“Oh you’ll fit right into the horse ranch Seth manages then!” Mrs. Reagan clapped her hands to show her excitement.
“So what does this have to do with you getting married during your week in Chicago?” Pastor Reagan finally spoke for the first time since they’d walked into the Reagan home.
Seth looked like a little boy—be it over six feet tall—when his father asked that pointed question.
“The saloon owner and his cohorts kept trying to grab Lilly, to force her back to the saloon—that’s why I have a black and blue jaw—so I suggested a marriage of convenience as a means of protection while in Chicago.”
“You must be an accomplished singer if he wanted you back. Where else have you sang, dear?” Lilly was a little taken aback by Mrs. Reagan’s change of subject. Was this her nature?
“I sang in the church I attended in Lawrence, and I’d often led songs in the textile mill to boost the workers’ spirits.”
Seth spoke up before his mother asked her next question. “Lilly wanted to live among her countrymen again, so that’s why she chose the mail–order bride ad in Chicago. I told her about the Swedish settlements around here, so the marriage arrangement gave her safe passage to Kansas,” Seth patiently explained to his parents.
“So what is the plan now, son?” Pastor Reagan asked, then took a sip of coffee while looking between the two of them. Then Lilly noticed he raised an eyebrow to his wife, and she answered back with a nod.
Seth opened his mouth, then closed it before turning to look at Lilly. “We haven’t made any definite plans. I need to get the horses out to the Straight Arrow Ranch and catch up with things there. Lilly…”
“I’d like to see the ranch, and your community, besides the Swedish settlement when Seth has time to take me there,” Lilly spoke her wishes. “And Seth bought me a mare for my so–called ‘wedding present’, so I need to get her settled somewhere so I can take care of and ride her.”
“Oh my stars! Your surprise made me toss my manners aside. Please take off your coats and sit down. You need food after your long trip,” Mrs. Reagan shot out of her chair to reach for two cups from a shelf beside the stove.
Lilly was used to Seth taking off her coat, and waited for him to do so now, then he pulled a chair out for Lilly to sit. Seth carried their coats to hang on a coat stand by front door before sitting next to her.
Mrs. Reagan had coffee and plates of cookies, or what the Irish called ‘biscuits’, on the table in front of them. Lilly bowed her head a few seconds to give a word of thanks then took a biscuit.
“That’s a lovely blue coat and ensemble you have on, Lilly.” Mrs. Reagan smiled at her just as Lilly was ready to take her first bite. She set her biscuit back on the plate so she didn’t talk with her mouth full.
“Thank you. Seth bought these for me, and I truly have never had any clothing as nice as this,” Lilly said smiling at Seth.
“He has good taste. Blue looks good on you,” Mrs. Reagan commented, but then went silent. Seth said his parents were very talkative and outgoing. Were they shocked or disappointed with Seth marrying her to help her? Oh no. Did they think she was after his money?
“I intend to pay Seth back for all the things he bought me after I find a job in Kansas,” Lilly rushed to appease his parents’ minds. “He bought me clothing because I literally escaped from…the saloon with nothing but the dirty dress I wore.”
“A man provides for his wife, so you shouldn’t have to work to pay him back,” Pastor Reagan pointed out.
“But we’re not really…married, sir.”
“Your job as his wife is to take care of the house and children,” he replied back.
Where had she seen that quiet look of determination he was wearing? On his son. So what was Pastor Reagan’s meaning?
“We don’t plan to take up housekeeping as a normal couple, Da. In fact, I’d like Lilly to stay here with you so she’s properly chaperoned.” Seth looked back and forth between his parents, waiting for them to agree.
Lilly saw silent communication occurring between Seth’s parents again.
Mrs. Reagan cleared her throat. “Well, if you’re not going to stay married, it would be best for Lilly to live in town.”
Seth sighed and nodded to agree with his ma. So he’d be glad to get rid of her now they were in Kansas?
