Posted April 29, 2022
"I took the stairs," Emeline commented, reaching to snatch a bit of toast from his plate, "it's good physical activity!" she added quickly with a smile, not about to admit that she was afraid of using the elevator alone, even if the attendant was there. "It's not too far."
Munching the toast, she sighed and nodded. "Lillian and her brother are going to meet us out front...she said that she can't come into the dining room unless she's working."
It was a class system, servants and served, and while Emeline understood it, the concept was still a bit foreign to her, but then, she'd never been in a place where she might be in that position.
"Her brother's name is Raymond, he's nineteen and works at a foundry. Lillian says he's quite excited to meet a real-life deputy, and she wants you to go easy on him."
Posted April 30, 2022
"Go easy?" He laughed, "I'm not arresting him. But sure, I have a couple harrowing tales to tell, besides, that's what he wants to hear, stories like the bank robbery. That sort of thing. Somehow in the cities like this, they really can't connect with the places like Kalispell, or life on the Comstock, even though they have electricity and running water up there. Gonna miss that when we get back."
He had just about finished his breakfast when she arrived and snatched the toast he had held back for last, but the steak and eggs had him pretty full. "Cup of coffee? There's a spare cup and the pot?" he asked, motioning to the items he mentioned. "So, we heading out now?"
Posted May 1, 2022
"No," she commented to the coffee. The toast was sort of bland, but coffee was just too acid, and the thought made her stomach churn a little. It was kind of funny, though, because she knew that later tonight, coffee would be just the thing she was craving!
"Just don't encourage him too much, or he'll want to run off to Montana or Dakota and become the topic of a dime store novel!"
Sadly, many a young man romanticized the rugged part of the West, and wanted to be a part of that, the hero, without realizing the full impact of what they were getting into.
"I suppose San Francisco has just as much crime compared to its size, maybe more, but the veil of civilization makes it seem less...exciting, I suppose."
Yes, San Francisco was in the west, but as a huge city, it seemed beyond the wildness that was associated with the west.
Posted May 2, 2022
"Dime novels, yep! Most of that is bunk anyhow, but them city boys, they keep on coming west to be what they think a westerner is, most time they miss the part about hard work that's out here." He said, "Them things I've done, they weren't ordinary, day to day livin'. Nope, mostly they was in the moment, kill 'er be killed."
Then he chuckled, "An' winnin' a share of a mine? Had I stuck around back then, I'd never have met you nor no body. Nope, It shorely ain't like them books make it out to be. So not to worry, no harrowing tales of daring do. Promise."
He was sure that the cities had as much, if not more crime than little old Kalispell. But in Kalispell, it sort of exploded, and involved everyone. "So, when are we leaving?"
Posted May 3, 2022
"We can leave as soon as you are ready...and the picnic, too, of course." It was surprising how quickly the morning sickness could dissipate, but she was grateful for that, if she had to be sick at all!
Once the waiter informed them that there was a carriage waiting, and lunch had been delivered there, it was time to get on their way. While it was still cool out, the day was promising to be bright and sunny.
At the carriage, Lillian was waiting with her brother, who was obviously excited, but holding back.
"Lillian!" This was friends on an outing, so no need to be formal. "You know Barnabas. We're looking forward to a fun day!"
"Mrs. Pike..." Old habits! "Emeline, Barnabas, this is my brother, Louis. Don't mind him, Mr. Pike, he's a pest!"
"Lil!" The young man elbowed his sister, then held a hand to Barnabas. "It's good to meet you, sir."
Posted May 3, 2022
He had barely finished breakfast and here they were talking about lunch already. "Well then, I suppose we should be going." He said as the waiter came forward to inform them of the carriage and the disposition of the baskets. "So i don't know, are we going there so early to get a good place to watch the seals?" He chided as the walked out in the bright sunlight.
"Lillian!" This was friends on an outing, so no need to be formal. "You know Barnabas. We're looking forward to a fun day!"
"Good morning Lillian." Barnabas said with a smile.
"Mrs. Pike..." Old habits! "Emeline, Barnabas, this is my brother, Louis. Don't mind him, Mr. Pike, he's a pest!"
