“Mr. Benton, we’re glad to have you join our group. I’m Elwood Mead, territorial engineer.” The small-built man extended his hand to Colton. They shook hands, and he continued. “I am even now at work to write up a system by which water will be controlled in this state. I saystate, for we most assuredly will become one.”
“Yes, yes!” another man affirmed.
“Colton, this is Governor Warren. He has fought long and hard to bring us to statehood.” Charlie Decker made the introduction.
“Governor Warren, I’m pleased to meet you.”
“As am I you, Mr. Benton. We always need educated men in our pursuit of statehood. I’m pleased to hear you intend to make Cheyenne your home. I believe you’re a lawyer and railroad owner, are you not?”
“I am,” Colton replied, eyeing the older man with thefull, bushy mustache. This was a man who got things done. He exuded confidence and strength, two qualities Colton prized most highly.
“I am a railroad man myself, as well as the owner of a livestock company and electric company, to name a few. Now as governor of this territory, I am seeking able-bodied, intelligent men to come alongside and fight to see this territory to statehood. This town was once considered too rough to tame. It was figured that the entire place would disappear off the map and be nothing more than a water stop within five years of the railroad pushing west, but we proved them wrong.
“When I arrived in this town, it was little more than a settlement of covered wagons and tents, but I was determined, as were many of these fine fellows, to see Cheyenne become something more than a camp town, and it has. We have a fine city and impressive territory. My question to you is, Will you join us in supporting the push for statehood?”
Colton appreciated the man’s straight-to-the point enthusiasm. “I would like very much to be a part of this territory achieving statehood. That’s why I came tonight. When Mr. Decker apprised me of what was happening, I found it intriguing, and I would love to hear more.”
“Governor, we’re ready for you to speak,” a younger man interrupted.
Warren smiled and gave Colton a nod. “In time you shall hear all that there is to tell.”
19
“It’s such a surprise to see you both,” Lucille said, hugging Emma and then Rosie. “What brings you to the ranch to brighten my day?”
“We’ve come for my mother’s recipe box. We attended the Methodist church ladies’ meeting yesterday and talked about the bake sale for the Firemen’s Tournament. Rosie has it in mind to make as many different kinds of cookies as is humanly possible.” Emma chuckled. “I can’t even begin to imagine what we’ll come up with, but I’ve already put Gary to work setting up an outdoor kitchen.”
“What a marvelous idea. It’s much too hot to be doing all that baking indoors. I plan to make a few things myself. Of course, we’re already pretty busy, and I’ll start cooking for roundup next week. I hope to get ahead of things. We’re starting in on the twenty-fourth and will have over fifty men to feed. If you and Rosie are free, I could sure use the help.”
“We could come for a couple of days. Of course, we’ve pledged a great many baked goods to the sale, so we’ll have to have time to take care of that.”
“We plan to be finished up by the twenty-eighth. It might be wishful thinking since we’ve added so many animals thisyear, but that’s why we hired extra men. We’re combining everything with Charlotte and Micah’s animals, as well as ours.”
“I think it will be a lot of fun, Emma. I’ve never been to a roundup,” Rosie declared.
Emma smiled. “Then we’ll be here on the twenty-fourth.”
“I’ll put fresh bedding in your room and Clara’s so that you and Rosie can stay here and not have to go back and forth.”
“Oh, this will be so much fun!” Rosie’s excitement was contagious.
“I hope you still feel that way after we’re done,” Emma said, knowing roundup would be like nothing Rosie had ever experienced. “For now, however, we’ve come so that I can take a look through Mama’s recipe box. I told Rosie there were a lot of cookie recipes we could use in there.”
“I know just where the box is. We put it on the top shelf in one of the kitchen cupboards. That way it would be easily available.” Lucille headed for the kitchen, and Emma and Rosie followed. “You ought to take it home with you. After all, your mother would want you to have it.”
“I had thought about that. Clara copied down the recipes that she wanted in a journal, and when she wants to make something, she gets the book out and finds what she needs. Of course, after all this time, she’s got most of them memorized.”
Lucille grabbed a stool and placed it in front of the cabinet. She opened the door and pointed to the small tin box. “I’ll let you get them.”
Emma did just that and went to the kitchen table with the box in hand. She and Rosie sat down and immediately began to go through the recipes. A flood of memories came back to Emma. She could see her mother in the kitchen laboring over her creations. There were recipes here that had been given by her mother’s mother and grandmother. A legacypassed down from mother to daughter for multiple generations. It made Emma feel a much-needed connection with her mother.
“Oh, look here. Do you remember this gingersnap recipe my mother used to make?” Emma handed it up to Lucille.
The older woman glanced at it a moment. “I do. I remember her gingerbread as well. It was so moist and flavorful. We used to get together and bake. Do you remember that?”
Emma nodded. “I do. I remember hearing you and Mama laughing and talking. I didn’t appreciate it and wanted to escape as fast as possible. Clara was always happy to be involved, but not me.” She looked at Rosie and shook her head. “I lost a great deal in not seeing value in my mother’s teachings.”
“I wish I could have known my mother,” Rosie replied. “Colton said she didn’t cook because she always had servants, but I would have liked to have talked to her and heard her stories. I’d give anything if I could do that now.”
