Here is a preview of chapters 7 & 8 from the novel entitled "Leaving Riverton." Enjoy.

The novel will be available for purchase in November, 2004 here on this website or at quiltshops and books stores nationwide.

Chapter 7 LIZ AND THE LIST

“Well, where do we get started?” Abby asked Liz.
“We need to pack and load the wagons with our travel supplies and food, personal belongings and a small inventory to start the Mailly mercantile. When the army moves on out we won’t have any supply wagons coming in or through. We will be as far west as civilized territory will be.” Liz stated matter of factly.
“We will be at the beginning of a prosperous period. It is a wonderful opportunity that Grandpa and Thomas have planned for all of us.”
“We certainly have a lot to do to make this all work so where do you want me to start Liz?” Questioned Emma.
“I thought you and Megan could start here in the kitchen. Only leave the minimum. Grandpa will have most of his meals at the mill. The sawdust and wooden crates are stacked in the breezeway. Pack the breakables well in the sawdust and nail each lid down good.” Liz instructed. “Also think about what we will need the next few days. We can pack those items right before we leave. We want to take as much as we can on this trip. Grandpa will only bring what he has to. All of his wagons will be freight.”
Emma and Megan swished out the door to the breezeway. It was fun and exciting, with a bit of fright thrown in too. Several crates were retrieved by Emma but Megan struggled with the bag of sawdust. She pulled and tugged but it would not budge. The bag was just too large for the petite woman. This frustrated her and she did not like it when she had a stalemate. She could accomplish anything she set her mind too. Her hair became damp at the temples as the morning sun beamed straight to the open porch where she struggled.
Emma appeared and taped her on the shoulder with a giggle.
“This bowl and small bag may help lighten the load.” She laughed as she handed it to her cousin. “Don’t laugh at me I would have figured it out. I just never thought these little pieces of tree dust could cause me this much trouble.”
Megan began to scoop the sawdust into the bag. She stopped to wipe her hair away from her eyes. She would have to remember to firmly secure her hair in the future. This style would never work on the wagon trail. A quick adjustment was made with a few pins and she was back to work. The bag of sawdust became workable for Megan and she soon had it in the kitchen where the two women chatted and packed their family heirlooms.
Abby headed to the cellar to retrieve and pack the canned goods. The door creaked open and dusty sunrays ran ahead of her down the stairs. The place began to fill with light as she gathered her skirt and entered the coolness. Cobwebs hung carelessly and hit Abby in the face. She blinked trying to adjust to the new surroundings. Wooden shelves were on all sides bulging with crocks and canned goods. The pantry was full of peaches, dried apples, tomatoes and several sacks of onions and potatoes. The Mailly’s were excellent gardeners and were blessed as well in their canning skills. Abby even found a stockpile of the special jam that caused a stir at breakfast. They would not have to worry about a berry patch in Texas for a while. She laughed as she thought about the look on young Luke’s face. Even though it was the end of the season, the cellar was full. Liz and Megan had prepared their harvest well. Abby thought that she could learn a lot from her cousins. They had grown into mature women since she had last seen them. The two were quite capable with wisdom and knowledge she aspired to attain as a teacher but now realized it came with experience. She began to feel more comfortable in her surrounding in more ways than one.
Abby began to sort the abundance into categories. The shelf close to the stairs will be for grandpa. She placed an extra jar of peaches and a sack of coffee beans with the required items Liz had on her list. It looked like more than her grandfather would need, especially if he were to take his meals at the mill with the others.
She looked to her paper that Liz had given her with the allotments. Next she placed on the shelf below grandpas the items they would need in the next few days. The butter crock, cheese, jam and a small crock of salt were lined up with the other items that Liz requested. She had to hand it to her cousin. She was organized and well prepared. This trip might not be to taxing after all. There certainly would be plenty of food for the trip and to start with in the new home.
Once again she went to the list for Liz’s instruction on what to pack for the wagon journey. She had it in two columns food that would stay packed for future Texas use and what they could eat on the trail. The trail food could go quickly with eight mouths looking for a tasty treat. They would try to eat what they could find along the way as much as possible.
After the food was sorted, Abby went up the stairs to the crates and sawdust. It was a great day, not to warm yet and the birds were unusually happy it seemed.
As Abby approached the top of the stairs she saw Liz giving instructions to John and Blue as they were lifting some heavy prepacked boxes into the two freight wagons that they would drive. Liz was particular in the way she wanted these wagons packed. It had to be just so.
“Miss Elizabeth we can never get all of these requested items in these wagons.”
John wiped the trickle that went by is eye and took one glove off as he tried to explain the situation to the unsurrendering female.
“John I do not wish to be difficult but if you would just try it my way I’m sure it will work. See I have it all worked out here.” She pushed the paper toward John.
He took the paper and reluctantly looked it over.
Abby caught Liz’s eye and motioned her to come over.
“Is everything all right?” She asked concerned
“Yes” Liz firmly stated. “As soon as he completes it my way.”
