"Refills, gentlemen?" Her smile brightened as she raised the pot. "And are you sure you don't want anything? Pie? I have a peach cobbler about ready to come out of the oven."
“I need to make my rounds, Ma’am. I’ll see you gentlemen later.” Speed said as he got up, laying a quarter on the table.
“And I need to get started on that next edition.” Phinn said as he too got to his feet, and laid an equal amount on the rough hewn table. More than the pennies a cup of coffee required, but they had taken up a table so gratuity seemed proper.
“Me? Believe I’ll have me some o’ that cobbler, Ma’am, an’ a refill on the Arbuckles.” Pike said. “Be seein’ you gents later then.” Though he did not look away from Emeline as he spoke to the others. “Seems I’ve been comin’ in here a while now an’ I don’t rightly know yer given name. Mine’s Barnabas, Barnabas Pike. Most folks call me Pronto though. Easier on the tongue I expect.” The words just seemed to tumble out.
Clara listened to the woman talk about her technique for making a good pie crust, she did that also so obviously approved. As for the possible mysterious effect of the weather on the final product, another good observation.
"I do the same and yes, I have noticed the weather seems to affect it on occasion. Unsure as to why though," Clara was warming to this woman.
But the woman had a business to run and there were other customers who needed her attention too, ever the practical one Clara understood such realities and nodded, "Very well, we are not in a hurry."
"Thank you, gentlemen." Emeline gave the men a nod, noting that they had both been very generous with their tips, and while she knew it was far more than they should have left, she wasn't going to challenge them. Besides, it gave her an opportunity to help out others who needed a little lift in life, something she would do regardless, to the best of her ability.
“Me? Believe I’ll have me some o’ that cobbler, Ma’am, an’ a refill on the Arbuckles.” Pike said. “Be seein’ you gents later then.”
"Of course." Despite her best efforts, and not thinking there was anything to it, she still felt a blush tint her cheeks at the way the man was looking at her. It wasn't unusual, necessarily, ladies of any sort were at a valued and respected commodity in the West and male customers were always sending her glances and kind words, but they didn't make heat rise in her cheeks. Even so, she ignored the sensation. "The cobbler is a perfect choice, fresh from the oven!"
“Seems I’ve been comin’ in here a while now an’ I don’t rightly know yer given name. Mine’s Barnabas, Barnabas Pike. Most folks call me Pronto though. Easier on the tongue I expect.”
"Barnabas." Her smile brightening, Emeline nodded. He had a good point, though, she really didn't know the names of most of her customers, even the regulars. "A strong name, a disciple, if I'm not mistaken? Pleased to meet you...properly, I mean. And I'm Emeline Blakesley."
Belatedly, she remembered to pour him coffee, then she stammered, "I'll be just a moment for that cobbler...and pie for the children."
"A strong name, a disciple, if I'm not mistaken? Pleased to meet you...properly, I mean. And I'm Emeline Blakesley."
“That’s what they tell me, Miss Blakesley. Not sure I fill them boots though, me bein’ a former Texas Ranger an’ all. Not that Rangerin’s a thing to be ashamed of.” His face gained a shade of pink, bordering on red, thinking he may have said too much, or that what he had said might not be taken very well.
“Real nice name, Emeline.” Now he was in a quagmire as far as what to say next without embarrassing himself further.
"Oh, well, I was almost 'Borcy' or 'Altje', so I'm certainly glad my parents came to their senses!" Emeline laughed, then added, "Although I did have a brother they named 'Elsipath', so it could be worse!"
She had noticed the tint to his cheeks, but didn't think anything of it, or at least chose not to attribute anything to it. "That cobbler will just be a few minutes, then I'll probably sit down a few minutes myself." She'd been working hard all morning, and now, while it wasn't overly busy, would be a good chance to take a bit of a break back in the kitchen.
She headed to the kitchen then to dish out the various goodies, then carried a tray laden with the orders back out to the dining room, going first to the children. "Here you are." She set out the pie along with glasses of milk. "Enjoy. I hope it comes close to yours," she addressed the girl. "And I would always be open to some pointers." After all, only fools didn't think they had nothing to learn.
It didn't take the woman all that long to be back to their table with a tray, after she had first spent some time with the menfolk at that other table. Well, made sense, she had a business to run and practical minded Clara could appreciate that .
