It was a little better than an hour when Pike rode into Kalispell and headed directly to the mercantile where he picked up the cinnamon that Em needed. There was always a chance that between seeing about that building and seeing Speed to see what was new, that he'd forget the cinnamon, and then there'd be the devil to pay, and rolls with nothing on them.

The priority was the building so he went to have a look at the place. Stepping down he gound hitched h]the roan and stood for a moment appraising the outside building. It was not that old, but too big for anything the town needed. The vats had been dismantled and removed. The double doors used to get the vats inside would work for the pumper, And there was plenty of room for whatever else was needed, plus the spacious upstairs.

He wondered when the town would get a land office, so it wasn't just the bank. Not that he had a problem with the bank or the people that worked there, in fact, he was surprised that Wentworth hadn't thought of that himself, maybe he had and just hadn't done it yet. But the building was perfect for what he had in mind, and it could be expanded if it was ever needed.

By the time Barnabas had arrived in town, Emeline had made her cinnamon rolls, tidied up and fed Wheeler.  With nothing pressing to do, she decided to take some of the rolls -- she'd made plenty of extras -- over to the bunkhouse, as much for socializing as for treating the men who worked so hard for them. 

With Wheeler secured in a sling across her chest and the still-warm goodies in a basket, she headed to the bunkhouse and knocked on the door.

+++++++++++++

On her way to the barn where her horses were stabled, Addy noticed Barnabas looking over the old brewery and crossed the street to greet him.  "Afternoon, Deputy, ya plannin' on makin' yer own brew?"  She grinned widely.  "'Rockin' P Ale'...I'd go fer that!"

About an hour later, Pike was stepping down in front of the Mercantile. It seemed a bit odd to him that the Anderson's Mercantile carried a lot of the same goods as the General Store, but then the General Store carried a good deal of the things the Mercantile did. What he did know was that there was enough business for both, or so it seemed.

Moments later, he walked out with the cinnamon, which he deposited in his saddle bag and mounted up to ride over to the Municipal Building and the office. A visit with Speed to get the latest, although he'd just been to town. The idea was to chew the fat, complain about whatever seemed to be problematic, and have a cup of coffee.

Once on the ground he flipped the reins over the hitch rail, stepped up on the boardwalk, and went inside, turning in at the Marshal's Office, "Mornin' Speed. How's things?"

"Slow." He replied, "You?

"Busy. Things are warmin' up, gonna have to get after strays next day 'er two. Em's hot to get out there with her horses, but theres Wheeler to consider. Might be givin' notice here pretty soon, the ranch is needin' me more an' more these days. I mean, I got a good foreman in Mike Wentworth. Men like him, alright, but I need to pull my share up there. Be the ownert tyhat's workin' right beside them boys."

"Reckon as much. With the wedding coming up in June, the company and the mine itself. They're callin' to me as well. I need to be in there, pulling my weight." Speed agreed. He smiled as he watched Pike pour himself a cup. "We got us a plan, gonna have a Foundert's Day Celebration, come July fourth. Working on hiring a traveling circus, getting some fireworlks out of San Francisco. Maybe have us round up skills contest, even some mining displays."

"When'd alla this happen?" Pike wanted to know, "Sounds like fun. "Gonna have it like before? Dancin', good eating? Ya know roast up a yearling over an open  fire, folks bringin' in all their prized dishes, pies 'n cakes 'n such?"

"Yes sir, that's the plan. We'll be busy raising money pretty soon, working up posters, and Phin's gonna write stories about it, sending them out all over this part of the state. It should be a high old time, and, the Grand Opening of our hospital at the same time."

"Man alive! This sounds good. I mean, this will really help the hospital and put it and us on the map." Pike said, enthused about the idea. "You let us know what you need, we'll be there for yuh." He shook his head, "Gonna be a time, yessir. Well, I told the woman I'd not tarry here in town, so I best get in the wind. I'll be back in likely tomarrow 'er the next day, I'll talk it up to the wifge about this shjindig. You can count on us!"

"You ride careful. talk of a cougar, big one on the prowl. See you when I see you." Speed said as Pike set his empty cup next to the pot. He nodded and walked out, pulling the door closed behind him.

By the time Barnabas had arrived in town, Emeline had made her cinnamon rolls, tidied up and fed Wheeler. With nothing pressing to do, she decided to take some of the rolls -- she'd made plenty of extras -- over to the bunkhouse, as much for socializing as for treating the men who worked so hard for them.

With Wheeler secured in a sling across her chest and the still-warm goodies in a basket, she headed to the bunkhouse and knocked on the door.

"Oh, well, I made some cinnamon rolls and ended up with far too many."  Grinning, Emeline shifted closer to Danny.  "Now, here, you take him," she all but put Wheeler into the young cowboy's arms, "and have a seat, and Cookie and I will get you some coffee."  She glanced at the old cook.  "If that is all right with you?"

This was his territory, and Emeline didn't want to intrude, or make anyone feel that they had to cater to her just because she was Barnabas' wife.  "There are a couple dozen here, so there should be enough for everyone," she grinned, "unless they happen to disappear before the others get in, and no one is any the wiser?"

"Thank you, Danny."  Emeline set out some coffee mugs, then filled them before taking a seat at the long table.  "You are a natural with the boy!" she declared, "he feels safe with you."  Indeed, the infant was laying contentedly, looking around at the goings-on.

"And I'm sure you'll have your own horse in no time.  And you have the advantage of good mentors to help you choose one, and the opportunity to try different mounts and see how you get along with them."  She knew that a horse could be a very personal choice, a companion that you relied on sometimes more than Humans, and vital to your survival.

"It's usually a year or so before they start walking," Emeline explained, "but then, he's Barnabas' boy, so there's no telling!"  She smiled like the proud mama she was.  "And I've no doubt he'll be riding before that!  And he'll have a fine Morgan horse to grow up with.  I plan on taking him out riding with me as soon as he can hold his head up by himself.  The natives use cradle-boards, or I can fashion a sling, too."

Exposing the boy to the outdoors, the hands and the animals, and the workings of the ranch would get him used to all that, and while she wanted to give her children every opportunity to be strong and adventurous, but she knew it was going to be difficult because her inclination was to wrap them in cotton bunting until...well...forever!