Page 28

It was the busy season for the ranch, and Emma knew she’d see very little of her father and Lucille.

With that in mind, she planned ways for her and Rosie to keep busy at their own place.

Rosie was more than content with her chickens and Rob Vogel’s daily visits to help with reading.

Emma had bowed out altogether with the reading lessons, knowing that Rob was fully capable of teaching Rosie.

She knew they were caught up in each other’s company, as well, and felt like she was in the way.

She had a certain longing for the happiness that she saw in Rosie.

Emma wasn’t entirely sure she could ever be that carefree.

She had seen too much and experienced the ugliness of a life lived in self-indulgence and irresponsibility.

Rosie was innocent of all of that. Maybe having been sheltered all of her life was a blessing that none of them quite appreciated.

Emma focused on the gardens and yard. She planted flower starts and seeds near the front porch and spoke often with Gary about plans for planting some additional trees.

After twenty years, it was impressive to see how much of a difference trees were making in the town.

Most of the women belonged to the Cheyenne Arbor Society, which focused hard on the beautification of Cheyenne through trees.

Just the year before, Cheyenne had passed an Arbor Day Law and pledged to celebrate Arbor Day every April to note the importance of planting new saplings in their territory.

Emma was impressed with the short but well attended celebration they’d had at the end of the previous month.

Cheyenneites knew well the importance of beautifying their town.

Uppermost on her mind, however, was Colton and his feelings for her and, frankly, her own growing feelings for him.

Knowing how he cared for her, Emma had allowed herself to consider a life with Colton.

The thoughts that came to mind weren’t at all unappealing.

Colton Benton was a handsome and thoughtful man.

He was highly intelligent, and she truly admired that about him.

When he was interested in a topic, he did whatever was necessary to learn about it and better understand.

He’d spent numerous days over the last month with representatives from the Union Pacific regarding their desires to expand their lines north and even south, and often spoke of what he’d learned over supper.

She had no idea to what degree he was involved, but it kept him busy enough that she’d not seen that much of him lately.

That was why it was so surprising when Colton showed up an hour later for lunch.

Emma hadn’t really planned anything at all.

Rosie was spending the day with Marybeth and Rob.

The threesome were painting and papering the Vogels’ upstairs, and Rosie was so excited to participate that Emma didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

Not that she really had any reason to refuse her.

Colton was less than pleased, however, to hear about the activities.

“I don’t like that she’s doing common laborer jobs.”

Emma looked up from slicing bread. She had decided to make sandwiches, since Colton’s surprise arrival. “But she enjoys participating in just about everything. Your family kept her from experiencing much of anything, and now she’s making up for lost time.”

“We would have kept her from common labor even if the circumstances of her birth had been different. You weren’t raised with a staff to care for you as we were.”

“That’s true.” Emma tried not to think of the fact that she was alone with Colton in the same room where he’d given her their first kiss.

“But there’s nothing wrong with working and working hard.

You helped to build a chicken coop and set up fence.

It didn’t hurt you a bit.” She smiled and went back to slicing bread.

“That’s different. I’m a man. Men are often called to participate in a variety of tasks that are often assigned to common workers.”

“My point is, that it doesn’t hurt either men or women to try their hand at a variety of jobs. Rosie is happy. She’s blooming just like the flowers around here. I’ve known her a short time, but you’ve been with her a lifetime. Wouldn’t you agree that she’s happier than ever before?”

Again, she glanced up to catch Colton’s serious expression. He drew a deep breath and let it go. “She is happier. Smarter too.”

“She enjoys learning, and I’ve no desire to take that away from her. Whether it’s reading, sewing, or painting a room.”

“It’s taking me some time to adjust to this new Rosie.”

Emma stacked the slices of bread and put them on a plate. Next, she went to the icebox and took out the leftover ham, butter, and roasted pears. She brought this to the table, then went back for plates, silverware, and napkins.

“She’s not just happy; she feels she has a life worth value. Everyone needs to feel that way. Would you like coffee or something else?”

“Coffee is fine.”

“Good.” Emma went to the stove, where she’d put the leftover brew from breakfast. “I doubt it’s all that hot, but it is warm. I could heat the stove more and get it hot.”

“No, it’s fine as it is. I really don’t care. Water would serve me just as well. I didn’t come here with lunch in mind.”

Emma poured him a cup of coffee and then set it in front of him. “Then what did you have in mind?”

Colton looked anxious, and rather than answer immediately, he picked up two slices of bread and began to slather butter on each piece. “I ... wanted to make sure you were both doing all right. I know I haven’t been around a lot. At least, not as much as I maybe should have been.”

Emma took a seat at the small kitchen table opposite Colton. She took a slice of bread and a piece of the ham. Without bothering to butter the bread, she plopped the piece of ham on top and cut the whole thing in half.

“Would you like me to offer grace?” she asked.

Colton nodded and bowed his head. Emma wondered how things were going for him spiritually speaking.

“Father, we thank You for this food and ask Your blessing on us as we seek You. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

“Amen,” he murmured.

Emma took that opportunity to ask about his beliefs. “So have you come to any further conclusions about God?”

“No. I have listened more carefully to Reverend Bright’s sermons. I definitely have a deeper desire to understand,” he admitted. He glanced around. “Where is Mrs. Olson?”

“She had a doctor’s appointment. Her knee has been bothering her, and she wanted to have the doctor check it out.”

“It’s probably nothing more than old age.” With that, he took a bite and completed his sandwich.

“Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but if it offers her comfort to seek the doctor’s opinion, I think it’s a good idea. Besides, he might have some medication that can help. They’re always coming up with something new. The newspaper is constantly advertising a variety of tonics.”

