The summer months were well underway. Emily felt her belly had grown twice its size. She could feel the baby moving often and tried to figure out a pattern so that Buck could actually feel him, or her, moving on the outside. Emily knew he really wanted to. She had woken up a while ago but was just lying in her bed, when she saw her belly move. Maybe it was a foot? Maybe an arm?
"Buck!" She called and almost immediately he ran into her room. He had his pants on and that was it. He was in the middle of shaving, as he still had lather across his face.
"What is it?! Are you ok?" He asked.
"Yes. I'm fine. I was lying in bed and I saw the baby move around. I'm sure you can feel it now. Here, watch." She climbed back into bed, lying on her back. Her thin nightgown exposed her belly and as she relaxed, the baby moved.
Emily had never seen a bigger smile on Buck's face. "There it is! I saw it!" He reached out and felt a thump against his hand. "He kicked me!" He laughed.
"Or she." Emily reminded him.
"Yeah. Or she." He just looked in awe. "I've never felt something so wonderful in my life." Buck put both hands on her belly. He didn't ask permission, caught up in the excitement. She didn't mind. She was happy to share the moment with him. He has worked so hard and done so much to insure the care of both her and the baby. She felt indebted to him. "Thank you for calling me." Then he gently patted her belly. "Hello little baby, it's me. Although I'm really happy to see you moving around, take it easy on your Ma and don't kick her so hard, ok?" Buck got up since he was kneeling by the bed and kissed Emily on the forehead. "I'm gonna go finish getting ready to head out to the station. Take your time. It's already getting warm out." He said still smiling.
"Ok, I'll be out in a bit." Emily got out of bed to change her clothes. Soon after, Buck lifted her into the wagon and they were off to the station. "Pretty soon you won't be able to lift me, I'll be getting too heavy."
"No way. You're as light as a feather. It's no problem at all." The sun was shining brightly even though it was early in the day.
Emily had her shawl over her and she pulled it closer around her chest. Buck took off his hat to wipe off sweat then put it back on. "It is roasting out here. Why'd you bring your shawl? You must be on fire."
"I'm fine." Emily said a bit uncomfortably.
"You really should take it off, there ain't a breeze around. All that heat can't be good for you."
She was getting uncomfortable but she didn't say anything, just clutched it tighter.
Always one to notice even the smallest detail Buck asked, "Emily, is something wrong?"
She sighed. She slowly unwrapped her shawl. She could feel her face turning beet red. She wasn't embarrassed this morning in her thin night gown, it was just Buck. But this... "I can't move the buttons on my blouse any further and it won't stay closed." She revealed her opened unbuttoned blouse that Buck could clearly see her chemise underneath.
"Oh." Was all he commented.
Emily kept the shawl around her but loosely now, as they were approaching town all she could think about was getting through the day. First with the ride straight through town. The station was way at the other end.
Buck said nothing along the way. When he stopped the wagon at the barn, he asked Emily to wait until he got to her side. He lifted her out of the wagon and tucked the shawl around her. "Wait here just a second." He said and ran into the bunk house.
"Mornin' Emily." Noah said as he walked by. "Ain't it too hot to be wrapped up in your shawl?" He asked curiously. Her idea was obviously not going to work.
"Oh, I was just feeling a slight chill. I'm fine." She said casually. "I'm, uh, gonna go see if Rachel needs help." And she debated between running into Rachel's house or slowly walking. Maybe one of Rachel's shirts might fit better. Before She reached the house, Buck ran back to catch up to her.
"Hey, uh, here. This might help" he said thrusting something at Emily. "I'm sorry I never thought of it before, but it actually might do the trick." It was a shirt. "It's Ike's" he volunteered.
Emily smiled and clutched to her. "Thank you, Buck. You're so thoughtful." And she reached up to hug him. With the baby snuggly between them, and Ike's shirt, along with a shawl, they stood in front of everyone, hugging. A tear came to her eye. "I'm gonna go put it on now." She went into Rachel's house after quickly knocking and going through the door.
