Page 42 of Colorado Bride

“I am.I should probably take my coat.”

He nodded.“Yes, definitely.Never go anywhere in Colorado Territory without a coat.You never know when the weather will change and catch you unawares.”

“How long will it take to get to the Black’s ranch?”

Her words were clipped and she didn’t seem as excited as she was yesterday.

“About an hour.Their place is only about five miles from here.”

“Did your mother give you a hard time when you told her we were going?”

“No.She would have if you weren’t along, but since you’re coming, she doesn’t want to go.Please don’t take this the wrong way, though I don’t know how else you could take it except as she intended, but she’d rather not go anywhere with you since it’s obvious that I prefer your company to hers.”

“You do?I’m glad.I wasn’t too sure lately.”

They stood in the kitchen and Ben got their coats.

“About that, I may have stated my feelings in a poor manner.I had no reason to hurt you and I know I did.But you took me unawares.I didn’t realize that you were having those feelings for me.I don’t want you to fall in love with me.I want us to be friends, but I don’t believe I can give you more than that.”

She put on her gloves and then he helped her with her coat.“I understand.You are allowed to have your beliefs no matter how misguided they are.”

“Misguided?Why do you say that?”

“If we start discussing that now, we’ll never get to the Black’s house.”

“We have an hour to discuss nothing else on the ride there.”

They walked out and he helped her into the buggy.Then he got in beside her, picked up the reins and released the brake.

“Giddy up, now.”

He slapped the reins on the horse’s butts.

“Giddy up.”

After they got out of the ranch yard and onto the road away from Golden toward Boulder, Ben turned toward Emily.

“Now tell me why I’m misguided.”

“Very well.Just because you were hurt by this Melissa person doesn’t mean that every woman will hurt you.I’ll never hurt you if I can help it, just as I know you won’t hurt me on purpose.”

“That’s true.I never meant to hurt you yesterday.I simply stated a fact.”

“As you know it now.I intend to change your opinion so that what you said to me is no longer fact.”

The breeze moved his hair and she reached up and combed it back with her fingers.

Ben smiled.

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“I’m going to wear you down.You can’t help but fall in love with me.”

He laughed but sobered quickly.

“Trust me.That’s not possible.A person doesn’t go through what I did without changing.I changed.”

She put her hand on Ben’s knee.