Emma nodded. “That sounds too good to pass up. “Would that be all right with you, Mrs. Olson? I wouldn’t want us to be in the way since the bathing room is just off the kitchen.”
“It’s perfectly fine. I have everything under control here. I can help Rosie prepare the bathwater.”
Rosie was already headed for the bathroom. She imagined Emma all cleaned and dressed up meeting Colton for supper.
Lord, I want them to be friends again. More than friends, if possible. I never want to lose Emma as my sister, and I want Colton to stay here in Wyoming, like he says he’s going to do, but he might not want to stay if Emma doesn’t like him again. He’s different now, and he wants to know more about You. Please help him.
20
Emma glanced at the clock as it chimed six. She was nervous about going to supper with Colton. So many thoughts went through her mind. She had been praying about the things God would have her do. She knew that Colton cared about her—could believe that he loved her as he said. She was even coming to terms with her own feelings for him. But why hadn’t he just been honest with her? He could have just told her what his brothers wanted him to do.
She thought of his brothers pressuring him to marry her to get back the railroad stocks and other things Tommy had inherited. She had already resolved that the family heirlooms, jewelry, and the railroad stock value would go to Rosie, but she would keep other things. Like Tommy’s investment in a San Francisco shipping firm. He had been so enthusiastic about that particular deal. He had promised Emma they would sail and see the world. The thought of his excitement brought a smile to her face. Maybe someday she would still see the world on one of Tommy’s ships. Maybe after she saw Rosie married and endowed with her inheritance, Emma would just quietly slip away and keep those plans.
A knock sounded on the front door, and Emma drew ina deep breath. She went to the door and opened it. Colton had chosen a navy blue suit and looked quite resplendent. He smiled and tipped his hat before presenting her with a bouquet of pink roses.
“Oh my.” She was taken completely by surprise. This was supposed to be a business meeting, not a courtship. “Thank you.”
She took the bouquet and without thinking drew them to her face to breathe in the sweet scent. She glanced up over the flowers to find Colton watching her in the way he often did. She recognized the passion in his eyes. It caused her breath to catch.
“Let me put these in water.”
“I can do it for you, Emma.” Rosie swept into the foyer and took the bouquet. “Hello, brother.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
Colton smiled and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll have Emma back in a couple of hours.”
A couple of hours? The thought of such a long time in Colton’s company made her knees weaken along with her resolve. What was she supposed to say to him for two hours? They would discuss business of course, but then what?
“Have a wonderful dinner,” Rosie said, giving Emma a side hug. “Try to just relax and enjoy the evening.”
Emma heard her words but felt certain relaxing in Colton’s company would be quite impossible. Especially if he started looking at her with that same impassioned gaze.
“I hope you don’t mind if we walk. I was going to rent a buggy, but it’s such a beautiful night, and the restaurant is just a few blocks away.”
“Walking is fine with me.” Emma checked to make sure her hat was straight, then drew on her gloves. “Let’s be on our way.”
She moved out the door past Colton, not even botheringto wait for him as she made her way down the walk. She felt her breath quicken and did her best to calm her anxious mind. It was just one dinner. One evening.
“You look beautiful in that green gown. I’m so glad to see you’ve stopped wearing mourning. Tommy would have hated for you to wear black.”
“I know. I thought of that every time I donned it. He would have shredded all those gowns and told me to dress in all the beautiful clothes he bought me for my trousseau. Keeping that in mind, I decided to put mourning aside.”
“I’m glad.” He sighed, and Emma took it as a sign of sorrow.
“I know you miss him.” Emma didn’t so much as glance at Colton. “Tommy said you were the only one who ever bothered to spend time with him, especially once you became adults. Tommy said at times you were the best of friends. That must have been hard to lose.”
“It was. Finalizing the railroad business today only served to remind me of him. I also thought a lot about things you have said in the past about our father’s hard work to leave this legacy.”
“Yet you’re certain selling is the right thing to do?”
Colton offered her his arm as they crossed the street. Emma took hold of him and waited for him to answer. After half a block, he did.
“I feel confident it’s the right thing to do. There are things going on in the economy that give me pause. I’ve heard of more than a half dozen small railroads going bankrupt, and it concerns me that such a thing could come our way as the large railroads become stronger and stronger. None of us wanted to be railroad barons, nor to be steeped in the upkeep and regulations. The sale will provide much-needed income for the projects that Walter and Ernest feel compelled to accomplish and will make you a very wealthy woman.”
“I’m already a wealthy woman. I have no great needs. When the sale is done, I shall have that money put into a separate account until I decide what I want to do with it.”
“You should invest it as soon as possible so that you can continue to have a flow of income. I can share with you several investments of which I intend to take advantage.”
“Thank you. I’m sure that will be helpful. One thing I’m certain of is that I want to contribute to the church’s building fund. I want to make a substantial contribution, in fact. I was meaning to speak to you about it.”
