Free Rimfire Bride by Sara Luck Page A

though.” Drew again flashed a broad smile.
    The two walked down Main Street, with Drew speaking to almost everyone they met, until they reached a brick building with a large green sign, upon which, painted in gold, was the name of the establishment: W. B. WATSON, LADIES’ EMPORIUM.
    The building had a rather large, three-sided bay window in front that projected out onto the boardwalk. A platform was built to elevate a dress form that was draped in a beautiful green silk dress.
    “Oh, my.” Jana stopped for a moment to look through the window. “I’ve never seen a dress like that. It’s so beautiful.”
    “It is pretty. Let’s go see what Mr. Watson has to say.” As Drew opened the door for Jana, a small bell dinged to announce their entry.
    “I’ll be right with you,” a man’s voice called out.
    “That’s all right, Walt, we’ll come to you,” Drew replied.
    In all her life, Jana had never seen so many ready-made women’s clothes in one place. Highland had fewer than two thousand people in the whole area, and the one store that handled ready-made clothing never had more than a dozen dresses at any time. Everyone usually stitched her own.
    When Drew and Jana found Walter Watson, he was bent over a counter writing something.
    “Hello, Drew.”
    “What are you doing, adding up all your money?” Drew teased.
    “No, I’m trying to come up with an advertisement to run in tomorrow’s paper. You see all this merchandise?” Walt swept his hand in an arc. “You can barely walk now, and the missus keeps ordering more and more stuff. She says I’ll sell it by Christmas, but nobody can find anything in this place.”
    “Well, I’ve got the answer for you,” Drew said.
    “Unless you want to be a hawker on the street corner, I don’t know what that answer would be.”
    “Miss Hartmann, meet Walter Watson. This young lady, who has just arrived from the East, has the answer.”
    “And what would that be, madam?”
    Jana was speechless. She had no idea what Drew had in mind.
    “Ah, Mr. Watson,” Drew said, holding up his hand, “at the present time, my client isn’t at liberty to tell you, but I can assure you that your stock willbe greatly reduced by Christmas if you’ll consent to hire her.”
    “Oh, Drew, I don’t know. I’m spending all my money on inventory. I’m afraid I can’t afford a salesgirl.”
    “It’s your loss, Walt. Come on, Jana,” Drew said, taking Jana’s arm and turning toward the door. “Let’s go down to Sig Hanauer’s establishment. I thought Mr. Watson would be more receptive to your talents, but perhaps he is not.”
    “Wait just a minute. What are you telling me she can do?”
    “First, will you hire the young woman?”
    Walter expelled a long sigh. “I’ll hire her.”
    “How much will you pay?”
    “Not much, I’m afraid. Would you take ten dollars a week?”
    “Walter! That’s an insult,” Drew said. “She needs at least twenty dollars a week and a percentage of whatever she sells, say two percent.”
    “All right, all right, but it’s only till Christmas.”
    “You won’t be sorry. She’ll start tomorrow.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Watson. I appreciate the opportunity to work with such beautiful clothing.”
    “Humph. Twenty dollars a week. We’ll see what you can do.”
    “Good day, Walter.” Drew took Jana by the arm and escorted her out of the store.
    “Whew,” Jana exclaimed when they got outside. “I’ll bet you’re a very persuasive lawyer. I feel sorry for poor Mr. Watson.”
    “Why? He needs to clear that store out. He’s got so much stuff in there, no one can find anything.”
    “But twenty dollars a week. That’s twice the amount I made teaching school!”
    “Welcome to the frontier, my friend. We’re used to paying higher prices for everything.”
    Jana’s arm was still snugly hooked over Drew’s, and she didn’t try to withdraw it as they walked along together.
    “Mr. Malone, I can’t thank you enough. I couldn’t have