Emma's Wish

"One more word and I'll find you in contempt of this court. Now sit down."

Sam clamped his lips shut and trudged across the room. He caught Emma's look of disbelief as he slid into his chair.

He was going to lose his children. Because of his infernal pride, because he'd hesitated until it was too late ...

Tears welled up in Sam's eyes, and he ran his hands roughly across them. He wasn't going to break down. Not here. Not now.

The judge was speaking. "We'll meet here again at two o'clock on Thursday afternoon. I'll have my decision then."

***

"What'cha doin'?"

Emma stopped the rocking chair looked up to see Nathan standing beside her on the porch. His blond hair gleamed in the moonlight. "Nothing, sweetheart. Just thinking."

He perched himself in the rocking chair beside hers and kicked his foot out to set the chair in motion. "What about?" he asked.

Emma smiled softly. How could she answer Nathan's question when she couldn't even sort through her muddled thoughts herself? The children ... Sam ... the ranch ... their future ... Her mind whirled, flashes of memories mixing with fear and desire tumbling through her brain. Vague visions of the future whizzed through her mind, and in them, she was always alone.

The ride home had been strained, but she doubted the children had noticed. From the time they had picked the children up at the mercantile where Libby Connor had supervised them and all through the evening meal, the children had chattered constantly, described their day with Libby. Emma had prepared a meal of sliced ham and leftover potatoes, and whipped up an apple cobbler for dessert, but none of them were very hungry, since Lou had been feeding the children all day. Emma's stomach roiled at the thought of food, and by the way Sam shoved his food around on his plate, he was feeling the same way.

All the way home, she'd wanted to ask him why he hadn't spoken up, why he hadn't told the judge he didn't need the Howards' money. The stormy expression on his face was a clear indication she'd be wise to keep quiet.

"Huh?" Nathan's voice burst into the silence.

Emma looked at him. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I said you looked like you was thinkin' somethin' really sad. Are you sad?"

She gazed out into the darkness. The moon was low in the sky, outlining the shadows of the pecan trees lining the driveway leading to the house. Crickets chirped; an owl hooted. "I am a little sad. I'm thinking that this is a perfect night, and I'd love to just stay like this forever."

Nathan's chair stopped rocking. His head crooked to one side and his brows knitted in concern. "But who would do the chores?" he asked.

Emma chuckled. "I guess you're right. We can't keep things the way they are, no matter how much we want to."

Nathan followed Emma's gaze. "Sure we can. All you gotta do is wish on a star. Remember?"

If only it was that easy. Wouldn't it be wonderful to make a wish, and your dreams would come true. But life isn't like that. No amount of wishing - or even praying - will change what's destined to happen.

"So why don't you just make a wish?" Nathan insisted. "Look!"

At that moment, as if it was a divine signal, a star shot across the sky and sank below the horizon.

"You gotta wish now, right?" Nathan asked.

Emma smiled. "I suppose I do."

"You gotta close your eyes first," Nathan instructed.

Emma closed her eyes.

"Now make a wish, but you can't tell anybody or else it won't come true."

Emma nodded. "I wish ... I wish we can be a family, a real family, and that we can live here for the rest of our lives," she prayed to herself.

Emma opened her eyes to find Nathan within inches of her face. She drew back in surprise. "What are you doing?"

Nathan grinned. "Just makin' sure you did it right, with your eyes closed and everything. Else it won't work."