Posted July 16, 2022
"Of course, I'll be there!" Emeline laughed, returning his kiss. "Don't be gone long, I'll miss you!"
Her packing plans started out well, as she made two piles of clothing -- take/send -- although she was occasionally distracted by the view out the window. For long moments, she'd pause, gazing out at the roof-lines, the more distant ones getting lost in the fog, although she could easily imagine the ocean that lay beyond that. It was all so beautiful, not that it could hold a candle to home.
Eventually, the 'to send' pike was neatly folded and set aside so that Lillian could take care of them in the morning, and all she had to do was pack her trunk. She'd already taken off what she'd worn today, so that she was more comfortable in her chemise, and at some point she decided to lay across the bed to rest...just for a moment...
And that moment turned rapidly into deep sleep!
Posted July 17, 2022
For Barnabas Pike, he all but skipped down the flights of stairs, the idea of being on the move again filling him with energy. It was next to the last leg of of the journey they were on. And as he bounded down the stairs he reflected on what a great trip it had been to that point, and the feeling of excitement about returning to Virginia City and some old haunts, this time though, he would be staying at the International Hotel, rather than the clapboard house he had lived in before.
William Sharon looked up as Barnabas was shown to his office. "I'd say this was a farewell visit, that the Pikes were ready to head east to the Comstock." He said with a smile.
"I'd say you was right on the money, Bill, that's exactly what we're planning." Pike said, also with a smile. "Time we was movin' on, anyway. Can't be letting Em get too used to this city living when we got a ranch to get back to."
"I'd say so. Look, I'll wire ahead to the International for you, and I'll have a man sent to the railroad office and get you tickets for tomorrow, or whenever you plan to depart." Bill offered. "Now if you need to send any wires, well you use the hotel telegraph."
"Much abliged Bill, I do have a couple I need to send. Some business I need to take care of before I get to far along. Got a herd to have moved, both cows and horses."
Bill smiled again, "Ever the cow hand, eh Pronto?"
"Nah, but the ranch has to have stock, and I've a man that will get the wranglers needed for the drive and the ranch." It seemed odd to hear his name spoken as Pronto again. He suddenly knew he needed to be home again. Even that had an odd ring to it. He had a home, in Kalispell, Montana.
"Have the counter man, Burns, take your wires. He'll see that they are sent, I doubt he'll have any questions about it." Bill directed. "You have a good trip, and who knows, I might just head up that way one of these days."
You do that Bill, door'll always be open." Pike said as he extended his hand. "Thanks my friend, for everything."
Bill gripped Pikes hand, "Nonsense! It was my pleasure. What the hell are friends for if not to take care of friends." He laughed. "Get the hell outta here and enjoy the rest of your trip!"
"Adios, partner. Take care." Pike said as their grasp released, he turned and walked out of the office to the front desk and dictated the messages.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Posted July 21, 2022
Dictating the messages was not that difficult, first was to Speed Guyer and the message was fairly straight forward. "Having the time of our lives, head for Virginia City, maybe a week, two at most , then on our way home. Pike"
The second was headed south to North Texas, a town named Hardeman. It went to Frank Teale. "Gather the boys and start the herd north. Pronto."
Frank Teale was the ramrod Pike had hired when he bought the herd, which was now in the stockyards in Hardeman. With them, a dozen dozen thoroughbred Morgan Horses for his wife. Frank had been tasked with hiring the best men he could find and counting him there were fourteen men awaiting the call to push the herds to Montana.
Lastly he dictated a wire to the International Hotel for a suite of rooms.
Stepping away from the desk, he missed the wight of his guns about his hips. They would be out of his luggage soon enough. The Comstock might not be the safest place on earth for him, then again, it might be just fine. He would have to see. He rode the elevator up.
"Em," He said opening the door of their room. "Bill's getting the train tickets, and I've sent a wire to the hotel for a suite of rooms. We're on our way!"
Posted July 22, 2022
"What? Oh!" Blinking sleep, Emeline sat up, groggy. "Oh, I'm sorry, I must have dozed off." Or flat-out fallen asleep! "On our way where?"
She sat up, then chuckled. "The day was wonderful, but I guess it took more out of me than I'd thought! Did you say the tickets are ready? I think I am, too, just about!"
Standing, she sighed. "Just a bit more to pack, then..." Gasping, she grasped her stomach, but then grinned. "Goodness! He's turning loops in there! I think he wants to leave tonight!"
Going over to Barnabas, she took his hand and put it on her belly. "Here, feel that!"
Posted July 22, 2022
"What? Oh!" Blinking sleep, Emeline sat up, groggy. "Oh, I'm sorry, I must have dozed off." Or flat-out fallen asleep! "On our way where?"
"Nevada darling, remember? Going up to Virginia City." He reminded her, a bit concerned about her condition, it was not like her to just fall asleep.
