Page 47 of Colorado Bride

After Anne finished nursing, Maggie handed the baby and the diaper she’d used to cover herself, to Emily.

“Burp her for me will you?”

“Of course.She put the diaper that Maggie had used to cover herself with, on her shoulder followed by the baby and patted her back.Anne dutifully spit up but did it quickly, and then she was a happy baby.

“She needs her diaper changed, too.Do you want to do that?”

Emily was no dummy.“I think I’ll pass on that one.”

Maggie quickly changed the baby’s diaper and handed Anne back to Emily.Together they walked back to the living room where the men were.Francesca was cleaning up the kitchen.

“Would anyone like some coffee?”asked Maggie.

“No, thank you,” said Ben.“I’m stuffed to the gills.”

“Me, too,” said Emily, though she could have eaten some of the blueberry cobbler that everyone but her husband was helping to devour.

Ben was sitting at the table fidgeting in his chair.He seemed, to Emily, anxious to leave.

Twenty minutes later they were in the buggy, had said thank you and goodbye and were on their way home.

“I had a good talk with Caleb.”

“I had a good one with Maggie.”

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier.I shouldn’t be so closed.Although I still don’t believe falling in love will happen.”

She didn’t like hearing that he still didn’t belief love was possible.“I’m sorry for pushing you.I should let it happen…or not.”

“Thank you.”

Emily closed her eyes and nodded.Sadness filled her, but she wouldn’t push him again.If what she was feeling was lust, as Maggie claimed, or love as she believed, she’d just let the feeling be, let the love be.

Friday, November 12, 1875

Two months had passed since they married, and Emily was determined not to mention love again, but every time she thought of Ben not loving her, her heart broke.She had to find a way to get him to understand that what they had was more than lust.Especially now that she was expecting.She was sure but wanted the doctor to confirm it before she told Ben.

The weather was unusually warm for November 12thbut she always took her sheepskin coat with her.She hardly ever wore her black wool coat any more.Just for special occasions.

She told Ben she wanted to go see Maggie, but actually took the buggy into Golden and to Dr.Martin’s office, not Maggie’s.

“Well, Mrs.Logan, I wondered how long it would be before I saw you.I usually see the newly wedded women fairly quickly.”

“Hi, Dr.Martin, I’ve missed two menses, so I’m pretty sure I’m expecting, but want to be certain.”

“Have you always been regular in your cycle?”

“Yes, sir.Never missed one before.”

“Well, I’d say you can be fairly certain, but I’ll examine you nonetheless.”

Half an hour later, she walked out of the doctor’s office with a dazed smile.She was most certainly pregnant.Probably got that way on her wedding night.Now she couldn’t wait to get home to tell Ben.

“Well if it isn’t the new Mrs.Logan.”

The feminine voice came from the tall brunette she knew as Melissa Mills, who walked up to Emily as she approached the mercantile.

“Miss Mills.”I will not let this woman ruin my day.