"I think, Mr. Pike," Emeline declared with a wide grin, "that you are brilliant. There are certainly jobs I'll be taking on that could benefit from trousers, but I wasn't sure..." Well, he had seen her on that first ride in Andrew's old, ill-fitting pants and hadn't judged her a floozy, and what with working around horses and equipment, pants would be much safer.
"I'd love having some of my own, that fit properly...and good boots and gloves. Such a wise man I married!" Of course, she'd never wear them in town, and even on the ranch, she'd be sure to keep them neat and clean.
In due course, she had some nice wool pants and linen shirts, a couple of functional dresses, for herself and Clara, and some accessories, and it was time to head to the depot to start the journey home!
Barnabas stood on the platform watching as their luggage was loaded into the box car. That done he walked across the planked floor of the platform as other passengers waited to board or got their tickets, and made his way past the engine for a look down the canyon for perhaps the last time. Virginia City had been a home for him, among others in other places, but the Comstock had a hold on him, not like he felt on the knoll where the waterfall tumbled into the stream. No, that was home, and that was where he was headed with the love of his life, and the child that she carried.
Life had changed for him in far more ways than the accumulation of money, He was building a family with Em. They were about to build their own spread, and she could raise her Morgan horses, he could work the cattle, and the children, his children would be there helping out along the way. He smiled, yes, the Comstock would always be a fond memory and everything that had happened there, including Julia Dey. But in his heart, he had let her go a long time back.
He started to turn and walk back when he saw Em step down from a carriage and start toward him.
It was time to go.
As she stepped out of the carriage, Emeline had a package tucked under her arm, and the coachman beckoned over the porter to collect a few more packages to add to their trunks.
"Don't worry," Emeline assured Barnabas as she went to him and kissed him on the cheek, "I didn't buy out the store, and here is your change." She handed him the remainder of the money he had given her earlier, then indicated the package she was carrying. "I will change into this when we are on our way, so I can get rid of the bustle! I want to be comfortable for travel." And the baby was growing to a point that the waistband of her skirt needed to be adjustable, so that it wasn't binding.
"Then I plan to sit by the window and appreciate traveling by train, because I know it will be more work once we're in the wagon." Oddly, though, she was looking forward to being on the trail again, alone with her husband, the two of them working together to make it through the day and get home. She enjoyed cooking and taking care of Barnabas, and while the trip had been fun, she was going to be glad for the routine of daily life.
Thursday, August 24, 1876, 10:56 am. Virginia and Truckee Depot
"Maybe not bought 'em out, but you came close. And you will be far more comfortable in trousers than a dress as we head north. You know, I somehow had not realized just how long we'd been away. The herd might already be there, well, maybe not, long drive from Texas." He said, suddenly excited about the fact that once they boarded the train for Carson City, they were on their way home.
"ALL ABOARD! Carson City, Washoe City, and Reno, Board!" The conductor called.
"Here we go, love." He stated with a wide smile and a glint in his eyes. "Next stop we put our rig together, and we will be on our way. Sorry that we have plain seats, but very little in the way of private cars or luxury. Passengers and freight, that's what these trains are about." He helped her onto the car and then held onto her arm as they made their way to their seats, allowing her the window seat. He stole a kiss and squeezed her hand.
"Oh, well, I suppose we can travel with the common people now and again!" Chuckling, Emeline returned his kiss, then watched out the window as Virginia City, then Gold Hill passed by before going to the tiny bathroom and managing to change from her nice, bustled dress into a more plain and practical wool skirt and matching shirtwaist. Once they were ready to set on the trail, she'd switch to the pants, but as long as they were in town, she'd stay as presentable as possible.
Carson City was...quiet. After the constant din in Virginia City, the traffic noise of the Nevada capital was akin to silence, and her head was happy for it!
"So, now we find our wagon and hitch our dreams, right?" She smiled up at Barnabas, then sighed. "Tomorrow morning we'll be on our way!" She wished there was a way they could just be home, or that, at least, the train went that far, but, maybe someday!
"Why don't you see to the wagon and horses, and I can get the provisions we'll need?" There was a lot, but she could keep it to the basics -- bedding, cooking utensils, food..."Oh, and you can take care of whatever the horses will need." Divide and conquer, right?
"Exactly what I was plannin' on suggesting to you." He said. Sometimes, he marveled at the way they all but finished one another's sentences. He grabbed his grip which contained his range clothes and guns. He wanted to keep those with him. Wearing firearms in Carson City was the exception rather than the rule, but having them close to hand was a comfort. And it had been a while since he had had them with him.
There's a place not too far, they sell wagons and I figure they'll know where to get horses, draft horses to pull it." He said with a smile as he watched their tunks be unloaded from the freight car, and stacked on the platform. "I'll see to this stuff, and get set up with tickets. You g'wan and get whatever you think's necessary. I'll be along to pay for it and load it up shortly." A quick hug and a peck on her cheek, then he started off for Second Street where he had seen the wagon yard, doubting it had moved.
Eagle Station Wagon Yard was right where he remembered it, but it had grown some since he'd last been there. He could see they had several new and used wagons of different sizes while in a side yard there were a number of horses, also different sizes, shapes, and colors. Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron, and a pair of Belgians. A nice lot to choose from, but the Belgians would do the job if they were for sale.
