“You can’t very well do all the laundry, house cleaning, cooking, and gardening. That’s far too much for any one or two people. You don’t have to hire anyone to live in the house if you don’t want to. A lot of folks these days just have people come for a few hours or for the day and leave in the evening hours.”
“I know, and I have considered it. But there’s a lot that Rosie wants to learn to do, and together we can see to the work. It might help us both to keep busy that way. Lucille has already suggested a woman who might cook for us, but again Rosie wants to learn to cook.”
“Then let this woman teach her. You can hardly devote every minute of the day to Rosie. You need to look after yourself as well.”
For some reason that brought tears to Emma’s eyes once again. There was something in the way she looked, the way she opened her mouth to speak and then seemed unable to produce words, that caused Colton to do the unthinkable. He stepped forward and took her in his arms.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
This only seemed to make matters worse. Emma broke down and sobbed against his chest. All he could do was hold her and say what he hoped were words of comfort. “You don’t have to figure everything out at once. I wasn’t trying to add to your burden with my comments. Take all the time you need. I only wanted you to have what you need.”
She nodded but said nothing. Colton tightened his hold on her. What was he supposed to do now?
Emma had no desire to fall apart with Colton there, but her emotions were all over the place. One minute she washappy, even excited to be back in Cheyenne, and the next she was so full of remorse and regret for the past that it was far too overwhelming. She would no sooner deal with that than she’d find herself longing for something she couldn’t even explain. Having Tommy ripped out of her life was what she considered it would be like to lose a limb. Nothing could make up for that loss. Perhaps she loved Tommy far more than she’d realized. For both of them there had been a certain amount of disrespect toward any established institutions and traditions. But Emma felt so different now that it was tearing her apart.
Which was why she was unable to do anything but cry in Colton’s arms. She had no desire to leave. His hold was warm and gentle. He seemed to genuinely care for her. For the longest time, Emma had thought he didn’t even like her.
“Things will get better in time, Emma. I promise.”
But how could he promise such a thing? She didn’t even know what it was that she needed. Wasn’t even sure what it was she was mourning.
“Colton, leave her alone!”
Rosie’s commanding voice so surprised Emma that she jumped back and regained control. “What’s wrong, Rosie?” Her expression was angry, but for the life of her, Emma couldn’t comprehend why Rosie was acting this way. “Colton was just being kind.”
“He needs to go now.” She fixed him with a stern look. “You can come with us to church tomorrow. You need to learn about God and know the truth. You would be a better person then.” She took Colton by the arm. “Go on and take care of all those things you said you had to do today.”
Colton appeared so surprised that he actually allowed Rosie to pull him to the door. Emma followed a few paces behind.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine, Colton. Rosie and I are going tobake cookies, so feel free to come back by after you tend to your business.” He had told them earlier on their walk that he needed to get his hair cut and pick up a few things at the store.
Rosie left Colton’s side and came to stand with Emma. She put her arm around Emma’s shoulders. “I’ll take care of Emma. You just take care of business like you always do.”
Emma frowned, wondering why Rosie was so put out with her brother. He’d done nothing wrong. He’d only tried to offer comfort. Perhaps she’d ask after Colton left them.
Colton eyed his sister for a moment, then turned toward Emma and smiled. “Cookies sound wonderful. Do you have plenty of milk to go with them?”
Emma smiled. “I do. Lucille and Father made sure of it. Just come on back when you’re finished. They should be ready in an hour or two.” She watched Colton head down the brick walkway and waited until he was down the street a little way before turning to his sister. “What’s got you all riled? I’ve never heard you speak to Colton or anyone else like that.”
Rosie shook her head. “I just don’t want him to get pushy. He likes to boss everybody around.” She smiled as if it were all forgotten. “Now, what kind of cookies are we going to make?”
Rosie listened as Emma carefully instructed her regarding measuring out the ingredients for the cookies. Several times Emma stopped to show Rosie the written measurements.
“In time, I know we’ll have you reading, so you might as well get used to it. I know we’ve gone over the numbers from one to twenty and the alphabet, so this shouldn’t be too hard for you. See I’ve written down the recipe.Cstandsforcup, and this is the measuring cup that is used for the flour and sugar.”
Rosie asked questions when she didn’t understand but, for the most part, found Emma’s directions easy to follow. Emma didn’t think Rosie was unable to learn. She made Rosie feel capable and happy, not dumb as so many suggested. Emma had always been that way.
It was a good thing her brothers had let Rosie come to Cheyenne with Emma. Otherwise, she would have got on the train by herself and asked people to help her get to Cheyenne so that she could find Emma. She didn’t want to live with her brothers anymore. They didn’t care about her like Emma did. They never, ever told her that they loved her like Emma did. Well, once in a while Colton said the words, but Walter and Ernest never did. She was certain they didn’t even like her. They thought she was a burden.
All her life, Rosie had longed for more. She wasn’t allowed to be a part of the world or to go to school with the other children. She had gone to church with Aunt Clementine but was never allowed to play afterward or even attend Sunday school. She remembered waiting one day for Aunt Clementine, who was talking to the pastor, and some boys had come up and pulled her pigtail and called her names that she didn’t understand. Aunt Clementine had appeared and scolded the boys fiercely before taking Rosie by the hand to make their way home.
“What’s a im ... im ... becile?”Rosie remembered asking.
“That’s someone who acts foolish or ignorantly. Why, did those boys use that word?”
“They said I was one.”
“The truth is that often people call others by names that have been used for themselves. It’s not the right way to act or treat others. The Bible admonishes us to love one another. Remember that, Rose.”
