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Emma had been most uncomfortable sitting next to Colton at church, and now that he was coming home with them for lunch, she was even more dismayed.

It had been raining all week, and her mood matched the heavy skies overhead.

She hated nursing hurt feelings but still wasn’t sure what to do about anything.

She’d said very little to Colton aside from offering him a nod and a “Good morning.” She didn’t want to get caught up in conversation or to revisit the situation of his brothers wanting him to marry her.

She had come to the conclusion that she would sign over all of her railroad stock to Rosie, and maybe then Colton and his brothers would leave her alone.

The only problem was that she didn’t even want to discuss that much.

She was afraid to talk to Colton. Afraid her feelings might get the best of her.

Instead, she planned to see a lawyer as soon as possible and let him arrange everything.

Some people might think her hasty to make such a choice, but she’d been thinking about this even before learning the truth.

The railroad was a family legacy, and no one ever expected that the youngest brother would die so young.

Just as no one had expected Rosie to be so capable.

After much consideration, Emma felt it was only right that Rosie should have the stocks, or the money from the sale of them, and her mother’s jewelry.

That way she’d never be dependent upon her brothers for her future.

Emma hadn’t yet discussed the matter with Rosie but figured perhaps once Colton left after lunch, she’d have an opportunity to explain it to her.

She could just bring it up over lunch, but she wanted to let Rosie know first.

“You can sit and read the newspaper,” Rosie told Colton as they entered the house. “Emma and I will get lunch.”

Emma and Rosie had cooked a pork roast and other things on Saturday and only needed to warm them up for Sunday luncheon.

Maybe once she helped Rosie put it together, Emma could make her excuses and get something later.

Rosie anticipated her, however, and made it clear that she expected Emma to join them.

“You didn’t have any breakfast, and I know you must be hungry. Colton won’t say or do anything bad. I won’t stand for it. We’ll put him on the other side of the table away from you.”

Emma didn’t want to argue. She was tired of the entire matter. She gave Rosie a nod and tied on an apron. Surely, she could endure one meal.

They worked together as they often did to get things ready.

Rosie no longer had need to ask so many questions and went to her duties without concern.

Emma might have offered something of praise, but she didn’t feel much like speaking.

There was something about just knowing she’d have to face Colton over the luncheon table that wearied her.

When they finally sat down to dinner, she let Colton and Rosie talk about whatever topic they chose. She would eat with them and then quickly leave to find solace in her bedroom away from Colton’s presence. Maybe then she’d feel some relief. But she doubted it.

Why did this have to hurt so much? How had he come to mean so much to her in such a short time? She hadn’t even been a widow six months, and yet she’d allowed herself to be kissed by Colton twice. She allowed his passion to become her own.

She thought of Tommy and all that they had planned to do, but thoughts of those things were already fading away.

They certainly no longer held her interest as they once had.

In having faced death, Emma could say that most of those things now seemed unimportant, even ridiculous. Why had they acted so childishly?

“These new potatoes and creamed peas are the best I’ve ever had,” Colton said, giving both ladies a big smile. “I don’t know who is responsible, but they’re really good.”

“Emma made them,” Rosie offered. “She learned it from her mama. I wish our mother could have taught me to cook.”

Colton chuckled. “I’m not sure our mother knew how. She was raised in a very well-to-do family with more servants than you could count. I think the main things she was taught to do were sing, play the piano, and embroider.”

“I think I’d like to learn to play the piano. Emma said we could get one if I was serious. I have so many things I want to learn, though, that I figured we should probably wait.”

Emma kept her eyes on the food. She picked up a dinner roll and tore a piece from it. She popped it into her mouth, hardly tasting it as Rosie began on another topic.

“Rob and I are going for a walk this afternoon. After that we’re going to have a riding lesson. He’s been teaching me about the saddle and telling me stories about when he was a boy learning to ride. I’m so excited. I want to have my own horse someday.”

