Lilly_Bride of Illinois

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Lunch was in a cozy little café and Seth told her to order whatever she wanted to eat. Lilly ate a big meal while Seth told her about his hometown. She could imagine the Wild West town and couldn’t wait to be a part of it.

  “What breeds of cattle do they have in Sweden? Longhorns made up the first herds in Kansas, but now we have shorthorns, Herefords and Angus, too.”

  “I’d say milking shorthorns are the main breed of cattle now in Sweden. I milked Fjäll cattle, the Swedish mountain breed, when I was young. Women do the milking there compared to men doing it on farms here.”

  “We have a shorthorn cow for the ranch’s milk supply, but she’s a pain to milk. Daisy can knock over both the milker and the milk pail in one quick kick,” Seth smiled, thinking of the cow’s antics. “Maybe you can show me how to do it right,” he joked.

  “Oh, I bet Daisy and I would get along fine. I’d love to milk her. Even though I hated doing so many chores on the manor farm, I enjoyed the animals. They were my friends. They didn’t yell or hit me, well, except for one sow who always chased me when she had a chance. She bit me once, too.”

  “Lilly? Who yelled and hit you back then?”

  “Seth, I was a poor peasant girl, and well, life was not good there. I prefer not to talk about it, especially today.”

  Someone grabbed Lilly’s arm and yanked her hand out of Seth’s arm. “Ouch! What are you doing!? Stop it!” Her feet left the ground as she was roughly hauled up against a big chest of a man who was running and shoving his way through the crowds of people in the Hall.

  “Seth! Help!” Pain shot through Lilly’s side as she twisted and kicked at the man.

  “Quit it! Mr. Hardesty don’t want you banged up too much.” A deep voice hissed in her ear as he wrapped his big paw around her mouth. Lilly froze a second when she heard the man’s voice. He was one of the two burly thugs who had escorted Seth out of the Emporium that night!

  Where was the other man?! Did he attack Seth so this thug could grab her?!

  Lilly clamped her teeth into one of the big fingers and ground her teeth as hard as she could, while bringing up her knees and kicking her heels backwards repeatedly, trying to connect to his groin. She finally hit the right spot and he staggered, still holding on to her, but losing his grip on her mouth.

  “Help! This man is kidnapping me! I’m a rancher’s wife!”

  Lilly tumbled to the ground when she was dropped by her attacker. She jerked around to kick him again and realized the man’s arms were being held back by several men.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?” A hand reached down, ready to help her up.

  “No! Where’s my husband!? I think someone attacked him too!”

  “I see a mad cowboy coming this way with a policeman, so I bet he’s all right, ma’am,” the gentleman assured her as he helped her to stand.

  It felt so good to have Seth’s arms wrapped around her shoulders. “Are you all right, Malena?”

  “My ribs…he squeezed me so hard, they hurt like the devil,” she complained.

  “Okay, Malena, we’ll go find a doctor to check your ribs in a minute.”

  Lilly realized he’d called her Malena twice, as if to remind her of her Swedish name?

  “Officer, you need to arrest these two men for attacking us. There were plenty of witnesses who saw what happened,” Seth was breathing hard, and Lilly noticed his right jaw was starting to discolor and his lip was cut. He got hurt because of me!

  “Now, sir,” the policeman said to Seth, “this gentleman tells me another story—that you kidnapped this woman from the Stockyards Emporium and they were rescuing her instead,” the policeman tapped his baton on his palm. Lilly’s heart raced even faster with panic besides pain, because this police officer was clearly on Hardesty’s payroll.

  “So who are they rescuing? What’s her name?” Seth pointedly asked the officer, then looked at the men who were being held. Thank goodness there were people gawking around so the policeman had to appear to be honest.

  “She’s Miss Lilly Lind, Mr. Hardesty’s favorite…ah singer, and the cowboy who took her—is you—George Milner,” Hardesty’s man sneered. “You paid to use her ‘female services’ up in her room one night.” Lilly could have melted into the ground because of his remark.

  “Officer, he’s lying. May we show you identification of who we are?” Seth asked, staring down at the policeman until he finally shook his head yes.

