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Colton awoke the next morning knowing that he needed to apologize to Emma.

He had let his frustrations get the best of him.

His brothers’ demands that he get Emma to marry him so that he could control Tommy’s stock, along with the fact that he knew he’d need to return to Texas soon, was making Colton’s life a misery.

He didn’t want to leave Cheyenne and Emma. Thoughts of Texas didn’t even matter.

At ten o’clock he found himself at the Cheyenne Depot.

He’d received a proposal from the Union Pacific officials related to purchasing the family railroad.

After talking with Emma, Colton knew he would have to stall.

They couldn’t sell without her approval.

Colton figured he could delay them by explaining he would have to return to Texas and discuss the matter with his brothers.

Even though he knew they wouldn’t care who bought the line so long as the price was the best they could procure and they could get their money soon.

“Mr. Benton.” A young man waved him down. “I was just coming to deliver this telegram to you. My good luck to find you here at the depot.” The runner handed him the telegram.

Colton flipped the man a coin despite the fact that he’d not had to do much of anything and walked away to have a little privacy. The telegram was from his brothers.

News? Marry Emma quickly and return home. Must have her stock. R.R. sale imperative.

He crumpled the telegram and stuffed it in his pocket.

They must be getting quite desperate. Colton knew that their need of cash was critical in order to secure contractors since most of their money was tied up in other investments.

He had thought of just making them a loan from his own assets, but he’d never felt all that good about their construction plans and hesitated to get involved.

Colton glanced down the long hall to where he had planned to discuss his need to return to Texas with the UP officials.

It could wait. He headed outside and made his way back down the street toward Emma’s neighborhood.

He needed to talk to her and make things right.

That was far more important at this point than anything else.

The storm from the day before had damaged some of the roofs and businesses, and there was a fair amount of cleanup being done as he passed Sixteenth Street on his way to Seventeenth.

The opinion of Mr. Cooper was that it was a straight wind rather than a tornado, but either way there was work to be done.

The Coopers’ house had sustained some heavy hail, and the roof had suffered, as well as two upstairs windows.

Colton prayed Emma’s house had been without harm.

He approached her yard and saw her outside talking to Gary Price and pointing toward the roof. He glanced up but didn’t see anything of importance. She noticed him then and gave a wave. Apparently, he was welcome to join them and did.

“We’ve taken some damage,” Emma declared as Colton drew closer. “Gary says it’s not all that bad, but he intends to take care of it right away.”

“It won’t be all that difficult,” the older man assured.

Colton nodded. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“No, young fella, I can take care of it just fine.” He turned to Emma. “I’ll need to get some supplies.”

“We have an account at the Armstrongs’ Emporium. They should have everything you need. If you don’t want to wait for them to deliver it, feel free to rent a wagon from Abney’s Livery Stable.”

“Yes, Miss Emma. I’ll see to it. You don’t worry a bit about it. We’re sittin’ pretty good compared to some folks.” He tipped his hat and headed off across the yard.

“He’s been such a godsend.” Emma watched as Price moved off down the street. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Emma started for the house.

“I came to apologize.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to get so upset, and I certainly didn’t mean to imply that I knew more about the railroad than you. I prayed about it last night and want you to know that I will agree to whatever you think is best.”

She led the way into the house through the front door. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll put on some coffee? Unless you’d rather have tea?”

“No, I don’t need either one. Please just come and sit with me for a bit. I want to better explain.”

“Can I take your coat? It’s quite warm today, and I certainly don’t need you to stand on formalities and suffer the heat.”

Colton smiled and unbuttoned his coat.

Emma reached up to help him remove it. “I’ve opened all the windows, so at least we’ll have a breeze.

” She draped his coat on a chair by the entryway and then took a seat in the rocking chair.

“I’ve always been partial to rockers, even when I was young.

” She ran her hands down the arms of the chair.

