Page 82 of Colorado Bride

“Why did you never mention this?I never really paid that much attention to Mother, I was always working, trying to keep the ranch going.”

Rory sat in one of the arm chairs on the same end of the sofa as Ben and Emily.Curt sat in the other arm chair.

Rory leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees, letting his hands dangle between them.“That’s when it got worse for Mom and me.But now at least I know why and I can understand how she must have felt.”

Ben looked over at Rory.

“Thank you for saying that.But I don’t forgive her for what she did.When the spring thaw comes, I’ll build her a house where she can be by herself, a place where she can’t harm anyone.”

“I think you’re making a mistake, Ben,” said Jane.“If she’s become homicidal she needs to be put in a facility that can deal with that kind of disorder.”

“There is no place in Colorado like that.I checked.”

“I’ve heard they have one in Illinois, just outside Chicago.”

“What?Why have you been looking for asylums?”

Jane tilted her head a little.

“Look, big brother.Mother has been…odd…for some time.This fixation she has on you and berating you into taking Melissa back, these are not the things a sane woman would do.And now trying to kill Emily, you have got to do something.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face.“You think I don’t know that?The separate house is the only solution possible at this time.But I’ll consider shipping her to that facility in Illinois.”

“What about sending her to live with Aunt Myrtle or Uncle Earl in Pueblo?”

Ben perked up a bit.

“Do you think they might take her?If she’s not around me, maybe her fixation would stop.”

“I think you’d better send a wire right away.”

“Right.First thing tomorrow.I knew coming here would be good.”

He put his arm around Emily’s shoulder.

“Jane has always had a good head on her shoulders.”

Curt grinned at those words.

“I should say so.She married me didn’t she?”

Everybody laughed.

Jane stood.

“I think dinner is probably ready.Shall we go eat?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Ben.“I have quite the appetite, now that we have a plan to deal with Mother.”

Emily decided to say what was bothering her.“What if your aunt and uncle both refuse to take her?What then?We’re back to the separate house, but when will Ben have the time to build it?And who will watch Doris to make sure she stays inside it?You’ll have to hire a companion to manage her.”

No one said anything to those words, knowing she was right.