"I remember Mama did some stitching into a little sign but I don't even know if we still have it. Nor do I remember what it says. I've seen those pretty signs women make like 'home sweet home.' Daddy's sometimes find a little old lady to leave me with. I've seen many different embroidery signs and pictures. But I don't even have supplies. I have one needle and simple thin white thread." Emily said. "I'm gonna go and sit on the porch with Hank." She said a bit defeated.
"It'll be ok. I'm sure time will fly by. Lou's coming soon. You two enjoy time together." Buck told her.
"Yeah, we do. I'm gonna be outside." She got up and sat on the porch.
Lou came and her and Emily did have a good time together. That evening, Before Buck headed to the Family M, he stopped at Tompkins' store.
"What can I help you with, Buck?" Eric Dobbs asked. He was the one who helped in the store whenever Tompkins had to leave. It wasn't that often.
"I'm looking for sewing supplies." Buck said, surprised to see him.
"Oh, the ladies come in often for that. They do all kinds of stitching. Are you looking to sew on a button or stitch a hole?"
"No, it's so my wife can have a project to occupy herself until the baby gets here." Buck replied.
"Ok well here are some fancy threads. And you'll need a cloth but you can use a sack cloth too." Eric showed him a display. Then Buck saw a pretty designed thimble. It was white with blue decoration painted on. It looked dainty.
"I'll get 5 different colors of those embroidery threads, two cloths, and that thimble." Buck said.
"That sure is pretty. " Eric commented. "Most ladies just purchase the plain silver ones."
Buck took the items and headed home. It was dark by the time he reached the Family M. "Rider comin'" Lou said as she heard the hoof beats. She was drinking tea with Emily.
"That phrase is said so often, it's probably gonna be the baby's first words." Emily said.
"Probably." Lou said and headed out the door. "See ya Emily." She said as she got on her horse. "See ya, Buck"
"You gonna be ok heading home in the dark, Lou?" Buck asked.
She gave him a glare. "We've been doin' runs how long Buck?"
He smiled. "Yeah. Sorry. Ride safe." Buck walked into the house. He was carrying the purchases in a small handkerchief. "Did you have a nice day?" He asked Emily.
"Sure did. I always do with Lou. I have some supper left over. Are you hungry?"
"Did you cook or Lou?"
"I did. Everybody knows Lou don't belong nowhere near a stove." Emily laughed.
"Sure. I'll eat. Before I go get washed up, I got this for you." He said handing her the Handkerchief.
"Thank you, Buck!" Emily said, "This is so pretty! Now I have to think of something to make a pretty sign. " She looked at the items like they were great treasures. She hugged him. The baby squeezed between them. Buck could feel a slight thump in protest. Emily went to the table and set everything out. "But you didn't have to spend money on this stuff."
"You're worth it."
"But this thimble alone is so fancy. I've only ever seen plain silver ones."
"I thought it was pretty and wanted you to have it."
Emily smiled and stood up and walked over to him. "Thank you Buck" and she kissed him on the cheek. Then she went back to the table. "I'll practice letters on one cloth. I'm not sure if I remember them. I'm actually excited to do something. I won't feel so bored and lonely and useless."
"You're not useless, and your never alone." Buck said. He walked toward his room unbuttoning his shirt to wash up and put a clean one on. The door was opened so he continued to talk. "Maybe you can take up a journal or a diary. Cody writes one."
Emily laughed. "What am I going to write in a journal? 'Dear diary, today I stared at the south end wall. Tomorrow I might check out that crack in the Wood by the door on the east end til my eyes go blurry.'? No, I'm used to having to do something. But this stitching is great. It's making me try real hard to remember Mama."
Buck came out with a fresh shirt on. Emily stood up to go get his plate from the oven. "No no, it's ok. I can get it. You can just stay sitting down."
"I don't remember so much about her. I was just six. I wish I had something of her. Like Ike has his family bible. An his Pa's watch. I don't got anything much from Daddy, cept this house now. I didn't want his cards, that's why I buried them with him. It's what made him happy. At least I have this house to be the baby's permanent home. Promise me we'll stay here."
"Done. I promise." Buck said with out hesitation.
"It's something I own outright." Emily went on. "I don't want the baby to be uprooted all the time moving around. And..." she paused a minute, "it's where Ike was laid to rest."
"Remember, I always want you to be honest with me. Thank you for letting me know your wishes. Whatever you want, it will be done." Buck got up and put his plate into the wash bin, washing it out and tossed out the dirty water outside. He kissed her on the top of the head as he walked outside. Buck had no problem in staying here in Rock Creek, on the Family M. He has no ties anywhere else. He has a wife who wanted to stay and a baby coming any day now. He was glad to cede to her wishes. What made him even happier was she felt comfortable enough with him to express herself and her description of them together as 'we'.
When Buck came back into the house with fresh water in the bin, Emily was writing on a piece of paper. "I'm trying to write out all the letters to see what I can stitch the best. I'm happy to have a project to work on tomorrow." She said with a smile. "I'll get to practicing when the light comes up tomorrow."
Emily did practice, she tried different styles, a block print, a cursive letter. She practiced just trying to get a straight line. Over the next several days, Buck went on rides and someone always came to stay with her. Usually if it was one of the boys they'd leave her in the house and work in chores or the small field, or fix up the barn. It was almost back to new. If it were Lou, they'd talk. Once Teaspoon came and for several hours Emily sat and listened to his stories. He was such a good story teller she found it hard to decipher what was true or what came from something he read. He told her about his daughter that he never knew, then how he met Amanda. He loved her as if she were his daughter by blood. He taught Emily that family didn't necessarily have to be born from blood, it was who you spent your time with, lived with, and loved.
—-
"I'm finished!" Emily proudly said when Buck got home one evening.,
"Well let's see it."
"I tried really hard to get it all straight." Then she held it up. "I made up the words."
It said, "Home is where your family is. Family is where your heart is"
"I think it's beautiful." Buck told her. He made a simple wooden frame and hung it up over the fireplace.