Lilly: Bride of Illinois (American Mail-Order Bride 21) (14 page)

Chapter 13

It was the longest train ride Seth had ever taken. He’d wanted to hold Lilly and be sure she was all right. When the telegram came through to Clear Creek that Lilly was safe, he sank on his knees and thanked God. He had
never
been so scared in his life.

She would
not
be out of his sight, or a brother—or someone with a gun—until he knew Hardesty was in prison and Lilly was finally safe from that lunatic.

The train was slowing down and he was ready to jump off the car’s steps as soon as it was slow enough he wouldn’t break a leg.

“Mr. Reagan?” a man with a star on his coat called and waved at him. Seth sprinted to the man.

“Where’s my wife?!”

“She’s all right and waiting for you at the Railroad Hotel. I’ll take you over there,” the deputy said as they quickly weaved through the passengers getting off the train and the people waiting for them.

“Are the men who took her in custody?” Seth demanded to know as they walked down the boardwalk.

“Yes. They’re at the jail and have been questioned. You can go to the jailhouse and talk to the marshal once you’ve seen your wife.”

“I want them charged with stealing a horse and saddle, too, in case they weasel out of the kidnapping charge.”

“Your wife already thought of that when she gave a statement to the marshal. She was livid about losing her horse.”

“She’s been in the jailhouse with those men?!”

“Oh, she talked a good hour, telling what has happened to her since she arrived in Chicago. She’d make a good Pinkerton detective with her good memory for details, and getting out of dangerous situations.”

“Don’t even think of suggesting it to her. We’re going home to the ranch and staying there,” Seth growled.

Seth saw Lilly through the hotel window as he reached for the doorknob. She pushed out of her chair and was in his arms before the door closed behind him.

“Lilly, I thought I’d lost you,” Seth whispered in her hair as he hugged her close, then kissed her forehead, her cheek, and settled on her lips for a long kiss.

“Did they hurt you?” Seth pulled her to arm’s length to look her over.

“I’m fine, Seth, but upset about Britta …”

“She’s fine, too. The man at Brookville’s livery stable recognized the Straight Arrow brand mark on the saddle, and wondered if she was a stolen horse. Then he found your reticule and realized you might have been in trouble so he sent a telegram to Marshal Wilerson.”

“Are the dogs dead? They were poisoned so they couldn’t bark to warn me.”

“They’re fine, but still moving a little slow,” Seth admitted to her.

“I didn’t get home until after eleven o’clock last night. You weren’t downstairs, Lilly, so I thought you decided you didn’t want a real marriage. I hate to admit it, but it was eight o’clock this morning before I realized you weren’t upstairs. I’m sorry I wasn’t home to protect you,” Seth hugged her to his chest again.

“It was bad luck…but it’s in the past now.” Lilly took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I love you, Seth, and I want to stay married.”

“I love you, too, Malena Lillya Reagan. And I plan to be your loving husband until death do us part, which better not happen until we’re at least great great-grandparents.” Seth gave her another long kiss to show his love to his wonderful wife.

The deputy cleared his throat. “Mrs. Reagan knows where the jail is. Please come over there when you’re done talking.” The deputy tipped his hat, and walked out the door. Seth was so glad to have Lilly in his arms he’d forgotten the man was with him.

“We need to go over to the jailhouse to finish up this nightmare with Hardesty. I heard you already gave a statement to the marshal?”

“I did. It really scared me when the man held a gun to my head…”

“
What?
Who?!”

“Remember the two men, Aldrin and Humphrey, we met on the train going to Kansas City? They asked if they could stop by the ranch on their way home from Denver to visit.” Lilly placed her palms on Seth’s chest to calm him down. “They weren’t horse breeders, and I’m sure they weren’t using their real names either. They were following me on Hardesty’s orders.”

“I never would have guessed their plot when talking to them,” Seth stared at Lilly, shocked at her revelation.

