Posted June 9, 2020 / Emeline Pike
Standing beside Barnabas, Emeline looked around in all directions, taking in the beauty. "It really is an amazing place. I can't imagine why someone hasn't snatched it up already...unless it isn't public land?" There were plenty of large spreads that covered hundreds of acres out here, and weren't fenced, so that was a possibility.
She looked at the man. "We'll have to check the land records tomorrow, but you're right, a little cabin here to start, something bigger in time." It was easy to imagine living in a place like this, only going to town for supplies. "Although I suppose during the Winter when the snow is deep, we'd need to stay in town."
It didn't occur to her that she'd said 'we'.
Posted June 10, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
It didn't occur to her that she'd said 'we'.
It did however register with Barnabas Pike, loud and clear. “Land records, yep, have everything ya need ta know about the place, ‘cept maybe a price, ‘er does somebody own it already.” The it dawned on him, tomorrow was Monday, and a working day for Emeline. “So, who’s gonna mind the rester’runt while yer out lookin’ at land records an such?”
He watched as the facts interrupted the fantasies. “Now, I could be perswayed ta have a look-see, write down the facts and bring ‘em to ya. How ‘bout thet?”
Posted June 12, 2020 / Emeline Pike
“So, who’s gonna mind the rester’runt while yer out lookin’ at land records an such?”
"Ah, right..." She worked all weekdays, from early in the morning until late in the evening, so it would be a long time before she could get to the land office. "Oh..."
“Now, I could be perswayed ta have a look-see, write down the facts and bring ‘em to ya. How ‘bout thet?”
"That would be perfect!" At that, she smiled brightly, giving him an impulsive kiss on the cheek. "That's what partners are for, right? And I'd likely have pie and coffee waiting for our discussion. There, that's solved!"
Boldly, companionably, she linked her arm into his and started toward the falls. "I believe this can be done!"
Posted June 12, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
There are those moments when everything seems right in the world, where the clouded future seems crystal clear, and when the impossible becomes possible, that is what was contained in that kiss on the cheek. The almost idle talk of a house, of a ranch, cattle and horses, had begun to take on a life of it’s own.
“Yes ‘em, thet is what partners‘er for. Not ever’body kin get what needs doin’ done, but betwixt the two of us now, wall, ain’t nothin’ caint be done.” He stated, and meanwhile his head was already at work on what would need doing immediately Monday morning, after breakfast of course.
They walked arm in arm toward the falls, his spurs, almost melodic as they jingled as he walked, keeping time with his heartbeat. All of those thoughts he had had over the time he had spent in the café day dreaming about Emeline had taken evolved into a reality all it’s own, a reality he was fully a part of.
Posted June 12, 2020 / Emeline Pike
For the first time in a very long time Emeline found herself smiling just because. Oh, she was past the deep grief that had engulfed her for a time, her business had eventually preoccupied her enough that she found herself living again, and she had met people who brought a smile to her, and she certainly would find herself smiling and humming as she cooked...
But just to be strolling and smiling...it was refreshing, and she found herself smiling that she was smiling, then she started laughing.
"I'm sorry," she giggled, "but my head went one way, then just kept going. You know those thoughts that you get sometimes..." Well, she hoped he knew, or he'd likely think her addled!
"But I'm having a wonderful time, and that is something I haven't been able to say in a very long time. Thank you for asking me to do this." Honestly, had it not been for Barnabas, she'd be cooking, serving, cleaning, and while that wasn't horrible, it was good to get away from it for a while.
Posted June 13, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
"I'm sorry," she giggled, "but my head went one way, then just kept going. You know those thoughts that you get sometimes..." Well, she hoped he knew, or he'd likely think her addled!
At the moment he could have cared less what she did or what she said, that she was there, with him at that moment it time was all that mattered. There was a spring in his step as they started for the falls that wasn’t there before, a lightness and a warmth washed over him
"But I'm having a wonderful time, and that is something I haven't been able to say in a very long time. Thank you for asking me to do this." Honestly, had it not been for Barnabas, she'd be cooking, serving, cleaning, and while that wasn't horrible, it was good to get away from it for a while.