“Goodness, Rosie, it would seem you want to do everything at once,” Colton chided.

“I feel like there’s just so much to learn. I don’t even know for sure what I like and don’t like since I’m just trying a lot of things for the first time. The other day I learned how to put up wallpaper.”

“But a lady doesn’t usually have to do that for herself. You can hire someone to come and put the wallpaper up in your house. You would just pick out what you wanted them to put up and then let someone else do the work.”

“What fun is that?” Rosie asked, pouring herself a glass of lemonade. “I like doing things for myself.”

Emma wanted to laugh at the look on Colton’s face.

When he glanced at her, she quickly lowered her gaze back to her plate.

The Bentons never had to fend for themselves.

She had grown up in a family who didn’t rely much on servants to do their chores.

Papa had always had a team of cowboys to help with the herd and a foreman to watch over those men, but he was quite capable of doing most things for himself.

Mama had always taken care of the house, even though she did have a hired cook to help during calving season.

She and Clara were also responsible for the household duties, garden, and chores like milking and gathering eggs.

Emma had helped hang wallpaper when she was twelve and Mama had wanted to spruce up her bedroom.

They settled on a flower print, and together, the three of them mastered the work.

There were certainly no hired paperhangers.

Things got quiet, and Emma glanced up to find Rosie frowning at her.

She knew Rosie had tried to get her to cheer up.

She hadn’t mentioned the incident with Colton and the telegram, as if it were already dealt with and had no further influence.

That was Rosie’s way. She was usually very quick to drop a matter and move on. It was one of her childlike charms.

“Colton, I think it’s time for you to go back to Texas. You’re still making Emma sad.”

Emma’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that. She returned her focus to the food and hoped that the matter would resolve itself. She had no desire to get caught up in the conversation.

“I would love to help Emma not be sad,” Colton said. “But, Rosie, she won’t talk to me. You can’t work things out with someone unless they’ll talk to you.”

“You lied to her, Colton. That hurt her feelings.”

“I didn’t lie to her at all. You heard our brothers encourage me to come to Cheyenne so that I could talk Emma into marrying me.

You saw the telegram they sent, and I could even show you letters from them demanding I get Emma to marry me, but I never agreed to that. I didn’t come here to deceive Emma.”

“They sent letters too?” Rosie shook her head. “Walter and Ernest only care about money. They don’t know how Emma feels. They never care about anybody but themselves. Aunt Clementine used to say that, and it’s true.”

Emma kept her head bowed. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to run from the room.

How dare Colton talk about her as if she wasn’t even there.

Tommy had once told her that the only thing that really mattered to his brothers and father was money and the railroad.

She had to admit she had seen Colton as the exception.

He cared deeply about Rose and her comfort.

He was also kind to the staff, although he didn’t offer to alleviate their burdens like Tommy might.

She had once seen Tommy help the old gardener trim trees and carry away branches.

None of the other Benton men would have done that.

Still, Colton had helped her father and Gary with building the chicken coop.

She supposed a lot of his hesitation might be a lack of knowledge as to how the work needed to be done.

He’d never been taught such things, so how could she fault him for not doing them?

“If Emma would allow me to speak with her about all of this, I feel we could come to an understanding. I hate that things got out of hand.”

“I think that you should just go home. You hurt Emma’s feelings, and there’s nothing you can do to make it better.”

“I can tell her the entire story. The whole truth of what happened in Texas and why I came here. See, what you don’t know, Rosie, is that I fell in love with Emma way back when Tommy first brought her to meet us all. Do you remember that day?”

“I do. Emma brought me flowers.”

“That’s right. As I recall they were hothouse roses. Pink ones.”

Rosie’s voice took on an excited tone. “Yes! Yes, they were pink, and they matched my favorite dress.”

“I remember. Emma was very kind to bring them, and as I recall, the two of you sat together and talked for a long time while Tommy was busy with Father.”

“We did. Emma asked me to tell her about my life. Nobody had ever done that before.”