Chapter 5 #2
“Wouldn’t he? If I asked him I bet he would, but I don’t want to have to ask him. I’d rather we,” she pointed back and forth between them. “You and I, got to know each other and learn that neither of us is as bad as the other wants to believe.”
“Ha.” She pointed her finger at Emily. “You have Ben under a spell. He can’t see that Melissa is the best woman for him.”
“I don’t understand you.” Emily leaned against the counter next to the sink. “She left him standing at the altar, humiliated. How can you promote that he take her back? Why are you so loyal, to the point of risking your son’s love, to this woman?”
“There was just a misunderstanding.”
“It was not a misunderstanding.”
At the booming voice, Emily whipped around to see Ben standing in the doorway. His jaw was set and his blue eyes blazed as he stared at his mother.
“She didn’t even attempt to come to the wedding. She left for San Francisco that morning with that Richard Deveraux character and left me that note.”
Doris closed the distance between her and Ben.
“I tell you she just got the days mixed up. She planned on being back. That explains it. If you’d just give her another chance.”
“Mother! Stop! I forbade you to say Melissa’s name. Is this how you respect me?”
Doris visibly shrank away from him.
“I’ve warned you twice before. This is the last warning you get. I’ll not have you speaking of her again or I will find you another place to live. Do you understand me?”
Doris nodded and kept her gaze directed at the floor.
“Emily, you go unpack. Mother and I need to have a private conversation.”
“Yes. I think I will. Come get me when you’re done.”
“All right.”
Emily scurried from the kitchen torn between wanting to stay and listen and fear of getting caught. Her better nature won and she decided if he’d wanted her to know he’d have had her stay. She went upstairs to the bedroom.
She’d emptied the items from the trunk into the dresser and the bureau with her dresses on the bed.
“I thought I left you enough room in the closet.”
Emily turned toward him.
“Oh, I’m sure you did, I’m just trying to get rid of some of the wrinkles by laying them out for a while.” She grinned. “I’m hoping to avoid the iron. I hate to iron more than any other chore.”
“Good. We’ll have Mother iron.”
“I’d be afraid she’d burn my clothes. No, thank you. I’ll do our ironing. She can do hers.”
He walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
“I’m truly sorry about my mother. I’ve explained to her that if she doesn’t straighten up, I’ll get her a room somewhere.”
She put her arms around his neck and looked up at him. “I hope you’re not mad at me but I told her you’d build her a house and ban her from this one.”
“Naw. I’m not mad. She’s a mean old bitty and always has been. I don’t think she’s had a happy day in her life. I’m amazed that Jane and I came out so well.”
“Why is she so unhappy? Haven’t you ever wondered?”
“Of course, and I’ve asked her. She says there’s nothing wrong with her and that she’s perfectly happy.”
“Good grief. If that’s happy I’d hate to see her sad or angry.”
Ben laughed. Then he lowered his head and kissed her.
“You seem to do that a lot,” she observed when they broke apart.
“I seem to like to kiss you.”
“I’m glad.” She beamed at him. “I like kissing you, too, but we better get back down to help with breakfast.”
“All right, but later I plan on taking advantage of you.”
“Later, I might just let you.”
Saturday, September 18, 1875
Emily was getting used to rising in the early mornings, though she wasn’t actually getting much sleep.
Ben liked to make love to her a lot. Every night when they went to bed and usually in the morning before they got up for the day.
Not that she minded, really, but she’d like to get a full night’s sleep now and again.
Ben brought her back to him and spooned after their love making.
“Today is Saturday.”
“So?”
“So, on Saturday we go to town for supplies. The men will go to town tonight and let off steam.”
“Why didn’t we go last Saturday?”
“Because we were getting married last Saturday, remember? And I got the supplies then.”
“Oh, yes, you unloaded them and I received my wedding present from you.”
“What was that?”
“Champagne and her little colt.”
He squeezed her closer.
“I didn’t say you could have the colt, so if you want to consider him a wedding present you can.”
She turned in his arms so she could look at him.
“When will you teach me how to ride her?”
“We can start today when we get back home and have unloaded the supplies.”
“Really? Is it all right to ride her when she has a baby?”
“Sure. Have you decided what to name the colt?”
“Actually, I want to name him Snowflake because he’s so white.”
“Even though he’ll more than likely change color?”
“I know, but he may not and I like the name.”
He leaned down and kissed her.
“All right, Snowflake it is. Get dressed so we can get headed to town. We still have to do our morning chores.”
Two hours later they were on the buckboard headed to Golden.
“I’m taking you to meet Maggie Black if she’s in her office today. If not we’ll have to make a point of going by their spread.”
“Spread?”
“That’s what we call a ranch. It’s a spread.”
“I don’t get it. Why not just call it a ranch?”
He shrugged.
“Just the way things are.”
“Isn’t Maggie Black the owner of Matchmaker & Co.? My friend Sally Wyatt’s employer?”
“One and the same.”
They arrived in town in about an hour, after walking the horses the seven miles.
“There’s no point in wearing out the animals just to make a little time. We’ll go see Maggie first and then to the mercantile and the feed store.”
He pulled up in front of an office with a bright blue door.
The door was the same color as the door at the New York office.
After he helped Emily down from the wagon, they walked up to the office and Ben knocked before turning the handle.
“Hi. Maggie.”
A pretty woman with curly fire-red hair sat behind a desk in the back of the room. She appeared to be writing something. She looked up at the sound of the bell over the door.
“Ben. How are you?”
“Maggie, I want you to meet my wife, Emily. We got married a week ago.”
She came forward and grasped Emily’s hand.
“Wonderful. I’m so pleased to meet you. I understand you’re Sally’s friend.”
