Posted August 4, 2022
"I was teasing." Emeline grinned and leaned to kiss him on the cheek. "Although I do like the sound of 'Pikeville'!" She laughed, then shrugged. "I don't see any reason we can't watch for properties that go up for sale and decide what to do. Land is always valuable, so it would be an investment."
It was a strange concept, to be talking about just buying properties on a whim. Having ample financial resources was a foreign idea, one she was sure she could get used to, but wouldn't abuse...at least she didn't think so.
"Barnabas..." She paused for a moment, then asked, "what do you think about getting Lillian a present? Maybe one of those music boxes we saw? And start a fund for Tom, for his education?"
Well, there she was, spending as willy-nilly as her husband, only on different things!
Posted August 5, 2022
"A music box? Sure, why not? And help the boy with his education? Well, we could do that." He agreed. "We don't have much time to get that started, we could send out for the music box, that'd be easy enough, but the fund? Maybe talk with Bill in the morning. I'd bet he has some ideas on it."
When he thought about it, the music box was really nothing, and the cost of an education, probably a thousand dollars. 'Well,' he though, 'that could be done easily enough.' "Yep, I'll talk with Bill first thing before we leave, how's that sound?"
Posted August 6, 2022
"Oh, I don't mean to be extravagant," Emeline explained, getting the feeling that he wasn't completely in on the idea. Not that she blamed him, the brother and sister were pretty much strangers, but if you could help someone in a small way, why not?
"Just...something simple, perhaps fifty dollars or so that could be invested?" She didn't know exactly how investing worked, at least that kind of investing, but even a small amount could help the young man get started. "And, of course, it would be earmarked strictly for education." She didn't mean to fund his entire schooling, just to give him a start and some encouragement.
And poor Barnabas was going to learn that she was as soft as honey when it came to helping people she thought worthy. Bu then, she didn't think he'd mind!
Posted August 7, 2022
"Well, it's not like we ain't got money enough to help the kid. Fact is, I not against it, not at all. I'm sure Bill'll be willing to lend a hand getting the boy off on the right foot. Just means there'll not be so many doodads for you on down the trail. I figure we help with the first semester of it, and it would then be up to young Tom."
There was something appealing about helping Tom, well about helping for the sake of helping, he had not thought about that, helping anyone for that matter, not that was opposed to it, he had just never thought of it.
"So yeah, we'll get the music box ordered, I'm sure Bill'd do that, and set it up with him for Tom in the bargain. I like that. Yep, that's the ticket alright."
Posted August 7, 2022
Standing, Emeline came around the table and hugged her husband from behind, kissing him behind the ear. "You're a good man, Barnabas Pike, and good for more than washing dishes."
Straightening, she shrugged as she moved to look out the window, always astonished at the sparkling lights that spread out then were swallowed in the fog. "I can do without doodads, and I promise not to pick up every stray that comes along." Might be hard, but she'd manage!
"Besides, with all of our enterprises, we can afford to help people now and then, right?" Again, that heady feeling of having far more than enough money warred with the practical part of her that warned her not to get too carried away. "As long as we keep a balance..."
Then she grinned and laughed. "B and E Pike Enterprises! That sounds nice!"
Posted August 8, 2022
Standing, Emeline came around the table and hugged her husband from behind, kissing him behind the ear. "You're a good man, Barnabas Pike, and good for more than washing dishes."
"There's been some disagreement on that, time to time." Barnabas stated factually, Because he was not always considered a good man. He had his moments over the years where that was very much in dispute.
Straightening, she shrugged as she moved to look out the window, always astonished at the sparkling lights that spread out then were swallowed in the fog. "I can do without doodads, and I promise not to pick up every stray that comes along." Might be hard, but she'd manage!
I'll hold you to that Missus Pike, I shorly will." He promised, not that actually minded so much, however, he had thoughts about the Cafe being sold when it could be leased or rented. It was of course hers to do with what she pleased, so he refrained from voice those opinions.
"Besides, with all of our enterprises, we can afford to help people now and then, right?" Again, that heady feeling of having far more than enough money warred with the practical part of her that warned her not to get too carried away. "As long as we keep a balance..."
"Agreed, balance'll be the key here. Managin' the ranch and then anything we buy like businesses and of course more land out there, which begets more stock on the place. Regular business folks."
Then she grinned and laughed. "B and E Pike Enterprises! That sounds nice!"
I like that, I like that that a lot. B 'n E Enterprises. Yep! Has the sound of success about it." He was grinning at the prospects of it all, something he had not thought of before, but sounded really good then.
Posted August 8, 2022
"Of course, we are unstoppable!" Emeline had often thought about the future, where she would be and what it would look like, and well knew that that was an ever-changing picture, but she had confidence that her current thoughts would still be essentially the same even twenty or thirty years down the road -- happiness, whether they still had the ranch and a big, beautiful house, or were living above her cafe again, with all twelve children, there would be happiness.
"I don't know how we become an enterprise," she chuckled, "or what that means for our...well, enterprises, but it will give us something to talk about on the way to Virginia City."
She slipped out of her robe then turned down the bed. "I don't know about you, but Eudora and I are exhausted, and we've got a long day ahead of us."
Posted August 9, 2022
I don't either, but an enterprise we are. You know, I'd never actually thought about it, but we need to start investing. Mines have a habit of petering out, not that I expect ours to go under any time soon, but it is possible." He said off offhandedly. He began to undress. "It's been a great trip so far, and there's a bit more to come, before the trip home." He smiled,, "Which I am looking forward to."
And he was, not that he was not enjoying their trip, because he was. It was just that he was beginning to really miss Kalispell and whatever was going on up there, But he was confident that Speed had the town well in hand.
Posted August 9, 2022
"That's smart, to invest in different things," Emeline murmured, curling against his warm body with a sigh. "That way, we always have something to fall back on, right? And set aside some for savings." She'd even been doing that, even if it was just a little here and there. "I forgot...I have about a hundred and fifty in savings. We'll have the cattle, and horses, and...whatever it takes to be an enterprise!"
She smiled as she closed her eyes. "Good night, Mr. Pike. Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
Posted August 10, 2022
"Not in my plans Missus Pike, not at all." He replied as he settled into the bed. Bed bugs could be prevalent in parts of the country, but he doubted that they were in this hotel. But his thoughts slipped from bed bugs to financial matters.
Consolidated Virginia and California was not one, but a consortium of mines, called Con Virginia which we was a part of. He had sold his holding in the Yellow Jacket Mine and invested the proceeds in the Con Virginia which began as the C&C Shaft a joint venture between Virginia and California mines under control of the 'Bonanza Firm,' being Mackay, Fair, Flood, and O'Brien. He had made the choice to go with the 'Silver Kings,' and it was paying off, handsomely, Thanks to Cap Taylor.
Therein lies the problem. Money came to him monthly via Wells Fargo to Helena, with a stipend coming to Kalispell which sat in the bank there. He had had not thought of how much was deposited in the First National Bank in Helena. What did his future look like? Yes, he had made large withdrawals for their ranch, the cattle, the horses, and, the trip, Those and that had been done without question from Helena, so he must be alright financially. However he needed to present himself to the bank and find out where he stood, because he had a wife with child, and responsibilities to them.
Morning broke over San Francisco, and Barnabas Pike swung out of bed after a restless night. They would be on their way to Virginia City in a matter of a few hours.