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Emma had always liked Lucille Aldrich, even when she was nothing more than a neighbor and, later, her mother’s best friend, but at the moment, she couldn’t think of another woman she loved more.

The woman had incredible energy and insight, and her kindness went far beyond anything Emma deserved.

No one in Cheyenne owed her much in the way of kindness.

Emma had even begun to wonder if she’d made a mistake in coming to Cheyenne.

With all the people she owed apologies to, it might have been smarter to just stay in Dallas.

The women gave a quick perusal of the rooms. Lucille pointed out things upstairs and commented on the various resources available.

There were four bedrooms in total, with one being slightly larger and the others basically the same size.

Rosie was immediately taken with the first room nearest the stairs.

The walls had been papered with a print of pale pink rosebuds and twining vines.

“Oh, I like this room. It’s so pretty and reminds me of my room in Texas.”

“Then you should have it,” Emma said, giving her a hug. “I want you to feel at home.”

The larger room at the end of the hall was Emma’s choice. It was clearly more masculine in style but welcoming in dark tones of green and navy blue.

“We didn’t do much to decorate in any of the bedrooms, just put the beds and dressers in three of them and figured you could decide how you wanted to arrange it all later,” Lucille said, capping off the upstairs visit as Colton and Rich brought their trunks upstairs.

The men waited at the top of the stairs for instructions. Rosie was quick to take charge of her brother.

“My room is over here.” Rosie motioned Colton to follow her. “It looks like home.”

Colton went with her, leaving Emma’s father to give her a questioning look.

“I’ll take the far room on the right,” Emma said, suppressing a yawn.

“I’ll come help you unpack what you need for your bath.” Lucille motioned Papa to follow.

Once things were settled and Emma had her dressing gown and bath things, Lucille showed Emma the bathroom in a small room off the kitchen. She was about to bid Emma good-bye when there was another knock at the front of the house.

“Goodness, what now?” Emma was afraid she might never get to rest.

She followed her stepmother to the front door and was surprised to find Marybeth Vogel. She smiled at the woman, who didn’t look to have aged a day since Emma saw her last.

“I thought you folks might be tired, so Edward and I wanted to invite you to supper tonight. You won’t have to do a thing, just show up and eat. We’d like it if you and Rich came too, Lucille.”

Lucille turned to look at Emma. “Well, whether they want to come or not, Rich and I would love to. We haven’t had a nice long visit in forever. How about it Emma? I can still fix you something, if you prefer.”

“No. Thank you both. I think after a nap it would be wonderful to share a meal with the Vogels. I’ll let Rosie know, and maybe you could tell Colton when you drive him to the boardinghouse, Lucille.”

“I’d be happy to. I think he and Rich are already in the carriage waiting for me.”

Marybeth nodded and gave Emma a smile. “It’s settled, then. Come about six. That’ll give Edward time to get home from work and change his clothes.”

“Sounds perfect.” Emma glanced at the timepiece she’d pinned to her gown. “We’ll see you in two hours.”

Emma had to admit she felt so much better after a nap.

Lucille and her father had shown Colton to the boardinghouse and promised to pick him back up in time for supper.

After that, they’d gone shopping for Emma so that there would be something to eat for breakfast and lunch the next day.

Emma hadn’t heard them return, however, because she fell asleep almost the second her head hit the pillow.

“I’m excited to meet the neighbors.” Rosie had changed into a rather wrinkled gingham gown. She frowned as she picked at the cloth. “I tried a little water to smooth out the lines like you showed me. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“We’ll get an iron and an ironing board tomorrow, and I’ll teach you how it’s done, since we don’t have a maid to do it for us.

” Emma pulled on her coat. She had told her father and Lucille that she and Rosie would just walk across the street and meet them at the Vogels’.

They were picking up Colton and due back any time now.

“Do you know the Vogels very well?” Rosie asked as they made their way.

“We attended the same church, and my folks were good friends with them. They have four children, but they are younger than me and my siblings. They’re good people. Like Lucille said, he’s in law enforcement.”

“Do you think they’ll like me?” Rosie asked.

Emma glanced over at the petite young woman. She was beautiful. Inside and out. “I think they’ll love you, Rosie. Just be yourself.”

“Be myself? How do I do that?”

Chuckling, Emma looped her arm through Rosie’s as they crossed the street. “You don’t worry about impressing them or putting on airs. You just be friendly and kind. They are good Christian folks, so they believe like you believe—like I believe.”

“But Colton doesn’t believe like that.”

“No, but Colton knows how to behave politely with others. He’s had a lot of schooling in manners and etiquette because of all his business experiences.”

They reached the Vogels’ front door, and before Emma could knock, a young man opened the door. She figured it must be the Vogels’ oldest son.

“I’m Rob,” he said, opening the screen door for them. He glanced briefly at Emma. “I know you were better friends with my sister Carrie. Do you remember me?”

“I do, but you were just a very young man when I left Cheyenne. Maybe eleven years old? It’s good to see you again. This is Rose Benton, my sister-in-law.”

He glanced at Rosie and got a strange look on his face. It was akin to the one Colton often had when looking at Emma. “Miss Benton, I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Call me Rosie. Everybody does.” She grinned and looked to Emma. “Isn’t that right?”

