Posted August 26, 2020
Well, it sounded like a mighty long time, she was thinking, forever, in her mind. But he was right, some preparation and consideration would do no harm.
"San Francisco?" All that way for a dress? But she surely did want to see the ocean. "That would be wonderful! But honestly, I think I would rather wait until we are married to do that, so we can..." she blushed, "be married." He'd understand what she was saying! "I can find a seamstress here, or in Helena...I don't mind."
She nodded. "I do like the idea of flowers and dry roads, so we don't need to tramp though snow...when were you thinking about starting the house, then?"
As she spoke the words, it all became so real...and surreal at the same time!
Posted August 27, 2020
"San Francisco?" All that way for a dress? But she surely did want to see the ocean. "That would be wonderful! But honestly, I think I would rather wait until we are married to do that, so we can..." she blushed, "be married." He'd understand what she was saying! "I can find a seamstress here, or in Helena...I don't mind."
“Well, ya got me there. I guess maybe after the weddin’ we could head on over. Be one less room to pay for, not that I’d mind. But sure, you could find a seamstress here, ‘er Helena. No mail order though, you’d want it ta fit proper."
She nodded. "I do like the idea of flowers and dry roads, so we don't need to tramp though snow...when were you thinking about starting the house, then?"
“Lumber’s on order already.” He said easily, as he reached into his inside pocket and dew out plans for the house, plans that had no interior walls, nor windows and only one door. He laid it on the table. “I measured where she’ll sit, so that part’s correct, now where the rooms go? That is what we need to plan. Also got a second floor if we decide we want it now. We can always finish it later on.”
Posted August 29, 2020
"Oh, goodness, you're all set!" As she pushed aside the remains of breakfast then refilled coffee, she pondered on how long Barnabas had been planning all this, and that thought made her tingle a little.
"So, just outside walls so far?" Standing with one leg bent on the chair, she leaned on the table, looking over the sketches. "Of course, we need to place it so we have a view, and a big porch so we can sit and look." Grinning, she looked at Barnabas, her eyes shining with excitement. "There are so many possibilities...I've never even thought of designing my own house! But I think if we're planning a second story, we should at least do the shell now, so we only have to make one roof, right?"
She grabbed a pencil and note pad, then finally sat properly in her chair. "First, I think we should plan what rooms we need, right? Then we can figure out where they go. Parlor, kitchen, dining room, bedroom...will you need an office?"
Posted August 30, 2020
"Oh, goodness, you're all set!" As she pushed aside the remains of breakfast then refilled coffee, she pondered on how long Barnabas had been planning all this, and that thought made her tingle a little.
“Well, I figgered I best be prepared in case you said yes.” He explained.
"So, just outside walls so far?" Standing with one leg bent on the chair, she leaned on the table, looking over the sketches. "Of course, we need to place it so we have a view, and a big porch so we can sit and look." Grinning, she looked at Barnabas, her eyes shining with excitement. "There are so many possibilities...I've never even thought of designing my own house! But I think if we're planning a second story, we should at least do the shell now, so we only have to make one roof, right?"
“Just the box. No rooms, walls, winders, ‘er doors. Did mark the compass so’s we knew which way’s which. Figgered the view an all’d be most important to us, but thought to leave thet to you." He nodded, "Be best if we did, and true, we can always finish it later on
She grabbed a pencil and note pad, then finally sat properly in her chair. "First, I think we should plan what rooms we need, right? Then we can figure out where they go. Parlor, kitchen, dining room, bedroom...will you need an office?"
“Office?, Nope no need for one that I kin see. I mean there’ll be some paperwork, but I reckon the kitchen table’ll do jest fine when that’s needed.” He smiled at her. “Ya know, you can change clothes and be comfortable and beautiful. Be easier was you in trousers, ‘er a reg’ler dress. This plannin’ ain’t goin’ no where without you.” He stood and took off his frock coat. “I’ll jest be down stairs.” Cute as she was kneeling one legged on the chair, it was time to relax, be comfortable, and plan, plan for their future.
Posted August 31, 2020
Emeline glanced up at him, suddenly smiling in the realization that he really did understand her, and accepted her. But then, among the things she loved about him was that he wasn't pretentious, he would allow her to be her, and they would be a team.
"Give me five minutes!" She slipped behind the privacy screen that separated the large room to partition off the sleeping area, and quickly shed the heavy gown, and corset, and bustle and underpinnings...and soon was in a wool skirt and shirtwaist that was nicer than what she wore in the cafe...and she was far more comfortable.
