Lilly: Bride of Illinois (American Mail-Order Bride 21) (8 page)

“
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 help 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.”

Seth was sure the first fifteen strokes through Lilly’s hair hurt, but she didn’t say anything. He found a rhythm, enjoying the silky golden strands running across his fingers as he brushed out to the tips of her hair. He lifted her hair to his nose to smell it. It smelled like the Blue Lilies Perfume he gave her, maybe along with a little “cattle” scent from being in the exhibit hall.

Lilly kept quiet, her eyes closed, looking like she was enjoying him brushing her hair as much as he was enjoying doing it for her.
What would it be like to do this every night for my wife?

When he got done with the one hundred strokes, he set the brush aside, divided Lilly’s hair in thirds, and slowly braided it. She held a blue ribbon—apparently her favorite color, too—in her hand for him to tie the end of her braid.

“Okay, I’m done, so I’ll go now,” Seth said as he climbed off the bed and reached for his boots.

“Thank you, Seth. It felt so good to have my hair brushed out. Now could you help me out of my clothes?”

“What?!”
Good grief, did he just squawk like a fourteen year old whose voice was starting to change?

“I need help out of my clothes and then you can wrap my ribs,” Lilly said as she moved off the bed to stand in front of him.

What did she learn while being in the Emporium?
How to seduce a man?
Could he do this without looking? But feeling without seeing might heighten his senses instead.

“I unbuttoned my shirtwaist, but I need you to carefully pull it off my shoulders and down my arms.”

Lilly turned away from him, and he slowly slid the shirtwaist off her arms, feeling her bare shoulders in the process. She didn’t have on a corset, or corset cover. She only had on her chemise under her shirtwaist.

“You need your long underwear on,”
so I don’t see your bare skin.

“Don’t have any, but I suppose I should buy some for our trip home.”

“Yes, and boots, too. Your shoes are about worn through. We’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
Think of a shopping list instead, to get your mind off her skin!

“Please unbutton my side seam on the left side of my skirt and pull it, and my two petticoats, off.”

“Oh no, I shouldn’t be doing that...”
I bet my face is so red, I look sunburned.

“I’m afraid you can’t get them down, so you’ll have to pull them up over my head.”

Seth sighed.
Just do it.
The poor lady’s ribs hurt.

It took a couple of minutes to get everything unbuttoned, separated and up over her head after she slowly raised her arms. Then she stood there in her chemise and drawers, looking at him…waiting for…what?

“How about I slip your nightgown over your…underwear…so you stay warmer tonight?”

“I want to pull up my chemise so we can…”

“Nope, we are
not doing
anything, so lift up your arms as much as you can again because your nightgown is going on
now
.”

He might have pulled the gown over her head maybe a little too hard and fast, but it was done and he had his hand on the doorknob again.

“I meant so you could wrap my ribs...”

“Oh.” Now Seth was embarrassed because he’d been thinking of something else besides her injured side.

“And Seth?”

“Yes?”

“Can I have a goodnight kiss?”

Lilly laughed so hard she snorted when he looked back incredulously at her.
The little tease.
But after the little kiss they exchanged at their marriage ceremony today, he wouldn’t mind kissing her again
.

Chapter 7

“I’ve ordered a special horse car instead of a livestock car to bring the horses home. It has eight stalls so I’ll limit my buying to six or seven, in case some don’t get along well, and we need to separate them farther apart.”

“I assume the cars have water and feeding troughs in them. Is the hay supplied or did you have to order it, too?”

“I ordered hay for the three day trip.” Seth bumped Lilly’s shoulder with his and smiled down at her. “It’s nice to have another person along who knows horses and their needs.”

“Thank you, Mr. Reagan, I’m honored to be your assistant,” she smiled back at Seth.

Last night was a little awkward…but it was nice spending time with Lilly. She seemed to be a really nice person, and made the meal and conversation special for their fake wedding night. But, of course, he still slept on the floor instead of in bed with her.

“Seth, the auctioneer is standing in front of the pens of mares you liked.”

“Tell me two or three you’d prefer…if you had to choose.” He’d considered buying Lilly her own horse, so he wanted her to pick her own choice, in a roundabout way. Seth had already asked and found out all these mares were broke to ride.

“The two bays standing at the front of the pen are the best, but the little bay with the star on her forehead—in the back corner—is my favorite. She seemed to sense my need to hide in their pen and tried to keep the other horses out of my corner.

