His words were reassuring, and Emeline was feeling more confident now that they'd work things out. "I still owe a few hundred on the building," she explained, "but so far I haven't had a problem making the payments, business is good enough that it covers all the expenses, with a bit to live on, and I have a small savings."
“Well then, no reason to consider sellin’.” He advised. “Pay off the place, then, well then you can make up your mind when the time comes, if the time comes.”
She was grateful and proud that the cafe was supporting itself, she'd put in a lot of hard work to get it where it was. "It's a separate business, of course," she commented, "I don't want to use other funds for it, if it can't survive on its own, we'll need to sell it."
“That would make sense, but if you own the building, why not rent ‘er out. I mean, I don’t see the café failin’, but if she did then that spot it’s on could be rented out at a steady profit. Now I ain’t no expert, but I learned a good deal in Nevada, and property is one thing you hang onto.” He smiled as he spoke. “No sense gettin’ all wound up about what might happen with the place, just let things take their course an’ do what’s called for.”
It would be hard, but there was no sense throwing good money after bad, but then, she didn't think it would come to that.
"I hadn't thought about renting...that's a good idea, if it comes to that." She really hoped she could manage to work out keeping the cafe, but that depended on a number of things, especially if and when they had children...that could very well change everything.
"Children will change that, I think...I know. I'll want to be with them, and I can't do that in town." And she certainly wasn't going to drag them to town with her. "I know that is a way off, too, but children will be my priority, of course." She smiled widely, loving the thought of having children again, and confident that their children would thrive and be happy.
"I hadn't thought about renting...that's a good idea, if it comes to that." She really hoped she could manage to work out keeping the cafe, but that depended on a number of things, especially if and when they had children...that could very well change everything.
“More’n one way ta skin a cat.” He said as they rode along. “My pa always said, property is always a safe bet, even though all he had was the ranch he pointed to the men in town that owned buildings an’ such.” He smiled. He’d never had property of his own until now, but their spread might just be the begining with the building in town.
"Children will change that, I think...I know. I'll want to be with them, and I can't do that in town." And she certainly wasn't going to drag them to town with her. "I know that is a way off, too, but children will be my priority, of course." She smiled widely, loving the thought of having children again, and confident that their children would thrive and be happy.
“Young’uns, they will change things, that’s for sure. They need tending to and that’ll shorely take you out of the café, but, we can still own the business and the building with the right person runnin’ it. Folks need to eat, an’ them what don’t cook fer themselves and cain’t afford the other choices in town will come to the café, sure as the sun rises."
"The problem with that is that no one else can cook as good as I." Emeline delivered the declaration with a straight face, but then she laughed. "You're right, I'll keep the place and let someone else run it, and then when the eldest turns twelve, they can move to town and take over, learn how to make something of themselves!"
So many variables, and while Emeline knew the answers would come in time, she was anxious for things to fall into place. First the wedding.
"What ideas do you have for the wedding?" she asked him. They'd discussed it some, but he'd left the planning to her, and in all honesty, she'd be content with a Justice of the Peace and a picnic reception! But then, she'd been married before, not that that had been a big affair. "Do you know a young lady named Arabella?" Best to warn him about that, and she couldn't imagine that anyone in town didn't know that little whirlwind!
“Okay, so you are for sure the best cook in town, I’ll take my oath on that.” Pronto agreed, even if he’d been biased since the first day in the place. “The eldest? Now what if the eldest ain’t no girl, or no had to cookin’, then what?” He chided, glad she wanted to keep the place, and have more than one child, but then most did.
So many variables, and while Emeline knew the answers would come in time, she was anxious for things to fall into place. First the wedding.
"What ideas do you have for the wedding?" she asked him. They'd discussed it some, but he'd left the planning to her, and in all honesty, she'd be content with a Justice of the Peace and a picnic reception! But then, she'd been married before, not that that had been a big affair. "Do you know a young lady named Arabella?" Best to warn him about that, and she couldn't imagine that anyone in town didn't know that little whirlwind!
“Ideas? We’ll get hitched, ‘spose there’ll be a reception of some sort, then we’ll traipse off on a honeymoon affair.” He responded, then smiled. “Now we can do ‘er up big, ‘er not, up to you, it’s yer day, well, our day, but I been told the weddin’s the brides day.” His mouth kind of went to one side, brow furrowed. “Arrabella? Who’s that? Somebody for the weddin’?”
"I don't think we need anything elaborate, just a simple ceremony and we can have everyone over to the cafe after?" Her first marriage had been simple, and she had been more than happy just to have close friends there. "No sense in spending a lot on a wedding when there are better ways to put money to use."
She glanced at him, smiling. "Miss Arabella is a very...zealous young lady, the child is a Whitefish survivor, very helpful and very opinionated, and she has decided that she needs to sing at the wedding." She shook her head with a laugh. "I suppose there's no reason to deny her her excitement. But good heavens! I pray none of our children have that sort of energy."
