OCTOBER 8, 1861

 
Gabie ran out of the house following her new family. “No go.” She said as she raced down the steps.

 Her shoelace got caught on a nail that had worked itself lose, and she fell forward. She hit the ground hard and started to cry.

Caly rushed to her and picked up the little girl. “Let me see.” She looked Gabie over and hugged her. “You'll be okay. There’s no blood.”

Gabie sniffled and hugged her sister nodding.

Caly smiled as she watched the other five children head off to school. She stood and rubbed the little girl’s back. “Guess we better go clean up from breakfast.”

Gabie looks up at her, ”I go to?” She asked as she pointed toward the other children riding out on their horses.

The young woman smiled. “You’re to young for school yet. But you get to go with me to town to work on my wedding dress.”

Gabie smiled. “tay, I go town with you,” she giggled.

Caly smiled as they headed inside. “That's right.” She sat Gabie in the chair and handed her a cookie while she cleaned up the kitchen.

Steven walked into the kitchen after doing his morning chores and seeing the others off to school. He poured himself a cup of coffee. "Caly have you thought about your job yet? I'm going to need your help around here with the children." He watched his oldest tending to her soon to be sister scraped knees.

"I have to talk to Charlie to be sure, but I thought I could just fill in when needed." The young woman said as she got the little girl a cup of milk.

Steven nodded. "What about Buck? He's going to want you at home while he's on runs."

Caly smiled with a nod as she started to clean up her mess. "I know. We've already talked about it. He's okay with it as long as I'm not there all the time."

"Good. Want me to watch Gabie while you go work on your dress?" Steven smiled at the little girl as he picked up his soon to be youngest child and hugged her. Gabie returned the hug.

Caly smiled as she watched them. "No, I'm going to take her with me. You know some sister time before I get married."

Steven nodded. "Good thinking honey." He sat the little girl down. "I'll be in my office if you need me." He headed off to do some paper work. He wanted to get the deed ready to give them on their wedding day. He just needed to put their names on it.

After the kitchen was all tidy, Caly picked up Gabie and carried her out to the barn. Caly put her down, and her little sister watched as she saddled Star.

“Gabie do you remember anything about your life before you went to the orphanage?” Caly asked as she brought Star over to where the little girl sat. Gabie shook her head. “No except Mamma singing to me.” She fought the tears that fell.

Caly felt for the little girl. She knelt next to her. “I know you miss her. I miss my mamma, too. Let's see since we don't know your birthday or anything, how about we pick one for you?” She picked up Gabie and set her on Star’s back, and then swung up behind her.

Gabie nodded. “Yay.” Caly laughed as then headed into town.

Caly stopped in front of Grace's shop and climbed off Star. She reached up and helped Gabie down.

The two entered the shop. Grace looked up and smiled “Hi Caly. Whose this?” she went to great her friend.

The brunette smiled. “This is Gabie, my sister. My father is adopting her and four others. The others are in school. Gabie’s not old enough yet.”

Grace smiled, “Hi Gabie, I'm Grace I got a new catalog would you like to look at it while your sister and I work on her dress?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Grace.” Caly said as she watched her little sister take the dressmaker’s hand and lead her over to where she kept the catalog. Gabie watched as Caly tried on her dress, and then she started flipping through the catalog looking at the pictures.

Grace pinned the dress in places that needed fixing, and then Caly slipped out of it. As Grace started altering it, Caly told her about the wedding arrangements. After a few hours Caly helped a sleeping Gabie onto Star and mounted behind her. They headed home. Caly quietly stopped at the house, climbed off her horse and helped Gabie down. While her father put Star away, she carried the little girl inside and put her little sister to bed. Then she went to the kitchen to start supper while Gabie napped.