He furrowed his brow at the thought of needing the railroad to get some kind of attraction to town. He was sure there must be something that would be traveling, even in these times with the Indians out and warlike. But that was coming to an end, or at least some kind of resolution.

"Sorta leaves us lookin' for a medicine show or such like, don't it?" He quizzed, wanting to do something fun for the community before the winter set in, and he really didn't care much for the medicine shows he'd see with some huckster pawning off sugar water remedies that were worthless, but there had to be something. "Wonder if that idea for the theater ever panned out?" There had to be something, and the theater really wasn't it, well, not by itself if it was even there.

"Well, no, not a medicine show..."  He was right, they didn't need to be part of something like that.  "A carnival, maybe?  After harvest, folks will want to let loose and have a good time, there can be games and races..."

Emeline really liked that idea, there were so many possibilities.  "We can ask around, see what they want, what we can bring in for them?"  She really did think it sounded like fun.  "Of course, it's contingent on the weather, if winter comes early, we'd have to plan something inside."

There were plenty of barns that could be used for that, or, as Barnabas pointed out, the theater.

"That's a good plan, we can have the fest indoors or out.  Maybe I can talk to Clara about making some of the recipes I've collected, something that the people in Kalispell wouldn't have a chance to try."  With some planning, they have the more exotic ingredients brought in at the right time.

"But goodness," exclaimed, "poor Clara might want a rest, the first pregnancy catches you off guard, not knowing what to expect."  And there was another reason to get home -- the young woman would need someone to guide her through the later term of pregnancy and help her prepare so she was ready when the time came.

"We'll think of something nice, maybe some sort of entertainment from New York or San Francisco?"  Although she wasn't sure how the folks of Kalispell would take to something like opera.

"See now, you been out in the sun too long, even though she's near set already. New York 'er San Francisco, either one ain't but a dream/ No train ta get 'em there, and that's a long drive in a wagon, but," He paused long enough to finish off his sandwich and wash it down with the coffee that a was now lukewarm. "We ain't tried Helena, nor no place close around ta Kalispell. Maybe we could find somethin' was we to look." Then he grinned.

"You know, anything would be something. I mean, look, folks in town and well, 'specially on the farms and ranches, what they do is work, all of 'em tryin' ta eck out a livin', so some high time of it? That would be a world of difference for 'em." It was hard work no matter what a person was doing to get by. Having a couple of days of recreation, food and drink, music, and dancing, would regenerate folks. "Don'cha think?"

"Yes, indeed, even a small sampling of what we've experienced, I'd love to share."  Emeline grinned, taking a sip of her tepid coffee.  "And don't forget, there is local talent, Miss Caroline...and there's Miss Arabella Mudd!"

She had no doubt Arabella would be more than happy to entertain the town, but she wasn't so sure that the town would want to be entertained!  Gathering what little there was of dishes, she stood and chuckled.  "Maybe we should host some sort of talent showcase?  Let folks show off what they can do?"

With a chuckle, she carried the coffee pot and mugs to the nearby creek and 'washed' them with the sand.  "See now, our talent is washing dishes!"

"Well now Misses Pike, it could be quite the affair were we able to draw something, circus, hey! Maybe a buckin' horse contest. There's cowboys out there'd like to show what they can do, an' there's hardly ever a shortage of broncs ta break, an' all manner of ridin' an' ropin' contests. There's lots a room out to the fairgrounds, an' there ain't be a fair in what. a couple years?" He had seen things of that sort all over the West. One Ranch tryin' to prove they were better than another at riding, roping, and working cattle.

"Now maybe that could be a side event, but it's somethin' that could be pop'lar. Plus now, all them blue ribbon events for the ladies, an' everybody loves them. Quiltin', bakin', alla them things! Could be a real big deal. And dancin', don't forget that, always a big hit!" He went on about it. And the ideas weren't bad ones, but he still wanted to bring in something for entertainment as well.

"Just a grand event to cover a bit of everything?"  Emeline liked that idea, something for everyone, and maybe they could have some exotic prizes, things that folks wouldn't normally think of.

"But then, how do we do that without seeming ostentatious?  Some people will think..."  Frowning, Emeline shook her head.  "Fiddlesticks!  The good people we care about will know the difference, and the heck with anyone who says different!"

She stowed the coffee pot and mugs in the wagon, then held her hand to Barnabas.  "For tonight, we'll sleep under the stars...well, under the wagon, but that's under the stars!"

Barnabas grinned, "That it is, Love. Sorta the way it was meant ta be, but then, havin' a roof over our heads is real nice too." He agreed, "We can always sleep outside once we're home. Be a good thing ta do with the kids. Even campin' trips where we load up pack animals and head out for a couple days. Like that. Bein' together, doin' stuff."

Now the idea of being seen as overly elaborate or conspicuous for doing things for or around the community might be a problem, but then again, like she said, the good people, which was most of those in Kalispell, wouldn't care one way or the other, but there were those others.

"About them that would think us whatever that word was, well, too bad, so sad, suck on a egg. We're doin' what we want!" He said firmly. "By doggies, we will do as we please, so long as it's legal, and the heck with them what don't like it! How's that? Guess we oughtta be beddin' down for the night."

Emeline couldn't help but laugh at Barnabas' expressions, but she agreed wholeheartedly.  "We'll do what we'll do, and the heck with anyone!"

Getting ready for bed was easy...the pallets and blankets were already laid out under the wagon, and Emeline was going to sleep in her shift and underskirt, so it was just a matter of removing the outer layers, her boots, and combing out her hair.  This was real life, on the road, and no formalities, and it suited her just fine.

After scrambling under the wagon -- not so easy as she'd anticipated, now that the pregnancy was becoming an issue -- she held her hand to Barnabas.  "Come on, now, little Drusey wants her papa."  Her smile turned to a wince as the baby kicked, although he's likely not see in the dark.