Posted September 2, 2021
He looked at her, child birth was not a thing that he was familiar with, other than it happened, and that was how babies entered the world. He sometimes wondered if that was such a good thing, however, this was his child, their child, and suddenly that made a difference. A big difference!
"So I gotta ask, if a woman goes through alla thet, how come ever'one congratulates the Pa? Seems ta me the man ain't got a whole lot ta do with bringin' a child inat this world, 'cept the pleasurable part." He inquired, because after listening to what she was saying about what she had to look forward to, it just seemed wrong to be patting the man on the back over the whole thing. "Sittin' on the porch. Ya gotta be jerkin' ma lead rope!" He shook his head, "Jest the first? Seems it'd git easier as ya went along. An' they say wimmen's the weaker sex."
Posted September 2, 2021
"It does get easier, but it's still painful." She grinned and kissed his cheek. "That is why God gave the task to women...well, that, and Eve, you know, the serpent and the apple and all."
Indeed, the inconvenience of being pregnant, and then the pain of childbirth, were indeed a curse, but it was worth it when you held that child.
"And don't think you'll be getting off easy," she chided, "I expect you to be there, and judging from what Andrew said, it's not easy." Not only the pain of the birthing, but the worry...would the baby be all right? Would she be all right? So much could go wrong, including the worst.
"But you don't have anything to worry about, I'll teach you how to change diapers!"
Posted September 3, 2021
"See now, thets what I been sayin', i got me a woman whot kin teach me a thing 'er two. Not sure this diaper changin' fits ridin' ropin' 'er shootin' bad men, tho I reckon it's there fer me to learn. Ain't never been a father afore, oughtta be real interestin' til I get the hang of it."
He didn't mind her saying that God gave the child bearing task to women, or that most men for find it an insult, a demeaning statement questioning a man's strength. That didn't bother him at i=all. In fact, if that's what the Good Lord chose, then that was just fine by him. Others, well, that was up to them.
"Guess I sortta over reacted to whot ya told me about bein' with child. 'spose that's true of most first time fathers ta be." He admitted. "Be in Portland tomarra, and there we'll have some comforts, new clothes, an' some fine dinin' fer shore. Maybe celebrate a little while we're at it." Inside he was excited by the news, ready for this new adventure in life.
Posted September 4, 2021
"I suppose it's only right that I should be pampered!" Laughing, she patted his hand. "It's not so hard, you learn as you go, and Mama taught me some along the way. But children sort of...take you along with them."
Her tone had gone quiet as she reflected on bittersweet memories, but she quickly shook that off. There was no sense living in the past, and while she would remain cautious, she was determined to be optimistic and positive.
"Comforts, is it? Like breakfast in bed? And there's plenty to celebrate, we'll have to get that out of the way now, once the baby comes, there will be no more sleeping, and non-stop worrying!"
Posted September 4, 2021
You should be pampered 'cuz yer you! An' I intend ta do a whole buncha thet. Childern or not. We got us a ways to go in this here life, an' since I can, I intend ta make it as pleasurable fer alla us as possible. Not spoilin', jest bein' sure we got whot we need when we need it." He pledged.
His life to this point had been that of a drifter, dumb luck and a fair poker hand changed what he could do and how he could do it if he chose to. Until Em, he was prone to drift, the money coming in meant nothing and he paid little attention to it. All that changed with Emeline in his life.
She had been the surprise he had not seen coming. She had given new meaning to his life, and now, she was about to present him with a child, their child, something he had not though of having for a long time. Everything had changed, sometime it had been slowly, other times it had been quickly, but change it had, and he was glad of it.
Posted September 5, 2021
Time on the trail and been a wonderful chance for Emeline and Barnabas to really get to know each other without the distractions of civilization. They'd had to rely on each other and work as a team, they had had the chance to chat (she did most of that!) and learn to be content together in silence.
Now, as the city of Portland came into view, Emeline knew this was going to be a different aspect of a relationship to explore. Sure, Kalispell was a town, but not nearly this big, with this many amenities and possibilities, and this wasn't their home, so it would be yet another setting to get to know more about each other. She figured by the time they were through with the trip and back home, they'd have a good, thorough understanding of each other, and a strong foundation for the future together.
"It's beautiful," she declared, looking over what they could see. She knew that the Pacific Ocean was beyond, in the west, but they weren't high enough to see it. Still, she thought she could smell a change in the air -- sea air, she'd heard it called -- but maybe she was imagining that because she was so looking forward to it.
But, there were plenty of ships anchored along the sound, conjuring romantic images of Richard Dana works! And to their left, a huge mountain rose from the relatively low landscape.
"What's that?" It was majestic.
Posted September 5, 2021
It was sprawled out below them, the river and the docks busy, even from their elevation. She was big. Bigger than any city in Montana. They would noon in the city proper. He looked at her with that same smile he always had around her, "Hood, Mount Hood. Then there's Mount Jefferson, and , Mount Adams. Call the range the Cascades. Now further north I'm told is mighty big peaks as well."
They sat, taking it all in, the vista below, "Come a long ways, we have, an' got us a ways ta go yet. But we'll stay a couple days, maybe a week, dependin' on the steam ships schedule, and it looks like there's a goodly number of 'em ta pick from." He took her hand, "So whadda ya think?"
Posted September 6, 2021
"Yep, that's the way I see it. On the other hand, givin' you the opportunity ta have a city to explore is one we might not get to have again for a while. Oh sure, we kin go to Boseman, 'er Helena, 'course they're a might smaller, but you'll of had the chance to see a couple real cities. And you've already made out the differences between 'em." There was a note of pride in that statement.
"We'll drop on down an' start the hunt ta sell off the surrey an' horses. Ta find us a hotel pro'ly closed to where the steamship office is. Then, we'll get us a bath and some clothes that'll have us fit in better. Give ya' real look at the hustle and bustle o' big city life."
Posted September 6, 2021
"Are you saying I'm dirty?" Laughing, she smacked him on the arm. "I took a bath just two days ago in that creek!" Laughing again, she added, "A hot bath in rose water, new clothes, it sounds like heaven!"
Then a quiet dinner with champagne, and a soft, real bed for the night, with Barnabas at her side...it sounded like pure bliss!
"I don't know, Barnabas, you get me into a soft bed and I just might never get out again!"