Grooms with Honor Series, Books 10-12

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Tully stood up and stomped to the top of the stairs to get away from Violet and his brothers. He just as well climb up on the café roof and jump off now to save his brothers from killing him.

  Violet raised her hands as if to surrender. “But it’s not true! I swear!”

  “Okay, calm down. But, I’ll ask you again. Do you want it to be legal?” Fergus asked again to get them back on track.

  Tully slowly descended the steps, not wanting Violet to face his brothers on her own.

  “Well, if Tully would propose, I wouldn’t turn him down. I don’t want to marry Westin and live in Chicago, even though he is a banker and I’d be well taken care of.”

  “Are you sure about not wanting to live in Westin’s mansion? After all, I’m only a poor preacher,” Tully snapped back.

  “That’s a fine profession. But, you’re a travel writer too. And I’d love to travel and explore with you, Tully. Hike and camp in the wilderness. Wear trousers or a split skirt instead of all these cumbersome layers!” Violet gestured at her upright frame, kept tight by her corset.

  Oh no… Now Tully was thinking about taking all those layers off his maybe wife…

  “Violet has a point, Tully. Growing up on the ranch like she did, she can ride, shoot, and camp,” Mack argued in Violet’s favor. Which made sense to Mack, because he had an unconventional marriage to a very independent woman doctor.

  They all turned when the café door opened and Lily, Seth’s wife, stepped out and asked. “Seth, are you ready to go home? I’d like to check on the mare that was about to foal.”

  “Yes, Lily. I’ll be back inside in a minute,” Seth said and turned back to nod to Angus, deferring to their oldest brother to wrap up this meeting.

  “Tully and Violet, you need to talk now and decide what you both want. Time is of the essence in your situation with Westin arriving in three days. If there’s enough time, it would be even better if you can send him a telegraph to not come, saving him the time and cost of traveling here.

  “Do you want to stay married, or be married if you aren’t already wed? Or go your separate ways?” Angus asked as he motioned his brothers to leave Tully and Violet to talk.

  Cullen hung back as the others left. “Just remember, Tully. Daisy. Iris. Lily. Pansy. Rose…”

  Violet…

  Yes, Tully had already thought of that. By some chance of fate, all of his brothers had married women named after flowers. But did Violet really want to traipse around in the wilderness with him?

  Chapter 6

  The men had gone back into the café, leaving the two of them in silence. What did Tully think after his brothers confronted them?

  “Well, Dan would have gotten a chuckle out of our predicament,” Violet said, trying to clear the mood.

  “And my brothers think I’ve screwed up, again.”

  “Tully! Stop putting yourself down! You’re a minister and a talented writer who was picked for an exciting assignment by the Chicago Tribune.”

  And I want to go travel with him.

  “Your brothers are right. We need to talk about this and decide what we want.”

  “And figure out why in the world Westin’s on his way here?”

  “I jumped to the conclusion that he was traveling here to marry me because he didn’t believe we were married. Angus thought the telegraph meant he was coming to witness our marriage.”

  What exactly did the telegraph say?”

  “To Rusty Tucker. Will arrive Saturday for a wedding. Horace Westin.”

  “That’s it? What did your parents say about all this?”

  “Papa is still adamant I’m to marry Horace. I said I will not, but I haven’t said why not, nor mentioned our marriage to them yet.”

  “Westin is a nice man, well respected at church and in the community. You’d never want for anything.”

  Except I wouldn’t be with you.

  “I wonder why he hasn’t married before at his age, and why he picked me to court and marry. I’m so opposite of what a banker’s wife should be and do. If he thinks I can manage a house and play hostess to his cohort’s parties—”

  “You caught his eye because you’re a beautiful woman, Violet. And you graduated from finishing school with ‘flying colors.’ Precisely what a prominent banker needs by his side.”

  Violet did her best in school because her father had paid hard-earned money for her education. And she wanted her parents to be proud of her.

