Storyteller / Shared NPC
Nate laughed at her statement about Barnbas: "Ya know, now, a man and his firstborn son tend to form that bond early on, and he will have him in the saddle soon, and he can straddle a saddle," The cook said. But you an thet boy'll do alright as well, what you want ta do with him is jest as important, but then you bein' his mother'd know thet awready."
A man who had married, but was called to war with the Second Pennsylvania Artillery, lost his wife, a son, and a daughter to the pox, while he was engaged at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in '64. It had been eleven years, and he had not forgotten, but the orphan Danny Baker had given him a boy to care for, and a second bond to build, which they had created.
"Life's fragile, I learned that, expect Mister Pike has as well. Hang onto it, Ma'am. Hang on with both hands." He advised her. Then he smiled. "I reckon you and he'll have yerfselfs a big family!"
"Oh, I know," Emeline nodded, looking over at her son, cradled in Danny's arms, "but sometimes, no matter how tightly you hold them, they slip through your fingers."
Drawing a breath, she shook her head, then glanced around at the men. "My first husband, Andrew, and I had a little girl...she was taken as an infant, and then I lost a child before he was born, and then Andrew..."
She shrugged then, and smiled sadly. "So much loss, but it led to so much joy, and I don't plan on wasting that." Her smile widened. "And so many wonderful uncles to teach the boys to gamble and the girls to spit!"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Both Nate and Danny burst out laughing at Em's statement about how the men would teach her children all of their bad habits. Nate, because it was more than likely true. Danny, because he just thought it was funny.
"Now Ma'am, some fine men 'er ridin' for the brand here, and them future chil'dern of yers'll have the respect of each one'a them. Not jest thet, but they'll have their protection if need be. You sortta took us in an' we appreciate that. Long ride back to Texas, an' thety wasn't pre'zacly whot any'a us was lookin' forward to."
"Missus Pike, the men really are happy here, I hear 'em talkin', wonderin' what Mister Pike's next move's gonna be, I mean there's all sortta ideas tossed about, more cattle, more land, fences 'er not. Most men don't cotton to no fences. And Mike, I mean Mister Wentworth, why he's just keepin' us all on task."
"Oh, well, the cattle and managing the ranch are enough to keep Mr. Pike busy, and he's been talking about setting aside a field to grow our own hay next season," Emeline explained. "The mine is managed by men he trusts, so that doesn't take much of his time." She almost mentioned that he was considering stepping away from the job as deputy, but that was his to speak of, should he choose.
"In all honesty," she chuckled, "I think I'm the one with all the wild ideas! I'd love to help with the orphanage, and start a small library in town, and...I don't suppose any of you gentlemen know anything about homing pigeons...and how to make them home?"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Cain't rightly say as I do, ma'am. I know they was used durin' the late war, but I never had no truck with 'em," Nate replied, his brow furrowed, "You thinkin' on gettin' you some? There might be those in town what know some about that, I reckon, maybe."
Danny was all ears about homing pigeons, "I can help, what with my other chores, I'd love to help out with 'em if you do get some. How many would you have? I mean, maybe just the one, or would you need more then that? I saw some when last we went to town for supplies, all roosted on the roof of the court house building where Marshal Guyers office is."
"I'd greatly appreciate the help," Emeline replied to Danny, smiling. "I think it would take several, but I don't know if..." It was something she, and likely Alice, hadn't thought about. "I don't know if common pigeons from town will do, or if there's a special species that know how to home. That will be something else to look into. In the mean time, we can get started on the coop. There's plenty of scrap lumber about."
She'd have to see if there was chicken wire left over from the coop already there. "Oh, and please don't tell Barnabas, I'm not sure if it's going to work out, and I...well, I want to make sure it's going to work out before I say anything."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Well, sure, we can build it, the coop. And I won't say anything, but I can't lie if I'm asked." Danny told her, "Nate would tan my hide. He just can't abide lying, Ma'am."
"This is true." Nate said, "but I worry that the boy will be confronted about it by the boys. Now, maybe we can what's it called, oh, enlist 'em to cover fer the coop buildin'. Maybe build it away from the house, more toward the barn. An who's ta say they wouldn't want ta help build 'er? I mean, ya jest never know?"
"Oh, heavens! I'd never ask, nor expect you to lie!" Emeline exclaimed, shaking her head, then pausing for a moment to think things over. "How about this? I promise that I'll put some chickens in it, at least to start, so if anyone asks, you can say it's another chicken coop!"
That made sense, and she could even look into another breed of chickens. "And really, this isn't a huge secret, I just don't want him laughing at me when I suggest sending notes to Alice via pigeon!" She laughed. "We don't even know if it will work. It's a pity there isn't some way to communicate more easily and readily..." She frowned. "I don't suppose any of you know about smoke signals?"
She was teasing, of course!
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Danny was quick to respond, "No, Ma'am, never thought you did, I was jest saying that I woudn't do that." Then he smiled at the mention of chickens, "That'd be good, I could gather the eggs for you, or Nate here. Don't much matter, but why not just tell Mister Pike what you're about with the pigeons? He might like the idea and want to help out."
"I hardly think Mister Pike'd laugh at you about having a way ta communicate with Miss Fletcher. It could be real important thing for the community, havin' a way to talk to each other even though yer miles apart." He added.
"The boys got him a purdy good point." Nate spoke up, "If he laughs, we'll do it anyways, promise!"
"If we can figure out how to train them," Emeline pointed out. "And I'd appreciate help with the eggs. We're just getting started here, but there's so much more I'd like to do. We should be able to provide most of our own food, eggs, milk, a vegetable garden."
Town was far enough off that running there even every few days would be impractical, and besides, it would be cheaper to be able to provide most of their own food.
"I'd like to talk to the farms around us about trading supplies, too. After all, we have all those nice cows that make good eating!" She was sure that Barnabas would agree, and that it would save some time and effort.