taking a portion of the beans and passing them to Lacy. “We were very busy. I suppose I didn’t sleep all that well, either. Too excited about today.” She smiled and gave Patience’s arm a pat. “I’m just so glad to have you all here.”
“Beth, could you bring in more bread?” Gwen asked.
“Of course.” Beth got to her feet and hurried to the kitchen, where she nearly jumped a foot at the sight of Cubby. “I didn’t think you were coming today.”
“Pa said we weren’t, but with him still sleepin’, I didn’t figure he’d know the difference. Do you mind if I join you? It sure smells good.”
Beth smiled. “You most certainly can join us. Let me fetch you a plate.” She hurried to the cupboard. “I’m sure we’ll all keep your secret. No one should be punished for eating dinner when they’re hungry.”
“My pa wouldn’t agree with you, but I don’t much care,” Cubby admitted.
Beth ushered Cubby into the dining room with a platter of bread and a dinner plate. “Look who’s come to join us,” she announced.
“Cubby! We’re so glad you came. Did your father change his mind?” Gwen asked. “Are the others coming, as well?”
“No,” the boy replied and took the seat offered him beside Hank. “I snuck out. Pa’s still sleeping.” The boy piled food onto his plate and began to attack it as if he hadn’t seen sustenance in months. Beth was amazed at how much he could eat.
“How goes setting up the wheelwright and wagon business?” Hank asked Forrest.
“Rather slow at this point,” Forrest admitted. “We’re still trying to decide how to work things. Simon and Nick think that once we’re established, the stage company will keep us plenty busy.”
“I don’t doubt that a bit,” Hank replied. “The road from Salt Lake to here is quite difficult. I’m surprised they don’t have to replace the wheels more often than they do.”
“I managed to talk with some folks in Bozeman,” Evan added. “There’s already some wagon workers over there, but we all figured with the way the community is growing, there will be business enough for everyone.”
“That brings up another topic,” Hank said as everyone continued to eat. “We have expanded considerably since my arrival earlier this year. At this rate, we’ll need to consider naming this area and maybe even incorporating.”
“I’ve been thinking much the same,” Jerry Shepard joined in. “The area will need law and order, to be sure.”
“That’s true,” Lacy added. “Especially since we have so little of it now.” Lacy didn’t so much as look at Dave, but Beth noted his discomfort.
“Not only that,” Hank said, “but as Gwen and I were discussing recently, the influx of new families will create a need for schools and churches. Not to mention physicians and additional businesses. Most of you know that I’ve set up an informal bank, but to be quite honest, it appears that it will quickly become a full-time job, and I’ll have to add on to the store to create a place just for financial transactions.”
“It can’t hurt to make plans for the future,” Nick said thoughtfully. “It’s a good place for a town. Good source of water and transportation. Even if the train goes in to the north, we’re still on the main road. With all the ranches around here, we’re certain to have work.”
“That’s exactly what I was telling Gwen,” Hank continued. “It seems to me that we should at least think about giving a name to this place.”
“Well, everyone knows about Gallatin House. And since the stage has to cross the Gallatin River to arrive here, what if we called it Gallatin Crossing?” Patience suggested.
Dave nodded. “I like that idea. Most folks refer to it as the Gallatin Place anyway. Seems like calling it Gallatin Crossing would be appropriate.”
“I wouldn’t want folks thinking we were putting on airs and using our last name as some sort of desire for recognition,” Gwen threw out.
“Beth, could you bring in more bread?” Gwen asked.
“Of course.” Beth got to her feet and hurried to the kitchen, where she nearly jumped a foot at the sight of Cubby. “I didn’t think you were coming today.”
“Pa said we weren’t, but with him still sleepin’, I didn’t figure he’d know the difference. Do you mind if I join you? It sure smells good.”
Beth smiled. “You most certainly can join us. Let me fetch you a plate.” She hurried to the cupboard. “I’m sure we’ll all keep your secret. No one should be punished for eating dinner when they’re hungry.”
“My pa wouldn’t agree with you, but I don’t much care,” Cubby admitted.
Beth ushered Cubby into the dining room with a platter of bread and a dinner plate. “Look who’s come to join us,” she announced.
“Cubby! We’re so glad you came. Did your father change his mind?” Gwen asked. “Are the others coming, as well?”
“No,” the boy replied and took the seat offered him beside Hank. “I snuck out. Pa’s still sleeping.” The boy piled food onto his plate and began to attack it as if he hadn’t seen sustenance in months. Beth was amazed at how much he could eat.
“How goes setting up the wheelwright and wagon business?” Hank asked Forrest.
“Rather slow at this point,” Forrest admitted. “We’re still trying to decide how to work things. Simon and Nick think that once we’re established, the stage company will keep us plenty busy.”
“I don’t doubt that a bit,” Hank replied. “The road from Salt Lake to here is quite difficult. I’m surprised they don’t have to replace the wheels more often than they do.”
“I managed to talk with some folks in Bozeman,” Evan added. “There’s already some wagon workers over there, but we all figured with the way the community is growing, there will be business enough for everyone.”
“That brings up another topic,” Hank said as everyone continued to eat. “We have expanded considerably since my arrival earlier this year. At this rate, we’ll need to consider naming this area and maybe even incorporating.”
“I’ve been thinking much the same,” Jerry Shepard joined in. “The area will need law and order, to be sure.”
“That’s true,” Lacy added. “Especially since we have so little of it now.” Lacy didn’t so much as look at Dave, but Beth noted his discomfort.
“Not only that,” Hank said, “but as Gwen and I were discussing recently, the influx of new families will create a need for schools and churches. Not to mention physicians and additional businesses. Most of you know that I’ve set up an informal bank, but to be quite honest, it appears that it will quickly become a full-time job, and I’ll have to add on to the store to create a place just for financial transactions.”
“It can’t hurt to make plans for the future,” Nick said thoughtfully. “It’s a good place for a town. Good source of water and transportation. Even if the train goes in to the north, we’re still on the main road. With all the ranches around here, we’re certain to have work.”
“That’s exactly what I was telling Gwen,” Hank continued. “It seems to me that we should at least think about giving a name to this place.”
“Well, everyone knows about Gallatin House. And since the stage has to cross the Gallatin River to arrive here, what if we called it Gallatin Crossing?” Patience suggested.
Dave nodded. “I like that idea. Most folks refer to it as the Gallatin Place anyway. Seems like calling it Gallatin Crossing would be appropriate.”
“I wouldn’t want folks thinking we were putting on airs and using our last name as some sort of desire for recognition,” Gwen threw out.
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