Tully's Faith (Grooms with Honor Book 11)

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Tully reached for one of his favorite punches, a flower stamp that reminded him of Violet’s namesake. As a boy, he’d made bookmarks for Christmas gifts, stamping designs on scraps of leather. Did he ever give one to Violet? He didn’t think so, not liking girls when he was seven or eight years old when he was into making bookmarks.

  “One of their children threw up after the service, luckily after they had left the church building. Iva Mae’s about ready to have the next little one and the vomit smell was setting her off, so Gabe’s staying home for the rest of the day.”

  For some reason, he hadn’t thought that far ahead of having a family with Violet. Her going through the stages of her belly growing with their child, and then the act of giving birth made Tully queasy but excited at the same time. But he had no doubt Violet would be a good mother.

  But how would that work if they traveled with young children?

  “Have you ever wanted to do something other than work in the family business, Tate? Move away from Clear Creek?” Tully blurted out, then quickly looked behind him, hoping Tate’s father wasn’t standing in the doorway listening to his questions.

  Tate cocked his head to one side a second before answering. “No. Never crossed my mind. Pa started the business when he and my ma wed when I was two years old. He called the business Shepard and Sons even though I wasn’t his own child. I’ve always looked up to that sign and felt part of the family and business.

  “Probably ruined a few tools before I knew what to do with them and pushed Pa’s limits, but I’ve never thought about learning another trade, although I’ve been learning silversmithing from Kiowa Jones. We want to offer silver trim on the bridles and saddles we make.”

  “Kiowa works with silver? I thought he just did blacksmithing,” Tully asked because it was a new development to him.

  “Sorry, I said anything. It’s not public knowledge, so keep it under your clerical collar, okay?”

  “Oh, sure. No problem.”

  Tully had grown up keeping parishioners secrets his whole life, probably many more than his parents realized he knew.

  Thunder rumbled from the western sky into the workroom, causing them both to look out the west window in the room. Tully hoped Violet beat the storm while traveling to the ranch. He hated she left Clear Creek, but he was tongue-tied as to what to say to stop her.

  “Hope people get home from the funeral before they get caught in this storm. Sounds like it would be violent. Maybe you could pray for a steady inch rain instead of lightning, Pastor Reagan?”

  Tully scoffed. “Don’t know how much good that would do, considering I don’t feel like being a preacher,” Tully said before he could bite his tongue.

  “Say what?” Tate looked back up from the stamp he’d started to make. “You went to school to be a preacher, although I’m sure you could perform every ceremony anyway because you’ve heard them so many times.”

  “I went to the seminary because it was expected of me, not because it was my calling as everyone points out.”

  Reuben just stepped in the workroom, crossed his arms across his chest and stared at Tully. Oh, Romans. Now, Tate’s father would give his opinion.

  “Your folks know this, Tully?” Reuben asked, but not in an accusing way as Tully expected.

  “I told them after the funeral. Yesterday I was blindsided with the news Dan died, and I was conducting his funeral as soon as I stepped off the train so I couldn’t tell them then.”

  “Well, you handled the situation very well. I was proud of you. Who knew—"

  “Yeah, who knew the rowdy preacher’s kid could amount to anything. Right?” Tully interrupted Reuben.

  “No, Tully, I was going to say who knew Dan would die from a freak accident instead of old age,” Reuben corrected him.

  “Sorry, Sir. My trip home has me on pins and needles.”

  “I heard you had some other news that might have surprised yours, and Violet’s, parents,” Reuben quietly added.

  Tate’s head shot toward Tully, but he waited for Tully to tell him instead of guessing. Which version should he tell his friend?

  The one he truly hoped it would be, and hoped Violet agreed with tomorrow.

  “Violet and I were married in Chicago before we came home.”

  “Congratulations. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. You two have always had a special friendship,” Tate confessed as he held out his hand to shake Tully’s. Tate automatically shook it in his stunned state.

  “Your family upset you didn’t want to be married here in town?”

  Tully took off his hat and scratched his head, trying to figure out what to say.

