Well, there was that problem solved, although Jonah found it hard to imagine either of the ladies doing menial chores. But it was more pieces falling into place to keep them as safe as possible, so that was good!
"I'm not sure how your men are planning on working, that's up to them, they can share three to a room if need be." He grinned. "Or one or two of them can sleep with the horses!"
He stepped out of the buggy and assisted the ladies down. "So, would you like to see what you're getting into?"
"Well, they'll figure it out, they have to watch the hospital as well as my mother and myself," Leah replied as she stepped down. "I would think they will keep the cottage for the men staying there for that." Splitting their force, such as it was, would be a necessity in order to do both jobs. six men was not what anyone would refer to as a force.
"Yes, let's have a look at these accommodations you are offering and Jonah, this is a beautiful home," Elinor said with interest. "Yes, quite the house. Hopefully, it won't get all shot up." Which seemed to be a real possibility. Everything was based on what Elias might do, and no one had any idea of what was real and what was just fear.
"It was the purchased with the thought of serving as a clinic and office," Jonah explained, "and, of course, living quarters, and Mrs. Armentrout has done a fine job of keeping it up."
Jonah still owed quite a bit on the place, but now that he was established in town, he was getting paid more often in actual money, so the payments were more manageable, and now, once the hospital was functional, it would still serve a purpose.
The door opened to an entryway that was dominated by a stairway on one side, and a hallway on the other. There was a parlor to the left, and more rooms off the hallway that led to the kitchen. Farther back, behind the stairs, was the dining room, which was serving as one of the patient exam rooms.
"This is all for practical use," he explained, "offices and such, we eat in the kitchen. Once the hospital is open, these will be rooms for your men, and we can use the dining room as that again."
He gestured to the stairs. "Your rooms are upstairs."
The top of the stairs opened to a landing hall that wrapped around, and four doorways ran off the hall. "These two rooms have beds and some furniture," Jonah indicated, "but we can rearrange things as you like."
Leah, of course, had seen most of the house during the time Speed was being treated after the shooting incident, and remembered each of the rooms the clinic was currently using. It had been a terrible time of it.
He gestured to the stairs. "Your rooms are upstairs."
"I remember when this place was built, can't seem to recall the family's name that had it." Elinor recalled, "Seems to have met your needs, but I would imagine you'd like to bet it back to being a home for you and Leah."
"Mother," Leah said, "it may be a while before we are married, that is, if he doesn't back out before the big day." Then she laughed as they started up the staircase to the second floor. "You wouldn't do that, would you Jonah?" A loaded question if ever there was one!
"Well, I do suppose the best time to back out is before the wedding," Jonah replied, dead-pan, knowing that he was being teased. "So, these are the rooms, and there is a staircase at the back of the hallway leading outside, for those secret trysts."
Smiling, he stood back to let Leah and Elinor look the rooms over. "The corner room has nice views toward town and the yard on the side, and there's trees in the back...the hummingbirds like those in the Summer."
"That, sir, is the rumor!" Elinor said feigning anger. "But after the wedding, then you deal with the bride."
"Really you two. We've hardly begun courting and you're already talking about a wedding? What if it's me who backs out last minute? had either of you considered that? I mean, Josiah Boone is back, and eligible!" Which for the moment seemed to go right past the intended groom.
"So, these are the rooms, and there is a staircase at the back of the hallway leading outside, for those secret trysts."
"Trysts? You planning on secret trysts?" Leah shrieked, feigning shock, "What will the neighbors say?" Again he said nothing about what the women had said, except for:
"The corner room has nice views toward town and the yard on the side, and there's trees in the back...the hummingbirds like those in the Summer."
"Oh now isn't this one just lovely?" Elinor said as she appraised the room and its view.
"Yes! Very much so. I hadn't seen this when I was here last summer with Marshal Gyer. This one is just too darling. Once we're married I'll have to find a use for this one."
All the talk of weddings was making Jonah a bit uneasy, although he covered it well. "We can put the puppy in here when he misbehaves," he commented with a straight face, then asked, "You would like a puppy, wouldn't you? Or a kitten, both..."
Wow, that was something he hadn't really thought about, having a pet made things seem more...permanent. More like a real home. And talking to chickens and rabbits didn't count, right?
"So, what do you ladies think? You can do whatever you'd like with the rooms, short of turning them into a dance hall." He chuckled. "We can move you in whenever you are ready."
"Marvelous! This should work out perfectly!" Leah said, somewhat excited by the accommodations which were available in Jonah's house. I had not been up here or I might have rented from you and left the hotel last summer!"
"And the talk would have haunted you forever. But, my dear, moving in with your mother now that will be a different story altogether!" Elinor stated. And that would be true. Who could question a girl and her mother moving into a man's home, and for reasons everyone in town was aware of?
"And you think I care what these people think?" Leah retorted, although truth be told, she cared very much what the people of Kalispell thought of her. Not that that was always true, it had been for well over a year. "I guess that was not accurate, as I do care. My father has made things almost unbearable for me here over the years, and rebuilding relationships with people has not exactly been easy."
The idea that the poor little rich girl could have changed her behavior, and been able to display anything but rudeness that had been her hallmark seemed an impossibility. But feelings had begun to change as this other side of her came to the forefront.
"It's settled, then!" Jonah was relieved that this had gone so easily, and he was sure that Leah's guards would feel the same. "It's ready for you, so whenever you would like..."
He'd be happy to go get their things right now and move them in, but then, he figured that, as ladies, they had a lot clothes and whatnot, and besides, they might want to make some modifications before they actually moved in.
"You can use my buggy, or...I can help any way you need?" This was new territory for him!
The ladies looked at one another, and then back to Jonah. The offer was outstanding, and it was simple. Switch from staying at the hotel to staying in a house, a home that would likely be hers and Jonah's one day. Not with a view of the street or a back alley. It would be something like it had been on the Evergreen, but not as volatile.
We need the rest day to arrange things and pack." Leah said, smiling as she spoke.
"Yes, at least, thopugh I barely have anything with me, two trunks, but they are small, compared," Elinor told him. "Tell you what, Jonah. Get us back to the hotel, we'll rent a buckboard as that is likely what it will take to haul all of our things out here, and that way, we can do it in one trip."
"What a great idea Mother. Yes, we will do that and you can go about whatever you need to be doing. We can use the back way, so as not to disturb you or your patients." Leah said, still smiling, as she was thinking how great this was going to be.