"Speed's likely to be a papa in his own right within the next year," Emeline observed, grinning brightly.  "And he's fortunate to have you paving the path for him."   She chuckled.  "You can teach him to change diapers and burp the baby...and how to not flinch when he throws up on his shoulder!"

Honestly, Barnabas had embraced helping with Wheeler, although she tried not to put too much on him...he had his own work to do, and some of attending an infant was pretty unpleasant!

"I think the Lickskillet would be nice, casual and more appropriate with a baby."  Not that Wheeler was too much for fussing, but just in case, it would be easier to deal with him at the cafe than the restaurant.

"Oh, I'm sure Alice will give him all the lessons in that department that he'll need." Barnabas said with a chuckle, "Same as you did me. And I do agree, they have a June wedding date set, or at least planned for." They entered town, Barnabas drove to the Municipal Building and reined in the horse with a "Whoa," and got down, taking the ground anchor and attaching it to the bridle, and dropped it, then he went around, took Wheeler, and then offered Em a hand down. 

"We're here, Love." He announced as if she didn't know that. "We'll go in, and after a bit, I'll leave you with Speed while I take the buggy over to Gunther and then go get a room for us at the Hotel, how's that?"

"It sounds perfect," Emeline agreed as she took Wheeler back.  "I'm sure we can find something to talk about!"  It was good to be in town, and better, it was good that it didn't seem that much had changed.  Of course, it wasn't as if she'd been away for that long, it hadn't been two weeks since she'd come to town,  but now that they were living out at the ranch and didn't get in as often, it made the old place seem fresh.

"At least I can help Alice, when her time comes.  I was fortunate to have a good deal of coaching from my mother about raising children, and some experience of my own, coming into this."  Smiling, Emeline cradled Wheeler as they stepped onto the boardwalk.  "I'm so glad our children will be growing up together...Clara's little Em, Wheeler, and whatever is in the future for Speed and Alice."

As they stepped up on the boardwalk, he said, "Yep, and you can bet Speed and Alice are gonna have 'em several, like us. Can't hazard a guess about Clara and Jacob. But they will all grow up together. Might need to add on to the school to handle 'em all." Then he laughed. "Now, once we get inside and figure out what's going on, I'll tend to the buggy. " Repeating himself, He opened the door for her and Wheeler.

Speed stepped out of the office, having seen the Pikes arrive through the window. "Pronto, Em, how good to see you and, this fella must be Wheeler, come in, come in. I have got something to tell you that I believe you both will be interested in, and news that should make you smile, both of you. Here, you take my chair Em."

"Good afternoon, Speed."  Smiling, Emeline gave the man a quick kiss on the cheek before settling in the proffered chair.  "Thank you, and yes, of course, this is Wheeler."  She shifted and pulled the blanket back so that Speed could better see the baby, who was awake and looking around.  "I think he looks like his papa, rugged and handsome.  Would you like to hold him?"

She was curious about the news, anything 'good' was welcome, although coming from Speed, there was no telling what it might be!

Speed smiled, "Best hold on, Pike, you'll want to hear this, old news first, and maybe more important. There's a Founders Day in the planning and I'd like the both, all three of you involved as we get the planning going for it. Be in July, over the fourth, we have a circus coming and I'm waiting on a reply about fireworks from a man in Frisco, Chinese; they control all of that." He said with a wide smile when Pronto spoke up.

"Heard about that up to the bank when I bought the old brewery building. Perfect for the fire brigade, once we get a pumper. Made a donation already." He explained with an equally big grin. "Got the building for a song."

"Well then, I guess it's on to the new news. Speed began. A man, name of Valintin Caine came to see me about a job, hired him on the spot. Has a degree in law enforcement, so the good news is you keep the badge as a special deputy, and pretty soon, he'll have my job and we'll both be out of the office. How about that?" He asked.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Good news indeed!  Although Emeline wasn't sure if Barnabas was ready for that sort of news just yet, coming as suddenly as it did.  Still, if Speed had found someone to take his place, and he was stepping down, that would make Barnabas' decision that much easier.

"Who is this man?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.  "And a degree?"  That sounded more like something you'd find back east, and a degree didn't mean either experience nor skill.  Still, if Speed felt good about it...

Pronto looked at Speed almost in disbelief, "You hired a man?" He asked, then a smile began to creep over his face. "A replacement for me?" He chuckled, "But what about you, Speed, I mean if this man's that good, how come he didn't take the County Sheriff job? Not that I'm complainin' you understand, I mean, yeah, I'm uh, yeah." He didn't know what to say. His feelings were mixed, to be sure. This was sudden, and he was not prepared for this change; they had been through so much over the time spent in this office.

"Special Deputy, is it?" He asked, looking from Speed to Em and back. 

"As long as I'm Town Marshal, after that, I have no idea, but I am ready to be out of here and at the mine, or at the desk across the street dealing in minerals, claims, and options. That was what I came here to do, and I would like to get back to that. Being shot took a lot out of me. I mean, I've done the job, but it is getting harder, especially with this killer on the loose. I'm the one expected to solve this thing, but it just seems it would take a bit more experience than I have to get this solved."

"Oh hell, Speed! You're a good lawman, there'll be a break, there always is, and you'll make the arrest! Pretty darn simple, I'd say. Whoever it is will make a mistake, like they always do, and you'll be there, or this Caine'll be there to take 'em in." Pike argued. "If you need, I can stay on til this one's solved. Oh reminds me, what about Zenobia? 

"There's a stay requested for her, and rumblings of a new trial, here in Kalispell." Speed explained, "And no, I might need you fort this celebration we're planning, but not this case. It might never be solved.

"With any luck, whoever attacked you has moved on," Emeline commented to Speed.  "It seems like it isn't safe for them here, so the best thing for them would be to get as far from here as they can."  It made sense to Emeline, but then, it could be easily argued that assassins and murders didn't act rationally, and the person just might be lingering close by to finish the job.

"Honestly," she confessed, "this is a huge burden off me.  If Barnabas wants to continue as a deputy, I won't argue it, but I prefer he steps away.  Besides, we've got plenty going on to keep us both busy."  And Emeline was always coming up with more ideas, some that she really would like to follow through on.

"I believe Em, tghe killer was taken care of by Case Steelgrave, but you have a point. Things change, There's a fella wants to step on in, that's fine. Now an' he an' been talkin' 'bout us both movin' on. We done our duty, an' though the place is growin' touble's been low, 'cept this murder thing. Your point bein' the ranch an' are family. Well taken."  Pike was saying.

"Now, if this Valintin Caine is half as good as I expect he is, we'll not miss a beat. We'll miss you, but I plan on being close behind in vacating this office. Like you, I've got a passel of irons in the fire that need tending to, not to mention the wedding." Speed said with a smile that said more than his words had. "Em's right, you need to be up to the Rockin'P taken' care of those cows, and this family you've started. It's good seeing you in town, as a family."