Posted March 15, 2022
"It would take some getting used to." Emeline chuckled. "And you'd have to have everything tacked down, just in case! Of course, I don't know which would be worse, an earthquake or a tornado. When I was a girl, back in Illinois, I say a twister from a distance, and it was frightening and amazing at the same time."
She took another sip of wine. "My parents took us to the effected area to help out, and it was sobering. The damage was unimaginable, but a few yards away it was as if nothing had happened."
There had been severe storms after that, but nothing of the magnitude of a tornado, although the blizzard that hit Whitefish had been a close second. "Besides fog, the weather here is fairly temperate, isn't it?"
Posted March 15, 2022
"Temperate is the by word, yes. Part of the reason the city has grown as it has. I say part because so many have moved here that actually have nothing to to with the port. Families of means, a substantial Chinese population, among the large European and American born citizenry. Not the melting pot of New York, of course, folks of all walks of life contributing to this magnificent city." He said with pride.
"I've seen the changes since I had been here, several years back, and then again before I headed up north and took root in Kalispell, and the difference is undeniable. This town is booming in a way that is far more permanent than any mining boom. All of them eventually go bust, though Virginia City's been at it the last seventeen years." Pike added.
"True, and hasn't slowed down all that much." Bill laughed. "She may never slow down, who's to say." He looked to Emeline, "You'll have to forgive us, something about the place that once you've lived there, it just sort of sticks with you."
Posted March 15, 2022
"It sounds like you had some good times there," Emeline commented with a smile, "so that is understandable." Honestly, she wouldn't pine away too much if she never went back to Illinois, except to visit family, and that wasn't likely to happen for a while.
"I do think that I'd want to come back to Kalispell, should we ever leave." She glanced at Barnabas with a grin. "Of course, that isn't likely to happen, what with everything we're putting into the ranch."
It was all so personal at this point, and maybe even moreso since it was the first step in their lives together, and as far as Emeline was concerned, it was forever. Well, life had a way of shifting things, so who knew, maybe in forty or fifty years they'd be someplace like Florida?
Nah, that was absurd!
Posted March 16, 2022
"I can say this, I miss the place sometimes, a couple of the views from Sun Mountain are outstanding. But you know, the place is loud, stamp mills pounding away night and day, revelers up at all hours, The streets never really shutting down. Parts of it, I don't miss, parts I do. But Kalispell? I miss the openness of the place. Not too big, not too small. And like she said, there's the ranch and everything we're putting into it. Gonna be one heck of a spread when we're done puttin' it together."
Bill smiled, "And that is the secret. Me? I'd be lost up there, here, I'm in my element. And that is what makes life worth the journey. Being happy where you're at, doing something that you love. Being with someone you love. Yes sir, that's the ticket alright." He smiled and sat back,
"This trip of yours, quite the adventure I'd imagine. One of those things that will be a memory for life, a time when you were free of things that would otherwise hold you down, raising children, and the animals, not to mention the folks that depend on you. You two? You will do just fine."
Posted March 16, 2022
"Thank you." Emeline smiled as she gave Barnabas' hand a squeeze, more gentle than the last. "I'm really excited for it to be complete...well, for now, anyway. I suspect the whole ranch, and the cafe...house, family...those are all going to be constantly changing and growing, but that's the fun in it!"
Her smile widened as the trip was mentioned. "There will be more trips, international ones, but those are off in the future, something to look forward to. In the mean time, I intend to make the most of it, and experience everything I can. And I am grateful to you for adding earthquake to that list!
Posted March 17, 2022
Bill laughed out loud at her thanks for adding the earthquakes to her list of experiences. "Well, I would be happy were there not these rollers, but it is a part of life here in San Francisco, thank goodness that it is not a constant thing, but more of a now and again affair."
"International travel, I have done some in my time. Not many trips, but enough to have enjoyed sailing ships, the trains of Europe, seeing many things abroad that I might never have enjoyed otherwise. So yes, you must if that is available to you."
