A Bride for Logan by Barbara Goss (readict .TXT) 📕

“I see you’re wearing your riding outfit. May I join you?” he asked.

 Emma was pleasantly surprised. “I’d love for you to join me.”

“If you have anything to take to the cottage, we could ride that way.”

“Yes! I've crocheted curtains for the kitchen. You can help me hang them.”

“I’ll meet you in the stables in ten minutes.”

Logan put her doilies and curtains in her saddlebag. When they'd reached the cottage, he removed them and carried them in.

He handed them to her. “I like the colors.”

Emma placed the doilies on the end tables and laid the afghan on the back of the settee. “Oh, Logan! It’s starting to feel like home.”

“Well done, Emma. It looks great. I’ll hang the curtains.”

Logan stood on one of the kitchen chairs and hung the curtains over the small sink. When he’d finished he said, “I’ll give you a hand cleaning the stove.”

They scrubbed the old stove until it shined.

Logan opened the shutters, and the sunlight flooded in. “Isn’t that better?”

“Much better,” she answered.

He sat on the settee and patted the seat beside him. “Sit down a minute. I have papers for you to sign.”

“Now?”

“I thought signing them here was appropriate.” Logan removed the papers from his pocket, unfolded them, and handed them to Emma. “I’ve marked where you sign with an ‘X’.”

Emma scanned the papers and the feeling of doom returned. She couldn't figure out why, seeing how this had been the plan all along.

She signed the papers and handed them to Logan. “Did you tell the lawyer about the will and what you did to get your inheritance?”

“Yes. He’s writing a letter to Prudence.” Logan sobered. “She’ll be disappointed—she was fond of you.”

“It would have happened anyway, right?”

“Yes, it would have.” Logan put the papers in his pocket. “Snyder said this could take a month or two, but we can proceed as if it were final, if you’d like.”

 “What do you mean?”

“You can move in here whenever you’re ready.”

“I see.” Again, that feeling of doom hung over her.

“I want you to be happy, Emma. If there is anything I can do, you only have to ask.”

“Thank you. Where should I put the sewing machine?”

“I think in the bedroom, don’t you?”

“Yes, I suppose that would be best.”

Emma walked through her little house, touching things as she went. “I can’t believe I own something this nice.”

Logan smiled. He seemed pleased to see her happy. What had the minister said that day in their session? When you’re in love, you think more about the others’ happiness over your own, or something like that. He really did love Emma.

Emma turned to him and blurted, “Would you allow your friend to give you a hug to say thank you?”

To answer, he held out his arms, and she moved into them. He held her gently, but firmly. She felt good in his arms, and she was reluctant to leave them. What had come over her? Was it something more than simple gratitude?

He was first to break the embrace. “If you’re ready to go, I’ll close the shutters.”

“I’ll help. I have to learn how.”

Outside of the cottage, Logan pointed to a copse of trees blocking the ranch from their view. “I could clear those so you could see the ranch from your cottage.”

Emma studied the trees and noticed woods surrounded the cottage. “Yes, I think I’d like to see something other than trees.”

“I’ll have a crew start right on it.” He pointed to the woods across from her cottage. “My cottage will be on the other side of those trees. It will give you privacy, but I’ll be able to hear should you yell for me.”

She smiled up at him. “That’ll make me feel secure.” She gazed back at the cottage. “There’s just one thing missing.”

“What’s that?”

“The cottage doesn’t have a porch. I’d love to sit out in the morning and evening.”

“I’ll put that on my list. When the men come to build my house, I’ll have them add a porch to yours.”

Emma felt like crying. He was being so good to her. She’d felt so comfortable in his arms, she liked his company, and she'd miss him if she didn’t see him every day. She doubted that would happen once she'd moved into the cottage.

As they rode back to the ranch, Emma wondered what might become of their friendship after the annulment.

Chapter Eighteen

It was no surprise when Prudence stopped her buggy in front of the house one morning. Emma went out to greet her. She supposed she had come to take the ranch over, and it would be a sad day for Emma, for she had come to love the ranch and house.

When Prudence jumped down from the buggy, she was pulling a small boy along behind her.

“This must be Billy,” Emma said.

Prudence hugged Emma. “I’m glad to see you’re still in residence. I can’t tell you how shocked and disappointed I was to hear your marriage hadn't worked.”

Emma shrugged. “You heard how we came to marry?” When Prudence nodded, she said, “It wasn’t a marriage based on love.”

“Is my brother around? I have business with him.”

“He’s probably in the stables.”

“Would you keep Billy company while I talk to him?”

Emma smiled and held her hand out to the boy. “I’d love to.”

The boy went with Emma without a fuss, much to Emma’s relief.

“How old are you, Billy?”

He held up four fingers.

“I think we have chocolate cake in the house. Would you like some?”

He nodded.

“Let’s go get a fat slice,” Emma said.

Dinner that evening was congenial. Prudence and Logan spent time laughing about old times. There seemed to be no hard feelings about the takeover of the ranch. Prudence had put Billy