Colorado Hope(136)

Grace turned and shrugged at Monty, who wove through the pressing crowd behind her, Ben in his arms, working to keep up with the ladies. Eli and LeRoy marched behind him, dressed in new dark trousers and starched white tailored shirts, chatting about horses, from what Grace could tell.

How handsome Monty looked in his three-piece tan linen suit, the first time she’d seen him dressed up since they’d been reunited. But everyone in the crowd wore their finest, and she loved the feel of the taffeta petticoats lifting her soft pale-green silk skirts as she swished ahead of Monty. Clare wore a lovely indigo-blue dress with pearl buttons that Grace had made for her, and light sparkled on the diamond engagement ring on Clare’s finger.

She thought about Clare’s upcoming fall wedding and was glad she would be here to celebrate with her friend. Since she’d quit her job at the dress shop, Grace had had plenty of time to work on Clare’s wedding dress, as well as make Monty and Ben new clothes. She was amazed at how quickly Ben was growing—tall and strong, just like his father.

“Here’s a good spot,” Clare declared, stopping a dozen feet behind the raised dais upon which a large contingent of colorfully dressed musicians played brightly sounding brass instruments and booming drums, announcing the mayor’s arrival upon the larger stage to the right. Mayor Ben Whedbee walked to the front of the stage and waved his arms to quiet the crowd.

Monty came alongside Grace and wrapped his arm around shoulder, careful to keep Ben’s wiggly fingers out of her perfectly coiffed hair that she’d spent an hour working into pins and combs and that now sat under her feathered green felt bonnet. She looked into Monty’s eyes, so grateful he’d been returned to her—along with all the precious memories they’d shared. Although, she knew that even if Monty hadn’t recalled them all, he’d have never lost the deep love he held for her that was trapped in his heart. And as sad as she might have been if Monty lost those special times they’d shared, they had their whole future ahead of them to create new memories. All that mattered was that they were together again, finally. She’d held on to hope, and the Lord had made a way.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Visitors to Fort Collins, I welcome you on this very grand and special day for the great state of Colorado!”

The mayor raised his arms as deafening cheers erupted from the hundreds of onlookers. Grace looked at the radiant faces around her, and felt the hope and pride surge in ripples across the crowd. Eli stood with his arm entwined with Clare’s, LeRoy next to him, and they all listened in rapt attention as the mayor recounted a brief history of Colorado Territory and its entrance into the union   the day prior—as the thirty-eighth state.

“We stand upon the threshold of a new era,” the mayor yelled out to the crowd in the sweltering heat of the summer morning, his voice amplified by the large megaphone stationed before him. “This new great state of Colorado with its 150,000 citizens has a prosperous future ahead. Gone are the days of war, of perilous danger on the Front Range. With the advent of the railway, thousands more are flocking to Colorado—and to our quiet little town of Fort Collins—seeking a new life, new hope. And here they will find it . . .”

As the mayor spoke under a clear blue sky, cheers erupted amid blasts of triumphant music from the band.

Grace caught a glimpse of Monty from the corner of her eye. He was smiling broadly and listening, nodding his head. Grace thought about the ordeal they’d been through over the last year, and already the pain and heartache was fading into the past. Their love had been challenged by every possible tragedy and danger, yet it had not only survived but thrived.

She rested a hand on her flat stomach and smiled, knowing soon she wouldn’t be able to fit in any of her dresses or skirts—presently her little secret. She would have to get back to her sewing, even though she’d been too busy decorating their new brick house in town, which they’d purchased partly from the money Monty had saved from working, with the rest coming from the unexpected boon of nearly two thousand dollars given them as part of the reward for the capture of the last two members of the Dutton Gang. Another five hundred had been found in Stella’s—Lenora Dutton’s, she corrected—bags that had been tied to her horse’s saddle the day she’d ridden off to meet with the outlaws. The day she’d planned to have me and Ben murdered, Grace reminded herself with a twinge of ire.

But she harbored no ill feelings for Lenora, for, as Monty said, if it hadn’t been for her actions, Grace would never have seen Monty ever again. She wondered what kind of childhood had made Lenora turn out so selfish and greedy, which made Grace grateful that her loving aunt had raised her and given her a home after her parents died. She was blessed to have had such an upbringing. And now, she could give Ben the very best. Not just a comfortable pretty house in a sweet Western town with a brand-new schoolhouse. More than that—more than anything the town had to offer—Ben had his father to raise him and teach him how to be honorable, kindhearted, and faithful. And with Monty as a father, she knew Ben would grow to be an upstanding man of God. She was so glad she wouldn’t have to raise her boy to bear the hurtful gossip and mean names he might have been called had she raised him alone.