Chapter 18

Boulder…

When Nick arrived at the ranch the next afternoon, he found Emma sitting on the porch drinking lemonade. She smiled as he came and sat down next to her and took the offered glass she held out to him.

"Well, you are a lady of leisure!" he said jokingly.

"Mama won't let me do anything today. I guess she is just trying to make up for not noticing things earlier." This was said with a bit of sadness. Nick set down his glass and took her hand. She didn't look up at him but kept her eyes on their fingers that were intertwined.

"What are you thinking?" Nick asked.

"Just wondering what will happen now. With the ranch and..." her voice trailed off. She didn't want to appear forward, but her experience with David had her second guessing everything.

"With us?" Nick finished for her.

Emma nodded, still not looking at him. Her mind kept going back to the kiss they shared after the picnic and part of her wanted him to kiss her like that again. When she had been in his embrace, she felt safe and secure for the first time she could remember. She knew about what happened between a man and woman. Her mother had talked to her about it years ago. And living out on her own, she had seen plenty. But she had never experienced it firsthand and was naturally curious. David had taken liberty with her kisses and had been rough. But Nick had been gentle, and it piqued her curiosity.

Nick was watching her face as she was looking down. She seemed intent on something and he wasn't sure what she was thinking. He stood up and held his hand out to her.

"How about a ride?" he asked. His horse was saddled and waiting already so while Emma went in to tell her mother where they were going, Nick took care of Emma's horse. This horse was older, probably had seen better days and wouldn't last a whole lot longer. A plan began forming in Nick's mind but before he could work out details Emma was back.

They found themselves riding toward the pond. It seemed to be a favorite spot for them. They sat watching the water enjoying being together. Finally, Emma spoke, her words coming softly at first, Nick straining to hear them. Emma told Nick the things David had said to her over and over. How he would tell her she couldn't do anything right and needed some strong man to show her how to do everything. He said she had lived on her own for too long and was too stupid to know how to live as a real woman. If she was going to be a banker's wife, she would need to know how to dress and act appropriately. At first what he said made her angry and she would ignore him. But hearing it so often, she began to believe him and started losing confidence in herself.

"I worked my way from Colorado to California starting when I was 17. I worked almost every position on a ranch there is. And now because of the words of one man, I find myself second guessing everything in my life."

"Emma, David needed to feel important and the only way he could do that was to make you feel like you weren't good enough. Don't let him win. Trust in yourself."

"I can't Nick. And I have to wonder why you even want to spend time with me now. I'm not the same girl that you taught to dance last year."

Nick drew Emma into his harms whispering loving words in her ears.

"I know who I am in love with Emma. It's you. I don't want to change anything about you. I just want you to feel free to be who you are."

Emma looked up at him, drawing strength from his arms as they circled her.

They heard a horse coming and turned to see Sam. He pulled up and smiled at his sister and Nick.

"Thought I might find you two here. Sheriff Phillips is at the house. He needs to see you, Emma."

After delivering his message, Sam rode off. Emma and Nick mounted their horses and returned to the house. Sheriff Phillips was drinking a cup of coffee and eating some of Mary's sugar cookies while he waited for Emma and Nick. The couple walked in and noticed Carl was there as well. They all sat at the table, waiting for the Sheriff to tell his news.

"Before I could ride out last night to see David Myers, Peter Smith, the bank president, came to see me and said they've been doing some checking on David. Apparently, he's been making some other 'special deals' with a few of the other customers. They discovered a special account he had set up to allow him to deposit the money from his extra activity and he also was helping himself to some of the bank's money as well. When I got to his house, his parents said they hadn't seen him since that afternoon. He came in and packed a few things. Said he was going out on business."

"So, you have no idea where he is?" Carl asked. Mary reached over and touched his arm. He grabbed her hand and held on to it.

"No."

"And he'll not answer for any of his crimes." This was from Emma.

"There's a warrant out for his arrest for assault on you should he ever show his face here again. I doubt he will. I'll wire some of the neighboring towns about him, but he's probably long gone." The sheriff said this with confidence, but the others around the table didn't share it. Sheriff Phillips left a short time later.

Nick stayed and ate supper with the family. They all enjoyed the evening of checkers and conversation. Later that night, Emma walked Nick out to the barn and watched as he saddled his horse. They talked easily and when Nick was ready to go, he pulled Emma to himself. He kissed her on her brow as he had the night before. He said he would see her the next day and was off.

Stockton…

"So, Nick is buying a ranch in Colorado?" Sarah asked as she was dressing seven-month-old Tori for bedtime. The pudgy baby was all smiles having just been fed and changed. Jarrod was filling Sarah in on the telegrams he had received.

"Said it was a good investment."

"He's not staying out there is he?" Sarah asked, her eyes wide with concern.

Jarrod hadn't considered this but shook his head. "I can't imagine him not returning here. Separating Nick and Heath would be like asking a mother to give up her newborn baby."

Sarah smiled and the look in her eyes made Jarrod wonder what she was thinking. He decided he would ask her.

"Just thinking it was interesting you would use the analogy of a mother and her newborn."

"Oh? Why is that?" Jarrod smiled at his wife, hoping he was understanding what she was saying.

"Just that Tori will be a big sister next January."