“This one belonged to my mother, and sometimes I can still see her sitting in it, rocking and crocheting or knitting. I didn’t appreciate the memory before, but now it’s quite dear. ”

Taking a seat on the sofa, Colton remembered his own mother in her rocker. “My mother preferred her rocker to any other chair in the house. Sounds like our mothers would have agreed over that.”

Emma folded her hands. “So, when will you need me to sign the paperwork on the sale of the railroad?”

“Well, you weren’t the only one to reconsider things. I received a proposal from the UP and figure I should have my brothers review it and then present a counteroffer to the Southern Pacific. As you said, it should be sold to the highest bidder to benefit the family as much as possible.”

“You’ll be heading back to Texas soon?”

He couldn’t very well tell her that he didn’t want to go back to Texas at all, especially without her.

Having had a fight with her the day before, Colton had hardly slept last night, and this morning it had been uppermost on his mind to apologize for his attitude.

Now that he was back in her company, he wanted only to make everything right.

“First, I want to make sure that you are in agreement with the idea of selling. We didn’t arrive at this idea without a great deal of thought, and I didn’t fully share that fact with you.

Walter and Ernest are always talking to other financial and investment-minded men.

There are signs of economic problems on the horizon.

They may well pass without any issue or hardship, but if not, then we believe railroads will suffer a good deal.

“I know you read the newspaper and probably already know from your family that the agricultural market has been depressed for years, and, of course, the Great Die-Up caused even more problems. Those two things have lessened a great deal of shipping on the railroad. Everything is funneling down to create problems not only for America but other places that have depended on us to send food and animals. Meanwhile, there have been quite a few smaller railroads that have gone bankrupt or been forced to sell out. My brothers and I feel that before we find ourselves in that situation, we would rather part with the railroad on our terms.”

“I agree. I didn’t know about all of the economic issues, but I do know that you are very astute when it comes to the law and financial responsibility.

Since inheriting, however, I have tried to read reports in the newspaper and listen to what’s going on around me.

I want to be cautious and wise when it comes to managing what Tommy left to me. ”

“As a woman with a substantial portfolio of investments and large bank account, you should be mindful of the things you do. I feel bad that I didn’t offer you more information before just making demands.

” He paused and drew a deep breath. “As you know, I care deeply about you. I don’t want things like this to come between us. ”

Emma met his gaze, and Colton lost himself in her dark brown eyes. He longed to take her in his arms and kiss her, to persuade her to marry him that very day so that they might never need to be apart again.

At the sound of the screen door opening, Colton straightened. Rosie entered the front room with a huge smile on her face.

“Rob is going to teach me to ride a horse,” she told Emma. “We need to buy me a riding skirt.” She noticed Colton and sobered. “I want to learn to ride.”

“That’s a great idea, Rosie,” Colton said, trying to sound as if he completely agreed. He didn’t, but he wasn’t about to admit that. Though he did have to admit that Rosie was becoming more and more capable of deciding these things for herself.

She smiled again. “I am so excited. When can we go to the store, Emma?”

“I could take you after I finish talking with Emma,” Colton offered. “You and I haven’t had time alone for a while now. Taking you shopping and getting lunch together might be fun.”

“I’d like that.” Rosie very nearly danced over to where Colton sat and bent to kiss him. “I’ll go get ready.”

“You do that, Rosie.” He smiled up at her, eager for her to leave him alone with Emma. “Take your time getting ready.”

She headed toward the door. “Is this your coat, Colton?”

“Yes. Why?”

“There’s a stain on the collar. I’ll go clean it for you.”

Colton figured that would work well to keep her occupied a little longer so that he could discuss his feelings with Emma. “Thank you. That’s very considerate.”

She took up the coat and left Colton and Emma alone once more. Colton felt he should press the matter quickly before he lost the opportunity.

“Emma, have you thought about what I said?”

“You mean that you love me?” She shifted in her chair. “I’ve thought of little else.”

“And what did you conclude?”

She gave a light laugh. “I don’t think I’ve concluded anything. You took me by surprise.”