"Ain't it a wonderment, the sound of rain on a tarp? Only thing better'd be rain on a tin roof, with a nice fire goin', an' a warm bed, but we'll make do." He chided, "An I agree, about outside. Hope it let's up quick an' we can hitch up an' move on. All night'd be a mess!"

So they hunkered down to wait it out, as there was nothing else to do. The horses were secure and unless lighting exploded right near them, they would be just fine. But then too, this was a welcome, if unexpected break for the couple.

Cuddling up because there was so little room, with all they had brought with them, Barnabas finally had to begin rearranging things to give them more room to stretch out, as they would be sleeping in the wagon at least for the night, maybe more.

"We'll have plenty of nights with the rain falling on our own roof."  Emeline smiled as she munched on some dried apricot, then added, "The sound of rain brings back memories, most of them good.  I remember one time, when I was four and Mama was having a baby, we were sent to Aunt Kay's house, to be out of the way, and we were sleeping on the floor in the loft...it was raining, not really hard, but...it just stays with me, being in a strange place was like an adventure, but we were worried, so it seemed frightening, and then we came home to a new brother!"

She missed her home sometimes, and her family, but she had her own home and life now, she was content, and looking forward to an exciting future.

"Of course, even that loft had more room than this!  But the company here is much better!"

"Now, I am glad to hear that, Missus Pike. An' no doubt we'll be under our own roof soon enough. Well maybe not soon enough, but soon anyway." He decided, as it was a ways yet before they would see Kalispell and then their place. "We start up again, an' after we make it ta dry ground we'll need ta stop an clean them horse hooves, won't take all that long I don't think.''

He thought it best to clean them and free them of the mud which might have stones lodged in the hoves and was just good practice to get them clean after standing in the mud, then moving.

"Ya know I was thinking," He began, "We get home, ta town, we stop at the office an' see Speed, then go on up to your Lickskillet an' eat, whichever meal it might be. How's that sound?"

"As much as I want to get to the house and see it, and the horses, too, if they are there," Emeline explained, "I'm afraid that once we get there, I won't want to leave, and I do want to see our friends in town, and see how Clara is doing."

She knew it was true, that once they got to the house, she wasn't going to want to leave until everything was sorted and in place, and she had a garden area started, even though it was late in the year for that, and she'd want to see her horses, and ride Noel around the property and make sure the bunkhouse was in order and...well, she wasn't going to want to leave for weeks!

"We can send word from town that we're on our way, that way we won't catch the workmen off guard.  I wonder if the herd and horses will be there by then?"

Travel and honeymoon had been wonderful, but she was ready to shift into ranch living!

"We could do that, but I'm thinking they've finished, so sending word would be a  waste, now all that you think you have to do once we get there, can take some time to get done. No sense bein' a hermit. No offense. We'll get it done, the house, the horses, the cattle, the new hands, and all in good time." He replied. "Alla that's got nothin' ta do with seeing Speed, er gabbin' a meal at the Lickskillet. All in good time."

But the house, now I understand that's gonna take some time gettin' 'er just the way you want. I got no problem with that, none at all." Then he chuckled, "'sides, we got us quite a ways ta go before any 'a that's somethin' worth thinkin' on any too hard."

"I know."  Emeline sighed.  "It's just that I really do want to see it.  I know you do, too, and there's nothing to be done about getting there faster, but I can still be anxious!"

Of course, the anticipation was part of the fun of it, imagining how that first glimpse of home was going to be, and she knew she wasn't going to be disappointed.

"We'll get to town often enough...certainly you will, what with being a deputy, and I'll have to check in at the Lickskillet now and again.  We'll just have to find that balance."  It would take time, but they were embarking on a new life together, and there would be a great deal of give-and-take and experimenting, maybe some arguing, certainly laughter, but she knew that eventually they would find a rhythm and work things out.

"If we can handle this, I think we can handle about anything!"

"I know." Emeline sighed. "It's just that I really do want to see it. I know you do, too, and there's nothing to be done about getting there faster, but I can still be anxious!"

"Well of course you do, and now after all we've seen an' done, well, it's to be expected." He agreed. "It's Kalispell, and the only thing new might be the hospital, and fer sure our ranch. The rest we've seen, an' I 'spose folks in town'll jest have to wait on us comin' back to town to see ever'one."

"We'll get to town often enough...certainly you will, what with being a deputy, and I'll have to check in at the Lickskillet now and again. We'll just have to find that balance."

"An' I don't see that as a problem. I don't see no range war goin' on, 'er Ralph Flandry shuttered the Stardust Saloon an' went to the priesthood. It'll be just as it was, save for the hospital, if it's started." Was his retort, and he added, "A balance? Things'll be differ'nt with you up to the ranch, and me, well, what is it I'll be doin'? Maybe workin' the spread, Speeds got Charlie Wentworth, and town ain't really ever needed a full time deputy, maybe one to call on in reserve. The balance'll come."

"If we can handle this, I think we can handle about anything!"

He chuckled, "That we can, though I ain't so sure what we're thinkin' is the future for us is what it'll turn out to be."

"So long as the roof is better than this!" Emeline chuckled as she tapped the tarp over them.  At least it was keeping the water off, although it was a little musty.  "Well, and maybe some more room would be nice, too, but I can't complain about the company."

While the intensity of the rain seemed to be easing some, there was still occasional thunder.  "Looks like we're going to be here all night, may was well get some sleep now, so we can be on the trail first thing."

Hopefully, they'd be able to make up for some of the time they were losing, and the roads wouldn't be too bad for them.

"Sleep would be good, an' yer right about an early start. Mud'll make it slowing goin' for a spell. an' hitchin' up in the dark won't be easy, but doable, and saddlin' up the two ridin' horses. Be a spell gettin' on the trail such as it is again." Pike said appraising his wife, and then smiling.

"Now, you can rider 'er drive, your choice. We'll be doin' some switchin' off an on twixt horse an' wagon. break up the monotony some." He offered. "got me a feelin' it won't be long till neither's much of a comfort for ya." He laid his hand on her stomach. "Hopefully we can make good time most of the rest of the way. rain  of itself ain't bad, it's lightnin', thunder, an' gully washers, them's the problem."

But, I'll get you home safe an sound, promise."

"I won't be washing anyone's gully any time soon!"  Emeline laughed, pulling a blanket over their shoulders, then resting her head on her pillow.  "I'll be fine, Hortense will just have to deal with it!"  It was true, though, that as her belly grew, it was harder to deal with moving, and she fatigued easier, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

"I'll be glad, though, not to be traveling, and to just be settled."  Not that there wouldn't be enough to do at home, but at least it was home!

The rain had slowed to a soft, steady stream, and she was quickly lulled to sleep.  Some time during the night, the rain had stopped, although there was still some wind blowing, but not enough to be a problem.  Emeline wasn't sure what time it was when she woke up, but when she peeked out from the tarp, the first hints of dawn were just starting to tint the eastern sky.

"At least the rain stopped," she muttered, giving Barnabas a kiss on the cheek.  "Shall we assess the damage?"  She'd wiggle into her britches first, thinking them easier to navigate the conditions in.