“The train just pulled in. Should we take cakes over to serve the passengers while they wait for the steam engine to replenish their water supply?” Rose asked.
“Don’t worry,” Daisy said. “We’ll have people in…eventually. Although I might take a piece or two over for Angus after the train leaves.”
Cullen watched as a large group of adults departed off the train cars. Usually, there were only a few people getting off at the Clear Creek station, but this looked like…twelve people Cullen counted as they stepped off the train steps, all carrying carpet bags. Cullen watched as Angus walked over to talk to the group.
“Huh,” Charlie said as he peered out the window. “Angus is pointing for the group to walk over here. Maybe you won’t have to deliver the cake to the train after all.”
Everyone in the room moved to the library’s vast plate glass window to see what Charlie was talking about.
“Oh my gosh!” Rose exclaimed. “It’s my family!”
Rose charged out the front door, splashing through the muddy street without bothering to lift her skirt.
“What? Did Rose just say ‘my family’?” Cullen looked at Charlie to clarify Rose’s quick words.
“She’s hugging an older woman. Could that be her grandmother?” Charlie asked since he knew Rose had grandparents.
“Does that woman, standing to the right of Rose…have a beard?” Mack asked as he stared out the window.
Cullen froze. These people were Rose’s family, of sorts.
“Uh, yeah. That’s Rose’s honorary aunt,” Cullen mumbled, not sure what to do.
“Cullen. Cullen,” Mack nudged Cullen’s shoulder. “Get out there to meet Rose’s family and help them across the street.”
Cullen took a deep breath and stepped out into the drizzling rain. Rose’s radiant smile made Cullen step in the biggest puddle in the whole block, splashing muddy water clear up on his shirt.
“Cullen! My family’s here!” Rose laughed with excitement as she held on to her grandmother’s arm as the two zigzagged around the mud puddles. He guessed Rose’s father and grandfather were right behind them with other members of the group tagging along as they dodged the mud.
“Ma’am, let me help you up on the boardwalk,” Cullen said as he took the older woman’s arm and helped her step onto the slippery wood. The way she stepped up though showed she was very spry. Maybe she still walked on the tightrope for all Cullen knew.
“Come on into the library to get out of the rain,” Rose said back to the group as they approached the building.
Cullen’s sisters-in-law stepped back into the hallway to make room for the newcomers.
“Charlie, please stay here,” Cullen muttered under his breath when Charlie started to move back too.
“I’m here, son. Let’s meet your in-laws.”
“Cullen, Charlie, these are my grandparents, Benoit and Renѐe Leander and my father, Aubin Leander,” Rose proudly introduced.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cullen Reagan,” Cullen shook the extended hands, “and this is my father, Charlie Moore.”
“Ah, my granddaughter writes of you. And that’s why we are here,” Mrs. Leander stated with her heavy French accent.
Cullen sidestepped as more people entered the library, exchanging hugs and chatter with Rose. He tried not to stare at some of the people’s unusual looks, knowing in Rose’s eyes, they were her friends, and so he greeted everyone with handshakes and a smile.
“Hello, nice to meet my future son-in-law,” Aubin Leander said as he held out his hand. “I’m Aubin Leander.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Leander. Cullen Reagan. This is a wonderful surprise for Rose,” Cullen said as he tried to steady his nerves. Rose had talked a lot about her family, but to Cullen’s mind, they weren’t real—because he’d never met them—and he thought the meeting wouldn’t happen until months in the future.
Time to remember his “preacher’s son” manners.
“How’d it happen you could visit today? Rose talks about your performing schedules,” Cullen started the conversation.
“We were performing in Kansas City this week, but unfortunately the heavy rains flooded the low area where the circus tent was set up. The water rose so quickly, we couldn’t get the main tent down.”
“Was anyone hurt, or lost in the flood?” Cullen asked, thinking of the many animals Rose had talked about in the past.
“All are accounted for, but the circus is shut down for several days until we can get the tent out of the receding water and mud. It was the perfect opportunity to travel west to see Rose marry,” Mr. Leander said without blinking an eye.
Marry? Cullen felt his vision darken and tunnel down to Mr. Leander’s face.
“We were close by and had time now, so the timing is perfect,” Mr. Leander went on.
What happened to schedules? His and Rose’s wedding wasn’t supposed to take place until later in the future—after Rose’s grandmother wrote when they would arrive in January.
“Uh, marry, now?” Cullen squeaked as he tried to get his voice and emotions under control.
“I see you have a church in town, so a minister would be available. Yes?”
“Yes, that would be my father, Pastor Patrick Reagan.” And Cullen wished his parents were here to help him through this situation. His mother could manage anything and anyone.
“Mack went out the back door to get your parents,” Charlie whispered behind him. Cullen was an adult and should be able to handle this surprise situation, but he was glad he had Charlie and his Reagan family to back him.
“Cullen,” Rose walked up to stand in front him. Her eyes were overly bright, and her smile was too wide. “My family came here today for our wedding.”
“Yes, your father just told me that.”
What should he say now? I think I need to check something at the post office or go put on your wedding dress?
“How long are you folks staying?” Charlie asked Rose’s father.
“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 wi
th 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 right 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.
Cullenwas indeed a groom of honor…and love.
~*~*~*~
Dear Reader:
I hope you enjoyed reading Cullen’s Love, the fifth book in the Grooms with Honor series. Please help other readers discover my books by either recommending them to family and friends, by word of mouth or writing a review. I’d appreciate it.
The historical romance series setting, based near the famous old cowtown of Ellsworth, Kansas, is renowned for its cattle drive days in the 1870s. The town of Clear Creek though, is fictional, based on the many little towns built alongside railroads across Kansas.
This area is now the current Kanopolis State Park in central Kansas. Being local to where I live, I've hiked the park’s hiking trails where it’s easy to visualize what the area looked like in 1880s—because it remains the same now—as then.
For more information on this series, please visit or ask your favorite retailer or library to order them for you. These are stand alone stories, but I recommend reading the books in order to get the full benefit of the storyline.
If you see any errors or typos, please email staff@B
utterfieldBooks.com about them. Even though this book was professionally edited, things can slip through which I want to correct for the next reader.
Please sign up for my newsletter at www.LindaHubalek.com to receive a free short story, and to hear about the release of future books, contests and more. And I love to connect with my readers, so please contact me through one of these social media sites.
Author website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
Many thanks from the Kansas prairie!
Linda K. Hubalek
Who falls in love next? Be sure to watch for Seth’s Promise next.
A sweet western 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?
~*~*~*~
Grooms with Honor Series in order (available and future titles)
Angus’ Trust (Angus and Daisy)
Fergus’ Honor (Fergus and Iris)
Gabe’s Pledge (Gabe and Iva Mae)
Mack’s Care (Mack and Pansy)
Cullen’s Love (Cullen and Rose)
Seth’s Promise (Seth and Lilly)
Adolph’s Choice (Adolph and Poppy)
Tully’s Faith (Tully and Violet)
Grooms with Honor “Friends” Series in order:
Montana Sky: Nolan’s Vow (Nolan and Holly)
Montana Sky: Elof’s Mission (Elof and Linnea)
Jasper’s Wish (Jasper and Julip)
Cullen's Love (Grooms With Honor Book 5) Page 11