Posted August 29, 2022
Emeline wasn't sure how she felt about gambling, after all, while they weren't necessarily just sitting at a table with cards, wasn't starting a ranch, or a restaurant, for that matter, a form of gambling? It just took longer to find out whether or not you were a winner.
"At least you had the good sense to get out before he could try to win it back! But you've seen it, right? The mine, I mean." Or maybe he had the good sense to stay out of one if he wasn't needed in it?
While she knew it wasn't going to be fancy or comfortable, she was still curious, and wanted to see what it was like 'in the bowels of the Earth'!
"You don't suppose this Nelly Wadsworth will still be in town?"
Posted August 30, 2022
"Well I knew that There was the possibility that they would send men to retrieve that one third share. But I managed to get it registered all proper, went down to see the mine superintendent, Capt Taylor and laid out the facts of life to him. Never had no trouble, and they were paying on time into the Wells Fargo bank, so I let 'er set." He explained as the conductor approached them.
"Mister and Missus Pike?" He asked.
"Yes, there a problem?" Barnabas asked.
"Yes sir, seems to be. You're in the wrong car. If you'll just follow me. Mister Sharon's car is just this way. I'm sorry for the confusion, sir, Ma'am."
Barnabas stood and offered his hand to Em. Then the followed the Conductor out of the car and through the door into what was Bill Sharon's private car.
"I'm sure you'll be most comfortable here, and again, my apologies for the mix up."
Wide eyed, Barnabas looked at the accommodations of the car. "No sir, not at all." As the conductor left, Pike looked to his wife somewhat astonished. "Well, ah, ain't this somethin'. I'd say this is opulence!"
Posted August 30, 2022
"Oh, goodness!" Emeline couldn't help but chuckle when the conductor told them they were in the wrong car, she muttered, "See? I was right!" They'd been discovered, and were being escorted to the baggage car!
Of course, she knew that wasn't true, but could barely fathom why they would be moved. Then they stepped into the amazing car and she gripped Barnabas' arm.
"Oh, my!" Grinning, she let go of her husband and stepped farther into the room. "This is...I never would have imagined such a thing existed!" Oh, she knew there were personalized train cars, but she'd had no idea how fancy and well-appointed they could be.
"Look! There are even live plants!" Who would have even thought of that? Laughing, she flopped out on a velvet settee. "I think I could get used to this!"
Posted August 31, 2022
Oh, he knew of these cars, the Silver Kings all had them, though he personally had never been inside one. Her reaction was, to him, priceless. He would have to send a wire of thanks to Bill once they were on the Comstock. This was because of those days when they were all friends in one way or another.
Suddenly it dawned on him, those were the old days for him. He was married, owned his own ranch and was married and about to become a father. In a moment he had some things to consider going forward.
"Well you can't say Bill doesn't go first cabin when he travels." He said, a wide smile. "And yes, we could both get used to this kind of a like. I mean, I had no idea, seriously Em. None, that I was able to do these sorts of things for you and with you. I don't mean this coach, but just those things we have done since leaving Kalispell." He took her in his arms and held her a long moment. "God, I love you, Em!"
Posted September 1, 2022
The sensation of belonging, caring and loving was almost overwhelming, and Emeline was content to stay here for a long moment and take in the embrace. While she knew it wouldn't always be so easy or wonderful, she knew that together they had a good, strong life ahead of them.
"I love you, too, Barnabas, more than...I wasn't going to let myself do this again, and then a silly dishwasher caught me off-guard." But it had spoken well for his character that a man of his means and experiences would be content to help a widow with her little cafe.
"We're so lucky, we'll have to thank Mr. Sharon." She'd try to think of something from 'home' to send his way. "Well, shall we take advantage of his generosity?"
Posted September 2, 2022
"Lucky? We are Misses Pike. We're very lucky." He replied not yet letting her go. "Before us is some hard work to build the ranch. But we knew that when we decided to build. Cattle, horse, and with luck those men with the herd will cotton to us and stay on." He stepped back.
