Free Lilly: Bride of Illinois (American Mail-Order Bride 21) by Linda K. Hubalek

clothes for you later.”
    Lilly literally tore the brown paper wrapping off the first small package to reveal a royal blue silk shawl. She ran her fingers over the slick material then wrapped it around her shoulders. “It’s gorgeous! I’ve never had something so elegant! Thank you! ”
    “The sales lady said you could wear it as a shawl or as a scarf. And I mentioned I liked the color blue on you, so be prepared…” He grinned as he handed her a box from a popular department store next.
    She had the string unwrapped around the box and the lid off in seconds. Neatly folded inside were two shirtwaists, one white and the other a blue and white striped, and a navy blue wool dress skirt.
    “Hopefully they’ll fit. The skirt has an adjustable waist band so that should help to make it fit right. And…I said I liked blue again.”
    Lilly’s eyes grew wide with joy. “Oh, Seth, these are perfect, both size and color! I’ve never had three new pieces of clothing at once…or ever. And the latest fashion, too!”
    Seth laughed. His ma literally danced around the Christmas tree last year when she unwrapped a new shirtwaist. She was especially excited because it had the new style of sleeves. In contrast, the men in their family didn’t care a whit what they wore as long it was clean at the start of the day.
    “Okay, here’s a package you won’t get as excited about, since it holds the items on your list.”
    “Well, I shouldn’t have forgotten my toiletries on the wash stand, but I did in my rush to get out of the Emporium. I’ve been embarrassed knowing I hadn’t used my tooth brush and powder in days,” Lilly confessed opening the top of the paper bag from the pharmacy to peek inside it. She’d also needed a comb and hair pins.
    “What’s the little bottle?” she stuck her hand in the bag to pull it out.
    “Now I didn’t buy it because you have an odor and need to be wearing it but…read the label.”
    “Blue Lilies Perfume!” She immediately unscrewed the cap, took a sniff and then held it up so he could smell it. “I like it! Thank you, Seth.”
    “I didn’t know what it might smell like, but I couldn’t pass it up when it had both ‘blue’ and ‘lily’ on the bottle,” he chuckled, pleased he’d bought the little extra surprise for her.
    “Okay you need to finish opening your packages so we can get on with our day. Since it’s winter, you need…”
    “A shawl to keep warm,” she finished his sentence as he handed her a large package.
    “This is awfully heavy for a shawl. Are Kansas winters worse than back east?”
    “Don’t know since I’ve never been past Chicago. Please open it up and see if you think it will be warm enough.”
    Lilly’s mouth changed into a big “O” as she unwrapped her new…navy blue Mackintosh coat.
    “Oh, Seth! This is too much!” The full–length wool coat, lined with a dark blue plaid to add another layer of warmth, also had two detachable capes for even more protection. Lilly stood up and put the coat on over his night shirt she was still wearing.
    “Kansas can have some harsh blizzards, so you’ll be warm wherever you go. And there’s a pair of lined leather gloves already in the side pockets, too.”
    “You’ve spent so much money on me! I don’t know what to say, except thank you a thousand more times!”
    Seth raised his hand. “You’ve already said it enough times and I’m glad I could purchase them for you. Now you have one more box to open. And remember you’re going to be living on the Kansas Plains not in the Chicago high society district so it’s not fancy.”
    Of course, Lilly knew it was a hat by the box. He was sure she’d like anything to put on her head, but he wanted her to look nice too. Nice hats gave women self–confidence, simple as that.
    Lilly slipped off her new coat, and carefully laid it on the bed before opening the hat box. Lilly’s eyes teared again when she took the hat out of its tissue–lined box. Seth had