Page 73 of Colorado Bride

“I pretty much know where everything is.I’ve been watching the ranch for a lot of years now.”

Ben laughed.

“I suppose you have but seeing it from afar is different than seeing it up close and as something that is part yours.When you belong to a place, the feeling is different.”

“All right, let’s go.”

Emily stood and cleared the dishes from the table.Ben stopped her progress to the sink in mid-kitchen and gave her a kiss.

“Hmpft,” said Doris as she re-entered the kitchen.

Ben sighed and shook his head.

Rory smiled.

“I’m glad you found someone you can love.”

Ben’s body became stiff and he stepped away from Emily.

“Let’s go.”

He walked out the kitchen door and Rory followed.

Poor Rory, he doesn’t even know what he did.Ben still doesn’t believe he loves me, but Rory seemed to see something between Ben and me.Could it be love?Would I even know Ben’s love if I saw it?”

Doris turned to face Emily as she put the dishes into the sink.

“You dare to bring that whelp into my house.”

“First, this is not your house.Your husband made sure of that.Second, Rory is Ben’s brother and he’s entitled to part of the J Bar L as his birthright.Third, don’t even think to threaten me inmyhouse.That’s right.My,” she pointed at her chest.“house and don’t you forget it.”

Doris’s face drained of color for a moment and then turned red with anger.

“I’ll not have it.I don’t care what Ben says, this is my house.Mine.And you two won’t bring that…that…bastard…into my house, much less let him live in it.”

“Who will stop us?”She put her hands on her hips.“You?Doris, don’t you understand?You live here by my leave.If you continue with this attitude, I’ll have no choice but to have you moved to the barn.Ben can make you a nice room there.I won’t have this anger and hate around my baby.”

“You can’t stop me.Not you,” she pointed at Emily.“Nor that baby you carry will keep my Joseph from me.”

Emily’s eyes widened.

“His name is Ben.”

“What?”

Doris blinked her eyes and shook her head.

“What?”she repeated.

Emily had a creepy feeling about Doris’s slip, but just shook her head.“Nothing.”

Doris thought Ben was her dead husband Joseph.Who does that make me?