Grooms with Honor Series, Books 4-6

by Linda K. Hubalek

  “I and Manurva didn’t mind, and we are married…even if we don’t…you know. But I’d like a kiss for keeping you warm last night. Think that’s an appropriate thank you?”

  Chapter 14

  Lily cornered the cow again this morning and had Daisy milked before Seth had finished forking hay down the hayloft chutes to the stall mangers below. Lily didn’t have to use the stanchion and hobbles on the cow. Lily softly sang, mostly in Swedish, the whole time she milked the cow. Daisy was entranced with her voice, as was Seth. Lily was caring and confident handling all the animals she’d encountered so far on the ranch.

  Seth had hitched the buggy to his father’s horse, then had a saddled mare tied to the back for their trip to town. Lily opted to ride into town astride another one of his horses, and Seth could tell she enjoyed being in the saddle, but she was also worried about going into town.

  “I’m nervous about meeting your family, Seth. They’ll think I roped you into marrying me,” Lily said as she rode close to the buggy.

  “All my brothers and sisters-in-law will be as welcoming and understanding as my folks were, although Mack might tease you about it,” Seth said, trying to put Lily’s mind to ease.

  “To refresh my memory, please go through their names again,” Lily asked before biting her lower lip.

  “Angus is the oldest and my full-brother. He married Daisy Clancy.

  “Nolan is Daisy’s brother, and we all grew up together. Their grandparents, Dan and Edna, who raised the siblings, had the café in town which Nolan and his wife, Holly, now run together.

  “Angus was a railroad detective for years, traveling across several states, but mostly Colorado and Kansas.

  “Daisy had worked in Chicago for years, then worked for a pharmacy in Denver, when she and Angus met again during a train robbery.”

  “A robbery? Were they hurt?” Lily asked.

  “Only Angus’ pride was hurt. But that incident brought them back to Clear Creek to marry and live. You saw me wave to Angus at the depot, and I pointed out Daisy’s pharmacy. They have two children, Benji and Beth.”

  “Next brothers are…” Lily looked confused.

  “Fergus and Mack, brothers who Ma took under her wing when she sailed from Ireland to be Da’s mail-order bride. Their mother died on the ship, and they were so young they don’t remember their father’s name or what town they were born in.”

  “That would be so strange, not to know your parents.”

  “It bugged both brothers over the years, but each reacted differently because of it.

  “Fergus is quiet, thinks things out. He was interested in photography, and Mr. Connely bought him a camera to take photographs of the range. I think I mentioned we brothers all worked for a rancher between the time we finished school and decided on our professions.”

  “I can see why he would want to capture the scenes on this prairie. I’m fascinated by it,” Lily said scanning the grassland they were traveling through.

  “Fergus fixed up a wagon and traveled through western Kansas and Nebraska a few years ago, taking photographs of homesteaders on their claims. This was while Mack was building his photography studio on Main Street.

  “Fergus set up his camera to take a photograph of a train crossing over a river bridge, and he witnessed a woman fall from the train into the river below.”

  Seth waited for the gasp from Lily before he continued.

  “Fergus pulled Iris Kerns, now his wife, from the river. Iris had to deal with many problems from her past—she was a former slave—but Iris and Fergus have a strong marriage. They run the photography studio in town and have a darling little girl named after Iris’ mother.

  “Then there’s Mack, big, broad, and loud. The total opposite of Fergus. Mack made his own toolbox when he was six years old, and helped whoever was building anything in town, be it a house or a chicken coop. He didn’t spend much time with us on the Cross C because he knew what he wanted to do, be a carpenter. Mack and his helpers built the new block of downtown businesses.”

  “He married the lady doctor?”

  “Yep. Fell in love with Doctor Pansy when she stepped off the train on arrival. Doctor Pansy had her own problems with dealing with the town council, who wasn’t planning on a woman doctor, without my lovesick brother bothering her. But marriage has worked out for them, but no kids yet.”

  “That leaves two more brothers.”

