Thread: Desperate Bride (Saul & Chanti)

As he drew closer, it wasn't hard to notice a few things. Like the softness of her face and how smooth her skin was for a woman who could claim to have been widowed. How her hair seemed to be drawn tight and maybe added a couple of years to her appearance. He didn't take long to watch her in such detail, of course. Staring was rude and the carriage master pulled his attention away anyways, with his rough handling of her luggage, and surly words of frustration. In part because he had asked this woman to potentially marry him and in part because one should never talk to a perfectly reasonable lady in such a fashion, Virgil found himself frowning, and giving a sharp glare pointed at the man's back that didn't disappear when he'd turned from unhitching his team. When they looked at one another, there was a faint pause in the carriage master's motions. Neither man was likely keen on the idea of a fight, but neither of them had particularly weak wills, either. Either one was willing to fight. But - Virgil was a gentleman of some level and 'Mr. Cotton' apparently was as well. Had it been just the two of them then maybe things would have escalated - part of Virgil had hoped to see it get that way - but with a huffed breath from the carriage master both men backed away as Rose continued to speak. Virgil turned his attention back to her, instead. Calling his open-topped wagon a carriage made him laugh - but at the first mention of marriage his face went just a little flat. Only the tan of his skin helped make how his face paled not look so pronounced. Awkwardly, he scratched at the back of his neck with eyes downcast. Well, uh, I hadn't - I hadn't thought much of that, I suppose. He frowned, Do forgive me. My last marriage was a more rushed affair. And as I recall, her father had a shotgun with him at the time. He tried to laugh, hoping to dispel bad memories, and bat aside the question of whether or not he'd mentioned just why it was that Rose was coming to live with them because of course he hadn't. Desperate to still avoid some newly pointed out, uncomfortable topics, he spotted her luggage sitting now on the ground. At least if he couldn't avoid talking about certain things, he could avoid fiddling around like a nervous boy in public while he did them. With a simple move around her to where the bags were, he reached down for the handles of the bags. While the carriage master had seemed to struggle and grunt with them, Mr. Cotton was an older man, and the roadways of the Colorado territory had worn away at him with years. Virgil was a man of the land and hard labor and by Jesus what had this woman packed?! Virgil grunted in surprise as he tried to lift both cases at once. He wasn't at the age where one threw out their back from the slightest hard labor, but he certainly felt like the trunks would shave years off that milestone in his life. It was a small mercy that his wagon was only a short walk away, brought to a stop when he'd popped in to visit the saloon. But they were still far enough that one was going to make him sore - not to think of both the damned things at once. With a heave and a grunt, he managed to lift one of the trunks, and placed it heavily upon his shoulder. He motioned for Rose to walk with him with a move of the head as he started for the wagon. So - every few steps brought a labored huff of breath, - Mrs. Madden. I apologize for the - another huff - lack of forethought. He drew close enough to the wagon that he was able to heave the trunk into the back with the sheets and few other things it contained before rolling his shoulders and eyeing the other trunk disdainfully. He started for it now, If you'd like, I could pay for your lodgings in town for a day or more. I'm afraid we wouldn't have much in the way of ceremony, but I'm sure the pastor would oblige us and if its something you want then I'd be more than happy to appease you on it. He shot her a grin as he stooped down for the second trunk, I mean, if we're to be married we'd best work together, hm? It wasn't until he was walking - a heavy-footed and slow thing with the trunk - that something hit him. A thought, or just a single word. Slamming into his mind with the force of a train at speed into cattle on the tracks. It literally caused him to stumble. And that stumble was enough to slip the steamer from his shoulder and bring it crashing down on the ground, busting open, and exposing its contents. No small-clothes or anything more personable, thank the heavens, because at that moment the one word forged into his mind after 'marriage' was ' consummation '. He wasn't some blushing virgin who'd just learned how the body worked but - but Mrs. Madden hadn't been in the territories for much near a week, not to think how shortly she'd been in his life . But Virgil distracted himself by scrambling to the trunk to quickly do his best to recover its contents. Thankfully nothing visibly seemed to be damaged or too spoiled by the dirt as he did his best to tend to the issue without looking at Rose - this time his expression did betray just a little as to how embarrassed he was if she were to peak under the brim of his down-turned hat. S-so. He cleared his throat again, I don't mean to pry into your past marriage, Mrs. Madden, but did you not have any children? He mustered the courage to look at her with a smile, Forgive my saying so but you seem far too young to have children already moving into their world on their own. Though I do recall you saying you had more distant family in England? I've got friends in Spain and Mexico, myself. The poor children were broken when Isabel returned to her family in Spain. She was their caretaker for many years, ever since - ever since Mae passed on. He continued his work on collecting the spilled contents of the truck and returning them to their seemingly rightful places, Came up with me from Mexico a few years back. She and Mae took to each other well and it was always nice to know that Mae had somebody to keep her company with the children and that while I was away elsewhere. Why? Why, he wondered to himself, had God gifted him with a mouth that rambled? And on such topic as Mae ? He was quick to change topics as he could. So, Mrs. Madden? Would you like to stay in town for a time while we try to organize ourselves? Sad to say that our store likely won't have the sorts of dresses you might be used to in Boston if you'd be hoping for a more - officious ceremony. But I understand if you'd like something more formal. And perhaps a night or more off the road and tracks to prepare yourself.