  “Yeah, Faye wanted the thrill of planning a wedding with Violet. Da suggested we renew our vows in church and have a reception at the Paulson Hotel before we leave for Wyoming.”

  “Wait! Back up. Leave for Wyoming?” Tate leaned forward as if he didn’t hear Tully’s words right.

  Tully could feel his face turn beet red as Reuben shifted his stance and stared at him.

  “I was hired by the Chicago Tribune as their travel writer. My first assignment is to tour and write about the new hotels in Yellowstone.

  Tully hastily added, “I’m not going to be a pastor for a congregation, but I will conduct services and ceremonies wherever I can.”

  “You’ll be good at both jobs, Tully. Be sure to send the newspaper articles home to your folks so we can pass them around to read your stories.”

  Reuben approved his profession, as apparently, Tate did too, by the way, he was nodding his head.

  “Why am I surprised everyone thinks this writing job fits me? I thought everyone would be upset because I went to school to be a preacher, but made other plans,” Tully questioned them, hoping they’d be honest with their answers.

  “Not that a person can’t grow up and change, but—pardon my choice of words—you’ve always been a hell-raiser, Tully. Being a preacher never seemed like it would fit your personality,” Reuben said matter-of-factly. “I thought you’d grow up doing demolition work…or robbing banks.”

  Tate hooted and loudly clapped his hands together. “Yep, you got that right, Pa. You never confessed, Tully, but I always thought you were the one who blew up Mrs. Benson’s outhouse on Halloween night when we were about fifteen.”

  Tully stared daggers at Tate for squealing on him to Reuben. Tully shoved his index finger towards Tate. “Maybe I wouldn’t have done it if my friend wasn’t hiding elsewhere kissing Luella Paulson.”

  Tate laughed. “Yep, I’m sure I was that night. And I’m still kissing Luella any chance I get. As soon as I get enough money saved up, I’m buying a house, and asking for her hand in marriage.”

  Tully looked between Tate and Reuben. Both were smiling, apparently pleased that Tate’s future was already planned out with Luella.

  Well, as always, he, the “wild preacher’s kid,” didn’t surprise anybody in town. Tully decided right then and there he’d do what he wanted. If Violet was still game, they’d have the wedding and reception Faye wanted to plan, then he and Violet would leave and explore the world.

  Chapter 12

  “Well, hello, dear,” Violet’s mother said as Violet walked into the cabin. “I didn’t expect you and Tully to come out today. I hate you were out while it was thundering and lightning though.”

  “At least…we didn’t get caught in the downpour I’m sure we’ll get soon,” Violet answered as she walked to the cupboard to get a cup. Her mother would think she meant “we” as her and Tully, but in fact, it was her brothers instead.

  Violet’s hand trembled slightly as she poured coffee from the pot on the stove into the cup. How was she going to start this conversation?

  “Get a cup of coffee for Tully too. I assume he’s putting the pastor’s buggy and horse in the barn for the storm?”

  “Um, no, I rode home with Anton and Luther,” Violet turned as she sat down at the kitchen table with her mother.

  “In other words, yo
u rode a horse home, and I bet it was astride, rather than sidesaddle, correct?” Her mother raised her eyebrows, probably thinking of the money they paid for her schooling to become a lady.

  Violet resisted rolling her eyes and rolled her shoulder in a shrug instead.

  “Is Tully back with the Clancy family? He did such a good job at Dan’s funeral. I still can’t believe he doesn’t want to be a preacher full time.”

  “It’s his choice, Mama. He’s now an adult, and I wish everyone would accept it!”

  “Violet, I’m sorry, but there’s no reason to snap at me.”

  Violet bit her lip, then took a sip of coffee, trying to decide why she was back home. Now that she calmed down, she’d been too hasty to leave. She should have given Tully a minute to think and talk instead. The idea that their marriage hadn’t been filed to be legal was a shock and worry to both of them. That and all the questions Pastor had mentioned. If she and Tully would have gone somewhere private to talk…she wouldn’t be sitting in her home trying to figure out what to say to her mother.

