Lily Bell

Short Biography

Lily Bell is the widow Union Pacific Railroad surveyor, Robert Bell. She carries the nickname "The Fair-Haired Maiden of the West" and is now a surveyor in her own right. Lily was born in London, England and her father is rather controlling, having every moment of Lily's life planned since her birth. Lily upset this plan by marrying Robert Bell. Robert's family is also less than pleased at the match. She is not close to her former in-laws, having only met them once prior to her marriage to Robert. ("Revelations") Lily shares her husband Robert Bell's work mapping a route from Nebraska to the Rockies and beyond. Though Robert wants her to return to Chicago once they reach hostile native territory, Lily insists on staying by his side after he became ill.Early one morning, the surveying camp is attacked by Cheyenne warriors and Robert and Lily flee to the treeline. While hiding in the trees, Robert starts coughing, bringing the attention of one of the warriors, Sun Bear. During the ensuing struggle, Lily is struck in the shoulder and hand with an arrow and Robert is fatally stabbed. Tearing the arrow from her wounds, Lily attacks and kills Sun Bear, striking the arrow through the bottom of his chin. After watching Robert take his final breaths, Lily takes the maps and flees. ("Pilot") Lily, while a refined and well-dressed lady, is also headstrong, clever, and brave. She kills her Cheyenne attacker, dresses her own wounds in the wilderness, and preserves Robert Bell's maps. Lily is also known to be manipulative, intentionally and otherwise, especially with Thomas Durant.("Pilot", "Immoral Mathematics")