Gabe’s face lit up, and his heart swelled. Rose’s words were music to his ears; he was touched by the compassion of her response.
“You’re an amazing woman, Rose Mills,” Gabe smiled. “I can’t wait until you are my wife.”
Rose’s face blushed with a warm glow, and she gazed into Gabe’s eyes. Something unspoken was communicated between them, and they both felt a happiness and fullness neither had ever felt before.
SEVEN
Rose sat patiently in the guest room in Gabe’s house, awaiting his return. After helping her get her things into the house and showing her around, he’d promptly left to retrieve her chaperone, and he’d been gone for at least two hours.
Though Rose was tired from her travels, she was unable to sleep while Gabe was away. He’d given her the liberty to explore his house at will, and, for most of the time he was gone, she did. She’d looked around to acquaint herself with her new home, as well as with her husband-to-be.
Rose had discovered that Gabe was a well-rounded, conscientious, sentimental man. His home was clean and in good repair, and he had numerous items that demonstrated how he passed his time, such as a scuffed-up guitar that’d obviously been played countless times and dozens of books with cracked bindings holding the wrinkled pages that he’d clearly read more than once. His pantry was well stocked with nutritious foods, as well as with a reasonable amount of sweets, and he had a small collection of artwork hanging on his walls, including a portrait of a couple with their child, which Rose could tell was of Gabe and his parents.
After Rose explore the house, she returned to her room for the remainder of her wait, and she fantasized about the wonderful life she was sure to share with Gabe. She, too, liked music, books, and artwork, and she imagined the delectable meals should could concoct from the food in the pantry and envisioned a similar portrait of her, Gabe, and their child hanging on the wall.
As Rose continued to forecast her future, she heard a commotion outside, and she quickly rushed to the window, where she saw Gabe approaching on his carriage, with an elderly woman at his side. Rose immediately ran out of her room, to the living room, to greet Gabe and her chaperone.
A few minutes later, Gabe and the older woman walked in. “Rose Mills, meet Mrs. Janet Smyth, your chaperone,” Gabe said.
Rose smiled at the woman, and the woman smiled at her. They engaged in a brief conversation, discussing Rose’s origins and travels, as Gabe admired Rose adoringly.
When the women lulled in their conversation, Gabe stepped forward to speak. “Along with your chaperone, I also bring good news,” he smiled. “I stopped and spoke with the preacher and explained our circumstances. He was supposed to marry us three weeks from now. But, if it suits you, he can now marry us in three days—if that’s not too soon.”
Rose’s eyes widened, and she smiled a big smile. “It’s not too soon,” she cooed. “In fact, it’s not soon enough.”
Rose immediately felt embarrassed at what she’d just said. But, when she was the look on Gabe’s face, that embarrassment went away.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Gabe said softly. His heart was beating so rapidly, he thought it’d jump out of his chest.
Mrs. Smyth eyed the couple and laughed. “I’ve been a chaperon to many a young woman in my day,” she said.
“But never before have I seen such an embodiment of ‘love at first sight.’”
Both Rose and Gabe blushed and bashfully bowed their heads, and Mrs. Smyth shook hers and laughed again.
“It’s still early afternoon,” the chaperone said. “And, I’m sure you’ve got plenty of work to catch up on, Gabe. Not to mention, Miss Mills here looks like she could use a nap. So, why don’t the two of you part ways for now, and I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare us all supper.”
Gabe and Rose looked up at each other, and they both felt an aching in their hearts. Neither one of them could stand the thought of being apart until evening, yet they both knew, by convention, that it was “right.”
“Very well,” Gabe said with a sigh, turning to Mrs. Smyth. He glanced at Rose again, and felt lightheaded from her subtle, sweet smile.
Gabe left the house a moment later, and Rose went to her room. Though in different locations, however, they both remained in the same state of mind. Over the next few hours, as Gabe toiled on his land and worked with his livestock, and while Rose drifted in and out of sleep, they each thought of the other and longed to be together again.
