Threads of Change

by Jodi Barrows

  “Thanks, Moe. For the food and the advice. I have some riding miles to think on it.”

  Thomas folded up the paperwork for the title to his land and neatly pushed it into his inside vest pocket. Thomas had gotten more than he planned on; a good meal, advice, and an honest new friend. Even one of those was hardly easy to come by.

  “We can file your land patent with the Texas Land Office when they send the traveling agent our way, if you don’t want to travel all the way to Houston,” Moe stated. “It’s a long way and the agent will be by here in a few weeks.”

  “Thanks again, Moe, but I’ll feel better filing the patent in person. Please tell Bethany the meal was as good as any I’ve had,” Thomas said, and he let his horse get one more drink at the trough.

  Bethany and her puppy ran up to Moe, and he scooped up the little dog and pushed him down into his apron bib with one giant hand. The fluffy pup poked his head out of the pocket as Moe lifted his pint-sized little girl and a planted a kiss on her forehead. Her little arm tried to wrap around her papa’s huge neck as she sat neatly in the crook of his elbow. They both waved and the pup barked as Thomas mounted his horse and began his journey south to the Texas Land Office.

  It would take him at least two weeks to make it there and back if he rode hard and had no trouble. But already, he heard the still small voice prompting him to get back home to Liz.

  Liz shook the quilt that had been left in place on the back porch ever since Thomas left. She worried that it might become faded and weathered after staying in the sun on that chair for the last two weeks. Once she’d shaken the dust free and carefully laid it out, Liz smoothed her hand over the circle wreaths and thought of the man who had given it to her.

  How could I have been so stupid and stubborn?

  Liz shook her head in disbelief. She scanned the dirt road as she’d done so many dozens of times in the hope of some sign of his return. Like always, she saw nothing more than a dust devil dancing down the road toward the livery.

  Megan came to the doorway to retrieve her sister. “Liz, don’t worry. I know you must be thinking of Thomas. I’m sure he’ll be home soon. Come inside and let’s get started on our sewing. Anna has just arrived and she brought her wonderful molasses cookies. Let’s make this a good afternoon with friends, hmm?”

  Megan gave her sister a shoulder hug with one arm, and Liz went inside with her to help pour the tea into Granny Claire’s china tea cups. Small red wildflowers with five petals and long thin leaves adorned each cup, saucer and plate. Megan filled the large serving platter with warm brown spice cookies. The smell of freshly baked cookies hit Liz hard, and she went straight to the cookie plate and took two.

  “I’m anxious to get to work on my cracker box quilt,” Megan said as she replenished the cookie platter. “Did I tell you the peddler, Skelly, had noticed it at supper when he was there and asked to purchase it from me?” When Liz didn’t reply, her sister continued. “I only have to complete the binding. I’m just about to finish sewing the first edge of the quilt. The peddler said he would return in a few weeks and trade me for some silks and sateen.”

  They joined the other women and Megan went straight to work pinning the fabric strips neatly to the trimmed edges of the quilt. Liz noticed that the mitered corners were neat and precise as Megan’s needle moved easily in and out the five thick layers of cotton.

  “Anna, I keep forgetting to ask you about the two quilts you had on the tables at our first meal together,” Megan said. “Did you make them?”

  Anna sat stitching on a beautiful blue and cream two-tone quilt that looked like a bear paw block except that the triangles for the claws were longer than usual.

  “No, my mother did. The blue one is mine. She called hers LICKETY SPLIT because it went together so quickly, and blue is my favorite color. Mama had a secret for making all of those triangles so quick and easy. She would put them in almost all of her quilts. She even did it for my brother’s quilt that was on the other table that day. She named it MONKEY TAILS.”

  “How funny! How did it get that name?” Emma asked.

  “When he was a little boy, Samuel saw a monkey on a wagon train passing through and was so intrigued with the impish creature. So Mama named his quilt MONKEY TAILS. After that, he pestered our father for a monkey. He wanted one so terribly bad.” Anna smiled and shook her head as she remembered.

