My Entry for @gmuxx Art Prompt Writing Contest 5

This is my entry for the writing contest with picture prompt issued by @gmuxx.

His contest post can be found here: https://steemit.com/contest/@gmuxx/art-prompt-writing-contest-5

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 Ellie and Emery sat on the porch of the old cabin, on the old rocking chairs poppa had crafted long ago.  Emery lit up his pipe, putting a booted foot up on the chair, and took a great puff.  Ellie was knitting, despite the heat, which Emery had noticed she did every time she had nothing else to do.

‘Emery, don’t put your dirty boots on poppa’s old chairs.  You know momma would make you clean it right up.’

‘Momma and poppa have been dead for years, Ellie, it ain’t gonna bother them.’

‘Well, it bothers me.’  Ellie stared at Emery expectantly.

Emery sighed.  He put his foot back down.  He let out a big cloud of smoke. 

‘Oh, that’s a big one,’ said Ellie, returning to her knitting.  ‘Can you make a hoop?’

‘If it’ll make you smile…’  Emery took a puff from his pipe and contorted his face as he attempted to create a hoop with the smoke he blew out.

‘I do smile.’  Ellie lifted her yarn and rolled out a few inches more of wool. 

‘Haven’t seen you do so in weeks.  What’s the matter, sis’ you barely talk to me anymore.  You spend your days out at the market and when you come home, you barely say a word.’

‘I just have things on my mind, that’s all.  Besides, try spending all day with a bunch of gossiping old hags, and you’ll be all talked out too.’

‘And then there’s the knittin’.’  Emery pointed at the little hat Ellie was working on.  ‘Who’s it for?’

‘Well, the children need to be warm when the cold season comes.’

Ellie looked down and fixed a little knot that had formed in her wool.  She focused on her knitting.  Emery narrowed his eyes.

‘Children don’t have small heads like that.’  He pointed towards the inside of the cabin.  ‘Nor small feet for those tiny slippers.  You knittin’ for a baby, Ellie.  What you hidin’ from your brother?’

‘Nothing.’  Ellie stood up and went inside.  

Emery watched as some of the local children passed by on bicycles, shouting out with glee.

‘Hey, Ellie!’  Emery turned his head towards the window.  ‘You remember that boy we used to play with growing up?  What was his name?’

‘Jordan,’ came Ellie’s voice over the sound of running water.

‘Yeah, him.’  Emery took another puff, speaking as he blew out.  ‘We liked to run around and play pranks on each other, play tag and hide and go seek in the woods after dark.’ 

Ellie stepped back out, wiping her hands on a towel.

‘Momma used to hate it when we stayed out after dark,’ she said.

‘Remember when poppa took his rifle out and threatened the poor lad so he’d stop getting you into trouble?  The two of you were thick as thieves.’

Ellie blushed, as her gaze drifted into the distance.  Finally, she laughed, nodding.

‘Poppa was bein’ over-protective.’  Her lips pressed into a line and she looked down; there was sadness in her eyes.  ‘Poppa ain’t here anymore to overreact like that and make sure we don’t get into trouble.’

Reaching over to his sister, Emery took her hand.

‘You get yourself into trouble?’  Ellie’s face whitened.  ‘What’s happened?  There ain’t no shame in tellin’ me.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Ellie snapped.  She walked back inside.  Emery heard her chopping something, as the knife hit the cutting board.

‘What’s Jordan up to now?  Do you know?’

‘He’s got a wife,’ came Ellie’s reply, as she began cutting more frantically.

‘And kids?’  There was no reply; the cutting stopped.  Emery waited until Ellie came back out.  ‘Ellie, has he been back in town?’

‘I’ve seen him ‘round, yes.’  Ellie was frantically wiping her dry hands on the towel.

Taking the towel from her hands, he gently sat her down on her chair next to him.

‘Have you gotten yourself into trouble with him?’  Emery soothingly caressed her hand with his thumb.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Ellie looked down.  ‘It was one night, and it shouldn’t have happened.’

‘I’m sorry, Ellie.  So the hat.  That for the baby?’  Ellie just stared ahead, her eyes filling with tears.  Emery took her in his arms.  ‘Does he know?’  She shook her head.  ‘You could tell him.’

‘That wouldn’t change anything.  He’s married to some rich man’s daughter.  He’s doing well for himself.’  Ellie wiped her nose with her hand.

‘Yeah, but if I loved a woman and she was carrying my child, I’d want to know and do good by her.’
‘I’ll ruin his life,’ insisted Ellie.  ‘Besides, you don’t know if he loves me.’

‘Only one way to find out,’ said Emery.  ‘Tell him.’  Ellie shrugged.  ‘Well, whatever happens, you know you got me.’

Ellie nodded.  She went to stand and Emery stopped her.

‘I can take care of dinner tonight,’ he said.  He put out his pipe and stood.  Ellie went back to her knitting as he entered the cabin.