"Lil!" The young man elbowed his sister, then held a hand to Barnabas. "It's good to meet you, sir."
Barnabas gripped the young mans hand firmly. "My pleasure Raymond, or is it Ray?" He asked, "Here, ladies, after you," He stepped to the door of the carriage and opened it for them, then offered a hand to Em first and then Lillian. "Hop aboard Raymond, let's get this show on the road."
Posted May 4, 2022
"Yes, sir...I mean, yes, Mr. Pike...Barnabas." Roy shook hands then helped get the ladies settled. "Roy, you can call me Roy." The young man sat beside his sister, smiling widely. "Lillian said you want to see some sea lions?" he addressed Emeline, "the best place for that is probably the Seal Rocks, out by the Cliff House. There's a real nice beach there, too."
"And there's a nice road to it, now, we can leave the carriage at the Cliff House and walk down to the beach, it will be grand!" The young woman was as excited as her brother, it wasn't often she got away from the immediate area, and certainly not to the beach like this.
"That sounds wonderful!" Emeline watched out the window, clinging to Barnabas' arm as she watched out the window. "We've been at sea for several days, but I want to be able to touch it, if that makes sense?" Really, it sounded sort of silly, but she could use the pregnancy as an excuse, right?
Posted May 4, 2022
"Yes, sir...I mean, yes, Mr. Pike...Barnabas." Roy shook hands then helped get the ladies settled. "Roy, you can call me Roy." The young man sat beside his sister, smiling widely. "Lillian said you want to see some sea lions?" he addressed Emeline, "the best place for that is probably the Seal Rocks, out by the Cliff House. There's a real nice beach there, too."
"Okay Roy, and out where I'm from folks call me Pronto, you're welcome to do the same, if you like." His given name was actually not his favorite. The nickname 'Pronto' was given to him by his brothers Samuel and Silas. He watched as the young man addressed Em.
"And there's a nice road to it, now, we can leave the carriage at the Cliff House and walk down to the beach, it will be grand!" The young woman was as excited as her brother, it wasn't often she got away from the immediate area, and certainly not to the beach like this.
Pronto nodded in agreement as to the ability to leave the carriage and walk down to the beach. "Hope them sea lions are friendly, can't afford to have the wife eaten by 'em. I mean we have a family to raise up." He noted her look.
"That sounds wonderful!" Emeline watched out the window, clinging to Barnabas' arm as she watched out the window. "We've been at sea for several days, but I want to be able to touch it, if that makes sense?" Really, it sounded sort of silly, but she could use the pregnancy as an excuse, right?
"Going to be rails from here on out though. We'll be headed to Nevada, and on to home after that." Until he said it, he didn't realize how much he missed his town, and the people there, well, most of them anyway. How he missed riding out to the 'spread', or just out somewhere quiet. But, that she was enjoying all of this, that was what was important.
Posted May 6, 2022
"A journey on a train..."
Roy's expression showed that he thought of such a thing as romantic, but then, Emeline reckoned, anything that wasn't your daily routine could sound exciting and adventurous.
"Camping was good fun," she confirmed, "and the ship was amazing, but I think once we're ready to go home, I'm just going to want to get there." As much as she was having a great time, morning sickness not withstanding, she knew that once it was over, she just wanted to be home!
"What was it like, on the ship?" Lillian asked, almost as starry-eyed as her brother.
"Oh, well, it was wonderful, watching the coast go by, and we even saw whales..." Emeline was more than happy to recount their adventures so far, so that time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the carriage stopped at the Cliff House, where they could hear the sea lions and seals barking!
Posted May 12, 2022
"Outside of a bit of what they call seasickness that descended on us, it was as she says, a wonderful experience. The weather held, and the captain made good time to get us here safe and sound. I reckon it could have been much worse than it was." He could hear the unfamiliar noise of the sea lions.
"Now, these Sea Lions as you call them, that's what I'm hearing?" He asked as they began to descend to the beach where he got his first view of the mammals, there was a difference of course, the seal was much smaller than it's larger cousin, the Sea Lion, and they were strange looking to say the least.
"I take it they are safe?" He asked.