Page 81 of Colorado Bride

Jane took Ben’s coat from him.

“Everyone, give me your coats.I’ll put them on the sofa in Curt’s office.You all have a seat in the parlor.Dinner won’t be ready for an hour, so we can visit for a while.”

She gathered their coats and disappeared down the hall from the parlor.

Curt extended his hand to Emily.

“Come, sit.I’m pleased to meet you Emily.”

He nodded at Rory.

“Good to see you, Rory.Haven’t seen you lookin’ this good in years.”

“I’ve got a home and family now.I intend to pull my weight and be a full partner in this family, too.”

Curt cocked his head and smiled.

“I believe you will.Come in, everyone.Sit down.”

The parlor was not large, was in fact what Emily would call cozy.A sofa and two overstuffed chairs sat in a semi-circle in front of the fireplace.In front of the green floral damask sofa, was a coffee table made from a light colored wood.The chairs were covered in the same sturdy green damask material as the sofa.

The wall opposite the door had a large window.The wall across from the fireplace held bookshelves.

Emily stood looking at Henry and smiled.He was trying to walk and did well holding his daddy’s hands.

“Would you like to hold him?”asked Ben.

“Oh, yes.I haven’t had a baby in my arms since Anne a couple of weeks ago and that is much too long.”

“What made you decide to become a mail-order bride?”asked Curt.The he held up a hand.“You better wait until Jane returns to answer that question.”

“I’m back, she can answer now.”

“I lost my job and my friend works for Maggie Black.She said I was just the person that Ben needed, that I had more patience than anyone she knew.But even I don’t have enough to deal with Doris.I’d need the patience of Job for that.”

Jane laughed.“I gave up caring what Mother did when she refused to allow me to marry Curt.As you can see I married him anyway.I was of legal age and didn’t need her permission.I was just trying to be nice and include her.Never again.”

“I gave up when she tried to kill me.”

“That’s right, Ben mentioned that on the way in.Tell me everything.”

“She went after Emily with a knife,” said Ben.“The situation is bad Jane.I can’t leave Emily and Mother alone together for fear Mother will try and kill her again.She’s gotten some fixation on me.Doesn’t want to share me with anyone else.I don’t know what to do about it.”

Jane frowned.

“Send her away.You can’t have her trying to kill your wife.”

“Rory or I have to be there all the time now, just to make sure she behaves.”

Jane sat on the sofa next to Emily and put her hand on Emily’s knee.

“I’m so very sorry you have to deal with her.I think she lost her mind some time ago.Even before Daddy died.”

Ben perched on the arm of the sofa, next to Emily.

“You never mentioned that.”

“I figured you saw the same thing I did.She was starting to go when we were kids.But when she found out about Ava, Rory’s mother, she fell completely apart.There was no dealing with her until after Dad died.Then she got better.”