When supper time came around, Gabe returned to the house and freshened up while Mrs. Smyth set the table and put out the food. Rose had been roused by the sound of Gabe’s voice when he came home, and she, too, freshened up for the meal.
The dinner that Mrs. Smyth had prepared was a hearty one. But, it was not nearly as hearty as the conversation—and the connection—Rose and Gabe enjoyed during their meal. They both were very hungry, but the spent the bulk of their suppertime chatting, laughing, and gazing at each other in enchantment.
Rose spoke of her life back in Baltimore and described some of the more shocking medical cases she’d dealt with as a nurse. She did not mention Andrew, however. In fact, she was so love-struck and engaged with Gabe that thoughts of Andrew never even crossed her mind.
In turn, Andrew spoke of his life in the settlement of Green Ridge, as well as of Belleville at large. He also discussed, at length, some of the many things he’d experienced—and learned—through his friendship with Oak Tree and newfound familiarity with the Kiowa Tribe.
Even though both Rose and Gabe were learning information about each other than was otherwise new to them, the way they carried on together was remarkable. They spoke to each other with such comfort and closeness, as if they’d known each other, and been together, for years.
Once dinner was through, the couple retired to the living room, with Mrs. Smyth, where they continued talking for two more hours, until Mrs. Smyth was forced to do her job and call it a night. Again, when they were separated, Rose and Gabe remained together in their minds, and they both were lulled to sleep with thoughts of each other playing out in their heads.
The next morning, Rose woke up as soon as the cock crowed and joined Mrs. Smyth in the kitchen, to prepare breakfast. As the women made coffee, eggs, and meat, Gabe joined them and smiled at what he smelled and saw.
“Good morning, my love,” Gabe greeted Rose.
“Good morning, dear,” Rose replied.
Mrs. Smyth couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “So, Rose,” she interjected, interrupting their affectionate display, “I imagine you’ll be going into town today to get a wedding dress.”
“I guess I should,” Rose giggled.
“Would you like me to join you?” the older woman asked.
Rose considered the question for a moment and appraised Mrs. Smyth form. She thought of her old family friend, Mrs. Johnson, and how she’d worn herself thin. “No, that’s alright, Mrs. Smyth,” she answered. “You stay here and rest up. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Mrs. Smyth smiled, and, together, she and Rose finished preparing the morning meal. Breakfast went much like dinner had gone the night before. Rose and Gabe engaged in pleasant, natural conversation and admired each other from across the table—and, they didn’t stop until Mrs. Smyth reminded them that they had other things to do.
With Mrs. Smyth’s prodding, Gabe left the house to work on the land, and, a short while thereafter, Rose headed off to town. She went straight to the specialty clothing store and picked out a wedding gown, then went to the general store to acquire a few other things before heading home again.
When Gabe saw Rose approaching the ranch, he was quite shocked and concerned. She’d only been gone for three or four hours, and, in his experience, he’d known women to shop much longer than that.
“Is everything okay?” Gabe inquired, rushing toward his fiancé.
“Yes, everything’s just fine,” Rose replied with a smile. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re back so soon,” Ga
be answered. “I thought you’d shop much longer, or linger around town to get a feel for it, or scope out the hospital where you’ll soon work.”
“I found everything I needed in no time,” Rose said, stepping closer to Gabe. “And, I did consider stopping by the hospital. But, in the end, I decided to come home… to spend time with you and help out here at the ranch. I know you’re still recovering from your injuries incurred during the stampede, so I figured you could use the help—and, I’ve decided to put off applying at the hospital until we are settled into married life and you’re fully recovered. Until then, I’ll be your ranch hand… in addition to being your wife.”
Gabe’s heart felt full, and he smiled a broad smile. “I certainly could use the help,” he said. “And, I’d love your company, too.”
