Posted April 13, 2022
"We'd be delighted to have you out to the ranch, when it's a little closer to being finished." Emeline laughed. "Right now, you'd probably have to sleep in a hammock slung between two trees! Not that that would be so bad, but I'm afraid the raccoons might nibble on your toes!"
It was good to think about the future and to be able to laugh, although the day had caught up with her, and Emeline was leaning heavily on Barnabas, her hand resting on her belly.
"Of course, even after the house is finished, you might find that it will be more peaceful outside with the critters! This little one is going to be a handful, I can tell you that!"
Posted April 14, 2022
Hotelier William Sharon leaned forward as if he had a great secret to share that he wanted no one else to hear, "Tell you what, there are many, many times that I would love to be able to crawl into a hammock and just be at peace. Toe nibbling or not." He shared., "and I might just take you up on that visit at some point. It would be good to get way out of the city for a bit."
Then he sat up, "Oh, you're with child, my goodness, what with the current fashion requirements of the fairer sex, you must be terribly uncomfortable! Is there anything I can do? I mean to make you more comfortable?"
Barnabas smiled. For that, he would let Em answer. Why they had to wear those corsets were a mystery to him, although he would admit he did like the look it gave the ladies.
Posted April 15, 2022
"The corset actually seems to help give some support," Emeline commented, "although I suspect that in a few weeks I'll forego one altogether." There was a limit to endurance, and having been through this before, Emeline had no qualms about being comfortable.
"Everything here is just perfect, Mr. Sharon, and Miss Lillian has been a great deal of help. I could get used to this, if I didn't have a wonderful home to look forward to!" Well, San Francisco was far too chaotic and populated for her taste anyway, and as much as she was enjoying the trip, the thought of sitting on the porch of their house, listening to the falls, was engaging.
"Now, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep, and more adventure tomorrow!"
Posted April 16, 2022
Barnabas got to his feet in an easy manner, "Best get her to the room, Bill, been a long day in a host of long exciting days." He grinned that grin of his. "I want to thanks you for all of this, I know that there are some thing we said we had plans for here in the city, but I think given the situation, maybe we need to head to Virginia City, get that business over with and get back to Kalispell and our lives there." Th grin had not faded as he went on, remember that you're always welcome on the Rockin' P Ranch, if you ever get up that way."
"Pronto, By the Lord Harry it's been good seeing you again, and what a delight to meet your lovely wife. It has certainly been my pleasure to have you with us here at the Palace, and as long as I'm here, you two have standing reservations, no matter how many children you might bring along!" He turned to Em then, "Misses Pike, your presence here has graced our hotel, and brightened our lives. Thank you so much. And please, take care of the galoot, he's one of a kind, rich or poor, you'll not do better than my friend here."
Posted April 17, 2022
"I knew from the first that I saw him," Emeline declared with a smile, "that he was something special." Well, that wasn't exactly true, although she had seen him as a gentleman, and a good, caring man. But it had only been a short time before she had realized that he was, indeed, special, and might potentially change her life.
Things had progressed quickly from there, and there had been no qualms nor doubts, just delightful discoveries.
"And I thank you, Mr. Sharon, for keeping him in line and out of harm's way while he was waiting for me!" Laughing, she gave Barnabas' hand a quick squeeze. "Your hospitality has been wonderful and welcome, and we will take you up on your offer, and one day return with twelve screaming banshees...er, well-mannered children!"
Stepping forward, she gave the man a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, again, Mr. Sharon."
Posted April 17, 2022
"Whatever you decide about staying or going, have safe travels when you decide to go. Say hello to our friends on the Comstock for me." Bill said as he received Em's kiss on the cheek. "I will do what I can to escape the city and head north to repay the visit, Good Lord willing!"
"Look forward to it." Barnabas said as he took Em's arm, Bill scurried off on some errand while the couple started out of the dining room. "Well Em, what do you think? Want to push on to Nevada and then head for home, or just spend a few more days here by the ocean?" Because there was a choice to be made, and she was with child, their child, and that must be taken into account.
Posted April 18, 2022
"I'm enjoying myself," Emeline declared with a weary smile, walking along with him to their room, "how about we get some sleep, then decide in the morning." One thing with being pregnant was that the way she felt, both emotionally and physically, changed so frequently it was hard to know where she'd be at any given time. And as much as she was aware of that and tried to work with it, sometimes it was overwhelming.
Even so, she was having a good time, and there was still so much to see, and she wanted to experience it all...and she wanted to go home, where things were comfortable and familiar, and theirs.
"For now, I want out of this corset, and I want to cuddle with the man I love!"
Posted April 18, 2022
Barnabas, for all his bravado on the streets of Kalispell, would be the first to admit he had absolutely no understanding of what a pregnant woman went through at any point, simply acquiesced to her wishes when she made them known. Her comfort was important to him as the pregnancy progressed, and it was doing that daily.
It was not like he had never experienced a woman who was pregnant, he had, his mother. Barnabas was born into a family of five, a sister a year older than he, two brothers, one four, Silas, and one six years older, Samuel. There was another daughter lost in child birth.
"Sure, ain't no rush, Love, we got all the time we need." He said as he led her to their room. "Just thinking too, maybe we just go a bit easier. You know, maybe a mite slower as you progress." The good news, there were rails all the way to Montana, not to home, but close.
Posted April 20, 2022
"At least for a day or so," Emeline said as he opened the door to their room, "a day on a picnic, without bustles and frills, maybe we can go out to the beaches where the seals are?" She flopped on the bed with a sigh. "I'd like to see them."
Then she stood up and shook her head. "Mr. Pike, would you be so kind as to free me from all this material?" Smiling wearily, she kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, you know."
Posted April 20, 2022
"I know, Em, I know, an' I love you too." He stepped behind her and continued, We can do that," He began as he started the process of unbuttoning the back of her dress to get to the other layers which would need to be removed in order to release her from the confinement of the corset.
"Jest was wantin' ya to have yer say in what we do next." He slipped back into his more comfortable speech pattern for a moment. "Lunch with the seals it is! Nevada will be there when we get there, and the notion of rails pretty much all the way, well now, that will be nice, better than another wagon."