Lilly: Bride of Illinois (American Mail-Order Bride 21) Read Online Free PDF

disappeared from her room when she was downstairs practicing with Mr. Boswell this morning.
    “Gentlemen! May I please have your attention?” Mr. Hardesty yelled while holding Lilly’s elbow firmly in his right hand. “I’d like to introduce you to our newest singer, Miss Lilly Lind—the niece of the famous singer, Jenny Lind —known throughout the world as the Swedish Nightingale!”
    Lilly gasped and looked at Mr. Hardesty after his introduction and outright lie. “Smile and wave at your audience, Miss Lind,” he whispered in her ear as he practically dragged her down the steps and through the tables toward the stage. Men were clapping, stomping their feet, whistling and touching her as Mr. Hardesty pushed her up on the stage! “I suggest you do a good job singing your songs,” he whispered again while painfully squeezing her elbow before releasing it.
    Lilly stared out at the audience, but couldn’t see the noisy crowd in the smoky room because her vision was starting to narrow. The room was warm, smelling of dirty men, whiskey, and the strong odor of the nearby plants. The smoke also brought flashbacks of the mill fire, causing a panic of its own. Am I going to pass out, fling my meager supper on the stage floor, or both?
    Mr. Boswell hit three loud cords, trying to get her attention. Had he already started playing the first song, and what is it!? He started in again, waited a few measures, and then started again, only louder this time. The third time Lilly shut her eyes and sang the first phrase of the song. She continued, singing a little louder, when the noise from the crowd dropped to only a few raunchy yells.
    She got through the first song and opened her stinging eyes, embarrassed at the men’s hoots and hollers. After a few long minutes of standing there, coughing because of the cigar smoke and not knowing what to do next, Mr. Boswell started playing the introduction to the next song.
    Lilly scanned the tables, then looked back to a certain one, because the man seated at it wasn’t making any noise, just staring at her instead. He’s the tall cowboy I saw at the train depot! He’d taken his cowboy hat off, but it rested on one knee which stuck sideways out from under the table. He gave her a solemn nod of acknowledgement, giving her a moment of sanity.
    Realizing Mr. Boswell was waiting for her to start singing, Lilly sang the next song while looking at the man quietly watching her. It went better than the first song, only because she had a focal point this time.
    Lilly clamped her fists tightly at her sides as she listened to another round of humiliating calls. Now she had to sing the song she still stuttered through. Lilly didn’t want to sing it, especially to the man watching her. She was supposed to do arm actions and sway her body while singing the embarrassing words, too.
    When Mr. Boswell started playing this introduction, the men roared, apparently knowing the song she was about to sing. Lilly gritted her teeth and tried to stare at the ceiling through the smoky haze. She sang the song quickly so Mr. Boswell had to play faster to keep up with her. She stood defiantly at the end of the song, staring at Mr. Hardesty who leaned against the bar at the opposite end of the room. He had a smirk on his face, guessing Lilly had finally realized what her role was at the Emporium—and it wasn’t to be his loving bride.
    Lilly scanned the room, and quickly decided the cowboy from the train station was the best man to approach for her next ‘act’ of the evening. She lifted her skirt enough to carefully walk down the four steps off the stage. Men stood on both sides of the steps trying to grab her, but she angrily slapped them away. She was fuming at Mr. Hardesty’s betrayal and her own stupidity. Dear God in Heaven, please help me find a way out of this mess!
    The man watched her weaving through the tables and his eyes widened when she stood before him. Another cowboy sitting next to him slapped