Posted October 21, 2021
"Well now, our herd has twelve men driven 'em north, right about now. So, they'll likely stay on, least ways I'm hopin' so. Ain't a puncher to be had up our way." He explained. "Be a hunderd head, small start, but winters comin'. They'll have a remuda of course, and four of them fancy horses you was talkin' about raisin'. Likely won't make the spread til mid-September tho, so we've plenty of time, and, the place will be done when we get back." He laughed, "Oh, that'll be before September, promise."
He watched for he reaction, not to the number of hands, nor the number of cows, but for the reaction to the horses, which for the moment , their breed name was lost to him.
Posted October 22, 2021
"So, anywhere from twelve to twenty," Emeline calculated as he explained what they could expect once the ranch was up and running. "That should be easy enough, I had a pretty steady clientele in South Dakota, and that's actually easier than the Lickskillet, with people coming and going, and so unpredict...fancy horses?"
What had that meant? Her nose wrinkled up as she looked at him for a moment, wondering if he was teasing her, then she finally asked, "Morgans? We're getting Morgans?" Cows, she knew they were going to have, but she hadn't realized he was wanting to dabble in horse-flesh as well. "For breeding?"
Her smile morphed to a grin. "That's...thank you!"
Posted October 22, 2021
"So, anywhere from twelve to twenty," Emeline calculated as he explained what they could expect once the ranch was up and running. "That should be easy enough, I had a pretty steady clientele in South Dakota, and that's actually easier than the Lickskillet, with people coming and going, and so unpredict...fancy horses?"
"Doubt we'll see twenty riders til we build up the stock. Oh, yeah, name slips me fer the moment. But yeah, fancy horses." He said.
What had that meant? Her nose wrinkled up as she looked at him for a moment, wondering if he was teasing her, then she finally asked, "Morgans? We're getting Morgans?" Cows, she knew they were going to have, but she hadn't realized he was wanting to dabble in horse-flesh as well. "For breeding?"
He looked at her with a grin, "Yep, that's them, Morgans, plumb fergot their name. A stallion and three mares. Oughtta keep him occupied some." Then he added, "Be glad ta help ya with 'em, but they'd be yers to do with what ya please, well, fer them ta do what comes natchurly."
Her smile morphed to a grin. "That's...thank you!"
"That is what you was wantin' wasn't it? We have the money, it's a good investment for the future. We may have ta expand some, but we got the room. And, I got an eye on some adjacent property. So long as the sliver holds out, we'll have money comin' in to build with. We're sittin' right purdy already, on fifteen hunderd acres, got the water we'll need fer us an stock, so we'll be just fine." he looked up as the sea food platters were being delivered.
Posted October 22, 2021
Emeline was saved from making any immediate reply by the arrival of the food, an array fish, shrimp, and a few things she wasn't able to identify, as well as roasted vegetables.
"Thank you," Emeline said to the waitress, then laughed as she walked away. "This looks really good, but I don't know what half of it is, nor what kind of fish this is." Not that she wouldn't try everything. "I've never had ocean fish...salt water fish...this should be interesting."
One of many new experiences, hopefully a good one!
Posted October 23, 2021
"Enough of this talk of finances, the number of hands we might need, or the size of the place. All that'll be there later for us to figger out." He suggested. "Now this here looks to be purdy good, whatever it might be. I'm game if your are, menu said sword fish steak, muscles, crab, Calamari, ain't rightly sure what that is, and Scallops." He grinned, "Guess we best dig in an see how it all tastes!"
The scent of the fish was different, the tastes varied and some was very good to a beef and potatoes man like Pike. It was a new experience with some of it, a reminder of times past with the crab. But by and large, it was all good, he especially liked the scallops.
"So whatta ya think, Em?" He asked as he looked across the table at her in the somber light of the restaurant. She was truly a vision. He was so looking forward to her in her new clothes, not that he was not happy with her in a dress and apron, as he had first seen and been taken by her, but to see her looking like a princess, that was going to be wonderful!
Posted October 23, 2021
"I think calamari is squid," Emeline observed, taking a sample and savoring the flavor. "Not what I expected, but I guess I really didn't know what to expect."
She tried a couple more samples, then continued. "I think I'm going to miss this when we get home. I think this is wonderful, and a lot to take in at once, and life is amazing."
