Clara was setting some used plates into the sink when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see her employer.
"How are things going, Clara?" the woman asked with a smile.
"Everything is fine. We had a few customers. By the way, Mr. Peabody and I had quite the conversation. That man sure has been thru a lot, that is if he is to be believed. Between you and me, I am dubious," Clara replied.
Emeline now stated, "You can go now, if you'd like, Barnabas and I can take food over to the jail. And if there's still some pie, please, take some with you, I know how much your father and Wyatt like it."
"Are you certain that you are feeling up to it? I do not mind staying on..." Clara started but it did seem like Emeline looked more like her regular self now again.
"There is half an apple pie left, thank you, my hungry menfolk will appreciate it," Clara would definitely take advantage of her offer.
Emeline wished her a safe trip back home.
"Well, all the bank robbers are either waiting for a burial or in that jailhouse, so I should be fine."
Before Clara could grab the pie and leave she just had to say one last thing.
"You were so brave out there today, it was amazing. If anything had happened to you, I do not know if I could stand it. I mean...first my mother and then you? Thank the lord you are fine!"
It was as close to an admission how she regarded her employer and friend and...yes, mother figure.
Even though she knew that Clara didn't particularly care for physical contact, Emeline moved close and pulled her into a hug. "Don't you worry, I'm not going anywhere." Then she took a half step back before smiling and whispering, "Between you and me, I was terrified. But giving into that never helps."
It wasn't always easy, but if you let emotions overrun you in a stressful situation, you were bound to lose. Of course, you might lose anyway, but at least it wouldn't be because you'd curled in a ball and given up!
"Enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you in the morning."
She walked with the girl as far as the table where Barnabas was, where she stopped and nodded to the men. "Mister Peabody. How are you today?" She could probably scrounge up some bread and soup to send home with him.
"Miss Emily, how radiant you look!" Dutton exclaimed, as he was prone to do. "A ray of sunshine in this vast wilderness called Montana. And the Shepherds Pie is beyond compare."
It was simply his way. There was no fraud in his statements and many could attest. If Dutton Peabody Esquire did not like someone or something, he left no doubt, especially politics. It had often been said that he was a blowhard. That his tales of Washington DC were fabricated through an addled mind.
He had been all of the things that he stated he was, and his claims of nearly being appointed to the Supreme Court were true. They had been verified more than once, yet not in Kalispell. There really was no reason.He touted his legal background, but staunchly refused to practice law.
"Once in Hodgenville, Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, I chanced to have a pie, nearly as good as this, yes, nearly, but your crust is far superior." He looked at Barnabas with a quick side glance, "And this one, why Miss Emily, you must seize him and take him to Pastor Gideon Evans and marry him up as quickly as you can!" He smiled widely, then took another bite of the pie.
Even though she knew that Clara didn't particularly care for physical contact, Emeline moved close and pulled her into a hug. "Don't you worry, I'm not going anywhere."
It was true, Clara, for reasons unknown even to herself, did not handle contact very well and sure enough she stiffened for just an instant. But it was not because she did not appreciate the gesture the woman made, she idolized Emeline.
"I hope not," she cracked a bit of a smile.
Then the woman took a half step back before smiling and whispering, "Between you and me, I was terrified. But giving into that never helps."
"You had every right to be terrified," Clara completely understood.
"Enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you in the morning."
"I will and you too. Good day to you, Mr. Peabody," she nodded toward the old fellow then headed toward the back.
She would not forget the offered pie before leaving.
"Good day to you too, Mr. Pike," Clara acknowledged the man who was going to be marryine Emeline.
"Miss Emily, how radiant you look!" Dutton exclaimed, as he was prone to do. "A ray of sunshine in this vast wilderness called Montana. And the Shepherds Pie is beyond compare."
"And your flattery is gladly accepted, Mr. Peabody." Emeline blushed a little as she smiled, finding that the man's comments helping to lift her spirits, but then, he was always quick with a kind word.
"Once in Hodgenville, Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, I chanced to have a pie, nearly as good as this, yes, nearly, but your crust is far superior."
"Oh, well, it's because I use as cold water as I can get," she started to explain, then laughed. "Thank you, and Miss Redmond is a great help with that as well. She's an excellent baker."
"And this one, why Miss Emily, you must seize him and take him to Pastor Gideon Evans and marry him up as quickly as you can!" He smiled widely, then took another bite of the pie.
"I have every intention of doing just that!" Chuckling, she sat in an empty chair, then glanced over as Clara walked past.
"Good day to you too, Mr. Pike,"
"Good afternoon, Clara, and again, please be careful." She would suggest that Barnabas escort her home, but she wasn't sure Clara would appreciate that.
"I have every intention of doing just that!" Chuckling, she sat in an empty chair, then glanced over as Clara walked past.
"Good day to you too, Mr. Pike,"
"Good day Miss Redmond." Pike responded. The girl had been of immense help to Emeline, and had covered for him at the sink when duty had called.