“I’m mighty glad I asked ya, mighty glad. I mean I’d’a never got asked ta bake pies had ya not agreed to this here trip.” He had a pretty strong grin on. “This here place we’re talkin’ about, it’s purddy raw, gonna take a lot to get a cabin up. I doubt anyone’s even considered this place, other’n the waterfall’s right nice place. But don’t you fret none, it kin be built. An as far as gettin’ up this a’way, well, we jest widen thet game trail we used some.”
He turned and looked back, wondering if she could see what he saw looking back up the easy slope, it was just high enough. “Up yonder where we wus talkin’ ‘bout the house bein', take a look now. Where she’d sit.”
Posted June 15, 2020 / Emeline Pike
Turning with him, Emeline looked back up the hill for a long moment, and maybe the actual house she envisioned wasn't the same as he was, but she could easily see it there, and in that moment determined that she was going to make it happen.
"And a barn and corral down here," she continued the picture, "a small vegetable garden and maybe an orchard...just some apples and maybe cherries?"
She laughed and shook her head. "I'm making all these plans, so I won't have the time to cook as much...and I'd best learn to use a saw and hammer, but even so, with me helping, I'll wager the house is going to be a tad lopsided!"
Posted June 15, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
"And a barn and corral down here," she continued the picture, "a small vegetable garden and maybe an orchard...just some apples and maybe cherries?"
He followed her motion and hand gestures to the sites she was describing, and they were perfect, he also realized they each had a different mental picture of the house, but that was easy to remedy, all that was needed was paper and a pencil.
“That’d be the way I do ‘er. ‘Course I know we both see a differn’t house up there, but I reckon we kin come to an understandin’ ‘bout how she’d be laid out. My concern’ed be the wind direction come time fer the snow ta fly.”
She laughed and shook her head. "I'm making all these plans, so I won't have the time to cook as much...and I'd best learn to use a saw and hammer, but even so, with me helping, I'll wager the house is going to be a tad lopsided!"
“Oh, we’ll worry about thet come time git started. I’d be right sure we’ll be changin’ ideas time to time before we settle on a plan for how it’ll be done.” She was happy and he was glad of it. It was just pipe dreams he knew, but there was a seriousness in the planning. Pronto had no idea a conversation like this would crop up out of nowhere. Not a plan that sounded a lot like they would share the place.
Suddenly a twinge of fear shot through him over all of this, he was afraid to wake her from this dream of place by the waterfall, but the question would have to be asked. Maybe he had it all wrong.
Posted June 19, 2020 / Emeline Pike
"Well, I think you're right on things changing...but there is time, I suppose other considerations." Funding, time, need would all play a part in how the final project would turn out, but she was eager to start making more concrete plans. Even if it never happened, the planning would give her something to do.
The rest of the afternoon was wonderful, with the two of them chatting easily about all manner of things, and when they were finally back at the cafe, Emeline was surprised at how quickly time had gone, and at how refreshed she felt.
"Thank you, Barnabas." She smiled brightly as he helped her from the buggy, finding that she enjoyed the feel of his hands on her waist. "I had a wonderful time, and I'm looking forward to more excursions, if that suits you? Or just stop by for coffee and pie...and there are your lessons!"
Posted June 20, 2020 / Barnabas Pike
The day seemed to have flown by, far to quickly it was coming to an end, but his fears were allayed with the way the rest of the day went between them, she had shown no signs of wanting their time together to end which pleased him.
“It was my pleasure Miss Emeline. And I too’d like fer us to spend more time together when it’s convenient for you to get away.” He said honestly, “You kin count on me fer breakfast and at other times as well. Not sure about them bakin’ lessons, but I’m game.” He reached up for her, encasing her waist in his hands and gently helping her down. As close to holding her as humanly possible. He had rented the buggy when they returned her rented horse, an dropped his at the livery. Pronto wanted to end the day in a first rate fashion.
“Been a grand day, and I too look forward more sech times.”He said knowing their time together was at it’s end. “I’ll be by fer breakfast.”