot ta stand up t' th' city council, they pushed back every step 'cause her name is 'Steelgrave', an' 'cause she's female."

That got Angie's attention, and it made the idea of meeting this woman all the more exciting because Angie Laurant had done her share of standing up, being a female doctor, and a surgeon which was a bit rarer, even in the big city of Chicago. She could say she had won a few more than she lost.

"She plowed through it all like a champ, an' they come ta see her side'a things. She's th' kinda woman can thrive out here, make it a better place."

This too struck a real chord with Angie. She believed she was the kind of woman who could and would thrive out in the West, as if she was bred for it, like Addy, and Leah. And now she would have the chance to prove it to herself, if no one else.

"I'm sure you'll like her, an' Doc Boone an' Doc Danforth, too. An' you'll be th' first in th' new buildin', hafta show th' folks that it's a good place, safe an' all."

"Well now, seeing Josiah Boone again would make this trip more than worth it, to say the very least, but Addfy, to meet Doctor Danforth is like adding a dollop of whipped cream to your coffee, but, to meet and work for or with Miss Steelgrave? I cannot tell you how excited I am for this opportunity." She said, "Sorry to gush over this, but to escape the humdrum of living and working in the city and to be in on the ground floor of this hospital, well, it's almost like a dream come true." Then she laughed, "A dream I never had until Jolsiah wrote to me about this."

"I think that maybe, faced with danger most would rather be anywhere else. Sometimes though there is no choice. That speaks well for this Danforth fellow regardless. I mean yes a doctor is bound to save lives, but to step in front of danger? That's something!" Angie said.

"And this threesome, I cannot wait to meet them and start working with them. They sound like the kind of people that I want to be around. This is going to be just fabulous, Addy! Fabulous!" There was genuine excitement in her voice, here she was on the frontier and about to be a part of building a hospital!

"Oh Addy, how long did you say until we reach this town of yours?" She asked, somewhat impatient to begin this adventure.