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Two weeks passed with Colton coming to see Rosie and Emma making herself scarce.

She couldn’t bear to dwell on his betrayal and knew she’d fall apart if forced to speak to Colton.

She had been unable to sleep or eat much after learning the truth.

Every day she hoped Rosie would come and tell her that Colton was heading back to Texas, but at the same time she feared that if he did, Colton would insist on taking Rosie with him.

Emma knew she couldn’t allow that to happen. Rosie and Rob were in love, and she fully expected Rob to ask for Rosie’s hand in marriage. They seemed perfectly suited to each other despite Rosie being a little older.

When Reverend Bright came calling that Tuesday morning, Emma was thankfully the only one at home.

She had refused to go to church the last two weeks in order to avoid Colton and knew that sooner or later someone would come to check on her.

Thankfully, her folks were busy at the ranch and hadn’t been attending either, or they would have been demanding answers.

She had instructed Rosie just to tell folks she was under the weather, which she was as far as her emotions were concerned.

“Reverend Bright, please come in,” Emma said, welcoming the man. “I’ll put on the kettle for tea.”

“No need to serve refreshments, Mrs. Benton. I’ve just come from one of my other parishioners, and believe me, I couldn’t drink another cup of anything.”

“Well then, let’s just enjoy the morning. Perhaps here on the porch.” She motioned to the arrangement of chairs.

“Perfect.” He went to be seated, and Emma followed.

“I thought since I was already in the neighborhood, it would be good to stop by and see how you were doing. You’ve not been at church lately.”

“I know. I’ve just not been feeling up to coming.” She shifted her gaze to the Vogel house, where she knew Rosie was busy helping Marybeth with a project. Hopefully, she’d stay put and give Emma a chance to speak privately with the reverend.

“I hope you are now a little better?”

Emma nodded and gave him a smile. “Yes, of course. I do have to say that I’ve very much enjoyed your teachings.”

“Thank you. Someone told me you’ve been gone from Cheyenne for nine years. Have you found it much changed?”

“I have. Things are vastly different, and there are so many more people. When I was a child, you could walk about town and recognize most of the people passing by. Now that’s not the case.

But I’m happy to be back in Cheyenne.” Emma took the white wicker chair opposite him.

She arranged her black gown, then looked up with a smile.

“I’ve actually planned to come speak with you.

First, to welcome you to the church, and second, to get your advice. ”

“Advice about what?”

She twisted her hands together. “It’s a long story, but I’ll make it brief.

We moved to Cheyenne when I was a young girl.

I’ve known most of the Methodist congregation since then.

For a time, I even attended school in town and stayed with one of the teachers during the week.

I’m afraid I wasn’t an obedient child. In fact, I was rather wild and earned a reputation around town that . .. well, wasn’t very good.”

“I see. And how did this wild spirit play out?” The older man’s expression was quite serious, but there was an undeniable kindness in his gaze.

“I was always getting in trouble. Some of it I was put up to by my brother and his friends. I could have said no, but I enjoyed impressing them. Some of it was my own ideas. Some of it was played out for adventure and a sense of excitement. With other things, I’m not sure why I did what I did.

I was often rude, sometimes insensitive, and other times downright mean.

A lot of times I didn’t even get caught at my misdeeds but should have. ”

“Sounds like most children, especially boys. You mentioned being influenced by your brother and his friends. Sounds like you were a bit of a tomboy.”

“I was that. When growing up on a ranch, girls must work just as hard as the boys, and the influence of being genteel and ladylike suffers. Not that my mother didn’t do her best to instill proper behavior in both my older sister and me.

When my teacher tired of trying to keep me out of trouble, she refused to let me stay with her, and I returned home.

My mother schooled me after that, but I was still finding ways to cause problems.” Emma paused and shook her head.

“I left here when I was eighteen and had just broken the heart of one man and gotten duped by another. I didn’t return until last fall when my father married Lucille Aldrich. I was afraid to come back.”

“Afraid that people would want retribution?”

“Yes, I suppose. I don’t know if you know my story, but last January I married Tommy Benton in Dallas.