  “First, I’m taking off my left glove, showing you my wedding ring. Malena, would you please do so, too?” Lilly did so, raising her left hand in the air to show off her new ring, but she kept her right arm wrapped around her middle.

  “I have identification in my wallet and I am now getting it out,” Seth stated loudly as he pulled his wallet from his vest pocket.

  “Care to read it out loud, sir?” Seth said holding his card in front of the officer.

  “Seth Reagan,” he said, then slanted his eyes at one of Hardesty’s men still being held by bystanders.

  “Malena sweetheart, do you need help getting your Swedish immigration paper out of your reticule?”

  “Yes, please,” Lilly breathlessly said as she handed her reticule to him.

  Seth opened the drawstring, pulled out the paper, and held it in front of the policeman. “What’s the name on her paper?”

  “Malena Linddotter,” he grumbled.

  “Yes, and Malena became my wife today, so her name is Mrs. Seth Reagan.”

  “Can you prove that? You could have fake identification cards and rings on to disguise your real names,” the policeman was trying to draw any suspicion on them to sway the bystanders.

  “I still have our marriage certificate tucked in my vest pocket because we came from the courthouse, directly to the Stock Show. Want to read it, too?” Seth’s temper was rising with this voice.

  “Yes.” The officer’s chin jutted out, mad Seth wasn’t bowing to his authority.

  Seth reached in his pocket, pulled out and unfolded their license. “So the officer doesn’t have to question my honesty, anybody who wants to read our marriage license is welcome to come to view it.”

  “I was in the courthouse this morning, too, and saw them filling out papers at the marriage license counter,” a man in a nice business suit piped up. Four men walked up to read the paper and agreed out loud the names were correct on the certificate.

  “Officer, could you confirm these men’s statements?”

  He read the paper Seth held out in front of him, then shrugged his shoulder in deference.

  “These men have no reason—nor right—to accost my wife or me because a certain saloon keeper is looking for a poor woman who was probably trying to escape from him anyway! I want these two arrested for attacking us without any cause!” Lilly guessed Seth’s temper had reached the boiling point, but she wasn’t worried he would ever use it on her, only to protect her.

  The policeman eyed her, Seth, then the crowd around them. It was clear he was outnumbered by witnesses, especially the ones who still held the arms of the two men.

  “Okay, if you men holding these two will help me escort them outside, I’ll get some officers to accompany them to jail.”

  Seth stepped in front of the officer before he turned away. “Should we follow you to your police station so we know these men will be thrown in jail? Because if there’s any hint my wife is in danger ever again…I’ll be sure the Chicago newspapers, the Chicago mayor and the city council hear about it.” Then Seth lowered his voice so only the officer could hear him. “I’m sure not everyone in this town is on this saloon owner’s payroll, and this incident could shut him down.”

  The officer looked at the ground, then back at Seth. “No, it will be taken care of. I’ll pass on the word.”

  “Thank you for your help. Now, where can I find a doctor to help my injured wife?”

  ***

  “Are you sure—because the hotel can have a doctor come here to check your ribs,” Seth realized he’
d asked the same question several times already, but seeing the big thug squeeze Lilly scared the dickens out of him. He’d taken off Lilly’s shoes and she was now reclining on the bed, and he was pacing back and forth.

  “I’ll be all right, Seth. I don’t need to see a doctor. Yes, the ogre aggravated my sore ribs, but he didn’t break any.”

  “You would think with the thousands of people in Chicago and the Fat Stock Show, we’d never see or hear from Hardesty’s men again…”

  “They knew you were here for the exhibit and got lucky running into us.”

  What would have happened if they hadn’t gotten married today to show their wedding rings? How lucky was it Lilly’s first name is Malena and she had proof along with her because they needed it to get married? Thank you God and Saint Michael…again.

  “Please stop pacing, Seth. We’re all right…and it’s our wedding night.”

  “He got your new coat dirty!”

  “We were in an exhibit hall filled with cattle…and it will brush right off…once the manure dries. I grew up around animals so I’m not upset.”

