"Hospitality. It's what Josiah had told me to expect should I think of venturing out here. That was early on when it was just his way of getting me interested in the place called Kalispell." She said, taking the offered nightgown. "I know that Josiah and Jonah do make house calls, and it is clear they want a rotation of us three for now, but knowing Josiah as I do, it will be more my turn than the other two, and really, that's fine."
It was all so new to her, the wide open spaces, the people, the lack of the everyday things she had become used to growing up in the city, such as indoor plumbing. But for her to be in Montana after Chicago was a thrill. The trip from Helena to this remote village with Addy had been the adventure of a lifetime for her, but just the run of the mill type of journey for the teamster.
"I would not trade this change for anything!" She stated firmly, "This is where I belong. I can do more good here than I ever could back in that city!" Which may or may not be true, but it was what she believed.
"From what I've seen, and what Addy has said about you, I'm sure you'll do just fine," Emeline assured the doctor. "It will take some adjusting, everyone knows everyone, and while we all look out for each other, there's also a good deal of snooping and gossip." She chuckled. "You just have to learn to ignore it, or take it in good humor."
At that, Emeline slumped and shook her head. "Good Lord only knows what will be said about me, about us, and today. I know most people will understand, but I know, too, that there will be whispers and judging, and it won't be easy to hold my head high..."
Of course, she had no question that what had happened earlier that day had been necessary and justified, but there were always critics who had no idea what they were talking about. She just hoped it didn't effect business at the Lickskillet, for Clara's sake.
"People will say what they will about any and everything that happens, whether they know what they're talking about or not. I've seen it my whole life, been guilty of more times than I care to admit, and come morning, it'll be no different here in Kalispell. But Emeline, you hold your head up. You and Wheeler are alright, Sissdy is guilty of something as simple as she is. Her brother meant to kill you, simple as that." Angie told her at length, but she was right, "And that man of yours, he'll know what to do to protect what's his, and the Marshal?"
"You'll be just fine."You'll be just finer," She added. And that was the hope of the entire ranch. That this incident would just go away, that those who were guilty would be caught and prosecuted.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Barnabas had his Foreman, Mike Wentworth, and Pythias Modeen in the kitchen. "When we ride out come mornin', you boys keep a lid on the hands. Them that want ta go back out huntin' this Love character, let 'em go. We clear?"
"Thank you," Emeline smiled and gave Angie and impulsive hug, "I'm so glad you are here, it's good to have another woman here." Grinning, she explained, "Living here is like having dozens of brothers and uncles looking after you, and I love that. But sometimes it's good to have another woman around."
Sighing, she managed a smile. "There's an extra quilt in the wardrobe if you need it. Is there anything else you need?"
Angie smiled as they broke from the hug, "Thank you for making me feel so welcome," she said. Your home is also beautiful, and where it sits, an amazing piece of property, the view, the waterfall. Just everything about it."
"Having so many men about the place, I can understand how you feel. I felt something similar at work in Chicago, where I was the only female doctor in a sea of male doctors. Of course, there were nurses, both men and women, so I had female company. But what you have here? This is heaven! I should be so lucky." With that, she giggled. I'm at Doctor Danforth's in town with Leah Steelgrave and her mother, Elinor."
Sighing, she managed a smile. "There's an extra quilt in the wardrobe if you need it. Is there anything else you need?"
"Not a thing, just a good night's sleep, and I'll bet you could use one too," Angie replied. "Good night and thank you again, Emeline. And don't worry about tomorrow, it will be just fine
"Good night, Doctor...Angie." A benefit of the ordeal was that she'd met a new friend. "Sleep well, and we'll see you in the morning."
She retreated to their bedroom to relieve Barnabas of baby duties!
Angelique stood for a second before entering the room and closing the door. What could have been a real disaster turned out to be an opportunity to meet and make new friends.
Using her button hook as she sat on the edge of the bed, she began to undo the untied laces of her shoes before stripping off the layers of clothes she was accustomed to wearing when she was not at the hospital in Chicago. Perhaps things would be a bit more lax out here on the frontier.
Once she was in the nightdress, she slipped under the covers and was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
On her way to her room, Emeline stopped to check on their guest/prisoner, nodding to the man guarding the door, then stepping into the room. For a long moment she gazed at the still figure, wondering what sort of horrible life she'd had, then shook her head and left.
"Oh, look at you, Papa," Emeline smiled as she entered their bedroom, where Barnabas was just putting Wheeler into his crib. Moving up behind her husband, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his back while he finished his task. "I love you, you know. And we're lucky to have you."
He turned slightly as he laid his son in the crib, "No luck involved Misses Pike, none a'tall!" He replied and kissed her. "Busy day ta'mara, but it'll be good ta get all this behind us. Then we can get on with whot we're buildin' here. This was no part of what I had planned, hangin' up the badge. No sir. But we'll get back to living our life soon enough! Promise."
And then they eased their way into bed, under the covers, and hopefully, to sleep. Tomorrow was unknown. It shouldn't be a simple meeting with Speed and then the new County Sheriff, and be on their way, but sometimes, life just doesn't play fair.