Emeline felt a tint of blush in her cheeks at the compliment, and she covered with a smile.  "Well, you like the way it looks now," she commented, "but wait until winter comes and you have to wade through six feet of snow!"  She laughed, wrapping her hands over her belly.  "It can get so deep that you need to dig tunnels from one building to another."

It hadn't happened often that the snow was that bad, but it still got very cold, and even if you had the wood to warm the buildings, it was necessary to go outside at times, and she doubted these men from Texas had spent much time in freezing weather.

"We'll have to make sure everyone is prepared, that you have proper clothing and such.  It will certainly be an experience for you, and I hope it doesn't chase any of you away.  But it's worth it come Spring and the wildflowers bloom."

"Most all of us have driven herds ta Kansas and got areselfs caught in snow on the ride south again. So, we know, well the most of us anyway, what cold's like out on the plains. Mountian country ain't gonna be a who;e lot different, jest high up." Pythias said, which was true to some extent.

"The wust part was making that first trip, cus the plains, snow 'er not get might cold, and most men whot are on their first drive buy new cloths, but seldom are they fit fer the trip back ta Texas. It's a lesson well learned fer most all'a us, cus ain't none too many smart enough ta replace them duds they burn with duds what are fer work, not dilly dallyin' about some cattle town." He explained at length about the pitfalls of the Kansas cow towns. The others simply nodded in agreement, victims to one degree or another of poor choices.

"It's good that some of you will know what to expect," Emeline agreed.  Even having grown up in Ohio, though, that hadn't prepared her for the winters in the Dakotas or Montana.  "We can start looking into what you'll need once the others get here so there is time to make sure you have it before Winter sets in."

After all, the local mercantile had limited inventory, so there might be a need to order some of the things, and the sooner the better.  No sense getting caught off guard when they knew this was something that needed to be addressed, and Emeline realized that this was a new responsibility that hadn't occurred to her before. 

This whole ranch thing was going to be a great challenge!

"We'll make sure we've got plenty of firewood, too, and see to it that there are some extra provisions..."  She was talking to herself as much as the men! 

As she was musing, the dog trotted over and pressed up against her legs, looking up at the men and letting out a low growl.  "Natty!" she chided, reaching to scratch his ears, "these men are friends, they aren't going to hurt you."  It was something she hadn't thought about, considering the dog's background, but he'd have to get used to the men if he was to stay here.

"We found him just a couple days ago, he was being mistreated...beaten, so I took him."  She grinned.  "I'm sure he'll be fine once he gets to know you."

"Didn't exactly run into him," she explained, "just...well, it was at Flathead Lake, we'd stopped for the night, and the next morning I came across a young lad beating the poor pup, and then he was fixing to cut off his tail!"  Emeline's ire rose at the thought of the encounter.  "Had he been my child, I'd have...well, no child of mine would ever dare do such a thing."

She smiled at that, then shrugged.  "I took the poor thing with me and gave that boy a good tongue lashing!  Well, and then Mr. Pike paid the boy and his father far more than they deserved, but it freed the dog and averted a fight."

It still irked her a bit that the little beast had gotten anything after the way he'd treated the dog, but it had been better than conflict.

Natty had moved closer to Lorado, sniffing at the treat, then his hand before gently taking the jerky and chewing, his tail starting to wag slowly.

"Only right that we're kind to the animals around us."  As she watched the men interacting with the dog, pleased with how gentle they were with him, it spoke well of their characters.  "I'm sure he'll at least warn us of trouble, or even just when someone approaches."  She had to admit, she was glad for the constant vigil a dog would provide, so that rescuing the pup benefited them as much as the dog.

"I've no doubt there will be more pets in time, and never a dull moment!"  The future was so bright, it almost frightened her, but she refused to let negative thoughts hold her back or dominate her thinking. 

Then he had a sudden thought.  "Goodness, you gentlemen are going to need supper, as are Mr. Pike and I!  I don't suppose any of you know anything about cooking?"  She wasn't sure what supplies there were, but she was certain she could come up with something!

"Maybe some." Lorado volunteered, "'sept mostly we got Cookie an' little Mary whot take care 'o that fer us." Pythias and Dallas nodded in agreement.

"Reckon I could make do but I wouldn't be one to say it was edible." Dallas volunteered. "Mostly I  Cook up beef an' beans when I got jerky and beans, Otherwise maybe I scavenge fer whotever I can find."

Pythias was smiling, "I' can lend a hand, Missus Pike. Grew up in a kitchen. Worked with some of the finest in Na'leans til I got the wanderlust an' end up lookin' at hind in of steaks on the hoof. Much'a whot I learned has stuck with me, so I'd do in a pinch."

Dallas and Lorado looked at Pythias with furrowed brows.

"You never told us a word about that Pythias!  Narey a single word. I jest figgered you was a ex Pinkerton man an' left it at that."

"Well, then, Pythias, I'd appreciate some help in the kitchen."  Emeline grinned slyly as she looked at the men.  "Unless you'd rather help with the horses?"  Besides the wagon team and the cowpokes' mounts, Noel and Barnabas' horse were in the barn, as well as a couple of milk cows.

"It won't be anything elaborate, the larder isn't fully stocked yet, but I think we can come up with something!"  It would be interesting to see what sort of flair Pythias could being to a meal, and she was looking forward to cooking again.  "Shall we?"

"Well, then, Pythias, I'd appreciate some help in the kitchen." Emeline grinned slyly as she looked at the men. "Unless you'd rather help with the horses?"

"Well now, seems to me Mister Pike is care fer yours and the team, and the boys his puttin' up they own, an' mine too, so I kin shorely lend a hand, but Ma'am, I'm a might rusty with the pots an' pans." The man said, "Done me some cookin' back home, outside'a New Or-lee-ans. The proper name of the city. Glad ta be shut of it." He smiled, "So, let's us have a look in yer larder an' see what's there. Folks domne 'em a fine piece a work o this here house, they did. Might just have yerself a full larder."