Emeline giggled as Barnabas caught up to her, willingly turning into her kiss. "I'll save some coffee for you," she chuckled, "even if you have questionable judgement in horses."
Taking his hand, she walked with him into the house. "The father of our offspring, is it? Only the finest, and we'll have this ranch to leave them, so they'll never have to worry. And each can chose their own path."
Their children would have the advantages most didn't, and parents that would help them make the most of it. The future was bright!
"So," she commented as she poured them coffee, "I was thinking about having a Christmas party for the whole ranch...it's just us, and it seems silly not to spend the day together." She stopped short of adding, 'As a family', since she wasn't sure how he felt about keeping business separate from personal matters.
But if he consented, she had plans!
He took a step back, as if insulted, "Questionable judgment in horses?" Feigning surprise and shock. "Why I'll have you know that I am an authority on other folks' horses. And you'll note Missus Pike, that that animal of mine is far superior to most you'll find in this country! He said, "But, despite your assault on my judgment, you'll remember, I married you, didn't I?" At that point they had reached the backdoor.
"Now, our differences aside, Our young un's'll never want fer nothin'. Otherwise, what's the point of alla this money?" He asked with a smile. "They'll be okay, heck, our grandkids'll be alright." He pointed out. "Now sure we can have a real barn burner if yer a mind too, I mean, why not? Sound like a capital idea!" he knew if it was an idea she was percolating, then she was bound to have it.
"Guess maybe," He said opening the door for her, "We need to talk about investing, that silver ore would keep coming out of the ground. Been at it since fifty-nine. Maybe we buy stock in things like the railroad, telegraph, an' whatever we can get a line on that seems like a fair risk."
"Oh, I don't know anything about all of that," Emeline explained, putting some slices of coffee cake onto a plate and carrying it to the small table in the kitchen -- the dining room was for more formal gatherings.
Sitting, she shrugged as she took a sip of coffee. "What do you recommend? I'm not really sure how it works? Maybe investing in real estate? But I know that can fall, if you chose the wrong areas." Eventually, strikes ran their course, and left behind abandoned boom towns.
"I do agree, though, that it's foolish not to set aside some of what we have for security in the future."
"Em, I don't know beans about investing in much of anything. So, we are part of the Copper Queen Mining enterprise, and that's good. We can invest in equipment, but I think we are already in the food production business with the cattle and need to buy more of 'em. The bulls they'll increase the herd, that's for sure, it's how nature works, but we could handle another four or five hundred head on the range we've already got." He paused,
"Now I plan on buying more. Water's no problem and there's land out there. Now, maybe we could buy up some property before the railroad arrives, while it's still cheap enough. I dunno, but land will always sell, cattle will always be in demand, and copper, I guess it's the coming thing. But the mines, well, the Good Lord only puts so much treasure in the ground, and sooner 'er later they'll dry up an' go bust. So We stash our money in things that generate a return. That's what we need to find, and an honest man to help us out along the way, if we can find one of those."
"We've plenty of time," Emeline agreed, "and we can easily set aside a percentage of our income for future stakes."
They certainly had ample money to live off well, and neither were the sort to squander money just because it was there...they'd do fine through any sort of disaster.
"I'm sure you have a contact or two who can recommend someone to help with that. And more cows, and even horses, if these Morgans work out..." The work would be hard, but neither were a stranger to that, and both embraced it.
"And nothing is so written in stone that we can't change course, if need be." Some of this was new territory for both of them, but she had no doubt they'd figure it out.
"Money's already set aside in the accounts in Helena, with yer name on it too, just in case." He explained, but now that money has been set aside right along, with what's comin' in, well we need to wire new instructions for that. And, we need to drive inta town and have a sit down with Wentworth about that very thing as Helena wires down money ever month for us."