“She’s smaller, and I’d say she’s a few years older than the others, but she has such a sweet temperament. Although she isn’t as showy as the other horses, I think she’d be a good broodmare. Don’t you?” she asked him his opinion and he’d have to agree with her assessment.

“They’ll be led out in a minute and we can see them walk to be sure their legs are sound.” People stood back against the alley pens as the haltered mares were led out one at a time and walked in front of the audience.

“Folks, with this pen we’re starting on a seller from Iowa,” the auctioneer yelled. “All these mares have registered pedigree papers with them today, except for the mare with the white star on her forehead. I’ll talk more about her when she’s walked out.”

“What’s my starting bid on this large bay? Teeth says she’s four years old. Do I hear fifty dollars?” the auctioneer barked and kept going as buyers raised their hands to bid on the mare. Some bidders waved their bidding number paper wildly in the air, while others kept their eye on the auctioneer and only gave him a nod to convey they wanted to up the ante. They didn’t show their bidding card unless they bought a horse.

Lilly had never been to an American stock auction, so was fascinated with the process. “Are you bidding on this horse?” she whispered to Seth.

“No, I’m waiting for the next one,” Seth whispered, never looking away from the auctioneer.

“Sold! One hundred and forty–five dollars to buyer thirty–five. Next horse, five years old. What’s your bid, gentlemen?”

“I like the looks of this mare. Shall I bid on it?” Seth gave Lilly a quick glance.

“Yes, she has good lines.”

Seth raised his card to get the auctioneer’s attention and indicate he wanted in on the bidding. The price climbed as Seth and another man kept raising the other’s bid.

“Going once…going twice…Sold for one hundred and seventy–five dollars to buyer forty–two! Lead the next horse out, please…”

“You got her!” Lilly squeezed his forearm. Seth smiled as excitement flooded Lilly’s face. It felt so good to see her happy and beside him.

“Well, you recommended her,” he teased, enjoying the excitement shining from her face.

Two more horses were sold, then Lilly’s choice was led out. “Folks, this nice horse is seven years old, but the seller lost her papers so her bloodlines can’t be confirmed. If the seller finds the papers, he will send them to her buyer, so who will give me twenty–five dollars?” the auctioneer looked around, waiting for a hand to go up.

No one started the bidding, because they were at the auction for top pedigreed breeding mares, or wanted to see how little they could get her for.

Seth raised this hand, but someone quickly followed with another five dollar bid. Seth couldn’t see the man who was bidding against him. Apparently he was standing behind someone taller than himself and waving his hand in the air when bidding.

He looked at Lilly, and darned if she and the mare weren’t quietly staring at each other. He wanted to buy this mare for her, so he raised his bid another five dollars.

But the other man also bid again. This horse was going to cost more than the broodmare he bought if the man kept bidding against him.

“Seth, stop bidding. The price is going too high for her,” Lilly was tugging on his arm, trying to get his attention away from the auctioneer.

“This is the horse you chose,” not wanting to disappoint Lilly.

“Going once….

“Hey cowboy, aren’t you going to buy your
wife
her horse?” Seth whipped his head toward the sound of Hardesty’s voice as the man walked out so Seth could see him. Hardesty was bidding against him—just to get the price up!

“No, Seth,
please,
don’t bid again,” begged Lilly as she clasped both hands around his arm.

Seth shook his head “no” to the auctioneer, watching Hardesty’s confused face when Seth did so.

“Going once, going twice, sold to number…?” The auctioneer waited for Hardesty to give his bid number.

“Don’t have one, and don’t want to buy the nag. Sell it to the cowboy I bid against for the same price!” Hardesty yelled at the auctioneer.

“Sir, this auction is only for serious horse buyers. If you
really
intend to buy any horse at this auction, you need to go register and get a number. I won’t take any more bids from you if you don’t. And if you bid and win the top bid,
you will
own the horse next time.”

It was nice to see this auctioneer wasn’t on Hardesty’s illegal payroll.

“Buyer forty–two. Do you want to buy this mare at the last bid?”

“No, sir,” Seth clearly stated as he watched Hardesty’s face turn red before he pushed his way back through the crowd. The auctioneer pointed to one of his helpers to follow Hardesty out, hopefully clear out of the stockyards.

“Okay, let’s start the bidding on this mare again at twenty–five dollars.”

After a few seconds Seth raised his card again. Even though the auctioneer would be losing a commission on this sale, he tipped his hat to Seth, knowing Seth was a true horseman, and would give this mare a good home.

