Logan approached the woman, and they embraced, which made Emma even more curious. Who was she? Her husband led the woman onto the porch, and she met them halfway.
“Prudence, I’d like you to meet my wife, Emma. Emma, my sister, Prudence.”
Emma smiled at the woman who didn’t return the smile at first, but after several seconds, she not only smiled but took Emma’s hands. “It’s such a pleasure to meet the woman who captured my brother’s heart.”
Logan put his arm around Emma which shocked her, but she kept her smile intact. Since Prudence had come for a visit, she had to play her role.
“This is a surprise, Prudence," Logan said. "Where’s Hugh and Billy?”
Prudence’s smiled faded. “I needed time away from Hugh. Billy is with Hugh’s mother.”
Logan frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Hugh and I…well, we need time apart is all. We haven't been getting along lately, and I thought it best if we had some space.”
“How long do you plan on staying?”
“If you and Emma don’t mind putting me up for a while, I think a week or two should be enough.”
“And after that you and Hugh will suddenly be right again?”
“I hope so. I think that after being married for a while, a man and wife take each other for granted. I think the separation might make us realize that we need each other to be happy.”
“Then, you still love him?” Logan asked.
“I do.”
“We only have the one guest room since the others aren’t furnished.”
“That would be my old bedroom across from the master bedroom, right?”
“Right,” Logan said. “Is your driver staying?”
“No.” She turned and yelled to the driver, “My trunk, please.”
Emma watched the man carry the huge trunk up the steps and onto the porch.
“Thank you, Harold. Can you return for me in two weeks?”
The man nodded, returned to the buggy, and sped down the lane in a cloud of dust.
Emma decided it was her duty as the woman of the house to welcome her guest. “Welcome, Prudence," she said. "Logan will take your things up to your room. It will be fun getting to know each other.”
Prudence smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Emma watched Prudence follow Logan up the stairs, carrying the chest on his strong shoulders. His sister was not a damsel-in-distress type, but a positive woman who knew exactly what she wanted. Emma knew her type and inwardly cringed at having to evade her questions for the next two weeks. Was she really there to get time away from Hugh, or was she there to investigate their marriage?
Logan found Emma on the porch, having returned to her sewing. “We need to talk,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
“All right.” She put her embroidery hoop and thread into a small cloth bag.
“Come into the stables. I don’t want Prudence to overhear.”
Emma followed him into the horse stables and he led her to his office in the building's rear. She patted Lady’s head as she walked by her stall.
Logan closed the door to the office and offered her a seat.
“What’s this about?” she asked.
“Where did we meet? How long have we known one another? When did I propose?”
Emma shrugged. “I see what you mean.”
“We need to get our stories straight.”
“I can’t lie, Logan.”
Logan sighed. “Even for a cute cabin in the woods?”
“Even for that.”
“Then I’ll offer the information to Prudence and hope she doesn’t ask you.”
Logan paced the floor. He stopped to snap his fingers. “I went to Springfield, Illinois to breed a horse. It was the only sire I could find that was a registered Appaloosa. That’s where we met. I’ll tell her that I stayed longer than I’d planned so I could court you. Before I left, I proposed, you accepted, and we married. I came back to Hunter’s Grove, and you followed after settling your affairs.”
“It sounds very logical,” Emma said.
“I apologize for putting my arm around you earlier, but we have to act like newlyweds. I might have to do that and more before she leaves.”
“More? What exactly does that mean?”
“You know…hold hands, act lovingly.”
“That wasn’t part of our bargain.”
“If Prudence sees or hears anything suspicious she won’t let it go. And, if she finds out how I got you to marry me and that our marriage hasn’t been consummated, she’ll contest the will, and I’ll lose everything.”
“I’ll try to go along with it,” Emma said as she stood to leave. “Tomorrow’s Sunday. What time does your church service begin?”
“Church? I don’t go to church.”
“Never?” This shocked Emma.
Logan sighed. “The closest thing to a church here in Hunter’s Grove is an Indian mission about ten miles away.”
“You don’t have a church?”
“Not the type you probably had in Springfield. Some residents hold a service on Sunday at the McGregors’ barn. A traveling preacher stops by once a month to do weddings, funerals, christenings, and marriages, as well as a Sunday sermon.”
“Do you go to the services?” she asked.
“A few times, but only after being prodded.”
“Will you take me? I would very much like to attend.”
Logan threw his head back and laughed. “I didn’t think saloon women went to church.”
“This one does.”
Logan grimaced. “All right. I’ll take you. My sister would wonder why I didn’t attend with you, so I'll accompany you for appearances' sake.”
Logan and Emma had a reprieve from Prudence since she begged off having dinner with them. She claimed a headache and had dinner in her room.
Irma served them roast chicken, a favorite of Logan’s. She left a cherry pie on the table for dessert.
“Irma is such a wonderful cook,” Emma said as she helped herself to a second piece of chicken. “I’ll
