Page 2 of Colorado Bride

Ben hadn’t seen her and didn’t want to.Everyone seemed to understand that except his mother.She kept pushing him to make up with Melissa and convince her to marry him again.Why she was so adamant about Melissa, he had no idea, but she was determined that he marry the witch.

Times like this were when he missed his father most.He’d been gone for nearly ten years now.Joseph was always able to handle Doris.Ben had promised his father on his dying bed that Ben would take care of Doris.He felt sorry for his mother and tried to accommodate her whenever he could.She was a bitter, angry woman, having found out her husband was cheating on her, though he couldn’t fault his father, living with Doris was enough to drive a man to drink or worse…find solace elsewhere.

But Doris kept after Ben, which was why he escaped to Jane’s house whenever possible.

There was no way he would ever marry Melissa.A city girl was she?Well he was smart enough to know that he wasn’t marrying any city girl.Ever.

Saturday, August 7, 1875

Ben loved his niece and nephew.He didn’t mind playing dolls with little three-year-old Jenny and was more than happy to hold six-month-old Henry while Jane prepared dinner.

Jane looked up from the stove where she stirred gravy to accompany the roast sitting on the counter.She could have been Ben’s twin.She had the same sable brown hair and blue eyes, though her hair lacked the golden streaks he’d gained working outside in the sun busting broncs for the army or putting up fence around the perimeter of the 1000 acres he and Jane had inherited when their father died.He and Jane both took after their mother.His father had blond hair which had turned beautiful silver as he grew older.

When she wore an apron over her blue dress like she was now, she reminded him of their mother.He’d never tell her that though, she would think it the greatest insult.

“Why have you been so quiet today?”

Ben set down the coffee cup he’d just drank from out of Henry’s reach.The baby tried to get it anyway and pounded the palms of his hands on the table in excitement.

“Just thinking how much I envy you and Curt.You have this beautiful family, a successful ranch and I find myself more and more wanting the same thing.I’ve got the ranch, now I just need the wife and kids.”

“Lots of women in town would love to marry you.Melissa just wasn’t one of them.You shouldn’t let that stop you from finding happiness.”

Ignorant, uneducated.Her words run through my mind.I need to get rid of her.It’s time I married.

He handed Henry a spoon and let him pound on the table with it.“Six months have passed and I haven’t found anyone suitable.Besides, I don’t want someone who marries me out of pity.I think I’ll talk to Maggie Black.”

Jane came to the table and took the metal spoon away from her son and gave him a wooden spoon instead.

“It’s quieter,” she said, pointing at the spoon.“A mail-order bride?Why?We have women here?”

“I don’t want to have to do the courting.It doesn’t work anyway, so why bother.I want to just get married and be done with it.”

She lifted her eyebrows and rolled her eyes.

“How romantic.”

Ben grimaced at the sarcasm that dripped from his sister’s mouth.

“I don’t want another Melissa.I don’t want to have to bring gifts every time I see her.I don’t want to have to take her to the opera.I hate opera.Is that too much to ask?”

“Of course, not.But don’t let what she did color your perception of all women.There are many, many good women both here and out in the rest of the world.”She turned back to the gravy and began stirring in earnest.

“I know that.I want one who doesn’t know me or Melissa or anyone here.I want to start fresh.”

“Then I guess you’re right and you should go see Maggie.She’s done very well with the matches she’s made here.Just look at the Atwoods and the Ravenclaws, not to mention Caleb and Maggie themselves.”

Taking the skillet she’d been working with from the stove, she emptied its contents into the gravy boat on the counter.

“I know.That’s why I thought of going through her.”

“Well, whatever you do, don’t tell Mother.You know she still thinks that you and Melissa will get back together.”

His muscles tensed.“Over my dead body.”

“I know and remember you have my baby in your arms.Don’t get too…emotional.”

“I’m careful.Henry loves me.”He held the baby aloft and jiggled him.“Don’t you, Henry?You love Uncle Ben.”