***
“I just don’t know, Angus,” Cullen said as he delivered the mail bags to the train depot, “Rose is a nice woman, but I’m not sure I’m ready for marriage. There is so much to think about.”
“Start with the basics and think it out. You’re a good one to make lists. Write down the pros and cons of marriage to Rose,” Angus said as he pushed the baggage carts out on the depot platform. The next train would be arriving within the hour.
“She’s nice, pretty, seems to have a smart head on her shoulders. Her crippled arm doesn’t seem to bother either of you too much,” Angus added.
“But do I want to marry a circus performer? Their lifestyle is so…different, to put it mildly. I can hardly stand thinking about my background, let alone hers.”
“Cullen, you were six-years-old when you left the brothel. Time. Has. Passed. Get over it,” Angus fumed at Cullen.
“It’s not that easy, especially since Charlie Moore found me,” Cullen muttered.
“For what little time you’ve let us talk to the man, he seems decent. Most people would love to have their parents in their lives.
“My wife has Dan and Edna, but Daisy wishes she still had her parents too. Think how Iris, Jasper, and Julip lost their parents during the War between the States. Holly Clancy lost her mother and sisters to cholera, her father to a mining accident. I could go on and on about people we know who would love to have a parent still alive.” Angus gave Cullen his “big brother, no-nonsense” look.
“You’ve never courted or shown any interest in a woman until Rose came to town. I think you two could make a solid marriage together. Have you talked to Da about it? I’m sure Ma has already told you what she thought.”
“Da demanded I marry Rose this coming Sunday since I wrote the letters for Kandt. And I’m sure Ma and her cohorts have our wedding plans done since Rose has already been here four days,” Cullen muttered and wiped the sweat from his face. They needed to move to the shade of the depot instead of arguing out here in the hot sun.
“We brothers told you we’d help you buy and fix up a house. Even if you’re not sure you want to marry Rose, you need to talk to the owners about viewing the houses for sale this week. They could sell, and then where would you live?”
“We saw the houses yesterday evening,” Cullen said while rubbing his foot on the platform wood.
“Already, on a Sunday? How’d you managed that? One of the houses is owned by the bank.”
“Rose has a quick knack for entering…uh, places she wants to see,” Cullen admitted but didn’t let on how they got in both houses.
The chuckle in Angus' throat ended up in a belly laugh, the scoundrel. Cullen wanted to punch the air and laugher out of his brother’s middle.
“It’s not funny. Rose was breaking and entering!”
“Did you like either house, since you happened to walk through them?”
“Rose nixed both houses because neither had a downstairs bedroom. She wants Charlie to move in with us.”
Angus turned serious, thinking about what Rose suggested.
“You have a choice to make, little brother. Live with—I’ll say an unconventional—wife, and your birth father, or continue to live alone in your room above the café. I’m guessing Rose isn’t one to let grass grow under her feet, so you need to make your pros and cons list soon.”
“This is happening too fast for me, Angus. I want to stop the watch and analyze it.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t happen as you wish, Cullen. Daisy and I got pushed off a train in a train robbery, forcing us together after being apart for years. Getting married and having children is the best thing that ever happened to me. Yes, our house is in utter chaos at times, but I love the life I have now.”
Angus squeezed Cullen’s shoulder to show his love and concern.
“But I won’t lie and say that marriage isn’t work. It’s a daily give and take. Sometimes I’m happy to get out of the house for a breath of sanity. But it’s wonderful to have a partner beside you, always ready to deal with whatever life throws at the two of you.”
Cullen nodded, thanking Angus for his advice. Cullen let out a long breath as he walked back to the post office. Everyone thought Cullen should jump at the chance to marry Rose. But everyone also thought he was a grumpy, too serious person with a chip on his shoulder too. Would his mood change for the better if he married Rose, or would Rose’s spirit burn out if coupled with him?
Chapter 9
Tuesday
“You did what? How?” Cullen asked as if he couldn’t believe she’d done it.
“Well, I was over at Millie Wilerson’s this morning, learning how to make pies, and Isaac and Cate Connely stopped by to see their grandchildren. And apparently, pick up a pie since Millie is the top baker in town and practically the whole county.”
“And…” Cullen rolled his finger for Rose to continue.
Rose was standing at the post office window, holding a plate with a piece of apple pie for him to taste, and her right hand was getting tired. Rose dropped the plate on the counter, enjoying Cullen’s jump at the loud thud.
“We were talking about the new building on Main Street that wasn’t spoken for yet, and I said I was interested in starting a library. Mr. Connely and I walked over to the mercantile to talk to Councilman Taylor about it.”
“A library.”
Rose sighed. At least Cullen picked up on the part of the conversation anyway.
“Yes, and by luck, a library was on the wish list of the town council. I proposed to manage the town library in exchange for my living upstairs in the building.”
“What happened to living in a house that has a downstairs bedroom for Charlie?”
“The two houses available in town wouldn’t work, so I talked to the council about turning the downstairs backroom into an apartment. Charlie looked over the space, liked it, and will move in as soon as the rooms have been partitioned off,” Rose told Cullen, who stood behind the counter with a shocked look on his face.