  “Cullen was six when he was orphaned by his soiled dove mother and kicked out of the brothel they’d lived in. Da found out about Cullen, and he was adopted in our family. Cullen always had a chip on his shoulder until his real father moved to town earlier this year, and told Cullen, the circumstance of his mother’s spiral into drugs and prostitution.”

  “That would be something any normal person would be ashamed of.”

  “But the background story of Cullen’s birth and the arrival of another man’s mail-order bride, changed Cullen’s attitude.”

  “Now I’m getting confused.”

  “Wait until you meet, Rose, Cullen’s wife. Talk about stories! She was once a tightrope walker in the circus. Her spunk and sweet attitude turned my brother’s life around for the better. I’ve never seen Cullen so happy.”

  “Do they have any children?”

  “Not yet, but I bet it will soon be apparent that Rose is with child. Cullen is beside himself with happiness, and worry, and Rose is…glowing is the best way to put it.”

  “You said your youngest brother, Tully had been working for you?”

  Tully is Ma and Da’s son and got in more trouble in his youth, than the five of us older brothers put together. Tully lived and worked with me for the past four years before he left for a school back East this last September.”

  “What is Tully studying to be?”

  “He hadn’t decided yet, at least not in his last letter to my parents.”

  Clear Creek came into view, and Seth drove the horse and buggy back to his parents’ barn.

  Seth could see most of his family walking toward the parsonage, which sat on the edge of town beside the church.

  “Heads up, Lily. Part of the family is heading this way. I bet the rest is already in the kitchen waiting for us.”

  Mack arrived first, a beaming—and maybe smirking—smile on his face.

  “Welcome home, Seth,” Mack said as he slapped Seth on the back, almost knocking him off balance as he climbed down from the buggy. “Ma said we all have to come to lunch today to meet someone. Who’s your pretty lady friend?”

  Mack’s wife walked up beside Mack and bumped his shoulder. “Please excuse my husband’s sweet manners. I’m known as Doctor Pansy around town, but please call me Pansy,” Mack’s wife said as she held the horse’s bridle as Lily climbed down from the saddle.

  “Thank you, Pansy. I’m…Lily.” Lily looked at Seth as she shook Pansy’s hand, before stepping aside as more family members gathered around them. Angus and Daisy both had a child on their hips as they introduced their family to Lily.

  “Let’s go inside so I can explain to everyone at once why Lily’s with me,” Seth said as Mack unhooked the horse from the buggy and Angus walked the saddle horse into the barn.

  “We’ll be in after we tend to the horses, so don’t say a word until we’re back inside,“ Mack called to them as the group walked in the back door into the kitchen.

  The familiar voices in the kitchen soothed Seth’s nerves as he ushered Lily into the house.

  “Welcome back, Seth,” Fergus said as he laid another slab of ham on the buttered bread his wife, Iris, was laying out on the breadboard. Looked like everyone was helping in the kitchen just as usual.

  “Thanks. Lily, this is Fergus and his wife, Iris. And over by the counter is Cullen cutting pies, with Rose’s help. Everyone this is, Lily. I’ll tell you her story once everyone is at the table.”

  “Then let’s eat,” Mack said as he took off his boots and set them along a line of boots by the back wall of the kitchen. M
ack grabbed a bowl of potato salad as he went by the kitchen table and walked into the dining room.

  “Let’s say grace first, then Seth can talk,” Da said as they all took their place around the table.

  Seth looked around thinking of the changes this table and family had seen over time. After Seth’s mother died, and they moved to Clear Creek, it was just him, Angus and Da. Then they added three more people with Ma, Fergus, and Mack. The table expanded to hold eight when Cullen and Tully arrived.

  Within the last three years, four wives and two grandchildren had joined the expanding table. Would Lily stay to be a permanent member of the Reagan family meals, or just be a visitor for a brief time?

  “Amen,” everyone said except Seth. He’d been lost in his thoughts and hadn’t paid attention to his father’s prayer.

  “Okay, Seth and Lily. It’s time to tell your story. Family, remember that this is a family meeting at the parsonage and everything said at this table is confidential. Seth, please talk while we pass the food around. Everyone needs to get back to work after lunch.”