He was the brother of Colton and Rosie. He was killed while we were still at the altar.

A woman he had wronged shot him. When they were wrestling the gun from her as she tried to kill herself, it went off, and the bullet hit me.

The entire situation was life-altering for me.

That silly, frivolous, and rather heartless girl grew up overnight in a hospital bed.

I turned to God and made my peace with Him.

Now I want to make peace with the people I wronged. ”

“That’s admirable and not without a little difficulty, I’m sure.”

Emma leaned back and did her best to relax.

“I want to make sure I do what’s right. I know there are people who surely hold things against me.

I don’t know who all that might be, and a good many things I did .

.. well, I’ve forgotten them. When I encounter someone and they bring it up, I’m quick to seek their forgiveness and apologize for my behavior.

And with some of them, I’ve brought up the past and asked their pardon. ”

“And have they been willing to give it?”

“Yes, to my amazement. I once jilted a man to whom I was engaged. I saw his mother at church, and her anger toward me was evident. I asked forgiveness even though I knew I didn’t deserve it.

When I think of him now, it pierces my heart.

Later, I encountered the man himself. We talked briefly, and I told him how sorry I was.

That my treatment of him was appalling, and I was praying that he could forgive me.

He did and already had. He said God had completely blessed him with a wife and family that he cherished more than his own life.

He could see God had given him a much truer love than what we had.

I was so happy to hear that. Especially knowing my own choices led me to sorrow. ”

“And repentance,” the minister injected.

“Yes, that’s certainly true. Seeking forgiveness hasn’t been easy, but then there are times when some don’t even remember my horrid deeds.”

“So they’ve forgotten just as you have.” The older man smiled. “Mrs. Benton, it sounds to me as if you are truly contrite for all your wrongdoing. If you’re looking for absolution, you surely know God has given it. Christ died for your sins as well as mine and those of the folks you offended.”

“I know that ... at least in my heart. I just keep thinking I could do something more.”

“As I understand it, you’ve inherited quite a bit of money.

Why not use some of it to help folks around the area, or at least make their lives better.

You could buy property and create a park or benefit the park already in place.

There are all sorts of things you might do.

Perhaps start an orphanage or a clinic for doctors to care for the poor who can’t afford a doctor. ”

“Those are wonderful ideas. I don’t know why I never thought about it. I do plan to give money to help with the church construction. I’ll speak with...” She fell silent. She’d nearly said she’d speak with Colton about it.

“Then I’ll be on my way. It was a pleasure to talk with you, Mrs. Benton.

My advice to you is to stand ready to offer your sincere apologies, but otherwise let your actions prove your change of heart.

Words are easy to offer, actions not so much.

Pray for guidance, and God will direct your steps.

He is all about reconciliation among His children. ”

Emma stood. “Thank you, Reverend Bright. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.”

When Mrs. Olson called lunch a couple hours later, Emma was still contemplating what she might do to show generosity to the people of Cheyenne.

“Are you eating alone today?” Mrs. Olson questioned, bringing her a plate.

“Yes. Gary’s gone to the ranch to fetch milk and other things my father had for us, and Rosie’s across the street. I’m guessing she’ll eat with the Vogels. You may certainly join me.” She really didn’t want company but also didn’t want to be rude.

“Actually, I have some shopping to do and was going to take my leave for an hour or so, if that’s all right.”

“Absolutely. Take your time, Mrs. Olson.”

The cook removed her apron and headed back to the kitchen without another word. Emma looked down at her plate and sighed.

She sampled the roasted pork and potatoes, but nothing tasted very good to her.

Why did life have to be so difficult? Why were people like Colton allowed to hurt her like he had?

She thought then of the way she’d treated Thane and some of the other people in her life.

They could accuse her of the same kinds of betrayal.

She put aside her fork. Perhaps God had allowed this to happen to teach her a lesson—to show her the pain and suffering she’d caused.

“Forgive me, Lord. I know You have, but I feel so overcome by all of this. I want to be forgiven, however, so show me what to do.”