Jessie (3 page)

“All done in the back,” Seth said.

“Good. Did Pastor English find you?”

“He did. He invited me to stay with him.”

“Will you?”

Before Seth could answer, a man showed up, carrying a large piece of luggage that told Jessie he was selling something. Jessie didn't know him personally, but she did know what to expect.

“Hello.” Jessie greeted him cordially, but if the man had known her, he would have noted that her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

“Hello, young lady. Is the owner around or perhaps the manager?”

“I'm the manager.”

“Well now, you're a young one, but that doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother you! Cal Worth at your service,” the man added, putting his hand out.

“I'm Jessie. What did you need?”

“I've got some very fine pocket watches to show you today, and I know you're going to want to carry these in your store.”

The man proceeded to open his case and pull out the timepieces. Jessie took time to look, but when the man started quoting prices, she put her hand up.

“I can't make a profit with those types of prices. I'm sorry. I'm not interested.”

“Oh, but if you buy ten or more, I can give you a rate.”

“I can't sell ten,” Jessie said, this time on the move. “Thank you, Mr. Worth,” she said as she walked away from the man.

“If I could see the owner,” Cal Worth said, continuing to try to speak to her, but Jessie disappeared into the storeroom and found something to do. Thankfully the man took the hint and left without following her. Seth found her in the back, dusting a shelf.

“How often does that happen?”

“It varies. Sometimes off and on all month, and sometimes not at all.”

Seth nodded, his eyes still watching her. Jessie looked back for a few moments, their eyes catching briefly.

“Do you want me to do anything else today?”

“No, but thanks for the offer. I'll get your pay.”

“Is that what you usually do, pay by the day?”

“No, but I didn't assume you'd be back.”

“Can you use me tomorrow?”

“Sure,” Jessie said, but at the moment she wasn't certain what he would do. The thought of never seeing him again bothered her, and if he was telling the truth, he genuinely needed the work.

“What time?” Seth asked.

“I open the doors at eight o'clock.”

“I'll be here.”

Seth started away but came swiftly back. Jessie looked at him, not sure what he was about until he said, “It would be nice to have my bag.”

Jessie had to smile, and Seth knew he liked that smile more than a little. He took his bag and left with few words, planning to find the pastor's house, but in his heart he thought he could easily spend the evening in the company of Jessie Wheeler.

“Hello, Jeb,” Jessie greeted her cousin midmorning on Thursday. “How are you?”

“Fine. Yourself?”

“Can't complain,” Jessie said, smiling at the man who was old enough to be her father. Jeb had been her father's first cousin, and he and Jessie had always been close and especially fond of each other.

“What is Patience doing today?” Jessie asked of Jeb's wife.

“She's making pie fillings that have to be done for a church social this weekend, and she's run out of cinnamon.”

Before Jessie could grab the item from the shelf, Seth came from the back. He did not interrupt, but Jessie naturally introduced him to Jeb Dorn.

“It's good to meet you,” Jeb said, thinking about the different folks Jessie and her parents had hired over the years. The list was long. “Are you in town long?”

“I think just passing through, but right now my plans are unsettled.”

Jessie's brows rose on that bit of information. Just the day before he had planned to go to Texas.

“Well, maybe we'll see you around,” Jeb said. He waited until Seth had asked Jessie a question and returned to his work before speaking again to his cousin. “Do you need me Saturday?”

“I do, Jeb. Is that going to work?”

“I'll plan on it. All day, do you think?”

“If I have to pick, I'll take you earlier over later.”

“I'll be here, Jess. Can you put the cinnamon on my bill?” Jeb asked as he left.

Jessie smiled and said yes, but they both knew she wouldn't. She paid her cousin when he worked, but unless he or Patience came in with a large order, single items were never accounted for.

Jessie suddenly remembered she'd not made any plans for dinner. For a moment she stood and wondered at herself. Normally she woke up with the day's events and needs on her mind, but this morning her first thoughts had been for Seth Redding.

Well, it's too late now,
Jessie thought. She knew she would probably end up asking Seth to head to the hotel and bring them something. She preferred her own cooking, but the choice had been taken from her hands. Going back to work on an order she needed to place for more tinware and some iron pots and pans, Jessie told herself it was time to get her mind back on the job.

