For those of you not in my FB group, a decision was made to slow posting on SUtBM to every other week. I only have a small bank left on that story and it isn't talking much recently. I'm still actively working on it, but it is moving slowly, so I wanted to stretch what I have a little more. Thank you for your understanding.

Chapter 5

Edward tugged at his sleeves as Pastor Webber finished the closing portion of the service. He was both excited and nervous for his plans directly following church. With his proclamation that they go in peace, the pastor ended the service and Edward stood with everyone else. Mayor Newton and his family filed out behind the pastor and his wife, followed by Edward's family and then Mrs. Black and the Yorkies. When they reached the doors, Edward offered Webber a nod, then turned to Bella and extended his elbow.

"Are you ready for our afternoon, or would you like to stop by the store first?"

"I'm ready," she murmured, linking her arm with his.

They walked the short distance from the church to the hotel and were seated as soon as they arrived. Bella looked around the dining room and Edward immediately became self-conscious. After placing their order, Edward bit the bullet, so to speak.

"I know this isn't as fancy as what you're used to in New York …"

"Actually, as an Irishwoman, there was a great deal of dark wood panels in our home. In the few rooms that were papered, my mother took great pride in being able to brighten up the space, but I found it to be too busy."

"My family is of the same heritage, though I haven't seen those types of homes since my childhood," Edward admitted.

"Did you not always live out here?"

"No. When my father was young, he trained to be a doctor and his cousin was stationed at one of the army outposts in the West. They corresponded and when he learned about the great need for competent doctors, he joined the Army and was stationed to the south. When towns began to crop up near the forts, he sent for my mother and me. My uncle Gerry did the same thing with his wife and son. They all remained down there, but when my father decided to move closer to Denver, I was eventually able to persuade my eldest cousin to move his wife up here and be my deputy."

"Mr. McCarty is your cousin?" Bella asked.

"He is. We were playing at being cops long before we put on the badges for real."

Bella smiled at the image. "I'm sure you were quite the handful in your time. Where did your family live before moving west?"

"Chicago, though I don't remember much of it now. I was eight when we joined the wagon train. Though we thankfully had far less distance to travel than others."

"That sounds awfully romantic, though I imagine the reality of it was much different. It was part of the reason my uncle and our family lawyer had insisted on first class passage for me on the train. Especially with me demanding that I leave as soon as I heard trains weren't being held up by the snow."

"Though I'm glad for your decision, I am surprised that you left New York. What made you travel out to Colorado?"

"I blame it almost entirely on Angela's poetic letters. She captivated me with the descriptions from her first page and I'd always dreamed of visiting. Jacob had actually promised to bring me out here on our honeymoon trip later that summer, but it wasn't meant to be."

"And yet you forged ahead with your own plans," he pointed out.

"That took significantly longer," Bella admitted. "After Jacob passed, I was expected to be in full mourning for at least a year, if not longer. My age and the length of our marriage meant that it was acceptable for me to exit mourning sooner, since I was still of marrying age and from a prominent family. My father negotiated a great deal on my behalf prior to his and my mother's demise."

"If my memory serves me from Mr. and Mrs. Yorkie's own time in mourning, your parents passed away just over a year ago."

"Yes," Bella said solemnly.

"I'm sorry. This isn't exactly proper conversation for a first date."

Just then, their food was brought out. Once the waitress left, Bella continued as they started to eat.

"It is my history. And if we don't speak of this now, when will we?"

"True."

"I was in mourning, so I wasn't allowed out in society. My father had arranged most of my business affairs for me, but he made sure I knew what the decisions were and how to do things for myself. He told me I had far too much money to have no sense. Between him and my uncle, I learned everything I needed. Jacob had been my father's choice as the son of his best friend, so he'd done as my father had said as far as providing for me.

"I spent a great deal of time in the kitchen when I wasn't pouring over ledgers. After my parents were gone, I consolidated our household staff, which included their cook, and the time passed much quicker after that."

"I'm guessing that's where you learned how to bake like you do."

"It was. Though I enjoy all types of cooking, baking is my favorite."