“It is indeed.”

“Well, come in out of the chill. The night air is starting to feel pretty damp. Pa said it might come a rain.”

Emma allowed Rosie to go first and heard the carriage pull into the drive just as her turn came. She glanced out and could see it was her father and the others.

“Perfect timing.”

Once they were all assembled in the house and the coats and hats removed, Marybeth drew the other two children forward.

“Let me introduce you to Greta and Daniel.” She looked at her daughter and youngest son. “This is Emma Johnson Benton and her sister-in-law, Miss Benton. They’re buying the Wellington house.”

“Call me Rosie.” Rose stuck her hand out as she’d seen others do. Greta shook it immediately, and Daniel followed in kind.

“They were just children when I left the area. And now they’re all grown up.” Emma had lived an entire lifetime in the nine years she’d been gone from Cheyenne.

“Well, of course, you knew Carrie best.” Mrs. Vogel looked to Rosie.

“She’s the oldest and a doctor now. She lives in Chicago.

Greta, here, is eighteen, and Daniel is sixteen.

He’s already finished with his secondary classes and is heading off to college in the fall.

Greta has a beau, and I believe we’ll be hearing news of a wedding before the summer’s out. ”

“Mother! You don’t speak of those kinds of things with company,” Greta protested.

“Why not?” Rosie asked. “Isn’t it true?”

They all looked at Rosie for a moment as if to figure her out. Their confusion triggered Rose to speak up. “I’m being myself.” She glanced at Emma, then back to the others. “I’m different from you. I sometimes forget, but I’m different because I died when I was born.”

“What in the world are you talking about?” Greta asked. “How could you die and be born at the same time?”

Rosie didn’t appear to be at all offended. “I had the cord wrapped around my neck. Three times. It choked my air, and when I was born, I wasn’t alive. My mama thought I would stay dead, but I didn’t. God decided to breathe into me, and I came back to life.”

“What a wonderful story,” Marybeth declared.

Rob stepped forward. “That is a wonderful story. God must have a very special plan for your life.”

Rosie smiled and looked from person to person. “He does. But then, He has something special for you too.”

“That’s so true, Rosie,” Marybeth said, glancing at her husband as he came to join them. “This is my husband, Edward. He’s the police chief, an elder at the church, member of the volunteer fire department, and part-time carpenter.”

Rosie extended her hand once again. “Jesus was a carpenter.”

“He was indeed,” Edward said, taking hold of Rosie. “I’m pleased to meet all of you, but especially you.”

Emma was proud of the way Rose handled herself. There was something childlike in the way she comported herself, but no one here seemed to mind. In fact, if she wasn’t mistaken, Rob Vogel was rather intrigued with her.

“Dinner is ready if you are,” Marybeth said. “Shall we go in?”

“Of course,” Edward said, looking to the others. “We’re mighty glad to have you with us.”

“Did your sister take it hard that you were leaving Texas to come home?” Mrs. Vogel asked Emma.

“No, I think she’s much too busy to miss me. Besides, her girls are old enough that they keep Clara occupied in their training. She intends to see they know everything about keeping a house, especially a ranch house.”

“And what of your brother? He’s not been back to Cheyenne since leaving years ago.” Mrs. Vogel continued her questioning.

“James graduated college and settled in Boston. He married and is his father-in-law’s right-hand man in a manufacturing company,” Rich Johnson answered for his daughter. “I’m not sure he’ll ever come back to Cheyenne. He loves the city life.”

“And what is it that you do, Mr. Benton?” Edward Vogel asked as dessert was served.

Colton took the offered slice of carrot cake, then answered.

“I am a lawyer by trade and education. I am also heavily involved in the railroad. My father established a line many years ago that started in Missouri and ended in Texas. He and his sister invested their inheritance and created the Missouri-Texas Railway. I serve on the board as legal counsel and handle other family investments as well.”

“Sounds like you’re a very busy man.”

“He’s always busy,” Emma declared. “That’s why I was especially touched that he would take time away from business to see that Rosie and I were settled here. I was told that Colton hasn’t been out of Texas in years.”

He chuckled. “It’s true, but I felt I owed it to my deceased brother, as well as Emma and Rosie, to see them settled safely. My family is very important to me, and there are always those who would take advantage of women who seem to have no man to watch over them.”

“Well, they have me,” Rich declared. “And even when we are out at the ranch, I’ve a good number of friends here in Cheyenne who will also aid in keeping an eye on them.”

“It’s true. I’m one of them,” Edward Vogel said, pouring himself more coffee. “We do that here in Cheyenne, look out for each other. We’re like one big family.”

Colton had never known people like the Vogels and Johnsons. Growing up, his father had taught him to be wary of people.

“Everybody is after something, Colton. You must always be cautious of people and question their every motive,” his father had told him since he was in knee pants.

Marybeth handed her husband the cream. “You can rest assured, Colton, that your sister and Emma will have a good many people looking out for them.”

Colton knew the woman was sincere in her assurances.

She didn’t strike him as ever being pretentious.

These were good people. He’d discerned that the moment he met them.

Still, even good people could have bad motives.

He would be vigilant and cautious, lest his sister and Emma get hurt or taken for granted.