“Then Lilly can meet and marry someone else,” Mrs. Reagan said to her son, then turned to her. “There are several bachelors in town looking for ‘new blood’, so you’ll have your choice of husbands and can remarry in no time. Actually, there are three in our congregation alone I could introduce you to—one who is the son of Swedish immigrants, too.
“No, Lilly’s not going to…” Seth started to protest, then stopped. What was Seth about to say?
“What Seth? Don’t you think Adolph Bjorklund would be a good match for Lilly? He’s handsome, on the church council, and he owns the butcher shop in town.”
“Uh, no I just think it’s a little early to push Lilly into matrimony again so soon…because…we were just married.”
“Son, she needs a husband and home as soon as possible. So if you’re not going to be her husband, why wait?”
What was his mother up to? Pushing Seth to release Lilly immediately from their vows? And why did Pastor Reagan give a positive nod to his wife?
Do I want to be free, or do I want to stay married to Seth?
“Hello?” a quick tapping sounded on the back door before a young dark–haired beauty walked into the kitchen. “Pastor Reagan?”
“Miss Swisher, please come in. Sorry, I was detained in returning to the church office.” Pastor Reagan stood up and waved his palm up to Lilly. “Miss Agnes Swisher, I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of the Reagan family. This is Seth’s bride Lilly, and they were telling us about their honeymoon in Chicago before they go home to the ranch.”
***
He knew what his ma was doing, acting like she’d take Lilly under her wing and get her hooked up to a man in record time. He and his brothers had caught on to her little trickery at a young age, although they liked to play along to see how far their ma would take her charades.
His ma was a good judge of character and she either liked or disliked a person almost immediately. She was always polite to everyone, but her family knew how to read her reactions. It pleased Seth that his ma liked Lilly. For some reason, it was very important to him. And yes, it irritated his pride when she suggested Adolph Bjorklund as a husband for Lilly. Especially since they would be a good match…but dang it, Seth married her first!
Seth didn’t expect his father would be the one to seal their “marriage”—at least temporarily—by blabbing to the town gossip he and Lilly had just returned from their honeymoon.
Of course, Agnes throwing a fit didn’t help matters.
“Oh no, Seth! How could you humiliate me by marrying this stranger?! You were courting me!”
Good gravy. He and his folks all rolled their eyes at her remark, because it wasn’t true. Miss Swisher had been chasing Seth since she started wearing long skirts. He only talked to her now because it was the polite thing to do, but he’d never called on or courted her—by choice anyway.
It amused Seth to see Lilly’s eyes change from bright blue to envy green after the woman’s proclamation. Maybe Lilly was starting to have feelings for him…like you’re having for her?
Seth was relieved when his da announced, in front of the three women, he and his son needed to hitch up their horse and buggy so Seth could take his bride home. The air was too thick with jealousy in his ma’s kitchen, which was flattering, but embarrassing at the same time.
But Da had some wisdom to pass on before he passed on the reins of the loaned horse and buggy.
“When your mind believes what your heart already knows, I’d like to perform a renewal vow for the two of you. It can either be in front of the whole congregation or privately.”
While Seth drove the horse and buggy home
, his father’s words were making him reevaluate the original purpose of marrying Lilly. He couldn’t deny there was a spark of interest when their eyes first met at the train station. Was their chance meeting fate’s way to simply help Lilly out of a bad situation, or was it to bring them together as mates for life? He really liked the woman setting next to him, and could see her there for many years to come.
They stopped at the mercantile to pick up groceries while they had the use of the buggy. While Seth ordered basic supplies he knew he didn’t have in his pantry, Lilly walked the perimeter of the store, studying what was available to purchase. Seth noticed she kept her hands behind her back, like she was afraid to feel the pretty bolts of fabric, pick up a can of spiced peaches to look at the label, wish for things she’d never had? He pointed to the candy jars and whispered to Mrs. Taylor to put a variety of candy in a sack. It felt good to buy things for Lilly and she was so appreciative of the smallest gestures.
