Chapter Seven: The White Horse

Finally the long wait was over. The day dawned clear and beautiful and fragrant with flowers. Tony borrowed a beautiful white mare from the mill owners. You could hear the clip clop of the horse’s hooves as Tony rode the horse down the dirt road to Rose’s family’s house. Rose, peeking out from behind gauzy curtains, ran out the back kitchen door and over to her neighbor’s house.
Tony tied his horse to the post. Julia and Jose were sitting on the porch. He walked up the steps and sat beside them. He fumbled with his words and finally blurted out that he loved Rose and wanted to marry her. Both her parents said that it was up to Rose, but that he had their blessing. They both liked Tony so much. He was hard working and came from a good honest Portuguese family.
Tony searched for Rose and found her picking mangoes at her neighbor’s house.
“Rose,” he pleaded, “I’ve waited a long time to ask you this question. Will you marry me? Will you be the mother of my children? I love you very much and promise to take care of you for the rest of my life.”
Rose thought for awhile and smiled her sweet smile. Finally she answered,
“I know you love me and I know you are a good man. Yes, I will marry you and I promise to be faithful to you.”
In Rose’s heart she knew that she could never love him, but she knew she could be a faithful wife. She would do everything in her power to make Tony happy.
Rose’s brother Jose was getting married to the love of his life, Mary Alves. There were great plans for the wedding and Jose had asked Rose and Tony to be their witnesses at the church. This would be the first time that Rose and Tony appeared together as a couple in a public gathering of this kind. Their wedding would come next. But they did not want to overshadow the couple’s joyous celebration with news of their engagement. They decided to wait until after Jose and Mary’s wedding to tell everyone of their engagement.