Grooms with Honor Series, Books 4-6

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Seth’s chest crushed with pain. He’d found the woman he loved and wanted to be with forever, but apparently, she didn’t want him as her husband.

  ***

  Lily didn’t cause any trouble leaving the ranch or riding the two hours east to Brookville last night. She wanted the Straight Arrow homestead and the livestock to be safe when Seth returned home last night.

  Lily wondered what time Seth had returned, and if he went looking for her. She guessed he’d go to Clear Creek first, thinking she’d take the train to Lindsborg this morning.

  But what if Seth decided she left because she didn’t want to be married to him, and he wasn’t looking for her? Then Lily was indeed on her own to get away from these men. But then what? Hardesty was crazy enough to send someone to Kansas to bring her back to Chicago. He’d do it again if she got away from these kidnappers.

  They checked into the Brookville Hotel late that evening as Mr. and Mrs. Aldrin, with Humphrey registered in another room. But both men stayed in the room with her, taking turns sleeping in front of the door, or sitting in the room chair awake to watch Lily, so she didn’t try to escape. Lily claimed the bed intending to get some sleep because she had to be alert for whatever came next. She decided they wouldn’t hurt her because she was being delivered to Hardesty, so it was best to get as much rest as she could to keep up her strength.

  But Lily’s mind turned over every possible scenario to get away and back to Seth, both on the ride to Brookville and most of the night as she lay there staring at the ceiling.

  She’d left one clue at the Brookville livery stable, hoping someone had found it and figured out what it meant. The men rented the horses from there to ride to the ranch, and they returned them. They also talked the livery owner into buying Britta and her saddle at a ridiculously low price. While they were talking, Lily needed her handkerchief because she was upset having to leave Britta. When she dug her handkerchief out of her reticule, she pulled out her twenty-dollar bill, too. She stuffed the money up her sleeve, then dropped her reticule beside the wall inside the barn where she stood waiting. It was dark, and her reticule was black in color, so they didn’t see her drop it. Her identification papers were in her reticule, so hopefully, someone might try to find the owner when it was discovered.

  They boarded the first-morning train going east and were already past Abilene. Lily ate a hearty breakfast in the dining car with the men but otherwise snubbed them. She was not going to act like a friendly wife out on an excursion. Lily thought about screaming for help but worried it might backfire with the men hurting her, or other passengers instead.

  Before they left the hotel this morning, Lily had asked Aldrin what it would take for Hardesty to leave her alone, and his answer was “your death.” And Lily had been plotting her “death” ever since because she was not going back to the saloon.

  ***

  Seth slammed through the door of Marshal Wilerson’s office because he needed help. Lily hadn’t gone to his parent’s or brothers’ homes, and she didn’t check into the Paulson Hotel. The livery hadn’t seen Lily’s horse, and Angus didn’t sell a train ticket to Lily either.

  No! Adam isn’t here! Seth whirled around to run out the door, and slammed into the marshal’s chest, nearly knocking them both down. “Slow down Seth, what’s the rush?”

  “Have you seen Lily? She left last night while I was gone to get Doctor Pansy for Mrs. Squires. I’ve asked all over town, and no one’s seen her, last night or this morning.” Seth paced the room, not able to sit down, while the marshal walked around his desk to sit.

  “Lily’s missing? Then I might have a clue for you, Seth. Got a telegram from the Brookville marshal while on rounds this morning,” the marshal said as he handed the telegram to Seth.

  Believe stolen horse with Straight Arrow saddle sold to livery last night. Rode by woman, with two men. Found RETICULE, name LinDdotter.

  Seth reread the telegram, trying to make sense of it. Who were the two men and why was she with them?

  “That’s Lily’s maiden name, so she was in Brookville last night. If they turned in horses, they could still be in town, or maybe they left on the morning train that goes east.”

  “Why would she be going east, and with two men?” Adam narrowed his eyes as he quizzed Seth.

  “Oh no…Hardesty’s after her again,” Seth rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “Why is the man obsessed with her?”

  He hadn’t told anyone besides his family how he and Lily met and got together, but now Seth filled Adam in on the whole story, hoping he could figure out how to help Lily.

  “We can telegram ahead to towns they’ll be passing through and try to get a marshal on the train to arrest the men, or we might have to wait and have the Chicago police arrest the men at the depot or saloon.”

  “That’s not going to happen because the police, at least in that part of Chicago, is on Hardesty’s payroll. That’s why neither one of us could get any help while we were there!”

  Seth put a hand on his chest, trying to get his heartbeat to slow and air into his lungs. He had to calm down and think. What would Lily try to do to get away from the men, and from Hardesty?