They left town by late afternoon after deciding to leave the horses in the stockyard corral. It would be dark before they could return to town to retrieve the horses, so they decided to wait until morning.
Lilly’s eyes soaked in the open prairie scenery on their drive north to the ranch, studying the landscape, scanning it as though she was trying to memorize the landmarks. She’d sniffed a time or two and wiped her nose with the back of her gloved hand. He’d asked what was wrong, but she wouldn’t answer, keeping her eyes on the horizon. It made him realize how special his growing up and living in a good home and community was, which he’d always taken for granted. Seth sensed, more than Lilly said, how hard her life in Sweden had been when they talked on the train ride home.
“I can’t believe how the lay of the land reminds me of Sweden, Seth. It makes me feel both sad and comforted at the same time.” Seth moved the reins from his right to left hand so he could hug her shoulders.
“Then it’s a good place for you to be, to remind you both of the past and the future. I’ve heard many Swedes say the same thing as you, this area reminds them of their homeland.”
This area was still a wild prairie, untamed by man except for little pockets of settlements and an occasional homestead. The scenery had changed as they traveled across Kansas by rail. The eastern part of the state had larger towns, a more rolling terrain, with groves of mature trees along the rivers and creeks. Then the train chugged through the Flint Hills with large, rolling hills of grass which had to be four to five feet tall. After the train passed Salina, the grass varieties seemed to shorten in height over smaller hills. But no matter where they’d been in Kansas, they could always see the big, clear sky.
“After being in a smoggy, crowded factory town, this is a breath of fresh air,” Lilly said to lighten the mood.
“You said the Straight Arrow Ranch is five miles north of town. Where is the Cross C Ranch from Clear Creek, and the other ranch you mentioned? And I have to keep remembering an American mile equals about seven Swedish miles, so please keep saying ‘American miles’ when you tell me.”
“The Cross C Ranch is two American miles east of the Arrow, and Ma talked about the Hamners? Dagmar and Cora Hamner’s Bar E Ranch is two American miles west of the Arrow. The other two ranches have several sections of land north of them, with the smaller Arrow in the middle.”
“Does the wind always blow here?” Lilly had tied her shawl over her hat once they left town. Even though the day was sunny, the air had a crisp nip to it.
“This is just a breeze. We have stiff winds some days making it hard to keep your hat on, and other days you wish for a breeze because it’s stifling hot.”
“Oh, what’s the animal running across the hill?” Lilly caught sight of a coyote and pointed in the direction it was running.
“It’s a coyote. You see them mostly by themselves during the day, but at night they may run together. I promise you’ll hear their group howl tonight.”
“It looks the size of a dog, but with a fox face. Are they tame, or are they wild and will attack us?”
“Not a problem to us, but they eat chickens and baby calves, so they’re a menace for the farmer and rancher. About everyone has a rifle or revolver handy when they ride out here to shoot bad critters, like coyotes and snakes.
“It’s okay,” Seth assured Lilly when she recoiled in the seat. “Kansas isn’t as wild as it once was, but I’ll still teach you to shoot a gun.” Seth squeezed Lilly’s shoulders again before taking his arm off to change the reins back in his driving hand again.
“Seth, what are we going to do, about our arranged marriage? I don’t think you thought it through when you suggested it, and I didn’t think about how it would affect your and your family’s lives when I accepted. I was grabbing a chance to get out of Hardesty’s reach.” Lilly tucked her arms around her waist and looked worried.
“Are your ribs hurting you today?”
“They’re sore from all our travel, but I’m okay. And you didn’t answer my question.”
What should he say? I’d like you to stay because I think I’m falling in love with you?
“Well, one thing for sure, the news of our marriage is already spreading across the county, so be ready for curious stares and questions at church this Sunday. But at the same time, I promised you we’d get an annulment, so we can stay with our original agreement, if that’s what you want to do.”
