Colton gave Emma a nod. “I’ll pick you up at six tonight.” He didn’t wait for her reply but kept on walking in case she changed her mind.
He was halfway back to the boardinghouse when it dawnedon him that he should get Emma some flowers. It was a rather bold move, but he knew she enjoyed them and hadn’t had any since those he and Rosie had brought her in the hospital. He wasn’t used to going downtown in such a slovenly manner, but there wasn’t time to go home and change. The flower shop would close by five.
At the florist’s, Colton quickly selected some pink roses, just as Emma had given Rosie the first time they met. He remembered her commenting on how much she liked pink roses and hoped she had been sincere in her statement. As he made his way from the shop, he was surprised to hear someone call his name. He turned and found Edward Vogel.
“Mr. Vogel. How nice to see you again.”
“Mr. Benton.” Vogel smiled. “I’ve been meaning to come see you. I wanted to thank you for giving Rob permission to marry your sister. I know that meant a lot to them both.”
“I appreciated that he would ask. I know I wasn’t overly kind to him when I first met him, but ... well, I guess you could say God’s been changing my heart about a lot of things and people.”
“He has a way of doing that when we give ourselves up to Him.”
“It’s all new to me. My mother, who passed away when I was young, was a Christian, but my father was decidedly not. He had turned me pretty much against religion, but I guess God wanted something more from me.”
Vogel chuckled. “Indeed. I have to say in all my years of following Him, God still manages to surprise me on occasion. I think, however, you’ll find that walking with Him is far better than walking without Him.”
“I feel at a complete loss sometimes. Short of going to church, I really don’t know what else to do.”
“Praying and studying the Bible has helped me most. There’s a group of us men who meet to study God’s Wordon Saturday mornings. We meet at various places. Tomorrow we’ll be at my house. Why don’t you come?”
Colton glanced away. “Truth is, I don’t own a Bible.”
“That’s easy enough to resolve. Come with me.”
Vogel glanced to his right and then left before crossing the road. Across the street was Armstrongs’ Emporium, and that was where he seemed to be headed. Colton had no choice but to follow him.
“I want to buy you a Bible,” Vogel said as they went inside the store. “Armstrongs’ carries a nice selection.”
“You don’t need to do that. I can buy my own.”
Vogel reached the counter where the Bibles were displayed. “I know you can, but I want to do this. You’re soon to be family, and it would be my honor to purchase you your first Bible.”
A clerk came to join them. “How can I help you gentlemen?” she asked.
“I’d like to see that Bible with the black leather binding,” Vogel said. He turned and smiled. “Just wait until you start reading. We’re studying in Luke, and tomorrow we’re ready for the story of the prodigal son. You’ve heard that one before, haven’t you?”
Colton could only smile. “I’ve heard of it. Never read it.”
Vogel nodded and opened the Bible the clerk had handed him. “It’s all right here.”
Rosie had watched Colton and Emma earlier from the upstairs window. She couldn’t hear what they had said, but at least they were talking. She had been thinking about ways to get them to open up to each other, and one thing that came to mind was to give them plenty of time alone.
After Colton left, Rosie watched as Emma spoke withGary. They seemed to measure something out, and after a while Emma finally started back for the house. Rosie hurried downstairs and came into the kitchen just as Emma came in from the mudroom.
“Mrs. Olson,” Emma said, removing her sunbonnet, “Colton and I won’t be here for supper. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more warning. Some business matters have come up, and Colton feels they would best be discussed over supper elsewhere.”
“That’s quite all right. I made a big roast, and it should take you through tomorrow.”
“I’m glad you’re going to dinner with Colton,” Rosie said, trying to think about each word before she spoke. She didn’t want to mess things up by saying the wrong thing. “I hate it when we talk about business at our meals. My father and brothers always did that, and it was so boring for Tommy and me.”
Emma smiled. “I can understand that. I remember a few of those dinners with your father and brothers. We should make a rule to never talk business at the table.”
Rosie nodded, but already she was trying to think of what other encouragement she could offer. “I’m glad you wore your old dress out to the ranch. It’s pretty dirty now. Would you like me to help you clean up?”
“I suppose I do look a sight. It’s probably too late to take a bath and wash my hair.”
Rosie looked at the clock. The hour hand was on four and the minute hand on the six. She smiled. “It’s just four thirty. I can get your bath ready while you gather your things. You’ll feel so much better afterward since it’s been so hot. I can lay out clean clothes for you while you bathe.”