  Although they never ever said anything, Violet always felt as if her parents felt a bit—awkward—for lack of a better word, living on the Cross C Ranch.

  As the foreman, Rusty worked right beside the owner, Isaac Connely when the two of them started the ranch in the beginning. Isaac’s family manufactured guns and profited from the Civil War. When the Illinois company was sold, Isaac’s share bought thousands of acres of prime Kansas grassland, the custom building of an enormous two-story house with a wrap-around porch, a stone barn, and other outbuildings.

  Isaac gifted the ranch house to Marcus Brenner when Marcus and Violet’s aunt Sarah married, and built another house for himself and Cate. The Brenner family would inherit the vast ranch when Isaac passed.

  Rusty had always lived in the foreman’s cabin situated just past the shadow of the owner’s house. When her parent’s wed, Isaac had built onto the cabin for them as a wedding gift, but it was still a small dwelling for the five of them to live in.

  But Violet and her brothers lived in the big ranch house as much as their parents’ cabin, so their tiny home never seemed cramped to her.

  And then there was Violet’s mother. Faye would always be grateful for the open arms of her half-sister’s family, giving her mother and herself, then a three-month-old baby, a home when they escaped the brothel.

  Almost twenty years later, her parents were still the foreman and the half-sister, living on someone else’s ranch.

  And their background and reasonings were why they wanted Violet to marry a banker.

  But Violet didn’t want that man and life. Surely her parents would understand that.

  Tully sighed, then picked up Violet’s hand, but then laid it back on her lap.

  “Let’s pretend we’re talking to a pastor for counseling about what to do. I have the training, so I just as well put it to use…rather than get Da involved yet.”

  “But Angus is right. We need to decide and tell our parents.”

  “Okay, ladies first,” Tully sat very upright as if he was acting. “Miss Tucker, why would you want to marry Tully Reagan?” Tully asked in a low formal voice.

  “No fair! Why do I have to go first?”

  “Because the pastor in this conversation, asked you to speak first.”

  “Fine,” Violet said in her best, “you’re in trouble” voice.

  What should she say? Just as well spill her heart because this might be her only chance to tell Tully what she really felt about him.

  “Pastor Reagan, Tully was always a show-off boy, full of mischief, and laughter. I admired him for his…what I’d call zest for life and wanting to experience anything and everything.”

  She glanced at Tully, but he still sat upright, trying to be the third person in this conversation.

  “Even though Tully attended school in town, and I in the country school, we spent time together in church, community events, and many get-togethers at the Cross C Ranch. The Reagan family are good friends with the Connely and Brenner families.

  “All the Reagan brothers worked for Mr. Connely on one of his ranches after they left grade school until they were ready to start their adult profession. Tully worked with Seth on the Straight Arrow Ranch until he left for seminary.”

  “I think you’re repeating a story I already know, Miss Tucker…”

  “Yes, well it is to tell you, Pastor Reagan, that I’ve known Tully all my life, first as a playmate growing up. Then when we spent time together as adults in Chicago, my feelings changed.”

  “How so, Miss Tu
cker?” Tully leaned forward, just inches from her face.

  “I…wanted to play with Tully differently. Instead of throwing dirt clods at him to stay away, I wanted to wrap my arms around his waist, pull him close and kiss him silly.”

  “I’d like a demonstration of that,” Tully said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

  “Throwing dirt clods?” Violet whispered between giving Tully’s mouth light feathery kisses.

  “No, the other,” Tully said before pulling Violet on his lap and deepening their kisses.

  This was what Violet wanted in her marriage, passion, banter, and understanding of the other person. Being free to say and do anything she wanted with her partner because she knew the person’s past, good and bad.

  Violet reluctantly pulled back. “Now it’s Tully’s turn, Pastor Reagan. What does he think of Miss Tucker?”

  Tully took a deep breath before looking directly in her eyes.

  “When I was growing up, Violet was one of the roughest kids of the Brenner and Tucker families. She was a tomboy who could rope a calf as quick as any Cross C ranch hand, beat her brothers in arm wrestling, but still play with dolls with her girl cousins.

