Grooms with Honor Series, Books 4-6

by Linda K. Hubalek

  “We need to be back on the train tomorrow afternoon.”

  “You’re only here overnight?” Rose’s shoulders drooped with dismay.

  “Your grandparents will stay until Monday, but the rest of us need to get back to work, Rose,” her father said as he hugged Rose. “It was our opportunity to see you marry, so I hope I can walk you down the aisle of that church tonight or tomorrow before I have to leave.”

  Mr. Leander spoke to Rose, but he was looking at Cullen when he said it, silently asking that Cullen could make it possible.

  And Cullen would arrange this excellent chance for his future wife, even if doing something impromptu went against the grain of his very being.

  Cullen looked over to the front door when it opened. Mack nodded to Cullen as he let their parents walk in front of him.

  All would be right with the world now, thanks to his parents and brothers. Just like when he was six years old when the Reagans rescued him from a back alley. Over the years Cullen had problems accepting his past, mainly because he didn’t know the details of why things happened as they did. But meeting first Charlie, and then Rose had healed the wounds and made him look forward to the future.

  “Welcome to Clear Creek,” his ma said as she greeted Rose’s grandparents and worked her way around the room. She made sure everyone felt welcome and at ease.

  “Ma,” Cullen said as his mother got around to him and Mr. Leander. “This is Rose’s father, Aubin Leander. He’s here to walk Rose down the aisle for our wedding. Would your group of helpers prefer this evening, or tomorrow, to host the reception?”

  His ma’s wink of approval about burst Cullen’s heart. She was proud of him.

  “Whenever Rose and you decide, we’ll be ready. We have enough dessert made for a wedding reception,” his mother waved to the tables laden with cakes.

  Cullen turned to Rose and took her hand. “Do you want our wedding anniversary to be October first or second?

  Rose looked shocked that Cullen was so calm with their sudden impending wedding, but after his initial panic attack, he was ready to marry the woman he’d fallen in love with through her letters.

  “October second would have been your mother’s fiftieth birthday,” Mr. Leander wishfully said. “How about waiting until tomorrow to wed, as a way to honor your mother?”

  Rose dropped Cullen’s hand and wrapped hers around her father’s waist, but Cullen didn’t mind at all. It was a special moment for Rose and her father.

  “That would be perfect, Papa. She would have liked that.”

  “What time tomorrow do you need to get back on the train, Mr. Leander?” Cullen’s father asked. “I can adjust Sunday’s church service to before or after the wedding.”

  “I’m afraid we need to leave on the early afternoon eastbound.”

  “I’ll conduct the wedding immediately after a short Sunday church service then, giving us time to have a nice reception and luncheon before you have to get on the train,” Cullen’s father stated.

  Cullen’s father turned to his mother. “I assume that’s all right with you, Kaitlyn?”

  “Perfect. Would everyone like to walk over to the Paulson Hotel with us now? We can get you rooms for the night, and then eat and visit together in their dining room.”

  Cullen and Rose stood together, watching his parents walk out the door, leading everyone out like a…circus parade?

  “Are you all right with this, Cullen? I had no idea they would show up unannounced,” Rose asked, worrying about what he’d say?

  Cullen wrapped his arms around Rose and gave her lips a light kiss.

  “It was meant to be, Rose. Charlie told me the other day that my mother’s birthday was October second too, although she would have been older than your mother. I like the idea of finally accepting Dolly, as my mother, Mary Elizabeth, on her birthday.”

  “October second, 1887 it is then. And I’m ready to be your bride, Cullen,” Rose said before she leaned up to kiss him.

  “But until then, I need to get to know your family. I assume they have lots of stories to share?”

  “More than they have time to tell in twenty-four hours,” Rose answered before her gaze widened. “But what about the book fundraiser? I should be here at the library!”

  “That’s what sisters-in-law are for. We’ll take care of this afternoon at the library and this evening at the schoolhouse,” Daisy suggested.

  “And I assume we should invite everyone who comes in, to the wedding tomorrow?” Iris asked.

  “You bet,” Cullen said. “The church isn’t a ‘big top,’ but I’d still like to fill it for our wedding. Okay with you, Rose?”

  “Very much so. I’m ready for the most important performance I’ll ever give—saying my vows to you, Cullen.”

  Chapter 17

  “Before Cullen and Rose say their vows, I’d like to read something that is very dear to Kaitlyn and me. A few years ago, we received this special piece of poetry, from one of our sons, on our fifteenth wedding anniversary.”

  Cullen tensed but felt Rose’s hand squeeze his hand to calm him.

  “The man and woman met by chance and plan, just as the prairie and the sky.

  “As with nature, the couple had periods of thunder strikes, storms and drought, but rain, rainbows, and calm winds always followed.

  “The couple didn’t know each other when they married, but their love bloomed as time passed, just as the prairie seasons changed and a seed dropped from a stalk in the fall, becomes a blooming flower in the spring.

  “As clouds shade the prairie, the couple’s love covered turbulent times for their sons, through good times and bad, never smothering but always protecting.

  “The man and woman met by chance, but it was destined to be for them and me.”