  How sure was Violet that she and Tully would make amends and still marry?

  He had asked her to marry, and she’d said yes. Tully was a man of his word, and he wouldn’t back out…and neither would she.

  “I’m sorry too, Ma. It’s been a sad day, and I still can’t believe Dan is gone.

  “Uh, yes, Tully stayed in town. I decided to spend time with you to plan our wedding and reception.” And please don’t let Tully change his mind.

  “Oh, thank you for renewing your vows in church so we can see it. And I’ve been planning your reception in my mind for years,” her mother gushed.

  Yes, her mother had talked about Violet’s future wedding ever since she could remember. And Violet had been caught in the planning too.

  “Did you have time to talk to Pastor about the date for the event?” her mother asked excitedly.

  “No, with the funeral and all…” Violet trailed off, hoping that would appease her mother for now.

  “That’s fine, we can have everything else done though.”

  Her mother bit her lip, then rose from the table to go into her bedroom. She returned with a piece of paper and a pencil.

  “When your pa replied back to Mr. Westin’s request for your hand in marriage, I started a list,” her mother sheepishly admitted.

  “Well. That’s gives us a starting point then. What’s on your list so far?”

  Being the only daughter in the family meant planning Violet’s wedding was special to her mother. Why did she think it wouldn’t matter to her parents?

  “Of course, the dress is first on my list. The new fashion is to wear a white or cream gown and a veil instead of a hat, but I assume you know that being in Chicago.”

  “Yes, I’ve been to two weddings of friends in Chicago, and both gowns were ivory silk with lots of lace and layers. They were gorgeous, but a little over the top for a country wedding here. Is Mary Jenkins still in charge of the wedding trunks?”

  Her mother’s face lit up. “Yes! We should plan to visit Mary’s dress shop as soon as possible. I picked out my wedding dress when the trunks were in the ‘five trunk room’ in Cora Hamner’s home.”

  About twenty years ago, Cora Hamner’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Elison from Boston, had started sending outdated, but still lovely dresses, to Cora to give to women in need. The tradition began when Kaitlyn Reagan brought out a bride who needed a new dress for her wedding. From then on it became a mission for Cora to have various size dresses for brides to choose from. The bride would go to the special room, where Cora had five trunks of dresses from which the bride could make her choice.

  Although Violet’s mother had continued to wear her wedding dress for other occasions, she still had it, folded in tissue paper, in a trunk in her bedroom.

  Where would Violet’s wedding dress be stored if she and Tully traveled for years?

  “What did you wear for your Chicago wedding? I guess in the haste of things I hadn’t heard about the ceremony at all.”

  Uh, oh. What should she say? Keep it as simple and to the truth as possible.

  “I wore the rose gown and the hat with the pink silk roses, and we married after the seminary graduation. Tully wanted his friend, Rollie, to officiate the ceremony. It just made sense to do it then before all our friends scattered to their new jobs.”

  “That makes sense, but I’m glad you’re having Pastor Reagan bless your vows. He married all his sons, and, although I’m sure he wouldn’t say anything, he’d feel slighted if he didn’t perform Tully’s too.”

  “I agree, Ma, and I’m glad we can say the vows in church again.” And file the ceremony date in the courthouse this time, so we’re legal.

  “I already have white gloves and ivory shoes I can wear. In Chicago, girls are doing something the English brides have done for years. There’s an old English rhyme, ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe.’ They wear or carry something of the four things and put a penny in their shoe.”

  “Like what?”

  “I’d love to borrow and wear the pearl necklace of your grandmother’s.”

  It was a gold chain with three pearls set in a gold swirled design, given to Faye after her grandmother had died. The woman had worn the necklace to church every Sunday.

  “I think that could be the ‘something old’ because I’d like to give it to you for your wedding present,” her mother said smiling, but with tears in her eyes.

  “I’ve been waiting to pass it on to my daughter, and your wedding is the perfect occasion.”

  Thank you, Mama. I’ve always admired it.” Violet leaned forward to give her mother a meaningful hug.