  Seth looked at Lily not sure where to start. The family knew he went to Chicago for a livestock show, but beyond that no one could have imagined he’d also been in the upstairs of a saloon, gotten in a brawl to protect Lily…let alone married the woman.

  About a week ago, I went to the Chicago stock show with one carpet bag. Yesterday I came home with two carpet bags, seven horses…and a bride.”

  The only sound around the table was Mack unintentionally dropping the serving spoon along with potato salad on his plate.

  *

  Thankfully his family had to get back to work, or they’d still be sitting around the dining room table asking questions. Even quiet Iris had talked, but then Iris had a terrible experience with someone wanting to harm her too, so Iris knew what Lily felt, and encouraged her to stop at their home or studio to talk at any time.

  After leaving the parsonage, they’d roped the new horses together and were now leading them to the ranch.

  The group was a little frisky due to the wintry weather and having been confined for a week or more. The new stock, from Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan had traveled several days to get to Chicago before the sale, and again going to Kansas. They’d have to keep the horses separated from the home herd—and each other—for a while to be sure they stayed healthy after their long trip and acclimated to the ranch.

  Lily rode his horse on their return to the ranch, but her mare was first in line behind her. Lily sang or talked to the horse when Seth wasn’t conversing with Lily.

  “What are we naming these horses, Lily?” There I go again, saying “we.”

  “I’d say something close to their registered names because I’d bet they already know a nickname close to it. It’s how we did it at the horse farm.”

  “What about your horse, since you don’t have papers for her?”

  “I’m not positive yet. I’ve said different names to her, just to see if she perks up to one of them. So far, she seems to like ‘Britta’ the best,” Lily confidently replied.

  “You okay with meeting the neighbors tomorrow? It’ll be a big bunch of people, but they’ll all welcome you.”

  Before they left town, they’d seen Isaac and Cate Connely coming out of the café and had stopped to visit. Seth told them a shortened version of his and Lily’s meeting. In response, the Connely’s invited them to their home the next night, as a way for Lily to meet the neighbors, especially the Hamner family since they migrated from Sweden.

  “If your neighbors are as nice your family, I’ll be fine. I miss talking Swedish, so I look forward to visiting with your Swedish friends.”

  “Dagmar’s wife, Cora is from Boston, so I’m sure she’ll have lots of questions to ask you what’s going on in that city now.”

  “How did she end up marrying a Swedish man in Kansas?”

  “Cora’s family owned the Bar E Ranch where Dagmar was the manager. Cora came for a visit and asked Dagmar to marry her. They are quite a pair, as are their passel of children.”

  Lily hesitated before asking, “Do I need to make something to add to the meal?”

  “We’ve talked about your ability to work with horses, but we’ve never talked about your ability in the kitchen,” Seth smiled and winked at Lily, so she knew it wasn’t a requirement to be a fancy cook for him. “You’re the guest of honor, so I think you’d be safe not to contribute to the meal.”

  “That’s good because…um…I don’t know your stove and oven yet…and I didn’t bring any recipes with me,” Lily said without meeting his eyes.

  It dawned on Seth that Lily probably didn’t know a lot about preparing food. She left her mother’s kitchen at age ten, ate scraps at her employer’s table, and then lived in a boarding house since arriving in America.

  “You can get basic recipes—and my favorites—from my mother. Be sure you ask how to make a burnt sugar cake because it’s my favorite dessert. She’d love to have you spend time with her in her kitchen, or here in the ranch kitchen to help you with this oven.” Lily’s shoulders relaxed after hearing his mother could help her learn how to cook.

  “And the Wilerson brothers’ wives, Swedish twins Hilda and Rania, could give you recipes from your old country. I’ve enjoyed their cardamom buns and kringler on occasion, so be sure you ask them tomorrow how to make those Swedish specialties.”

  Lily stared at Seth a moment and then laughed—before saying something in Swedish to her horse. Did she catch on that he knew she didn’t know how to cook? Seth needed to talk to Dagmar about learning some basic Swedish words so he would know what his wife was saying.