  “Samuel?” Megan piped up. “Is Samuel Smith your brother?”

  “Yes, he is.”

  Emma turned to Anna again and asked, “And what do you call the bear paw quilt?”

  “This one has the long claws like the legend down on Bear Creek. Story has it that there is an old bear that lives there with claws like knives and he hunts big game that he never eats, just kills for fun.”

  “Oh,” Emma exclaimed and backed away from the blue bear paw quilt.

  Liz chuckled.

  “It won’t bite you, Emma.”

  She had previously decided to call her new nine-patch project EMMA’S CROSSROADS, and she told Liz that she felt like she stood at the crossroads of her life and would soon need to make some decisions about what she wanted for herself. She felt that her life was as boring as the nine-patch quilts she always seemed to make. The black represented the somber mood she was in. Emma desperately wanted to break away and find out who she really was.

  Liz reached for the teapot to refill her cup and Megan’s. “Am I the only one who didn’t know that Samuel is Anna’s brother?”

  Anna smiled at Liz and said, “Yes, Samuel is my older brother and Smithy is our father. Papa has always been the cavalry’s blacksmith, but he didn’t want to go on west with them at this age and we all like it here, so we stayed. Since we were married, Parker and I have followed Papa as he travelled with the cavalry. Seems like the men needed a minister. As for Samuel, he never felt compelled to join after he finished his education back east, so he just returned home and helped where he was needed. Samuel is a lawyer but he isn’t much for sitting in an office, said he liked to practice on the open range.”

  Abby listened attentively to Anna’s family history. “That explains a lot,” she commented.

  “Oh?” Anna said.

  “I … I was just thinking of the detailed teaching contract he drew up.”

  Emma asked, “What about your mother?”

  “The west is a hard life for anyone. She was a strong, good woman and followed Papa anywhere, always making a home from nothing. She passed on shortly after we arrived at this post. She was bitten by a copperhead in her garden, and she’s buried in the church cemetery. Mama was one of the people responsible for getting this church built and having a real place of final rest, our little cemetery. At the time, the only other church graveyard was way over in Grapevine. You all would have enjoyed her company. I miss her so much. That’s one of the many reasons I’m so glad you all came along. I’m so happy for your company.”

  Liz made a mental note to be more cautious in the garden.

  Megan looked at her over the edge of her binding, which was coming along nicely. “You have been a bit preoccupied the last few days.”

  “Yes, I guess I have.”

  When Liz heard horses on the dirt road, she rushed to the window.

  “Liz, you will never get that multiple triangle quilt started if you jump up every time you hear a wagon or horse on the road,” Megan stated.

  Abby got up and went to stand at Liz’s side as she peered out the window. “You poor thing, Thomas will come back to you eventually.”

  Liz took a deep breath and let the curtain fall back into place. “It’s my own fault he’s gone. I wouldn’t blame him if he never returned.”

  Abby squeezed Liz’s shoulder before they both returned to their seats. Liz resumed working on the red triangle units. It seemed like she needed a million of them. She could feel Abby’s pity for her as she looked at her with her entire mouth curved downward in a pout.

  “I wish I knew what that quilt was going to loo
k like, Liz. I’m sure it will be beautiful. The brown and black stars surrounded by all of those red triangle blocks are really nice.”

  Megan looked over at the quilt that Liz had barely started. “I thought you were going to make it indigo blue, like Mrs. Sewell’s.”

  “I thought about it, but then I saw these dark reds and I just couldn’t keep my hands off them. These scraps are from one of Granny Claire’s scrap collections.” Liz admired the fabric as she said, “We really don’t have too many of her things left.”

  “Did you get any blocks completed at the mercantile this week?” Anna asked.

  “Yes, I did. I wasn’t that busy during the day, so I managed some piecing,” Liz replied.

