Grinning, he took one for himself, then commented, "All the more loss for Kalispell, although I suppose you could give it one last shot in the paper to garner public outrage at losing the facility here."

"Oh, sure Phinas would be only to happy to scald the Town Council, or whoever is holding up the property release. I'd swear that my father has his hands in this." She said. "I can't for the life of me understand why the property transfer has become so difficult. That makes Columbia Falls all that much more attractive!"

Maybe, if there was enough outcry, the town council would give in?

"My thoughts have been to take the project to Columbia Falls because of all this unnecessary fighting to get something done for the community." She added. "Now this cinnamon  role, it is delicious! Almost like what I can get from Emeline, wish she were back." She smiled then, "I just wanted to stop by and vent about all this unnecessary struggle and, to let you know about my options. And maybe you're right about Mister McVay and the Union."

"Well, it's my pleasure to be of service to you," Jonah commented with a chuckle. "At least you're one customer who will be satisfied, and there's nothing like a good cinnamon roll to cure what ails you...at least in the moment."

While Jonah wasn't the 'activist' sort, he earnestly wished, for Leah's sake, that this damned hospital thing would work out, one way or another, and take all this worry away from her, and let her get on with planning and organizing...and being happy.

Kalispell's loss will be Columbia Falls' gain, of course, and a hospital closer than Helena is certainly warranted," he observed, "although Kalispell is more centrally located and has more businesses to support a hospital."

But, in the end, there would be a hospital, somewhere.

"But then..." a little fly in the ointment, "if your father is to blame, won't he cause trouble regardless of where you decide to build?"

"You mean, if he isn't already, somehow." She put forward. "It's like I can feel him in this charade by the Town Council, not that are likely to blame, but somehow, someway, either one or more of them is involved in this conspiracy, and it is a conspiracy ."

She smiled, "Yes Jonah, I have always been able to count on you, and I have to say the cinnamon role is delicious, as well. I doubt that the idea of a move to Columbia Falls was not something anyone thought of, let alone the conspirators." She nodded lightly, "Having an option was not in whatever plans they might have had. By now though, it is known. I know Speed Guyer went to Matt Wentworth, and I'll bet they went either to Judge Robertson, or some other members of the Council. Bannister had seen that much."

"Do you think the town council has been bribed?" Or worse..."Or threatened?"

That was pretty severe just to block a hospital because of the primary backer, but he knew that Elias Steelgrave was neither honorable or altruistic, and if he felt that he had been crossed, he'd take whatever measures he cared to to reach his goals.

"So, how long are you going to give this before you decide to give up on Kalispell and move your efforts to Columbia Falls? Perhaps I could speak to Mr. McVey about the importance of a proper hospital in town, to help sway public pressure."

He could emphasize, from personal experience (or a bit of creative elaboration), the need for a hospital here, and not miles away, and appeal to the good women of the area, who were the ones with the real power!

"First, I'm looking at the end of the week. That is perhaps giving them too much time, but time is slipping away. It's already mid-July." She began, a bit dejectedly. It seemed clear that perhaps she felt beaten. Moving men and materials will take time, and the added distance to Columbia Falls will just eat up more time that we haven't got."

It was true, that it would be a late start, even if construction began in Kalispell time for good weather was slipping away, and there were no guarantees about a mild fall either. It had been a long fight, a long tiring fight to get the Town Councils approval, only to be stymied again.

"My thought is to give the Marshal a little more time, he has been so supportive since the start, just as you have. I don't know what he's up too, and Matthew, I can't believe that he is involved in this deception, no. I am hopeful they will get something moving, and put an end to this misery. Kalispell deserves better," Then, "I deserve better!" A marked change in her voice as spoke. "I refuse to allow these spineless men to kowtow to whoever or whatever is guiding them!"

"Indeed, you do deserve better," Jonah agreed, "anyone who has this much concern for the community does, and it's unconscionable that you are being so stymied." He truly didn't understand why there were people trying to block Leah's efforts, but there was a lot he didn't understand, especially where politics was involved.

"Come with me." Suddenly, Jonah stood and moved to pull out her chair. "I need your help with something, if you don't mind."

"Mind? of course not, Jonah. I'd be happy to help." She agreed with a smile, as she rose she continued, "It's not so much that I deserve better, I could have done that quite well in Helena, or great Falls, even west to San Francisco. This is about the people of Kalispell and the surrounding area. But I'm glad you seem to think I deserve better."

"So, what is this you need my help with, Jonah?" Hopefully it was actually something she could do. She had missed their time together, not that it was constant. "Didn't you have a nurse here, a Miss Rundle, wasn't it? Seems she would be quite a help."

"Oh, it's nothing so complicated that it needs a nurse." Jonah shook his head as he led the way toward the front door, then around the side of the big house. The yard had been recently landscaped with beds that had been tilled, and some of them were already sporting flowers, one of the many forms of 'payment' that Jonah accepted.

There was a large tree that provided shade in the afternoons, and one of the branches had a swing hanging from it, a simple affair of ropes and a polished plank.

"Mr. Murray made this...for children who are bored, or need to be put at ease, but I've yet to test it." He was starting to think that this was a bad idea, but it was too late now.

"Anyway, would you like to give it a try?"

"A swing, how grand! First I must say that you have come up in the world from your former office and residence. Now about the swing, I would be thrilled, but only if you push, Jonah, there's no sense trying to swing by myself." Of course being corseted in, as she was, would help make such movements a bit more uncomfortable.

She slipped onto the smooth wooden seat and gripped the ropes. "What a pleasant surprise to find this here. I know they have at least one at the school, but that you have one for the children, well, it bodes well for your character." Then she laughed, possibly more of a release than anything else. "I am ready when you are."

Jonah was relieved that she hadn't flat-out laughed at him, and indeed, the change in her demeanor as she settled on the swing was what he had intended.  Yes, this was childish foolishness, but that was the point.

"Of course I can push you," he commented, moving around behind her and grasping the ropes where they met the seat.  "Excuse me..."  Well, the proximity was a bit close!  

Pulling her back a couple feet, he warned, "Hang on and keep your feet up!"  Then he let her go, giving her a bit of a push, before taking a step back, so that when she 'returned' he was able to give her a more vigorous push.  He'd use her reaction to judge how high to push her, hoping only to make her smile for a moment.