"Now investin' Charles may know of someone, which'd be good. My contacts are Bill in Frisco, sorry, San Francisco, folks do hate that nic name, an' Virginia City, so gettin' somebody a mite closer would be good. Actually way better." He pointed out. "I want you ta know as much about our many as I do."
"I'd like for us to invest in this here hospital too, after all, with this deal of Speed's, it would be a good thing either way, but bein' in the copper minin' bidness, well, we need ta help where we can. Maybe buy up some local property in and around town, as well as property to the east maybe another thousand acres or so for more cattle. An' sur more Morgans." He grinned.
"I'd appreciate knowing what I need to," Emeline commented. So often, it was assumed that women had no head for business and numbers, and while she would be the first to admit that she had little aptitude for numbers, and even though she had managed the cafe, and done well with it, she hated the numbers part! Even so, it was good to know how that part of things worked, especially, God forbid, if something happened to Barnabas.
"We can check on my account, too. I told Clara that she could keep any profits she made while we were gone." It wasn't as if they would miss the money. "And there should be enough in my account to almost pay off the loan, so we will own the building free and clear."
She smiled at the thought, never having thought that there would come a time that the building would be hers. Sure, she had scraped and saved, but the money had been set aside for an emergency. Now, that wasn't an issue for her and she was excited at the accomplishment.
"Certainly, we can invest in the hospital. We'd have to talk to Miss Steelegrave, of course. Wasn't there talk of an orphanage?" With her tender heart, she could easily turn their house into an orphanage, and have love to spare!
"I'd appreciate knowing what I need to," Emeline commented.
Barnabas chuckled, "We're married yes, but you're also my partner in this thing. The ranch, cattle, and all the investments we will be making, which will include bank accounts here, and in Helena. I believe it is the smart thing to do. And that means we need to make out wills which will mean a trip to Helena for the both of us. I have no trust in Cole Latham, and I've not seen Harriet Mercer in a while."
"We can check on my account, too. I told Clara that she could keep any profits she made while we were gone."
"As I said before, Love, that's your business, and those decisions are yours to make the building free and clear." was his response, "Excellent! I'd been meaning to ask about what might be owed on the place. That is a great start on our local investments."
"Certainly, we can invest in the hospital. We'd have to talk to Miss Steelegrave, of course. Wasn't there talk of an orphanage?"
"There was, and it is still a part of Miss Steelgraves' plan if I'm not mistaken. I understood the property for both had been parceled out as a result of the trade." He agreed, "And we can invest in other businesses starting up, though Wentworth may not be any too happy, I mean a loan from the bank accrues intrest, we should charge some, but at a lower rate than the bank, and I don't mean each business that wants to start up, just those we take an interest in."
"And you will have to see to it that I don't take interest in everything!" Emeline commented with a laugh. He'd seen her on the trip, her soft heart, Millie and her brother were a good example, but she knew he was right, they needed to be judicious in choosing their causes. It was a little heady, though, knowing you had the means to do, well, just about anything, any time. But then, it was a little unsettling, too, and something she'd have to adjust to.
"I think we should have Miss Steelegrave come by some time, invite her to supper and maybe even for the night." She liked the young woman, and thought it would be good to offer what help they could in her endeavors, not only in the hospital, but in her personal life as well. "Once we're settled."
That took Pronto by surprise, not that he could figure out why it did. "Sure, why we could do that. Be good to make friends with her. I mean, I have heard she is wealthy in her own right,m not that it matters, but to do the things she is doing took gumption and money. And that would be a great time to figure out just how we could help with the hospital. How you and I could invest in it."
The idea of investing in this hospital, and most likely the orphanage did intrigue him. It was the right thing to do since they certainly could afford to help where needed with the dual project. It would be their first step into helping where help was needed.
"There's just things that need help that we can support aside from buyin' up property an' such. Then too, there's the mine to invest in, bein's we're partners with Speed and Alice." He chuckled. "Means more money comin' in from the copper ore. Unbelievable, ain't it? You an' me an' all'a this?"