  “The mercantile looks nice,” Megan stated, “but we do need more inventory. John and Chet have been gone for over a week. Grandpa said it wouldn’t be any too soon for them to return either. They’re organizing more drivers along the way so that they don’t have to make the whole trip. In fact, they will be picking up the wagons of freight at the Texas border, close to Marshall.”

  Emma asked, “Will they bring the rest of the canning supplies? Our garden is bursting at the seams and Mrs. Longmont asked for them today at church.”

  “I wish she could have stayed in town today and stitched with us. She is such pleasant company,” Abby said. “She did such lovely work on the schoolhouse quilt. It really has helped me learn the names of the children and their families. Knowing everyone’s name will make the first day of school much easier for me.”

  “The canning supplies are on their way, as well as many sizes of nails. I’ve never seen such excitement over nails before. These men think of them like school children do candy. I’m sure the first shipment is spoken for already. Word that multiple-sized nails were on the way spread through town this week like a wildfire.” Liz laughed. “I surely didn’t get any extra star blocks made that day!”

  “Do you know yet when school will start?” Megan asked.

  “I’m just waiting for them to tell me,” Abby replied. “We decided to let the little ones start first and then the older boys will join us after the crops are in. It will be much easier for their fathers to let them go then.” Abby’s voice bubbled with excitement. “I also want to start visiting the families that don’t live near town to invite them personally.”

  “This week has already gotten busy,” Megan started. “Looks like Emma and I will be the only ones in the garden and working over that hot stove canning.”

  Liz was about to finish another set of red triangles. “Abby, will you start the first visits right away?” she asked.

  “Most likely toward the end of the week. I want to get the classroom ready first. I would like to start the older girls with some arithmetic without the young men around.”

  Abby leaned forward for another cookie and brushed a crumb from her lap.

  “Will you use a quilt as you did before?” her younger sister asked. “It went so well when you used your basket sampler quilt. If you need any help, I’m available.”

  “Thank you, Emma, I’ll let you know.” Abby placed her sewing in the basket by her chair and let out a sigh. “I have so much to attend to. It would be nice to find someone who would make some donations for the school. There are so many things we need.”

  “Have you thought about writing back east for some help?” Liz asked.

  “Yes, I just need to write the letter.”

  Anna finished gathering up her piecing work into her woven basket. “I’ll be able to help you with most all of that this week, and I can give you a map of the homes you need to call on. Maybe Parker can even help you later this week.”

  Liz sighed. Anna was proving to be a good friend to the Mailly women. The time spent together with friends sewing and chatting was a treasure.

  “Before I go,” Anna said with a serious expression, “I must tell you that I’m very concerned about the county records. It’s such a very touchy issue and it’s not over yet. Parker and Tex have spoken a great deal about it lately. One man from Birdville was badly injured. Parker has told me to be aware of my surroundings and to be very careful. It could be a while before all this is settled. For the time being, the records are hidden away in case someone tries to steal them again.”

  Liz added to the story. “Luke went with the men when they left a few days ago. I had no idea just how dangerous the circumstances actually were or I might never have let him go along. Thomas left that morning and I wasn’t thinking about any trouble other than my own. As you know, it was several days before they all returned safely and Luke said there were a lot of fighting words exchanged, some fists, and even gunfire.” Liz nodded her head at Anna. “Tex and Samuel have gone to Austin to try to settle things legally. Thank goodness we have Samuel’s expertise on our side. Jackson and Colt have stayed in the Birdville area to keep an eye on things until Tex returns, hopefully with good news that will settle things once and for all. With most of the men away we need to be on our toes and stay alert. It’s a scary situation that won’t be solved in a day.”

  Liz made a mental tally of the men who were left in town. Only four were still around to defend the town. Smithy and Grandpa Lucas were older men, and that only left Luke—not even a grown man himself—and Pastor Parker, a man of the cloth. The rest were gone or lived on the edges of town with their families. Farmers and cowboys came and went in and out of town every day, but they wouldn’t necessarily be aware if the women were in danger.

  This new information seemed to concern them all, and they ended their gathering on such a serious note.

