Page 34 of Colorado Bride

They arrived in town in about an hour, after walking the horses the seven miles.

“There’s no point in wearing out the animals just to make a little time.We’ll go see Maggie first and then to the mercantile and the feed store.”

He pulled up in front of an office with a bright blue door.

The door was the same color as the door at the New York office.

After he helped Emily down from the wagon, they walked up to the office and Ben knocked before turning the handle.

“Hi.Maggie.”

A pretty woman with curly fire-red hair sat behind a desk in the back of the room.She appeared to be writing something.She looked up at the sound of the bell over the door.

“Ben.How are you?”

“Maggie, I want you to meet my wife, Emily.We got married a week ago.”

She came forward and grasped Emily’s hand.

“Wonderful.I’m so pleased to meet you.I understand you’re Sally’s friend.”

“Yes.”Emily took her hand, happy to meet Maggie and glad for the friendly welcome.“I hadn’t intended to be a mail-order bride, but Sally practically insisted.She said she knew why she hadn’t found anyone for Ben, that she was waiting for me.Fate she called it.”

“Well, whatever you call it, I’d say she did the right thing,” said Ben.“I’m happy with Emily and I hope she’s happy with me.”

“I am.”

Maggie lifted an eyebrow and cocked her head before looking from Emily to Ben.

“Good, good.Are you ready to take me up on my Sunday dinner offer?”

Ben smiled and turned his gaze to Emily.

“Why, yes.I think we would.What time do you want us there?”

“We usually try to have dinner around one o’clock so if you could be there by noon or twelve-thirty that would be great.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow then.I’m taking Emily to some of our stores so the owners can meet her.”

“Good idea.See you tomorrow.”

“It was nice to meet you, Maggie.”

It will be nice to talk to someone about home.No.This is my home now.I must remember that.New York is not my home.In some ways it never was.I never really had a home, I just lived in other people’s for a while.

“You too, Emily.We’ll visit tomorrow.You’ll have to tell me all about New York.”

“Sure will.”

Ben and Emily left Maggie and Emily wondered if Maggie had noticed Emily’s reticence about her relationship with Ben.She still couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t leave her for someone thinner and she was trying so hard to be a good wife to him.

After they left Matchmaker & Co, they walked to the bank which was just three doors down from Maggie’s business.

“Golden isn’t a very large town is it?”

She felt Ben stiffen.

“It’s big enough for what we need.We don’t need a big city.”