“Usually made up of alcohol or opium in some arrangement or another. People can’t stop old age with a tonic or pill.”

“True enough.” Emma spooned a cold pear onto her plate.

She wanted to talk about Colton’s feelings for her, and at the same time, she wanted to avoid it. She certainly wasn’t ready to pledge undying devotion to him, yet she couldn’t help but think that she should at least address the matter. But before she could figure out what to say, Colton spoke up.

“There’s something that we should discuss. I’ve not said anything until now, because ... well, it wasn’t all that important.”

Emma figured he meant to discuss their feelings for each other. She nodded and put aside her spoon. She wasn’t certain she could eat and listen to him pledge his love for her.

Colton took a sip of coffee, then pushed it aside. “As you know, I’ve been in meetings with various railroad officials.”

Emma was disappointed that he brought up business rather than their kiss. “Yes, I know that very well.”

“The fact is, we have been talking about selling our railroad to one of the larger lines. We were approached by the Southern Pacific first. Our plan was to arrange things and sell by autumn or sooner, but now the Union Pacific is aware of our desire to sell. They have approached us to consider selling to them.”

“I don’t understand the desire to sell in the first place. This is your family’s legacy. Your father worked hard to build this railroad so that you would always have something of him to hand down to your children and their children.”

Colton nodded. “I’m well aware of that. However, the upkeep that goes along with the railroad is costly and cuts deeply into the profits.

The responsibility and potential for problems is growing with each passing year.

My brothers and I feel that we could sell the railroad and reinvest the money in other things and do just as well, if not better.

“The Southern Pacific Railroad has been buying up smaller Texas railroads for many years. They’ve bought them all across the southwest and elsewhere and brought them, quite successfully, under their management.

They could do the same with ours and benefit greatly.

However, the Union Pacific also is of a mind to buy our railroad.

You might not be familiar with our line, but it runs from Missouri to Houston.

The UP already has track in Missouri, and incorporating our line will give them a greater benefit in reaching the Gulf. ”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. This is something that seemed quite important to your father,” Emma replied before biting into her sandwich. She began chewing and noted the look on Colton’s face was one of surprise.

“Father is dead, but even before he passed away, the possibility was discussed. It isn’t something we’ve decided without great consideration. We weighed the good and the bad.”

Emma swallowed and dabbed her mouth. “It seems that I should take interest in this and learn for myself what is most beneficial.”

Colton’s expression suggested confusion.

“Why would you want to thwart our efforts? We certainly aren’t looking to cause harm.

You know nothing about railroads. Until earlier this year, your only real knowledge of such matters was traveling on them to those wonderful destinations you longed to see. ”

His tone took on a hint of sarcasm, and Emma didn’t intend to stand for that. “I might have been focused on having a good time, but that doesn’t mean I was without understanding of good investments. Tommy and I talked more than once about reasonable risks and investing money wisely.”

Colton tossed his napkin down. “Ha! My brother knew very little about such things. Believe me. We tried to educate him. Father sent him to college to learn about business investments, but he returned home a miserable failure.”

Emma knew that her response had upset him, but she didn’t care.

“Tommy was smarter than any of you gave him credit for. He was bored with college because he already understood the world of finances and investments. If any of you had bothered to ask his opinion, you might have realized that. Just because classroom lectures and testing didn’t suit him didn’t mean he wasn’t brilliant.

How do you suppose he made all of that money investing?

You credited yourself for handing his affairs, but he had other accounts that you knew nothing of. ”

“How do you know?” he questioned, raising his voice.

“He told me!” Emma matched his volume. “I didn’t bother to know more about it, but Tommy fully understood and took advantage of it. You might recall I had a visitor come to see me at the house before we left Dallas. He was a lawyer Tommy had used in addition to you.”

Colton was more than a little agitated. “I find this hard to believe.”

“I’m sorry, Colton. I’m not trying to stand in the way of plans that you and your brothers have made. I just want to be informed and see for myself that it’s the wisest plan to make. I owe it to Rosie, if for no other reason. I want the money to last and support her.”

“Rosie is my sister, not yours.”

Emma leaned back in her chair. “Rosie is her own person. She’s fully capable of making decisions for herself. She may have started out slow, but she’s running full steam ahead. Just like your trains.”

Colton got to his feet. “This is ridiculous. My brothers were afraid you might try to do something like this.”

“I’m not doing anything,” Emma countered and got to her feet too.

“That’s my whole point. I just don’t think we should do anything yet.

What’s the hurry? As you just pointed out, two major railroads want to purchase your railroad—our railroad.

Shouldn’t we investigate a little further and at the very least see who is willing to pay the most for it? ”

She was right. Colton knew he should calm down and just admit it. His brothers were the ones pushing for this sale, and while Colton could see problems in the future, he knew their greed was really the only reason for rushing the transaction.

“I should go.”

As he exited the house, thunder rumbled.

Colton looked to the skies and noted the heavy black clouds moving in.

They matched his mood. He would have much preferred discussing his future with Emma, rather than the railroad.

The railroad had always been a thorn in his side.

He’d never cared for the business, nor his father’s devotion to it.

Here it was once again causing trouble for him.

No, I’m causing trouble for myself. I’m the one who got upset. Emma did nothing but ask questions. Good questions, and yet I acted the cad.

Colton made his way down the street with no destination in mind. The wind picked up, and lightning flashed. Wherever he was going, he needed to get inside soon. He turned and headed for the nearest restaurant. He was still hungry.

He barely made it inside when the rain began to pour in a deluge. The lightning and thunder increased, causing the electrical lights to flicker. The storm outside matched the one in his soul.

“Table for one?” a man asked.

“Yes, it’s just me.” And if he wasn’t careful, it might remain that way for the rest of his life.