They laughed gently and gazed over to the wagon area. John was trying it her way and the boxes were amazingly fitting into the appointed locations just as she had planned.
They agreed that it was lunchtime and went to locate the other two women. It was a good time to see how they were doing with the list Liz had given them.
As Liz and Abby approached the kitchen area laughter could be heard from the two inside.
“What is so funny dear sister?” Abby asked.
Coming up for air Emma stumbled with her words. Megan came to her aid and said.
“She was telling me about the school picnic and the gift you received.” She giggled again.
“Oh, I don’t want to even think about little Samuel and the snake!” Abby waved her hands and changed the topic. “Let’s eat I’ve worked up an appetite in that cellar with all of that food. You two really have out done yourself that place is packed with jar after jar. Emma you would not believe it. Here is the most beautiful jar of pickles I have ever seen. Did you ever enter these in the county fair?”
“Yes we did and we gained several new enemies through out the county.” Megan teased. “Grandma Claire always had the purple ribbon till we came along. Lonnie Gluffer said his wife was right glad we were leaving she just might have a chance at it now.”
“Oh my…these must be worth a lot.” Abby held the jar high and admired it as the light caressed the shinny glass. Secret spices and seeds floated in and around the perfect slices of little cucumbers.
The footsteps of boots were heard and Thomas entered the kitchen full of females. He was at a loss for a moment taken back by the abundance of beauty. He had thought that he was a lucky man to be in charge of this feminine group until he spoke with John and Blue out at the breezeway. He happened to come by when they were complaining about the bossy women and how they new how to do it just right. Liz told them to look at this paper and do it her way. He smiled and decided to use the soft approach with Liz. He had seen his buddy Caleb come up on the loosing end with her many a time. As he looked at her smiling and enjoying herself he now understood why Caleb didn’t seem to mind so much.
“Hello ladies…how is the packing going?” He asked already knowing part of the story from John. “Looks like the family pickle secret is about to be shared. Should I come back?”
“No…” Megan smiled. “We will never tell. We were about to have a bite to eat …will you join us?”
“Thank you but I have a lot to do today. Liz can I see you on the porch for a moment?”
Thomas held the door open for Liz and they both left the room.
“They look so nice together what is their problem?” Abby asked.
“Short and simple is the fact that he won’t approach her as more than a family friend, you know, some one who cares and sadly she loves Caleb.” Megan stated
“So.. . if he would make his intensions known…that would change things?” Emma asked confused.
“Well, not totally.” Megan began to explain. “Thomas feels loyalty to his best friend and he doesn’t want to push Liz if she is not ready to accept callers.”
“So they could go on forever waiting for the other one to make the first move.” Abby inquired.
“Exactly.” Megan sighed. “I have tried to nudge Liz into thinking differently…it falls on deaf ears.”
Outside on the porch Thomas struggled with Liz seeing his point of view.
“Thomas I don’t see the problem with John.” She firmly stated. “The things were not fitting in the wagon as I had planned and it was because he wanted to do it his way. We have a lot to pack and it won’t all make it, if it is not done correctly. I even had the crates made a certain size so we would not waste an inch of room in the wagons. If they do not place them as I have recorded on the sheet of paper, it simply won’t work. I did it to save them time and trouble.
“I think they would have figured it out Liz, if you had let them.” Thomas stated in return.
“But why do they have to waste time figuring it out when I already have?” She asked. “They would just tell me I could not take all the items with me and that is unacceptable. The breezeway would be full of things we need that they couldn’t find a place for. I would load all this myself it they were not so heavy.”
Liz began to feel hot and for some reason Thomas questioning her made her mad. She had done nothing but organize all of the wagons. Their life may depend on what she made room for and where she chose to store it. Megan was to start her dress shop and had to have her supplies as well as the inventory for the mercantile. This was no easy task that her grandfather had given her.
“So…the real problem is that I told them what to do.” Liz stared at Thomas.
Thomas did not answer. What was the problem with John?
“Am I right? Are the crates fitting in the beds well?” Liz held her ground like an animal defending her young. Her lace up boots holding firmly to the porch.
Thomas looked over to the two freight wagons that were beginning to gain weight. The crates were fitting well with no wasted space. He looked to the covered porch to see what was left to place in the freight wagons.
“Ok Liz I will speak with them… I’m not sure what their problem was…it looks as if it is all working.”
Men! Liz thought and strolled into the kitchen for lunch.
Thomas stood by the wagons and the last few boxes to load in the freight wagons.
“You came out well on that one.” Blue groaned as he lifted one of Megan’s crates up to John in the wagon.
“Man…what does she have in this one?” Blue complained.
“It said Megan’s fabric.” John answered back, wiping the sweat from his face and neck with his red bandana. He pushed the box into place.
Thomas looked to the boxes on the porch that still needed to be placed in the wagon. Each one had bold writing on the top. Megan’s Fabric - Freight wagon 2.
Life or death he remembered Liz saying. Ya …and it would be his if any were left behind. He shook his head and hollered up to the two loading.
“Don’t forget any of these … our life depends on it.” He snickered.
Thomas swung his leg over the back of his horse and road away. He quite enjoyed the little joust with Liz.

