Page 13 of Colorado Bride

ChapterThree

Saturday, September 11, 1875

The train pulled into the Denver station at four o’clock sharp.Quite a few people were getting off here, but more were staying on headed to Salt Lake City or on to San Francisco for opportunities in work or adventure.

The porter got her trunk and set it on the platform next to her.

“Here you go, Miss Loring.You have a good life here.”

“I will.Thank you, Mr.Harper.I appreciate your assistance during my journey.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Emily got a dollar out of her reticule and handed it to the man.

He took it and raised his hat.

“Thank you, Miss Loring.”

The porter turned and reboarded the train.

She looked up and down the platform.Finally she saw a tall man wearing a black hat and a long beige duster walking toward her with apparent purpose.

“Are you Miss Emily Loring?”

The deep baritone of his voice gave her shivers.She’d never heard such a wonderful sound when someone spoke.

“Yes, I’m Emily Loring.”

He removed his hat.

She saw he had brown hair with lots of gold highlights.She would guess he didn’t always wear his hat in the sunshine.

“I’m Ben Logan.”

“Pleased to meet you Mr.Logan.”She looked up into impossibly blue eyes.They were a darker blue than the sky but not quite sapphire.

“Is this your trunk?Should I be expecting more?”

“Yes, this is mine and no, there are no more.This one trunk is it.”

“Good.”

She raised her eyebrows.

He offered no other explanation, simply lifted the trunk and carried it toward the end of the platform.

“If you’ll come with me we can get something to eat and maybe get to know each other a little better.”

“I’d prefer to get married right away.I came here to get married and that’s what I want to do.If you don’t want to marry me then say so now.Otherwise let’s go see the…judge, I’m assuming since it is Saturday, it won’t be a preacher.Do you know a judge that can marry us today?”

I am determined to get married and my stomach is wracked with knots but I don’t want to wait and have him change his mind.If he’d rather not marry me, I want to know it now, sooner rather than later when perhaps I’ve fallen in love with him.

He cocked an eyebrow and grinned.

“Feisty little thing aren’t you.”

She looked directly at him through narrowed eyes.“There is nothing ‘little’ about me, Mr.Logan.I’m five feet, seven inches tall and, as you can see, I am not rail thin.If that puts you off, I’d like to know now.”