Emma's Wish

"Not at all. I'll see you soon, then." Sam smiled at her, then turned away, heading down the sidewalk towards the livery stable.

Emma watched him go, noting the breadth of his shoulders and how they tapered into slim hips and lean thighs. A tremor snaked through her as her mind recalled the sight of him each night as he readied himself for bed. Heat suffused her, and she reached into her reticule to find a handkerchief.

Wiping a dot of perspiration from her brow with the lace-trimmed cotton square, she turned and went inside the store.

A bell above the door jangled as she entered. Libby Connor looked up from behind the counter where she was scooping jelly beans into a paper bag and gave her a welcoming wave. "I'll be with you in just a minute, Emma."

"Take your time," Emma said. "I'll just leave this list on the counter."

Emma's gaze searched the dim interior of the store for the boys. She found them examining a toy train on a shelf near the window, while another boy stood beside them, counting out some coins in his hand.

In the back corner of the store, nails rattled as Mr. Connor set a handful on a scale while Jacob Endersby, the town undertaker, looked on. Nearby, a group of women crowded around the latest edition of the Godey's Ladies Book.

Taking Becky's hand, she crossed to a display cased filled with ribbons and lace. Becky's eyes lit up as Emma chose two rolls, one blue and one yellow.

"Are you sure these are the ones you want?" Emma asked, holding out the rolls of ribbon for Becky's approval.

Becky nodded feverishly. "Me want this one ..." she said, grabbing the roll of yellow ribbon, "and this one ..." Her tiny hands reached for the blue roll. "And that one up there ..." she yelled, her voice rising with excitement as she pointed to a roll of pink ribbon on an upper shelf. "Oh ... and me want that one ... and that one ..."

Emma laughed. "You can't have them all," she said with a chuckle.

Libby came up beside them. "Sounds like a woman to me," she joked. "A true shopper, and a merchant's dream."

"Unfortunately, she can't have everything she sees," Emma pointed out. "But we will take a half yard of each of these, please." Emma handed the two rolls to Libby, then followed her to the counter.

"How's married life?" Libby asked as she measured out the ribbon. "You and Sam getting settled in all right?"

"Fine."

"He's a good man," Libby said. "He deserves a good woman after what he put up with all those years."

Emma's curiosity was piqued. This was the second time someone had implied Sam's marriage wasn't as blissful as he would like her to believe. "What do you mean?"

"Uh ... nothing ... I shouldn't have opened my big mouth ... you know me ... it's really not my place to gossip ..."

"What did he put up with?" Emma pried. "Tell me. Please."

Libby glanced around the store, then leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Sam was the only one who couldn't see through his wife. The sun rose and set on that woman, and she treated him like a servant."

"Really? I thought--"

"Can I get some service over here?" a voice called out, interrupting their conversation.

Libby's glance slid to a customer standing beside a chest of small drawers holding an assortment of buttons. "I'll be right there," she said to the woman, then turned back to Emma. "I shouldn't have said anything. Please don't tell Sam what I told you."

"Of course I won't."

Libby walked away, leaving Emma standing at the counter, her thoughts sorting the information Libby had provided. So Catherine wasn't a saint, after all. Amanda had implied as much, but she'd wondered if Amanda was merely spreading rumors. But now ... What else didn't she know about the woman who managed to hold on to Sam's love even from beyond the grave?

"Is there anything else?" Libby's voice penetrated Emma's thoughts. "Harold has already loaded your other supplies into the wagon."

"Oh ... yes. I'll need some fabric." Not only did the children need new clothes, she'd realized just that morning she only had one nightdress with a high neck and long sleeves. She couldn't wear it forever.

"I just got a new shipment," Libby offered. "Let me show you."

A half hour later, Emma had made her purchases and was sitting with the children on the bench outside the mercantile. She'd bought more fabric than she'd planned, but she couldn't resist purchasing a length of cheery flowered print fabric for new curtains and tablecloth to brighten up the kitchen. Sam might be annoyed that she'd spent her own money, but it was done. And she was sure he'd like the results.

"We goin' home now?" Nathan asked.