Emeline smiled widely as the crew was called in, she'd have to get lessons from the man! And while she was inclined to let the working men get their meal first, she knew it was a sign of respect that would be extended to any guest to serve them first.
"Thank you, it smells wonderful." Emeline accepted the plate of stew and biscuits. "We'll have to discuss cooking some time, sir. I'd be interested in hearing some of your methods...the men certainly seem to appreciate your efforts, and I've heard that a drive runs on its stomachs!"
Moving slowly, she sat on a log, hoping that the men wouldn't be shy of joining her and Barnabas, even though they were the 'bosses'. "I do hope we can hear some stories of the adventures that were encountered on the way from Texas!" Certainly, there had been a scrape or two.
All was seeming well until Mr. Pike announced that he was a 'deputy', causing Justus to stiffen, a change that Annie felt, and the horse started to shift anxiously. He leaned to pat her neck, then glanced toward Danny.
"Hey, I'd best be gettin' back ta mind th' herd. Ya mind tossin' me a couple'a biscuits?" He was trying to be casual, but his nerves were on end!
"Hey, I'd best be gettin' back ta mind th' herd. Ya mind tossin' me a couple'a biscuits?" He was trying to be casual, but his nerves were on end!
"Gibbs! You step on up and get yerself a plate like ever-body else. The cows ain't goin no whares!" Nate called out, Danny looking at the cook. "I mean it!" He threatened, and it was a threat only he could carry out.
Danny looked perplexed, "But ain't somebody gotta be out there?"
"You see any of 'em movin'? Most is already laid down, ain't but a few still standin' and grazin'. Nope, ain't a one of 'em gonna run off.
Pike looked the young man up and down, let set his plate aside, and got up, slowly walking over to Justice Gibbs. In a low tone, he said, "Don't know what's riled you up but I'll say this, no matter where yer from, nor what ya might have done somewhere's else, ain't none'a my business, less the Marshal's got paper on you. That the problem? 'er just nerves in general?" He smiled. There was no need for everyone to hear.
"Eat, take 'er easy. We'll be gone soon enough, an' you'll be up to the ranch soon enough. There'll be no problems." He patted him on the shoulder and walked back, picked up his plate, and sat back down next to Em.
"Thank you, it smells wonderful." Emeline accepted the plate of stew and biscuits. "We'll have to discuss cooking some time, sir. I'd be interested in hearing some of your methods...the men certainly seem to appreciate your efforts, and I've heard that a drive runs on its stomachs!"
"Kind words Ma'am, and you bet it does run on it's stomach, no matter whot them waddy's got to say about it." Nate replied wth a wide smile. "Jest a simple stew's all fresh biscuits to go along. I'd be happy ta talk cookin' with ya, Ma'am, any ol time ya like. I figger ta stay on with this bunch since it's offered."
Moving slowly, she sat on a log, hoping that the men wouldn't be shy of joining her and Barnabas, even though they were the 'bosses'. "I do hope we can hear some stories of the adventures that were encountered on the way from Texas!" Certainly, there had been a scrape or two.
Pronto smiled, "Oh, once they loosen up some about us ownin' the Rockin' P, you'll wish they'd shut up. Right now you're likely the first woman they've seen since Texas, or maybe any number of stops along the way. Mostly not all of them went to towns along the way, best way to keep 'em outta trouble, but scrapes? Likekly a few, with both whites an Injuns."
That was when he noticed Gibbs, and his call for a couple of biscuits.
"Oh, once they loosen up some about us ownin' the Rockin' P, you'll wish they'd shut up. Right now you're likely the first woman they've seen since Texas, or maybe any number of stops along the way. Mostly not all of them went to towns along the way, best way to keep 'em outta trouble, but scrapes? Likely a few, with both whites an Injuns."
"It looks like they've done a good job, though, especially with the horses." For the miles they'd put behind them, the horses were all there, and in good condition, and even the cattle looked in good condition. She looked up, puzzled, as Barnabas excused himself and went over to talk to a young cowboy.
+++
Justus tried to hide his dismay as his effort to escape was shot down, but smoothly dismounted, loosened the cinch and led Annie to the picket line. He was startled when the man himself came over to talk to him, and even more startled at how astute his senses were.
"Don't know what's riled you up but I'll say this, no matter where yer from, nor what ya might have done somewhere's else, ain't none'a my business, less the Marshal's got paper on you. That the problem? 'er just nerves in general?" He smiled. There was no need for everyone to hear.
Did he know? Well, not specifically, and any 'paper' with Justus mentioned on it would include his pa, and the other men, and he was only fourteen last he knew there'd been a wanted poster on him, and that was out in Texas, he'd been a skinny kid then, and under his Pa's name, and...
"Eat, take 'er easy. We'll be gone soon enough, an' you'll be up to the ranch soon enough. There'll be no problems."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir." Justus managed a smile and a nod, relaxing a little, thinking that, just maybe, things were actually going to work out, if he kept his nose clean, and he had no intention of doing anything else. Neither his father, nor the posters would ever find him in Montana, and he was determined to make a good life for himself.
