The Beauty of Rose

By: Deanna

Looking into the mirror, Rose watched as her sister-in-law and best friend, Victoria, place the last of the dried roses in her hair. The floral crown made Rose look like an angel. Her dark hair was pulled back and twisted so that the rose crown looked as if it was part of her hair. When she stood up, her mother’s white satin gown made her look like the princess Rose had read about when she was a little girl. There was a knock on the door from her oldest brother David, telling her it was time to go to the church. Rose’s heart began to beat with a flurry that seemed to beat out of her chest.

“Victoria, I think I’m going to be ill.” Rose said, turning to Victoria with a worried look.

“Just breathe Dearest, and everything will be fine. I promise you I will be there to catch you if you faint” Victoria said with a smile and a giggle. She opened the door and told her husband that they were ready. Her other sister-in-law Martha was gathering up her things and placing them in a small bag that Rose was carrying to the church. When Rose came down the stairs to meet her family, they were speechless, admiring her beauty. Her sixteen-year-old brother, Mark gave a long whistle that brought a slight blush to Rose’s cheeks. Rose and her family walked out of the house toward her brother Jonathan and the waiting carriages.

“Remember…breathe.” Victoria said as she helped Rose step into the carriage.

Rose smiled as her mother and Mark climbed into the carriage with her.

Victoria and David followed along in the carriage behind them with their four-year-old son James, two-year-old Michael, joined by Jonathan and Martha with their three-year-old daughter Mary and one year old son George.

The five-minute ride seemed to take longer than normal, for Rose was anticipating the end which would bring her to her beloved Hoss.

At the church, Joe and Adam were waiting outside, smiling at them as they drove up.

Adam greeted them. “I’m glad that you’re here. Hoss has been beside himself all morning. I’ll tell him that you are here” as he helped Mrs. Pickard out of the carriage.

“Pa has him in the back room trying to help calm his nerves. I’ve never seen him like this. I just hope that he will be able to stand when he sees you, Rose. You are extraordinarily lovely today. We’ll go and tell Hoss and Pa that you are here, then we can begin the wedding.”

Dervin walked out of the church and took Rose’s hand. “Sister, are you ready to go to your groom?” All Rose could do was smile and nod. Her heart was so full of emotions that she was afraid to speak.

“Wonderful! We will begin when you are ready. I’ll tell Aunt Ruby to begin the Wedding March on your cue, Jonathan.” Mark and Jonathan closed the front door and cued their Aunt Ruby to begin the music, then escorted their mother to her seat. Martha was greeted once again by Joe, and Adam greeted Victoria. Before they went down the isle, David took Rose’s hand and kissed it, placed it on his arm and said. “Sister, I believe that you have made a wise choice in saying yes to Hoss. He is a good man and I know that you two will be very happy together. I know that Papa would have liked him, too.”

At the mention of her father, a tear rolled down her cheek. “Do you think so David?” she whispered. David looked at his little sister and said “No need for tears, Sister. This is your happy day and you don’t want to begin your new life with red eyes.” With a smile on both of their faces, they walked into view of those in the church.

When Hoss turned and looked into the eyes of Rose, he felt as if his heart stopped. He almost couldn’t believe what he saw. He thought he must be dreaming, for watching Rose walk toward him had to be the most beautiful vision that he had ever seen. He’d thought that Rose couldn’t have been more beautiful than the day he asked her to marry him…but he was wrong. Her white gown and the roses in her hair made her look angelic. Hoss said a quick prayer of thanks. This lovely woman had already made him feel like the luckiest man in the world. Today they would eternally belong to each other. Hoss vowed to himself that he would always care for her and protect her for the rest of their lives together.

When Rose and David reached him and his brothers, he took her hand and they turned toward Dervin. Dervin began, “Dearly beloved we are gathered today in the sight of God….”

The reception was the biggest party that Virginia City has ever seen. Everyone within twenty miles of Virginia City wanted to pay their respects to the new Mrs. Eric Cartwright. There were so many people there that Hoss and Rose were only able to dance the first dance together. When the dancing began to die down, Joe pulled the surrey around to the young couple. They were driving over to Dervin’s house to change clothes before they began the first part of their trip to the cabin in the mountains that would serve as the first week’s destination for their honeymoon.

When Hoss finished changing into his familiar clothes, he sat in the parlor waiting for Rose to come down. “Rose Darlin’ if you would please hurry, I would…like…to…” He looked up and saw his bride walking down the stairs in her dark pink riding habit. Hoss stopped mid-sentence and just looked at her in awe. The look on his face made Rose laugh and she finished his sentence. “…make it to the cabin before dark. I’m here My Love. No need to wait longer.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss that brought him back to the moment.