“Don’t I have any say in this? I pay Charlie’s rent!”
“Mr. Connely still owns the Clear Creek Community Library building, so you’ll pay Charlie’s rent to him—at a lesser cost—I might add than what you pay currently for the shack you have your father in now.”
“I thought Charlie liked that place,” Cullen argued with Rose.
“Yes, he appreciates what you’ve given him, but if you’d stop more than once a week, you’d see he has problems there.”
Cullen rubbed his hands over his face.
“I assume you’ve been over there since Sunday?”
“Yesterday morning I stopped by with my first ever batch of muffins, and this morning with pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. He’s critiquing my cooking attempts.”
“Uh, huh. You’re just going over there to find out more about him and me.”
“Indeed, I’ve heard some wonderful stories about him playing with you when you were a toddler. He was in your life for your first years, Cullen, until he had to move away for his job.”
“Why didn’t he take my momma and me with him then?” Cullen exploded since it was a touchy subject for him. “We could have been out of that stinking brothel!”
“Your mother was addicted to drugs by then, Cullen, and she wouldn’t leave the brothel, nor let Charlie take you away,” Rose told him quietly. Charlie warned Rose that the two of them had never talked about Cullen’s first years.
Rather than look at her or reply, Cullen picked up the fork, cut off the end of the pie, and stuffed the filling and crust combination in his mouth.
Did his rising eyebrows mean the pie tasted alright? His readily taking a second bite must mean it was edible.
“Charlie and I haven’t talked much about the past. I’m glad to know he tried to get me out of there. I just wish…”
“He’d have tried harder?” Rose finished for him.
“Yeah. But the past is past, as Angus harped on me yesterda
y.”
Cullen finished the pie and looked at Rose. “Good pie. Thanks for bringing me a piece. Where’s the rest of it?”
“It’s at the parsonage. Your father was enjoying a big piece when I left to walk over here.”
“The council buying books for your library?” Cullen picked up the library subject again.
“Books will be both bought and donated. Mr. Connely offered to move most of his library, which I’m guessing is several hundred books by what Cate stated, to the town library. I’ll build up the library’s collection from there.”
“Would this be a full-time job?”
“No. The hours the library is open will vary between the summer and school year. I still plan to write novels too.”
“And if you marry?” Cullen asked as he scraped the fork against the plate to get the last of the filling.
“If I marry, my husband could move in with me, or I could move into his home and still be the librarian if I want to.”
Cullen nodded but didn’t say anything. What was going on in his mind? They had so much in common, but Cullen wasn’t ready or didn’t want to ask for her hand in marriage.
At least she had a plan in place if she didn’t become a married woman this Sunday, or ever.
“Your mother asked if you’d like to come to the parsonage this evening. She’s teaching me how to fry chicken and make scalloped potatoes, and since that’s your favorite meal, she thought you’d enjoy eating with us.”
“What else are you fixing, Rose?” Was that a glimmer of interest in Cullen’s eyes, but was it for the food or her?
“I picked green beans from your mother’s garden this morning, so I’ll cook them with ham. I’m also making biscuits and a cherry cobbler.”
“Tell Ma I’ll be there. Thanks for the pie. It was good.”
Cullen shoved the plate and fork on the counter towards her, indicating he needed to get back to work.
Food wasn’t the only thing Rose had planned for Cullen tonight though. Hopefully, the evening on the porch after supper would change his mind about marrying her.
*
“I think you're a natural born cook, Rose. This was a wonderful supper,” Pastor praised Rose.
“I only need to show Rose once how to do something, and she picks it right up. Your family will never go hungry,” Kaitlyn patted Rose's hand.
The three naturally turned to Cullen for his reaction to Rose's meal, but he was helping himself to a third helping of cherry cobbler.
“Ahem...Cullen,” his mother prodded him.
“What?” Cullen looked around and noticed his mother's raised eyebrow. The woman seemed to communicate with her face as much as her voice.
“Oh, yes, Rose that was an excellent meal. What are you fixing for tomorrow night's supper? Maybe I can come over to test your meal again?”
Rose blushed as Cullen complimented her meal. She had enjoyed cooking and baking their meal tonight.
“What would you like me to make, Cullen?” Rose asked, making Cullen look up from shoving a forkful of cobbler in his mouth. The man had quite an appetite or enjoyed a homemade meal instead of cooking something only for himself.
“Beef brisket, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, cornbread and....a chocolate cake.”
My, Cullen was throwing out a challenge, but she'd take it.
“I'll stop by the meat market tomorrow and pick up a brisket,” Rose announced. “Shall I ask Adolph for supper, Kaitlyn?”
Rose watched Cullen out of the corner of her eye as his fork stopped midair.
“No, I don't think you should,” Cullen said without looking at Rose.
“Why not? The brisket will certainly feed more than the four of us.” Kaitlyn said as she stacked dishes on the table.
“How about inviting...Charlie Moore, to eat with us?” Cullen asked while looking at his parents.
