"No offense taken, Pythias," Emeline commented with a grin, "and I do hope to have a chance to cook for you gentlemen now and again."

She didn't want to step on any toes, but Emeline was accustomed to cooking for a lot of people, and wanted to do that now and again.

"What time do you think the herd will be in tomorrow?" she asked Barnabas. 

Tomorrow!  Already!  It seemed like this had all taken so long, yet suddenly it was all just here!

"If Cookie is staying with the herd, I can have a meal ready for them, so he doesn't have to worry about it.  I'll look over the larder more closely, get that filled out...and we'll have a milk cow or two!"

"Maybe noonsh, 'er some after. Depends if they push 'em 'er not. Ain't no need to hurry 'em along, though they might." He said considering what could happen. "Mister Pike now he's been a wrangler, 'er so Frank said, so he might jest wanna ride along with his own cattle fer a spell."

"I don't think they push 'em too hard, yer man seems he'd allow Teal ta run them cows his way, which is steady. Skinny cows take more time ta fatten up." Lorado said as he helped himself to the griddle cakes as the plate went by.

"They'll be along, now thos horse of yours, might see them here before them cows." Dallas added, "No reason not to get them ta home. This here's some good eatin' Ma'am. 'Sides theres' some calves wth the herd and they don't travel so fast."

"Well, we surely don't want the grounds overrun with cattle, that's certain!" Emeline commented with a laugh.  Even though they had only arrived here today, and at the time it was just her, Barnabas and the three hands, it felt like they'd been doing this forever, and at the same time this was just the start of an amazing journey.

"So, Barnabas, when you go out to meet the herd tomorrow, let Cookie know he doesn't need to worry about feeding the men tomorrow, that way he can have a chance to look things over and get settled."  Come to think of it, she hadn't actually seen the inside of the bunkhouse, so she had no idea what it was like.  But in a day or two, it would be fully stocked with whatever Cookie's heart could desire!

Pike grinned, "Love, them critter's'll be down in the meadow, nowhere's close to the house. The horses now, that'll be a different story, Lorado and Dallas here'll be bringin' up to the corral an' I suppose Cookie'll be right behind 'em. Reckon between ya we'll all get fed." Barnabas said easily,

"Before most of the rest of 'em get here you'll have them Morgan horses tucked away in that main corral out there, all safe nd sound." Lorado said.

"Yes Ma'am, an' I'll be glad of it, like ta lost them twice't. Once't ta herd cutters, and once't ta redskins. But they never got close enough, neither bunch!" Dallas stated.

"The boys took particular care with them horses, Ma'am. Biggest scare mighta been the lightnin' strikes. Neither the horse  'er them cows liked that one bit." Pythias added.

"It's going to be amazing!"  Emeline beamed brightly, happy for herself, but more-so for Barnabas, having his vision finally coming to fruition.  "And I'm glad to know I won't be dodging cow patties around the house!"

Laughing, she stood.  "And, we'll be getting an early start in the morning, no doubt, so I'm going to start cleaning up.  You gentlemen take your time, tomorrow is going to be a big day!"

In all honesty, she wished it could already be 'tomorrow', with the herd and men in view!  But then, she was looking forward to the first night in their new home.

Gathering a few of the empty dishes, she headed for the house, trailed by Natty.