Loving Lilah (Historical Western Romance) (The Ladies of Cascade Creek Book 2) by AnnMarie Oakes

Author:AnnMarie Oakes [Oakes, AnnMarie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: California, pioneers, historical western romance, outlaw, victorian romance, colorado territory, wealthy, homestead, cowboy, western romance, Historical Romance, romance 1870s
Published: 2014-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Gladys grabbed Lilah’s chin and tilted her face up. Her ringlets bounced as she wielded a large brush and dipped it into a small box.

Lilah snapped her eyes shut a second before the brush hit her face with an explosion of powder. Her costume itched like the dickens and her shoes pinched her feet.

Gladys poked the scratchy brush all over Lilah’s face.

“I’ve never performed in front of an audience, not even solo singing in church.” Lilah had given voice to her concerns numerous times, but no one else appeared anxious.

“Don’t you worry yourself none, girlie. You did fine during rehearsal. You knew all your lines.” Gladys straightened Lilah’s wig.

Lilah tried to swallow the growing lump in her throat. “Acting is more than memorizing the lines, isn’t it?”

Gladys laughed. “Girlie, this bunch don’t know the difference. They couldn’t tell a true artiste from a cabbage, and that’s a fact. You’re green, but you ain’t no cabbage.”

Lilah turned back toward the mirror and barely recognized herself. Her rouged lips contrasted starkly against her pale, powdered face. The collar of the heavy dress was tight around her neck. The straw colored wig hid her dark hair and pricked her scalp. Beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead and neck.

Gladys patted Lilah on the shoulder. “You’re ready for your debut.”

~ * ~ * ~

Lilah stood behind the curtain and tried to settle her nerves. She wasn’t sure her legs would hold her. She wrung her hands as she listened for her cue. The actor playing her father exchanged lines with the villain in a deep, gruff voice.

“Amelia, my daughter! Come in here, dear!” The actor’s voice carried through the crowd.

Lilah walked briskly across the platform, taking care not to make eye contact with the audience. “Yes, Father?” Lilah responded in a meek voice.

“I’ve contracted your marriage with Brewster here. You’ll be married in a month.”

Lilah took a deep breath and clasped her hands to her chest. “What? Why, Father ... I couldn’t!”

“You’ll do as you’re told and that’s that!” The actor’s bushy eyebrows rose and fell.

Lilah placed one hand on her brow and rushed from the stage as the overwrought Amelia. She stopped out of sight of the audience.

Ash stood in the wings and winked at Lilah. “Your desire to get away seemed completely genuine, Lilah.”

Lilah pursed her lips. “You have no idea. Ash Thompson, you will pay for this, I swear. If you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll castrate you like one of your father’s steers.”

Ash’s low laugh followed Lilah as she made her way to the makeshift dressing area.

~ * ~ * ~

Gladys stepped back and slapped her thigh. “Girlie, you’re done disguised.”

Lilah stared into the looking glass. “I can hardly recognize myself.”

“That’s the whole point, ain’t it?” Gladys laughed. “We’re going to miss you. You’re the best Amelia we’ve ever had.”

“Gladys, that can’t possibly be true.” Lilah found she disliked acting even more than she thought she would. The costumes were uncomfortable, and the plays bordered on the ridiculous.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.