Posted February 20, 2022
"Well, I'm curious to see Virginia City," Emeline commented, "and all the places I've heard about, especially the mines. Mr. Pike has promised me he'd show me through one, although I'm not sure I'm happy with the idea of having a whole mountain over my head!"
When she thought about being inside a mountain, it actually made her a little queasy, because her next thought was the whole thing squishing down on her!
"And the stamp mills, of course. I never thought about the process of extracting ore, I just assumed gold was gold and silver was silver. Now, though, I'd like to see more of the process."
After all, Barnabas pretty much knew everything about her business, so it was only right!
"Now, what do you suggest for dinner...keeping in mind," she grinned slyly, "that I'm an excellent cook, even if I do say so myself!"
Posted February 21, 2022
Both men looked to one another. Barnabas had no idea she would have such an interest in the mining operations, or in the town of Virginia City itself. But he was smiling as a result.
"We'll do all of that, Em." He stated, and there would be a lot to show her once they reached Nevada. But for the moment, they were about to focus on dinner. "What's good Bill?"
"Everything. I've sampled everything on the menu, but u=it depends on your taste of course. The best beef steak, assorted seafood items, all of which are delicious. I would recommend the swordfish steaks, extremely good. We have squid I believe. Lobster whole and tails. Then too we have numerous French dishes with names I cannot pronounce. Pork dishes, stews, I might also recommend the steak and lobster tail, one of my favorites, and an up and coming dish all over the city." Then he leaned forward, "and a dish we have, shall we say, borrowed? Cioppino! A marvelous sea food stew, brimming with clams, prawns, scallops, bay shrimp, crab meat, whitefish and mussels."
"Well Em, that's some choice you have there. What'll it be?" Pike asked. "Me, I'm havin' the swordfish steak!"
Posted February 21, 2022
"Oh, my gosh, I think I'd like a little of everything!" Well, except maybe for things like steak, that she cooked back home, from beef fresh off the range, but there was so much, and she was finding that she really was enjoying seafood.
"I think I'll try that Cioppino...it sounds like there's a lot of variety." That way, she could at least sample a little of several things. "It's a pity we can't get seafood in Kalispell, I'm afraid I'm going to find all these good dishes, but I won't be able to make them." And not only were the ingredients hard to get, but she wasn't sure that the miners and farmers in Montana would have a curiosity for such things.
"You know, I would love to see the kitchen sometime. I'm interested to see how different it is than mine." Oh, she had no idea!
Posted February 22, 2022
Bill simply smiled at her enthusiasm. "You'll find that a good Choice Misses Pike, a very fine sampling of the bounty of the sea." Then he leaned forward as if to tell a huge secret. "Confidentially, Ma'am, I can get us back there after dinner, just don't tell anyone."
"Bill, you're full'a malarkey!" Pike stated with a wide grin. "I'm going to need to get to a Wells Fargo bank and get more cash. Afraid our travels today lightened my wallet a good deal."
"The city sometimes as that effect. Not to worry, a counter check can be had at the front desk. Simply fill in an amount and sign it, we'll give you the cash on the spot. Something we do for our guests." He raised a hand an a waiter came over. "We'll order now."
Posted March 3, 2022
This was all so grand compared to her humble little café, but that just fit with the differences in the cities, both which had their good and bad traits.
"I promise not to tell anyone you let us invade the kitchen!" She laughed, although when Barnabas asked about cash, she was a little concerned...were they indulging too much? How much was too much when he kept insisting there was much more?
Well, she trusted that he was responsible with money, why else would he have worked as a dishwasher in a small cafe?
The orders were made, and Emeline found it interesting that the waiter didn't have to write things down, but it was just another sign of the professionalism of the establishment.
"So, why did you decide to open a hotel like this, Mr. Sharon? With so many possibilities..." She laughed again. "I'm afraid I'd spend my time changing my mind, and never come to a decision!"
Posted March 3, 2022
"So, why did you decide to open a hotel like this, Mr. Sharon? With so many possibilities..." She laughed again. "I'm afraid I'd spend my time changing my mind, and never come to a decision!"
"Well that would be true if the deal did not present itself at just the right time, much the same as Consolidated Virginia, eh Barnabas? The old adage, 'strike while the iron's hot' plays into these things quite regularly." Bill had a broad grin on his face as he spoke.
"I made the decision, based on price and affordability. Both were favorable, along with the consent of my dear wife Maria, who unfortunately could not be here tonight as she is in Wisconsin seeing her sister. She so loves this place, as do I. The splendor of the workmanship is astounding. But tell me Ma'am, about your town. Your place. Seriously, at times I long for open country instead of the big city life."
Posted March 6, 2022
"Oh, I'm sorry your wife couldn't be here, I'm sure she'd be very interesting to talk to." And she was curious to see how much Mrs. Sharon had input in the business.
"Kalispell is...well, just a few blocks compared to San Francisco." Emeline smiled brightly, adding, "But there are trees, creeks, beautiful mountains capped with snow and brilliant blue skies..."
It was clear by her tone and expression that she loved her home, and perhaps even missed it some.
"And my place...it's called the 'Lickskillet', because Andrew used to say that..." Pausing, she glanced at Barnabas, then quickly explained, "Andrew was my first husband...he was killed in an accident...and he used to tease me that my gravy was so good, one could lick the skillet."
A blush tinted her cheeks as she smiled. "It's small...very small compared to this, and the fare is simple, but I will brag that most folks think my pies are passable."
Posted March 6, 2022
"Lickskillet. I like that, conveys a place where the food is good, filling one would say. There were some places on the Comstock of the same nature. Serving good solid food that filled a man up. Those were the days, and from what I hear, little has changed up there, though a number of restaurants have opened that are, shall I say, a higher class. Meaning, more expensive." Sharon said. "I'm sorry about your husband, but then again, happy Barnabas here had the good fortune of finding you."
Sharon sat back, "A town of just a few blocks. I remember the earlier days up there, it seemed so small for so many people, but in actuality it wasn't, though it had been in the beginning. Hard to keep a place small when word of a strike gets out." With that he laughed. And your home, Misses Pike, where it located, there in town?"
Posted March 6, 2022
"There's a small apartment above the cafe, I was living there alone, and for now, Mr. Pike has moved in as well." Smiling, she glanced at Barnabas. "But we are building a house on our ranch, it will be beautiful, with views of a waterfall, amid the trees..."
Her tone reflected her excitement as she elaborated. "Just today we commissioned some stained glass for the windows, and it should be ready to move into when we get back, as the young woman who is minding the café is living in the apartment now." Her smile widened. "We'll have horses, Morgans, well, cattle, too, of course, but I'm most excited about the horses. Morgans are fine, hardy stock, well-suited to riding and pulling, and..."
She paused, laughing. "And I ramble too much!"
Posted March 7, 2022
Barnabas smiled.
"Please, do go on, Misses Pike, it sounds wonderful. Being trapped here in the city, no matter how nice, the open country, the fresh air, yes, those things that most city folk have shrived to get away from. I miss those things, and you two are a breath of that fresh air. Please, tell me more about this Kalispell where you live."
"Oh now, Em here can go on at length about the place and all it's wonders. One of the reasons I courted her. her love of the country." Barnabas interjected. "If we was selling property up that way, why, she'd be doin' land office business."