Not long after arriving at their new home after their honeymoon, Emeline had started thinking about the upcoming Christmas holiday, and had finally approached Barnabas with the idea of party at the house, weather permitting.  It would give them a chance to show off the ranch, and a celebration was always welcome.

Planning had been a bit sporadic, there was a lot to be done on the workings of the ranch, and there as still the cafe -- although Clara was doing a fine job, Emeline went in now and again to spell her -- so spare moments to plan a Christmas party were rare.

Still, with the help of Cookie, Pythias and other hands, the parlor and dining room were festooned with pine garland, red ribbon and strings of popcorn and cranberries.  A tree stood in a corner of the parlor, decorated with more popcorn and cranberry strings, colorful paper chains, candles, and even a few sparkling glass ornaments from Germany.  There were gaily wrapped packages under the tree.

For days, Emeline had been baking -- cookies, pies, rolls -- and Cookie was seeing to roasting beef and chickens.  Tables were set around, as well as chairs and make-shift seats, and everything was as ready as it was going to be.

While elaborate for Kalispell standards, Emeline knew it wouldn't measure up to San Francisco, or even Virginia City, but she really wanted the party to be more like the ones they'd had back home when she was a child -- informal, happy, just friends having fun together.  And it had been a long time since she had had a reason to have a full-blown Christmas party, so she was going to make the best of it.

As she waited for guests to arrive, she looked things over, making sure every detail was taken care of.

In Town

It had been nearly a month since Emeline Pike had asked Addy to shuttle folks from town out to the Rocking P for the big Christmas party, and finally the day was here.  With Weedy's help, she'd decorated the wagon, attached big jingle bells to the horses' harness, set bales of hay in the bed of the wagon, and covered those with blankets, to make the ride smoother for the passengers, and there were heavy buffalo robes in case it got too cold.

Fortunately, the roads were mostly open, so she hadn't had to switch to skids, and despite the mud, the going was looking to be smooth.

"There, now!" Weedy declared as he set out a stool behind the wagon, so that passengers could easily climb in.  "All set!"  He was excited for the whole thing!  It was fun to see the wreathes and ribbons on the wagon, and he knew that once they started, the big Belgian draft horses were going to make a merry tune!  And then there was the party!  He hoped Wyler would be there.

"Looks good," Addy declared.  She was wearing her best blue woolen skirt and a fine linen shirt, but you'd never know it, they were covered by a protective brown skirt and heavy sheepskin coat, to keep them clean until they got to the ranch.  "Folks oughta be gettin' here any time!"

Tags for anyone who wants a ride to town!

In Town

It was a big enough accomplishment to get Tully into a dress, but bustles and bows were most certainly out of the question!  But, since this was a special occasion, she had relented enough to put on a skirt and fitted bodice that not only matched, but fit!  The sturdy cotton fabric of hunter green had a floral pattern, although the ruffles down the front of the bodice were solid green.  She'd tried fussing with her hair, but had finally given up and settled for a messy braid that would be hidden, at least for a time, by the heavy wool cloak she'd be wearing for the ride to the ranch.

"Didn't really never go ta a Christmas party," she muttered, glancing at Phineas as she emerged from the room at the back of the news shop.  Despite the festive occasion, she looked particularly miserable.  "Not real sure what ta do."

Part of her was excited over the whole idea...the decorations and food, singing and, well, just doing things she'd always dreamed about.  But most of her was terrified, being so far from 'home', out in public, with no where to run to if things went wrong...

But Mr. McVey had assured her that it would be all right, and he'd be there, and she was starting to trust him, at least a little.  "Reckon I'm ready..."

Pronto sat his horse up by the waterfall, having just ridden up from the herd with several of the boys all of them excited as Pike and Teal had arranged for all of them to make the party. It was the buzz of the bunkhouse, that was for sure.

The time leading up to this event that REm had planned had been busy preparing for the coming winter, hay and wood had to be laid in to last the cold months, and that had been accomplished. A wagon load of grain and oats was stored in the barn for good measure.

Everything had been seen to, the men that Teal had brought up the trail with him were some of the best Barnabas Pike and ever worked with. Teal was a top foreman, that was for sure. Cookie and Em had hit it off really well, and that was good, even Pythias had lent a hand cooking when asked.

The evening shaped up to be one of the very best parties ever held in Kalispell, but then most years by this time folks were hard-pressed to get out and move about. They were fortunate in that respect.

