"Morgan?  Can't say as I've heard'a that sort, but there's no one else in th' area breedin' quality horses.  As fer cattle, hopefully th' range war that's brewin' betwixt Evergreen an' Lost Lake won't come ta nothin', an' even so, hopefully th' Rockin' P here won't get caught up in it."

"Come from th' east, I heard. They're somethin' ta see, that's fer sure." Lorado offered. "Hadn't never seen one afore these ones. Not sure how they'd be fer workin' cattle."

"Meant fer pleasure ridin' I reckon. Not fer working stock." Pythias added.

They got 'em a real pretty gate, why th' Missus, she rode one bareback what wasn't even green broke that I know of. A genteel breed it looks like." Dallas interjected, "Likely a gentleman's horse."

"Always good ta have new folks in town.  Not th' biggest, nor th' civilized-est of places, but it'll do!"

"Jest about ta be home fer th' lot of us I reckon even picked up a pair of riders along the way. Gibbs an' Thronton." Pythias added in, "Good men, th' pair of 'em."

"Strays seem ta be more appreciative when they're given a chance," Addy observed, then she smiled and nodded.  "Always good ta have more folks in town, an' once this place is up an' runnin' it'll be a good chance fer more folks ta find work."

A ranch was more than just the ranch, there was a need for food, building and farm supplies, someone to bring them out, someone to put them to use, folks on the ranch here even needed clothing and such.  It would be a boon to the town, as it already had been while everything was being built, and that wasn't done yet.

"Well, ya'll'er welcome ta stop in town, there's plenty'a saloons an' th' Lickskillet Cafe's got th' best food in th' territory."  Grinning, she winked.  "Th' Missus here owns it, an' Miz Lutz has been takin' care'a it.  Real good pies.  An' I don't mind if ya'd like ta stop by th' big Millegan in town an' visit if I'm around."

She never did mind showing off the stage horses, nor her own team, and visitors were always welcome.

"Strays, now that about describes us to a 'T'!" Lorado stated almost bluntly, as most of the riders with the herd were vagabonds of the plains. Working the grubline, catching a drive here and there as they had on its one, even though for most on this drive, it had been by invitation.

Pythias laughed and added his thoughts about the subject, "Yes 'um purdy much sums up this crew, it does. Most got nowheres else ta go, 'cept back ta Texas, 'er drift off somewhares else. Ta be offered this here job an' a place ta lite an' set, well, that shorely is somethin'." And for most of them, that was true. Though, if there were those with a place to call home, he had not heard any mention of it.

Dallas was quiet about it for a long moment but then he beamed, "I've tried to catch on with several spreads down Texas way, some other places too, but never had no luck, til right now. Here on this place. Mister Pike, and the missus, well, they're a God send, that's fer shore! Yep, God sends fer the lot of us. An' Ma'am, we'll surely take you up on a visit ta this Milligans. Count on it." He paused, "Saloons? How many ya got?"

"Look, Addy's here."  From their second-story window, Emeline turned to look at Barnabas.  "We should go down and say hello.  I wonder what she's delivering?"  Of course, there was no doubt that Addy had delivered all manner of supplies and good to the site here, and there was no doubt that there were plenty more things that needed delivering, especially now that there people were going to be living here.

"We should go down and say hello, maybe find out what she's up to?"

"Sure, we oughtta do that. Not sure what she'd be deliverin', seems as though everything is here already." He said, unsure of the purpose of her visit, maybe something arriving from the trip, or maybe something that took time getting there that the Andersons had ordered for the house.

He paused, "So you're happy with the place?" He asked although he thought that she was, but he needed to ask, just to be sure. "Now you be careful on them stairs, they're wide enough and none too steep, but jest the same, hang onta that rail on the way down." He was pleased that there was a nice sweeping curve to it, like those in some of those mansions back in San Francisco and Nevada.

What was Addy doing there?

"So you're happy with the place?"

"Yes..."  Emeline took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.  "I don't know what to say...I never let myself imagine that life would be more than a room above the cafe...alone."  A wistful smile crossed her lips.  "This is all so amazing."  It was going to take a while to get used to all of it -- the house, the horses, the money...

"Now you be careful on them stairs, they're wide enough and none too steep, but jest the same, hang onta that rail on the way down."

"I'm pregnant, not invalid!"  She chuckled, but took hold of the railing on one side, then linked her arm in his on the other.  "But, you do realize that once the baby comes, I'm going to slide down the railing, right?"  She laughed as they headed outside.