“Yes.” Emily took her hand, happy to meet Maggie and glad for the friendly welcome. “I hadn’t intended to be a mail-order bride, but Sally practically insisted. She said she knew why she hadn’t found anyone for Ben, that she was waiting for me. Fate she called it.”
“Well, whatever you call it, I’d say she did the right thing,” said Ben. “I’m happy with Emily and I hope she’s happy with me.”
“I am.”
Maggie lifted an eyebrow and cocked her head before looking from Emily to Ben.
“Good, good. Are you ready to take me up on my Sunday dinner offer?”
Ben smiled and turned his gaze to Emily.
“Why, yes. I think we would. What time do you want us there?”
“We usually try to have dinner around one o’clock so if you could be there by noon or twelve-thirty that would be great.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow then. I’m taking Emily to some of our stores so the owners can meet her.”
“Good idea. See you tomorrow.”
“It was nice to meet you, Maggie.”
It will be nice to talk to someone about home. No. This is my home now. I must remember that. New York is not my home. In some ways it never was. I never really had a home, I just lived in other people’s for a while.
“You too, Emily. We’ll visit tomorrow. You’ll have to tell me all about New York.”
“Sure will.”
Ben and Emily left Maggie and Emily wondered if Maggie had noticed Emily’s reticence about her relationship with Ben. She still couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t leave her for someone thinner and she was trying so hard to be a good wife to him.
After they left Matchmaker & Co, they walked to the bank which was just three doors down from Maggie’s business.
“Golden isn’t a very large town is it?”
She felt Ben stiffen.
“It’s big enough for what we need. We don’t need a big city.”
“No, I suppose not.”
What was that about? Why’d he get so defensive at my statement about Golden’s size?
Just as they arrived at the bank, a tall, thin woman with dark hair walked out.
“Why, Ben Logan. Hi there.”
Ben’s hold on Emily tightened.
“Melissa.”
Melissa! This is the woman who jilted Ben?
Emily looked closely at the woman who was the one Ben chose. She is nothing like me. Ben said he liked women with a little meat on their bones, but when given the choice, he chose someone tall and slender to ask to marry him.
“Who is this with you Ben? A cousin?”
Emily put her hand on Ben’s arm.
“No. I’m Emily Logan. Ben’s wife.”
The woman’s eyebrows rose so high onto her forehead, Emily thought they would have left her head completely if they could have.
“Wife? But how? It’s only been seven months since we…”
“We were over long before you stood me up at the altar. As a matter-of-fact you did me a favor. I never would have met Emily if you hadn’t jilted me.”
She raised her chin and sniffed the air. “I see. Well, congratulations. Glad you found someone to wallow in the dirt with you.”
Ben raised his hat.
“Goodbye, Melissa.”
He opened the door to the bank and ushered Emily inside with his hand to the small of her back.
“I’m sorry you had to meet her.”
“It’s all right.”
It wasn’t really all right, but what else can I say. I’m sorry you had to settle for me, that I’m not thin like the woman you wanted?
“I would have run into her someday, anyway. Better now and get it over with.”
“Maybe.”
She took his arm, wrapping her hand around his elbow. “Come on. Forget her. Let’s get our shopping done and go home.”
“First, I want you to meet our banker, Ezra Dancer.”
Ben walked over to the office and knocked. A little man, shorter than Emily, opened the door.
“Why Ben. How are you? Come in. Come in.”
The man waved his arm, ushering them into the office.
“Ezra, I just wanted to introduce you to my wife, Emily. This is Ezra Dancer our banker. If you ever have any questions or need funds when you are in town, he’s the one you come to see.”
The man held out his hand.
“Pleased to meet you Mrs. Logan.”
“Oh, please call me Emily, I haven’t gotten used to Mrs. Logan yet. Besides to me Mrs. Logan is Ben’s mother.”
“Emily, it is.”
They visited with Ezra for a short time.
“We better get our shopping done. Just wanted for you and Emily to meet.”
“Understood. I’ll see you both again soon.”
Ben bent his arm and when she put her hand through the crook at his elbow, he patted her hand.
“Let’s get going so we can get home.”
They left the bank, went to the mercantile and the feed store. By the time they had finished with the feed store, Ben seemed to be back to his cheerful self.
“I’m glad to be on the way home.”
Ben put his arm around her.
“So am I. Would you like to learn how to ride when we get home?”
“Oh, yes, yes I’m ready.”
“Good. After I unload the wagon we’ll have your first lesson.”
“I don’t have any riding clothes.”
“We haven’t left town yet, so let’s get you some.”
They walked back to the mercantile and Emily purchased two pair of men’s pants, two flannel shirts.
Ben came over carrying a pair heavy wool socks and a pair of boots.
“I have boots.”
“These are designed to come off your foot if you fall from the horse and your foot gets caught in the stirrup. That way you don’t get dragged. They are much better for riding.”
“Okay. I hope I never have to test that theory.”
She tried on the boots. They were a little big but with the heavy socks would fit just right.
“And I want you to have a sheepskin coat. Your wool one is fine but the sheepskin is warmer.”
“You won’t even know I’m a girl once I get dressed for riding.”
Ben waggled his eyebrows.
“In no way won’t you look like a girl. You have such great curves no one will ever mistake you for a boy.”
“What a sweet thing to say.” Is he just trying to make me feel good because we ran into Melissa?
Emily smiled and tried to think about riding and not Melissa.
She would learn to ride today. Maybe she and Ben could have a picnic in the hills.
The day had turned out to be a great one she decided.
Even meeting Melissa couldn’t put a damper on the way she felt.
She would not let that woman ruin her first outing.