When Rose had suggested that they spend a week in the hunting cabin for their honeymoon before going to San Francisco, he knew that Rose was the woman for him. They mounted their horses and began to ride. What took only an hour to get to seem to take forever for both of them. Well, it did take longer than usual, because Hoss slowed down every so often to be as near to her as he could. By the time they reached the cabin, they were both full of anticipation. They dismounted and immediately embraced each other with a kiss that was deep and tender.

Hoss opened the door, picked up Rose, and carried her inside. What they saw was beautiful. It showed signs that visitors had left the cabin only minutes before. There was lit candle in every corner of the room with flower petals all over the floor and the bed made up with fine white lace and linen sheets. Rose must remember to thank her sisters-in-law for such a beautiful room. Hoss could not believe that this was the same place that he spent his younger days resting after a long day of hunting.

Once inside, Hoss placed Rose on her feet, closed the door behind them, and took off his hat. Rose removed her hat and jacket and slowly walked to him. Fear began to creep up in her, but the love and the desire that burned within her heart for this wonderful man who stood before her, helped her to overcome those fears. She hesitated a few feet in front of him. He took her hands and gently drew her to himself. Looking deeply into his eyes, Rose softly caressed his face and kissed him with the burning passion that she held only for her beloved man. Hoss began to unbutton her blouse. With each button unbuttoned, a fiery kiss followed, until Rose believed that she could actually burst into flames if he did not hurry.

Hoss did his best to go slow in order not to frighten her. It had taken all his strength of will this past year to keep from having his desire for her get the best of him. The desire that burned within him for so long made it difficult now to move slowly. He picked her up and gently laid her in the bed. She pulled him to her and they kissed with an urgency that showed the love that they both held for each other.

Later that night, Rose lay wrapped up in Hoss’s arms with her head resting on his chest. She listened to his heartbeat (her new favorite sound) and said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for giving her such a loving, tender, and caring man. She felt so complete after having given herself freely and totally to her husband. She fell asleep happier and more content than she ever thought possible.

When morning came, Rose slowly sat up and looked into the sleeping face of her beloved. She attempted to get up and fix breakfast. When she moved, Hoss held her arm and pulled her back to him. “Where do you think your going Mrs. Cartwright?”

“I thought I would fix some breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?” She asked, looking into his passion-filled eyes.

“Starving!” He answered, as he began to kiss her. They made love that morning with the same urgency they had the night before. They lay wrapped up in each other’s arms and talked about their future, their home, and the family they hoped to have. Rose snuggled closer to Hoss as he was telling her about the last things that were to be done to the house he was building for them. She was looking forward to the shopping they would be doing next week to get what was needed for their new home.

The rest of the week was pure heaven! They were left alone at the cabin to spend their time talking and loving each other. The night before they were to leave for San Francisco, they rode down to the Ponderosa to spend some time with her new Cartwright family. Hoss and Rose had planned to have supper with them and spend the night before they left for the Washoe City stage.

Supper was a delight. Adam and Joe told stories about Hose’s childhood that deepened her affection for him; stories that reinforced that he was the kindest, gentlest man that she had ever met. Adam also explained about how the house was progressing. “When you get back, the house should be almost ready to move in. If you, Mrs. Cartwright, would pick out the paint before you leave in the morning, then the men will be able to have that done as well, before you come back.” Rose smiled with great delight. She could not believe it. In a few weeks she and Hoss would have their new home.

“Thank you Adam for all of the hard work that you have done for us.” Rose stood up and gave him a hug. “When we get back and move our furniture in, this dream will become a reality.” Rose smiled at Adam, then at Hoss. “This has been a wonderful evening, but morning will be here soon. I believe that I am going to turn in for the night.” Rose went around and hugged and kissed Ben, Joe and Adam. Hoss started to get up, but Rose stopped him. “Honey, you stay down here and visit if you want to.” She gave him a kiss and a hug.

“I’ll be up in a little while” Hoss whispered to her as she turned toward the stairs. Rose said goodnight and they watched her walk up the stairs.

When she closed the door, a warm feeling began to flow through her. She was now in their bedroom. Not hers, not Hoss’s, but their bedroom. The room that they would share until their house was finished. She could not believe it, in a few short weeks they could move in. She walked over to her toiletry bag and pulled out her brush and began to brush out her long brown hair, daydreaming of their future as she began to braid it for bed. She changed into her nightgown, and began to repack the things she had pulled out of the trunk so it would be ready in the morning to load on the wagon.