"And you're darn good at it. That pound cake you made me was the best sweet I've ever tasted. And your jams and candies are a treat too."

"Thank you. That was a great deal of what I did in that last year, when I wasn't fending off the disapproving looks of the Clear-Water family."

"Who were they to judge you?" Edward asked.

"Well, there's a bit of a scandal. Certain families believe in keeping things within the family. Jacob's mother was from one of those families. She and her sister, Susan Clear-Water, had hoped that Jacob would marry her daughter Leah. William Black wasn't nearly that sentimental, and wanted to join his family with his best friend's. When our betrothal was arranged, it ruffled quite a few feathers, especially since Jacob was fond of Leah. But he was nothing if not honorable, so he broke off things with Leah completely and we began to court in the time leading up to our wedding."

"So it was Leah and Sue who were cruel to you?"

"And Sarah Black. She believed he died of a broken heart being shackled to me. He had a condition that was unknown, so his passing was a sudden shock to us all. He was only eighteen."

Edward frowned. "I know this is a question a man should never ask in polite society, but …"

Bella laughed. "I'm twenty-two. And how old is our town marshal?"

"Twenty-four," Edward answered before asking. "So you have no family left in New York?"

"Our family lawyer, Mr. Marks, was my father's oldest friend. He and his son oversee things for me now. But no blood relatives beyond my uncle, who is getting on in years and in poor health. It was why I made the choice to move out here. I believe my father knew what was on my mind and he was preparing for it. But then when the flu hit they passed quickly. My father's partners made an offer for his portion of the business, and from there I began to settle up. I've had some of the furniture that I wanted to keep crated up and it is being stored, but the remainder of my worldly possessions came this way with me or were sold."

"I do have a question to ask you as the town marshal, and not as the man sitting across this table feeling luckier than a son of a gun. You didn't travel with all this money, did you?" Edward whispered his question.

"Heavens, no. I brought some of it, but not anything obscene. The majority of it is still held in the bank in New York. I was assured that they had a branch in Denver and a smaller bank could request a transfer. A large sum would require me to travel to Denver to do so in person."

Edward sighed, "That is a relief. I wouldn't want you to become a target because some unsavory character saw you as a golden goose."

"No, and Mr. Marks felt much the same. We were both of the mind to get me safely away before the wolves descended, while making sure I wasn't putting myself at risk once I arrived."

"Glad to hear it. Though I am curious about the wolves."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of a good fortune, must be in need of a man to spend it. The moment I was out of mourning, there would have been a dozen men trying to win my hand and my purse."

" So you escaped before they had a chance."

"Exactly," Bella replied.

"I appreciate you answering my questions, they're not exactly appropriate for our first time out together."

"I think it is incredibly appropriate to learn these things early if we are serious about courting. Which makes me wonder how you could still be available being from a prominent family and doing such an important job."

"While it may be important, it isn't always lucrative, and there are dangers involved. Rosewood is a sleepy town, but Sheriff Whitlock named me as one of his deputies and I was also sworn in as a US Marshal the day we met, so there are times when I'll be working on larger cases away from home. That isn't something all women would want to contend with."

"Any woman worth her salt would be proud to have a man like you for their husband."

Edward blushed at the mention of him being a husband, but she was quick to remind him that was the purpose of courting.

"An afternoon doesn't condemn a pair to an unhappy life if they don't suit, but you can't tell me the idea is completely removed from your mind."

"No, I just try not to get too far ahead of myself. You could decide I'm the last person you'd want to marry."

"You're not." Bella whispered the words as the blush crept up her cheeks and down her delicate neck.

The waitress returned and Edward signed for the check, adding it to his account. He stood and offered Bella his arm, which she took willingly. They exited the hotel restaurant and walked over the two short streets until they were on the porch of the General Store.

"Mrs. Black, thank you for a pleasant afternoon." Edward lifted the hand that had rested on his bicep a moment earlier and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"The pleasure was mine, Marshal Cullen."

Edward released her hand and turned to return to his rooms, knowing there would be an interrogation when he arrived at his mother's table for supper that evening. But it was worth it to know what her skin felt like beneath his lips.