"Oh my, did I sound abrupt? I'm sorry if I did, it's just that, there we were, lost in the beauty of that waterfall, and of this place." She asked, feeling a bit embarrassed. "But I must say, this place is most certainly giving me ideas. You know, I can't live in that clapboard cottage forever!" Then she laughed.

"I should think this place would stir some thoughts in you as well, not that there is anything wrong with your home, in fact, I rather like your house, it is comfortable without being overwhelming, you know, some homes are just too big." She paused, "Oh, not this place, oh no it is a working ranch after all and they will be having children. Oh silly me, just going on!".

"I'd give you the house and gladly," Emeline laughed, "but I warn you, there's a good deal of dusting and sweeping!"

Clara actually smiled, she did have a beautiful smile though most folk never saw it, "Oh good! Then when I see your husband out there, I will tell him he needs to move out soon so Jacob and I...oh wait, and Em, can move in."

Silliness aside, next came the kitchen. And what a kitchen it was with everything so new too. Clara just gawked in a mix of wonder and yes, perhaps a bit of jealousy too. She was after all only human. Not that Emeline did not deserve every bit of this luxury.

"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!" Emeline laughed, then shook her head. "I have to be careful, though, that I don't make something bad and chase them off!"

"Nonsense, when have you EVER made anything bad? I can recall no such thing. You should see my father, he can burn water," Clara declared.

Emeline added, "I'll have to look into a new stove for the cafe, to make things a little easier."

"Really? You do not have to though. The current one works just fine. Not that I would turn such a business improvement down," replied the young mother.

As soon as he'd made his request, Jonah had regretted it...not that he wouldn't love to kiss the beautiful young woman, but he knew that that would be the change for their relationship, and he wasn't sure that this was the time.  Of course, he wasn't sure there was ever going to be a time when he could be sure.

"Once the hospital is ready," he commented as they started back toward the house, "my house won't have to serve as a clinic and hospital, so I'll have it all to myself."  Which meant it was going to be much bigger than he could ever need, nor care for.  "I might consider selling it for something more modest, if you happen to be looking at the time.  I'll even throw in the chickens!"

"We can discuss it after the holidays," Emeline suggested about the stove.  "Look at the profits, although I'm certain there will be enough.  Even so, nothing it going to be getting in here from back East, of even Helena, for that matter, until spring."  With winter set in, even though it hadn't been a wet year so far, no one would take the risk to bring in a large cargo like that.

"But then, I suppose that can give us some time to look over catalogues, see what's available, what you might prefer.  And a better stove means an improvement in cooking, not that your cooking needs any improvement," she explained, "but you can cook more efficiently, we can get a stove with a warmer..."

An upgraded stove would make running the cafe quite a bit easier, and maybe even make it possible to expand. 

"I can't wait for our baby to get here, and I'm so excited that our children will grow up together.  I can't imagine anything better!  Well, except for all our children growing up together!"

She stopped and looked at Jonah, "Sell your house?" She asked, "Are you serious?" The idea of it was all but incomprehensible. "Jonah, I know you to be a bright, considerate man who tends to think things through. Selling your house just doesn't make any sense."

The idea had its merits she had to admit, It was a large house, granted, probably larger than one man would ever need, or, for that matter, want. But what if he were to marry? Then what if he was in a smaller place, with no room to grow his family? It just didn't make any sense, at least to her. He already had a housekeeper who cooked and cleaned for him, what more could he need, other than a wife and possible mother for his children?

"I would say that yes, maybe you see it as too big now, but should you marry, what then if you sell the house for something smaller? Had you thought of that?" Well, it was something a woman would think of. "Then, you would be looking at the expense of building a house large enough for the inevitable."

"Why would I need anything larger..?"  Lord, but he was so dense!  A family, of course, but he'd never really given that much thought, besides thinking that his life would never take that course.  He couldn't imagine himself having a wife, much the less children, at least before now.

"I suppose you are right, and it certainly isn't a decision I need to make any time soon."  He led her up the porch and into the house, pausing to look around.  "This is really something.  It's...comfortable."  While the furnishings were distinctly new and of quality, it wasn't ostentatious, like some homes where you were afraid to touch anything.

"I can easily see this place filled with children!" he declared, "The way a house should be.  Did you have grand celebrations for Christmas?"

As soon as he asked, he regretted it.  From what he'd gleaned, her childhood hadn't been ideal, and then there was the possibility she would ask in kind, and he'd have to decide on an answer.

"Why would I need anything larger..?"  Lord, but he was so dense!  A family, of course, but he'd never really given that much thought, besides thinking that his life would never take that course.  He couldn't imagine himself having a wife, much the less children, at least before now.

Leah looked at him, "Perhaps you had not thought of marriage and children however, your home is the current size for entertaining, and in your position with the hospital that will be expected." She informed him good-naturedly. "But there's plenty of time for all of that."

"I suppose you are right, and it certainly isn't a decision I need to make any time soon."  He led her up the porch and into the house, pausing to look around.  "This is really something.  It's...comfortable."  While the furnishings were distinctly new and of quality, it wasn't ostentatious, like some homes where you were afraid to touch anything.

Leah just marveled at what she was seeing, the Pikes had put together a beautiful and functional home. It was bright and cheery, as well as spacious, with just the right furnishings. A place that would accommodate family and friends and business dealings when necessary. The place had been well thought out.

"I can easily see this place filled with children!" he declared, "The way a house should be.  Did you have grand celebrations for Christmas?"

"Oh, heavens yes! With a huge tree, decorations, and presents galore!" She expounded gaily at the thought of how Emeline might transform the room for future holidays.

As soon as he asked, he regretted it.  From what he'd gleaned, her childhood hadn't been ideal, and then there was the possibility she would ask in kind, and he'd have to decide on an answer.

Leah turned and looked at Jonah, "Not with my father, no, but I do suppose that my brothers enjoyed them, as it seemed it was always about them. I was not Daddy's little girl. But this will be nothing like that here. We should go say hello to our hostess."