Going to the door, she called down, "You can come back now, Barnabas!" Then she laughed. "The new house will have separate rooms, so you won't have to hide...well, you won't have to anyway!"
Posted September 1, 2020
"Give me five minutes!" She slipped behind the privacy screen that separated the large room to partition off the sleeping area, and quickly shed the heavy gown, and corset, and bustle and underpinnings...and soon was in a wool skirt and shirtwaist that was nicer than what she wore in the cafe...and she was far more comfortable.
“Take what you need, ain’t no rush.” He called back, looking out the window at the snow falling lazily to the ground, which was now knee deep. It would be a task getting back to the boarding house, especially if it picked up again..
Going to the door, she called down, "You can come back now, Barnabas!" Then she laughed. "The new house will have separate rooms, so you won't have to hide...well, you won't have to anyway!"
“On my way, Em. It’s really pilin’ up out there, doubt Pastor Evans has much fer a congregation.” He said climbing the stairs. “Such is winter I ‘spose. But we’re warm and dry here, so that’s a plus, an’, we’re together. Now, where were we?” He asked as he reached the top of the stairs, puff tie in hand and his collar unbuttoned.
Posted September 2, 2020
"Planning!" Grinning, Emeline quickly cleared the small table, except for the coffee, setting the plates in a basin to deal with later before returning to the table and pulling her chair around beside Barnabas' so they could look at the plans together.
"No office?" She glanced over at him with a grin. "What makes you think I want you underfoot in my kitchen?" She laughed, pointing to a section on the paper. "In the back, of course, so there can be a door going out to the garden. I suppose it will have to be large enough to accommodate your office...and for me to cook extra pies and bread to sell in town."
She ran her finger across the back line of the house. "Kitchen here, with the pantry, of course, and the stairs can go on the side here." She didn't mind folks traipsing through her kitchen to get to the stairs that would eventually lead to more rooms.
Posted September 3, 2020
"No office?" She glanced over at him with a grin. "What makes you think I want you underfoot in my kitchen?" She laughed, pointing to a section on the paper. "In the back, of course, so there can be a door going out to the garden. I suppose it will have to be large enough to accommodate your office...and for me to cook extra pies and bread to sell in town."
“If thet’s what you want, tain’t no problem ta just add it on. Need a pencil ta start drawin’ these things in. Mind, there ain’t no doors nor winders need to add ‘em as we go along.” He said.
She ran her finger across the back line of the house. "Kitchen here, with the pantry, of course, and the stairs can go on the side here." She didn't mind folks traipsing through her kitchen to get to the stairs that would eventually lead to more rooms.
“All that sounds good. Simple enough.” He agreed. “Now, what’s your plan with this place here? You a mind to keep it? ‘Er sell it? Maybe hire somebody to run it? You sayin’ you was gonna be bakin’ bread an’ pies fer town and all.”
Posted September 5, 2020
"Oh, I hadn't thought about the cafe." Emeline looked around the room, then shrugged. "I'll have to think about it, but I certainly don't want to be running back and forth, and I'm not sure who could take over. Clare is too young."
She'd put a lot of effort and money into her cafe, and it was dear to her heart, but she couldn't stay here and be a wife as well. "There is time to think it over, but I believe I'd be more inclined to sell it," she grinned, "with the contingency that they sell my pies and bread here!" That would take care of her love of cooking until they had ranch hands or half a dozen children to take care of!
Posted September 7, 2020
"Oh, I hadn't thought about the cafe." Emeline looked around the room, then shrugged. "I'll have to think about it, but I certainly don't want to be running back and forth, and I'm not sure who could take over. Clare is too young."
“Somethin’ ta think on. I mean it’s right under our feet, it’s what you staked yer future on,” He added.
She'd put a lot of effort and money into her cafe, and it was dear to her heart, but she couldn't stay here and be a wife as well. "There is time to think it over, but I believe I'd be more inclined to sell it," she grinned, "with the contingency that they sell my pies and bread here!" That would take care of her love of cooking until they had ranch hands or half a dozen children to take care of!
“Of course you could always hire a manager fer the place and keep it.” He offered. “‘sides, I’ll be in town purty reg’lar deputin’ an’ all and’ I kin keep an eye on the place. ‘Course you can run it till you need ta stop then get that manager.” He grinned.