Posted June 1, 2020 / Emeline Pike
"Really?" While she had been courting the idea for some time, she hadn't put much hope in it, the cafe took up a good deal of her time, and she was only now starting to turn a decent profit.
"I have no idea how to start," she declared, "so I would be happy to discuss the possibility, and I think you'd make a stellar hand!" Then she looked at him a bit more seriously. "Why don't you homestead? I'm sure you would do better than I, and you'd need a good cook and ranch hand. It makes more sense, don't you think? Of course, I would help fund you...partners." She smiled.
Posted June 2, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
"Really?" While she had been courting the idea for some time, she hadn't put much hope in it, the cafe took up a good deal of her time, and she was only now starting to turn a decent profit.
“Shore ‘nuff, Miss Emeline.” He responded.
"I have no idea how to start," she declared, "so I would be happy to discuss the possibility, and I think you'd make a stellar hand!" Then she looked at him a bit more seriously. "Why don't you homestead? I'm sure you would do better than I, and you'd need a good cook and ranch hand. It makes more sense, don't you think? Of course, I would help fund you...partners." She smiled.
“Tell you whot, I’ve an idea or two rattlin’ around in ma head. When we get back ta town gimme a day ‘er two to sort out a couple things an’ then I’ll tell ya whot I found out an’ what I think kin be done about it. How’s thet?” He knew that a woman making inquiries would likely get nowhere in a big hurry, but a man, a man with experience, that would be a different matter all together.
Posted June 2, 2020 / Emeline Pike
"Sure, it's a deal." She nodded, wondering if she really could homestead. But then, she'd picked up the pieces after Andrew had died and started serving meals in a tent on a muddy street in a small mining town, and now she had her own building and an employee, and was doing well enough to close up on a Sunday to go on a picnic. Maybe having a ranch wasn't out of reach?
"In the mean time I'll start hoarding my pennies, and even if it falls through, I'll have the funds to take some time to go to the Yellowstone, or San Francisco." Since she was pretty sure she'd never make it to Paris or Cairo.
Posted June 3, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
“A deal it is then.” He agreed. Then he looked around sort of studying the land without appearing to be doing so. Just a quick survey he would keep in mind. “So now thet alla thet’s outta the way, I’d like ta ask you if attendin’ the Harvest Festival’s somethin’ you be interested in doin’, an’ if so, if you’d be...I mean would ya consider goin’ there with me?”
There are a few things a man of his background had to consider when making such proposals, people knew what he was, the pair of pistols announced as much, not the Ranger part, just the gunman part, and most folks had no use for them until they were needed to stand between them and any possible danger.
Posted June 6, 2020 / Emeline Pike
"Oh, well..." She didn't hesitate because of the man...while she didn't know a great deal about him, she knew enough that he was a good man and she trusted him...it was just that she hadn't thought on anything like going out with a man...but then, here she was, and alone with him, no less!
"Of course, I'd love it! I was going to do some baking to sell at a booth, but I'd much rather just enjoy the day, truth be told!" And, she realized, the company! "Although I may bake some pies for the pie eating contest. You should help me!"
Posted June 6, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
A bit stunned at her reaction he took a moment to recover. “Help? Miss Emeline, I shorely ain’t no hand to bakin’ pies. Have ‘nuff trouble makin’ biscuits fer ma’self.” He replied honestly, “‘course, I reckon was you serious, wall, I, uh, shore. Why not?”
She had said she would go to the festival with him, what more could a man want, and to help make pies? There were two things, one, it was the least he could do, and two, he’d get to spend more time with her. Truth be told, there was no one in Kalispell her rather spend time with.
Posted June 7, 2020 / Emeline Pike
"Oh, don't worry, I'm certain you'll be a quick study, and I'm an excellent teacher, even if it is me bragging!" She laughed, although she truly wouldn't mind some company, especially if it was Barnabas, and it might be fun seeing how good he would do with flour and sliced apples!
"Of course, if you're completely in the way, I'll just sit you at the table with some coffee and cookies and you can entertain me with stories!" She gave him a teasing look. "I'd wager you have more cooking skill than you let on, else you'd have no meat on your bones! And I wager you have some interesting stories, too, so I'll win either way."
Posted June 7, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
“Like I said, ain’t much fer bakin’ but kin cook well enough to keep me alive, not hear as good as you though.” He maintained. “As fer stories, well, I reckon I kin lie with the best of ‘em, ‘cept fer the fact mine don’t need no embelishin’ like them other fellers does.
A breeze rose and fell quickly, rustling the leaves in the aspens, and setting the grass to waving much like the wind playing on the water. It was, to Pronto, a perfect day.
“Nice touch thet breeze, settin’ all thet in motion for us. Now I’d say, this place here’s ‘bout as nice a piece a ground as a body’s likely to find, and there’s some right nice places here abouts.” He smiled wide, “An’ the comp’ny well, reckon a body couldn’t be much luckier’n me today. Even if yore talkin’ ‘bout me makin’ pies. Not thet I’d mind the opportunity, no ma’am, not a tall."
Posted June 8, 2020 / Emeline Pike
Emeline felt her cheeks blush hotly at his compliments, although she told herself she wasn't going to let it go to her head. After all, she had come through a lot to get to this place in her life, and wasn't going to succumb to flattery, however sincere. Still, it was nice, but more, she realized that she willing to accept the idea of maybe being more than friends with a man.
After Andrew had died, she'd pushed aside any thoughts of anything romantic, she'd had too much to do just to get along to even consider a relationship, and besides, her heart had been shattered.
Now, though, she was looking forward to more time with this man.
"Well, at least when we're done, you might be able to make more than boiled water." She laughed, then stood and brushed dirt from her pant legs. "Let's get a closer look at those falls."
Posted June 8, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
He looked up at her a long moment, then got to his feet. “Shore, best see ‘em afore we head on back, cept, maybe you’d like to have a look whar we wuz dicussin’ the house should go. I mean what’s a dream if ya cain’t see ‘er proper like?”
He brushed himself off, used his hat where he couldn’t reach then added, “I’ll have ya know, Miss Emeline, I boil water jest fine!” Pronto Pike stood looking at Emeline, then to the area they had discussed for a house. It was hard not see that it was perfect, sort of like her. That connection all but confused him. It had been years since Julia Dey in Virginia City that he felt the tug this woman inspired. “Sittin’ atop there, why you kin see fer miles, plus, if’n ya set ‘er jest right, ya get the view of the valley an’ the falls.”