Monday Morning, the temperature is in the low forties. A drizzle greeted the day with a light wind, mostly cloudy with ground fog.
The crew had a few good days before rain hit on Friday, slowing what they were able to accomplish. The walls were up in that short span, but volunteers had come out to lend a hand to get those walls up and secured. Now, foreman Carney Fuller was pushing to get the cross beams and trusses built and put into place to get the roof on, then they would be inside building the internal walls for the wards, children, women, and men. And then, the attic flooring, leaving open spaces for the chimneys that would be needed.
Carney could see the progress and had it in his mind to set up the volunteers with a barrel of beer and a steak fry for them and their families. They had almost gotten the crew back on schedule. All that remained was to get the company owner, Mason Aldridge, and owner Leah Steegrave to go along with it.
She had been to the site every day since the men had started, and saw firsthand \what was done by the town folk. He didn't see a problem with her, but Aldridge had just bought into the stage line, so he might be cash-strapped at the moment. Worst case, the men would come up with the money for the party!
Leah showed up again, bright and early, dressed to help. "Good morning, Mister Fuller." She greeted. "What can I do to help today?
"Well, now, that's a good question. Since we're trying to get the cross beams and the trusses up for the attic roof, it's a little too dangerous to allow you up here. But we'll come up with something on the first floor. A good deal of finish work needs to be done, and Gil Martin's down there, 'spose you saw him, he'd be the man to ask."
"I'm on my way, and good luck today, getting the roof on is going really signify it's close to completion!" She exclaimed, and that would be true. Then, the interior walls, doors, and windows would be installed, and then, the finish work, followed by the beds and other equipment, would be put in place, and hopefully, the June opening would be on schedule.
Gil Martin was a tall, rangy-looking fellow, good-natured and good at what he did. Which was build things. And he was seeing to getting the doors hung, and windows installed when Leah arrived. He greeted her with a smile.
"Looks to me like you've got work on your mind Ma'am." He said. Well, upstairs is a mite dangerous, but I 'spose Carney already told you that. So, what can get you busy with? Doors and winda's are heavy and awkward ta handle, and dangerous too. So Maybe, you'd not mind sweeping up some, or, how about you talking a look at the offices. Doors are hung, windas are in, and the furneyture what was labeled is put in the rooms they belong to."
"When did that happen?" She wanted to know. "I mean, folks might want some say in how things are placed."
"Yes 'um, and as soon's they show up and tell us, we'll get 'em set up just the way they want. We needed the room, Equipment's likely to be delivered ta day, so you see how it is, Ma'am."
"I do indeed, Mister Martin. I didn't mean to question what you had done, as I was sure you had reasons for what's been done and yes, I want to see the offices. Oh, how many did we agree on?"
"Was three, but the Docs thought five. One each for them, then, yers, and one for the new Doc, when he arrives, and one empty." Martin responded.
"The new physician happens to be a woman, Gill. No offense taken, and who authorized an office for me? Seems a waste of space." She wanted to know.
"Yes 'um. When she arrives. Boone and Danforth insisted on it, and it'll be the first one you come to. They set that one up themselves. Purdy nice stuff in there. Came special delivery from Cheyenne just last week."
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Hullo," Phin called out from the open doorway. He saw Leah clearly enough, but calling out was the polite and safe thing to do, especially knowing her men were around.
"Phin! Isn't it wonderful?" She asked, eyes bright, and a big smile. "It won't be long now!"
As he looked at where construction was at, she was right, if the weather cooperated, and that was always in question this time of year. "Progress is impressive, I must say. You must have hired some extra men, or these boys are just that good."
"A couple of the boys have lent a hand, but that was with the walls. There was some wind to contend with, so it was for safety. We have the doctors, but this place is far from ready, though that will happen pretty fast. She informed the editor/publisher.
"Gonna be a great headline for the next issue. I know it's a ways to go yet, but folks need to know how it's coming along; they want to know, even though they can see by just walking past. I do see some folks stopping to gawk at the building now and then. You know, folks didn't believe you would actually do this, didn't you?"
