"Why Nate'll plumb enjoy the fact he ain't gotta be stooped over the fire cookin', that it was handled already and he and Danny kin jest sit back an' relax fer the rest'a whatever an' eat someone else's cookin' fer a change," Pythias said, with his easy smile. "There'll be enough cookin' ta be done, and he'll know that a'ready. Don't you fret none, he an' Danny 'er glad ta be here, off the trail. Believe me."
"Hi howdy ya'll!" Nate called out as the wagon came to a hault and he set the brake. Danny jumped down and immediately chalked the wheels.
"Any help I can be Ma'am?" Danny called out to Em as Nate stepped down and stretched. "I can do most anything you need."
Pythias, Will, and Lorado all called out to the cook and 'Little Mary', which Danny hated being called.
OOC: Since Javia's guy and mine got sent off to town for supplies, I'm currently waiting on Javia's return to post with him in this thread, just so you know.
"Welcome to the Rocking P!" As she went to the wagon to greet the crew, Emeline smiled brightly. "Well, I was going to set out some tables in the yard here, you and Pythias can do that. Oh, and grab a bunk before the rest of the men get here."
That would give the cooks a little better choice, not that there was a 'bad' bunk in the room!
Then she addressed Cookie. "I have some beans about done, but if you could taste them and let me know if they need more seasoning I'd appreciate it. And I'm roasting some chickens...I thought you might be tired of beef!"
"Welcome to the Rocking P!" As she went to the wagon to greet the crew, Emeline smiled brightly. "Well, I was going to set out some tables in the yard here, you and Pythias can do that. Oh, and grab a bunk before the rest of the men get here."
"Thakee kindly ma'am, good to be here." Nate said as he climbed down from the wagon seat, "Now I reckon we'll be fer waitin' on Frank Teal ta get here. Ramron al'ays gets his pick, no matter whot it might be." Danny dropped down looking around in awe.
"Ya got a waterfall!" He shouted, and took off at a run toward the falls.
Then she addressed Cookie. "I have some beans about done, but if you could taste them and let me know if they need more seasoning I'd appreciate it. And I'm roasting some chickens...I thought you might be tired of beef!"
"The men'll love that. Had some sage hens, but they near the same as real chickens." Nate replied, "Now, how ya gonna fix 'em oncet they's roasted? An, I'd be proud to give a taste to them beans, Ma'am, be a pleasure. Me an' Danny'lll need to get the rig settled, horse unhitched, an' put out ta pasture, but whatever ya need help with, why we're here ta help any way we can. Surely a nice spread you and the Mister got here."
Emeline couldn't help but grin as Danny ran to the falls, then she turned her attention back to Cookie. "It is amazing, isn't it? Barnabas surprised me...he's full of surprises, and it's wonderful!" Since he had come into her life, Emeline was finding that Barnabas was unpredictable, in a fun, good way, and it kept her intrigued.
"Certainly, take care of your rig, I have Pythias to help me." She understood that taking care of your stock was first and foremost in survival, and she was sure the horses that had been so long on the trail would welcome a barn and fresh hay and grain.
"As for the chicken, options are a bit limited until the wagon gets back from town, so I was just going to serve it plain, with the beans, and bread that Pythias and I made. I don't suppose you're familiar with a...colorful old gent called 'Muley', are you?"
"Amazin's a good choice fer words, Ma'am, a right nice spot indeed," Cookie said looking out at the boy and the falls. "Expect they'll freeze should it get cold enough." He smiled. "We'll have the chuck put up along side the barn, outta the way. Get to pullin' off the cover later on taday. Yep, this here's quite the spread!"
This would be home for the foreseeable future and Nate was thinking, that he would not be hiring out on any more drives, he would not be returning to Texas, and, since they had asked him, he'd stay on in any capacity that they needed or wanted.
"Not too sure about the boy. Danny got no folks, picked him up maybe six months ago down Texas way. Had no place ta be, so, this here wagon's been home since then." He expained.
"As for the chicken, options are a bit limited until the wagon gets back from town, so I was just going to serve it plain, with the beans, and bread that Pythias and I made. I don't suppose you're familiar with a...colorful old gent called 'Muley', are you?"
He snorted, "Muley? Ya mean that cantankerous ol' coot Dickens? I know'd him on 'n off fer mebee six, eight years now. He in the territory is he?" Was the reply. An' plain ol' chicken'd be jest the thing, but I got a lard bucket, plenty of flour, and some seasonin', if'n yer a mind to do more'n serve it up plain. Need ta use up whot I got afore the weevils get it!" And with that he laughed.
"Ah, fried chicken, then?" Nodding, Emeline smiled. "That's better than just roasting, and it will give you a chance to try your new kitchen. We can get together later and discuss what other supplies you might want."
After all, exceptional food would help keep an exceptional crew!
"Yes, Muley came in earlier with a young man he'd just met, they headed to town for supplies." With a chuckle, she grinned. "He does seem a colorful sort, and Mr. Pike will still need to approve of the two, but I think they'll fit it. As for Danny, he's welcome to stay here as long as he likes. And I do hope he likes it here, I hope you all do."
It was best, she thought, to keep a steady crew, rather than have new men coming and going, and the way to do that was to keep them content.
"Yes'um, fried chicken'll get their mouths ta water'n somethin' fierce! An takes no longer than bakin', 'er roatsin'." Nate offered. "I'll jest go see to the wagon, an' tend to the horses, then we'll have us a time with them birds., we will!"
"Yes, Muley came in earlier with a young man he'd just met, they headed to town for supplies." With a chuckle, she grinned. "He does seem a colorful sort, and Mr. Pike will still need to approve of the two, but I think they'll fit it. As for Danny, he's welcome to stay here as long as he likes. And I do hope he likes it here, I hope you all do."
"Reckon he will Ma'am, got no where's else ta go." Nate replied then called out, "Danny! 'mon boy, work ta be done." And with that the boy headed for the chuck wagon at a dead run, knowing what had to be done.
Lorado and Will were smiling at the thought of fried chicken, home made fried chicken at that.
"The boys'll be real grateful fer yer effort Mis'us Pike." Will stated.
"He ain't kidding neither! Home made food after alla thet time out there on the trail. Now I mean Cookie, he lays out a good feed, but his choices are pretty rare, less'en we take a deer, 'elk, er such like." Lorado added, "An' Ma'am. you'll need ta drive 'em off'a the place, oncet they get a taste of real cookin' an' thet there bunk house. Shucks, be right close ta Heaven, I'd say."
"I'm sure with that stove in the bunkhouse, you can do wonders!" Anyone who could make a decent meal for more than a dozen men on the trail could certainly create exceptional meals with the amenities in a proper kitchen.
"Now then..." she glanced at Loredo, Will and Pythias, "it seems that Cookie could get to his cooking more quickly if someone was to take care of those horses for him..." She gave them a sweet smile. "I'd offer, but I want to make sure there are plenty of towels and linens for the men to clean up when they get here."
Finally, there were no cows! The herd was left behind to graze in the lush meadows and rolling hills that made up a good deal of Rocking P acreage, and now there was just the remuda to deal with. The remaining cowboys had gathered close together, riding alongside Barnabas, and the excitement was contagious.
Justus wasn't sure who started it, but as soon as the house and surrounding structures came into sight, someone let out a loud, "Whoop!" and the next thing Justus knew, a race was on! Mule didn't need any encouraging to spring into a gallop, joining the others as they dashed to their new home!