Rose went on to help Gabe with his ranching duties for the rest of the work day. She was a quick learner and seamlessly adapted to the novel tasks. Gabe was greatly impressed by her proficiency, as well as by her willingness to make sacrifices to help him and her eagerness not just to share life’s pleasures but, also, its burdens.
Indeed, Rose and Gabe worked together like longtime partners, and, as they did, the love between them shone throw in many ways. Anyone who would’ve seen them would’ve thought they were already married, and had been for some time. And, sure enough, they both felt as though they were already bound together. All they had left to do to make it official was exchange vows.
EIGHT
Two days later, Rose and Gabe made it official and exchanged vows. They were wed in the church in Belleville, before the congregation and God. Their ceremony was a lovely one, and they both barely made it through without shedding joyful tears.
After the ceremony, there was a splendid celebration in town square, replete with food, music, and dancing. All those in attendance seemed to have a wonderful time… until one person in particular showed up.
“Greetings, my dear friend,” a bronze-skinned man said, approaching the groom.
“Ah, Oak Tree!” Gabe exclaimed, embracing the man.
“I’m so glad you could come.”
Many of the guests started whispering and giving the chief disparaging looks. Rose, however, looked him dead in the eye, smiled, and greeted him with cheer and grace.
“Chief Oak Tree,” she said, bowing her head in respect, “it’s an honor to meet you. I have heard great things about you and your tribe.”
“Thank you,” Oak Tree replied, bowing his head in respect as well. “It’s an honor to meet you too.”
Oak Tree reached into his satchel and extracted a very large, heavy rock with animals and symbols painted on it.
“Here is a gift,” he said. “Place it outside of your home. It will ward off bad spirits and bring you good luck.”
“What a wonderful gift,” Rose replied, admiring the rock.
“I’m sure it’ll come in useful.” The guests, however, did not appear to agree. They continued to whisper, rolled their eyes, and looked on at Oak Tree with fear and resentment in their eyes.
“I think I’ll be going now,” Oak Tree said, sensing the disapproval all around him. “I only came by to congratulate you, meet your wife, and give you this gift… It seems your guests don’t want me here.”
“Nonsense,” Rose replied immediately. “You’re just as much a guest as any other person here. Gabe and I are delighted to have you here, and it’s our wedding day. So, please, stay.”
Oak Tree looked around at the crowd, then sighed.
“Alright,” he answered. “But, only for a little while.”
Oak Tree, Rose, and Gabe continued to converse for several minutes. And, as they did, a good number of other guests left. The couple, however, paid them no mind and continued to enjoy their time with the chief.
After another hour or so, Oak Tree left as well. In parting, he and Gabe made plans to meet up with each other later that week, and, as he walked away, he looked forward to those plans rather than looking at those you continued to give him disapproving glances.
Soon thereafter, Rose and Gabe left also, with Mrs. Smyth in tow. They returned to the ranch, and directly went to the living room to talk further. Mrs. Smyth fell asleep as the couple romantically rambled well into the night. She awoke sometime around midnight and enforced her “rules,” sending Gabe and Rose off to their own bedrooms before going to her own.
The next day was a day of rest for the couple. Though Gabe’s workers worked on the ranch, Gabe did not join them. Instead, he spent his day in the house with his new wife (under Mrs. Smyth’s supervision, of course). They opened the unopened gifts their wedding guests had given them and incorporated some of the new items into their home, including the painted rock Oak Tree had given them, which they placed on the porch, just outside of the front door.
Each second Rose and Gabe spent together that day only further fortified the love between them. In doing such simple tasks, they continued to learn about each other and became familiar with each other’s idiosyncrasies, quirks, and personal habits.
When Rose sneezed after dusting off the mantle to place their new candelabra upon it, Gabe found the way she wiggled her nose incredibly endearing. And, when Gabe begged God’s pardon after accidentally dropping some meat on the floor during supper, Rose was touched by his reverence not just for God but also for God’s gift of food.