She sat up, then chuckled. "The day was wonderful, but I guess it took more out of me than I'd thought! Did you say the tickets are ready? I think I am, too, just about!"
"Bill said he'd get the tickets for tomorrow or whenever, so I imagine they are available." Barnabas related to her. "At least as far as Reno, then we'll have to catch the V&T up to Virginia City."
Standing, she sighed. "Just a bit more to pack, then..." Gasping, she grasped her stomach, but then grinned. "Goodness! He's turning loops in there! I think he wants to leave tonight!"
"Well, I doubt that's possible, but we'll high tail it outta here in morning. The sooner we get there the sooner we head for home." He paused a moment, "And I'll be glad to get there!"
Going over to Barnabas, she took his hand and put it on her belly. "Here, feel that!"
Ain't that somethin', kickin' his Pa before he's born. Well, no problem little Pike, just go easy on your Ma til we get you home." Then he kissed her, "We'll make it quick on the Comstock, I promise."
Posted July 24, 2022
"There's some time yet, but he sure is anxious!" Emeline smiled, excited at the thought of having a child again, and confident that this one would grow up to be as strong and good as his (or her) father. And she knew that Barnabas would be a good papa, letting the child have enough free rein to learn and grow, while providing guidance and wisdom.
"Let me just finish getting these things folded, then we can go down to dinner, unless you wanted to have something brought up?" She really didn't want to get dressed again, but she would if he wanted a last meal in the grand dining room. Then she'd fall into bed and rest for the next day.
Posted July 25, 2022
He smiled, "There's no need to go down, I'll get something brought up. You just rest easy, and you might tell 'him' to ease up on the kicking for a while. We've a ways to go yet. Though I promise, we'll be in Virginia City no longer than absolutely necessary, and that dear lady, includes those things you'd like to do while we are there."
That would be an easily kept promise as he was looking forward to returning home, yet at the same time, willing to take the time to fulfill her wishes.
He managed to get dinner ordered for the both of them, which was cozy and private and just the two of them without the hustle and bustle of the dining room. And, the comfort of not having to dress for the event.
"We'll pull out in the morning, and then my love, it will be rails all the way to the Comstock."
Posted July 26, 2022
Relieved that she was done being 'decent' for the day, Emeline gratefully changed into her nightdress and robe, then, while waiting for the food, she brushed out her hair and started to re-braided it.
"I can't wait to see the house, they should be just about done, don't you think?" She looked at his reflection in the mirror as she finished with her hair. "Maybe the windows will even be installed by the time we're home." That was something she was really looking forward to, it was going to be amazing!
Posted July 28, 2022
"Darlin' the place ought to be ready for positive by the time we get back to Kalispell. I wired my foreman, oh I didn't tell you, I'm sorry. They have the herd and your Morgan Horses sittin' at the Texas Oklahoma territory and they'll already be gettin' on the trail north. Likely get to us in a couple months or so. Well, likely not long after we get back, since we too'll be on the trail but not likely the one they'll be takin'. Could be wrong, but I doubt it. 'sides, you don't want to truck with no cattle drive. Hard nasty business." He said seriously. Although in the bottom of one of the trunks rested his outfit, the coat, shirt trousers and vaquero style chaparreras, or chaps along with his Smith and Wesson Russian pistols.
It was true, a trail drive was no place for a woman, granted that Harriet Mercer made one with Quentin Cantrell and did just fine, but she wasn't expecting either. No, tying in with the herd if that was at all possible was a bad idea, no matter how you sliced it.
He smiled watching her brush out her hair. "It'll just have to be luxury til it ain't!"
Posted July 29, 2022
"I hadn't thought about a cattle drive!" Smiling, Emeline turned to face him, still idly brushing her hair. "I could stay out of the way and..." She sighed and shrugged. "Well, I don't suppose you have to worry about that for a very long time. As much as I want to try new things, I know better than to try something like that while I'm with child, and once the baby comes, I'll have to stay close to home."
And she had heard enough about cattle drives to know they were dusty, long hours in the saddle, and worrying about stampedes at night, something she really didn't think she was missing out on!
"And the horses! I can't wait to see them." Setting her brush aside, she stood and went over to him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest.
"I love you, Mr. Pike, and I'm excited for our future together. I know it's going to be amazing!"
Posted July 29, 2022
"You staying close to home, I guess we'll see about that, won't we. But Love, the cattle drive is not the place for a woman, especially carrying our child. Now that brings to mind the Lickskillet Cafe. I know you have not forgotten about it, but if you are staying close to home is the plan to have Clara run it for you, or are you considering selling out?"
It was something that they needed to make plans for, one way or the other. His plan for the ranch was to have the men bringing up the herd to stay on, he would need them as he hand plans for expanding the number of stock, but he did not want to relinquish the deputy job just yet, though he knew that eventually he would have to turn in his badge and leave that part of his life behind.