Leaning across the table, she put her hand over his. "And I think I love you so much for getting me Morgan horses, and all the more for remembering that I had even mentioned them. I think I'm the most blessed woman in the world!"
Posted October 24, 2021
"A'course ya know, I'm more fer beef steaks and such, but this here's purdy dern good. 'scuse me. Sometimes I ferget ma-self. But sure, this is some good eats. Not quite what they'd take to up ta Kalispell, I don't think."
He looked up when she thanked him for the Morgans with a smile. "Ya said ya wanted to maybe breed 'em, so I figgered ain't no time like now to get to it. "course we sortta gotta look at the market somehow, see who's fer buyin' Morgan horses, good as they are for most things. I mean we're in a country of saddle horse, range horses, stock horses, cutters, ropers, you name it, so we just need ta see where ours 'er gonna fit. I reckon them Morgans can do just about anything them other'uns can do." Which he knew to be true, but Morgans were slow to make their way into the west. They were an American breed after all. "Things just take time."
Posted October 24, 2021
"Of course," Emeline mulled things over for a moment as she enjoyed her meal, then commented, "I'll need to find some sources on breeding, but then, all the better we're going to San Francisco, I'm sure I can find something there." Then she chuckled. "Market? Whatever for? We're going to keep them all, right?"
Well, she knew they weren't, but she knew, too, that she was going to get attached to every one, especially if she was raising them from foals.
"I have no doubt we'll find buyers, the cavalry uses them, right? Not that I'd want to sell my babies to the military, but they are even-tempered, well-rounded...Oh! And if we have one that's gaited, I'm sure those will be desirable." She'd never ridden a horse that was five-gaited, but she'd heard amazing things about how smooth they could move, at a fast shuffle.
"There's so much, Barnabas, and all of it amazing." Not that she had had a terrible life, but all she'd had to look forward to was opening the cafe for the day, then closing up again. But now, there were children, cows, horses, a ranch to help manage, fishing...a wonderful man...
Posted October 25, 2021
"Of course," Emeline mulled things over for a moment as she enjoyed her meal, then commented, "I'll need to find some sources on breeding, but then, all the better we're going to San Francisco, I'm sure I can find something there." Then she chuckled. "Market? Whatever for? We're going to keep them all, right?"
Busy nodding in agreement with her statements, and shoveling in a load of swordfish steak, he quite nearly dropped his fork at the mention of keeping them all. "Ah, that would be no." He stated quietly, before he realized she was kidding. Then he just shook his head and forked a shrimp.
Well, she knew they weren't, but she knew, too, that she was going to get attached to every one, especially if she was raising them from foals.
"I have no doubt we'll find buyers, the cavalry uses them, right? Not that I'd want to sell my babies to the military, but they are even-tempered, well-rounded...Oh! And if we have one that's gaited, I'm sure those will be desirable." She'd never ridden a horse that was five-gaited, but she'd heard amazing things about how smooth they could move, at a fast shuffle.
"Gaited huh, well yeah, you'll get a good price for that." He said with conviction. And the cavalry, well, they'll eat 'em up! They like your Morgans, better'n the saddle horses, though they do gobble 'em up fer remounts, same as they would for Morgan Horses."
"There's so much, Barnabas, and all of it amazing." Not that she had had a terrible life, but all she'd had to look forward to was opening the cafe for the day, then closing up again. But now, there were children, cows, horses, a ranch to help manage, fishing...a wonderful man...
"Yep, there's bunch, lots in this life for us, you an' me that's fer shore! Best part is, I get to spend it with you." He agreed. Yet he was thinking of what life had been before Em entered it. He was not better than a tumbleweed with no real direction, no need of all that money building up in the bank in Helena. well, that had sure changed!
Posted October 27, 2021
"Yes, well," she observed, looking as serious as she could, "why marry me otherwise?" Her eyes flickered up to his and she batted them a bit, then laughed. "And, I suppose, you were tired of your own cooking. And you probably need someone to keep the books."
It was so good that she could tease him and laugh with him. While there were more important things to have in a partner, someone who knew how to have fun and enjoy life was a great added bonus.
With her plate pretty much cleaned up, Emeline leaned back in her chair and sighed, with a satisfied smile. "That was excellent! I'll have to take care that I still fit in those dresses!" She laughed again, then stifled a yawn. "We'll just have to keep busy, but I don't suppose that will be too hard."
For now, though, the wind was starting to go out of her sails...it had been a long day