  He thought “his wife” again…

  Seth watched Lily, efficiently handling the horses, adjusting to Kansas and ranch life as if she had been born to it. Lily must have had a hard life in the past, but she consciously decided to be happy with what she had. Would she be satisfied staying on the ranch with him, or did she still want to move to the Swedish settlement?

  What do I want?

  Seth closed his eyes for a moment, listening to her singing. He liked the quiet prairie, but now he wanted this woman beside him forever—filling the air around them with her musical voice. Could Lily love him as the quiet man he was? Or did Lily accept his invitation to stay married to have a roof over her head and plenty of horses to work with?

  Better to give themselves time to learn to know each other better, and for her to meet everyone in the community first. Lily might flee the county after tomorrow’s potluck dinner.

  Chapter 15

  Lily couldn’t help fidgeting on the way over to the Cross C Ranch. Seth pointed out things of interest along the way, like the caves of limestone carved in the side of the hill, the history of the people who started the ranches in the 1860s. So far, she’d counted a total of a dozen trees on the buggy ride between the two ranches, but then there were several trees around the sizeable two-story ranch house they’d pulled up to.

  A teenage boy walked up to hold the horse’s bridle while Seth helped Lily out of the buggy.

  “Hello, Micah, are you boys in charge of the horses today?”

  “Yes, sir,” the boy nodded before leading the horse and buggy away. Lily looked over to where the boy was going to see the lineup of buggies and wagons by the barn.

  “Oh, my! How many people are here?”

  “Enough to fill a small village. Don’t worry, Lily, everyone is friendly and will welcome you with open arms—literally in some cases.”

  They walked across the porch, and Seth opened the door into a large foyer. The house was full of noise and people. Couples were standing around visiting, some young with babies in their arms, and some Lily would consider grandparents. As Seth took off Lily’s coat and added it to one of three coat racks by the door, a menagerie of different aged children ran past them.

  “Welcome to a family get-together of the Wilerson and Hamner families,” Seth said close to Lily’s ear, so she could hear him
.

  “The woman walking toward us has on men’s trousers!” Lily whispered to Seth.

  “Yes, she wears them about all the time. Brace yourself, Hilda Wilerson is about to greet you,” Seth stepped away from her, leaving Lily to face the woman alone.

  “Välkommen till Kansas prärien, Lilya! Jag är Hilda.” Lily loved hearing the Swedish welcome as Mrs. Wilerson embraced her in a long, tight hug.

  “Tack så mycket. Thank you so much for welcoming me,” Lily tried to keep the trembling out of her voice, but tears were threatening to run down her cheeks.

  “We’re happy Seth brought home a bride, even better—you’re Swedish!” Hilda laughed and released her.

  Lily spent the next half hour meeting the adults in the house, going back and forth between speaking English and Swedish.

  She panicked when Seth introduced her to his employer, Isaac Connely, but the older man gave her a hug as warm and welcome as the rest of the bunch.

  “I hear you’re quite a horsewoman, Lily. Where did you work in Sweden?” Apparently, Mr. Connely didn’t know why she worked at a Swedish farm, but she wasn’t about to tell him the story of how she came to work there.

  “A horse farm near where I grew up, around Jönköping.”

  “The Haas Farm by chance? Their stock is famous in Europe. Cate and I visited the farm about six or seven years ago when we toured through Scandinavia.”

  Now it was Lily’s turn to be shocked. This man visited the same farm she had lived on for over a dozen years?

  “Did you work with their famous stud, I don’t remember his name exactly, but I think his nickname was the Swedish word for King?”

  “You’re right, his name is Kung. I was at his birth and took care of him as a colt,” Lily replied while stealing a glance at Seth.

  Seth looked at Lily like he didn’t know her. “You didn’t tell me you lived on a famous horse farm. You know more about horses than I do then,” Seth’s remark made Lily uncomfortable. Was Seth mad at her for not revealing the fact to him?

  Mr. Connely turned to Seth, “Will Lily be working with our horses, too?”