At least the girl seemed happy, and wanted to help, although Emeline never would have thought that there could be such a thing as wanting to help too much!
Then she had a sudden idea. "Perhaps we can have the ceremony out by the falls? On our property? Oh, I know there won't be any buildings yet, but if the weather is temperate, we wouldn't need cover, or we could put up a tent." It would make a beautiful setting, and a good start to their life together.
“Woulda been a good idea if there weren’t buildin’ supplies everywhere, but, you’ll see when we get there. Purdy as the place will be, it’s not actually set up for a gatherin’ of folks. Not without the hired men don’ have to move everything.” He said, not that he was unwilling to have them do just that if that was what she wanted.
“Money ain’t the concern, likely won’t ever be as long as the mines are producing.” He assured her. “Have some extree comin’ in from being a depity to Speed. Things are lookin’ up.”
“Now this, what’s ‘er name, Annabell, if you’re okay with it, I don’t mind none.” Most of the wedding plans were hers to make anyway, so if she wanted to let the girl sing that was alright with him. “Up we go, trail’s a mite easier since the wagons been up an’ down a couple times. Have to maybe make it a bit wider, but that can wait. There’ll be more wagon loads as time passes.” They began what was actually an easy climb to their hill-top property.
"I don't think we need anything elaborate, just a simple ceremony and we can have everyone over to the cafe after?" Her first marriage had been simple, and she had been more than happy just to have close friends there. "No sense in spending a lot on a wedding when there are better ways to put money to use."
“Simple’s good, I have no problem with the weddin’ bein’ big er small. It the words what are spoke that matters.” Came the reply. The wedding , as he had been told, was about the bride, so that meant whatever the bride wanted, that was how it was to be. “Lotta extra work movin’ the supplies around though.”
She glanced at him, smiling. "Miss Arabella is a very...zealous young lady, the child is a Whitefish survivor, very helpful and very opinionated, and she has decided that she needs to sing at the wedding." She shook her head with a laugh. "I suppose there's no reason to deny her her excitement. But good heavens! I pray none of our children have that sort of energy."
“Can she sing? I mean if so sure, why not. Might add a bit to the whole thing.” He acknowledged. Of course to him zealous could mean a number of things, and that may or may not be good.
At least the girl seemed happy, and wanted to help, although Emeline never would have thought that there could be such a thing as wanting to help too much!
They were at the foot of the hill, their property and it was clear that heavy wagon ruts marked the trail up to where the foundation was being laid. “Well,” he began as he pulled up, “You’re about to get a look at what’s been goin’ on so far.” He grinned. “Up we go!
Emeline stopped on the road, looking up the hill for a moment, then she glanced at Barnabas. "We'll need an entry of some sort...an arch, maybe, with the name in twigs, and roses at the sides..." Once they were settled and had that luxury, she'd love to see that through, it would be a grand way to welcome visitors.
Glancing at Barnabas, she smiled widely, then nodded and urged Noel forward up the road, her heart racing with anticipation. "I forgot how beautiful it is here."
The track was a wide, swinging curve through the trees, and when it finally opened up to the home-site, she stopped, taking it all in. There wasn't much yet, but the foundations were enough to give her a picture.
"Oh, Barnabas, it's going to be amazing! I can't wait!" It would be simple at first, she knew that, but in a few years, with the house, barn, fences, bunkhouse...children running around, this was going to be the best place on Earth!
"So, how much longer do you think it will be before the house is ready?"
"We're a ways from puttin' up an entry, but it's surely somethin' to think on while the rest of the place is built. Well, the house anyway." Pronto observed. "I figger with the men I hired to help, should be ready by June at the latest, maybe sooner."
They continued up the trail cut by the wagons which was the easiest climb. And suddenly the came out of the trees and there were the piles of lumber and the beginnings of the foundation were. He reigned in and stepped down, going to Emily's horse to offer a hand.
"See, most places have this here rubble foundation, 'er sit flat on the ground." He began as they walked over to where the foundation had been started. "Rubble is jest rocks piled up, lots'a work, but, we added motar to stick 'em together. That's more work, but, the foundation's a mite stronger. So we're sacraficin' time fer strength."
"It'll have to be strong," Emeline declared with a grin, still clutching his hand after he had helped her down from the horse, "to hold all the children that are going to be running around!"
Smiling, she let go of his hand to move forward and step into the framework. For a moment, she just stood with her eyes closed and her arms crossed over her chest, breathing deeply. Then she looked at Barnabas, quickly wiping away tears that had started to trickle down her cheeks.
"It's amazing...it's perfect," she murmured, "like a dream." There had been a time when she'd given up on dreams and was content with what was, but now, there was a future...