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Many days had passed and the wagons began to groan as they adjusted to their new weight. Time had passed quickly and now all was loaded except Megan’s treadle machine. A special area was made for it with ties to hold it in place and to keep it from moving around at all. Liz felt good about the work that was completed and in remarkable time. They could take a break this afternoon to finish some personal things and rest up a little. Tomorrow they could quilt around the old frame. They would have all day and could start in the morning.
Liz and Abby sat in rockers on the porch while Megan stood by the treadle machine waiting to be placed in the wagon.
Emma sat in a straight back chair with her blocks in her lap. All of the square patch units were complete and she was piecing the triangle units that went on each side. Two triangle pieces were sewn to a red square, which created a large triangle unit that was then sewn to the nine-patch center. The fabric was consistent through out the quilt except for the center squares that varied in shades of red and green. Emma was at her best with a needle and fabric in her hand. She was calm and at ease with the world. They rocked and waited for the men to load the treadle in almost silence.
Abby broke into their thoughts. “I have something for you…being the schoolteacher that I am …I thought it would be fun to journal our trip west.” She reached into her apron pocket and took out a little book for each one of them. “I have already started mine. I have kept one since I went away to school to become a teacher.” She passed out a book to each woman. “We should do it for ourselves and for history too.” A little pencil was taken from the other pocket and handed to each one just as she had done a thousand times in her classroom. Abby was a natural teacher encouraging, patient and persistent. She smiled at each one as the gift was received. Her teacher eyes were kind and imploring. “Write what ever you wish, it is your story.”
Megan was first to respond and as always, excited about something new. “ Ok… this will be fun…I never have kept a diary.”
Liz opened her book with faint lines lightly printed on each page. “What a wonderful idea Abby… I never would have thought of it…thank you.”
Emma placed her book in her sewing bag at the side of her chair. She picked up her needle again, never missing a stitch. “Thank you sis…maybe it will be fun.”
“Oh, come on Emma…it will be fun, really.” Megan begged her cousin. “Do it each day!”
They rocked in silence waiting for the muscle to arrive and load the treadle, except for Megan. She paced around the machine worse than a mother hen.

CHAPTER 8 SMOKING NEEDLES

They completed their morning routine in record time and made their way into the sewing room, which was actually an extra room that nobody had ever used for anything. It had one large window and a small closet that had been turned into a bookshelf. The floors were wood and still looked new, as though they had somehow escaped the passage of wear and time because they were never walked on and never used.
“Meggie,” Liz said. “Have you showed Abby and Emma the quilt we are working on today?”
“Oh!” Emma said, a little loudly. “I would love to see it! Is this the one we are quilting on today?”
“Yes, me too Megan,” Abby said. “Is this the pattern that Grandma Claire had made?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Well, it marvelous,” Abby said. “Just marvelous!”
“And actually,” Liz said. “She wants us to help her with the top. She just put it in its frame.”
A large yellow cat slowly pranced across the floor in front of Emma, rubbing up against her leg.
“Oh! Well, I would love to work on it.” Abby said.
“Where have you been hiding?” Emma said, reaching down to pet the plump, yellow ball of fur.
“That’s Samson,” Megan said. “He’s very old.”
“Oh,” Emma said. “Well, aren’t you just the most charming ole fellow,” she said in a strange baby voice. “Where have you been?” The cousins were anxious to gather around the quilt frame with their sewing baskets. Abby licked the eye of her needle and pressed the heavy cotton thread into it.
Megan was watching this technique and said to Abby.
“ I thought you licked the thread, not the needle, to help you thread it quickly,”
“A friend of mothers always said to do it this way. It works every time.” Abby smiled.
Each seamstress was eager to try this new hint, placed the eye of the needle between their lips to moisten the opening, then pointed the tip of the thread into the metal opening of the needle. All three of the needles were threaded the first time!
“Well isn’t that wonderful.” Megan exclaimed.