"Here you are." the woman set out the pie along with glasses of milk. "Enjoy. I hope it comes close to yours," she addressed the girl. "And I would always be open to some pointers."
"Thank ya!" Wyatt grinned as he reached for his fork then stabbed into the pie, no hesitation on his part. Clara was more patient, intent on conversation first with the woman.
"Thank you very much, it certainly looks impressive," Clara gave her immediate assessment, taste would count for more though of course.
"Well, I would hardly be so bold as to offer such to someone who runs an eating place," Clara pointed out but added, "I did happen to win a blue ribbon at the festival pie baking contest."
She didn't want to brag but .... well.....she did win!
"Oh, well, I was almost 'Borcy' or 'Altje', so I'm certainly glad my parents came to their senses!" Emeline laughed, then added, "Although I did have a brother they named 'Elsipath', so it could be worse!"
Pike grinned at the options, especially her brothers name. “Yes Ma’am, I reckon it could’a been be much worse. Yer folks had an odd snse fer names. That’s for sure. But I like Emeline, got some strength to it.”
She had noticed the tint to his cheeks, but didn't think anything of it, or at least chose not to attribute anything to it. "That cobbler will just be a few minutes, then I'll probably sit down a few minutes myself." She'd been working hard all morning, and now, while it wasn't overly busy, would be a good chance to take a bit of a break back in the kitchen.
“Well you’d sure ‘nuff be welcom to sit here, if you’d like.” He heard himself say.
The boy digging into the pie was more than enough compensation for Emeline, and she smiled brightly. He'd be welcome any time, as far as she was concerned!
"Well, I would hardly be so bold as to offer such to someone who runs an eating place," Clara pointed out but added, "I did happen to win a blue ribbon at the festival pie baking contest."
"See, then, I've never won any ribbon, so you've got that on me," Emeline declared, "and besides, it's never wise to think that you know every aspect of a craft, then you close yourself to learning new things. If you ever want to come by and do some baking, I'd love the company...and you'd be welcome to sell whatever you make, and your brother doesn't eat!"
The woman fortunately did not take her revelation of her baking prowess the wrong way, as bragging. Because Clara liked to think it was not that, just that Clara had wanted to prove she did know a thing or two about pie making. In fact the woman seemed genuinely taken by it and even made a most kind offer which both surprised and impressed the young miss.
"Really? That sounds ......wonderful. I would love to do that," Clara actually beamed, even Wyatt noticed though said nothing as his mouth was full of pie.
"I have a job already but it is not a daily one. Well... besides doing the farm chores and cooking. But I am certain I could make time to come at least say.....once a week," her mind was already racing thru possibilities. Selling pies for money would add to the family coffers too.
Suddenly it struck her. They did not even know each others names thus far. Something that needs be corrected immediately.
"Oh, I believe it time to make our formal introductions. I am Clara Redmond, daughter of Aurelian Redmond and that is Wyatt," she announced as she then extended her hand out to shake, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Wyatt grinned but had just shoveled another mouthful in so again no time for words.
"Really? That sounds ......wonderful. I would love to do that,"
"That would be great! I usually do my baking early in the morning or this time of day, between breakfast and supper." Usually, those were the slower times of day when she had a bit more free time.
"I have a job already but it is not a daily one. Well... besides doing the farm chores and cooking. But I am certain I could make time to come at least say.....once a week,"
"Name the day, whenever you're ready." Honestly, Emeline would welcome the company, and she figured that talking to the girl was better than the cat!
"Oh, I believe it time to make our formal introductions. I am Clara Redmond, daughter of Aurelian Redmond and that is Wyatt," she announced as she then extended her hand out to shake, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Miss Redmond. I'm Emeline Blakesley. Pleased to meet you." As she shook the young woman's hand, she wondered if there was a 'Mrs. Redmond', but it wasn't hers to ask. "Otherwise, for now, let me know if either of you need anything."
At that, she returned to the kitchen and loaded the tray with two plates of fresh cobbler, coffee, sugar and cream.
"I believe I'll take you up on that offer, Barnabas," she commented as she sat across from him, "I have a few minutes, and I need to sample my cooking now and then to make sure the quality doesn't slip." Grinning, she poured a bit of the cream over her cobbler then offered the decanter to the man. "You'll let me know if it doesn't meet standards?"