  Seth turned and looked at Lilly. No, she didn’t look upset, but tired, bruised, and happy. Lilly finally felt she was in a safe place with him, and he didn’t want to burst her bubble.

  She kept mentioning it’s their wedding night, even though they both agreed it wasn’t a real marriage in that sense.

  But you were thinking the other day the ranch house is lonely being there by yourself. No, he promised Lilly a safe, respectable means of transportation and that’s what he’d stand by.

  “I’d still like to eat in the dining room rather than here in the room. I saw they had ribeye steaks on their menu,” Lilly looked hungry…again. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to eat a whole steak by myself.”

  A rap on their hotel room startled both of them. Seth went to stand behind the closed door before asking, “Yes, who is it?”

  “Mr. Hansen, the hotel manager, sir,” a muffled male voice replied. “I heard of your wife’s attack and wanted to see if there is anything the hotel can do for you.”

  Seth cautiously opened the door, keeping a firm hand on the knob in case he needed to slam the door shut. Seth was leery of everyone in Chicago now.

  “Yes?”

  “Good evening, I’m Mr. Robert Hansen, the Hough Hall manager, and I heard about the horrible attack on your wife at the Stock Show today.”

  “And how did you hear about it?” Was Mr. Hansen on Hardesty’s payroll too?

  “More than one guest came back from the show talking about it. One guest said he’d held one of the men down until the police took care of him.”

  “Yes, we had a big crowd of witnesses,” Seth said not letting the man look past him into the room.

  “Does your wife need a doctor, or yourself, since I see you were hurt as well?”

  “Seth, it’s okay, I think it’s safe to open the door.” Seth took a quick look back to see she was still reclining on the bed, one hand on her side, and one on her forehead.

  “I was just being careful, Sweetheart. We’ve unfortunately found out Chicago is not a friendly place,” Seth said while staring at the manager and slowly opening the door a little wider.

  “Hello, Mrs. Reagan,” Hansen said stepping into the room, but not farther because Seth wasn’t going to let him walk over to Lilly. “I didn’t see you check in with Mr. Reagan the day he arrived.” So much for worrying about Lilly’s injuries. The man was here to snoop.

  “That’s correct, because I arrived later.”

  “Do you have a doctor on staff here?” Seth was tired of how Lilly was being treated.

  “No, but we can call one in…if she needs help.”

  “Yes, she does. The bruise on her side is huge,” Seth felt his temper starting to rise again.

  “Seth, I’m pretty sure the brute didn’t break any ribs, so all that can be done is to wrap my middle. But I think the doctor should look at your jaw,” Lilly eyed him.

  “I’m talking, so I know it isn’t broken,” Seth growled, tired of this conversation and interruption.

  “Fine,” Lilly relented. “Mr. Hansen, instead of a doctor, please get me some rib binding so my husband can wrap my terribly sore and bruised ribs.”

  “Certainly. Anything else I can do for you?” the man asked looking back and forth between him and Lilly.

  “Yes, there is.” Seth was surprised when Lilly spoke up.

  “We were looking forward to your special ribeye steak dinner tonight, but I don’t feel like going downstairs. Please have your staff bring our meals to our room,” Lilly said with a wave of her left hand—probably to show off her ring—and to dismiss the man.

  “Yes, Mrs. Reagan,” Mr. Hansen said while backing out of the room.

  Seth shut the door and Lilly started giggling.

  “What’s so funny?” She’s still lying on the bed, hurt, but now laughing, while her arms are tightly wrapped around her middle.

  “Oh that was so fun! I’ve never gotten to order someone to do my bidding. It’s always been me doing all the work.” Lilly snorted, trying to get her laughing under control. She’d certainly made his trip memorable.

  “I’d still feel better if you had your ribs checked.” He was starting to sound like…a husband.