After seeing to Annie, he went over to get his meal and settled with the other men, across from the Pikes. "Heard ya wanted some tales," he primarily addressed Emeline, "well, lemme tell ya 'bout th' rustlers thought they could take them horses." In an unusual display of gabbing, he wove the tale of how Zane came to be in their numbers, leaving out some bits and adding others...
As he walked back to rejoin Em he could not help but smile, yes the boy had done something somewhere in the recent past, and likely as not forced into it. Older brothers, his pa? There was no telling about a thing like that, and if there was no paper naming him, well then, there was nothing to worry about.
"Young man just a bit gunshy about me bein' a deputy. Which tells me there's somethin' in his past, not no killin', I don't think." He said picking up his plate and continuing on with eating the stew. "The herd an' them hoses all look good, an when that bull get's here, if it ain't arrived already, he'll be a busy feller."
"Em girl, we got us a herd and the hands ta run 'em. Land enough, well, maybe not, but enough for now. Future's lookin' bright, that's fer sure."
"This makes it all so real," Emeline murmured, not that she'd had any doubt on that account, but since they'd left Kalispell it had all seemed like a dream, a life without care, but here, looking at the working part of their new life, the horses, cows, and even the men who were going to be going on this journey with them, she was looking forward to getting started, and was confident that the ranch was going to be a great success!
"You gentlemen have done such a fine job taking care of the horses," she praised after Justus had told the story of the horse bandits, and how they'd been thwarted. "They'll be fine breeding stock, and I'm sure they'll make the best herd in the territory with your help." She grinned widely, then added, quite seriously, "This makes me all the more certain that lace curtains are the perfect choice for the bunk-house!"
"Ma'am? Uh, lace curtains? In the bunk house?" Dallas asked.
"Be a change in how you boys'a been livin' that's fer sure!" Frank said flatly. "Might be a nice change from oilcloth.
"Missus Pike? You plan to raise an' sell them Morgans?" Lorado asked, "Like ta help with that if I can. Did some horse raisin' back a ways."
"Them Angus bulls you say were on the way? Any word come yer way when word could be got?" Frank asked. "You did say three, right? Three's a good number."
"I tend to joke about one, but yeah, I bought three Angus bulls, but I ain't heard a word other than the first reply that they would be on their way by rail and then driven on to Kalispell." Was Pike's response. "Hope they're there in the pens a waitin' on us."
"Well, we'll soon know for sure on that. You're headin' on in then after we eat an' all?" Frank asked.
"Yep. Less the boss here's got other ideas. We're real close to a new build house built fer her, so I'd say it almost a sure thing."
"Ma'am? Uh, lace curtains? In the bunk house?" Dallas asked.
"Be a change in how you boys'a been livin' that's fer sure!" Frank said flatly. "Might be a nice change from oilcloth."
Emeline chuckled and shook her head. "I suggested that, but Mr. Pike set me straight! We'll do better than oil cloth, but no lace, I promise!" It would have to be a heavy material, though, like duck, so that it would block light. "I imagine there will be some of you sleeping during the day, so we'll make sure it's good and dark. And that it's quiet." She reached to pat the head of the mutt that was laying by her feet.
"Missus Pike? You plan to raise an' sell them Morgans?" Lorado asked, "Like ta help with that if I can. Did some horse raisin' back a ways."
"Oh, I'd much appreciate that!" Grinning, Emeline patted her belly. "I've experience with babies, but not breeding horses, and I do plan on raising them for sale." Not, she hoped, to the Army, but to people who would appreciate and cherish them. "And I'll need help with breaking them as well." She was a good rider, and was sure she could deal with the foals, but saddle training was something else, something she didn't really know how to do, except beating them to submission wasn't the answer.
"Them Angus bulls you say were on the way? Any word come yer way when word could be got?" Frank asked. "You did say three, right? Three's a good number."
"I tend to joke about one, but yeah, I bought three Angus bulls, but I ain't heard a word other than the first reply that they would be on their way by rail and then driven on to Kalispell." Was Pike's response. "Hope they're there in the pens a waitin' on us."
"Well, we'll soon know for sure on that. You're headin' on in then after we eat an' all?" Frank asked.
"Yep. Less the boss here's got other ideas. We're real close to a new build house built fer her, so I'd say it almost a sure thing."
"We do have to stop in town for a bit, to let folks know we're home," Emeline explained, "so we're making the most of the day. And, of course, I need to get to the ranch ahead of you men to make sure those pretty curtains are in place!"
"There'll be some business to tend to right off I expect, we've been gone quite a spell, an' there's Em's cafe, the Lickskillet to stop in and see how that goin', an' a'course the Marshall's office.Prob'ly make that about supper time, then on to the ranch." Pike explained.
"Listen Pike, you got that wagon load I know I said I would send along a couple two 'er three men to help an' then they could ride back to lead us in." Teal offered.
"Be glad to go, an' maybe Lorado and Dallas'd like ta ride along an' help out." Both men smiled at the offer to get away from the herd for at least one night.
"Sure and thanks. We'll put 'em up in the bunkhouse, without Em's frilly curtains." Pike said with a laugh. Fact is, I'll ride on back with 'em, skirt the town. Not sure they'd appreciate a herd'a cattle moseyin' up the main street."
"Brick, I know I said you'd go with the pikes, but I'll need you ta help ramrod this herd and them Morgan Horses,"Frank said,