  ***

  She’d gone to the washroom, but Aldrin stood at the door and escorted her back to her seat. She checked the window in there, but she’d never survive trying to tumble out of the window while the train was moving. She’d get run over by the rest of the train, or break bones hitting the frozen ground. And if she tried while they were stopped at a town, she’d be caught before she made it to the depot.

  What a pickle she was in. All she wanted when she answered the mail-order bride advertisement, was a kind husband and a decent home.

  Lily looked out the window, watching the scenery as they passed. There wasn’t any snow covering the ground here in Kansas. It looked like last night’s rain in Ellsworth County didn’t fall past Salina. Lily thought again of jumping out a window or to the train platform if she could get between the train cars.

  Hmm…how could she get herself taken off the train? Well…singing got her into this mess, to begin with, …maybe it could help her get out of it. Maybe the conductor would escort her off the train at the next stop if she offended the passengers. The randy tune she had to sing at the Emporium came to mind, but first, maybe a few religious songs to captivate the audience.

  When the train left Abilene, Lily softly started singing “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

  By the third hymn, she was standing in the aisle giving the best performance of her life. Even Aldrin and Humphrey were listening to her impromptu concert. The next long stop was Junction City, and one way or another, she was going to be off this train. Should she use the randy song or make a quick plea to the audience for help before Aldrin got his hand over her mouth? Which one would get the sheriff on the train the fastest, and not get anyone hurt?

  “I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love…” Lily finished the refrain as the train started slowing.

  Lily nodded and looked around the car. “Thank you so much for listening to my hymns of praise. Now I ask something from you…I’ve been kidnaped by these two men! Please, somebody, hold them down so I…” In one quick motion, Aldrin grabbed Lily, twisted her back to his front and put his hand over her mouth. He dragged her back down the aisle while holding his pocket pistol to her head.

  Women screamed and pushed their children’s heads down below the seats. Several men pulled their revolvers and pointed them at either Humphrey or Aldrin. Lily closed her eyes and slumped forward in Aldrin's arms, hoping someone would have a clear shot at him, instead of her being hit.

  Lily felt Aldrin stiffen as a deep voice behind them said, “Give me your pistol, or you’ll have a hole in your head. I’m Marshal John Blair, and you’re under arrest.”

  Thank goodness for western cowboys and their guns, Lily thought as Aldrin slowly lifted his
hands in the air. She slid down to the floor and quickly crawled between and underneath the nearest two bench seats.

  Lily heard the shouts of more people entering the car and then saw the feet of the two kidnappers stumble past where she stayed hidden. Now that Lily knew she was safe, she started shaking and crying, realizing she could have been shot dead mere minutes ago.

  The marshal got down on his hands and knees to get to Lily’s level. “I’m looking for a Mrs. Seth Reagan, ma’am. That’s you, I assume?” the marshal asked as he held out his hand to help her to rise.

  She took a deep breath and nodded to indicate she was, indeed, Mrs. Seth Reagan. She was going to be all right.

  Chapter 17

  It was the longest train ride Seth had ever taken. He’d wanted to hold Lily and be sure she was all right. When the telegram came through to Clear Creek that Lily was safe, Seth sank to 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 Lily 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. Those men are in 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 Lily 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.

  “Lily, 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 I’m upset about Britta …”

  “Britta’s all right. The man at Brookville’s livery stable recognized the Straight Arrow brandmark 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, Lily, 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.” Lily took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I love you, Seth, and I want to stay married.”

  “I love you, too, Malena Lilya 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 Lily 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.” Lily 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 Lily, 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 Lily’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 peashooters from their reticules, too,” Lily 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, Lily. 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,” Lily firmly stated.

  “Mrs. Seth Reagan, I believe you’ll make a fine rancher’s wife,” Seth grinned and pulled Lily 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,” Lily 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 Lily’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’d pick 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?” Lily stopped to ask.

  “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.”

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

  Seth’s heart swelled with pride because Lily 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 Lily working and singing, by his side.

  Chapter 18

  Saturday evening, December 8, 1888

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

  Lily was a vision of silk, happiness, and love, all wrapped together and topped with a white tulle veil. Lily and his mother went to Mary Jenkin’s dress shop last week to pick out a new dress for today. Lily chose a midnight blue silk dress, with white lace at the neck and down the bodice front. Lily excitedly went into more detail explaining the features of her dress to him, but it was beyond his comprehension of women’s fashion.

  After the ceremony, Fergus would take a formal portrait of them in their wedding clothes. Besides Lily’s new dress, Seth had bought a new black suit for the service. Seth was happy Lily wanted a copy of the portrait to send to her parents. Hopefully, her family ties would reconnect, because Seth wanted Lily to have good, new memories of her family.

  When they were at his parents’ house on Thanksgiving, Seth asked his father to renew his and Lily’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 Lily had missed out on so many life celebrations due to her family’s circumstances.