Things in these first few days at the ranch were hectic, but Emeline was thriving, actually enjoying the process of getting things settled and organized. And as each piece fell into place -- the arrangement of furniture, the ordering of goods, schedules for feeding the assortment of animals, shipment of feed and hay, until they could harvest their own -- something else seemed to come up. But she and Barnabas had managed to deal with it, along with help from the crew.
So much had been accomplished, but there was still a lot to do.
Despite her 'condition', Emeline took on any task she could, to help relieve Barnabas of the more menial things around the ranch, since the herd had to be readied for the oncoming winter.
For now, the weather was beautiful, and Emeline was seeing to the feeding of the critters. Rabbits, chickens, the milk cows, all were contentedly munching their breakfast as Emeline headed to the barn to see to the horses there. Most of the remuda horses, and the ones that belonged to the cowboys were in the pasture, but her Morgans, along with Noel, were housed in the barn. They had access to paddocks, but as it got colder, they could come into their stalls where they were protected from the wind and rain.
As much as she would have liked to wear britches around the ranch, it really wasn't proper, and besides, not having an actual waist anymore, it was easier to wear adjustable split skirts. Even so, they were bulkier and more difficult to move in, but she'd had plenty of practice, so scrambling up the ladder into the loft wasn't a problem.
The 'problem' was more that moving was more awkward than normal, especially when little Gwendoilly decided to get rambunctious, and at the moment, Emeline was half-way up the ladder, her forehead resting against a rung as she breathed through the discomfort in her belly.
Missus Pike? What are you doing on that ladder to the hay loft? Looking for me I hope." Barnabas said with some concern, but with a grin nonetheless. "Maybe I could help you climb back down? We have hands that can do that sort of thing for ya."
He was just not comfortable with her climbing ladders and such, not with a child on the way. Things on the spread were coming together nicely, the hands were getting into a routine as set by his foreman Frank Teal, the man who had brought the rest of them to the ranch. The places he had worked before sometimes had no foreman, nor other hands, but where that had been a man in charge he found that if the owner was a hands-off type, things just naturally went smoother.
"Though you do look lovely up there like you was an angel come by to say hello." He added as he stepped to the ladder to await her descent.
"Oh! Barnabas!" Emeline glanced over her shoulder, looking ever so much like the child caught with their hand in the cookie jar! "I was just feeding the horses." Her cheeks were glowing red as she turned to face him, keeping a good grip on the ladder. "They have to get to know me, right? And what better way than to feed them?"
She took a step down, mindful of her condition, and taking care, but she'd been scrambling around barns and ladders since she was a child, and happy to be back at it again.
"An angel?" She smiled widely, batting her eyes. "So, you've finally figured me out, have you, Mr. Pike? And what are you going to do about it?"
"So we have men available to drop down any hay that's needed. No sense you climbing up there an' riskin' gettin' yerself hurt for a few flakes of hay, Now, come on down here. Gettin' a cric in ma neck jest lookin' up at cha." He retorted good-naturedly, though he was serious, a false step and there could well be disaster!
"Things apparently are comin' along real well with the place, we'll be all set by the time the first snow falls. Plenty of hay in this here barn, Wood should last the winter and close to hand even with the bunk house. Yessiree love, it's gonna be a real warm and tight winter here!"
Emeline's nose wrinkled up in protest -- as much as she wanted to have children and be a mother, she hated the part of pregnancy that restricted her activity. She enjoyed doing all sorts of things, she wanted to be helpful, and she was excited about the new horses, and the house, and the ranch...So much to do and learn!
But then, it occurred to her that this was Barnabas' first time at this, and he was understandably edgy.
"You know," she crooned as she stepped down a few rungs, "by the time we're on number five, you'll have me chopping wood and branding with the boys!"
Near the bottom of the ladder, she held her arms to him. "Come and get me, Mr. Pike."
"With pleasure, Ma'am!" He stated and promptly caught her. "Can't be takin' no chances darlin' it's a ways for Jonah to come tend to you if need be, an 'sides the bucboard'd be real uncomfortable if I had ta drive ya there. Best we just take things easy, cuz I'll need ya health ta be choppin' wood an' such like." Then he grinned and laughed.
"I'll get that new hand what was it? Bordy? Yeah, Cade Brodie, likable young fella, be a good addition to the place I'm thinkin'. Seems to get along with the rest of the boys. Got the makin's for a good hand, no matter what he already knows." He continued, "Teal an' Pythias'll see to that. We got us a good bunch, we do. An' I got you, an' time for coffee up to the house, if it's offered."
"I know there's plenty of help." Emeline kissed Barnabas on the nose as he set her on her feet. "I just don't want to be useless." Sighing, she shook her head and relaxed against him. This was a change for both of them, and she was still trying to figure out how she fit. Of course, there was the house to maintain, and cooking, although the transition to cooking for two was difficult. And she did want to be outside and around the horses.
But, he was right, the pregnancy restricted her, and she had to protect the baby, so it was a matter of accepting that, and figuring out what she could do without overdoing it!
"I'll stay out of the loft," she promised, "but I'm still going to feed the chickens and rabbits, and come out here to talk to the horses." Grinning, she laughed. "I tell them all about my overly-protective, amazing, loving husband, and they tell me I'm a very lucky woman."
Good, Ah I mean about you staying out of the loft. Not so sure about them cayuses of yers, but if they're willin' to believe all them lies yer feedin' 'em, I guess it's okay." He replied, always glad to hear what she had to say about him, most of which was because of her.
"Now, about that coffee I mentioned, any chance a man could come by a cup?" He asked, taking her hand. "Things here are for sure comin' tagether a lot quicker'n I thought. Got us a good foreman, an' a great group of hands. This'll all be smooth as water off a duck's back before ya know it!"
"Cayuses? Why, Mr. Pike, I'll have you know those are finely bred horses, the best this side of anywhere!" Emeline 'humphed', shaking her head. "And you want me to fetch you coffee! The gall!"
She gave him a swat on the backside, then started to run for the house...well, as much as she could run these days! "Better hurry or I'll drink all the coffee and not leave any for you!"
Even amid all the serious business of running a ranch and planning for a family, they could still play!
"They might be alla that an' more, but they are what they are Missus Pike, causes, plain an' simple! Albeit right purdy cayuses, but palavering about 'em don't make en' more than my hammerhead Roan." He grumbled playfully.
"Hey, hey, hey! Runnin' off ta the house and threatenin' ta drink alla the dern blamed coffee's no way ta treat yer husband and the father of are offspring!" And with that, he took out after her at a poor excuse for a run. Barley catching up to her at the back porch, where he gathered her in his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth, then hugged as if he would never let go.