December 29th
Coulter's Home
The day dawned bright and significantly warmer than any they'd seen the past week. Already the snow was melting away, causing rivets of water to pool down to the areas that were shoveled free of snow. They had ended up with good three feet snowdrifts in certain spots. Rosemary scooted to the edge of the bed and straightened her woolen socks before her feet hit the cool floorboards.
"Lee, are you awake, dear?" It was the type of morning she wished to snuggle in tight close to him, not daring to leave the warm bed. But that was not to be on this particular morning. She had too much on her mind. Too much to plan.
A little grunt came from under the covers.
"I just had a wondrous idea. It's all about New Years. Obviously, this pregnancy has me a bit scatterbrained since I didn't come up with a grand plan until now." Rosemary felt her voice heighten with excitement and all her words clamored within her.
"Here we go." Lee emerged from under the covers and scooted until he was sitting, his back against the bed board. He took a minute to pull his nightcap off his head, revealing his dark, tousled hair. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled, the dimple on his cheek appearing.
"You know, that is what I appreciate about you, Lee Coulter."
"That I allow you to boss me around?" Lee's dimple creased all the more, as it always did when he was teasing her.
"Lee! Of course not. I was going to say I appreciate that you are always up for an adventure with me."
Lee cocked an eyebrow. "Do I have a choice?"
Rosemary twittered a laugh. "Oh you silly man. Of course not. Not really."
Lee gestured to himself as if that was exactly why at this moment he was listening. "So you were saying, Mrs. Coulter?"
"Ah yes! We need a New Years Plan. A grand New Year's plan."
"Do you remember how a previous grand New Year's plan went down?" Lee cleared his throat.
Rosemary paused and held a finger to her lip. "Oh yes. Well, if you are referring to the Hope Valley New Year's Celebration two years ago, it did end up being okay in the end didn't it?"
"Yes, but you about dragged us through the mud for it." Lee sighed.
"It wasn't my fault that the dear old Mr. Ward from the San Francisco Chronicle came to the conclusion that I was a married citizen of Hope Valley before we were truly married. I did end up doing the right thing though. I owned up to it. We still had a wondrous event, didn't we?
"Yes, after I gave you an ultimatum: Either tell the truth or risk losing me."
"Oh, that's all in the past, Lee, and for the record, I did tell the truth." She smiled tenderly at him. He returned her smile. "Now look how off course you have gotten me. Let's talk about what truly matters- and that is throwing a grand New Year's celebration."
"Grand? Rosemary, we are like two days from New Year's Eve. How grand can it get in that time frame?" He looked like he wished he could swallow the words back. "I didn't mean that as a challenge, because God knows, you still could come up with something grand even on such short notice. I just meant, can't we do something simple this year? Please?"
"Actually, for once, we are quite on the same page. I was just wanting to host a little 'welcome to the new year' celebration." Rosemary held her hands up to frame her words in the air before her.
"Here?"
"Oh, I don't think we could get them to come here." She made a tsk-tsk sound through her teeth.
"What? Why not?"
"Oh, it's complicated. I think they would be more willing to appear at a neutral spot. A spot that perhaps they feel they are not being matched up."
"Oh is that what this is? A grand 'Rosemary Match Making' event?" Lee's dimple danced once again. He intentionally reached for her hand and linked his hand with hers.
"Well, maybe a little. It's just that Hickam, he's been eyeing Nurse Carter, and I think she may have an interest in him. And don't even mention Doc Carson and his lousy excuses not to meet his newest match."
"Rosemary, you know I can't be apart of this. I'd never hear the end of it."
Rosemary huffed. "Perhaps you are right."
"And I don't have any time to spare, especially since I am so hard at work on your surprise. You do want me to get it done, don't you?" He dropped a charming little kiss on her knuckles.
Rosemary pouted and stuck out her lower lip. "That's an excuse if I ever heard one."
"Well did it work?" Lee's clear blue eyes rose up to meet hers.
Darn those eyes, she never could resist them.
"I guess so. But would you at least mention to Abigail today on your way to work that I'd like to reserve the cafe for New Year's Eve? Tell her I'd like to host a little gathering. But not a word about the match making or else it will be worse than pulling teeth to get anyone to attend."
"Oh don't worry. I won't say dare say a word about that." Lee raised both his hands up in defense. "I'll pop in and talk to Abigail before work. Now what's a guy got to do to get a breakfast around here?"
Rosemary patted her cheek, signaling her need for a kiss.
He ignored her cheek and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the lips, stealing her breath away. Then he pulled her in for another kiss, his soft lips brushing against hers.
"You know what?" His warm breath caressed her cheek. "You sure are full of pizzazz, Mrs. Coulter. No, there is no need to worry at all that your enthusiasm is going to wane with being a mother. In fact, I have a feeling it may increase. God helps us all." Lee laughed.
Rosemary punched his upper arm.
"Ouch." Lee rubbed his arm and grinned.
Later that Day
Abigail's Cafe
"Hickam could you please not slurp the soup so?" Rosemary rolled her eyes and sighed. Truly, was he raised by a herd of billy goats?
Hickam looked up from the big bowl of soup and wiped his mouth off on the cuff of his dress shirt. "This here sure is good soup, Mrs. Coulter."
"Yes, yes." Rosemary was frustrated with the lack of manners in this one. "To be honest, I asked you to lunch for more than just good soup."
Hickam blinked. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, I have a little surprise for you, but we must whip you into shape first."
Hickam looked offended and a bit confused. "Mrs. Coulter?"
"Well, I have a certain big event I'd like for you to attend. But before you are capable to attend, we must get down, at the very worst, the most basic table etiquette."
Hickam again looked confused.
"Table etiquette? Manners? You have heard of those things, have you not?" Rosemary spat out, then remembered she must teach him manners which meant she must at least try to curb her impatience.
Hickam took the hint and reached for the napkin instead of wiping his mouth on his sleeve again. "What is this big event, Mrs. Coulter? And why would I be asked to attend?"
"Oh dear Hickam, you are to be the star of the event."
Hickam shrunk back in fear. Oh dear, she'd scared him. Too much too fast. "Along with others. You'll be the star of the event, along with others. What I am trying to say is that I'm having a welcome to the New Year party and would like you to come. I may even have asked a pretty Nurse to attend."
Hickam's eyes went wide. "Oh, Mrs. Coulter, I'm not sure—"
"Of course you are sure. She is a young, attractive lady, with brains to boot! I did notice how helpful she was at the Christmas Eve program at the refreshment table."
Hickam's ears turned red at the tips.
"You two sure make a good team. I say, what better way to start the New Year then to discover a new match here in Hope Valley? So what do you say, are you willing to put some work into your manners and see what miracles could await us in the New year?"
Hickam still didn't look too sure.
"Just say you'll do it for Nurse Carter." Rosemary appealed to the heart of the matter, the obvious infatuation this man had for a certain lady.
Hickam nodded slowly. "Yes, for Nurse Carter, I'm willing to try, Mrs. Coulter. Where do we begin?"
The rest of the afternoon as consumed with Rosemary directing Hickam in the proper etiquette for a dinner party, including proper conversation starters. Now all she had to do was convince the other three members of the dinner party to attend. The work of a matchmaker was never done.