She pulled out of his embrace, took a handkerchief from her pocket, and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m acting like a child who doesn’t want to leave her mother.”
“I brought you a present while I was in town. It might help. Shall I bring it in?”
Emma nodded. Logan was always doing kind things for her. She felt gratitude for all he’d done for her though she still felt guilty for the trouble she’d brought him. He’d had the builders add a beautiful front porch to her cottage and a small barn built for Lady. He had done all of these things without her even asking, and now he’d brought her a gift. She felt overwhelmed.
Logan returned, carrying a small box which he set on the table. Before Emma could peer inside, the gift jumped out.
“Oh, Logan! A puppy!” She picked it up and hugged it.
“It’s a male, and you can name him. He’s yours. You won’t be alone out there in the woods now.”
The puppy was reddish-brown. Emma didn’t know what breed he was, but he was adorable. He licked Emma’s face all over, and she wondered if he tasted her tears. “His name will be Rusty.”
Emma told Logan she was ready to move the very next day. She’d packed her things, and he pulled the wagon around in front of the house. He put the sewing machine in the back of the wagon along with the rest of her things.
Logan helped her up onto the wagon seat, and he handed Rusty up to her. “Hold on. We’re traveling through fields, and it could get bumpy.”
When they'd reached the cottage, Logan helped her down before carrying the sewing machine into the house and placing it in the bedroom.
He stood in the middle of the sitting room and gazed around. “You’ve made this place a real home. It looks warm and inviting.”
Emma set Rusty down on the floor. “Will you visit me from time to time?”
“I certainly will. We’ve made a habit of going to church together. I'd like that to continue that, if it's all right.”
“Yes, I’d like that.” Emma began to feel better about the move. She would still see Logan, and now she had Rusty for company. She still felt emotional and tears streamed down her face.
Logan always knew what to do. He held out his arms and she went into them like she’d been doing it for years.
“I’ll miss you, too,” he whispered.
Emma stood on the porch and watched Logan ride away before she burst into tears again. She went inside the cottage and hugged Rusty. “You’ll have to do from now on, Rusty.”
Chapter Nineteen
Logan sat at the dinner table alone, thinking about how much he missed Emma. He loved her so much, and she made it extremely difficult for him, asking for hugs. It was so hard to control his emotions when he loved her so much. He wanted to kiss her and make her his in every way. He knew she needed comforting; he was glad she needed him for something.
One thing he didn't understand was how Emma didn't know if she was in love with him. He’d recognized his love for her after she was kidnapped. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind, but he’d lost all hope of ever winning Emma’s heart. If she didn’t know her heart, it probably meant she didn’t love him, and he’d have to learn to live with loving someone who didn’t love him in return.
God had been speaking to him about Rachel, too. Logan felt God prodding him to forgive her, though he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He knew that God had forgiven him, but the wounds from his mother’s abandonment ran deep, and the scars had yet to heal.
After only two days away from her, Logan felt the need to see how Emma was doing. He almost rode out to the cottage but something told him to wait. Maybe his absence would help to make her realize her feelings. He’d wait until he picked her up for church on Sunday. It was only two days longer to wait.
The congregation that met in the barn had raised enough money to build a church, and they'd elected Joshua Price to be the minister. Josh had quit his job as a circuit rider to lead the congregation each Sunday. They'd start building the church in the spring. Joshua met with people who needed counseling at Carl’s café. That’s where Joshua had counseled Logan and led him to God. He met with him each week so he could learn more about his commitment. He’d given Joshua a horse and now his wife, Cynthia needed one, too. He’d invited her to the ranch to pick one out as well.
Cynthia Price was a pretty woman of about thirty. She and Joshua had a nine-month-old baby, and they were happy to have their own church at last. It meant Joshua wouldn't have to travel anymore, and he could be home with his family.
When Cynthia arrived, Logan took her on a tour of the stables and introduced her to several horses he thought might suit her. She chose a reddish-colored mare, and Logan tied it to the back of her rented buggy.
He was sorry to see her drive off because for the hour she’d stayed, he hadn’t thought of Emma once.
~~~**~~~
Isolation was difficult for Emma. She was glad to have Rusty for company, but he wasn’t housebroken, and she spent most of her time cleaning up his messes. Her house didn’t need cleaning yet, and cooking for one wasn’t time consuming, so she often put Rusty on a rope and took him for walks. She missed Logan, but she
