Petite, slim of figure but deceptively strong and agile. Long Brown Hair
Traits & Characteristics
Leah Steelgrave had been a devious, selfish, conniving young woman, spoiled, and damaged young lady.
She had used and abused strangers, friends and family alike, especially men until a rather unrevealing newspaper interview brought her up short about who and what she was.
Employment
She is wealthy and does not work at the present.
Expertise
Getting what she wants. A shrewd investor for the times.
Aliases / Nicknames
None, but there are several that are not for polite company.
Residense(s)
Evergreen Ranch, Belle St. Regis Hotel, Kalispell
Kith & Kin
Father: Elias Steelgrave
Mother: Elinor Steelgrave
Siblings: Case, Ben, Clay, Zeke, and Calvin (deceased)
Life Events
Birth 1847 - 1853 resided at home,
1853 - 1867 Privet school, depending on where they were living.
1861 - 1865 Finishing School in Boston
1865 Leah returned to the Evergreen
to the present she began acting out after he brother murdered her attacker.
"I was supposed to marry well, according to my parents. What a joke that has turned out to be." She began, "I mean really? A spoiled brat was supposed to attract some well to do man and drag him into the family? I never could understand how that was supposed to be good for me, but it was his plan, not mine." She smiled, but there was no joy in it, just a facial reaction.
"What a disaster my family has become. My mother run off, my brothers scattered about the state, if they are even still in Montana, and he is busy trying to increase his empire. The only one I am sure about is Case, and he is still around. What his relationship with Elias is, I have no idea They may not even be speaking, then again, they could be forging some alliance, an uneasy one if they are. The bad thing about being his daughter, I know how he thinks, yes. What he is capable of, and what he might do, but there is no second guessing Elias Steelgrave."
@Bongo
Leah smiled at his kind words of encouragement. "I suppose you're right, Jonah. There will always be something just ahead that needs doing, or building, or making better than it is. Though I'm not altogether sure that I will be the driving force behind any of it."
"You know, Jonah, there will still be challenges ahead of us with the hospital, and the orphanage. I mean, there will still be challenges to face getting it built with this late start, and I am not convinced my father has not had a hand in all of these delays, and road blocks to getting started. But of course we will see, won't we?"
She was well aware of both Latham and Ashworth, and, she had her suspicions about the late Richard Orr, which may, or may not be true, it was still there.
@Bongo
"I believe that with Matthews invaluable help, all of this will be far behind us in no time, and what people think, will matter not at all. Proof will be standing right in front of them." Then she looked off for a moment. "Kalispell Hospital, showing Montana what can be done, in spite of set backs. And, we have certainly had them to this point."
And then, Leah Steelgrave laughed out loud.
"I just hate it when I get melancholy. I will be glad when this is past us, won't you?"
@Bongo
Leah smiled at the reference but shook her head. "I'm afraid I've much to atone for before I could be considered a Disciple, but that's sweet of you to say. I have not been the model of anything good, as witnessed by how people look upon me. Most would think that is because of my father, or my brothers, but that's far from the whole story. No, my problems are of my own making, Jonah." She confessed, without going into detail.
"My father and brothers are far from guiltless, but had I been a better person, I'm sure things would have worked out differently with this project." She added. Then she brightened up, "Tomorrow will put everything right, or as right as can be. I can hardly wait!"
@Bongo
She smiled, then actually giggled. "Same fight, different day." It would be. "The fight will not be over until that last nail is driven, the doors are opened and we have a staff in place, and then, it could be a maybe.' She reached over and took his hand, "I cannot guarantee what will happen, other than we will get this built and opened. After that, it's just pure speculation, Jonah."
There was always the threat of her father, and now, Case was back, but to what end? What was his goal in all of this. She would fight them both if need be.
"We're here to celebrate, not speculate. The world might end tomorrow Jonah, so why worry about anything but what's right in front of us. Everything else will take care of itself. So we should pour some Champaign and celebrate, Tomorrow is going to be glorious!"
@Bongo
Her smile could not have been broader, her eyes could not have sparkled more with the forming tears of absolute joy at hearing Matt suggest they go and sign the papers that would give her the land she needed and had fought for for so long, it was now, minutes away from being a reality. "I don't know what to say, I mean I know where the vacant plots are, but I've not presented that information. I suppose we can do that at the signing. Oh Matt, really, I, I truly don't know what to say, other than this is a dream come true. We should hurry before something happens that changes everything!"
It was a rare thing to behold, Leah Steelgrave joyfull, Happy and excited. There were wires to send, local folke to rally to begin the process. A trip to the bank to receive funds that would be forwarded from Helena. So much to do, but in reality, plenty of time to do it.
@JulieS
"you aren't the first to be assigned to take down my father." She said. "It has been something we have lived with for years, as you probably are well aware. I believe it is part of the reason my brothers, with the exception of Case have left the ranch and simply moved on with their lives."
"You have my word your secret is safe with me, I could care less if he's arrested and goes to prison. He has that coming if he's not killed first. And please, bring in who you like should you win, and I have full faith that you will." She knew that sooner or later someone would come. First it had been the local Law, then the Pinkerton's, now, the Secret Service. Moving to the Territories kept Government Law at bay, but only for so long it would seem.
"My only concern is the swift start to building the Hospital and it's timely completion so it can be of use to the territory. You do what you have to, Matthew, I'll support you in that."
@JulieS
Leah laughed at his statement, as she knew the reality of it. "Okay then, name a couple of others in town that might make a good nurse for the hospital." She countered.
"I'm not sure that there is anyone else, well, perhaps Miss Anæsthesia Orr might have some interest, then maybe Anna Albrecht, or her elder sister Ella. Other than them, I am at a loss for locals. Any other ideas?" It was a conundrum of sorts. There were plenty of females, but all of them not mentioned were under twelve, and that would be a long wait. There might be others she was unaware of that were of age.
"I cannot wait for tomorrow." She said enthusiastically.
@Bongo
"Unless you are joking about those two ladies, they may indeed want such a position. There is a considerable sum set aside for salaries because we cannot expect people to work for nothing care for those using the hospital." She explained. "And just what did you mean, then we'd have no need of a building?"
Of course he was joking, Yes, anyplace might do, but a dedicated and well equipped hospital was what was needed, and had been promised to the Governor. And wasn't that the whole point of this struggle? A hospital? Of course he was joking.
@Bongo
"Well Jonah, I've of the mind that with his patient load in Columbia falls, which also takes in Corum, so, his being a truly active part of the hospital as he would have before he moved on would be difficult if he were twenty. We'll need to locate medical people willing to move here, which would include another doctor or two." She responded, knowing Boone was getting up in age.
"I realize that will be a strain, sorting though those that apply to our hospital, but it will be a necessary evil." She smiled, "But, we still have the Town Council gauntlet to survive in the morning. It should be simple, or so Matthew has assured me, but as in any case involving people, we'll need to wait and see how it goes."
@Bongo