  “Okay, we have the first ‘something’ picked out. My dress will be new, at least to me if I can pick one out at Mary’s shop.”

  “Something borrowed?” Faye drummed her fingers on the table. “That could be a veil from the dress shop unless you want your own,” her mother contemplated.

  “That would be fine with me. I know other brides in town have already done that. Something blue?” Violet asked.

  Her mother opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again and looked away. She unconsciously rubbed her hands against her upper arms, as if trying to warm away a chill.

  “Mama? What’s wrong?”

  “I…was just thinking of something from the past. I didn’t mean to spoil the mood.”

  Violet knew her mother’s background, which was also Violet’s, in a way too. Her mother had been a soiled dove in Kansas City, and Violet was a result of that. Faye wasn’t positive who Violet’s father was, but she had told Violet the truth of the matter.

  “Actually, I was thinking of the handkerchief Aunt Ruth made for you. It has blue thread embroidered around the edge. Do you still have it?”

  “Of course. I only use it for special occasions. That would be perfect for something blue.”

  Ruth Tucker was Violet’s father’s aunt by marriage. His uncle Edwin had been a traveling trunk salesman before he retired a few years ago. Aunt Ruth had been in an accident nearly twenty years ago, which killed her first husband. Uncle Edwin had taken care of his friend’s wife after the boiler explosion and they eventually married. The accident caused Aunt Ruth to lose sight in one eye, but she still did beautiful handiwork.

  “I’ve never told you, or the twins… but the handkerchief is special for another reason,” her mother said, after wiping a tear from her eye. Why was she so sad all of a sudden?

  “You know when Aunt Ruth visits, she always greets me with, “I know I should know you from somewhere. Who are you?”

  Violet shook her head thinking about her poor aunt. Aunt Ruth’s memory was also affected by the blast, wiping away her past, and confusing her current reality now and then.

  Aunt Ruth was a sweet woman, but she was almost obsessed with Faye at times—and Violet too—when she was a child. After Violet became a young adult, Aunt Ruth�
��s attention changed to being less attentive, she guessed would be a word for it.

  “Now that you’re an adult, there are things I should tell you,” Faye said but acted like she didn’t want to reveal them.

  “What is it, Mama? You’re worrying me,” Violet said as she reached and took hold of her mother’s hands.

  When I was fourteen, my mother ran away with a salesman, and I never saw her again while I lived in the brothel. Four years later when Rusty and I were going to marry, his parents and his uncle and aunt came for our wedding.

  “I was shocked to find out Aunt Ruth, was my mother, Ruthie Reed. The explosion happened two weeks after she left the brothel with Ron, the man who used to visit her at the brothel.”

  Violet stared in shock at her mother a few seconds before she found her voice. “Aunt Ruth is my…grandmother?”

  “Yes, but she doesn’t remember me. I told Rusty immediately, and we eventually talked to Edwin about it. He’d already known about Ruth’s past through his friend, Ron though.”

  “Did anyone ever tell Grandpa and Grandma Tucker?”

  “No. Edwin decided not to tell his brother. Ruth has had a few flashbacks of memory over the years but nothing that she can make sense of.

  “We decided it would be too confusing for her to know I was her daughter, so Edwin never told her. But…”

  “But what, Mama?”

  “Ron had told Edwin they were going to go back to the brothel to get Ruth’s daughter. But…Ron didn’t mention my name or what brothel so Edwin couldn’t find me after the explosion wiped Ruth’s mind away.”

  Tears filled Violet’s eyes as she pulled her mother into her arms and they wept together for the pain and loss the explosion caused in all their lives.

  Eventually, Violet pulled back and wiped away her tears. “At least you know your mother had improved her life and was coming back for you.”

  “Yes, Edwin telling me eased away the anger I felt toward her. Now, she’s just…sweet, confused Aunt Ruth. I should also tell you, that if something happens to Edwin, Ruth is to come live with us. Edwin drew up legal documents, so she’ll be taken care of.”