“I like the name, Malena. Why don’t you use it?”
“Our family, and most Swedes use the second name when talking about someone instead of the first. Malena was my grandmother’s middle name, and she went by that. My parents put it as my first name and used Lilya for the name I went by in Sweden.”
Lily’s breath halted when the judge’s chamber door opened, and a man waved to them to come into the room. She stood, smiling at Seth as they linked arms. This man was giving her a new future, and for today she’d pretend it was forever.
Chapter 7
Lily walked tall and proud, walking through the Exhibition Hall, looking at some of the best cattle in North America. Not only was she now married, but she also wore beautiful, fashionable clothes for the first time in her life. Lily caught herself smiling and rubbing her new gold ring with her thumb through her gloved hand. My temporary husband is wealthy!
Her bruised side was a little uncomfortable walking so much today, but she wouldn’t miss this time with Seth for anything. She wanted to learn everything she could about the livestock raised in Kansas because it could be part of her new life. I’m a rancher’s wife…for a while.
Lunch was in a cozy little café, and Seth told her to order whatever she wanted to eat. Lily ate a big meal while Seth told her about his hometown of Clear Creek. 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 in Sweden now. I milked Fjäll cattle, the Swedish mountain breed when I was young. Women do the milking there compared to men milking the cows on the 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.”
“Lily? 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 Lily’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 Lily’s side as she twisted and kicked at the man.
“Quit it! Mr. Hardesty doesn’t want you banged up too much.” A deep voice hissed in her ear as he wrapped his big paw around her mouth. Lily 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?
Lily 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 backward 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!”
Lily 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 rancher 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.”
Lily 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. Plenty of witnesses saw what happened,” Seth was breathing hard, and Lily noticed his right jaw was starting to discolor and his lip was cut. Seth 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. Lily’s heart raced even faster with panic besides pain because this police officer was apparently on Hardesty’s payroll.
“Who are they rescuing? What’s her name?” Seth pointedly asked the officer, then looked at the men who were being held. Thank goodness people were gawking at them, so the policeman had to appear to be honest.
“She’s Miss Lily 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.” Lily 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?” Lily 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,” Lily 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 into 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!” Lily guessed Seth’s temper had reached the boiling poi
nt, 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?”
Chapter 8
“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 Lily scared the dickens out of him. He’d taken off Lily’s shoes, and she was now reclining on the bed, and he was pacing back and forth.
Seth wished his sister-in-law, Doctor Pansy Reagan, was here to examine Lily. Mack’s wife would have taken care of Lily and eased Seth’s mind.
“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 Lily’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. The dirt will brush right off the coat…once the manure dries. I grew up around animals. I’m not upset.”
Seth turned and looked at Lily. No, she didn’t seem upset, but tired, bruised, and happy. Lily 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 Lily a safe, respectable means of transportation and that’s what he’d standby.
“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,” Lily 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 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 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 Lily. “I didn’t see you check in with Mr. Reagan the day he arrived.” So much for worrying about Lily’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 Lily 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,” Lily eyed him.
“I’m talking, so I know it isn’t broken,” Seth growled, tired of this conversation and interruption.
“Fine,” Lily 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 Lily.
“Yes, there is.” Seth was surprised when Lily 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,” Lily 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 Lily started giggling.
“What’s so funny?” She was 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.” Lily 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,” Lily quietly finished.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Lily.” 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. Seth guessed she’d had a hard life, and he was proud he was the one improving it for her.
Lily’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 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 Lily’s memories of her wedding day unique, even if their marriage wasn’t real.
They’d slowly eaten and talked for over two hou
rs. Seth shared a unique 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. Lily didn’t say anything about her family but instead told stories about her time in Massachusetts.
And now it was time for them to go to bed. Seth and Lily might be married, but they weren’t going to consummate it, so…it was making them both nervous and shy.
“Ah, thanks to you buying me a new nightgown yesterday, you can have your nightshirt back,” Lily 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 Lily’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 Lily’s red face. He might be thinking about it, but she almost said it out loud.
“Lily, you were hurt again today, I think you need to have the bed to yourself tonight,” Seth rushed through the words.
“Well, okay.” Lily stood up, and Seth thought she was ready to go to bed.
“I’ll go downstairs then to give you some privacy while you can get into bed,” Seth said standing up, ready to run out the door.
“I could use your help before you go downstairs,” Lily 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,” Lily looked over her shoulder at him. “Please put the hairpins on my handkerchief beside me so I can pick them up without dropping any.” Oh, boy. Seth was going to have to crawl into bed and sit behind her to reach her hair.
Seth's Promise (Grooms With Honor Book 6) Page 6