Amelia's Journey by Martha Rogers Page A

anticipation of the meal ahead.
    Aunt Clara and Ma sat at the table cutting up potatoes for supper. Ma laid down her knife. “There’s hot coffee on the stove. That should help take some of that chill off. Supper will be ready in a bit.”
    He removed his long coat and hung it on a peg by the back door. “Thanks, Ma. I think we may have a hard freeze tonight.”
    Grace Ann ran to hug him. “I didn’t think you’d ever get back. Gideon, Billy, and I were so cold coming home from school. Gideon put extra blankets on the horses, and I’m sure glad he did.”
    Ben hugged her and picked her up off the floor. “Well, aren’t we the little magpie tonight. What has you so excited?” He set her down and tweaked one of her pigtails, the same dark color as Mary Beth’s.
    She giggled and ran to the dish cupboard. “Aunt Clara went into town after school and picked up the mail. You have one from Boston. Wonder who it’s from?” She giggled again and handed him the envelope.
    Amelia’s name was written in the upper left corner, and his blood rushed warmth through his body. “Hmm, think I’ll take this to my room and read it.”
    Ma grinned and winked at Clara. “I’ll call you when supper’s ready.”
    Pa greeted him in the hallway. “Glad you’re back. How did things look?”
    â€œFine, Pa. There’s plenty of feed, and they’re all huddled together in the south section. That new barbed wire fence you used will keep them close together for the night. Think it might freeze hard.”
    â€œI think so too. I’ll go out with the men tomorrow, so you can stay here and take care of the livestock in the barn.” He glanced down at Ben’s hands.
    â€œThat another letter from Amelia? You two have been writing a bit often, haven’t you?”
    â€œYes, sir, we have, but we have a lot to say to each other since we can’t be together in person.”
    His father paused then nodded toward his office. “Come and let’s talk.”
    Ben noted the expression his father’s face. He’d seen that look before, and following his father now would be the wise choice. One time he hadn’t and wound up in the barn with a willow branch across his legs.
    Ben joined his father in the office. Pa waved his hand toward a chair. “Have a seat, son; it’s time to discuss Amelia Carlyle.”
    Ben sat and then waited for Pa to speak his mind. It didn’t matter what he had to say, Ben would not change his mind or his feelings for Amelia. Pa paced the floor, and Ben’s hands itched to reach out and stop him. Why didn’t he just say what was on his mind? Deciding to cut to the chase, Ben cleared his throat and spoke. “Pa, I love Amelia and want to marry her.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure? You were only together for such a short time.” Pa finally stopped and swerved around to face Ben in the eye. “There’s more to love than just seeing a pretty girl and thinking you want to spend the rest of your life with her.”
    â€œI know that, Pa. I’ve been thinking about Amelia a lot. We may not have much in common right now except how we feel about each other, but we come from the same stock, we enjoy being with each other, and we love each other.” Surely Pa could see that this wasn’t infatuation or fascination but deep feelings for each other.
    Pa sat down behind his desk, and a frown furrowed his brow. “Your ma has asked me to consider inviting the Carlyle family to Kansas in the spring. Perhaps that is the wise thing to do. You’ve only seen Amelia in her own environment. Seeing her here, on the ranch, may give you more insight into how she’d really make it living this far from her parents.” He rose and came around to Ben. “I’ll invite them, but not until after the first of the year.”
    Ben nodded. That’s all he could ask