Posted September 23, 2022
"It sounds wonderful!" Emeline started fussing with her skirts, trying, not very successfully, to brush out the wrinkles. "I'd enjoy a walk after being on the train all day, and getting some fresh air."
It would be just the thing to break up the monotony of hours inside, and at least at the moment, she wasn't tired!
Standing in front of a mirror, she fixed her hair as best she could, then she laughed. "They'll hardly suspect that we came from this car," she declared, glancing at Barnabas, "for all that we look like vagabonds!"
Well, it wasn't that bad, they weren't in their best clothes, but neither were they in the sort of clothes they wore back in Kalispell. Still, they didn't exactly look the sort to be in an elegant car like this.
Posted September 23, 2022
"Now honey, you look just fine, and for the time being, Reno's no San Francisco, so you and I will be dressed a bit better than most, not all, but most. There is a good deal of Comstock money in Reno, not so much as Carson City, or Virginia City, but it's there and those men are influential."
"Investors, suppliers, bankers, freight companies, and the like all have made money off of the Comstock as would be expected. They are building mansions here in Reno, so it's well on it's way, just not as toney as some of the other towns. It'll get there. But we'll just be there over night and on our way tomorrow."
Posted September 24, 2022
"Oh, I know I'm amazingly beautiful!" Emeline laughed, turning away from the mirror. "I just want to be sure I'm not too beautiful so I make everyone jealous!"
She laughed again, then moved over to hug Barnabas. "You are spoiling me, Mr. Pike, and I love it! And you, of course."
But as much as she was enjoying this, she was going to be happy to get back to 'real life', to building something lasting with the man she loved so much.
"It's good to be in the mountains again, isn't it?" With a sigh, she smiled. "I grew up in the rolling plains of Illinois, but once I got into the Rockies, it felt like home...like that was where I belong."
Posted September 25, 2022
"Reno's not exactly the mountains, but the Comstock is and Tahoe Lake is in the Sierra Nevada's, though I've been told that the lake and the Comstock are the same elevation, but as I remember it, the Lake is a whole lot prettier what with the pine trees and all." He said, "and your beauty cannot be denied, not by anyone. Should they be jealous, that's about them."
"I am supposed to spoil you aren't I?" He asked. "Life'll be a whole lot different once we're home, but it'll be the best. Wait and see. Life for us is bound to be the very best." He took her in his arms and kissed her full on the mouth. Pulled back and looked in her eyes. "I love you Missus Pike. This has been a grand time of it, it has, and we ain't done yet, not by a long shot!"
Posted September 26, 2022
Emeline laughed, hugging him tightly, feeling the happiest and most optimistic she had in a very long time. "You may spoil me all you'd like, Mr. Pike, and I'll do whatever I can to keep you happy." The first thing to that end was to give him a healthy child, something she was looking forward to, and in just a few short months would be a reality.
"I suppose first we need to take on Reno, and I'm ready for that, but I'm really anxious to get to Virginia City, to see the places you love so much." Or, at least, places that had helped make him the man she loved so much, and maybe she could dig up some dirt to tease him with!"
Posted September 26, 2022
"Oh I plan on doin' just that Missus Pike! A whole lot, not just down here, but back home when we get there."He stated with a grin. "An' I figger you'll do just that as well. We got us a long trail to follow, so there'll be a lotta spoilin' and keepin' one another happy along the way. Not that we won't have the days that everybody has, cuz we will."
"Well, we're pullin' into the station, best we sit down before we need to be picked up off the floor. These trains don't exactly stop real smooth, sometimes," He added. and he led her back to the plush sofa. "Yep, need ta have one of these!"
Posted September 26, 2022
"Where would we put it?" Emeline grinned as she started to sit beside him, but just at that moment the train's brakes engaged for the first time, sending her sprawling across Barnabas' lap.
"Goodness!" She started laughing as she looked up at him. "I'm afraid my husband isn't going to like this!" she giggled. "He's very jealous, you know, so you'd best kiss me while you can!"
Posted September 27, 2022
And so he obliged her as the train came to a jolting stop. "There now, he'll never know!" Pike stated boldly. "Or at least I hope he won't. I hear he's hell on wheels with a gun, and quick to anger. Maybe we best call this off."
"Well, looks to me like Reno's not changed a great deal, at least not that I can see." He smiled as he looked out the window. The turned to her and added "Then love, this is where we get off." They had carried nothing on board, but their trunks would be on the platform to be delivered either to the hotel they would pick, or to the V&T baggage car for transport the following day. They did have two smaller bags that contained a quick change of undergarments and a fresh shirt for him.
As he help her down from the car to the platform he said, "Accommodations should be easy enough to get through the ticket office, and perhaps a good place to eat as well. Let's go get that taken care of."
Posted September 27, 2022
"Or at least I hope he won't. I hear he's hell on wheels with a gun, and quick to anger. Maybe we best call this off."
"If you insist." Emeline stuck out her bottom lip in a pout, but then laughed, kissed him and stood. She was so happy that Barnabas was able to joke and tease with her, and didn't take every little thing seriously. If you didn't have fun now and then, life could be pretty dull.
She glanced out the window, then followed him to the door, regretting that they were going to lose the luxury of the car, but looking forward to the next part of the journey.
As he helped her to the platform, she took the chance to look around, noting that Reno was much more what she was accustomed to, and it was a bit of a relief after the huge cities of Portland and San Francisco.
"This is nice, and I'm well-rested, ready for supper and that stroll." She hooked her arm into her husband's. "Lead on, and I will follow!"
Posted September 28, 2022
Barnabas went to the ticket agent insure they were booked on the V&T for the following day, and while he was at it arranged for transportation to the Lake House, which was just across the river from The city proper. He insured that there would be transportation back to the station for the mid-morning train, rather that the eight-o-seven. Of course they were running close to forty trains a day from Reno to Virginia City.
As promised, a buggy stood out in front as Barnabas walked back to EM, "All set Love. We'll be at the lake House across the River. I'm told they have a fine restaurant inside. I have our tickets for the mid morning train, nine-fifty, up the hill. That buggy is for us." He picked up the bags and started for the buggy where the driver hurried over to assist.