"Really? Virginia City?" Another place she didn't know much about, except that it was where Barnabas was from...well, most recently, anyway, as he'd traveled and lived over a better part of the west.
"Yep, really. Won't be like Portland nor 'Frisco. She sit on the side of Sun Mountain. Gotta a view that you can see for miles on most days."
"I'd love to see the mine there, I've heard so much about it, and I've never been in one." Most people had never been in a mine, and she rather thought that most people didn't even think about it, but then, most people didn't own one.
"We can do that, we can. Not sure what my holdin's are these days, well, 'cept that the money comes in ever month like clock work. Now, gettin' inside ain't no real problem, well it never was before. But like I said, I just don't rightly know what my actual holdin's are."
"What's it like inside? Is it hot? Cold? Can you see the gold glittering on the walls?" Her imagination was having a field day! "I can't imagine how dark it must be." Then she frowned. "Are there bugs?" Of course, there would be bugs, there were bugs everywhere, right? And in the dark isolation of a cave, they might have a chance to grow big and ugly, if you could even see them in the dark!
"Mostly she's hot, real hot in some places, but folks have been known to go down a ways and have themselves a party. Ain't none to sure about bugs, but likely there are. Never was no miner tho, won a third share in the Yellow Jacket Mine playin' poker. I was a just a deputy Sheriff that got lucky one night in the Delta Saloon." Pike went on.
"Oh, but it's not a cave, right? It's tunnels that have been dug into a mountain, right? I can't imagine the work that would take." But then, there were train tunnels carved all the way through mountains, an amazing feat of work!
"Nope, not no cave, nor tunnels, shafts. A straight down affair most times. Some ya walk in a ways afore ya reach the hoist with a cage ta git ya down to the workin's, an' that could be a ways down. They been shorein' it up with square set timbers since the sixties so they go deep. Been said Ol' Virginny won the war and built 'Frisco along with a lotta real rich follks. Might even get to see a couple of 'em."
He paused then added, "Now, I never mentioned the money comion' in, not ta hide it from ya, jest never thought much about it. But, well, that's what bought the land, an' that's whats payin' them fellers a buildin' are home. An' footin' the bill fer this here trip too." He looked at her, then down, and then back up. "T'weren't no secret ." He explained. "Ya got a right ta know."
Posted August 29, 2021
"You have mentioned the mine, but never the specifics about it," Emeline commented, "that's why I'm excited to see it, although going deep into the earth might be...unsettling...but I'll do it!" Of course, now, she was letting her imagination run wild, trying to picture what it might be like, but then, she was going to do it regardless.
"It's good that you aren't borrowing, large debt can lead to so many problems." She wasn't accustomed to discussing finances, even though she had a good handle on them from managing her own business, but this was his realm, now that they were married, and he certainly could handle them as he saw fit, although she might have something to say about it if she felt debt was getting too deep.
Even so, she was a little (all right, a lot) curious about just how much the mine was bringing in every month, but it wasn't her place to ask.
"Thank you for being open with me. I know it will take some time, but soon the ranch will be bringing in a good income, don't you think?" Likely, though, most of that would go back into the business, but it was still good to think that they wouldn't have to depend on anyone.
"I brung us two thousand dollars, some cash, some cashiers checks writ on my accounts in Helena. that's whare the money goes from Nevada. Cash was in the bank in town, since replaced by wire transfers. Cashiers checks come by mail took a bit, but we had the time." He smiled then, "You'll want fer nuthin' on this trip. Way I planned it."
He realized that by and large, he was wealthy, meaning she was wealthy as well. His plans were to buy up land, where he could, and raise beef. He had even begun thinking of investing, now that he had a wife and a home. he would look around, maybe read up on what folks were putting their money in, and of course, talk it over with Em, his partner.
"We'll get ya down in a shaft, not sure which, but one of 'em. I need to tell ya that you an' me, we're well off. even when the mines dry up, which they're gonna, we'll be well off, jest no sense spreadin' it around. You kin purdy much have anything ya want, an' certainly anything ya need. So when we hit Portland we'll sell off the rig an' horses, buy us some nice clothes for the trip down ta 'Frisco, cuz down there we'll get the latest fashions fer the rest of the journey. Ain't sparin' no expense for ya."
Posted August 29, 2021
"What?" The question was whispered as she looked at him in shock. Oh, she knew he was well-enough for money, even a bit more than that, but...
"You have two thousand dollars for the trip?" Far more than enough to buy a house, much the less a jaunt around the rest. And Barnabas wasn't frivolous with his money, so if he designated that to a trip, what did that mean he had in total?
"You have that much?" It was hard to wrap her head around, and she suddenly felt the need to pace, to try to figure it all out. Oh, sure, being financially secure was wonderful, but being beyond secure...it changed everything...well, not everything, she and Barnabas were still the same...but...the dynamics of life had shifted, her way of thinking...
