April 9, 1901

Black Diamond. 

I walked out of my office tonight with tired eyes, heading over to see Thomas. I had been working on paperwork and was growing exhausted from all the words on the page. I looked over and saw Thomas sitting back in the chair in front of the office and smiled. “Hi love, are you falling asleep like I am?” 

“Yeah pretty much. Just watching the new choo choo train go by,” Thomas said and smiled, pulling me into his lap as he kissed me long and hard. 

I giggled and squirmed in his lap, kissing him deeply. ‘I’ve been doin’ memoirs all day and I need to stop reading.” 

“Yeah too much reading isn’t good for the eyes.” 

“What would you suggest other than reading, hmm?” I leaned my forehead against his and looked into his eyes. 

“Hmmmm...well Jimmy and Natalie are out camping in the woods tonight. But close enough to the house if something happens, they can make it home.” 

“Jimmy’s gonna become a little mini Daniel Boon, ain’t he?” I chuckled. 

“Yep, I think he is. He is already on me to teach him how to shoot a real gun. I thought I might teach him how to shoot a rifle, like my pa taught me at Jimmy’s age.” Thomas laughed and hugged me tight. 

“Oh goodness... Just make sure he doesn’t get ahold of it and hurt something by accident.” 

“Oh I will make sure he only gets to use it when with me. He asked if he could shoot my colt, but I told him he’s too young. He has to wait until he is at least 15.” 

“Yeah... good idea. Goodness... I don’t wanna think about him as fifteen. That means Natalie would be seventeen.” 

“Oh no. Two teenage kids we might have to kick them out of the house by then,” he said and smiled. “I dread when Natalie really starts experiencing boys. I am going to be a tough poppa!” 

“Yes I can imagine you sitting on the front porch with your shot gun waiting for her and her boyfriend to come home.” 

“Uh huh...I will be worse than Wyatt Earp after the OK Coral.” 

“Want to go get a drink, dear? Or are you committed to this chair with me in your lap?” I asked him. 

“I think we can get up and move around a bit. I am tired of sitting in this old rickedy chair.” 

I kissed him hard before standing with him. “I feel like taking a ride actually…” 

“Taking a ride?” He smiled. 

“Phoenix misses me,” I said and winked at him. 

“Yeah, Rootbeer has been missing me too.” 

“Still can’t believe you named him Rootbeer,” I said and chuckled as we hopped on our horses and headed out to explore.