She laughed, "Of course I did. I would have doubted me too, but it's what needed to be built, and the orphanage as well. This benefits the children, and those who take them in, and this whole town."
Phin grinned, "I never doubted you for a moment. The commitment was obvious, except for the oblivious, and there were a number of them that fit that bill! No disrespect to the memory of Richard Orr. You could have started almost a year earlier!"
"We're finishing the promise of a hospital." She said, "A lot of people had a hand in that." She responded, including Mister Orr and his town council, but that's all water under the bridge, as you and everyone can see."
"Going gto be a grand story, Leah, a grand story!"
"What's this about a grand story," Mason said as he approached the group. He took of his hat and said good morning to all those who were present.
The hospital building was getting back on schedule which had allowed him to look at other projects including the new stageline he had just purchased. He had hoped to pay only around five to six thousand dollars for it but no-more than ten. The final price of his share was only seven thousand, which was well within the budget of ten thousand he had allocated just in case. This also opened the door for some sort of reward for the crew putting the extra time and effort. What that reward would be would depend on Carney Fuller, who would know exactly what they would like.
"Oh, Good morning, Mason." She greeted as she turned around to see the Alldridge Bothers Construction Company owner, "Mister McVay was just saying what a grand story the hospital's completion was going to make, and the grand opening of it. It will be wonderful. And just after that will be the Founders Day Celebration, you've read about that, right? Well, maybe we have what they are calling a 'soft opening' in June, and the Grand Opening in July with the celebration on July Fourth." It was a change in her plans that suddenly appealed to her because of the influx of people from the outlying farms and ranches, and towns close by.
"Yes, Mason, a big story about you and your crew. What you were able to get done before the first snow and since then. I know men were working inside because of the light winter, so much more was completed than could be expected with a normal snowfall. And Miss Steelgrave's men helped in raising the second-story walls, which meant they got it done twice as fast." Phin explained what he had seen and what he planned for a special edition. "And the security those men provided every night, as well as most days." Yes sir, it's been quite the undertaking, and on schedule if not ahead of it."
At that moment, Carney Fuller walked up, "Mornin' boss, everything going fine and faster than I expected. And them gunmen? They done a heck of a lot with them walls goin' up so fast."
"You see, Mason, this was meant to be ahead of schedule, and I never asked any of my men to lend a hand; they did that on their own," Leah added with a smile.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"I can see where their help with raising the walls saved time. A smart move by those men. And a big help all around." Phin said. "Proves they are more than just fast guns and protection. And the older fellow with the shotgun perched over there watching everything. He means business!"
"Oh, that's Doc Gilcrest," Leah stated. "And yes, he and the others mean business! They are still prepared for my father's men to try something, and tensions are high the closer we get to the completion of the hospital. I admit I am surprised that something was tried while it was shut down."
"Well, having your men has saved Aldrtidghe here from providing security for the property, and these men are better equipped to deal with raiders bent on destruction. Don't you think Mason?"
@JulieS
"Yes, they have been a great help," Mason replied, "However, I don't think their job will be over once the building is finished. Elias Steelgrave seems to be distracted by other things at the moment but that could change at any time."
He paused for a moment before going on, "Most of the town are aware of the tension between Miss Steelgrave and her father. Maybe Phin could get some sort of official statement from Elias about the hospital for his next article. If you have something down in writing, you might be able hold him accountable if he tries anything...providing that his statement is a positive one."
@ [Flip
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"I will see if I can't get an interview with him and most certainly ask him about his feelings toward the hospital and the growth of Kalispell, and ask the question about Kalispell overall. Changes are coming, as sure as Christmas is in December!"
Leah looked at the newspaper editor like she had never seen him before, "Are you crazy, Phin? You've printed some inflammatory articles about not only him, but his favorite son, Case, as well."
"I realize that. But if I could catch him in town at some point, although that would be a rare incident indeed. The man seldom ventures into town, and when he does, he has any number of his men with him. But should he venture within Guyer's jurisdiction, then by all means I will get that statement! Count on it!" Phin stated fearlessly, or so it sounded. "So then, Mason, you are quite confident the hospital will be completed and open on schedule?"