  Cullen’s father sighed and smiled as he glanced at his mother, the congregation, and finally Cullen.

  “Cullen and Rose, you met by chance—and plan—and it will take time for your love to grow strong. But I firmly believe it will happen because you have a solid foundation to start it on; your wedding vows in this church, with God and the congregation blessing and guiding you.”

  “Your building blocks to a successful marriage are communication with each other, support of your family and friends, and always kissing each other good morning and good night.”

  Cullen’s face blushed as bright as his bride’s when the congregation chuckled behind them, but Cullen couldn’t wait to make kissing a daily practice.

  “Now for the start of your marriage, your vows to each other.”

  “Cullen, will you love Rose, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”

  “Yes, I will,” Cullen answered with confidence.

  Cullen carefully lifted Rose’s left hand and slid a shiny gold band on her left ring finger. “Rose, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  Pastor nodded to Cullen and turned to Rose.

  “Rose, will you love Cullen, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”

  Rose met Cullen’s serious gaze and stated, “Yes, I will.”

  Cullen lifted his left hand in front of Rose and she slid a shiny gold band on his left ring finger as she said, “Cullen, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  Cullen’s father cleared his throat before looking at them again.

  “Cullen and Rose, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in holy Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of this ring and the joining of your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife.”

  Pastor raised his rig
ht hand and prayed, “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift his countenance unto you and give you peace. Amen.

  “Son, it’s time to kiss your lovely bride.”

  ***

  For the first time in months, Rose was flying again. Her family was here to witness her wedding to a dear man who had a wonderful family of his own. How could she have been so lucky, after her horrible accident, to find a better life in a little Kansas prairie town? The bright blue sky had no limits today, and she was free to dream of soaring to new adventures with Cullen and their future family.

  Rose’s heart fluttered as Cullen, her wonderful husband carefully wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his chest. Cullen whispered against her lips, “the man and woman met by chance, but it was destined to be,” and then gave her a long sensual kiss.

  Cullen was indeed a groom of honor…and love.

  ~*~*~*~

  Seth’s Promise

  Grooms with Honor Series, Book 6

  Copyright © 2018 by Linda K. Hubalek

  A sweet historical romance set in 1888.

  When rancher Seth Reagan left Kansas for a livestock show in Chicago, he never dreamed he’d be returning a week later with seven horses, extra carpet bags, and a wife.

  Lily Lind answered a mail-order-bride advertisement, expecting to be a Chicago businessman’s wife. Instead, she finds herself singing randy songs to a bunch of drunk men in a saloon.

  After escaping the saloon and finding Seth, Lily accepts his offer of a marriage of convenience to protect her from the saloon owner’s thugs. They travel back to Seth’s hometown to decide their future.

  Now what? Go their own ways, or make their marriage real? Will Seth want Lily though, after he learns her secrets?

  Seth and Lily

  I always picture my characters, either imaginary or from real images, when I write my books. For the Grooms with Honor series I’m using couples, I found in my great-grandparent’s photo album, dating back to the early 1880s to early 1900s period. My great-grandparents were born in Sweden, moved to Kansas, and married in 1892.

  There are no names written on the back of these photographs, and I don’t recognize them as any of my relatives. This photo, which was taken and sent from Sweden, is probably a wedding portrait of friends or cousins of my great-grandmother who immigrated to Kansas in the 1880s.

  These couples don’t look like our modern-day cover models (men with rippling muscles and women with flawless makeup), but they show real couples starting their new life together as husband and wife during the same period as the couples in my Grooms with Honor series.

  While you’re reading Seth’s Promise, you can pretend this wedding portrait is of Seth Reagan and Lily Lind. Hopefully, I’ve given them a good start in their married life.

  Chapter 1

  November 1888

  Chicago, Illinois

  “Miss Lind? Miss Lily Lind?”

  Seth Reagan heard the woman’s name being called over and over as a man walked through the noisy crowd departing from the westbound train just arrived at the Chicago depot. The man wore a gray topcoat over his suit, and a dark gray fedora hat, and held a small sign over his head which must have had the woman’s name printed on it. The ends of his maroon wool scarf flipped in the chilly November air as he turned one way then another trying to catch the woman’s attention.

  Seth stood about fifteen feet away from the man. He had arrived on the eastbound train a few minutes ago and was trying to get his bearings. This was Seth’s first buying trip by himself, and it was a bit overwhelming.

  People were streaming past him, some in a hurry to leave the depot, others waiting for a person to descend the steps of one of the many cars unloading at this busy station. There were more people within seeing distance here at the depot than the entire population of Clear Creek, Kansas, his hometown.

  He was in Chicago on behalf of his employer, Isaac Connely, to attend two livestock shows and a horse sale. The shows were to be held in the Exhibition Hall at the Union Stockyards. He had reservations to stay in Hough Hall Hotel near the Yards, so he needed to determine where the hotel was located and how to get there.

  “Miss Lily Lind?”

