Page 8

His mother would have said that there was all of eternity and that if Colton wanted to spend it in happiness and love, then he needed to make peace with God.

As a child, Colton had accepted her words as truth.

He had prayed many prayers at her prompting.

But his father held no respect for such things, and because of that Colton had put them aside as childish.

Even though his mother continued in her beliefs, Colton felt no such need.

There was something about death, however, that caused a man to reflect upon such things.

He had never expected to bury any of his brothers, much less Tommy.

Colton had been too busy working at his father’s side to get very close to Ernest and Walter.

In fact, their father had insisted on putting Colton in a position of authority over them, making it clear that they were subordinate to him.

It was hard to have a brotherly relationship with someone you were encouraged to see more as an employee than a sibling.

But Tommy was different. When Colton was firmly established and trained, Tommy was still young enough that they could interact as brothers.

Tommy often sought Colton out for advice when he’d been young.

Young and impetuous. And now he was young and dead.

It tore at Colton’s heart like nothing else could.

“‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’” the pastor read from First Corinthians.

Colton wanted to walk away. This man didn’t know Tommy.

If he had, he would never have been able to speak those words.

The sting of death was a searing pain. The grave would swallow his brother, and Tommy would be no more.

The pastor spoke on of Christ having victory over death.

For those who could accept that as truth, Colton supposed there might be comfort, but there was no comfort for him.

That gentle, fun-loving young man was taken from them.

No amount of religiosity could bring him back.

The loss tightened a band around Colton’s heart and brought tears to his eyes. Even Rosie questioned Tommy’s eternity.

Rosie, gowned in black, stood beside him crying softly.

The loss she felt was as deep as his own.

Colton put his arm around her. What were they to do without Tommy to lighten their days?

Colton held Rosie tight. He couldn’t help but wonder what would become of her.

He did what he could to be there for her, but he was always caught up in business. Just as their father had been.

Father had had little to do with Rosie. First, because he didn’t know how to deal with the fact that she wasn’t perfect. Second, because she was a female, only furthering her imperfection in the eyes of Lawrence Benton. The only woman Father had ever gotten along with had been Mother.

Then there was the fact that Father was loud and boisterous, especially when he was angry, which was often.

But even in his contentment, Father could be deafening.

He frightened Rosie. But knowing this, Tommy always made a game of it.

Father was the dragon and Rosie the princess.

Her brothers were knights pledged to keep her safe.

Colton thought it all ridiculous, but it comforted Rosie as a child and kept them from enduring her tears.

“‘For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,’” the minister recited, then nodded to the casket handlers.

The two men immediately lowered the simple box into the ground.

Although there was plenty of money for an elaborate coffin and lavish funeral, Colton had seen no sense in spending the money. Tommy was beyond caring.

Rosie startled at the scene and grabbed Colton’s arm. After attending their aunt and father’s funerals, Rosie knew what to expect, but still it upset her.

“It’s all right, Rosie. This is how it must be.”

She looked up at him and nodded before burying her face against his coat.

Nothing about an unexpected death was easy.

He held Rosie close and let her cry, but holding her only served to remind him of Emma.

If she could have attended the service, it might be her Colton held.

He pushed the thought aside in disgust. How could he stand at his brother’s grave and covet his widow?

Yet here he was. He couldn’t help himself.

The pain of Tommy’s death only served to make him want Emma all the more.

He had loved her in silence for an entire year, and he would go on loving her.

At least they’d convinced her to come live at the house. She could heal there and be close to Tommy’s memory. Hopefully Colton could convince her to stick around long after that by reminding her of how much she benefited Rosie. No one could deny the changes Emma had brought about in their sister.

In a matter of minutes, the funeral was concluded, and they were heading back to their buggies. Emma’s father and stepmother caught up with Colton and Rosie and once again offered their condolences.

“I’m truly sorry for your loss,” Rich Johnson said, extending his hand.

Colton shook hands. “Thank you. I’m glad you could be here to represent Emma. I felt bad that we couldn’t delay the funeral.”

“It’s understandable.”

“Emma’s going to live with us,” Rosie declared, pushing back the veil that continued to blow across her face.

Rich nodded and fixed Colton with a look. He wasn’t quite disapproving, but he looked none too happy. “I know she can’t travel yet, but I hope if she wants to return to Cheyenne that you’ll do everything in your power to help her.”

“I will, of course.” If it comforted the older man to think that Emma would return to the Wyoming Territory, then what of it?

Though in time, Colton hoped to convince her that Dallas was the best place for her now that she owned a majority in the family railroad.

With her living under his roof, Colton intended to guide her in their plans for the future.

Perhaps even convince her that she should love again.

“I’m so glad to be out of the hospital,” Emma told her sister and stepmother as they helped her settle in at the Benton house.

“It’s a huge house, as you can see, but so amply furnished.

Tommy even purchased a brand-new bed for us.

The mattress came all the way from the East Coast and has springs inside.

I am looking forward to giving it a try. Tommy said it was amazing.”

Rose strained to listen to their conversation from the open bedroom door. She had thought about joining them but didn’t know if that was polite. There were so many rules for interacting in the company of others.

“I hope you’ll consider coming back to the ranch to live.” This came from Emma’s stepmother. “You know you will always be welcome there.”

“Thank you, Lucille. I appreciate that.” Rose braved a peek and watched as Emma embraced her stepmother. “Thank you for everything.”

“I hope we can be close,” Lucille replied.

“I have missed your mother so much. It would be like having a bit of her in my life to have you back in Cheyenne.” She pulled back and looked at Clara.

“Both of you were so precious to her. She prayed for you constantly. Your brother too. You were her entire world. You and your father. Just as Frank and my children were to me. But we had such a special arrangement in our little part of the territory. Your family and mine and the Hamiltons. How blessed we were to share those friendships.”

“I have considered coming back to Cheyenne,” Emma said, surprising Rosie.

“I thought maybe I could open a dress shop or something. I’ve learned a lot about women’s clothing designs since Tommy bought the very best for me and wanted me to keep up with what was considered the height of popular fashion.

I know a great deal about Worth and the various houses in New York and Paris.

” She paused. “I suppose, however, I’ll be wearing black mourning for a time. ”

“If you come to Cheyenne and want to live in town, your father and I would be happy to help you find a house.”

“If you start a dress shop, I want to come too,” Rose said, forgetting herself. She hurried into the room. “I’m sorry for spying.”

“It’s quite all right, Rosie. I would never go anywhere without thinking about you first.” Emma reached out and hugged her close. “Although, I doubt your brothers would want you moving that far away.”

“Colton will say yes if I ask. He told me he just wants me to be happy.”

Emma smiled. “He loves you very much, but I’m not sure he would approve. It’s a very long way to Cheyenne.”

“Yes, but my brothers say I’m a burden. I heard them, and when I asked you what a burden was, you told me it was a heavy load to carry.” This brought a frown to Emma’s face. Rosie worried she’d said something wrong.

“You are never a burden, Rosie. They were wrong to say that, so just forget about it. I’ll do what I can to make sure that where I go, you go.”

Her words made Rosie smile. She loved Emma like the sister she’d never had.