Chapter Eleven

The last echoes of Christmas carols had long since faded into the crisp winter air, and with them, the memory of Brenda's grand holiday festivities. The once bustling church, filled to the brim with laughter and the sweet scent of pine, now stood silent—a testament to the passing of another season.

"Never thought I'd miss the chaos," Cassie mused to herself, her fingers deftly pinning a hem on one of the many dresses crowding her worktable. .

But March winds brought more than just the promise of warmer days; they whispered of change. Cassie's hands rested on her swelling belly, a gentle reminder that soon, she'd have to slow her pace.

"Can't keep up like this much longer," she confided to the empty room.

It was then that Judy, a sprightly girl with nimble fingers, came bounding through the doorway, her youthful enthusiasm a stark contrast to Cassie's growing weariness.

"Morning, Cassie! What are we tackling today?" Judy asked, her eyes bright as she took in the array of fabrics and patterns strewn about.

"Good morning, Judy. We've got dresses for the Mueller wedding and Mrs. Benson's spring wardrobe," Cassie replied, guiding Judy to the sewing machine. "I'll need you to focus on the stitching while I handle the fittings."

"Sure thing!" Judy said, her feet eagerly pumping the treadle as the machine hummed to life.

In the weeks that followed, Judy proved to be an invaluable asset. She absorbed Cassie's teachings with the eagerness of a parched plant soaking up rainwater.

"Like this?" Judy asked, holding up a nearly finished sleeve for inspection.

"Exactly like that," Cassie said, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Judy was an eager pupil, and Cassie was a happy teacher.

Cassie found solace in Judy's companionship. Together, they stitched and laughed, making light work.

"Miss Cassie, do you reckon we'll finish in time for the baby?" Judy inquired one day, her needle pausing mid-stitch.

Cassie glanced at the small mountain of orders yet to be fulfilled and then down at her round belly. "With you here, Judy, I believe we will."

CASSIE STOOD IN THEmiddle of the newly added room, a soft smile gracing her lips as she traced her fingers over the smooth wooden crib that was now situated by the window.

"Looks like we're ready for you, little one," she murmured, her hand resting gently on the swell of her belly. The child within stirred, as if in agreement, and Cassie's heart swelled with a love so profound it startled her. As much as she'd never wanted children, she had a hard time believing just how eager she was for this one to arrive.

Setting aside her client work for the day, she unfurled delicate fabrics across the sewing table—a quilt of soft pinks and blues, tiny gowns that awaited her skilled hands. As she threaded her needle, Cassie hummed a tune from her childhood, the melody carrying her through each careful stitch. Sewing for her baby was a joy unlike any commission she'd ever undertaken.

A sigh escaped her as she clipped the final thread on a petite frock adorned with lace. "If only sewing could solve all my worries," she said to the empty room. It wasn't the work itself that troubled her—it was the nagging thought that perhaps her ambition for her business might be curtailed by motherhood.

"Can I do this?" she whispered. "Have a baby and keep my shop running?"

She pictured herself juggling the roles of mother and dressmaker, the balance seeming more precarious with each passing day. Yet, as the fabric rustled beneath her fingers, she couldn't help but hope there was a way to weave together both parts of her life.

"Maybe it's possible," Cassie mused aloud, determination beginning to edge out uncertainty. "I'll find a way. For you, my sweet baby, and for me." She placed a gentle kiss atop the stack of finished baby clothes, her resolve strengthening.

"Cassie?" Judy's voice called from the doorway, tentative yet tinged with excitement. "You should come see—the roses have bloomed early this year!"

"Roses already?" Cassie stood up, easing the stiffness from her back. "Now that's a good omen if ever there was one."

CASSIE'S HANDS TREMBLEDslightly as she folded a small, white gown. She set the garment aside and reached for the sturdy warmth of her teacup, seeking solace in its familiar form.

"Deborah," Cassie began, her voice soft yet carrying an undercurrent of concern, "I need to talk to you about something."

Deborah looked up from her knitting, her fingers stilling mid-stitch. "Of course, Cassie. What's on your mind?"

"It's the baby." Cassie hesitated, her blue eyes searching her sister's gentle face. "I'm scared I won't manage to keep the shop running once the little one arrives."

Deborah set her knitting aside and came to sit beside her sister, her presence like a calm harbor. "Cassie, you've built something incredible here. We all see it. And you're not alone in this."

"But how can I do both?" Cassie asked, her gaze falling to the folds of fabric in her lap.

"Let us help," Deborah replied with a serene certainty that seemed to quiet some of Cassie's fears. "We're family, and that's what families do."

IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, Deborah took action. She gathered their sisters together, each of them brimming with the kind of enthusiasm that could light up the darkest of nights.

"Girls," Deborah said, "Cassie needs us. Let's throw a party for her and the baby—a real celebration of new beginnings."

One by one, the sisters offered up their talents. Amy baked her famous pies despite Cassie's protestations—she may hate to bake, but she never said no to a slice of apple pie. Brenda's knack for organization meant invitations were sent out quicker than a jackrabbit. Erna, always the life of the party, plotted games that had everyone chuckling just at the thought.

"Judy can help me with the sewing," Cassie suggested, feeling her spirits lift with each passing moment.

