Page 4 of Colorado Bride

He grinned and handed the baby half of a biscuit.

“I could always have Mother come live with you.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“What did I ever do to you?”

“You got married and escaped.”

She laughed.

“Well, there is that.”

He’d had a nice time at Jane’s.Talking things over with his sister was what he needed in order to clarify them in his mind.They were close, having only each other growing up.Being raised on the same ranch he and Jane inherited from their father and neighbors being so far away, they’d only had each other for companionship.

Now, she was still his best friend and most trusted confidant.Since talking to her he’d only become more certain that the correct path for him was a mail-order bride.

She lived on the south side of Golden City and he lived on the north, so they didn’t see each other that often unless Ben took his mother to church on Sundays.Generally he’d rather work than have to deal with his mother in the close confines of a buggy.

He loved this country with the mountains to the west and vast expanses of grassland and farm country everywhere else.It was August, so the grasses were brown, but the fields were still dotted with wild flowers despite this being one of the driest months.He looked up at the sky so blue it could only be God’s country.How could anyone prefer the city to this?

Ben rode into the barn and cared for his horse Apollo.Jane had been reading Greek and Roman myths at the time the foal was born and was enthralled with the names of the gods.She’s the one who named him Apollo.Ben thought about changing his name when the horse became his, but couldn’t hurt his sister’s feelings.He smiled whenever he thought about his horse’s name.

Darkness had settled over the Rockies by the time he walked up to the house.Hopefully his mother was in her room by now.He had no wish to explain why he went to Jane’s without her.

“Ben?Benjamin!”

Doris Logan called from the living room.

Ben hung his coat on the coat tree in the cubby at the bottom of the stairs and went to talk to his mother.

“Why aren’t you in bed, Mother?”

“I waited up to talk to you.There are leftovers if you’re hungry.”

“No thanks.I ate.”

Frowning, she looked at the clock on the mantle.“Where have you been that you would be coming home this late?It’s nearly nine o’clock.”

“I stopped by Jane’s after I finished in town.She fed me supper and we talked.”

“Talked about what?”

He sighed.He had no hope of getting around telling her.She’d have to know sooner or later, he just thought he’d be able to wait for a while.

“You know brother and sister stuff.”

“Like what?”

Ben ran his hands through his hair.She wasn’t giving up.

“If you must know we talked about me getting married.”

His mother put her book in her lap.She smiled up at him unmindful of the few absent teeth, her pale blue eyes still sharp, missing nothing.Her hair, no longer dark brown as his and Jane’s but a cold, steel gray was usually pulled back in a severe bun at the nape of her neck, but tonight she’d braided the long length and the plait laid over her left shoulder falling nearly to her waist.

“Finally taking my advice and getting Melissa to come back.”

If she wasn’t his mother he’d throttle her.