  Thomas had ridden tirelessly for days to get to the land office. He only had one thing on his mind: Making the land officially his—and hopefully Mrs. Bromont’s, too. He thought of a number of ways to approach her upon his return, but none of them satisfied him.

  What if she had placed the quilt on the porch and he had somehow missed it? It was still dark with another storm brewing when he rode out of town. What must she be thinking if she had put out the quilt, only to find him already gone?

  Thomas gave the flanks of his horse a squeeze and urged her on to Fort Worth. He had ridden the pony pretty hard, and reluctantly decided to stop at the next creek to give her a drink and some needed rest. It wouldn’t do him any good to lose his horse this close to the end of his journey.

  He hoped that Liz had come to her senses over the weeks and that she felt just as anxious to see him as he was to see her. His mind flipped back and forth, never coming to a rest. How could one woman confuse him so? This definitely was not as easy as he thought it would be. In fact, if love was always this hard, he didn’t figure he’d missed a thing by not tying the knot sooner.

  Thomas had never been in this part of Texas and it reminded him a lot of his home in Louisiana. He enjoyed riding among the trees that hung heavy with vines, moss dripping from the branches.

  This was the legendary Sam Houston territory. Houston was instrumental in creating the government of this state, already rich in history and pride. The settlers retained tremendous spirit and guts, and Thomas reveled in the gratification that oozed from the pores of the Texans. This unusual state had flown flags under Spain, France, Mexico, and at one time was a nation of its own. Since 1845, it had flown the American flag, and the brave and loyal people of Texas called it the Lone Star State. Thomas felt proud to be a part of it, and excited that he could officially call it home now that his land title had been filed.

  As he rode over the ridge, he spotted some unexpected riders. From a distance, he felt certain he recognized Tex and Samuel watering their horses and filling canteens in the shade of a few live oaks. His horse neighed at the sight of the others and their tails swished at the random fly that buzzed their hide.

  Tex lifted his head as he heard the animals and appeared happily surprised to see Thomas coming toward the watering hole. Samuel came around the far side of his horse to look toward the approaching rider. He moved his hand away from his gun belt when he rec
ognized Thomas.

  “What brings you this far south, Mr. Bratcher?” Samuel asked. “Looks like you are headed north to Fort Worth.”

  Thomas threw his leg over the back of his horse and stepped down. He shook the hands of his friends and let his animal drink from the creek with the others.

  “Yeah, I’m on my way home. I’ve been to Houston to the land office to file the papers on some land I just purchased.” Thomas patted the vest pocket on his left side. “It’s a great piece just north and east of Fort Worth.”

  “Did you have any problems?” Tex, being a lawman, wanted to know.

  “No, and by the way, thanks for referring me to Big Moe.” Thomas slapped Tex on the back and smiled. It was good to be among men he knew. “Big Moe was just as his name suggested. Big!”

  Tex chuckled and shook his head in agreement. His horse stamped his front hoof in the dirt a few times.

  “How are things with you?”

  Tex answered, “Good. We are on our way back to Fort Worth as well. Samuel and I went to Austin to see if we could settle the county record issue. But I’m afraid we didn’t make any progress. The authorities told us that it has to be settled among the counties. I’m concerned that there will be a tussle. Someone could get hurt before this is eventually settled.”

  Samuel took one more drink from the canteen and then reached down into the cool stream for a refill. “I can try to defuse the situation by drawing up a legal document, but if Birdville won’t sign it, well, we’ll just have to wait it out.”

  Thomas had completely let it slip his mind. Fort Worth could be in a battle and the Mailly women were smack-dab in the middle. He assumed that there were others there if the need arose.

  “How long do you think?” Thomas asked, not caring which one answered. He looked from the old Ranger to the lawyer.

  “Could take years to settle,” Tex answered as he checked the hoof of his painted mare.

  “How far are we from home?” Thomas asked.

  “With hard riding, maybe by late afternoon tomorrow,” Tex said, ready to saddle up.