A man stepped out of the building that served as both home and office, "Darius O'Connell, proprietor, how can I help you?" The man asked. And thus began the haggling.
The mercantile wasn't far from the station, and when she stepped inside, Emeline had to take a moment just to absorb it all. The place was immense, an 'emporium', and she'd never seen the like, even back in Ohio.
However, she'd soon wished she'd stayed in her more fancy attire...the woman who came to assist her didn't believe that she could pay for all that she was requesting, and it took a great deal of talking and patience to convince her to at least gather the things together, and that her husband would be here to pay for it.
But finally, things were moving, and there was an ever-growing mound of food, bedding, utensils, tarps and whatnot, despite Emeline's efforts to be as frugal as she could, but, except for food, most of the things wouldn't be readily available on the road, and there would be days when they'd go without passing through a settlement of any significant size.
Eventually, she had thought of everything they might need, using the experience from their trip out of Kalispell, some things had been rejected, a few had been added, and now it was a matter of waiting and proving to the woman that she wasn't crazy!
He drove the wagon to the mercantile on Carson street, the Belgians pulling easily, but the wagon was empty for the time being. A pair of dun horses, tied on behind, that they might ride some, one at a time. His thought was first to stop and pay for whatever it was that Em had gathered, and he realized it would be quite a bit as they would have quite a ways to go to reach home, and anything they would run short of would be more expensive along the way if there was anyplace to buy anything. Though he was sure there would be.
He set the break and climbed down, attached the horse anchor, an iron weight on a piece of rope, and let it drop to the street. Then walked into the store smiling at his wife and the mound of supplies gathered on the counter. "Ma'am," He greeted the woman behind the counter. "Reckon you'd like to be paid for this lot." He drew out his wallet, "I've a wagon outside, but I've trunks and bags to be loaded first over't the station, if you don't mind havin' this all sit here for a bit. I'll leave my wife with you, an' if I ain't back in an hour, you can keep her." He took out several bills. "Only kiddin' Ma'am, only kiddin' won't take long to load 'er up and get back here for alla this."
The woman did not smile at the joke. "See that you are, bill comes to eighty-three dollars and forty-two cents." She smiled, "I'll relieve you of that before you go across to the depot." She looked at Em, "Though I can use the help around here if you push on without her."
"Here he is now!" Emeline was starting to feel a bit awkward, not that she doubted Barnabas would be here, or that he could pay, it was just taking a bit longer than she'd thought.
"Ma'am," He greeted the woman behind the counter. "Reckon you'd like to be paid for this lot." He drew out his wallet, "I've a wagon outside, but I've trunks and bags to be loaded first over't the station, if you don't mind havin' this all sit here for a bit. I'll leave my wife with you, an' if I ain't back in an hour, you can keep her." He took out several bills. "Only kiddin' Ma'am, only kiddin' won't take long to load 'er up and get back here for alla this."
"Mr. Pike!" Emeline exclaimed, feigning outrage, "you would not!" God, she loved that man!
The woman did not smile at the joke. "See that you are, bill comes to eighty-three dollars and forty-two cents." She smiled, "I'll relieve you of that before you go across to the depot." She looked at Em, "Though I can use the help around here if you push on without her."
"That might be preferable!" Emeline stuck her tongue out at Barnabas, then sighed. "I shall remain as collateral!"
Which proved to be to his liability, for after he left, Emeline spotted, in the corner and partially concealed under bolts of material, a beautiful treadle sewing machine, which, the clerk informed her, had a broken leg, so that after a bit of haggling, Emeline bought for a mere thirty-seven dollars, less than half price!
Barnabas returned, a bit longer than he wanted to be, but he had purchased the tickets on the Nevada Central, arranged and paid for a car to carry the wagon and horses which would be loaded that afternoon, except for the horses which would be kept in a corral near by and loaded in the morning.
All of this he shared with Emiliune when he returned and began loading all of the supplies, the treadle sewing machine being the first piece to be carted out the door and loaded into the wagon. After that, it was all the other things in the order of importance, and ease of getting to. Once he had all of it loaded he secured the tailgate in place, then lashed it down tight with rope. The task completed, Barnabas stepped back inside the store and strode to the counter. He stood looking for a moment and then spoke:
"I'll have the Winchester in forty-five, take the twelve gauge there and two boxes of ammunition for each." Yes, he had his pistols, but a rifle was a must, as was the shotgun, both for hunting fresh game, varmints both four-legged and two. "Ma'am you've been a gem. Our thanks to you." He said and laid four double eagles on the counter which would more than cover the cost of the guns and ammunition.
"Sir, that is far too much." She protested.
"No Ma'am, it's not. Fact is, it's just right." he crooked his arm, "Em. Time we was movin' on. You have yourself a nice evening, now." And, arm in arm they left the store mounted the wagon and drove to the rail yard where the boxcar awaited their arrival. Two men awaited them as well, to winch the wagon into the car.
Once everything was done, the car locked, horse cared for, he tipped the men and then turned to his bride, "The St. Charles Hotel is just up the street, they have a restaurant and I'm sure a comfortable bed for the night. We leave at seven in the morning."