by Jolene Faye
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"Are you sure this is what you want to do," Little Feather's voice was barely a whisper over Sybil's shoulder as they watched Robert and Daniel load the crib into the wagon. Sybil sighed heavily under the soft pressure of her friend's hands on her shoulder and turned around watching the worry crease the normally beautiful curves of the Indian woman's face. "Robert's right Little Feather. It's for the best. In town I'll be closer to the doctor, Rose will be closer to Dancing Moon and Elizabeth, and honestly," she took a long deep breath as she glanced back over her shoulder, "the cabin is too empty now." Little Feather pulled her tight into a hug as she watched tears roll down Sybil's face. They all knew why she had agreed so quickly to move into town with Robert. The elder Indian woman still sat on the porch fussing in her native language as she had been since the day Sybil agreed to the move. Forcing a soft laugh as she stood from her friend's embrace, Sybil turned back toward the cabin and nodded her head. "Do I even want to know what your mother is saying," she pressed the teary smile to her face as Robert closed the cabin door. "No," Little Feather chuckled as Robert lifted Rose into the wagon seat. As he made his way back around the wagon, Sybil wiped the back of her hand over her tear stained cheeks. "Ready sweetheart," he questioned softly as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Just one more look around," she forced the half smile as she tried to step away. "Sybil," he tightened the embrace on her waist and pulled her back to him pressing his lips against the soft curve of her ear, "it's not forever. After we are married and the baby is born, we'll decide what to do about the farm."
"It's right up there," she pointed wiping tears from her eyes as Robert slowed the gait of the horses and the wagon creaked to a stop. "It won't take me but a minute," Robert started as he stood, stepping into the back of the wagon. "No," she held out her hand, grabbing his wrist as he lifted the moistened burlap and turned back to her. "Sweetheart, let me do it. Please," she pleaded as he sighed and nodded quietly. Slowly lifting the sleeping child out of her lap, Sybil kissed her forehead before laying her on the wagon seat. Robert raised his hand helping her down from the wagon. As she stepped down and watched his mouth open in protest, Sybil smiled and pressed her lips to his. "It won't take me but a minute," she echoed his words as he frowned and let go of her hand. "Please be careful," he called after her as she shivered and tears crowned her lashes once again. The coldness of the ground seeped into her knees as she knelt slowly in front of the crudely etched rose. All the memories of her loves and losses flooded back to her as she slowly hollowed a hole near the boulder with the small shovel. Unwrapping the damp burlap from the delicate bundle of roots, Sybil lowered the small bush into the hole and tamped the dirt back around them gently. "For you to remember Rose.. and me," she whispered softly into the wind as she leaned forward, pressed her forehead against the worn lines of the etched rose, and allowed the full sadness of her tears freely flow.
As the wagon bounced slowly back up the path, Sybil looked once again over her shoulder watching the canopy of the trees thin as they got closer to town. Feeling the soft pressure of his hand on her shoulder, Sybil leaned her cheek against Robert's shoulder and pulled her sleeping daughter tight to her chest. Daniel and Dancing Moon were already at the law office when the wagon slowed to a stop and Rose woke from her nap. Happy to see Elizabeth and Dancing Moon, the little girl climbed quickly down the side of the wagon before Sybil could catch her. The two little girls talked quietly and hugged one another dancing happily in the street as Robert helped Sybil from the wagon. "She looks so happy," she whispered to herself only realizing it was louder by the soft hug Robert pulled her into. "Her mother will be that happy too, I promise," he whispered as he draped her arms around his waist and lowered his head. Turning her head just slightly away from his lips resting it on his shoulder, Sybil sighed. It eased her mind some that Robert and Jane had never lived in the small room above the law office. She hadn't really known if he ever really loved Jane, but she did know how the memory of someone could haunt a place long after they were gone. As she walked around taking in the deep wood tones of the small living space, Sybil smiled realizing Robert had divided off two smaller rooms. For the children, she though softly as she ran her fingers over the smooth texture of the stone fireplace mantel. She had remembered the upper floor when it was Jane's father's office, but so much of it was different now. The thought that Robert had spent the time, even before she agreed to marry him, getting the place ready for them warmed her heart. She had loved Robert before and didn't doubt she would love him again, but still her heart ached. As the slow roll of her stomach's rumble shook her from her thoughts, Sybil smiled and wrapped her arms around the gentle curve of her growing belly.