Chapter 21 #2
“They are all such good people. I must admit, however, they make me miss my mother even more. Those were the kind of gatherings she loved best. Roundup was her favorite time of the year because there would be multiple families all together in one place. Families whom we were all very close to.”
“I’ve never known anything quite like it. Coming here has opened my eyes to how family life ought to be. Everything has changed for me in so many ways.” He dried the plate and set it aside before taking another Emma offered.
“I never appreciated family when I was young. They were just people who interfered in my life. My folks always had chores and a list of rules. I couldn’t see then how they were trying to teach me responsibility.
Their rules stifled my desires, but now I see how they were trying to keep me safe.
I look back and see myself for the rebellious and ungrateful child I was, and it breaks my heart. ”
“But, Emma, you didn’t act as you did in order to fulfill your desires to be rebellious and ungrateful. You were merely trying to experience life and try new things. You wanted something different for yourself.”
“But what they wanted for me was far better than what I wanted for myself. I was too blind to see it. If I’d have lived as directed by my folks—been obedient and refined as they wanted me to be—I’d have never had a shootout at my wedding.”
“You don’t know that.” Colton added another plate to the stack and turned to face her. “We can’t know how things might have been, only how they were ... how they are now. If you hadn’t been the kind of person you were, I might never have met the only woman I’ll ever love.”
Her cheeks flushed as she turned abruptly to concentrate on the dish in her hands.
Colton wanted so much to take her in his arms and hold her, but he held himself back and focused instead on the bowl he was drying.
He had to give her time to rethink her feelings toward him.
He knew she cared for him. He could tell by the way she looked at him that her previous anger and sense of betrayal were fading.
She’d had time to reason things in her thoughts.
Their time together Friday night had been a clear indication that she felt love for him.
“I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable. It’s just that I’ll be leaving tomorrow and gone for a few weeks. I don’t want you to forget about me and how important you are to me. I would hate for some other suitor to seek you out and try to win you over while I’m gone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. No one is going to come seeking me out.” She started washing the silverware.
“So you might be willing to promise to wait for me?”
She stopped washing the dishes and turned to him. “What exactly are you asking?”
“I’d ask you to marry me if I thought you’d say yes. I’m guessing it’s too early for that, though. I know you don’t yet trust me, and I understand why.” He put the dish towel aside. “I just don’t want someone else to get ahead of me in trying to win your heart.”
“That won’t happen.” She barely whispered the words.
Colton took hold of her wet hands. “Do you promise?”
Emma studied his face for a long moment. “I promise.”
He grinned, feeling real hope. “Will you kiss me as a pledge?”
Again, she looked at him as if searching for something. Colton was almost convinced she’d say no when she finally nodded her consent.
Tenderly, he took her face in his hands and gazed into her dark brown eyes.
He prayed she’d recognize his sincerity and honesty.
Prayed that God would let her see his heart and know the truth.
Pressing his lips to hers, Colton pulled Emma close, marveling at the way they fit together so perfectly. They were made for each other.
Emma couldn’t contain her elation as she gazed at the check given her by the Union Pacific official. It was her share of the Benton family railroad. There was enough money here to keep Rosie and Rob for the rest of their lives.
“This envelope contains the Union Pacific stock certificates.” The man handed her the envelope and then gave one to Colton. “Yours are here with your brothers’ stocks, and the checks are included. Each are written out as you directed.”
“Thank you. That concludes our business together, and now I’ve a train to catch.
” Colton took the envelope and placed it into a leather satchel.
He got to his feet and offered his hand to Emma.
She was still rather dumbfounded by the amount of money that had just been exchanged.
She allowed Colton to help her to her feet, nevertheless.
She offered the UP man a smile and put the check in her purse. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Once they left the office and headed out into the depot, she realized anew that Colton would soon be leaving Cheyenne. His train to Denver was due shortly. He’d already checked his trunk.
“I hope your brothers are pleased with the transaction. I don’t see how they couldn’t be, but given all that you’ve told me about them, I suppose they could be upset when they learn that we didn’t marry.”
Colton shrugged. “They’ll have their say and complaints, then they’ll take the checks and stocks and go off to do whatever it is they have planned to do. In time, they’ll either be great successes or miserable failures. Either way, they will be out of my concerns.”
“They won’t like it that you plan to move to Cheyenne, will they?”
“I hardly think they’ll care. As I told you, I plan to dissolve any of our shared business dealings. Most I’ll simply give to them. I want nothing more to do with Dallas and think it will be for the best that we manage our own accounts without outside interference.”
Emma nodded. She knew this was part of Colton’s attempt to assure her that he wasn’t doing the bidding of his brothers. Any further future for them was going to be based purely on their feelings for each other and nothing more.
Colton glanced at the clock. “I should probably board the train. They’ll be leaving soon.”
“Yes, I suppose so. I need to go the bank and get this check deposited.”
“Don’t forget, I set up a completely different account for it. Just as you asked.”
She managed a smile and held up the envelope. “And these will go into the safe-deposit box under my name.”
“Right. That way you won’t have to worry about them should there be a fire or if someone breaks into the house.”
He glanced over his shoulder and then again at the clock. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Emma felt strangely close to tears. She didn’t want him to go. She knew he felt the same way. “Please be careful. Rosie would be quite upset if something happened to you.” She met his dark eyes. “I would be too.”
He smiled. “That encourages me.”
“You hardly need encouragement. Now go, before you miss your train all together.”
He raised her hands to his lips and kissed her fingertips. Glancing up, Emma saw the passion in his eyes once again and felt her stomach do a flip. Goodness, what was it about this man that so completely captivated her?
Once he’d gone, Emma gathered her senses and made her way from the depot to the bank.
She was quite eagerly received by the bank president himself.
Her check was even more welcome. The entire process took less than ten minutes, including the time to put her stocks in the safety box.
With that completed, she headed for home, wondering how in the world she was going to keep herself occupied for the next few weeks.
She didn’t have long to wonder, however.
As soon as she got home, Rosie quickly drew her outside and busied her with cookie production.
By the time that first evening concluded, Emma was exhausted and had little time to think about Colton.
Although it was his impassioned gaze that she remembered as she fell asleep.
Colton gazed out the window as the train made its way into the Dallas station.
He’d been traveling for five days, having had an overnight stop in Kansas City.
Soon he’d be back in the house he’d called home for most of his adult life.
Only it wasn’t home any longer. The only people he truly cared about were waiting for him in Cheyenne.
The grueling heat had been unbearable the farther south they traveled, and the humidity and stormy weather had only served to make him even more miserable. He longed for the dryer climate of Cheyenne, along with the milder temperatures.
Hailing a cab, Colton waited for the driver to load his trunk before climbing into the open carriage.
He gave the man his address, then settled back against the hot leather.
He wondered what he’d find at home. Would his brothers be there to greet him?
He’d telegraphed them to indicate when he’d arrive.
He knew they were more than anxious for their share of the railroad money.
He smiled, almost chuckling to himself. They’d be there.
Things looked the same around town and through the neighborhoods as they made their way to the famed Benton house.
There was plenty of noise and action taking place around them.
The traffic was quite vexing for the driver, whom Colton heard swear more than once. Dallas was growing by leaps and bounds.
When they finally reached their destination, Colton was pleased to find one of the houseboys hurrying out to take charge of his luggage. He flipped the driver ample coinage for the ride and tip, then hurried up the walkway to get inside and out of the sun.
“Mr. Benton, welcome home,” the housekeeper greeted him at the door. “Your brothers are in the library.”
Colton nodded. He really wanted to go take a tepid bath, but getting rid of his brothers first was more important. He went straightaway to the library, wasting no time.