Over the days that followed, the couple’s knowledge of, and appreciation for, each other exponentially expanded. Rose began helping Gabe on the ranch on a daily basis, and her assistance increased his admiration for her, as well as the productivity of his business.
Approximately one week after the wedding, Mrs. Smyth finally said goodbye and retired as chaperone, leaving the couple to their own will and devices. Once the older woman was gone, Rose moved her things out of the guest room and joined Gabe in what was now their marital bedroom, and, from there, a new, entirely wonderful type of love and closeness developed between them. The couple was now “one” in every way imaginable.
NINE
One month later
Mrs. Rose Rogers smiled cheerily as she made her way through town, and her smile was warranted, for she lived a very blessed life.
The past month had been the happiest time Rose had ever experienced in her life, and all signs indicated that her happiness would only increase as time progressed. She and Gabe were madly in love, and, on top of being husband and wife, they were best friends with each other.
What’s more, Rose had also made other friends over the past few weeks. She’d visited with Oak Tree on a couple occasions and now considered him her friend, and she kept in touch with Mrs. Smyth, who had introduced her to other women and invited her to join the church’s women’s group.
By this point, Gabe had fully recovered from his injuries in the stampede, and his ranching business had recovered significantly. But, he needed to make some improvements around the ranch in order to compensate for his downtime and losses—and, those improvements required a significant amount of money, which he, unfortunately, did not have in full.
Gabe had recently applied for a loan at the bank, and was waiting to for a decision. But, in the meantime, Rose had decided that she also wanted to contribute—in more than one way. Though she greatly enjoyed helping Gabe on the ranch, and though Gabe greatly enjoyed it too, she’d decided it wasn’t the best use of her time, skill, and earning potential. As it was, she’d helped Gabe longer than they’d initially planned, and, just the other day, she’d decided to again answer her calling.
With Gabe better now and things picking up at the ranch, Rose was now ready to return to her career in nursing—and, in addition to the many blessings just noted, that was part of the reason she smiled cheerily as she made her way through town. She was headed to the medical center to inquire about a job.
“Good afternoon,” Rose said politely, greeting the nurse at the front desk of the medical center. “I am an experience nurse, and I’ve come to speak with someone about working her
e.”
“Ah!” the nurse behind the desk grinned. “We could definitely use more nurses here. We’re severely understaffed… I’ll go find one of the physicians and have him come out to talk to you.”
Rose nodded as the nurse went off to retrieve a doctor, then she examined her surroundings. It had only been less than two months since she left her post in Baltimore, but, my, how she missed nursing! As she watched an orderly help an older woman prepare to leave, Rose thought about the many people she’d helped over the years, and her heart swelled at the prospect of helping many more here in Belleville.
A few minutes later, the nurse from the front desk returned, joined by a heavyset, bald man wearing thick glasses.
“I’m Dr. Spencer,” the man said, holding out his hand. “And, I hear you’re looking for a job.”
“Yes,” Rose answered, shaking his hand. “My name is Rose Rogers. I have well over a year’s experience working as a nurse, and I’ve tended to a variety of patients, from those suffering everyday ailments such as colds and sore joints to those suffering life-threatening conditions. At my former job, I was one of the go-to members of the staff, and I assumed many advanced responsibilities, including assisting the doctors with operations.”
“Very impressive,” Dr. Spencer smiled, pushing his glasses back further on his nose.
“Thank you,” Rose replied, trying not to blush or come off too humble.
“And, why did you leave your former job?” the doctor asked, still smiling.
“To get married,” Rose answered. “I left Baltimore just two months ago, and I—”
“Did you say ‘Baltimore’?” Dr. Spencer inquired. The smile from his face faded, and he looked at Rose suspiciously.
“Yes,” Rose said. “I worked at Johns Hopkins—”
“And what’s your name again?” Dr. Spencer interjected.
“Rose Rogers,” Rose answered.
New Beginnings Spring 20 Book Box Set Page 77