“Sold to buyer forty–two at twenty–five dollars. Next horse is a….”

Seth turned to Lilly, ignoring the auctioneer now. “So, Mrs. Reagan, you now own your own horse.”

“You bought her for the Straight Arrow, didn’t you?”

“No, this is your pretend wedding present from me, to you.”

“Really?
No!
Really?!
I have my very own horse?!
” Lilly was bouncing on her heels with excitement, apparently not worried about her ribs.

“Yes, she’s your horse,” Seth felt so good seeing the simple joy on Lilly’s face.

“Thank you! Thank you! I’ve never…” she stopped talking and wrapped her arms around his middle, mindless of the crowd around them.

“You’ll have to think of a name for her.” Seth lowered his head to look at Lilly, but she turned her head to keep from showing her eyes were tearing up. “Lilly, something wrong?”

“I’m so overwhelmed with your kindness,” she whispered softly. “Thank you so much, Seth.”

“You’re welcome, Lilly. Your horse has to stay in the pen with the others for now, so shall we go over and give her the good news that she’s moving to Kansas with you?”

“Yes, but let’s hurry,” Lilly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the pen to meet her new horse. “The auctioneer is almost finished with this aisle of pens, so we need to move over to the stallions you were looking to buy. They’re in the next row of pens which will be sold.”

Seth let his wife pull him over to talk to her new horse. His
wife
. He was starting to like that word.

Over the next two hours, Seth bought four Morgan stallions and another mare. He was pleased with the new horses which would improve the bloodlines of the current herd. Lilly stayed by his side, giving her opinion about the horses he was considering. She really did have a good eye for their body structure and their temperament.

They actually argued about one stallion. Seth liked its look, but Lilly firmly stated she did
not
like the stallion’s attitude. Seth bid on the stud anyway but the price went too high, which turned out to be lucky. The stallion threw a fit while walking back down the aisle to his pen, and spectators were climbing over the pen fences to get away from the maniac. Three men on foot were injured by the horse, before two other men on horseback roped and got the bad tempered horse into a pen by itself.

When Lilly pointed out the fourth stallion to bid on, he did, getting it at a good price because Lilly was seeing something in the horse the other buyers didn’t.

By the end of the day, their horses were penned near each other and ready to load on the rail car first thing in the morning.

It unnerved Seth knowing Hardesty knew where they were, so he was on constant lookout for Hardesty and his men. Seth prayed they’d get out of town without another incident due to the obsessed man.

Snow was falling when they trudged back to the hotel. Both were tired, but Lilly stayed warm with the long johns, wool socks and boots they bought before going to the auction.

He came to Chicago with one carpet bag, and was leaving with two carpet bags, a large bag of purchases which didn’t fit in the two bags, seven horses and one short–term wife. Seth was going to be the talk of Clear Creek when he returned home.

They ate supper downstairs, Lillie took a bath to warm up, everything possible was packed to leave early in the morning…and now it was time to go to bed. Seth was bone tired from the week, plus he hadn’t gotten much sleep lying on the floor thinking about the woman sleeping in the bed a few feet away.

What to do
…sleep on the hard floor again, or sleep in a comfortable bed with
his wife.

He knew Lilly was lying in bed watching his weary mind battling his tired body. The room light was out, but he’d stood by the bed long enough their eyes had adjusted to the dim light coming in through the window. He shouldn’t be in bed with her if their marriage was going to be annulled, but,
dang
he needed sleep before the next three days of travel.

“Seth, we are both tired and both need a good night’s sleep. Just get in the bed and
go to sleep
!”

Well…it is the logical thing to do.

Seth took the pillow off the floor and placed it on “his” side of the bed. He lay on top of the quilt, next to Lilly who lay under the quilt, covering himself with the blanket he had used on the floor. It was so different to see her at this angle in the dim light of the room. She reached to brush his hair away from his forehead, then her fingers trailed down to touch his lips. “Good night, Seth. Thank you for my horse, and the wonderful day together.” She leaned closer to give him a soft kiss on his lips, then rolled away from him.

Seth stared at her back. He’d brushed and braided her hair again tonight and the ribbon–tied tip of her braid had flipped to lie on his pillow. He put his hand on it to connect to Lilly. Why did he want to pull Lilly against him so he could sleep with his arms wrapped around her?
Am I falling in love with my wife?