overwhelmed her, she wept herself to sleep. The grief for her father was still too raw, the country surrounding her still too rugged.
But there were other times, and they were becoming more common, when she fell asleep with a sense of satisfaction. In addition to the dresses, she’d made pretty yellow curtains for the windows and a matching cloth for the table. It was her dream, when she’d saved enough from her sewing, to buy planks for a real floor. In the meantime, she made do with what she had and was more grateful than she’d ever imagined she could be for Lucius.
He’d finished building a new shed and he was busy repairing the other outbuildings. Though he’d muttered about it, he’d agreed to build Sarah the chicken coop she wanted. At night he was content to sleep with the horses.
Sometimes he watched, tickling Lafitte’s belly, as she took her daily rifle practice.
She hadn’t seen Jake Redman since the day he’d given her a shooting lesson. Just as well, Sarah told herself as she pulled on her gloves. There was no one she wanted to see less. If she thought about him at all-and she hated to admit she had-it was with disdain. A hired gun. A man with no loyalty or morals. A drifter, moving from place to place, always ready to draw his weapon and kill. To think she’d almost begun to believe there was something special about him, something good and admirable. He’d helped her, there was no denying that. But he’d probably done so out of sheer boredom. Or perhaps, she thought, remembering the kiss, because he wanted something from her. Something, she was ashamed to admit, she had nearly been willing to give.
How? Sarah picked up her hand mirror and studied her face, not out of vanity but because she hoped to see some answers there. How had he managed to make her feel that way in just a few short days, with just one embrace? Now, time after time, in the deepest part of the night, she brought herself awake because she was dreaming of him. Remembering, she thought, experiencing once again that stunning moment in the sun when his mouth had been on hers and there had been no doubt in her mind that she belonged there.
A momentary madness, she told herself, placing the mirror face down on the table. Sunstroke, perhaps. She would never, could never, be attracted to a man who lived his life the way Jake Redman lived his.
It was time to forget him. Perhaps he had already moved on and she would never see him again. Well, it didn’t matter one way or the other. She had her own life to see to now, and with a little help from Li/a it appeared she had her own business. Picking up the three bundles wrapped in brown paper, Sarah went outside.
“You real sure you don’t want me to drive you to town, Miss Conway?”
Sarah put the wrapped dresses in the back of the wagon while Lucius stood at the horses’ heads. “No, thank you, Lucius.”
She was well aware that her driving skills were poor at best, but she’d bartered for the wagon with the owner of the livery stable. He had two daughters that she’d designed gingham frocks for, and she intended to deliver them herself. For Lucius she had a big, sunny smile.
“I was hoping you’d start on the chicken coop today. I’m going to see if Mrs. Miller will sell me a dozen young chicks.”
“Yes’m.” Lucius shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. “Going to be a hot, dry day.”
“Yes.” What day wasn’t? “I have a canteen, thank you.”
He waited until Sarah had gained the seat and smoothed out her skirts. “There’s just one thing, Miss Conway.”
Anxious to be on her way, Sarah took the reins.
“Yes, Lucius, what is it?”
“I’m plumb out of whiskey.”
Her brow rose, all but disappearing under the wispy bangs she wore. “And?”
“Well, seeing as you’re going into town and all, I thought you could pick some up for me.”
“I? You can hardly expect me to purchase whiskey.”
He’d figured on her saying something of the kind. “Maybe you could get somebody to buy a bottle for you.” He gave her a gap-toothed smile and was careful not to spit. “I’d be obliged.”
She opened her mouth, ready to lecture him on the evils of drink. With a sigh, she shut it again. The man worked very hard for very little. It wasn’t her place to deny him his comforts, whatever they might be.
“I’ll see what can be done.”
His grizzled face brightened immediately. “That’s right kind of you, miss. And I sure will get started on that coop.” Relieved, he spit in the dirt. “You look real pretty today, miss. Just like a picture.”
Her lips curved. If anyone had told her a week ago that she would grow fond of a smelly, whiskey-drinking creature like Lucius, she’d have thought them mad. “Thank you. There’s chicken and fresh bread in the cabin.” She held her breath and snapped the reins.
Sarah had dressed very carefully for town. If she was going to interest the ladies in ordering fashionable clothes from her, then it was wise to advertise. Her dress was a particularly flattering shade of moss green with a high neckline she’d graced with her cameo. The trim of rose-colored ribbon and the rows of flounces at the skirt made it a bit flirtatious. She’d added a matching bonnet, tilted low as much for dash as for added shade. She felt doubly pleased with her choice when her two young customers came running out of the livery and goggled at it.
Sarah left them to race home and try on their new dresses while she completed her errands.
“Sarah.” Liza danced around the counter of the dry goods store to take both of her hands. “Oh, what a wonderful dress. Every woman in town’s going to want one like it.”
“I was hoping to tempt them.” Laughing, Sarah turned in a circle. “It’s one of my favorites.” “I can see why. Is everything all right with you? I haven’t been able to get away for days.”
“Everything’s fine. There’s been no more trouble.”
She wandered over to take a look at the bolts of fabric. “I’m certain it was just an isolated incident. As the sheriff said, it must have been drifters.” Glancing over, she smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Cody,” she said as Liza’s mother came in from the stockroom.
“Sarah, it’s nice to see you, and looking so pretty, too.”
“Thank you. I’ve brought your dress.”
“Well, that was quick work.” Anne Cody took the package in her wide, capable hands and went immediately to the cash drawer.
“Oh, I don’t want you to pay for it until you look and make sure it’s what you wanted.”
Anne smiled, showing dimples like her daughter’s. “That’s good business. My Ed would say you’ve got a head on your shoulders. Let’s just take a look, then.” As she unwrapped the package, two of her customers moved closer to watch.
“Why, Sarah, it’s lovely.” Clearly pleased, Anne held it up. The dress was dove gray, simple enough to wear for work behind the counter, yet flatteringly feminine, with touches of lace at the throat and sleeves. “My goodness, honey, you’ve a fine hand with a needle.” Deliberately she moved from behind the counter so that the rest of her customers could get the full effect. “Look at this work, Mrs. Miller. I’ll swear you won’t see better.”
Grinning, Liza leaned over to whisper in Sarah’s ear. “She’ll have a dozen orders for you in no time.
Pa always says Ma could sell a legless man new boots.”
“Here you are, Sarah.” Anne passed her the money.
“It’s more than worth every penny.”
“Young lady.” Mrs. Miller peered through her spectacles at the stitches in Anne’s new dress. “I’m going to visit my sister in Kansas City next month. I think a traveling suit of this same fabric would be flattering to me.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am.” Sarah beamed, ignoring the fact that very little would be flattering to Mrs. Miller’s bulky figure. “You have a good eye for color. This fabric trimmed in purple would be stunning on you.” By the time she was finished, Sarah had three more orders and an armful of fabric. With one hand muffling her giggles, Liza walked out with her. “Imagine you talking that old fuddy-duddy Mrs. Miller into two dresses.”
“She wants to outshine her sister. I’ll have to make sure she does.”
“It won’t be easy, considering what you have to work with. And she’s overcharging you for those chicks.”
“That’s all right.” Sarah turned with a grin. “I’m going to overcharge her for the dresses. Do you have time to walk with me? I’d like to go down and see if this blue-and-white stripe takes Mrs. O’Rourke’s fancy.”
They started down the walkway. After only a few steps, Liza stopped and swept her skirts aside. Sarah