Thursday and Friday went by with plenty to do and plenty of customers and orders to see to. Seth worked with the stock, making two trips to the train station for orders and unloading them and carrying customers' purchases to their wagons, his demeanor calm and pleasant. He was good-looking and confident, but it was more than that. Something about Seth Redding was comforting and trustworthy. In fact Jessie had watched more than one woman take a second look, and Seth, very much a man, was not above flirting or complimenting the pretty women he helped.

On Saturday, however, Jessie had no time to notice such things. This was always the store's busiest day, and from the moment she opened her door, she and Jeb were on the run. Seth helped out and filled in wherever he could. He had not yet worked out front at all, but being on hand to find things in the storeroom or wrap, box, and carry orders left Jeb and Jessie free to see to the next customer.

Jeb stayed until midafternoon, and then Jessie was on her own. There was a lull about four o'clock. With only an hour to closing, Jessie slipped into the back to find some tin funnels they were out of in the front. She was tired—there had been no time for dinner—and she misjudged her steps and backed into a shelf. Without warning a can resting on the edge fell on the top of her head. The corner cut into her scalp.

Jessie stood still, her hand gripping a nearby shelf, her eyes closing as she willed herself to breathe. The pain was intense for a few minutes and then settled into a persistent throb. Jessie wished Jeb were still out there seeing to folks, but with only Seth in the store to help, she knew she had to stay on the job.

A very subdued Jessie made her way back to the store aisles, carrying the extra funnels. She placed them on the shelf with the rest of the tinware and went to the front counter. It was in pretty good order, so for the moment Jessie just stood.

She was still just standing when Seth came in from sweeping the front walk and found her doing nothing. Not that he would have criticized. He'd never seen a woman put in the day of work she had today. He assumed her store was closed on Sunday and also that she looked forward all week to that day off.

“Anything specific you need right now?” Seth asked, having just noticed she was frowning a little.

“I don't think so. What time is it?”

“Four-twenty.”

Jessie did not need to answer or even nod because Ingrid Stillwell came in. Her husband, Pete, owned the livery. She had a sizeable list, but all pretty basic, and Jessie had her out the door with a minimum of effort. The moment she left, however, Seth faced her across the counter. He leaned his arms on the wood surface until their faces were on the same level.

“There is blood in your hair,” he said quietly.

“I figured there might be. A can fell from a shelf and hit me.”

“And you didn't feel a need to say anything?”

Jessie shrugged, looking very tired. “I have a store to run, Seth. I didn't see I had a choice.”

Seth didn't comment, but neither did he agree. He certainly hadn't had much of a look at her head, but he felt it needed attention over the store.

“We close soon,” Jessie said, ignoring his look. “I'll see to it then.”

“And if you need a doctor?”

“I'll go find him,” Jessie said pragmatically, wishing she could lie down and sleep for a while.

Disapproval radiated from Seth's entire being, but he said nothing. No other customers joined them, and right on time Jessie paid Seth, thanked him as he left, and locked up for the night.

She was tired and hungry and desperate to lie down, but realized what she must do. Slipping out the rear door of the storeroom and locking it behind her, she went to the Dorns'. Patience cleaned the wound, put something on it, and forced Jessie to eat a little supper.

Less than an hour later, the mercantile proprietress made her way home, enough food in her to let her sleep. Doing little more than slip from her clothing and wash her face, she climbed into bed and slept all night. Not even the noise from the Saturday night crowd in the bars on Main Street disturbed her.

Jessie did not sleep in. Though she was naturally an early riser, she did lie around on this Sunday, her head paining her a bit. It was not miserable, but the missed dinner and small supper from the day before had worn on her. Headache or not, she knew she needed food.

Sunday was her day to cook and enjoy. She cooked most other days as well, but this was the day she could relax and savor what she'd made. This meal was no different. She had planned to keep it simple—a few eggs and some toasted bread—but once she got going, she made herself a feast. She added bacon and potatoes to the menu, and brewed extra coffee to enjoy.

She wasn't two bites into the meal when she knew it had been worth it. Putting her feet up and opening the weekly newspaper she didn't have time or energy to read during the week, Jessie began to enjoy her day off.