The weather was brisk but sunny so at least they wouldn't have to get wet on the trip to the Pike ranch, Clara was glad for that. She had taken along little Em on this stay, Jacob had to work so he couldn't stay back with the baby. Sister-in-law Lenora and Miss Straub were minding the diner, she'd only be gone for a few days at the most anyhow. The place would survive just fine without her.

Now as the buckwagon pulled up in front of the Pike ranch home, a beautiful home it was too, Clara reached was excited to see Emeline and her new babe. A son, she figured Pronto was probably very happy about having a son to inherit the place. She had been picked up by a hand from the ranch to drive the wagon and be an escort too. Now Clara could ride a horse quite easily but would not have wanted to do with the baby so the ride was definitely appreciated.

She turned to the man, "Leave the wagon here for a bit, please. I will go inside but I shall be back out to get my things once I say hello to Mrs. Pike."

"Sure, ma'am," the hand nodded, he was an older man, not too talkative but polite and pleasant enough. He did admit that babies made him nervous, him being a life long bachelor.

In addition to the baby Clara had brought along her own traveling belongings plus a few gifts for Emeline and her newborn. All of that was now in the back of the wagon.

While Emeline was expecting Clara, she wasn't exactly sure when, but Natty's enthusiastic barks alerted her that the time was here!  After the first couple barks, the dog laid down, staring at the door,  his tail thumping happily.

"All right, Natty!"  Emeline was putting the last touches on straightening the house, not that it needed much, nor that Clara would be fussy, but she wanted to be sure that the guest room was ready, and that there was a place for her namesake to rest.  Pythias had been recruited to help in the kitchen for now, and things were running relatively smoothly, although Emeline was still feeling a bit weak and tired.

"Come on, and be nice!" she chided the dog as she opened the door and stepped onto the porch.  "Clara!"  Happily, she trotted down the steps to the wagon, followed by Natty.  "I'm so happy to see you!  Hand Em down and come in!"  She really had missed her friend and was looking forward to their time together.

The residence's front door opened and it was Emeline coming out to greet her.

"Oh my! You are up and around already," Clara declared but actually she was not surprised, the woman was healthy and made of strong stuff. She too had been up the next day.

"I'm so happy to see you! Hand Em down and come in!" Em held out her hands to take the infant.

"And I the same. Sorry I could not get out here any earlier but I had to make arrangements for the Lick Skittle," Clara now passed on little name to her namesake.

Once both feet were firmly on the ground she added, "I have my sister in law,Lenora , doing the cooking and Constance of course is there. I am confident they can do the job>

Confident might be what she said but actually it was more a statement of what she hoped!

"So how is the baby?" that was the big question now.

"I'm glad you were able to find someone to cover the cafe," Emeline assured her, not that it was a major issue if it had to be closed for a couple days, the profits were good.  "And while I hope they do well," she chuckled, rocking little Em, "I hope they don't do too well so people will look forward to your return!"

Chuckling, she led the way up the stairs with Natty trotting beside Clara, checking to make sure she was still Clara!

"Wheeler's just fine, he's got a good appetite, and he sleeps for more than ten minutes at a time!" 

In the parlor, off the main hall, there was a bassinet, where Wheeler was sleeping.  There would be plenty of room for Em, once she was ready.

"There's our boy.  I'm so happy, but you know how that is!  Oh, and Barnabas is around here somewhere, but I think he's hiding in the stables!"

"I'm glad you were able to find someone to cover the cafe," Emeline assured her,"And while I hope they do well," she chuckled, rocking little Em, "I hope they don't do too well so people will look forward to your return!"

"Well, true enough but after all, the diner survived  with you no longer being the main cook and baker. I believe many folks just like the idea of eating without having to do the work of making the meal," Clara pondered aloud.

Chuckling, she led the way up the stairs with Natty trotting beside. Clara reached down and petted the dog. Someday when Em was bit older she decided right then and there they would get a dog. Well, if Jacob agreed. Back on her father's farm they had not had a dog but Clara well knew why. Their dog had been killed on that horrible day when the Indians attacked, the day that was etched into her mind. The day her mother died saving her life. Best not think about that now though, this was a happy time.

"Wheeler's just fine, he's got a good appetite, and he sleeps for more than ten minutes at a time!" declared Emeline.

"I cannot wait to see him. Given the parents, he was must be a handsome little fellow," Clara remarked.

In the parlor, off the main hall, there was a bassinet, where Wheeler was sleeping.

"There's our boy. I'm so happy, but you know how that is! Oh, and Barnabas is around here somewhere, but I think he's hiding in the stables!"

Clara stepped as quietly as she could toward the sleeping infant, wanting a first look. She whispered, "Oh gosh, so adorable."

Then she turned to Emeline, "Hiding? Am I that scary?"

Emeline laughed.  "Ladies and babies are poison to men!  I know Pythias is mortified that he might have to come out of the kitchen!" 

The noise had roused Wheeler, and his eyes fluttered open as he started to fuss.  "Well, there he is!  Do you want to pick him up?  Then we can swap and everyone can have refreshments!"

There was tea in the kitchen, along with small cakes and honey to hold them until lunch.  Emeline had insisted on doing some of the baking, but in truth Pythias had done most of the work.  He was a godsend, but maybe with Clara here, he could go back to helping with the cattle and set aside his apron!

"Em is looking so healthy!  You're doing a wonderful job with her!"

Emeline laughed. "Ladies and babies are poison to men! I know Pythias is mortified that he might have to come out of the kitchen!"

"Oh? I see. Well, I should tell you that Jacob is very good with little Em. He is not the slightest bit afraid...my heroic husband," Clara had to brag a little.

The noise had roused Wheeler, and his eyes fluttered open as he started to fuss. "Well, there he is! Do you want to pick him up? Then we can swap and everyone can have refreshments!"

Clara nodded, "I would love to, capital. Oh he is just so handsome."  Clara now held the infant and smiled down at him. While not a big smiler at most times, she always melted that frosty exterior for babies.

"Hello, Wheeler," she cooed.

"Em is looking so healthy! You're doing a wonderful job with her!" Emeline declared as both women now held babies.

"She has been very good too. Thank you for that, I am still learning though what to expect and what to do. Although I have a feeling I will still be saying that when she is fifteen," Clara replied.

"And the first is always the hardest, at least that's what my mother told me."  Emeline chuckled, settling on a settee and nodding toward the rocker for Clara to sit in.  "I forgot how much having a baby takes out of you, but I know  I'll be fine in a couple days."

Not just fatigue, but aches and pains, particularly at the source, which made it difficult to sit for long periods!

Cradling little Em, she sighed.  "I just hope...I hope we have a chance to know what they're like at fifteen.  I'm sure Miss Em here will be a charming lady, and Wheeler will be dashing all over chasing cows and breaking horses!" 

Then she remembered that she was a hostess, and should offer Clara refreshment.  "Let me go get that tea!"  She stood gingerly.  "Do you want to hold Miss Em, too, or should I put her down?"