"The turn of a card is what happened to me back then. I stood to lose all I had, but I didn't. I took a chance when I met you. It was not something I was going to do again, and I suppose that was true for you too. Losing a love, well, sortta make things some miserable and empty. You filled that spot for me, an it seems I did that for you too."
"Fate, Em. All of it from them cards to alla this. It was meant to be, and by golly we've got a firm grip. Yes, let's take advantage of Bill's generosity, it's why he lent this coach to us, after all."
Posted September 2, 2022
"What is that saying? 'Fate is a fickle mistress'? Or maybe it's fortune?" Emeline grinned. "At any rate, we make of it what we will, and we will make something good of it!"
For a moment she looked around, not sure where to start, then finally settled on a velvet-covered sofa, sighing. "We just might have to get us one of these! Come on, sit down, it's so soft!"
She laughed, then shook her head. "Or maybe not...I'd be tempted to just sit and read all day, and then what would become of the ranch?"
Posted September 3, 2022
"What is that saying? 'Fate is a fickle mistress'? Or maybe it's fortune?" Emeline grinned. "At any rate, we make of it what we will, and we will make something good of it!"
"I've heard of that, not real sure how it went, but I'll say this, we're already making something good of it. Maybe folks in Kalispell will snicker at the fact we've gone and made this trip, and taken all this time for ourselves, but the truth is, we could, so we did." He smiled, "Nothin' like these private cars, that's for sure! Men of means all got 'em."
For a moment she looked around, not sure where to start, then finally settled on a velvet-covered sofa, sighing. "We just might have to get us one of these! Come on, sit down, it's so soft!"
He moved to the sofa and dropped down beside her. "Plush, I believe that's the term. Everything is so plush, an' the paint. I never seen the like, not ever." He exclaimed.
She laughed, then shook her head. "Or maybe not...I'd be tempted to just sit and read all day, and then what would become of the ranch?"
"There ain't no railroad in are neck of the woods, so havin' one a' these is the least of my worries, woman. As for the ranch, she'll do jest fine if I get them boys with the herd to stay on. Be a few more'n we need at the start, but I've some plans for the place." He responded, then he sat back and marveled that the time they have had on this journey, the places they've seen, and people they had met along the way. Life would not be like this a whole lot longer, and he intended to enjoy every moment of it with her!
Posted September 3, 2022
"Oh, no, not a whole train car!" Emeline grinned and shook her head. "We'd have nowhere to put it! No, I just mean a nice sofa like this, all soft and comfortable."
Snuggling against Barnabas, she chuckled. "Like I said, I think if I had one, I'd never want to get up, and then where would we be? Of course, I do think I'm going to need a good rocking chair."
Taking his hand, she placed it on her belly. "The little ones are going to want a lot of rocking. Hopefully, little Cecil will sleep all night, if not, we may have to put him in the bunkhouse with the hands!"
Posted September 4, 2022
Barnabas laughed at his mistake, but then really, how was he to know she had not meant the train car? "Well now, I'm sure that we could order one of 'em outta a catalog right? I mean they got everything in them books, or maybe the Anderson's Mercantile, or Daniel Wilson's General Store could order what you want. Unless we'd need to go to Helena ta get one. Hire Addy to fetch it,"
That seemed reasonable enough, but then too, with the ranch He was going to have to have a wagon, draft horses and most likely a buckboard as well. But at the moment he was not looking forward to taking a wagon to Helena. Once he was back, there was the Deputy job and his ranch to contend with, and traipsing all over the state was not among his plans.
"But yep, this here sofa is real comfortable, and by golly we oughttta have us one. But there's already a house fulla furniture a waitin' on us. So I guess we'll see." He explained, "Had Mary Agnes sortta get the place set up when I knew we were leavin'. I'm sure she got some help to get it done."
It was a noble idea, having the place ready for them, but it was Em's house, and likely as not, it was not done the way she would like. He would not know that, but he would find out soon enough.