The quilt top was not very big. Megan called it a lap size. It was just large enough to cover you when you are seated.
Emma was quite taken with this smaller version. She even thought it could hang on the wall, like a picture. They all were amused over a quilt that would hang on the wall. Its only purpose was a source of beauty, to decorate a wall!
The quilt that they were to work on was layered with cotton batting in the middle and a muslin length of cloth was for the back. It was stretched out tight in the wooden frame. It would be completed quickly since it was a smaller work of appliqué art and four talented sets of hands were flying across it.
The needles were threaded with a knot placed at the end of one thread, except for Liz’s. She never used a knot, she did a double backstitch each time she started a line of stitches. The thread was permeated to move through the eye of the needle, as stitches were worked into the quilt.
The needle was pushed into the middle layer of the batting and pulled up tight, popping the knot into the batting and between the layers of the quilt sandwich. An accomplished quilter would never allow a knot to show on either side of the quilt.
Each seamstress at this quilt frame was an expert with the needle. Abby and Emma were taught the art of the needle by their mother. Katherine was the youngest daughter of Lucas Mailly.
Elizabeth and Megan were taught sewing by their grandma Claire. They came to live with their grandparents as little girls. Megan does not even remember her mother Victoria.
The women in a community were always excited to go to a quilt gathering. They might be called a quiltn’or a quilting bee. A quilt could be finished rather quickly with so many at work. Sewing secrets were passed around as well as community news and activities. Not to be confused with local gossip, which the church gatherings frowned upon. One brass woman, from the saloon referred to the gatherings as the local stitch and bitch!
When Megan had heard that, it made her forehead wrinkle. She had never been to anything that would resemble a group like that.
“ I will certainly miss our little group of quilting friends.” Megan said at loud to the quietly, working women.
“ I was just thinking how each stitch placed in a friends quilt is a part of you.” Megan sighed.
“I know exactly what you mean, I hope we can get a group together quickly in Fort Worth.” Emma stated
The thimbled fingers loaded stitches in the quilt row after row. The quilt was rolled several times as the work progressed on the appliquéd flower pattern of their grandmother Clair.
Abby took her thimble off and placed it on the quilt top, next to the spool of cotton quilting thread and her small pair of stork embroidery scissors.
“I’m hungry” She sighed and rolled her shoulders to stretch them out.
Megan straightened in her chair too, rubbing her shoulders.
“ I need to get up anyway.” She stated.
“I will go get our lunch and some lemonade. Emma will you help me carry it in?” She called as she went around the doorway.
Liz and Emma were still concentrating on their stitches, twelve to the inch to be exact. They took pride in their work.
Emma pushed her chair away and called out to Megan.
“ I will be right in to help.”
Samson curled around Abby’s leg under the quilt frame. A kitten swatted and jumped at the big cats tail, that had a mind of it’s own. The kitten then rolled into Abby’s skirt that was puddle on the floor.
Liz was finally at the end of her thread. She slid the needle under the top layer of fabric and did a backstitch to secure it in the cotton batting. She clipped her thread and placed her needle into the edge of her spool.
“We certainly have accomplished a lot this morning.” She looked the quilt over with her fingers as well as her eyes. Her fingers smoothed over the tiny stitches she had just placed in the quilt. “It is coming along nicely.” She said mostly to herself.
The playful kitten suddenly jumped into her lap briefly scaring her. She stroked the soft fur and held the kitten to her face.
“Cally you silly thing. I sure will miss you.”
Abby was admiring the woman across from her. She was a beauty with smooth skin and silky hair. She had confidence and courage in her soft heart. Abby had hurt so deeply for her cousin when she heard about Caleb’s death. She was happy to see for herself that Liz was recovering.
Liz felt Abby’s eyes on her and looked up to the equally beautiful woman. “Abby I am so glad you are here, it has been too, to long. I was beyond excitement to hear that you and Emma were willing to make the move!”
Abby reached for Liz’s hand across the quilt and smiled gracefully.