"I..." Her thoughts were so scrambled, maybe it was a good thing that she had found this out now, on their honeymoon, while she had a chance to adjust to not having particularly worry about money...
Posted August 29, 2021
He looked at her reaction somewhat taken aback. Perhaps his not being concerned about what his financial situation was not the way normal people reacted to money. Yet to him, money was a tool like most everything else in his life, other than Em, of course.
"Oh," He said quietly, "I do, and probably many times that. I, I'm sorry if it upset you, I mean finding out about it. I just didn't think it mattered all that much one way or the other. Comes in handy though." He said, unsure of what he should say about it. "You an' me, an' the kids, I 'spose you want a brood of 'em, we'll be jest fine. We got money, money don't got us. It's a tool that gets things done, allows us ta have what we need without worry. So I don't want you to worry. I'm still me, an' yer still you. Nothin's changed about us, not now, not ever."
Posted August 30, 2021
"Oh, of course we won't change, it's just...I never thought about not having to worry about money." She wasn't sure exactly how to say what she was feeling, but then, she wasn't sure how she was feeling. "It's good, but just different, it will take some getting used to." She chuckled. "I never did think that'd be a 'lady of means', not that I thought I'd be destitute. It's just...different...good different."
Then a small smile crossed her features. "A brood, yes. As many children as we can manage! And they'll all be happy and healthy, and not spoiled." And they could help others...well, that would be up to Barnabas, but she knew his caring character. While their children might not want, they were going to learn to be self-sufficient and work for what they got.
Impulsively, she leaned in close to him and very softly whispered, "I think I might be pregnant."
Posted August 31, 2021
"Well, I didn't fig, you, you're pregnet? I mean great! You're pregnant! Ah, should we, I mean shouldn't you be restin' 'er somethin'? Lord above, I got you out here miles from home, and you're gonna have a baby." He didn't quite know how he should respond, and add to that, he was afraid he'd done something that might harm her or the unborn child by bringing her this far away from Montana, well Kalispell anyway.
"I dunno, what was I thinkin'?" He asked, as if there was an answer coming from somewhere other than Em. "This here's a real mess, whot I got us inta." He had seen it with
Posted September 1, 2021
"What do you mean, what were you thinking?" Grinning, Emeline gave him a light slug to the arm. "You didn't know, so there was nothing to think, and as for having a baby, I figure we have at least six to seven months to worry about that."
Gripping his hand, she gave it a squeeze. "I'll take it easy the last couple of months, I can do that now, but right now, the trip is fine, well, except that I might get a little moody now and then, and eventually I won't be able to smell coffee without getting ill, judging by my previous pregnancies."
"Believe me, I'll be overly cautious, this child -- our child -- is so important. But that doesn't mean we can't have a good time." She looked up at him. "You are happy about being a father?"
While she wasn't going to let herself get overly optimistic, she still wanted to hold onto the belief that this time, it would be all right.
Posted September 1, 2021
"What do you mean, what were you thinking?" Grinning, Emeline gave him a light slug to the arm. "You didn't know, so there was nothing to think, and as for having a baby, I figure we have at least six to seven months to worry about that."
"Well, I dunno, I just, ah, gee, I ain't ever been in this here situation a'fore, not never." he stammered. Six 'er seven months? Now that sounds a mite better." he was nodding his head as he spoke, "Might have'ta cut this here honeymoon some short in thet case."
Gripping his hand, she gave it a squeeze. "I'll take it easy the last couple of months, I can do that now, but right now, the trip is fine, well, except that I might get a little moody now and then, and eventually I won't be able to smell coffee without getting ill, judging by my previous pregnancies."
"See now, that's jest plumb wrong, getting sick over the smell 'o coffee. Never heard 'o such a thing, tho I'll not hold it agin ya. Promise. Given word." Now he was joshing her even though he had never heard of such a thing. Being the last born child he had no experience with his mother being pregnant, which would have prepared him for her earlier statement about being sick at the smell of coffee.
"Believe me, I'll be overly cautious, this child -- our child -- is so important. But that doesn't mean we can't have a good time." She looked up at him. "You are happy about being a father?"
She had just skimmed over his joshing as if he'd never said at as she vowed to be cautious, overly she said, "Happy? Me? Happier than an old coon dog layin' by the fire. Yes ma'am, I'm jest about as happy as the day you said yes!"
Posted September 1, 2021
"You look like an old coon dog laying by the fire!" Emeline laughed, then went on to explain what to expect during her pregnancy...the mood swings, crying for no reason, swelling, morning sickness...
"And then," she finished up with a wide grin, "you'll sit on the porch for hours, listening to me scream in agony, and suddenly, there will be a baby!"
If that didn't scare him off, nothing would! But, why not add a little fuel to the fire?
"And that will just be the first."