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

him on the back, apparently congratulating him for his ‘luck’ at being chosen for her attention.
    Lilly took a deep breath, took the hat off the cowboy’s knee and placed it on the table in front of him. She had a metallic taste in her mouth, then realized she was biting her lower lip so hard she was drawing blood. She licked her lips and swallowed a few times to clear her mouth. She glanced sideways, and found Mr. Hardesty watching her closely.
    “May I sit on your lap, sir?” He acted like he didn’t hear her at first, but then uncrossed his legs so she could sit across his thighs. Lilly gingerly sat down, bracing for his hand to pinch her rear, but he gently placed his large palm on her waist to steady her instead. Next, she wrapped her arms around his neck, which brought her face close to his.
    He intensely searched her face as she studied his handsome features. His strong jawline and chin were covered with a day’s worth of stubble. He had bushy eyebrows, slightly darker than his straight, auburn hair. His nose was large, but not like a beak to make his face look out of proportion. And he looked like a man she could trust.
    He leaned close to her ear, but she wasn’t afraid of him doing something inappropriate. “I’m Seth Reagan, here in Chicago for the livestock show. I saw you at the depot when we both arrived and overheard the conversation you had with the person you met there. Are you in some kind of trouble, miss?”
    Lilly wanted to lean her forehead against Mr. Reagan’s shoulder and cry. “Yes, I traveled here thinking I was meeting my fiancé, but apparently it was a one–way ticket to work in this saloon instead.”
    “Do you want help getting out of here?”
    “ Desperately , but I’ve been warned I won’t be leaving by free choice, or alive,” Lilly shuddered and he squeezed her waist in sympathy.
    “I’m staying at the Hough House. The hotel is five blocks straight east of here. It’s a five story building with an American flag waving from its dome top. I’m in room…” Mr. Reagan stopped talking when a hand clamped onto his shoulder.
    “Either you take this gentleman upstairs to your room, Miss Lind, or you move on to someone else.” Lilly’s mouth gaped open at Hardesty’s meaning, and at his sudden change in personality. Gone was the charming gentlemen she first met. Now he was threatening her in a menacing tone.
    “What’s the cost of enjoying this beautiful woman?” Mr. Reagan’s eyes didn’t leave Lilly’s as he asked Hardesty the price of going upstairs. Lilly stopped breathing, and looked back and forth between the two men.
    “Because this is Miss Lind’s debut night so to speak, two dollars for an hour’s honor,” Mr. Hardesty declared, challenging Mr. Reagan, not expecting him to follow through with the high price.
    “It would be my pleasure, sir,” he answered, while nodding to Lilly. “If this lovely lady will stand up so I can get my money out of my vest pocket, I’ll pay the fee and the two of us can proceed upstairs.”
    Mr. Reagan squeezed her waist again and gently pushed her off his lap. He reached a finger into his vest pocket, pulled out two silver dollar coins, and held them out until Hardesty held his hand out, palm up.
    Mr. Reagan’s smile wasn’t showing in his eyes as he dropped the coins onto Hardesty’s palm with one hand, while putting his other on Lilly’s lower back and gently pushing her forward to start walking. When they reached the bottom of the stairway, Mr. Reagan offered his bent arm, as any proper gentleman would do. After looking back at Mr. Hardesty, Lilly slid her hand into the other man’s arm. Am I safe, or am I about to become a soiled dove?

 
    Chapter 3
     
    “You’re safe with me, Miss Lind. I only offered to pay for your services to get you alone to talk about your predicament—nothing else,” Seth said, and quickly wrapped his arm around Miss Lind when she sagged with relief.
    “Which is your room, Miss