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Emma felt much better now that the stitches were gone.

The last two weeks had been a challenge in many ways, but most vital to her was deciding about the future.

Strangely enough, the more she considered it, the more Emma wanted to return to Cheyenne, partly because she wanted to forget about Texas and all that had happened, but also because it felt like she’d left things undone there.

She had only been home once in the nine years since she left the territory, and that was for her father’s marriage to Lucille last fall.

She hadn’t even been able to return home after their mother died because Clara and the children had been so sick that they’d needed her in Texas.

There was a good portion of guilt associated with that originally, but Emma was never one to dwell on such things for long.

In keeping with her good-time nature, she spared little time for regret. That had changed with the shooting.

Now it seemed regret haunted her day and night. She hated that the last time she’d seen her mother had been tense. Her mother’s words had been full of warnings and stern reminders that her reputation might be forever ruined if Emma failed to curb her zest for living.

The black gown she wore was evidence that her zest for living had come to an end.

Emma didn’t mind it at all, as it rather matched her mood.

She grieved for her husband as any woman might, but even more than her personal loss, she grieved for his soul.

They had forfeited so many important things, all in order to enjoy the moment.

Emma seriously wondered if she would ever enjoy life again.

Staying at the Benton house had helped in some ways.

She felt Tommy’s presence here, but in a shared sense.

With Colton and Rosie ever present, it was as if they bore the grief together.

With a houseful of servants, there was also no reason to worry about cleaning or mending or cooking.

At Clara’s, Emma had helped with a little bit of everything.

Clara had wanted Emma to return to the ranch, where she could care for her now that Papa and Lucille had returned to Cheyenne. But coming to the Benton house had been an easy decision. It allowed Emma to say good-bye to Tommy in degrees, and that was so much easier than saying good-bye all at once.

Colton was congenial in every way. He checked with Emma daily to ascertain her needs and had driven her out to the cemetery to see Tommy’s grave.

Perhaps most impressive of all, he arranged for them to sit down to meals together each day.

And what meals. The Benton cook was Chef Antoine, who hailed from Lyon in France.

He was quite the master chef, creating some of the most mouthwatering meals Emma had ever sampled.

Tommy had once told her that the family hadn’t eaten together in years, so Colton’s gesture to see them sharing three meals a day surprised Emma.

Nevertheless, she found it quite pleasant, as did Rosie, who was now her constant companion.

Rosie helped Emma not to feel so lonely and sad. Without Tommy, Emma’s entire perspective on life had changed. Add to that her prayer for forgiveness and desire to live a life more acceptable to God, and Emma was almost confused as to what to do next.

For now, it was tending to business. Tommy’s last wishes had been dictated to Colton, the family lawyer, and witnessed. Tommy had already told her he intended to provide for her, so Emma was curious as to what he exactly meant by that. It might very well help her decide her future.

“It’s time for the reading of the will, Mrs. Benton,” Lydia said, bringing Emma a black shawl. “Turned kind of cold, and I thought you might like this. There’s a fire in the library, but it might not be enough.”

Rosie came in just then. She was also dressed in black and came to Emma for approval. “I am wearing the brooch Tommy gave me. Do you think that’s all right?” she asked, pointing to the ruby, rose-shaped pin. “Lydia said no one wears jewelry in mourning.”

“That is the custom.” The maid glanced from Rosie to Emma. “But it doesn’t seem a bad thing since it came from Mr. Benton.”

“I think it’s just fine.” Emma got to her feet and took the wrap from Lydia. “I suppose we’d best make our way downstairs, or your brothers will be vexed with us.”

Rosie nodded and helped Emma with the shawl. “Why do we have to be there? I hate business meetings.”

“This isn’t just a business meeting. This is the reading of Tommy’s will. People write wills so that everybody knows what they want done after they die.”

“What do you think Tommy wants us to do? Will he want us to stay here with Colton? What if he doesn’t want us to be together?” Rosie sounded quite worried.

“It’s not exactly like that, Rosie,” Emma explained as they made their way downstairs. “A will is Tommy’s instructions for what to do with his possessions and money. See, Tommy sat down with Colton and told him exactly what he wanted him to do with his things after he died.”

“So Tommy knew he was going to die?”

