“Have you ever hooked a rug, Rosie?”
Emma had to laugh and so did Rosie. It was easy to see there would be no end of help for her beloved sister-in-law. Colton would be pleased at all the loving support Cheyenne was offering to Rosie.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me,” Rosie admitted. “I do have troubles from not breathing when I was born. The doctor said it makes me slower than others and not as smart. Sometimes people get ... tired of me.” She looked at Emma. “Did I say that right?”
“You did just fine, Rosie. And if you tire someone out, that’s their problem, not yours. You are a wonderful young woman.” The others quickly agreed.
Later, after the party broke up and the women were headed home, Melody Decker took Emma aside.
“I wonder if I might talk to you about Rosie.”
Emma nodded. “Of course you can.” She glanced across the room to where Rosie was regaling Lucille and Charlotte with a story about something.
“Has she ever had schooling?”
“No, none. It was a sore subject with me, but her brothers said their father never wanted her exposed to the meanness of other children. As if she could avoid it. The doctors also told the family that Rosie wouldn’t ever be able to comprehend anything but the simplest instructions, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I’ve been teaching her the alphabet and a little bit of handwriting. She’s doing well.”
“I can loan you some early primers to help her learn to read. We have all sorts of things at the school. I’ll speak to Charlie about it.”
Emma could only imagine how wonderful it would be if Rosie could read for herself. “Thank you for welcoming her. It means a lot to me to see her thrive. She meant the world to her brother Tommy—Colton too. He’s the one who’s come here to see us settled.”
“Well, we will endeavor to make you both feel at home. And, Emma, don’t let the past ruin your return. I think you’ll find that most people will be willing to forgive and forget.”
“I hope so. I know there are a few I definitely need to apologize to and will. Whether they accept my apology isn’t something I can control. I know that.”
Rosie joined them just then, along with Lucille and Charlotte. “We’ve been invited to church on Sunday, Emma. Can we go?”
Emma looked at her stepmother and smiled. “Of course we can. I think it will be a wonderful way for us to get better acquainted with everyone.”
Rosie laughed and nodded with great enthusiasm. She reminded Emma of a little girl who’d just been promised a pony. So happy and carefree. Oh, how Emma wished she could share in that ease.
8
After taking a walk around town the next morning, Emma, Rosie, and Colton made their way back to the house. It was a glorious spring day, and after a light rain in the night, it seemed everything was trying to grow and bloom all at once.
“This is quite a place.” Colton hadn’t known exactly what to expect out of Cheyenne. “I must admit, I’m rather impressed. I can see that a lot of thought has gone into the town.”
“They are certainly pushing hard for statehood.” Emma opened the door to her house and ushered everyone inside. “I believe I’ll open some of the windows and air out the place. Rosie, can you manage to open your bedroom window and mine?”
“Yes. I remember how you showed me. I’ll go do it right now.”
“Thank you.”
Emma made her way into the front room and opened the window by the chess table. “Rosie and I are going to church tomorrow and would love for you to accompany us.”
“So you’re joining the company of the faithful?” Colton’s tone was edged with sarcasm.
“There’s something about nearly dying that puts things into perspective.” Emma crossed the room and opened one of the other windows. “Having accepted Christ as a child and been taken to church every Sunday, I’ve always known what the Bible taught and what I was taught to believe. I ignored it for a long while, but after facing death, I realized that ... well, the truth made itself known to me.”
“And what truth is that?”
“That I needed a Savior.” She finished with the window and turned, smiling. “I know. I know. Before you say anything, I must admit that my past feelings and thoughts about God were abominable. I allowed myself to be convinced that Christians were chained to doom and gloom in such a way as to never know any earthly happiness. I was wrong.”
Colton chuckled. “It’s unusual for a woman to admit such a thing.”
“Ha! My mother and sister often admit to being wrong. It was the men in our family who hesitated to acknowledge their misguided notions.”
Colton could easily agree with her. The men in his family never declared themselves in error unless pressed, and even then, it would be related in such a manner as to place the blame on someone else.
