Emma's Wish

Not wasting any time, he unharnessed the horse and gave it a bag of oats. The puppy licked his hand as he set a dish of water inside the crate. "It's only a little while longer, boy," he murmured, scratching the toffee-colored fur at the puppy's neck. "I'll be back soon."

Emma looked up from the stew pot when Sam opened the door and stepped inside. She smiled, and a rush of warmth spread through him. The question was in her eyes, and he nodded, barely, letting her know he'd brought the dog home.

"Howdy, Pa," Joseph said from the other side of the kitchen.

"Papa!" Becky bounded down from her chair and leapt into Sam's arms. Her forehead creased in a frown. "Where you been, Papa?"

Sam planted a loud kiss on Becky's cheek. "Been in town taking care of business."

Becky's head tilted. "Me want to take care of binnis."

"You want to do everything."

Becky's head bobbed. "Me do everything."

"Come and sit down, Sam," Emma put in, crossing the kitchen and holding out her arms to take Becky from Sam. "You look tired."

Sam released his hold on the little girl, and she slid out of his arms and scooted back into her chair at the table. As Emma dished out a bowl of stew and dumplings and set it in front of Sam, she couldn't help stealing a glance at him.

He really did seem to be more sluggish every day. Fatigue lined his face, and she'd caught him yawning several times when he didn't know she was looking. Only a couple of days before, she'd gone unexpectedly into the barn and found him sitting on the milking stool, leaning against the wall, with his eyes closed. She'd left without speaking, but as the days went on and he looked more and more haggard, she wondered if she should insist he see a doctor.

Her heart did a little jump when he caught her looking at him, and she turned away quickly, focusing on a dumpling in the pot.

"Me want dumpling."

"Please," Emma prodded.

Becky gave her a grin. "Pease."

Emma chuckled and spooned a dumpling onto Becky's plate.

"Can I have a biscuit?" Nathan asked. "Please?" he added a split second later.

Emma picked up a buttered biscuit and set it on his plate. "Here you are," she said. "Just the way you like them."

"Thanks." Nathan took a bite. "These is real good."

Sam stabbed a piece of beef with his fork and lifted it to his mouth. "Your ma is one fine cook."

Nathan frowned, and opened his mouth as if he was going to say something to Sam, then seemed to think better of it, instead shoving the rest of the biscuit in his mouth.

"I told the children I'd take them on a picnic tomorrow," Emma said to Sam a few minutes later. "Do you have time to join us?"

Sam wiped his mouth with his napkin, then set it down on the table beside his plate. "I've got a lot of chores to catch up on since I didn't get them done today."

Emma's smile faded. "Of course. I understand. Perhaps another time--"

Joseph straightened. "We did the chores this afternoon so we ain't got nothin' but the regular chores to do in the mornin'."

"That so?"

Joseph nodded, his eyes bright with pride. "Yep. And Ma didn't even have to tell us what to do."

Sam gave Joseph a curious look. A weight lodged itself in Sam's chest. The boy was growing up. He'd taken on responsibility without even being asked. "Well, in that case," he said with a smile, "I don't see why I couldn't spare a couple hours. Maybe we could even catch us a few fish and your ma could fry them up for supper."

Emma grinned. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Turning to the children, Sam said, "Once you're finished supper, go out to the barn and bring in the package I brought from town."