  “Seth, I can take deep breaths without severe pain, so I know they aren’t broken.” She sighed and turned more serious. “I uh…know the difference between bruised and broken because I’ve had both before, more than once,” Lilly quietly finished.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that, Lilly.” Seth wished he could give her a comforting hug, to wash away all the bad memories of her past. But he sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up her hand, slowly rubbing it, feeling hard callouses on her fingers and palm. Yes, he guessed she’d always had a hard life, and he was proud he was the one improving it for her.

  Lilly’s “demands” paid off. They burst out laughing after their meals were delivered. Besides huge steaks, three vegetable side dishes and hot bread, the waiters brought in two plates of fancy cream puffs filled with a light vanilla cream for dessert, and a bottle of champagne!

  “Well, Malena Reagan, I’d say you did well with your first ‘demand’ performance,” Seth teased her.

  “And here I thought the manager would send up a tough meat sandwich—if anything,” she grinned.

  Neither had tasted champagne before so they took a few sips to say they had. It was the fanciest meal he’d ever had, and it pleased him that it made Lilly’s memories of her wedding day special, even if their marriage wasn’t real.

  They’d slowly eaten and talked for over two hours. Seth shared a special story about each of his brothers, Angus, Fergus, Mack, Cullen and Tully, and growing up as a preacher’s kid in a small frontier town. Lilly didn’t say anything about her family, but instead told stories about her friends, their jobs and life in Lawrence.

  And now it was time for them to go to bed. They might be married, but they weren’t going to consummate it, so…it was making them both nervous and shy all of a sudden.

  “Ah, thanks to you buying me a new night gown yesterday, you can have your night shirt back,” Lilly shyly said, still sitting at the table.

  “True, but it’s a little colder on the floor so I’ll keep my pants on,” Seth drummed his fingers on the table, not comfortable to meet Lilly’s eyes.

  “Seth, why would you sleep on the floor? We’re married now, even though we don’t plan to. …you know… Seth’s eyes widened and looked at Lilly’s red face. He might be thinking about it, but she almost said it out loud.

  “Lilly you were hurt again today, I think you need to have the bed to yourself tonight,” Seth rushed through the words.

  “Well, okay.” Lilly stood up, and Seth thought she was ready to go to bed.

  “I’ll go downstairs then to give you some privacy so you can get into bed,” Seth said standing up, ready to run out the door.

  “I could use your h
elp before you go downstairs,” Lilly stopped Seth just as he was about to turn the doorknob.

  “With what?”

  “Could you please take my hair pins out, brush my hair and braid it? It’s hard to raise my right arm to do it,” she said sweetly. Seth blew out the air he was holding, worried it could have been more than brushing her hair.

  “Sure, I’d be glad to help you,” he turned thinking she’d be seated in a chair by the table, but she sat on the far side of the bed with her back turned to him instead. How’d she move so fast to get on the bed?

  “Here’s my brush,” Lilly looked over her shoulder at him. “Please put the hair pins on my handkerchief beside me so I can pick them up without dropping any.” Oh, boy. He was going to have to crawl in bed and sit behind her to reach her hair.

  Seth, toed off his boots and sat on the bed, but she was still out of reach.

  “Wait, I’ll move up a bit so you can sit behind me,” and Seth watched her little behind scoot on the bed.

  “You know, I didn’t have any sisters, so I don’t know how to do this…so maybe you can still do it yourself?”

  “Seth, I bet you’ve braided rawhide, twine and many other things. It’s not hard,” she glanced over her shoulder at him. She turned back around, but not before he saw her sweet turned–up lips.

  Okay, he could do this. Seth moved to sit behind her, then studied her hair. Where’s the best place to start pulling pins?

  He gingerly pulled a hairpin out of the bottom of her top clump of curls, trying to do so by only using the tips of his thumb and finger. His big fingers caught some of her hair at the same time and he winced. “Oh, sorry.”

  “My hair won’t break off, Seth. Pull the pins out, and then run your fingers through my hair to find any you missed.”

  One by one, Seth pulled the pins then gingerly placed his fingers at the base of her neck and ran his fingers up her scalp and out through the length of her waist–long hair, having to pull out sideways because he was so close behind her.

  “Pins all out? Here’s the brush to smooth out any tangles. I usually do a hundred strokes every night.”