“After I calmed down, I was furious at Hardesty and everything which had to do with him. I told the marshal everything I could think of, hoping he can send a telegram to Chicago and press charges against him for ordering my kidnapping.” Seth liked seeing the spunk back in Lilly’s eyes.

“Sounds like you’ve acquired the Wild West attitude of getting things done, ma’am,” Seth teased her.

“
That’s another thing.
I want my own pistol before I get back on the train. When I yelled I needed help, almost every man in the car—who wore a cowboy hat—drew a Colt on the kidnappers,
and
several women pulled pocket pistols from their reticules, too,” Lilly waved her index finger in the air to make her point before setting her hands on her hips.

“You need to learn how to take care of and shoot guns and rifles before you carry a firearm, Lilly. I’m sure it won’t take you long to become a sharpshooter, like most of the women in Ellsworth County.”

“Yes, I’ll be a good shooter, too, because I need to protect our home, livestock and our family,” Lilly firmly stated.

“Mrs. Seth Reagan, I believe you’ll make a fine rancher’s wife,” Seth grinned and pulled Lilly back into his chest.

“Okay, let’s get over to the marshal’s office and get the interview over with. Good thing those two are behind bars, or else my fists might have done some talking of their own,” Seth said in a whisper while looking around the hotel lobby.

“Then you might end up in jail, and I don’t want that to happen on our honeymoon,” Lilly said over her shoulder as Seth helped her into her coat.

“Yes, I believe this is our official wedding night, Mrs. Reagan. I think we need to enjoy a nice steak dinner, then check into this hotel. There’s no reason to go home late tonight,” Seth grinned, squeezing Lilly’s hand as they stepped outside.

“But tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. We should go home to be with your family. I won’t have time to make anything in the morning, though.”

“I think our first Thanksgiving can be just ourselves, seeing we’re starting our own family now. The train runs tomorrow and we can be at the parsonage by midafternoon,” Seth suggested.

“There’s a chocolate shop farther down this street. Could we buy a box of chocolates to bring home to your family?”

Seth guessed she’d love her own personal box of treats, too, so he’d be sure she picked out her choice of chocolates. “That’s a great idea! We’ll get a big box so everyone gets a least one piece.”

“Oh, but who’s taking care of chores tonight, and milking Daisy?” Lilly stopped to ask.

“My brother, Mack, went out this morning to take care of the animals, and will stay overnight to do the morning chores, too.”

“Can Mack sing Swedish songs to Daisy? Otherwise he’s going to have a terrible time milking her.”

“Mack’s big and strong enough, he can tie her up and get Daisy milked whether she wants it done or not.”

“Then I don’t have to worry, do I? I bet Manurva will keep his feet warm in bed, too,” Lilly laughed, linking her arm in his as they strolled to the marshal’s office.

Seth’s heart swelled with pride because Lilly was finally his wife, and he was the lucky man to be this beautiful woman’s husband. He would never be lonely on the ranch now with Lilly working and singing, by his side.

Epilogue

Saturday evening, December 6, 1890

Seth beamed at Lilly standing at the back of the church, holding onto Dagmar Hamner’s arm. Seth had asked Dagmar to walk Lilly down the aisle to represent her father. He was honored, and asked Lilly to call him Uncle Dagmar now, because she was officially part of their Swedish family as of today. The two were ready to begin walking down the aisle as soon as the organist started playing the
Wedding March
.

Lilly was a vision of silk, happiness and love, all wrapped together and topped with a beautiful hat. Lilly and his mother went to a dress shop last week to buy a new dress for today. Lilly chose a midnight blue silk dress, with cream colored lace at the neck, down the bodice front, and around the cuffs. Lilly excitedly went into more detail explaining the features of her dress to him, but it was beyond his comprehension of women’s fashion. His mother made a few minor adjustments to the dress and it fit perfectly. She tried to talk Lilly into a wearing a veil, but Lilly declined because they were only renewing their vows, but the silk and flowered hat matching the dress colors made the ensemble complete.

