"I think there is something about a grandchild that makes a man melt...especially his first." Emeline chuckled as she led the way through the dining room. "This is the dining room, but we're eating at the table in the kitchen. It's so formal here."
Stopping, Emeline sighed as she looked around the grand room, furnished with a long polished oak table, twelve chairs and a large sideboard. "This is all so different than I'd ever imagined, and I'm not used to it."
Clara knew how she'd been living, in the modest apartment above the cafe, but that had been sufficient, although with a family now, a small house would be fine. "This is all so grand, and I know we'll be hosting some prominent guests now and then, but I feel so...out of place."
This wasn't something she would admit to anyone else, and she knew she'd figure it out, but right now it seemed so daunting. I love the ranch, and the horses...oh! We'll have to go out and look at the horses! And I love the security we have, but..." She laughed. "I feel so out of place! I'm just a farm girl from Ohio, and this feels like a dream sometimes."
"You know Jonah, I believe this just be the beginning of something quite remarkable."
"I believe you are right." Jonah glanced at her, the ambient light making her skin glow pale ivory, and cast sparkles in her eyes...
He shook that, pulling the buggy to a stop in the yard as a young cowhand trotted over to take hold of the horse's bridle.
"Thank you, son," Jonah commented as he stepped down and went around to help Leah out.
"I'll take care'a th' rig," Justus answered with a grin. "Just let me know when yer ready ta leave." He nodded to Leah. "I'm Justus Gibbs, hope ya have a good time."
"Indeed, Mr. Gibbs." Offering Leah his arm, Jonah continued, "A lovely night, a wonderful occasion and beautiful company."
Leah looked around first to the house and then the outbuildings and finally to the falls which added an almost surreal sound to the evening.
"Could we go up there on that knoll and have a look?" She asked. "I had no idea this was here. Did you?" She asked. "This is all so beautiful with all the candles, and the garlands. The light from the windows illuminating the yard and all. My. it's almost breathtaking!
With that, she took his arm and they strolled toward the knoll and the better view of the falls.
"Judging by my father, yes, I believe you are correct about that," Clara agreed with the woman even as her eyes roamed about every detail of the rooms she was being give a tour of. Just amazing.
Stopping, Emeline sighed as she looked around the grand room, furnished with a long polished oak table, twelve chairs and a large sideboard. "This is all so different than I'd ever imagined, and I'm not used to it."
Interesting admission, Clara blinked at that. But then it was nice Emeline felt able to confide in her. No, more than nice, privileged.
"This is all so grand, and I know we'll be hosting some prominent guests now and then, but I feel so...out of place," Mrs. Pike added.
"We all have to get used to changes in our lives. Sometimes for the worst...sadly, but other times for the best. You will get used it, I am confident," Clara then remarked.
"I love the ranch, and the horses...oh! We'll have to go out and look at the horses! And I love the security we have, but..." She laughed. "I feel so out of place! I'm just a farm girl from Ohio, and this feels like a dream sometimes."
"Yes, the town has mentioned your horses. That must be really something. I have an admission. I do not much care for horses, not sure why. I have never had a bad incident with one. Perhaps just their imposing size. Wyatt loves them and cannot wait til he can own his very own horse," Clara declared.
"As for being out of place, you worry too much. You are whip smart. You have a man who loves you. You have money and now all of this. Tell you what, Emeline Pike, if you no longer want this place, just give it to me. I shall happily consent to taking it over. And Jacob, he will be stunned," she joked though with a straight face.
Leah was quite bold this evening, but then, that was one of the many things he admired about her. Yes, admired, not 'liked', or found 'attractive'...just 'admired'. At least, that was as much as Jonah was willing to admit to himself.
Offering his arm, he let her lead the way past the bunkhouse and barn, where they had a good view of the falls in the fading light. "Beautiful," he murmured, maybe meaning the falls, certainly meaning his companion. It would be amazing to have a place like this -- nice house, amazing setting, a real future. But that wasn't in his stars, he was sure, and this was all just a folly. He needed to tread lightly and take a step back before he went to far...if he hadn't already.