"Good afternoon, Clara, and again, please be careful." She would suggest that Barnabas escort her home, but she wasn't sure Clara would appreciate that.
"Smart girl!" He exclaimed. He nodded to Clara."And so, Miss Emeline, I must bid you farewell as I have other appointments waiting. Again, the pie was par excellence! Deputy, my appreciation for your assistance with the meal this evening. If ever you, either of you, require my assistance, do not hesitate to call on me."
Pike looked up as Dutton rose from the table. "Was you to stay sober, Marshal Guyer might could use your help. He's holdin' them two bank robbers for trial. An' Miss Mercer's out of town at the present."
Dutton looked at the deputy a long moment. "I shall see him in the morning. And perhaps Miss Emeline, I shall stop in for breakfast. For you." He laid a silver dollar on the table. "Good afternoon," and with that he walked out.
Barnabas looked at Em, "If he don't end up in the hoosegow again tonight. Flandry said he'd toss him out on his ear next time he causes a ruckus." He smiled. "I ever tell you I'm kinda partial to you?"
"Smart girl!" He exclaimed. He nodded to Clara."And so, Miss Emeline, I must bid you farewell as I have other appointments waiting. Again, the pie was par excellence! Deputy, my appreciation for your assistance with the meal this evening. If ever you, either of you, require my assistance, do not hesitate to call on me."
"Of course, Mr. Peabody." Emeline smiled and nodded to the man, adding, "and the same goes for me." There were a few who she helped out, after all, there was no sense in food going to waste at the end of the day, and as long as he wasn't so intoxicated that he caused trouble, she didn't mind the old man coming around.
"Was you to stay sober, Marshal Guyer might could use your help. He's holdin' them two bank robbers for trial. An' Miss Mercer's out of town at the present."
Dutton looked at the deputy a long moment. "I shall see him in the morning. And perhaps Miss Emeline, I shall stop in for breakfast. For you." He laid a silver dollar on the table. "Good afternoon," and with that he walked out.
"Thank you, sir." Startled at the generous coin, Emeline smiled and nodded, then looked to Barnabas. "An interesting fellow, that." It was hard to tell how much of his talk was fabricated, how much was exaggeration and how much was true. No matter, he seemed a good man...
Barnabas looked at Em, "If he don't end up in the hoosegow again tonight. Flandry said he'd toss him out on his ear next time he causes a ruckus." He smiled. "I ever tell you I'm kinda partial to you?"
"Oh, a time or two." Grinning, Emeline reached over and gave his hand a squeeze, then stood and started to gather the dishes. For now, she'd just leave them in the sink and take care of the details later. "Shall we get the food over to the jail now? Is Marshal Guyer minding things there?"
If Barnabas was here, certainly someone was keeping an eye on the brigands in the cells?
"Shall we get the food over to the jail now? Is Marshal Guyer minding things there?"
If Barnabas was here, certainly someone was keeping an eye on the brigands in the cells?
“Yep he’s there alright. I’ll spell him after I walk you back here. He’s a bit uneasy with Case in there. Fact is, there’s a pallet on the floor, I’ll be spendin’ the night. His turn tommara night.”
“He refused to negotiate Case’s release with that sidewinder Cole Latham. Takin’ him to trial an’ he’s purtty sure words already gone out to the Evergreen, so, he’s expectin’ the worst. The old man, he won’t be happy and he’s got him a bunch of men to do somethin’ about it.” Barnabas explained. “Could be more trouble afore that circuit judge gets here.”
"Oh, well, if you have to stay the night, I'll grab a whole pie, and you have no obligation to share!" Emeline chuckled as she led the way to the kitchen, where she set the plates in the sink then started dishing the remaining stew into a smaller pot. "You can grab some plates and spoons and put them in a basket," she requested, "you know how many you need."
Sounded like the jail was busy this evening, and while she was worried about Barnabas being there alone, especially with a Steelgrave incarcerated, she wouldn't mention anything.
Placing a lid on the stew pot, she glanced at Barnabas. "Is there anything else you think you'll need?" As flippant as she had been about offering meals for the prisoners, she was starting to get a little nervous about seeing the robbers again, but she felt it was something she needed to do.
“Now you know, you don’t have to go into the cell block with me.” He assured her. “I can dish it up and pass it through the bars to ‘em. Mostly I’d let ‘em starve, was it up to me. Maybe bread ad water, but your fine cooking, ain’t none of ‘em, includin’ Case Steelgrave deserves it.”
He took her hand, “I’ll be just fine, sleepin’ on the floor’ll be a sight more uncomfortable than my bed at the boardin’ house, but it’ll have to do till the judge gets here. Then we’ll be free of ‘em, ‘cept maybe Case.” He hoped she was reassured. “Oh, and Willis says they got the walls up on the first floor and covered, hangin’ the doors and windas tomorrow. I’ll ride on out there and lend a hand. She's comin' together.”