"Ah, yes, that's a good idea."  Emeline nodded, but she was in no hurry to move away from him...as independent as she wanted to believe she was, she enjoyed and longed for the warmth and comfort of his touch.  It wouldn't be long that she could just stay in his arms, yet it seemed an eternity.

Finally, she pushed away and took a step back, smiling.  "You're right, though, I was in a hurry and likely didn't close the door properly.  I'm afraid I don't pay as close attention as I should."  He was going to be angry with her, but there were mostly good folks around town so she wasn't very careful about always locking up.  Besides, she would never turn down someone needing a meal, so if they wandered in...well, she'd rather not have them sneaking around, but....

"I'll be more vigilant..."

"I'll be more vigilant..."

His brow furrowed as he looked at her, "Em, I'm not angry about this. I mean we all have our moments. 'taint no reason to be upset. Happens to the best of us. I'll give ya a hand with the windas."  He laughed a bit.

"A drunk racoon, likely to be coyote bait in that condition. That'd be the thing about elderberry wine, tastes too good to be doin' what it does to man er beast." He said. That coon'll have him a real headach come daylight if he survives the night!" 

"So, yer safe enough, that's plain. All that dancin', I'm plum tuckered out, especially after that coon business. You gonna be okay?" He asked.

"Yes, yes, I'll be fine..." Her tone was distracted as she looked toward the door, them back to Barnabas. "Do you really think coyotes will get that poor raccoon?" Could the creature make it though the night in its condition...and could she just ignore that it might be in danger?

"Oh, Barnabas, I know you'll think me silly, but I have to at least see if I can find him..." After all, she had left the door open, and it had been her elderberry wine...

"I can put him in the shed out back for the night." Although she certainly didn't expect him to partake in her whims. "Then I'll behave and get to bed so I can be an adult in the morning!" She grabbed an apron to wrap around the raccoon, if she found it.

"Yes, yes, I'll be fine..."  Her tone was distracted as she looked toward the door, them back to Barnabas.  "Do you really think coyotes will get that poor raccoon?"  Could the creature make it though the night in its condition...and could she just ignore that it might be in danger?

“There’s always that chance, even if the coon was sober as a judge.” He responded. “It’s nature, Em.”

"Oh, Barnabas, I know you'll think me silly, but I have to at least see if I can find him..."  After all, she had left the door open, and it had been her elderberry wine...

“Sure, we can have a look but I dunno, ‘course he was movin’ kinda slow.” Came the answer. He was less than enthusiastic about rummaging around in the dark for it, but Emeline was feeling guilty and well, he'd get to spend a bit more time with her.

"I can put him in the shed out back for the night."  Although she certainly didn't expect him to partake in her whims.  "Then I'll behave and get to bed so I can be an adult in the morning!"  She grabbed an apron to wrap around the raccoon, if she found it.

“Chances wouldn’t be good if that thing weren’t drunk from the wine, but there’s a chance we’ll find it, maybe it passed out along the way, but you be careful, they bite and scratch and the Lord knows what it could have.” He warned.

"Yes, all right."  Another measure of the man, that he would go along with her antics, and not try to dissuade her.  "I know nature isn't kind, but elderberry wine is hardly nature."  She started for the door, chuckling.  "Unless they have a little winery some place where they make wines...little vineyards, and they all stomp the grapes with their tiny feet!" 

Now she was just being goofy, but she was happy, and it was good to be able to just play and not be worried and serious all the time.

"Oh, you're right, the poor thing didn't make it far," she commented as she stepped onto the porch.  Mr. Raccoon was flopped in the middle of the path, a dark blob against the light gravel, but Emeline was careful to approach it slowly, watching for any signs of aggression.  "I suppose he'll sleep well tonight."

Chuckling, she used the apron to gently prod the beastie then finally pick it up when there wasn't much of a reaction.  "The perils of drink!" she laughed, then added, "I never did think that my elderberry wine was so potent!  I'll have to take more care, lest I inebriate a hapless soul!"

"Yes, perhaps you've made a friend for life with that masked marauder. Pike kidded. "I'd have competition ten, I suppose. but you've a point about the perils of drink. Man or beast can get careless with it, and that can cost him in the end, cost him dearly." He thought of a couple of friends over the years that had drank themselves out of home and hearth, job, and health. It had been sad to watch the progression

"But, perhaps he'll leave well enough alone after he sobers up and deals with the hangover." He took her hand, "It's been a grand evening Em. Went by too fast, but it was fun." He then took her in an embrace, not too long, nor to quick, but appropriate for time and place. "So, back to work tomorrow, my turn down't the office. And no leavin' the dishes, neither."

"It was a wonderful evening," she agreed, in fact, it was the first time they'd been to a community function as a couple, and had a chance to dance like they had. "I had an amazing time, and I can't wait for us to have more nights like this."

Any night with him...

"Don't worry about the dishes, Clara and I can take care of them, and I know you have other work to do." Breathing deeply, she relished the feel of him holding her, remembering it, his scent, the beat of his heart...her heart.

Finally, she moved back and gave his hand a squeeze. "It won't be long before we don't have to part," she commented with a smile, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Then you'll get tired of seeing me all the time!"

With a quick chuckle he said, "Might oughtta wait an' see who gets tired of seein' who first. Doubt that'll be me, cuz I can't see enough of you." There was a pause. "I got the duty in the morning with Speed, but I'll be by when I can. Sunday, oughtta be right quiet, so maybe we'll be in fer breakfast." He touched her face, gently, "You sleep well an' thanks f or a great evening, and a bit of excitement."

He stepped out into the night air as he had so many nights before, but it wouldn't be long before the knot was tied between them and their life together began. The hose was coming along faster than he had thought it would, especially with him sharing the duty with Speed, and washing dishes when he wasn't. Left pitiful little time to work on the house, but his hired men were efficient and already had the floor down and three of the walls up for the first floor.