"Of course she can," said Deborah. "And we'll make sure everything's perfect."

As preparations for the party unfolded, the house buzzed with the warmth of shared effort and laughter. Cassie found herself swept up in the joy, her worries easing as she saw the love her sisters poured into every detail.

"Looks like you're getting your wish," Deborah whispered to her during a quiet moment, both sisters watching as Hannah tied ribbons along the porch railings. "A family and a business."

Cassie linked her arm through Deborah's, squeezing gently. "Thanks to you all, I think I just might."

As Cassie greeted guests and accepted well-wishes, she knew that with her sisters by her side, she could indeed have it all—a family, a business, and a community that felt like home.

CASSIE STOOD IN THEdoorway, her hand resting on the small swell of her belly, watching as a room once empty now brimmed with love and anticipation. The nursery was ready thanks to her sisters' tireless work during the party. Each corner held traces of their affection; a quilt sewn by Amy, stuffed animals crafted by Hannah, and a mobile of carved wooden birds that Erna had whittled during long winter evenings.

"Looks like this little one's going to be well looked after," Brenda said, gesturing around the room with a grin. Cassie's heart swelled with gratitude, her eyes misting over.

"Y'all have done so much already," Cassie replied, her voice thick with emotion.

"Stuff and nonsense," Imogene chimed in from behind, her hands firmly planted on her hips. "You're our sister, Cassie. This is what family does."

"Besides," Jane added, carrying a basket filled with colorful spools of thread, "we're not finished yet. We're all pitching in with the dresses. You'll meet your orders with time to spare."

"Really?" Cassie's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"Absolutely," Deborah confirmed with a nod. "We've got your back, Cassie."

"Thank you," Cassie whispered, her words barely audible but heavy with sincerity.

The clatter of wood on wood drew Cassie's attention to the porch the next morning. She stepped outside, the cool March air nipping at her cheeks, to find a beautifully crafted cradle sitting right there by her doorstep. Its sturdy oak frame was polished to a shine, and atop it fluttered a sky-blue ribbon that caught the early sunlight.

Gail's handiwork, no doubt. Cassie didn't even need to see the familiar bold strokes of Gail's knife on the wood or the way the cradle was engineered to rock just right. It was all Gail—practical and made to last a lifetime.

"Isn't it just wonderful?" breathed Faith, who had come up beside her.

"It's perfect," Cassie murmured, reaching out to let the ribbon tickle her fingers. "Gail's outdone herself."

"Always does," Faith agreed with a smile.

"Tell her...tell her it's the best gift I could've received," Cassie said, knowing her words would make their way back to her sister.

"I will," Faith promised, wrapping an arm around Cassie's shoulders. "But she already knows."

As they turned back toward the house, Cassie felt a deep sense of peace settling within her. Her business, her child, her life—it was all coming together.

CASSIE SAT AT HER BELOVEDsewing machine, the rhythmic hum of its needle merging with the chirping of birds outside her window. Spring was breathing new life into the world, and it seemed to be doing the same for her. As she stitched the hem of a lavender gown, her mind wandered not to the seams and fabric before her, but to the tiny life growing within her. She paused, resting a hand on her rounded belly, a smile playing on her lips.

"Slowing down might not be so bad," she mused aloud.

The door creaked open and Andy stepped in, his boots leaving traces of the ranch's earth on her clean floors. His face was drawn with the weariness of long days overseeing the birthing of calves.

"Looks like you're deep in thought," he said, leaning against the doorframe.

"Indeed. I've made a decision," Cassie replied, turning toward him, her blue eyes shining with resolve. "I'm cutting back on the dresses. Just a few each month. And...I'll be raising my prices."

Andy's dark brows raised, but his lips curled in support. "If anyone can make that work, it's you," he said.

"Thank you," she said, grateful for his unwavering faith in her. "I want to be there for our child, not lost in a sea of satin and lace."

"You will be." Andy's voice was firm, his belief in their partnership unshakable.

There was a moment of comfortable silence before he shifted, pushing off from the frame. "Speaking of being there, the calving's started. It's going to be a busy season."

"Can I help?" Cassie asked, half-rising from her chair, driven by the sense of solidarity that always filled the home.

"Stay put," he chuckled, gently pressing her back down. "Your brothers-in-law are coming. We'll manage."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely. It's what family does."

Within hours, the ranch was alive with activity. Men worked in unison, their figures silhouetted against the setting sun as they tended to the newest additions to their sprawling brood. From her window, Cassie watched as they moved with purpose, each one contributing to the thriving heart of the homestead.

"Seems like you've got yourself quite the team out there," Judy remarked, stepping beside Cassie with her own hands full of fabric.

"More than a team," Cassie reflected, watching Andy instruct and assist with a gentle authority. "A family."

"Big one, too," Judy added with an admiring glance outside.

"Very big," Cassie agreed, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile. "And about to get bigger."

As dusk settled over the land, the sounds of laughter and camaraderie drifted through the air, mingling with the occasional cry of a newborn calf. The circle of life continued, and within it, Cassie found her place—not just as a dressmaker or a mother-to-be, but as a vital part of something much greater than herself.