  “But when I met Violet at the Chicago train depot when she arrived to attend school, I saw a woman I’d never met…but always knew. I was attracted to her and jealous of any other man giving her an admiring glance.”

  Violet moved off Tully’s lap to sit beside him again. She took his right hand in both of hers and gave his fingers a squeeze.

  “Tully, we need to be serious now and make a decision.”

  “You’re right. It was easy to be friends as we went to school. Now, we need to start our adult lives.”

  Tully cleared his throat and looked up at the sky. “Gosh, it’s hard to feel like an adult when I’ve always been the youngest preacher’s kid and brother.”

  But you’ve always been an equal part of your family, Tully. I think your parents are even ready for you to be an adult.”

  “Are you sure they won’t see my writing job as a folly? A way to get out of ‘work’?”

  “Not your parents. They will support you, no matter what.”

  Violet pushed the nagging worry of her parents to the back of her mind. Surely they’d agree with what Violet’s heart wanted.

  “Okay, this is it then.” Tully stood up and pulled Violet off the steps to stand beside him. Then she gasped as he went down on one knee in front of her, still holding on to her right hand.

  “Miss Violet Rose Tucker, I loved you over the years as a friend, but now I want to change my friendship to another role. I love you as a man should love a woman he wants to spend his life with. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Violet reveled in his declaration and wanted to accept, but there was still one problem standing in their way to a real marriage. Her father had given permission for Horace to marry her, not Tully, who hadn’t asked Rusty for her hand in marriage.

  “Yes, but—” Violet hurried on to say when Tully stood up.

  “You don’t want to travel with me? I thought you’d love seeing the new parks,” Tully interrupted her.

  “Tully, I love you and want to explore beside you as your wife, but we have the problem of Horace Westin to settle first.”

  “Why? We could already be married,” Tully pointed out.

  “Because my parents are old-fashioned about protocol. Westin asked my father for my hand in marriage, and he agreed. Did you talk to my father about marrying me?”

  Tully’s crestfallen expression said it all. The Reagan brothers had been taught, almost drilled about commitment, honoring promises and vows.

  “And I blew it again!” Tully turned away and threw up his hands.

  “No, you didn’t. We just…said our vows before your proposal?”

  “And talking to your parents.”

  “Well, Pastor Reagan, what is your advice to this young couple in love?”

  “As a pastor, I’d say to confess all your secrets and wishes to your parents and beg for their forgiveness and understanding.”

  Tully took a deep breath and held out his hand to Violet.

  “Ready to become adults and talk to our parents, Violet?”

  “I’m ready, Tully. Let’s find our parents and ask for a meeting at the parsonage right now. We need to let Westin know about our decision right away.”

  “All right. And after that, we’re going to check into the Paulson Hotel. The Chicago Tribune already gave me money for my travel expenses. We can finally start our life as husband and wife,” Tully said as he pulled Violet close and gave her a heart-melting kiss.

  Violet wished she could be giddy with love and excitement because she and Tully finally professed their love to each other and agreed to become man and wife. But something about her father’s reaction to Violet not wanting to marry Westin was…off.

  Chapter 7

  “You what?” Rusty gasped as he stared at Violet, and then at Tully.

  He and Violet had found their parents visiting among the crowd in the café and had asked to talk to them privately. Tully’s parents smiled at each other, and congratulated them, apparently not surprised when Tully announced to the group that he’d asked Violet to marry him.

  Faye squealed with excitement, jumping out of her chair in the parsonage’s parlor to hug her daughter.

  Of course, they hadn’t gotten to the part of possibly already being married and traveling to Wyoming soon. His parents’ dispositions might mirror Rusty’s in a minute.

  “I asked Violet to marry me, and she said yes, Mr. Tucker. I’m sorry I didn’t ask your permission first, but we’re both adults and—”

  “But I already gave Mr. Westin permission to marry Violet,” Rusty argued.