“No. A will is just something wealthy people put together before they die so that their things can be dealt with whenever they die.”

“Oh, I see. Do I have a will? I don’t remember ever making Colton write down anything about my things.”

“Perhaps you can ask him about it later.”

They came to the library, where the three remaining Benton brothers were speaking with two other men. She had met one of them at a family party once but didn’t know the other.

“Ah, here are the ladies,” Colton said, coming to Emma’s side. “Emma Benton, this is Roger Aniston and Simon Glickman. They were both witnesses to Tommy’s will. Of course, you know Walter and Ernest.”

Emma nodded toward Tommy’s brothers. They were cold and indifferent, quickly looking away as if bored with the entire affair.

Colton continued. “And this, gentlemen, is my brother Tommy’s widow, Emma Benton, and my sister, Rose.”

The men gave slight bows and offered their condolences. Still Walter and Ernest said nothing. Colton led Emma to a chair, and Rosie followed, claiming the one beside her. With that, the men also took their seats, and Colton took his place behind the large oak desk.

Emma glanced around the room without trying to look obvious.

She’d never been in the library. For all the times she had been invited to the Benton house, the library had never been one of the rooms frequented by Tommy.

She found it quite appealing with the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and large windows to let in the light or air.

Lydia had been right. There was a fire burning in the hearth, but it was too far away to feel any real sense of warmth. This, added to the cold stares she was receiving from Walter and Ernest, caused Emma to pull her shawl close and hope this ordeal would soon be over.

“We have come here today for the reading of my brother Thomas Benton’s will.

Tommy wasn’t about a lot of procedures and ceremony, so we will make this quick and to the point.

” Colton looked up from the paper he held.

“Tommy asked me to change his will just before he and Emma married. It was his desire to leave the entirety of his wealth and possessions to his wife, Emma Johnson Benton. Mr. Aniston and Mr. Glickman were witness to this testament.” He paused and looked at the men.

“Gentlemen, would you confirm your signatures?”

Each man rose and came to the desk.

“That is my signature,” Mr. Glickman assured.

“And are these the contents of the will as you remember them?” Colton asked.

“They are.”

“Thank you. And now Mr. Aniston?”

The routine was repeated, and then the men took their seats once again. Colton looked at Emma. “This means you are now the owner of all that Tommy possessed. He left no exceptions. His money, as well as furniture, clothes, carriage, horses, investments, and anything else, is now yours.”

Emma hadn’t thought Tommy would leave her everything he owned. That would make her a very wealthy woman in her own right. Wealthy enough that she’d never need to open a shop to support herself. She could easily move anywhere and do just about anything she wanted.

Colton dismissed Mr. Glickman and Mr. Aniston with thanks for their having come. The housekeeper, Mrs. Lansdale, showed them out before Colton spoke again. “Well, that’s that. Do you have any questions, Emma?”

“If she doesn’t, I do,” Walter interjected. “Why did Tommy leave her the railroad stocks? It’s our family’s heritage, not hers.”

“I agree.” Ernest brushed lint from his trouser leg. “She may have married Thomas, but she wasn’t a wife to him. At least not while legally wed.”

“I beg your pardon?” The words were out of Emma’s mouth before she could think them through. “How dare you?”

Ernest gave her a look of boredom. “We all know what Tommy was like, so don’t pretend to be so offended.”

“I don’t have to pretend. I am offended.” Emma got to her feet. “Your brother has only been gone a short time, and this is the focus of your heart?” She looked at Colton. “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I plan to move back to Cheyenne.”

“And I want to go with her,” Rosie declared, shooting up to stand beside Emma. “You said I could live with her and Tommy.”

“Yes, but Tommy is gone now, and you are our responsibility, not Emma’s,” Colton replied.

Rosie gave her foot a stomp. “Emma is our sister now. Even if Tommy is dead. She loves me and wants me to live with her.”

Emma felt all eyes turn to her. “It’s true. I do love Rose. I would be happy for her to live with me in Cheyenne, and since Tommy has left me so amply endowed, there is no reason I can’t use that money to take care of your sister.”

“We can discuss this at a later time.” Colton glanced at his brothers before continuing. “I’m sure you’re tired and should rest.”

Emma wasn’t sure what his plan was, but there was something in the way he spoke that encouraged her to comply.