Jarrod reached out and held his wife. He thought she had been acting strange lately but couldn't put his finger on what it was. He kissed her passionately only breaking away when he heard Tori's cooing. Jarrod picked up his daughter and held her close.

"Did you hear that, Tori? You're going to be a big sister!" Tori smiled at her father though she had no idea what he was talking about. Sarah watched with delight, placing a hand on her still flat stomach. She couldn't wait to meet this new little one.

Boulder…

Nick had received the bank draft and he and Carl were on their way to the bank. Nick was going to have Jarrod draw up the official papers later, but for now, Carl and Nick would go on a gentleman's agreement as to the details. Because of what had happened with David Myers, the bank president handled the transaction himself. He apologized again for David's actions concerning the loan. Carl thanked him and he and Nick walked out of the bank. They exited and walked toward the hotel to eat lunch. Carl needed to stop off at the post office first and came out with a small stack of mail. He didn't sort through it but put it in his pocket and enjoyed his time with Nick. The men got along well and always found something to talk about. Mostly their conversation centered on cattle and the ranch, though the conversation did steer toward the women in their lives.

"I'm still in awe that Emma would go to such lengths to protect us from losing the ranch," Carl said as he drank his coffee.

"Why?" Nick asked.

"When Emma left home, things weren't that great between us. I think she felt threatened that I was trying to take her father's place. I had no such intentions, though I would have gladly stepped in. I love her and Mary so much. It was like love at first sight for me." Carl smiled at the memory.

"I don't know what changed. Maybe she just grew up and realized I just wanted to make her ma happy."

"You two seem close now," Nick commented.

"Yeah, and just when I've gained a daughter, looks like I'll lose her again."

Nick looked up, not fully understanding Carl's meaning. He had told the older man he wasn't going to ask Emma to marry him until he was sure Emma was ready. That could be months away.

"Nick, Mary and I were talking last night. When you leave for Stockton, we want you to take Emma with you. She's lost some of her spirit because of what David did to her. We think she can find it again with you on the Barkley Ranch. Plus, if you're going to court her, it would help to be in the same state."

"Carl, I-"

"Just think about it. If she adamantly refuses, we'll drop it. But I don't think she will. Besides, I've got Sam to help until the Fall and maybe if I can convince my partner to help, we can hire a few hands."

Nick smiled. He would like nothing better than to have Emma at his side when he returned to Stockton. His mind drifted off to something special he wanted to do for Emma and Carl seemed to be the one to ask. When Nick mentioned his idea to Carl, he smiled broadly and told Nick all he could. Nick sincerely thanked him, and the two men exited the hotel and began their trek back to the ranch.

"I've got to make a quick trip to Denver. I'll be leaving on the morning stage."

Nick's words brought Emma's head up in surprise. Carl, Mary, and Sam had turned in for the night, leaving Nick and Emma in the small parlor. They had been talking for over an hour when Nick shared his news.

"How long will you be gone?" she asked. Nick was scheduled to leave for Stockton at the end of the next week and she wanted to spend all the time she could with him.

"Just a few days. Needed to check out some stock there."

Emma wondered why he couldn't do it on his way back through since he needed to catch the train there anyway but didn't question him. Nick could see she was bothered but was glad she didn't press further.

"I wanted to ask you a question Emma. Please don't think I'm putting any pressure on you."

Emma's eyes showed her trust for Nick and he took that as a good sign.

"I was wondering if you would come back to Stockton with me when I leave next week. Seems we need to be in the same state if we're going to get to know one another better," borrowing Carl's phrase from earlier that day.

Emma looked away. She had been wanting to go back to the Barkley Ranch with Nick but wasn't sure if it would be wise. Plus, she was sure Carl would still need her help here.

"What about Carl? He's still not one hundred percent."

"He's got Sam."

"Only until the Fall. Then Sam goes back to school."

"Then we'll work it out for Carl to hire some hands. If you have a ranch, you gotta have ranch hands." Nick said this with a smile.

Emma considered this. "Can I think about it?" she asked.

"Of course. Talk it over with Carl and your ma. Do what feels comfortable for you, Emma. I don't want to pressure you."

Emma smiled and thanked him. He stood to go seeing that the hour was late. Emma walked him to the door. They stood staring at one another, not wanting to part. Nick leaned in gently and placed a kiss on Emma's brow and walked out the door.

Emma stood in the living room for several minutes thinking about Nick then made her way up to her bedroom. As she was taking her hair from its long braid, she noticed an envelope on her dresser. Carl had brought the mail home and told her she had a letter. Since Nick was there, she put it in her room so she could hurry back down to him. She held it in her hands now, wondering who it could be from.

She opened it and pulled out the one piece of paper. What she read sent cold chills down her spine. She crumpled up the letter, hot tears streaming down her face. She wished she had opened it when Nick was here because she needed his strength right now. She uncrumpled the letter again and read it.

So, you think that just because I left town I don't know what you're up to? I will always be watching you.

Forever love,

David

Emma knew David was just trying to scare her. It was working. She crumpled the letter up again and walked downstairs as quietly as she could and put the letter in the stove. She covered it with some kindling. Her mother would start the fire in the morning for breakfast and that would take care of the letter. Emma went back up to her room and readied for bed. Sleep did not come easy, but when it did, she slept soundly.