Posted June 20, 2022
"Yes, sir, thanks for the tips!" Tom smiled, although Lillian just shrugged and shot him a stern look.
The conversation quickly turned back to the seals and sea lions, shells, the ocean, and the Farallon Islands, in the distance, that were gradually becoming obscured by the incoming fog.
"It looks like we'd best be packing up," Emeline suggested as she stood and brushed sand from her skirt. "It's getting cold, and we should be getting back before that fog overtakes us."
She knew there was no danger in the fog, but it still made her a little uneasy think of it creeping in and over them.
Posted June 23, 2022
"A pleasure Tom, always eager to spread the words about the west and it's challenges and its rewards. Plenty of both ta be had." Barnabas said with a smile, because it was true. The he looked to the others as the conversation shifted to the local wild life out in the bay.
Emeline's suggestion to begin packing up at the sight of the fog, still a ways off, rolling in made him smile. How he marveled at the grey mist that would engulf the water, then the sand and eventually the city. He remembered it well, the fact was, and is that it would terrify the unsuspecting when it rolled in and shrouded everything in its path. "Yep, best get to it. Here lemme help with alla this stuff."
"Always glad to spread the word about the perils and rewards of the west." He said to Tom. "A great place, the west, the settled and unsettled parts." He grinned, he much preferred the unsettled, or sparsely settled west.
As the conversation shifted back to talk of the seals, sea lions and ocean creatures he too noticed the gathering fog, and when Emeline suggested packing up he got to his feet. "Lemme give ya and hand with alla this." He offered.
Fog had startled him the first time he encountered it, that grey misty should threat actually covered everything, hiding the world from view as if by magic.
Posted June 26, 2022
Their cab driver was waiting for them, he'd stayed close, alert to when they would return, and he was content, having had a wonderful lunch that Mrs. Pike had had packed for him. Now, he helped get the remains of their picnic loaded, then made sure everyone was settled, with blankets in case they needed them, and started back for town.
"That was a wonderful outing!" Emeline declared, chuckling. "Although I think I ended up with half the beach in my shoes!" That had been something she hadn't thought about when going barefoot...putting the shoes and socks back on had been a challenge, especially with no way to keep the sand out!
She settled in, wrapping a blanket around her knees, since the hem of her skirt was damp, then rested her head against Barnabas' shoulder and was soon asleep. Across from them, Lillian was also dozing.
"Thank you for letting us come with you, sir," Tom murmured quietly, "my sister works too hard and it's good for her to have some fun. And I appreciate the advice. College sounds like a good plan, if we can afford it. I'd love to go to Montana or the Dakotas, but I don't want to leave Lillian."
Posted June 26, 2022
Barnabas listened, understanding the young mans desire to venture out, and also his hesitance to leave his sister behind. Life has those twists and turns that are possible blocks to what feels like their calling. "Well, you know, there are ways that you could manage that education, and there are ways that Lillian here could go with you." Then he cautioned, "I would certainly hesitate to travel to the Dakotas until the Indians are pacified. I'm sure they are filled with the power of their defeat of George Custer."
"Then again, should you attend the university, things could be settled before you graduated and ventured out. Education is a fine thing, Tom, whether you use it here, or the Dakotas, or wherever you might venture forth. I only wished I had had the luxury of education beyond what I managed at my mothers knee and that one room school house in Texas." But fortune had smiled on him, the poker hand and what he had brought him, and then Em. His life was good, all things considered.
Posted June 26, 2022
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you, sir." Good advice was only good if it was heeded, and Tom was smart enough to know that. He was still young, and knew that he had a long time ahead of him, and despite being anxious to get on with it, he had to be patient and take the right steps along the way.
"Of course, there's no telling where my path leads," he observed, "I mean, I never thought I'd have a chance to have lunch with a real deputy, and hear first-hand tales. It's given me a lot to think about."
The conversation turned to topics such as fishing and hunting, the time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the carriage was pulling into the breezeway at the hotel.
Posted June 27, 2022
"Well now, here we are. Been a great day, a great time. Glad to have had the time with you two." Barnabas said appreciatively. It had been not just fun, but interesting and an opportunity to learn about the sea mammals and to experience the beach. He had seen the ocean before when he had been to San Francisco, but had never had the opportunity to go on the beach.
He took Em by the arm to help her down from the carriage, as Tom helped his sister, Lillian, down on the opposite side. "Well love, what now?" He asked, his thoughts beginning to focus on the trip to Nevada to culminate business there, but open to whatever she wanted to do. It was not like they would be doing this sort of thing again any time soon.
Posted June 30, 2022
"What now?" Smiling wistfully, she walked on his arm back to their room. "Supper in the room, I'm tired, something simple, sandwiches?" As if anything here was 'simple'! Even sandwiches would be a rare feast, but she was content to go to the room, clean up and relax.
"I'd like to see Virginia City." That was a way of indicating that this was fun, but as her pregnancy was progressing, it was taking a toll on her energy, and perhaps it was time to start heading back. "I'd like to know if the stories are true!"
Posted July 1, 2022
He turned sharply, as if caught off guard. "Stories? What stories?" He asked, then immediately broke into a big smile, "Mostly they're not true, or they're made up. Exaggerated, yeah, that's it. Can't believe everything you hear." He had no idea what stories she was talking about, other than his own and some of the things Bill had shared, so it would seem whatever she meant, was no more than those things she knew, not that he had anything to hide from her.
"Well, we can leave whenever you want, probably picked a poor time for this trip of ours, what with the pregnancy and all." He said as they reached the elevator, "We'll get you up to the room, then I'll come back down and get us something light, if they even have anything light. Then we can discuss what we'll do next."
Posted July 1, 2022
"Stories of the legend!" Emeline laughed, then shrugged. "We talked about coming, and I'm glad we did. Once the baby comes, a trip like this wouldn't be possible, so whatever we can get out of it, the better."
Giving his hand a squeeze, she added, "And I don't know how much the pregnancy is really the issue, so much as...homesickness?" Sighing, she shook her head. "I don't want you to be disappointed, or think I'm just a boring homebody. I've loved every minute so far, and I look forward to the rest of the trip, but...well, I'd like to be home, too."
She hoped he wasn't disappointed, and maybe it was the pregnancy making her want to 'nest', and it wasn't as though she wanted to just rush home tomorrow...they could take their time and enjoy what lay ahead.
Posted July 2, 2022
"And so my Princess, rest assured, we will be on our way home within a week of our arrival on the Comstock. It will take no time to deal with business, then sightseeing, and finally, the rails north toward Kalispell! How does that sound?" He explained, realizing how long that had already been away, it surprised him, but having her experience San Francisco, well, the entire trip, that was worth it's weight in gold, as the saying went.
Of course the rails only went so far into Montana, they would be traveling afterward by stage coach, or perhaps on something like they had left in. Actually, the stage would be in rush to keep to schedule, and that would make for a rough ride, so perhaps a buggy of some sort
"So, I can go on down and have a word with Bill about the charges we've accumulated and see about arrangements to Nevada from here I know that it's rails to Reno, then the V&T to the Comstock. Once that's settled, arrangements at the International Hotel. I think you'll like it up there, a bit different than here, and sometimes exciting. Like me."