Page 17 of Colorado Bride

“Yes.”

He reached in his pocket and took out a plain gold band.

“Repeat after me.With this ring, I thee wed.”

“With this ring, I thee wed.”

He put the ring on the third finger of Emily’s left hand.

I’m married.Really and truly married to a man more handsome than I deserve.Sally said she rarely gets the matches wrong.I hope she’s right this time, too.

“Good.Now by the powers vested in me by the Colorado Territory and the City of Denver, I pronounce you man and wife.You may kiss the bride.”

Ben smiled, turned to Emily, cradled her face in his palms and kissed her.Really kissed her.When he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, she gasped and he entered, plundered her untrained mouth.When he pulled back he had a big smile on his face.

“You’ll do, Emily Logan.You’ll definitely do.”

Emily, dazed, stood there for a moment and watched Ben whose grin spread wide across his face.Compared to that kiss, she might as well have never been kissed before.

She finally got her wits about her, cocked her eyebrow and looked up at her new husband.

“I think you’ll do, too.”

Ben chuckled, followed by Hank.Soon everyone was laughing at her saucy retort.

“Thanks, Hank.I appreciate you doing this for us.”

Ben handed Hank an eagle gold piece.

“That’s too much money, Ben.”

“Consider it a tip for being available without an appointment.I’m very grateful.”

Her husband was very kind.She doubted the judge was used to such generosity.

The judge put the ten dollar coin in his pocket.

“Glad I could help.Are you headed back to the ranch?”asked the judge.

“Yes, the trip will take us a while with the buckboard so Emily and I can get better acquainted.”

“Is your ranch out of town?”asked Emily, thinking she probably should have asked this before.

“About fifteen miles from here.It’s in between Golden and Boulder, closer to Golden.Driving the wagon will take longer than in a buggy or on horseback, but we should still be home in about three hours, around eight o’clock.That includes time for a supper break and feeding and watering the horses.We cross a river about half way, we’ll take our meal there.”

“Did you bring food with you?”asked Emily.Her stomach was still full of butterflies and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep anything down.

“No, but I ordered a basket to be made at my favorite restaurant, Mother Mary’s Cafe.We’ll stop there on our way out of town.We’re also stopping at the feed store for grain for the animals.”

After the stops Ben needed to make, they didn’t get on their way home until about five-thirty.

“We’ll be a little later than I thought we’d be, so we’ll have to cut our stay for supper a little shorter than I planned.”

“That’s all right.I’m really not in a big hurry.”She looked away so he wouldn’t see her blush but she wasn’t quick enough and heard his quiet chuckle.

“Emily.”

She kept her head averted.