"That's a long story."
"Good, save it for later. We'll have plenty of time when those two out there go to the railhead. Lance been takin' good care of you?"
"Yes," she answered simply.
"George came over the other day and said you were the finest cook he ever met. Is it true? Are you cookin' for that whole bunch?"
"Well, I do love to cook."
"Oh, that's great, you and I are gonna get along fine, honey. And don't you fret about him being gone so long, we'll make out together. I'll see to that."
"That's very kind of you. I just found out about the trip and I'm very glad he brought me over to meet you. I was afraid I'd be there all alone with no one to talk to."
"Without all those mouths to feed, you can come over and visit any time."
"I'll make a nuisance of myself." Trudy laughed.
"That's alright honey. We women have to stick together in times like these. I gotta admit, we been married nearly twenty years now and I never get used to Marty going on those drives, and he's been doin' it for fifteen years. They tell me we'll have a railroad before long that will take them for them and the trips won't be long at all, then."
Helen talked about so many different things; Trudy's head was spinning with information about the folks around the area. Trudy got the feeling she could talk to this woman about almost anything.
When her husband and Lance walked into the house, she was introduced to him. He was like his wife, friendly and curious about her all in the same breath.
"You sure did yourself proud, Lance." Marty told him.
Lance smiled. Trudy blushed. They talked, had coffee and Helen hugged her as they were leaving, "Don't be a stranger."
"I won't, I promise." Trudy smiled.
Finally, they left.
"So, what did you think of them?" He asked as he headed the wagon toward home.
"She's a friendly sort. I liked her. She's going to teach me to quilt and I'm going to teach her to cook."
"Good, her husband will thank you. He loved her dearly, but she never could cook." Lance smiled. "She likes to help him outside though and he sure loves that."
"He's going with you on the drive?" she asked.
"Yeah, we usually put our cattle together after we brand, and count them. Several of us get together that way we have more men on the drive, makes for a better trip. Even when we do have access to the railroad with our cattle the first year might be a bit strange. Some of us will have to go to make sure they get where they need to. Then after we figure out how it's gonna work, we'll be able to send certain men with the herd and see they are sold and all."
"That's good."
"You want to meet the Williams today?"
"Could we do that another day?"
"Sure, I'll take you over on Saturday morning. How's that?"
"It'll be fine. I need to get back to the kitchen."
"Don't like my company, huh?" he jested.
"It's not that, I just figured you'd have to get back to the pasture."
"I'm the boss, and it's only reasonable that I give my wife a fair share of my company, especially since we're newly wed."
"If you mean me, I don't feel neglected." She told him.