When she finished, she climbed into bed, wishing that Hoss would hurry. She hated the thought of going to bed without him, but she knew that being married to a rancher, it was something that she would have to get used to. When she began to drift off to sleep she heard the door open. Hoss tried to be as quiet as he could when he came in. He quickly changed and got into bed. He placed his arms around her as she wiggled to be closer to him. He loved how her body fit his as they cuddled. Now that they were both in bed she could go to sleep.

The next morning, both Hoss and Rose were up at dawn getting things ready to leave on the morning stage to San Francisco. Ben, Adam, and Joe were up and ready to say their good-byes and see them off.

The trip to San Francisco was uneventful. They arrived in town just in time to get to the hotel, change, and get to a performance at the opera house. Hoss wanted Rose to have the opportunity to hear as much music as possible before settling into the day to day life of a rancher’s wife. Every night they went to some form of a musical event.

The morning of the last day in San Francisco they were lying in bed talking. Rose looked at Hoss and said “Can we stay in tonight?” Hoss looked at Rose with concern and said “Aren’t you feeling well this morning?” she turned and looked into his worried eyes, touching his face. “Oh yes, My Love, I feel wonderful, but I thought we could spend a quiet night together. We’ve spent each day shopping for things for the house and our nights were spent at the opera, the theater or the symphony. I think you might be a little tired of listening to people singing in French and Latin. I’d love to spend our last night here together and alone.” She looked at Hoss with a smile that had another meaning. Pulling him down to her, she kissed him in a way that made them both forget about the plans that they had made for that day.

That afternoon, after a quick lunch in their room, Rose went to the dressmakers for her final fittings of the dresses that she and her mother had ordered when they were there a month ago. Hoss went to make the last arrangements for the furniture delivery to the Ponderosa in a few months. He walked over to the silversmith and placed an order of special silverware that he was having made for Rose. Hoss handed the silversmith the drawing of the pattern that Adam had done to go on the handles. The silverware was going to be his surprise for her. He walked over to the shipping office to make the final arrangements with them. When he saw that Rose was not finished at the dressmakers, he went over to the same store where Ben and Marie had gotten their china. He showed the clerk the drawing of Adam’s silverware design, ordered place settings, and gave shipping instructions.

Hoss knew that Rose would be very surprised. He loved to surprise her with things he knew that she wanted but often hesitated to ask for. Some time earlier she had mentioned that she planned to use her grandmother’s china and silverware. With all that was being spent on furniture that week, she was careful not to spend money on things they really didn’t need. This way she could pack those beloved things away to use at special meals.

He walked out of the store toward the dressmaker’s just in time to see Rose walking out. “Well, good afternoon, Mrs. Cartwright. Would you care to join me for a bit of refreshment?” Rose took Hoss’s arm, looked up at him and said, “That would be lovely Mr. Cartwright.” Together they walked to a tearoom and ordered. Rose shared with Hoss the events of the day. She told him about the dresses that would be finished tomorrow, the fabric she bought to make curtains, the little odds and ends that she found that would help to make their house warm and inviting. She “forgot” to tell him about the side trip that she had made to the leather shop to order new saddle bags, rifle holster, and a lot of other things that her brothers said she needed to get for Hoss. She couldn’t wait for his surprise leather gifts to be delivered. She wanted to see the look on his face when he opened the box.

When they finished their tea, they walked arm-in-arm to their hotel and prepared for their last night in San Francisco. It was a cool fall night. It was cool enough for Hoss to build a fire in the fireplace. When he lit the fire, he turned around to see Rose coming out of the water closet dressed in a pink silk nightgown. She looked so beautiful that Hoss could only stare as she walked toward him. Her hair cascaded down her back. She came and sat on the pillows that Hoss had laid on the floor, picking up the book of Shakespeare’s Sonnets that Hoss had put there. This touched her heart deeply. She knew that Hoss didn’t like to read out loud, but because he knew that she enjoyed it so much, he was willing to overcome this discomfort to please her.

“Hoss, would you please read Number 40? It’s my favorite, and I just love to listen to your voice. It’s so soothing to me.” He sat down next to her and she snuggled closer to him to hear his voice rumble in his chest. He found the desired sonnet and began to read. She didn’t think that it was possible, but the more he read, the deeper she fell in love with him. The night was spent with them finding new ways to express their love for each other.

When morning dawned, they packed up their trunks and boarded the stage that would take them back to Washoe City; back to their home.

Note:  Thanks once again to Miss Ellen for her help with this story.

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