+++++

"There's  a goodly number of saloons," Addy commented, "countin' chop houses an' what not.  Stardust is th' nicest, classy without bein' too hoity-toity, likker ain't watered, an' Miss Caroline sings there, right well."

She glanced over as she noticed the Pikes headed their way, and ran to greet them, hugging first Emeline, then Barnabas.  "Been a while!  Good ta have ya back.  Th' place here's comin' along real good.  Can't wait ta see them fancy horses, Miz Emeline."

Emeline returned her hug. "It's good to see you, Addy!  And the horses should be here tomorrow, you know you are always welcome to come by."

"Just want ya to be careful, we've pushed it hard gettin' here." He said, with a smile, "Just concerned's all. I mean, well, ain't for takin' any chances with you 'er that baby yer carryin'." 

"I'm pregnant, not invalid!" She chuckled, but took hold of the railing on one side, then linked her arm in his on the other. "But, you do realize that once the baby comes, I'm going to slide down the railing, right?" She laughed as they headed outside.

That forced him to laugh as well. "Okay sure, slindin' down the banister, yeah, don't every new mom with one do that?"

++++

"countin' chop houses an' what not. Stardust is th' nicest, classy without bein' too hoity-toity, likker ain't watered, an' Miss Caroline sings there, right well."

"I see you've met the boys, rest is outside'a town with the herd." Pike said, "Boys, this here woman, Addy, saved my life once, an's the best da-'er-dern teamster I ever saw."

"Been a while! Good ta have ya back. Th' place here's comin' along real good. Can't wait ta see them fancy horses, Miz Emeline."

"Oh, they'll be along, I'm sure the boys told you all 'bout 'em." Pike added.

Emeline returned her hug. "It's good to see you, Addy! And the horses should be here tomorrow, you know you are always welcome to come by."

"So, what brings you out here? Everything alright?" He asked suddenly wondering why she had shown up, but then they had just returned and riding up the main street, stopping at the Lickskillet and all, and her being the friendly type, it would be natural for her to come out to say hello.

"Just another delivery."  Addy shrugged, then grinned.  "Gonna have nothin' left ta do once this place is finished, in th' mean time, ya'll've helped put Weedy through th' best schools in th' country, when th' time comes!"

It was true, that between deliveries here and the hospital, it had kept her busy and added to her growing nest egg toward the boy's future. 

"Wanted ta welcome ya home, it's been a while.  Miz Clara told me all about yer adventures, plan ta do somethin' like that myself some day."  She really hadn't thought much on travel, but listening about all the amazing places the Pikes had been, and to Weedy's enthusiastic geography tales had her thinking about doing some of her own exploring one day.

"Wanna hear more'a yer stories, but I know yer just home an' tired.  Reckon there'll be more ta bring out here."  She glanced at Barnabas.  "Can I speak ta ya a moment, over by th' bunkhouse?"

"Go ahead."  Emeline squeezed her husband's hand, then looked at the three cowboys.  "So, how is the bunkhouse?  Does it seem to need anything?  Lace curtains?"  She grinned.

"Can I speak ta ya a moment, over by th' bunkhouse?"

Barnabas was not really sure what she could want to talk with him about, but he nodded, "Sure thing." He said.

"Go ahead." Emeline squeezed her husband's hand, then looked at the three cowboys. "So, how is the bunkhouse? Does it seem to need anything? Lace curtains?" She grinned.

"No Ma'am, no curtains needed, place is just fine as it is. Fact is, nicest bunk house I've ever seen." Pythias replied, the others nodding in agreement.

Pike walked with her toward the building, "What is it, Addy? There some sort'a problem?" He asked, "Been gone so long I'm not real sure where things stand, what's due to get here, and what all we need to order up." He was confused that was certain, but then the trip was beginning to take its toll, especially that last leg where they were pushing to get home.

Pike walked with her toward the building, "What is it, Addy? There some sort'a problem?" He asked, "Been gone so long I'm not real sure where things stand, what's due to get here, and what all we need to order up."

"There's a few more things on th' way," Addy commented, but then she added, "ain't no problem.  Just this one I brung up taday..." she led the way into the bunkhouse and nodded to the crate.  "Come all th' way from San Francisco, an' th' man said not ta let th' Missus know, an' there'd be a man out ta install it tomorrow."

Grinning, she shrugged.  "Don't rightly know what that means, but I wouldn't mind a peek?"