Lilly looked down at her lap when he mentioned the annulment, but looked up at him with bright eyes for a second when he said “if that’s what you want to do”.
“The ranch homestead will be coming into view right over this next hill…” Lilly stood up in the moving buggy to get the first glimpse. Seth grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling out of the buggy and under the horse’s hooves.
“Please sit down, Lilly, because it’s over a half mile yet to the buildings.”
“But I want to see the horses, and the barn, and my new home!” she pleaded.
Seth pulled the horse to a stop and stared at Lilly. She’d said, “I want to see my new home”, he thought to himself with hope.
Lilly plopped down on the buggy seat when she realized why he had stopped. “I…I meant…I want to see your home.”
He picked up the reins again and gave a little snap to tell the horse to start walking again. Which did she mean? My home, your home…could it be our home instead? Seth wondered.
As the buggy rolled over the ridge of the hill and closer to the valley where the ranch buildings were clustered, Seth had to grab Lilly again. She wanted a normal, happy life so badly. Could he be the one to fulfill her dreams? Did he want to? And did she want him to?
Chapter 10
“Hang on, we need to do this right. Don’t want any evil spirits haunting you or the house,” Seth said, as he dropped their bags on the porch floor.
“I’m going to carry you over the threshold, so you get the doorknob.”
“What?” was all Lilly could say before Seth put one arm behind her back and the other under her knees and lifted her, pretending to strain and grunt from his “heavy” load.
Lilly couldn’t help but laugh as she reached for the doorknob when Seth changed the direction he was standing so she could reach it.
“Oh, Seth it’s so…Ah!” Lilly screamed as Seth’s knees buckled and half dropped her to the floor.
“Are you all right?” both said at the same time as they sat on the floor.
“Yes. Was I that heavy?” Lilly gasped in horror.
“No, I tripped over Manurva running into the house ahead of me,” Seth confessed as a black and orange calico cat crawled onto his lap, purring loudly and commenced to rub her head up his chest to nuzzle into his neck. “Lilly, meet my housecat, Manurva.” He smiled as he rubbed the cat down her silky back.
“You have a housecat?! Did you say her name was Minerva?”
“Nope, Manurva, as in horse manure. When she was a little kitten she crawled in an almost empty bucket of water in a horse stall and fell asleep.
When I was mucking the manure out of the stall, I found her in the bucket, with the flap of her tiny ear frozen to the bottom of it. I brought the bucket into the house to add a little hot water to get her ear unstuck, and she’s lived in the house with me since then.”
Lilly adored how the cat loved Seth, and was a little jealous of the attention Manurva was getting from him.
“She’s in and out of the house, but wants to live in the house all the time during the winter.”
Then the cat crawled on Lilly’s lap and started the same routine of rubbing and purring. “You’re a spoiled kitty, Miss Manurva,” Lilly whispered. Right now she would give about anything to stay Seth’s wife and be spoiled, too.
The two–story, wood–frame house was painted a light yellow, making it a welcoming sight, even though the house inside was cold since Seth had been gone for a while. The downstairs featured a dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and parlor. The narrow staircase in the dining room led up to two more bedrooms.
“This is the original part of the house, built in 1866, and then the owners added a utility room and enclosed porch to the back of the house, probably five years later. See the difference in the floor boards when we cross this threshold?”
Lilly was listening to Seth telling the history of the house, while she examined each room. As she expected after getting to know Seth, the house was clean and organized. Just the basic furniture a bachelor needed, no doilies or pictures decorated the home such as a woman would add.
There was no electricity or running water in the house. The outhouse was behind the house a short distance next to an empty garden space. A spring in the creek behind the barn kept water flowing all year, plus there was a cistern in the enclosed porch to have water handy in the house.
“So what do you think of my humble home, Lilly?” Seth asked, still carrying his cat around.
“It’s truly a tranquil home, but it’s way out in the country by itself. Do you ever get lonely?”
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