“Grandpa is so certain about this political unrest, it is frightful Liz.”
“I know.” Liz gently squeezed Abby’s fingers. “ Are you excited about your new teaching engagement? Pastor Parker seems so nice. I want to meet his wife Anna right away.”
“ Excited and worried all at once.” Abby expelled a deep breath. “I do not know where to begin. I have to be careful to not scare myself into running back to my Mississippi classroom.”

“We will take it one day at a time.” Liz comforted her with soft words and a soft pat on her hand.”
“Liz what do you know about this place we are going too? What can you tell me, ease my concerns?” Abby pressed.
“Well,” Liz started, and leaned back in her chair. “The weather is a lot like it is here, but a little less rain and trees. We are almost on the edge of what they call west Texas, a most baron place. Our area has tress and the Trinity River. Sounds like home almost, except they say this is ranch country. It has good cattle grazing land and open prairie territory. Cattle with great long horns are roaming about all over. Grandpa and Thomas are always talking on the porch each evening about this ranching. Thomas told me that you could round up as many of these longhorns as you wish, brand them and they are yours! They are so excited about having a ranch. Luke is so taken with the idea of being a cowboy. Grandpa forgets how old he is, he never quits and Thomas seems to think that grandpa is a young man to. Thomas has just stepped into the shoes Caleb wore in grandpa’s life and Luke’s too.” Liz paused realizing what she had just said.
“Well, what about you Liz? Has he stepped into those shoes for you?” Abby quizzed Liz gently.
“I have not thought about it exactly like that. I am sure Megan has told you that I sometimes think that Caleb will return. It is certainly easier to deal with, thinking he is just gone, not dead.”
Liz looked to Abby with tears in her eyes again. She tried to blink them back. “ I get so tired of the tears always being so close. I will always love Caleb how could I ever be with any one else. I still feel married, except that I get so lonely, my heart just hurts. I really hurt inside and I want to feel better. If forgetting Caleb is what I have to do to get better than I can’t do it. I will never be able to do that.

It is all so confusing, I am hoping the trip will get me started on the right track and help me build a new life. I also know that Thomas is a good man and Megan said he has feelings for me, but I don’t know that. He hasn’t told me or asked grandpa if he could court me.”
Abby smiled at that.
“I have not been here long but I do know that you are silly and blind, my dear cousin. He adores you, He doesn’t have to court you he is always here! He is already in this family. He is a gentleman and is waiting for you to make room for him in your heart. He won’t be pushy, Liz. But just remember life is short, don’t wait to long for happiness to find you, you need to grab it by the . . . the long horns.”
Liz and Abby laughed together over her wording.
Megan and Emma now appeared with sandwiches and lemonade in a tray.
Abby reached for her drink. “We have so much work to do. Can we really get it all accomplished?”
She looked to the others for support.
Emma now leaned forward propping her elbows on the edge of the quilt frame with her chin in her hands.
“I know. It is exciting…. and frightful too. I wish grandpa could come with us now. He feels bad about that too.” She said.
The munching Megan always full of life and adventure wiped her petite mouth and jumped right in the conversation.
“Oh, we can do this, I have no doubt! It will be great! Besides, I have become a great shot!”
She raised her hand to look like a revolver and pretended to blow smoke from the barrel of it.
They all laughed at the charismatic Megan.
Emma almost spilt lemonade on the quilt. She was laughing so hard.
Megan sat down, still in an excited state of mind. She continued on.
“ I can’t wait to get my dress shop opened. Just wait till you see that new treadle sewing machine go. We ordered it from Chicago you know and I paid for it myself. It is a real smoking needle! The dress’ will just fly right off the machine.”
She finally stopped for a breath and a bite of her sandwich.
Liz smiled at her sister affirming her words. She let Megan’s excitement help soothe her sole and comfort her apprehension about several things.
“This is a wonderful opportunity. It is the beginning of a prosperous period for all of us. There are a lot of ranches and families scattered about that have depended on the fort. It will make it easier to have a little community start up. We have a church with a pastor, a school with a teacher”…Megan smiled as she recited the information. “And a smithy, plus our mercantile and dress shop.”
“It could be a hard life for a while…I don’t know how far the water is…we might have to carry it. It will be rough when we first arrive…maybe even live in our wagons…It won’t be as comfortable or easy as we have it here or back in your Mississippi home.” Liz looked to her family with concern. “We will experience first hand how our grandmothers lived and what their daily life was like.”
Emma listened thoughtfully and tried to imagine daily life in the Texas frontier.