"Well, I must admit that growing up on the plains, I really love the mountains," Emeline observed. "There really is nothing like the sunrises and sunsets in the mountains, well, or anywhere, for that matter. The colors are amazing, especially against the peaks covered in snow. And the storms..." She smiles wistfully. "The power is amazing, I know they can be so destructive, though. Funny how Nature can be so beautiful and terrorizing all at once."
More than just weather, but life itself could be that way, sometimes amazing and beautiful, then it kicked you in the head! "At any rate, I'm trying to at least save for a stereoscope so I can live vicariously!"
“Sounds like most men I’ve known.” Pronto observed, followed by a laugh. “I do agree about sun rise and sun set in the mountains. Not too many in Texas, but I seen and be in my share of ‘em. An enjoyed most every moment of it.”
More than just weather, but life itself could be that way, sometimes amazing and beautiful, then it kicked you in the head! "At any rate, I'm trying to at least save for a stereoscope so I can live vicariously!"
“A stereoscope? Now what’d that be, if I might ask?” Vicariously troubled him as he fished for a meaning but came up empty. What was it and why would anybody want to live that way? Was it good? Bad? Fun? Just what was it? He’d have to ask Missus Everson when he got back to the boarding house.
"Oh, it's...an apparatus that you hold to your eyes..." Emeline had never thought about describing one, and found that it wasn't easy! "There are cards that sit past the lenses, and they have two photographs on them, and you..."
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a neatly folded page from a Montgomery Ward catalog and smoothed it out on the table. "That's it. When you get the cards in the right place, you can see a realistic image, just like you were there." Her enthusiasm was starting to show! "And you can get sets of cards from exotic places such as the Pyramids in Egypt, or the Forum in Rome! Some have all manner of animals...lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, kangaroos!" Some of which she wasn't sure she really believed even existed...It's a pity that Mr. Barnum's museum is no longer there, I would have loved to see the wonders that it held."
Pronto’s brow furrowed as he looked at the drawing and the description of this apparatus that Emeline had her heart set on. He read the description twice to fully understand what this was and what it would do. He immediately understood the attraction for this item. The ability to see places and things that folks in Montana likely would never see.
“Now that’s somethin’ that’d be a pleasure ta own. Take a body places they’d likely never be able to go to.” He exclaimed. It struck him that regardless of cost, he could afford such an extravagance, but the reality was, he hardly knew her at all, and doing something as bold as buying it for her might turn the situation away from the direction he wanted. Suddenly he was conflicted.
"The only thing missing is the food, and I did order a World cookbook so I can try different things from around the wold, provided I can find the ingredients, or improvise." She smiled, a bit wistfully. "Then, when I can travel, I'll know which places I'll really prefer...although I can't imagine not wanting to go to Paris...or Rome...Cairo, Vienna, Amsterdam, London..."
Laughing, she shook her head. "At any rate, in the mean time, if I do manage to make something exotic, I can use a taster, even if it is a 'meat and potatoes' sort of gent."
“Heard about them places. I was in Rome durin’ the war fer a bit.” He said with a straight face. “‘course thet was Rome, Georgia. You know there’s a Paris in Texas too, not none of them other places though.” Then Pike cracked a grin, looking at Emeline. “I’d be proud ta try whatever you was fixin’. Jest give a hollar an’ I’ll show up, count on it.”
This had turned into a most surprising morning. Pronto had just wanted to learn her name, and it had gone so much further than a simple introduction. Here they were talking about food and recipes she wanted to try from places he could barely imagine, oh, he’d seen drawings and even a couple of paintings of foreign places, but now they took on a different meaning for him.
“I know this place’ll keep ya hoppin’, but if there’s a time why I’d like ta take ya fer a ride. Some right purdy country around here. I’d even hire a buggy if’n you weren’t fer ridin’.”
"Oh, well..." Similar offers weren't unusual from the cowboys who came through on a regular basis, after all, 'eligible' ladies were at a premium in these parts, but this was the first time she didn't feel the urge to start making excuses. "It's been ages since I was riding, and honestly, I miss that." Her smile widened. "I have Sunday, if that is acceptable, after church, of course. And I can pack us lunch, make the day of it?"
Maybe she was being more enthusiastic than he'd intended, but it had been a while since she had used a closed day for something other than housework or doing something for the cafe, and the idea of just leaving for a whole day was enticing.
"Oh, I don't have a horse myself, though, if that is a problem?"
"It's been ages since I was riding, and honestly, I miss that." Her smile widened. "I have Sunday, if that is acceptable, after church, of course. And I can pack us lunch, make the day of it?"
“Sunday? Shore, Sunday’d be fine.” Pike responded, somewhat off guard by the unexpected acceptance of his offer. He had hoped she would accept, but was not quite ready for a yes.
"Oh, I don't have a horse myself, though, if that is a problem?"
“Ah, ani’t no problem, no problem a-tall. I’ll have you proper mount, say nine o’clock. ‘Er is that too early?” He asked, grinning like a school boy. “Oh, you do ride, I mean, any horse’ll do ya? Maybe you’d want a gentle animal, or one with spirit? Jest makin’ sure.”
"Spirited, but not wild." A wistful smile crossed her lips. "I used to tear across the fields bareback with my brothers when I was young, I loved it! I just haven't had cause to ride lately. If I go anywhere, I usually need the buckboard to get supplies, and even then, the mercantile will deliver most of what I order."
Shaking her head, she took a sip of coffee. "I've been thinking about taking a day off, and I really haven't had a chance to look over the area. I've heard there's a waterfall, it should be quite active with all the rain we've had...provided we can make it out there." Another good reason not to take a buggy...they could get to more places on horseback.
Maybe she was doing well enough now that she could take off one day a week, or at least an evening, especially if her idea of selling box lunches to the miners and cowboys panned out.
“ Well then, You can count on an animal with some spirit come Sunday, say the afternoon? Early or late, or even first thing, after church, if you’s be attending.” He suggested the it dawned on him, she had just said she’d take the day off.
“Well, reckon I need to clean out ma ears. I heard you plain that you was takin’ the day off. He admitted timidly. “I know the waterfall, well worth the ride out to it. So you just pick a time an’ I’ll have you a mount an’ be ready to ride when you are.” This was far beyond what he had though could happen.