"Isn't the whole point of bringing in a herd to run them up Main Street to show them off?"  Well, maybe it was in some cattle towns, but Kalispell wasn't a cattle town per sae, and Emeline really saw no point in disturbing the business in town with an ostentatious display.  "So, no cows in town and no lace curtains," she pouted, "you men are no fun!"

Teasing and being teased were not strange to her, it was something she'd learned in Dakota, running a cafe in a tent in a mining camp.  You had to have a sense of humor, and had to know how to take a joke.

"I know we're getting closer to town and the fort," she observed, glancing at the volunteers to accompany them to town, "so traveling is a bit safer, but having extra men with us will surely stave off any redskins in the area, so your presence will be much appreciated."

"I wonder if any of the mares might be..." Emeline blushed and shrugged.  "Not the right time of year, though, right?"  Well, then, how did the horses know not to drop foals just as Winter was coming on, when it would be dangerous for the little ones?  Seemed there was a lot she hadn't thought on, and when she had a chance, she'd send for a book on husbandry.

"We'll be home soon enough, and come Spring the place will be overrun with young'ns!"  Well, the Human young'n would be there before Spring, but then there would be calves and foals and chicks and kits!"  It would be wonderful, even though it would be a lot of hard work.  And she'd get that hard work started in a couple of days, when the herd came in.

"Probably come spring, if so, yer looking at ten ta twelve months gestation, Ma'am." Larado offered. "Now them cows,  maybe ten months. So can't say as any of yer horses are pregnant, but then, we'll know soon enough."

"As fer them cows'a yers, the calves already dropped. So, could be a few are gonna drop come spring, maybe not. The drive ain't real good on 'em, but ain't seen no miscarriages along the way." Frank added, "So far, so good I'd say."

Yep, I'd agree Frank, come the spring we'll see. Once them bulls are added in, well, there'll be calves galore!" Pike stated with a grin. "Being on the ranch'll be good for all of 'em, cows an' horses alike." He looked at Em, "So nature'll have her way about the whole thing, don't you fret on it."

"Well, it will certainly keep you gentlemen busy."  Emeline grinned again, looking around at the gruff, but kind, faces.  "Calves and the baby, while I see to my horses...you'll have your work cut out!"  She glanced at Cookie.  "You can change diapers?"

Standing, she offered a sweet smile, then headed to the chuck wagon and set her plate down.  "I can help with the dishes before we leave if you'd like?"  In truth, she was quite curious about the chuck wagon and cooking for so many on the road.  She'd done both, separately, but never for masses out of a wagon.

"Thank you."  Emeline stepped back so the boy could do his job, although she was hardly a 'guest', at least to her thinking!  Still, she didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable.  "We've seen the place, Mr. Pike picked the land, but it's well-known, as there's a waterfall and a stream, it's beautiful property."

It was peaceful and picturesque.  "There are pines and aspens..."  She spoke with a wistful smile.  "The house was but a frame when we left, same for the bunkhouse and barn.  I'm so excited to see it complete, and we bought a beautiful stained glass window in San Francisco." 

She spoke enthusiastically, her smile brightening.  "It's a new beginning for all of us, a chance to make something wonderful!  Well, should you chose to stay."  And she really did believe this was going to be a team effort...without the hands, the ranch would be nothing.

"The place sounds, I dunno, beautiful, I guess," Danny said as Nate brought a bucket f heated water from the fire for Danny, who, as he spoke began loading the tin plates into it.

"Yes 'em, the place sounds a bit like heaven, I expect. Well as close as I'm liable to get. An' we'd be happy to stay on, leastways I think Danny here'd appreciate a home. Orphaned by Commanches, he was." Nate explained. "Took him on a ways back, good worker, gonna make a fine man on day."

++++++

With Teal and the men gathered about, now that the noon meal was done, Pike wanted to address them. A chance to say what he'd been thinking he would do when they arrived at the ranch.

"I'll make this short 'n sweet, boys, wages." He began, "Frank here, and Pythias, forty-five a month and found, Nate there, forty. Now about the rest of you, thirty-five until we sort out the top hands who'll get forty as well." He paused, "Lotta money, but I want the best, an' I'm willin' to pay for it."

"'scuse me, but them sound like fightin' wages," Frank stated bluntly. 

"No sir. Them's my reg'lar wages. Yes, there's trouble twixt the two big boys, we ain't involved with that, and far as I'm concerned, we'll fight shy of dealin' with either party til they get their quarrel settled. Now, should they come huntin' trouble, that'd be different." He stood for a moment, "We'll talk again once we're up to the ranch, see what you all think of the proposition."

"Now me, I'm thinkin' this could be a sweet deal up to yer place," Pythias said, "Man comes huntin' trouble, well then, I'm, fer given him all he wants. They let us be, that'd be all I could ask since it seems this trouble is between the two of 'em."

"It's very beautiful," Emeline agreed, then chuckled.  "Almost as beautiful as Mr. Pike!"  She reached out to give Danny's arm a squeeze.  "I'm happy to have you with us, the Rocking P will be the best ranch in the territory, I'm certain!"  Until she and Barnabas were, literally, rocking on the porch!

She listened as Barnabas laid out his terms, and she could see that most of the men seemed pleased, if not outright surprised.  She had to agree that his offer was generous, but they could afford it, and if it helped bring loyalty and stability, it was worth it.

Standing with the other men, Justus took in what Mr. Pike was saying, thinking that it sounded far too good, at least for him, and wondering what was going to make it all fall apart.  "Did he say thirty-five?" he whispered to the man next to him.  At that pay, he might actually be able to own something besides a horse and saddle some day.