“I think that's a fine idea, Cullen,” Pastor nodded with approval. “You're welcome to borrow the horse and buggy to bring him over here if it's too far for him to walk.”
“Thanks. I'll see if Charlie has plans for tomorrow evening.”
Kaitlyn rolled her eyes upward but didn't say anything. Rose had a hard time believing Kaitlyn had kept her opinions to herself about Charlie, but she was letting her son make his own decisions.
Kaitlyn stood from the table, picking up a stack of dishes. “Patrick and I will wash the dishes tonight. Cullen, take Rose for a walk or a ride. Go enjoy the evening together.”
Cullen looked at Rose as Kaitlyn and Patrick, loaded down with dishes, hustled out of the dining room through the swinging door into the kitchen.
“Well, ma is never subtle. Sorry about that.”
“I love your parents, Cullen. You were so fortunate they made you part of the family. I envy you, you know.”
“Why? Other than your unique lifestyle, didn't you have good parents?”
“My grand-mère and the circus family raised me after mother fell when I was five years old. Father was always busy with family business, along with my grand-père. The only time I spent with my father was when we practiced or performed.”
“I'm sorry. You never talked about your mother. I assumed she was still living, but perhaps she'd left the circus.”
“Oh no, she was born in the circus. My grandparents arranged that she and my father would marry to combine two tightrope families. My father’s family from France and my mother’s family is from Italy. I gather it was a European tradition as a way to keep adding new members to the talented families.”
“Do you speak French and Italian because of your families’ background?”
“I speak French with my grandparents, although I never learned to read or write it. We had a school of sorts in the circus, and I learned how to speak, read, and write English in it.”
“You've led an interesting life. I can't believe you'd leave it behind for Clear Creek, Kansas.”
Or for me, was what Rose heard from Cullen. She hoped her plan to start the library would make him realize she meant to stay here, but it seemed Cullen needed more convincing.
Time to change tactics. “I've been working on another story. Would you like to read some of it? I'm having problems with one section, and I'd like your thoughts. I'll run upstairs to get it, then we can sit on the porch to read it together.”
“I'd like that,” Cullen replied as he stood to pull out Rose's chair. Rose loved that Cullen was always a gentleman.
“Back in a minute.” Besides picking up the pages in her room, she'd spritz her favorite perfume behind her ears as part of her evening plan.
The five senses, sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, played an essential part in the circus experience and Rose was using all of them to her advantage this evening.
The meal, especially the dessert, appealed to his taste buds. When he smelled the perfume, he’d associate her with roses. Next would be hearing her voice reading the pages she wrote for this evening. Then seeing and feeling her touch would, hopefully, lead to the proposal Rose desired.
Chapter 10
Cullen squeezed his hands in tight balls, trying not to touch Rose as they sat side by side on the porch swing. What was wrong with him? He wanted to pet Rose like a cat. Stroke her soft, shiny hair, run his hands down her back, lean in to smell her sweet scent.
Or was that his mother’s rose bush below the porch he was smelling? He leaned closer to Rose as she scanned her page in the waning evening light. No, the heady scent was radiating from Rose.
Cullen leaned back, easing his arm around the back of the porch swing, and Rose’s shoulders. How he’d love to cup her shoulder and pull her against his chest.
Did she put something in that cherry cobbler? He did have three servings, and he could have eaten more if there had been any left.
If Rose kept baking tasty treats like that, her husband would be a happy man for life.
“I can't quite describe this right, so I'd like for you to help me with it. Turn towards me, and
we'll act it out after I read the scene.”
Cullen turned toward Rose, waiting to see what she needed him to do.
“This is what I've written so far.” Rose cleared her throat and started reading.
“She laid her dainty hand against his massive chest. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady under her palm. He, in turn, brushed the back of his hand against her soft cheek, wondering what it would be like to kiss her soft pink lips.
“Slowly, he moved his hands to her waist pulling her tight against his chest. She moved her hand up from his chest to wrap her arms around his neck. She could feel his heartbeat speed up as her bosom pressed against his body.”
Cullen's breath stopped for a second until he remembered he had to breathe to hear the rest of Rose’s scene. The thoughts racing through his brain was doing something to his body.
“She licked her lower lip, and he had to taste her succulent lips. He leaned forward until there was just a hair's width between their lips. 'I need you,' he whispered before lightly touching her lips once, and again, until fully pressing his lips to seal against hers in the act of passion. He'd never loved anyone as much as he loved her.”
Cullen watched transfixed as Rose laid the piece of paper on the table beside the swing.
“All right. I have this section memorized, so let's act it out to see if it works.”
Reality hit Cullen full force. What? Rose wants to act this out? Here? Now?
“I start first. She laid her dainty hand against his massive chest. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady under her palm.”
Cullen looked down as Rose placed her hand on his heart. One second later, his heart was racing like one of Hilda Wilerson's racehorses.
“He, in turn, brushed the back of his hand against her silken cheek, wondering what it would be like to kiss her soft pink lips.
“Touch my cheek, Cullen.”
Cullen brushed her cheek. It was as soft as peach fuzz.
Grooms with Honor Series, Books 4-6 Page 17