"It's a ways from the town, though, don't you think?" That wasn't what he wanted to say, he wanted to take her in his arms and...
It had been a busy couple of months and Adam was glad that he would be able to relax a little bit tonight. He had gotten to know Deputy Pike through the course of their work together in helping keep law and order in Kalispell. Even though he was only a judge in civil and local law matters (Circuit Judge Harland Bryant took care of all the cases on the federal level), he still had a large workload. Then there was also the matter of sorting and storing the items that Judge Robertson had left behind in his haste when he left so abruptly both in the office and in the house that he was now living in. Whatever it was that caused Robertson to leave in such a hurry was a mystery and there were a few times, when he thought about trying to find out what it was.
As he stepped inside the house, Adam was impressed by what he saw. The Pikes had outdone themselves with the way everything was set out and he could see that the other guests who were already here thought so too.
Feeling a bit thirsty after his journey to the ranch, Adam started looking around for the refreshments.
"It is, but then there's nothing to compare in town. It's like you have to look about if you want something more than the ordinary, and there are places not far from town, yet far enough to be enticing. Maybe not with a waterfall, but close to a river, or stream. In the tree, or not, many places." she said gleefully. "Yes, this is quite beautiful. But I can say this, if one wanted, they could build a beautiful house in town, or perhaps on the outskirts."
Sometimes she wondered about Jonah, he had a very nice place in town, there were just a few homes that were quite elegant, but there were also some others no so elegant, but very, very nice. Yet, as that thought crossed her mind, she felt that homes were not the issue, nor was medicine. There was something else, something she should have seen long ago.
"Well, we should not keep our gracious hosts waiting." She exclaimed.
Barnabas saw the Judge come through the front door and started to make his way through a host of people enjoying the party.
"Judge Townsend, welcome to the Rockin' G Ranch! Here, let me take your coat, we've a bedroom off the living room, as they're calling it. Too big to be a parlor. It's where we're putting the coats. Glad to say, at least it's not snowing, had my doubts about having it this late in the month, but then the weather's been pretty quiet so far." He said. And that was true, so far, but Montana weather could turn on a dime, and had many times before.
He left long enough to put Townsed's coat with the others then returned. "So, It's buffet style, but if it's a drink you're after, well, there's punch over there, and a bar table set up close by with whiskey and glasses for it. Good to have you here sir, it is." That was the truth, he had come to like Towsend over the past couple of months. He was easy to work with, or perhaps Townsend, Speed and he were just of the same mindset. "So, please, enjoy yourself."
"I'd give you the house and gladly," Emeline laughed, "but I warn you, there's a good deal of dusting and sweeping!" She led the way to the kitchen, where a table was filled with goodies waiting to be set out in the parlor when the time came. There was a pretty, new stove, larger than the one in the cafe, a sideboard with a sink and pump, and windows that would let in plenty of light during the day, and a pretty view of the trees and corral.
"This is such an amazing kitchen, and I can cook to my heart's delight...and there are plenty of tasters among the ranch hands!" She laughed, then shook her head. "I have to be careful, though, that I don't make something bad and chase them off!" Laughing again, she added, "I'll have to look into a new stove for the cafe, to make things a little easier."
"Well, we should not keep our gracious hosts waiting." She exclaimed.
"No, of course not." Did he detect a change? Not that he'd blame her one bit, he was being evasive himself, and he was distracted by the thoughts swirling through his head. And as they walked back toward the house, he mulled things over, sorting what was important and what could stay where it was...and what he could live with.
And, bottom line, he was beginning to think that he could live with Kalispell, and the people, and there was a way to rectify some of the wrong. But he knew, too, that he couldn't live without...her.
"Leah!" Stopping, he took her small hands in his and turned to face her, looking into her eyes. "Would you be angry if I kissed you?"