"Now that's one thing I never thought of doing myself." Barnabas admitted. "I heard a lot about it when I was on the hill. Why Flood, Mackey, and the others were always talking about France, or England, even Russia, like they were just over the hill. Wasn't something I ever saw me doing, but now, we have us a lot to do, though in time, if we are successful, and I believe we will be, travel will be a big part of our lives." He looked to Em and smiled.
They were on the threshold of their lives together, and all things were possible. The income from the mines, the ranch and all it could bring in, there was no reason they would not be a rip roaring success!
Posted March 17, 2022
"Once the children are old enough," Emeline assured him, "we'll pack them up and take them..." Well, there were so many possibilities, and who knew what their desires would be then? "Wherever our fancies want! By then, the ranch should be running well, and we should have the freedom. And I certainly don't want to be worrying about small children on a trip."
That was a lot of work, and a risk she wasn't going to take with their children, not after what she'd already been through. Not that there wouldn't be trips, she wanted their children to have experiences and see the territory, just not out of the country.
Despite the earlier excitement, the food arrived, and Emeline took a deep whiff of her meal. "This smells wonderful! And bread, too! What type is this?" Not being from the Bay Area, she'd never heard of sourdough before!
Posted March 19, 2022
Bill gave her a stern look, "If it is less than wonderful we shall send it back!" Then he laughed. "We would certainly do that, but it is seldom that has happened. Please, enjoy. Then we'll get to this kitchen tour I promised."
"So Bill," Pike began between bites, "What do you hear of the others?" Those others would be the 'Silver Kings' of the Comstock, John Mackay, (pronounced Mackee), James Fair, James Flood, and William Shoney O'Brien.
"They're still at it up there. They opened Nevada Bank just last year and it's growing fast. Whatever these four touch turns to silver!" Bills stated between bites. "You remember Randy Hearst? He's here in California looking to build down around San Simeon, has his eye on the property, but he's buying up newspapers. Others took what they made and moved on, sort of like me."
"Some things are slow to change, I would have thought they might have moved on by now. Maybe we'll get to see them while we're there."
"Possible. They are busy up there." Bill looked to Emeline, "And you meal my dear? How is it?"
Posted March 21, 2022
"Oh...it's amazing!" Emeline had been glad for the men chatting so that she could enjoy the cippino and sourdough bread, a perfect combination. "If all the food is this good here, we may have to become regular visitors."
Grinning, she glanced at Barnabas. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he planned this, bringing me here to sample things I can't get at home, so I will badger him to bring me back!"
She laughed, then added, "I do hope some of your friends are still in Virginia City when we get there. I'd love to meet them." And she knew it would be good for him to see how his friends were doing, and for him to have a chance to show that he was doing well also.
Posted March 22, 2022
"Oh...it's amazing!" Emeline had been glad for the men chatting so that she could enjoy the cippino and sourdough bread, a perfect combination. "If all the food is this good here, we may have to become regular visitors."
Barnabas looked at her after the statement, and then smiled at the thought. "Might haveta wait on the railroad to reach us before we're planning trips like this with all them kids you're planning on."
Grinning, she glanced at Barnabas. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he planned this, bringing me here to sample things I can't get at home, so I will badger him to bring me back!"
"Bill? Bill wouldn't do that sort of thing, unless he was sure he could get a way with it." Barnabas said as Bill laughed.
"I'll not justify such an accusation, so long as I can avoid it!" Bill added in. "To see an old friend and learn what he's become since I last saw him? You bet young lady, you bet I would."
She laughed, then added, "I do hope some of your friends are still in Virginia City when we get there. I'd love to meet them." And she knew it would be good for him to see how his friends were doing, and for him to have a chance to show that he was doing well also.
Barnabas nodded as she spoke, "As Bill says, they're still about up there, except when they're not. But with luck, you get to meet a few folks I know from the hill, for sure some have moved on to other strikes, the nature of miners, especially those not happy with working for the big mines and want something of their own. Even though they're making four dollars a day and then some. Highest wages in the world!"
"They're a breed unto themselves, that for sure." Bill added.