Perplexia
Romance embellisher
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Posts
- 18,284
Lilly Rose Matthews had been born in England some eighteen years prior. Her parents had passed when she was younger, and so she had been raised in a school for orphaned girls. There were little choices for a girl back in those times, she would never marry well, for she was a person without connections or family. There was the option to be a governess or a teacher, or she could join the list of woman the church was sponsoring for marriages in the new world. Lilly had thought the option of finding a good working husband was lost to her. But this seemed like the perfect option. Of course she knew only what stories the papers and dime novels wrote about the new world. Savages a plenty, ready to rape and scalp anyone they see. Though she knew little of the world, she knew enough to be cautious, but not take the words as gospel. After all drama and tragedy is what drove the sales of such papers.
Wiping the red hair from her brow her green eyes looked down at that letter she received. A Mr. Theodore Williams of Colorado Springs was a widow at age 35, he was in need of a wife to help raise his child, and he was hoping to produce more heirs. He would require her assistance in his general store as well. Providing of course she was a chaste woman that knew her letters and numbers, and had good moral values. They exchanged a few letters of the cordial nature getting to know each others likes and dislikes before he made the offer. Writing back that she accepted, he sent the ticket for the ship, train, and then stated he'd reserved a spot on the wagon train she'd join to finish her journey out west.
Lilly wasn't afraid of hard work, and welcomed the adventure that awaited her. She began the long trip to the Americas by boat. The sea voyage was not one she'd hope to revisit anytime soon. Once she arrived in New York she boarded the train to Iowa. It too was long, but with a few stops, and the ability to view this new land through her window. Her excitement only grew by leaps and bounds. At her final stop she found her wagon train, and obtained the provisions that had been placed on hold for her. Many young women held the dreams of love, like they had read in a novel. Lilly was a bit more practical than that. A roof over her head, a meal in her belly, and if it required taking a husband she wasn't against it.
Little did she know that fate held something new in store for her. The wagons had gathered in their circle and she took a walk to the stream admire to gather water. Just as she plugged the canteen back up she heard the combination of screaming, gun shots and chanting of sorts. Savages! the word came to her mind and she placed a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming in fright. From what the wagon trains guides had told them, the natives of the land that didn't particularly care for the white man. Any treaties the white man made, they broke. So there was avid reason to distrust and loath them. Some tribes took hostages, others would simply kill everyone and take the supplies.
Her green eyes flashed in fear as she saw some braves heading in her direction. With all the might she had she took off like a wild cat running for her life. Her bonnet flew off in her mad dash, her pinned up hair quickly unraveled leaving a flowing wave of fire floating behind her. No this wasn't how it was suppose to be. She had only three or more days left until she settle in her new life. Suddenly the value of her life had all the value in the world, her thin legs only made her petite 5'5 frame seem smaller. 'faster faster' she urged herself on with a vivacious spirit. 'I shall keep fighting to the end' she promised herself. 'No looking back, keep going' she urged herself on. Hoof beats upon the rugged earth echoed in her ear, in a moment she was tackled to the ground. "NO!!" she screamed in terror clawing at the earth to get away. Kicking and clawing like a madwoman. "Quiet woman, I'm not going to harm you." Came a voice of moderately good English with a slight accent of what she assumed was native.
Wiping the red hair from her brow her green eyes looked down at that letter she received. A Mr. Theodore Williams of Colorado Springs was a widow at age 35, he was in need of a wife to help raise his child, and he was hoping to produce more heirs. He would require her assistance in his general store as well. Providing of course she was a chaste woman that knew her letters and numbers, and had good moral values. They exchanged a few letters of the cordial nature getting to know each others likes and dislikes before he made the offer. Writing back that she accepted, he sent the ticket for the ship, train, and then stated he'd reserved a spot on the wagon train she'd join to finish her journey out west.
Lilly wasn't afraid of hard work, and welcomed the adventure that awaited her. She began the long trip to the Americas by boat. The sea voyage was not one she'd hope to revisit anytime soon. Once she arrived in New York she boarded the train to Iowa. It too was long, but with a few stops, and the ability to view this new land through her window. Her excitement only grew by leaps and bounds. At her final stop she found her wagon train, and obtained the provisions that had been placed on hold for her. Many young women held the dreams of love, like they had read in a novel. Lilly was a bit more practical than that. A roof over her head, a meal in her belly, and if it required taking a husband she wasn't against it.
Little did she know that fate held something new in store for her. The wagons had gathered in their circle and she took a walk to the stream admire to gather water. Just as she plugged the canteen back up she heard the combination of screaming, gun shots and chanting of sorts. Savages! the word came to her mind and she placed a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming in fright. From what the wagon trains guides had told them, the natives of the land that didn't particularly care for the white man. Any treaties the white man made, they broke. So there was avid reason to distrust and loath them. Some tribes took hostages, others would simply kill everyone and take the supplies.
Her green eyes flashed in fear as she saw some braves heading in her direction. With all the might she had she took off like a wild cat running for her life. Her bonnet flew off in her mad dash, her pinned up hair quickly unraveled leaving a flowing wave of fire floating behind her. No this wasn't how it was suppose to be. She had only three or more days left until she settle in her new life. Suddenly the value of her life had all the value in the world, her thin legs only made her petite 5'5 frame seem smaller. 'faster faster' she urged herself on with a vivacious spirit. 'I shall keep fighting to the end' she promised herself. 'No looking back, keep going' she urged herself on. Hoof beats upon the rugged earth echoed in her ear, in a moment she was tackled to the ground. "NO!!" she screamed in terror clawing at the earth to get away. Kicking and clawing like a madwoman. "Quiet woman, I'm not going to harm you." Came a voice of moderately good English with a slight accent of what she assumed was native.