"Morning, Honey." Rachel said cheerfully.
Emily had dropped the shawl and clutched the shirt.
"May I please use your room to change?" She motioned toward her currently useless blouse.
"Buck gave me a shirt of Ike's. Seeing how my current clothes don't fit."
"I see. That was thoughtful of him. I coulda loaned you a top or two, but you go try that shirt on. See how you like it." Rachel said with a smile.
Emily quickly put it on. The buttons closed comfortably and the length of it went below her skirt. With a bit of tucking and adjusting, it worked just fine. She rolled up the sleeves to make it as short sleeved as possible. She liked it just fine.
Lou was at the table when Emily walked into the bunk house. "Buck said he saw the baby move around. How exciting!" She said as Emily walked in.
"Yeah. It was visible when I was laying down, but maybe the baby is growing and doesn't have much room to move around."
"Does it hurt if the baby kicks ya?" She asked.
Emily smiled. "No, it doesn't hurt. It's just different. If it happens again, I'll let you know."
—-
"There's a dance coming up Saturday." Cody said dancing with an imaginary partner into the bunk house. "They're putting up the sign now." He said as he grabbed an apple out of the basket on the table and bit it. Buck and Emily were at the table, playing cards with Jimmy and Kid. "I'm gonna go and find Millie Logan to ask her to go with me."
Buck smiled at him, as Cody walked out the door, and Teaspoon walked in. Cody's happiness was always contagious. Buck looked at Emily. "Would you want to go?"
Emily shook her head. "I'm just not feeling up to it. I'm as big as a house and I waddle everywhere. Just getting up and walking is a chore, let alone dancing." She did not mention that the last dance she went to was over eight months ago, with Ike.
"That dance is all a buzz over town." Teaspoon said. "But you ain't no size of a house. You still a pretty little thing." He said walking over to where Emily sat. "You don't gotta go to no dance to have fun. As a matter of fact." Teaspoon stood right next to her and put one arm folded in front of him and one arm folded behind. "Ma'am. May I please have the pleasure of this dance?" He asked and bowed.
Emily smiled at him and looked to everyone at the table. "Why yes, Mr. Hunter, I'd be honored." Teaspoon helped her up and they danced around the small room to imaginary music. Jimmy remembered a dance with Lou like that in another town. He motioned to Buck and Kid to move the table a bit to give them some more room, which they complied. Around and around Teaspoon swirled Emily. Then she got a twinge of pain in her back and she wanted to stop. "Please, I must stop." She said as she put a hand on her back. "I ain't exactly light on my feet anymore." She said with a smile. Teaspoon led her back to her chair. The boys pushed back the table. "I used to Dance with Daddy around the room as a little girl. Thank you, Teaspoon, that brought back a lovely memory."
"Glad to have done it." Teaspoon replied as he sat down on the bench. "Now Buck, you've been working so hard these past months but Emily can't keep riding in the wagon every day. All that jostling can't be comfortable. Now just til the baby comes, I'm gonna be cutting back your rides. I'm also going to spread out the shifts among the others so they can go out to the Family M and stay with Emily when you do have a run." Then Teaspoon looked at Emily, "Now, Sweetheart, it don't mean we don't want you here no more, but that you should be comfortable and resting til my first little Grandbaby gets here."
"But I'm ok. Besides, what am I gonna do all day at the house? Here, I got you all as company and there is never a dull moment." Emily said. "I like all of you."
"Teaspoon's got a point about you needing rest and I never considered the almost daily rides were becoming uncomfortable." Buck said.
"When I went to visit my sister, she spent her time knitting baby socks and caps." Jimmy volunteered.
"I never learned how to knit." Emily says.
"You can sew. I've seen you." Buck said.
"I'll see what I can come up with." Emily said setting her head on her two hands that were propped up by her elbows on the table. She didn't exactly pout but she was not happy.
So for the last time until the baby came, Buck lifted Emily into the wagon to head to the Family M. She waved to everyone goodbye. She was thankful for the time she did have. It was fun. It was happy. They were all family.