Page 24 of Colorado Bride

“No.Actually no one does anymore.My father and sister were the ones who played.He was a man of many talents and infinite patience.To this day I don’t know how or why he put up with my mother.”

“Would you mind if I played the piano?I haven’t been able to play for many years.Not since I left the orphanage.”

“Of course, you can.Having music in the house again will be nice.To continue with our tour…” He put her arm through the crook of his elbow.“Across the hall from here is my study.The only time I’m in there is when I’m doing the books for the ranch or trying to avoid my mother.Let’s head upstairs.”

“All right.”The house is bigger than I thought it would be, though it’s still smaller than the homes I was a governess in.I think I’ll like it here very much.

At the top of the stairs was a long hall with two doors on each side and one at the end.

He waved his hand to take in all the rooms along the hall.

“Most of these rooms are empty.My mother moved out of the master bedroom when I was supposed to marry Melissa.She said it was only right that the master of the house have the master bedroom.She’s now in the room here at the top of the stairs on the right.Our bedroom is the one at the other end of the hall.These other three rooms we hopefully will fill with children.”

She lowered her gaze.“I hope so, too.”

He opened the door to their bedroom and before she could step in he scooped her into his arms.

“The husband is supposed to carry the wife over the threshold.”

She pushed against his hold.

“Put me down.I’m too heavy for you to be picking up like this.”

“Did you hear me complain?Or strain?You’re not too heavy.You’re just the way I like you.Soft and curvy, like a woman should be.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck feeling happier than she had for some time.He liked her just the way she was.

Ben set her down just inside the door, but he didn’t release her.Instead he turned her so she faced him and lowered his head, melding his lips with hers.When he broke the kiss, he smiled.

“I sure do like the way you kiss.”

“You should and I’m glad.”

She turned in his arms and faced the room.

He kept his arms around her waist.

She saw a large wooden framed bed.Bigger than any bed she’d ever seen, she could picture Ben stretching out in it, even at his height which had to be over six feet.She was five feet seven inches.Not a short person by any means and yet he could rest his chin on top of her head.

On either side of the bed was a nightstand.The rest of the furniture in the room consisted of a tall chest of drawers, a six-drawer bureau, and a rocking chair.Seeming totally out of place was a beautiful Oriental folding screen and a full-length cheval mirror that she could see them in.

“Where on earth did you get that beautiful screen?”

“Ordered it from San Francisco.Mother said Melissa would want it.If you don’t like it we’ll put it in another room.Right now I keep the chamber pot behind it.”

“No.That’s perfect.I love it.I’ll use it for changing behind.”

“Whoa.”He turned her in his arms.“Why do you need something to change behind?”

“Well, I…I…thought for modesty’s sake…”

“No.You won’t need the screen for that.I intend for us to become quite familiar with each other and that means no hiding behind screens.I want to see you as you undress.Heck, I want tohelpyou.”

He waggled his eyebrows.

Emily burst into giggles.This man she married had quite the sense of humor.

“I’ll go get your trunk.You can wait to unpack until tomorrow.”