  “Yes, hello, I am Miss Lind,” a young woman walked up to the man holding the sign and identified herself in a clear, strong voice. She was tall with wisps of strawberry blonde hair escaping out of her brown woolen cap. Seth saw her tan wool cloak had a smear of dried mud on the side of it when the crowds dispersed enough for him to get a good look at the woman. It was hard to keep one’s clothes clean when traveling, so he didn’t think anything of it. She looked nervous, but she held her head high and looked the man in the eye.

  “Miss, are you an American? I hear an accent in your voice,” the man said before even saying hello.

  “Hmm, yes, I came from Sweden two years ago, but I’m an American now. Are you Mr. Hardesty, my fiancé?” Miss Lind nervously asked.

  “No, miss. I’m picking you up for my boss, but he’s not going to be happy you’re an immigrant,” the man rudely stated.

  The woman appeared shocked at his statement and looked around her as if seeking an escape route should she needed to bolt. Her eye was caught by Seth’s deep brown cowboy hat, and then she looked directly into his hazel eyes. She stared at him a bit, looked away, and then back at him again. Then Miss Lind took a deep breath before turning back to the man and asking, “And you are, sir?”

  “The man who’s going to be in trouble for bringing an immigrant back to the saloon. Got a trunk we need to pick up?”

  “Ah, no, I just have my carpet bag,” she stammered.

  Seth looked at the confused woman and wondered what her story was, and why she came to Chicago. She asked the man if he was her fiancé. The man impatiently said no, and he was taking her to a saloon. Did the Swedish woman understand where she was being taken?

  “Okay then, let’s go. The boss will want you in-house and in your costume by the evening’s opening time.”

  The woman stood her ground when the man took hold of her arm. “Wait, I think you have the wrong person. I’m here to wed Mr. Wilber Hardesty. He’s a well-known businessman in Chicago.”

  “Yes, that’s him. Mr. Hardesty owns the Stockyard Emporium, and you’re supposed to be his new saloon singer if he can get past the fact you’re an immigrant,” the man said in distaste.

  “No! I’m to be his wife, not a saloon singer!” she panicked and tried to pull away, as the man grabbed her bag away from her.

  “That’s what all his ‘mail-order brides’ say, Miss Lind,” the man chuckled as he pulled her into the crowd.

  Seth started following them to offer the lady his assistance because this situation was apparently not what she expected.

  “Oops, sorry sir.” Seth whipped his head away from the couple when bags carried by a young man hit him on the hip. The person was overloaded carrying two bags in each hand.

  “Oh, it’s okay,” Seth replied then turned back to find the woman. He stood on his toes and scanned the crowd, but they had disappeared. Seth had an uneasy feeling about her situation, and his conscience was kicking him for not coming to her assistance right away. Seth hoped the woman was strong enough to stand up for herself because she might need to do just that shortly.

  ***

  Lily panicked as the man pulled her through the crowd. After walking a block, he hailed a carriage, and it stopped for them to climb into. Her guide helped her up to the seat but didn’t say a word to her as they traveled. Goodness gracious the air stunk like…manure and dead animals?

  “The air is rather ‘ripe’ here. What is the cause of it?” Lily asked as she held her scarf up to cover her nose.

  “It’s the smell of money, Miss Lind. You get used to it. Thousands of cattle and hogs are brought in by rail to the Union Stockyards each day, then butchered at either the Amour or Swift meat packing plants situat
ed on either side of the yards.”

  The carriage passed a gaudy looking building front with “Stockyards Emporium” painted in gold letters on a black frame with red trim.

  “Is that…” Lily started to say before the carriage slowed and then turned the corner.

  “Yes, this is Mr. Hardesty’s business, but we’ll go around to the back alley to enter the building near his office,” the man replied but didn’t offer any more information.

  Lily took in the trash lying around overflowing trash barrels along the back wall and was assaulted with the smell of rotting food. She’d been in enough back alleys in her life to be uneasy. Where were doorways, windows, balconies to watch for attacks, or if she needed an escape route?

  Lily counted four doorways before the carriage stopped halfway down the alley. Why couldn’t the saloon have been close to a street instead of half a block down?

  “Down you go, Miss Lind,” the man said grabbing her bag, then offering her his hand to help her step down to the dirt alley. “Let’s see what the boss says about you.”

  Should I snatch my bag out of the man’s hand and run? But he firmly grabbed her elbow after opening the grimy door and pushed her through the entrance.

  Keeping Lily in front of him, he pulled her to a stop and knocked on a closed door near the end of the hall. To the right, she viewed a large room with tables and chairs placed around a small raised stage. Looking left…oh, my stars! Lily stared at the massive painting of a naked woman lounging on a bed, hanging above fully stocked shelves of bottles. The long wooden bar, with stools lined up in front of it, faced the painting. This IS a saloon! Why did he bring me here?!

  “Come in, Sloan,” Lily heard a man in the room answer upon hearing the knock.

  The man, apparently named Sloan, opened the door to a spacious office with a dark wood desk, matching shelves on the wall behind and two upholstered chairs in front of the desk.

  The man sitting behind the desk rose from his leather chair when the two of them entered. His black hair was trimmed short as was his pencil-thin mustache. He looked to be in his late thirties and dressed in a nice, tailored suit, crisp white shirt, and striped tie.