Time to get his horse in and stripped off with a good rubdown, then get himself cleaned up and into his Sunday best.

The reunion with Pike had taken nearly a week, but the man had responsibilities to get his spread up and running. Everyone was well aware that the Deputy was back and would be back on duty in no time. He had heard about the shooting in detail, and the fact Case Sreelgrave had hunted down the man responsible, which still seemed a bit strange, but then, wasn't Case somewhat strange?

Now there was the Christmas party that he, Alice, and Amos were getting ready for the Pike's shindig, Amos just back from Denver at the end of November. Getting all gussied up Alice never looked more pretty than she did for this event. And grateful that Pronto was back at her husband's side to keep the peace. Though she realized the shooting had been the rare event, not a common sort of thing in Kalispell.

"Come on, best we get goin'!" Speed called out, "Buckboard's hitched waitin'."

Belle-St. Regis Hotel

Not completely sure if the wisdom of this, Jonah drove the little single-seat buggy up to the hotel, stepping down and tying the bay mare that Addy had given him to the hitching post.

Since the fliers had been posted around town, it had only made sense for him to ask Leah if she was going, not realizing until he was actually speaking the words, that it sounded rather like a date.  But it was too late, and honestly, he really was looking forward to escorting Miss Steelgrave to the Christmas affair at the Pike's.  He just wasn't sure about the 'date' part!

Too late now, and he had no intention of backing down.  Tugging at his neatly tied ascot, he walked up the steps to the hotel, then into the warmth of the lobby.  At least it wasn't snowing, and, for Montana, the weather was relatively mild.  Even so, he had plenty of heavy blankets, just in case.

"Please tell Miss Steelgrave that I'm here," he requested at the desk, then stood stiffly, trying not to nervously pace.

"Jonah?" Leah quizzed as she walked up behind him, nodding to alter Simpson behind the desk. "Did you forget that I live 'round the corner in that quaint clapboard house?" She took his arm and started for the door. "I know, I'm excited too, first because we're going to the Pike's party, but second, because you're whisking me away."

They went out the front doors and stopped on the porch, there was a breeze and it was cold, the snow was nowhere near what they had experienced in December of last year when Whitefish was destroyed and many became homeless survivors of the worst winter in memory, nat that all were not generally bad, the current December was mild by comparison.

"This is going to be an exciting evening! And your buggy is just perfect, shall we?" She asked.

Aurelian had given it serious thought going to the Pikes' big Christmas party though he could not imagine how they could possibly fit so many people into their ranch house if much of the town actually ended up going. Kalispell had several hundred people in it's confines and then there were also ranchers and farmers in the area. It must be one huge place.

But in the end, he decided to do the babysitting for Clara's newborn so she could go with her husband to the festivities. She and Emeline were so close, no way could his daughter miss this event. Besides it gave him a chance to be grandpa to the little one and, of course, Lucinda could work on her grandmother skills. He had to wonder if his new bride had even changed a diaper? Well, he could show her how.

However one other member of the family definitely wanted to go also, Wyatt. He was good friends with Weedy who would be in attendance. The boys loved to eat at these kinds of things so with Emeline Pike cooking the food was bound to be top notch. He didn't even need to take Wyatt out there, he could go along with Weedy on some big wagon ride planned, Addy was doing the driving.  He warned the boy to behave and then hoped for the best as he raced to go get on that vehicle.Not that he really worried, Wyatt was good boy. Not perfect but no boy ever was. He sure hadn't been.

***

Wyatt was clad in bulkiest winter clothing with a hat pulled down over his ears and a scarf wrapped around his neck but the two boys recognized each other immediately as he raced up toward the meeting place. Once he got close enough to speak, he hailed his best friend.

"Hey! That wagon sure looks all Christmasy like! Pa says I can ride with you folk!" he grinned.

"What man wouldn't want to whisk you away?"  Jonah smiled as he offered her his arm.  "You look like a snow princess!"  Well, it would be better without the layers of coat, scarf, gloves, but it was a bit chilly out, and he didn't need her catching cold!

"I'm certainly looking forward to this little soiree.  I've heard a great deal about the Pike ranch, but I've not had a chance to see it yet.  And, of course, a celebration is always welcome!"

He assisted Leah into the buggy, then tucked blankets around her legs before climbing in beside her.  "Well, then, let's do this!  And Happy Christmas, Miss Steelgrave!"

He snapped the lines and the horse set off at a brisk trot, in a jingle of bells!