  “Rusty, I think it’s wonderful that Tully is marrying our daughter. She’ll be a respected pastor’s wife,” Faye grinned, happy about the outcome for her child.

  “I agree Tully didn’t follow the usual steps, Rusty, but they’ve been away at school together, and I’m not surprised by this. I’m sure they would have told us right away at the depot if not for the situation of Dan’s death. I sprung that news on them before they’d been home two minutes.”

  Tully glanced at Violet. They hadn’t discussed the coordination of when he’d asked her to marry. His parents thought it took place in Chicago, not five minutes ago in the alley behind the café.

  “Actually,” Violet bravely said as she opened her reticule, took out the certificate, and handed it to her father, “we’re already married.”

  Tully’s jaw dropped along with their four parents before he glanced around at their reaction. The certificate drifted to the floor when Rusty let go of it in his shock of Violet’s announcement.

  Of course, Tully’s parents raised their eyebrows at each other in silent communication before his father reached for the certificate Rusty had dropped to the floor.

  If Rusty had a rope in his hand, Tully would be caught and hogtied for his offense in three seconds flat.

  Faye looked disappointed. “But I looked forward to planning your wedding with you, Violet.”

  “Violet, I gave Mr. Westin permission to marry you. You can’t marry Tully,” Rusty brought up again.

  “I already showed the certificate to Mr. Westin, Papa. He knows Tully and I are married. I don’t know why he sent you a telegraph that he’s coming here,” Violet argued.

  Tully watched his father study the piece of paper, even turning it over to look at the back. He wished he was alone with his father to ask if it was legitimate.

  “Where’d you get married, son?” Tully’s father asked in a low voice.

  Tully told a slightly different version—as if it was planned—of being married at the student’s reception by one of their newly ordained friends.

  His father gave Rusty a glance before turning to stare at Tully.

  “Faye and your mother would really like to host a wedding and reception for you.�
��

  Wedding and reception, not just a reception? Oh, Chronicles. Did that mean they weren’t legally married?

  Violet’s hand was squeezing his so hard she was about to break a finger.

  “How about I marry you, again, in the next week or two? Give Violet and your mothers time to arrange everything?”

  “Yes, we need to pick out your dress, flowers, and…. And talk to Helen Paulson about booking their event room,” Faye was ticking off a mental list on her fingers as she thought of things to do for the perfect wedding for her daughter.

  “No, Violet will be marrying Westin this Sunday!” Rusty blurted out.

  “What? No! I’m married to Tully! Why do you keep bringing it up, Papa?”

  Rusty shot out of his chair and walked around the room as if to control his anger. Tully had never seen the man act this way.

  “Rusty. What is wrong with you?” Faye stammered, just as surprised as the rest of the group.

  Rusty sighed as he sat back down in his chair and wiped his face with his hand.

  “I…promised Westin could marry Violet in exchange for a loan from his bank.”

  “What?” Faye stared at her husband in shock. “Why would we need a loan? And how dare you promise Violet to a man for that!”

  “Papa? I can’t believe you did that. I was conceived in a brothel. How can you sell me like…I still lived and worked in one?”

  The shocked look on Rusty’s face meant he’d never thought of it that way.

  “No, Violet. I never considered that. The way Mr. Westin wrote, it sounded as if you were in favor of his courting…and I took advantage of it.”

  “Why do we need a loan, Rusty? And if we did, why not ask our local banker for one?” Faye asked again.

  “Would you like to talk privately, Rusty and Faye?” His father, always the pastor asked. Why didn’t Tully think of that too? Because he was still stunned by the situations revealed in mere minutes. And Tully hadn’t announced the biggest shock to his parents yet.

  Rusty ignored the rest of them as he answered his wife. “I planned to buy the Harrison place for you, Faye. You deserve a bigger home than the tiny cabin you’ve had to live in for almost twenty years. It’s only a mile from the Cross C and my job. The small homestead has a lean-to building to shelter a horse, cow, and a few chickens. You can have your own garden spot too.”