"Just Flathead County?"  Emeline frowned as she took Wheeler and settled him on her lap.  "I'd think at least Montana Territory, if not this side of the Mississippi!"

She gave him a cheeky grin as they headed out.  "I've heard things about that Lickskillet place.  You know they used to have a dish washer who was a rogue, only it turned out he was a mining mogul with questionable judgement of people!"

"Well, likely the whole danged Territory territory. Problem is, I've not been to everyplace in the Territory, yet." He clarified his statement. "Big place ya know."At the bottom of the 'drive' as he liked to call the trail off the hill, he made the left turn toward the old Whitefish trail, which he liked to call the North Trail, even though there was work going on in the ruins of Whitefish.

She gave him a cheeky grin as they headed out. "I've heard things about that Lickskillet place. You know they used to have a dish washer who was a rogue, only it turned out he was a mining mogul with questionable judgement of people!"

"Minin' mogul, Now I like that, not so much as the rogue part, an I was a crackerjack dish washer!" He bragged. "Now I ain't complainin' none, but wasn't them the days? And that winter? Never thought she'd end." He was grinning at the memories she had stirred up. The horse broke into a distance eating trot, all was right with the world, he thought.

"I'm grateful that our first winter with the cattle and horses was as mild as it was," Emeline commented, "we would have had a hard time of it if we'd had one like last year."  She reached over and hooked her arm in Barnabas'.  "And I think you make the perfect mogul!  And now a land one as well."

They were dabbling in so many enterprises, but as long as they could keep up, why not?  They had the means, and if they could help others out along the way, then it would be effort well spent. 

"You certainly were the best dishwasher I ever had."  With a grin, she leaned her head on his shoulder, cradling Wheeler snugly against her chest.  "I'm glad you had the good sense to convince me I needed the help.  You started good things."

"Yes Ma'm, that was a real blessing, and now we've a number of pregnant heffers and soon will have a whole new batch of calves to raise. And I want to bring in a new herd, give them three bulls of ours more to work with.' He said with a knowing grin, and then she mentioned his stint as the part-time dishwasher, which made him smile all the more.

"Now I'm not all that sure I was the best dishwasher anywhere, but the boss was real nice." He joked, "I just saw waht was needed, and that was my chance to try and convince of a lot of other things that had nothing to do with dishes or soapy water. And, I see that I was successful in that venture." He grinned as she snuggled against his chest. Then he added, "Now I got you right where I wanted you, with me."

Smiling sweetly, Emeline patted his hand.  "You just continue to believe that," she murmured with a wry grin.  "The plan worked perfectly!  We both got what we were after!"

Now, she couldn't imagine her life any other way, and she had learned that, if you were patient, things would fall into place.

"You want more cows?  How do you keep track of the ones we have?  They're scattered all over the mountains, aren't they?"  It was something she had wondered about since they'd arrived at the ranch, and now that there would be calves to contend with as well, it seemed as though some might get lost in the shuffle.

"They've all been branded, and mostly they don't stay very far." He said, "And, we have men with them 'round the clock. During the day we push them back to where we want them, at night, they bunch and sleep, eat, mill about some, but stay close, they don't go wandering about." Which was more or less true; some did wander off and needed to be driven back to the herd. In the winter, they could scatter in small bunches or as loners, which could be fatal; thus, the spring round up, the same was true of the fall round up to get them in close before the first snowfall.

 "The calves are the future of the herd. The older cows and the excess cattle will be driven to market and sold, so an influx of new cattle keeps things fresh, and more calves coming." He explained.

"Well, I'm glad we don't treat horses like we do cows," Emeline observed, "so that they have to be retired when they are just a few years old.  But then, I don't suppose cows would make good companions, nor horses good steaks!"  She did know that there were places where horses were used as meat, as well as cats and dogs, and she supposed that 'normal' was what you knew from childhood.

She also was aware that, on occasion, extreme measures led to setting aside morals and convention in the name of survival.  Everyone knew what had happened to the Donner/Reed party back in 1846.

"I do hope we never have to resort to anything desperate, but if we do, I know we'll be strong together."

"Life has those little surprises, and some big 'un's too. But I doubt we'll find ourselves in dire straits any time soon. And you're right, I guess that folks eat what they have." He remarked. "And what they have, what they eat, well, that's normal to them, same as us."

The road into Kalispell was well-worn; folks still went up to Whitefish Lake, there were travelers to and from the Evergreen Ranch, and travelers in general. Plus, those from the Rockin' P used it. It was not exactly smooth, but then what trail was after any winter? He was not driving beyond a trot anyway. There was no rush, and it would not take that long to reach town.

"I'll drop the buggy at the livery, but I can drop you at the lickskillet first, if you like, then I'll walk back. Or, we can walk up there together, after the livery. Might stop in to see Speed and catch up right quick. But I won't stay long, I promise, less you're with me. Then it depends on how Speed reacts to Wheeler there." He offered.

"I wouldn't mind seeing Speed, if you don't mind," Emeline commented, "and the walk will feel good after the ride to town.  Or you can drop me at the hotel with our baggage and I can get us a room?"  She wasn't sure if Barnabas wanted to talk to Speed alone, so she was giving him that out.

Even though she loved her house on the ranch and enjoyed their time there, it was good to be in town for a bit, and she didn't mind the chance to show off Wheeler!

"It's not San Francisco," she murmured as they rolled into town, "but it's home, and better than any place I've ever seen."

"No need for you an' Wheeler ta get dropped off anywhere. We'll stop at the Marshal's Office and say howdy. You showin' off my boy, our boy, an' gettin' the latest. How's that sound?" He explained, as she said;

"It's not San Francisco," she murmured as they rolled into town, "but it's home, and better than any place I've ever seen."

"Now that there's a fact! It is home, and always will be, far as I'm concerned." He stated, "Then, after that we'll head over't the hotel and get all settled, afterward I'll drop off the buggy an' come back for ya. You got yer choice, supper in the hotel, 'er over at the Lickskillet."