“I’ve never turned down an invitation to shop. I heard the general store is under new management and has added an addition to the building as well as carrying new merchandise. I’d love to see it.”
“Good,” Emma said, feeling relieved. She hadn’t expected Prudence to agree so readily. “Is eleven o’clock a good time for you?”
“It’s perfect. I’ll see you then.” Prudence pushed away from the table and went upstairs.
Emma hadn’t driven a buggy in months, but she got them to town without Prudence realizing it. They shopped at the general store and had lunch at Carl’s, a quaint little place that served hot meals, afterward.
While they waited for their lunch, Prudence asked, “So, how do you like married life?”
Determined not to tell a lie, Emma said, “It’s different, but it’s been interesting so far.”
“Do you love Logan, or did you marry him for his money?”
Emma thought Prudence bold for asking such a question. She certainly didn’t beat around the bush. “I knew he was well-to-do, but that wasn’t what led me to marry him.”
Carl’s wife set their plates down, and Emma told her to put the lunch on Logan’s account.
“All right," the woman said. "Now, you ladies enjoy your lunch.”
Emma ate her soup and worried about what this bold woman would ask her next. After several minutes, Prudence said, “It surprised me when I heard that Logan had married so quickly and timely. In another week he’d have lost his inheritance.”
Emma didn’t respond.
“So, as a dutiful sister, I had to come here to see how things were for myself.
“I knew about the will, but it didn’t worry me because Logan could have married anyone to keep his inheritance. A handsome, wealthy man never has to search long for a wife,” Emma said.
“I’m glad you're confident about Logan’s affections. I worry about him, you know, him being my younger brother and all.”
Emma couldn’t bite her tongue any longer. “Logan thinks you wanted the inheritance and came to confirm our marriage.”
“I never doubted the marriage—the lawyer would surely have verified it—and I didn’t want the inheritance. My home is in Hays, and Hugh has a successful business. How would I run the ranch from Hays?”
“Why did you come, then?”
“I wanted to be certain he hadn't married a fortune-hunter and that he was happy.”
“Really?” Emma felt relieved, but she wasn’t sure if she could believe Prudence.
“Our shopping trip today convinced me. If you were a fortune-hunter, you would have spent his money extravagantly in the store, yet all you bought was material to make curtains. I was the one who did all the spending.
“I also checked your wardrobe one night while you dined with Logan. You have four dresses and a few plain house dresses, hardly the clothes of a fortune-hunter. I expected you to buy the dresses you seemed to like in the general store today, but you passed them by.”
Emma felt guilty for her deception. If Prudence was truly looking out for her brother’s happiness, then she was wrong in deceiving her. She hadn’t yet lied, but she was deceiving nonetheless.
After lunch, they walked along the dusty, wooden walkway to the buggy. By the time they reached the buggy, the hems of their skirts were dirty. Emma stood by the buggy, trying to shake some of the dust off. A hand gripped her elbow, and she swung around and gasped. “Dallas! What are you doing here?”
“May I?” he asked nodding at the buggy seat. Emma allowed him to help her up so as not to cause a scene in front of her sister-in-law.
“Thank you.”
Dallas gave her a fear-provoking glare, tipped his hat, turned, and walked into the Slippery Saddle Saloon.
Prudence was already sitting in the driver’s seat. “You might have introduced me, Emma.”
“I would have,” Emma said, “but I don’t know his full name. I hardly know him.”
“Is he a friend of Logan’s?”
“No, just someone I met briefly and don’t really care for; he’s creepy.”
Prudence started the buggy and said no more, much to Emma’s relief. She wasn't, however, one bit relieved about having seen Dallas in Hunter’s Grove. Had he followed her to carry out revenge? She shivered.
Emma was pleased to see that Logan had invited Alan to dinner. The two men talked about the upcoming auction for most of the meal.
“Logan,” Prudence finally said, “could you talk about something that might interest us all?”
“I’m sorry,” Logan said to the women. “I need to get used to having women at the dinner table.”
“I have a subject that might interest everyone,” Alan said. “There’s a barn dance tomorrow night at Judge O’Malley’s place. Anyone interested in going?”
Logan rolled his eyes. “You said it might interest everyone. I couldn’t care less about a barn dance.”
“I’d love to go,” Prudence said. “What about you, Emma?”
Emma looked at Logan, waiting for him to give her a hint as to what to say. When he didn’t even look her way, she shrugged. “It might be fun. You don’t mind, do you, Logan?”
“Not as long as you don’t expect me to escort you. Why, Alan, since it was your bright idea, you can escort both ladies to the dance.”
“I’d love to. Ladies, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.”
Emma had a difficult time sleeping that night. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Why was Dallas in Hunter’s Grove? How had he found her? One of the saloon women in Boulder must have found out and told him. What if he told everyone she was a saloon woman? What if he started trouble? Perhaps she should tell Logan and ask for his protection. No, he’d only think Dallas one of her saloon lovers. Could she confide in Alan? She wasn’t sure—he might tell Logan.
