“Emma’s cook. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m sweltering and would like a bath.”
“You can’t leave us without telling us whether or not you married Emma.” Ernest looked at Colton with narrowed eyes. “This is most important.”
“Why? If I had married her, the money and stocks would be mine, not yours.”
“You know why it’s important. There is more to do with it than just money and stocks. There are other investments that Tommy inherited.”
“Furniture and jewelry, as well,” Walter added.
“Not to mention paintings and other art pieces.” Ernest was starting to sound angry. “We have a right to know what’s going on.”
“Nothing is going on. I did not marry Emma, although I plan to. Certainly not for the reasons you would like, but for real and true love. The money is in her account, and her share of the Union Pacific stocks are in her safekeeping. I intend to sign a prenuptial contract that will allow her to keep whatever she has prior to our marriage.”
“But that money should have come to the three of us,” Walter insisted. “That’s why we sent you to Cheyenne.”
“You didn’t send me, Walter. I went of my own desire to oversee the safety of Emma and Rosie. Your interference and scheming in all of this nearly caused me to lose the woman I’ve loved since Tommy first brought her into this house.”
Ernest chuckled. “That’s a marvelous scheme. I suppose you told Emma that and delighted her with hours of conversation about how you pined away for her even as she planned to marry our brother.”
“That is quite the perfect game, I must say. You no doubt had her panting after you.” Walter grinned in such a way that ended any patience Colton might have shown him.
“The truth is that I care deeply about Emma and am very much in love with her. I won’t have you speaking ill of her, nor suggesting anything untoward. You have your money and stocks and should go. I will be in Dallas only long enough to arrange the packing and shipping of Tommy’s, or rather Emma’s things, as well as my own. Oh, and the sale of this house. You might recall I’ve already paid you for your share of the place, so there is nothing you will gain by the sale. I plan to arrange for my other business dealings as well, some of which will benefit you. So I advise you to stay on my good side. Once this is completed, I will return to Cheyenne, where I intend to make my home until my death.”
He looked at them both, feeling rather satisfied at their shocked expressions. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“But you cannot just walk away,” Walter said. “We wanted you to come in on several projects with us.”
“That may well be, but I’m not at all interested.”
“But you haven’t even heard what they are,” his brother protested.
Colton shrugged. “My values in life have changed. I’ve made my peace with God, as our mother used to encourage us to do. I, in turn, encourage you to follow my example and explore that path for yourself. I have never known such peace and satisfaction as I’ve experienced in turning to God rather than my own devices.”
“You can’t be serious.” Ernest looked at him with great disdain. “Religious nonsense has no room in the life of a businessman. Let the women in our lives seek solace in such things.”
“Church is a social obligation,” Walter offered. “Nothing more.”
Colton had no interest in arguing the matter. “All I can say is that seeking God has given me great peace of heart and happiness. I hope you’ll give it a try for yourselves because, frankly, I’ve never known two more miserable beings than you.”
22
Fourth of July was usually the grandest of celebrations in Cheyenne. Not only because they celebrated America’s independence from England, but because this was the day the Union Pacific rolled into the area and started the city’s existence. The official date of the town’s incorporation was in August, but a great many folks still celebrated on the Fourth of July. This year, however, the big regional Firemen’s Tournament was being hosted by Cheyenne, and people from all over the territory as well as the states of Colorado and Nebraska had turned out.
The town citizens had been encouraged to decorate their houses and businesses in grand style using streamers and banners, preferably of a patriotic or celebratory fashion. Emma and Rosie had done up the front of their house with red, white, and blue banners and hung Chinese lanterns from the lower branches of the entryway pines.
There were multiple celebrations set up for both days, with the second day hosting the Union Pacific’s cornerstone laying ceremony and a grand parade. Having read the morning paper, Emma had to chuckle at the instructions for all the various people who were to march. It would be a wonderif there was anyone left to watch the parade. The line was to start with the United States soldiers, then the Wyoming Militia, followed by the Cheyenne fire department, and then the visiting fire departments. The list went on and on with civic leaders and state officials included, as well as civic organizations and citizens of Cheyenne.
Emma was glad to read that the parade would take form on the west side of town rather than the east, near her neighborhood. But that was tomorrow. Today was entirely different, and she needed to hurry in order to make it to where the church ladies were setting up the bake sale.
At exactly nine o’clock, Emma, Rosie, and Mrs. Olson stood ready and waiting as the bake sale was officially opened. Crowds were already swarming the streets, and lines had formed with eager firemen and cowboys all focused on buying homemade treats.
Emma helped the other women of the Methodist church to man some ten tables. Children had been commissioned to restock empty places with goods that had been secured in nearby wagons. It had actually been necessary to have a few of their men stand guard to keep less honorable folk from stealing goods right out of the wagons.
Someone counted over three hundred dozen cookies, fifty loaves of bread, and just as many pies and cakes, along with other goodies. And true to every other year, the entire array of foods was bringing some men close to fighting in order to claim their prizes.
“Did you make these cookies, pretty gal?” an older firemen from somewhere in Colorado asked Emma as he handed her his money. His bright blue uniform with gold braid trim suggested he held a position of great importance.
“I helped in making several things here, and I know that you’ll be happy with whatever you choose.”