On Monday, they were going to the portrait studio in Ellsworth to have formal portraits taken in their wedding clothes. Besides Lilly’s new dress, Seth had bought a new black suit for the ceremony. Seth was happy Lilly wanted a copy of the portrait to send to her parents. Hopefully, her family ties would reconnect, because Seth wanted Lilly to have new, good memories of her family.

When they were at his parents’ house on Thanksgiving, Seth asked his father to renew his and Lilly’s wedding vows. Besides making their vows stronger, Seth’s family and friends could be a part of their wedding celebration. After the ceremony, the congregation would walk over to Paulson’s Hotel to enjoy wedding cake and refreshments. Seth wanted his bride to have a special wedding with all the trimmings and traditions, because Lilly had missed out on so many life celebrations due to her family’s circumstances.

The organist began playing and Lilly and Dagmar started walking down the aisle toward Seth and his father.

Seth thought of Lilly playfully singing the
Wedding March’s
first verse to him last night.

Here comes the bride dressed all in light, radiant and lovely she shines in his sight.

Gently she glides graceful as a dove, meeting her bridegroom her eyes full of love.

Seth never dreamed he’d find his true love in a Chicago saloon, all because Lily responded to a mail–order bride ad following a fire in Massachusetts. Lilly suspected the mill owner set the place on fire himself. Seth hated to admit it, but right now, he was glad a burning match brought Lilly into his life. She was
his
radiant bride and her eyes shone with love and happiness for him.

***

Asking God’s blessing as they begin, life with new meaning, life shared as one.

Entering God’s union, bowed before His throne, promise each other to have and to hold.

Lilly sent a prayer of thanks up to heaven for her new life in Kansas with Seth, his family and friends. Seth was a
good
man who would always love, respect and protect her, and the children they hoped to have. She’d never have guessed her love of singing would draw her to Chicago, or that Seth would arrive at the same time for a horse sale.

Lilly locked eyes with Seth as she walked toward the altar, ready to renew her promise to love and cherish him forever. Answering a mail–order bride advertisement turned out to be the best thing she’d ever done.

The End

I hope you enjoyed reading
Lilly: Bride of Illinois.
Please help other readers discover my books by recommending them to family and friends, either by word of mouth or writing a review. I’d really appreciate it.

Lilly and Seth’s story starts a spin-off series (as of yet not named) featuring Pastor and Kaitlyn Reagan’s six sons mentioned in the
Brides with Grit
series. Be sure to watch for the romance stories for Seth’s brothers, Angus, Fergus, Mack, Cullen and Tully in the near future.

If you enjoyed reading this book, there are forty-nine more books in this series, so keep reading! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Bride books at
http://www.newwesternromance.com/
.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the wonderful authors who thought up this idea and coordinated this epic series. Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this special group. I’m sure you thought you were herding cats at times!

And a special thank you to everyone in the Pioneer Hearts group. You are such a special and loyal group of friends! We authors appreciate your feedback, suggestions and comradery.

Do you like reading historical western romance? I invite you to become a member at
www.Facebook.com/groups/PioneerHearts/
to get in on the fun. We have contests, first release on book covers and books, and chat because we’ve all become friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Hubalek grew up on the Kansas prairie, always wanting to be a farmer like her parents and ancestors. After earning a college degree in Agriculture, marriage took Linda away from Kansas as her husband worked in engineering jobs in several states.

Meanwhile, Linda wrote historical fiction books about pioneer women who homesteaded in Kansas between 1854 to the early 1900s, especially her Swedish immigrant ancestors.

Linda Hubalek and her husband eventually moved back home to Kansas, where they raised American buffalo (bison) for a dozen years.

Linda is currently writing clean, sweet historical western romances set in the 1800s.

Sign up for Linda’s newsletter at
www.LindaHubalek.com
.to hear about the release of future books, contests and more.

Linda loves to connect with her readers, so please contact her through one of these social media sites.

Author website
|
Twitter
|
Facebook
|
Pinterest
| Amazon Author Page

If you enjoyed her books, please post reviews on your favorite book sites.