Read Online No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) by Nerys Leigh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nerys Leigh
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turned back to the man.
“I’m new here and I’m looking for a job. I was wondering if you had anything? I’m trustworthy and very hardworking.”
His expression turned to sympathetic regret. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I have all the help I can afford. I’d take you on if I could.”
Amy nodded, trying not to show her disappointment. “Well, thank you anyway.” She pointed to a display of candy a little further along the wall shelves. “If you put one of those jars here, by the register, you’ll sell more of them. In New York they do it all the time. The children beg their parents for a piece when they’re paying.”
He looked at the candy and then the cash register. “Hmm, I never thought of that. I’ll give it a try. I’m Grover Lamb, proprietor of this here store. If I hear of anyone hiring, I’ll let you know, but things are slow around here right now. Town’s still waiting for that magic railroad touch to kick in.” He smiled and held out his hand.
Amy took it, trying not to wince at his crushing handshake. “I’m Amy Watts, and thank you, Mr Lamb.”
She turned, not failing to notice the two women looking rapidly down at the fabric display as her eyes fell on them. Squaring her shoulders, she walked past towards the door. Whispers followed her. She tried to ignore them, she really did, but by the time she’d reached the door she’d had enough. Stopping abruptly, she turned around and marched back into the store.
The two women’s eyes widened as she walked up to them.
“Good morning, I’m Amy Watts, although I’m guessing you already know that. As you are so effective at spreading news, I’d be grateful if you could let everyone know that I’m looking for work. I can cook, clean, sew or anything else anyone might need. I can be contacted at the post office, but I’m guessing you know that too. Thank you so much, your help is very much appreciated.”
She caught a glimpse of Mr Lamb as she turned away from the shocked women. He was laughing quietly behind one hand.
When she got back outside, Amy took a deep breath and grimaced. “Sorry, Lord,” she muttered. “I’ll try to be more gracious next time.”
~ ~ ~
Amy spent more than three hours working her way up and down Green Hill Creek’s streets, trying every store and business she could find. In every place it was the same, they were very sorry but they had no work available. It seemed everyone thought that the arrival of the railroad six months previously would bring new prosperity to the small town, but it hadn’t happened yet. She even tried the train station.
Eventually she ended up back at the saloon, staring at the large three storey building across the street with the peeling green paint and weathered sign. It was just about the only place she hadn’t tried, but after Adam’s warning it made her nervous.
A narrow balcony spanned the building on the second floor. As Amy watched a window opened and a young woman wearing a shawl over little more than her undergarments climbed out onto the balcony and took a deep breath, hands on her hips as she lifted her painted face to the sun. Seeing Amy, she waved and smiled. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Amy waved back. No, she wasn’t so desperate that she was ready to work in a place like that. She hoped she never would be.
She turned away and wandered along the street, tired and dejected, not really caring where she was going.
What do I do now, Lord?
There was nowhere left to try, no one who would give her employment. No way to pay back Adam. The only thing left was to go with her original plan, somehow get to San Francisco, get a job there and send Adam the money. The thought of leaving now made her feel sick to her stomach, but what else was she to do? And she wouldn’t be able to tell him either. She knew Adam would just tell her it didn’t matter and ask her to stay, and if he asked her to stay she didn’t think she’d be strong enough to say no.
A frown
“I’m new here and I’m looking for a job. I was wondering if you had anything? I’m trustworthy and very hardworking.”
His expression turned to sympathetic regret. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I have all the help I can afford. I’d take you on if I could.”
Amy nodded, trying not to show her disappointment. “Well, thank you anyway.” She pointed to a display of candy a little further along the wall shelves. “If you put one of those jars here, by the register, you’ll sell more of them. In New York they do it all the time. The children beg their parents for a piece when they’re paying.”
He looked at the candy and then the cash register. “Hmm, I never thought of that. I’ll give it a try. I’m Grover Lamb, proprietor of this here store. If I hear of anyone hiring, I’ll let you know, but things are slow around here right now. Town’s still waiting for that magic railroad touch to kick in.” He smiled and held out his hand.
Amy took it, trying not to wince at his crushing handshake. “I’m Amy Watts, and thank you, Mr Lamb.”
She turned, not failing to notice the two women looking rapidly down at the fabric display as her eyes fell on them. Squaring her shoulders, she walked past towards the door. Whispers followed her. She tried to ignore them, she really did, but by the time she’d reached the door she’d had enough. Stopping abruptly, she turned around and marched back into the store.
The two women’s eyes widened as she walked up to them.
“Good morning, I’m Amy Watts, although I’m guessing you already know that. As you are so effective at spreading news, I’d be grateful if you could let everyone know that I’m looking for work. I can cook, clean, sew or anything else anyone might need. I can be contacted at the post office, but I’m guessing you know that too. Thank you so much, your help is very much appreciated.”
She caught a glimpse of Mr Lamb as she turned away from the shocked women. He was laughing quietly behind one hand.
When she got back outside, Amy took a deep breath and grimaced. “Sorry, Lord,” she muttered. “I’ll try to be more gracious next time.”
~ ~ ~
Amy spent more than three hours working her way up and down Green Hill Creek’s streets, trying every store and business she could find. In every place it was the same, they were very sorry but they had no work available. It seemed everyone thought that the arrival of the railroad six months previously would bring new prosperity to the small town, but it hadn’t happened yet. She even tried the train station.
Eventually she ended up back at the saloon, staring at the large three storey building across the street with the peeling green paint and weathered sign. It was just about the only place she hadn’t tried, but after Adam’s warning it made her nervous.
A narrow balcony spanned the building on the second floor. As Amy watched a window opened and a young woman wearing a shawl over little more than her undergarments climbed out onto the balcony and took a deep breath, hands on her hips as she lifted her painted face to the sun. Seeing Amy, she waved and smiled. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Amy waved back. No, she wasn’t so desperate that she was ready to work in a place like that. She hoped she never would be.
She turned away and wandered along the street, tired and dejected, not really caring where she was going.
What do I do now, Lord?
There was nowhere left to try, no one who would give her employment. No way to pay back Adam. The only thing left was to go with her original plan, somehow get to San Francisco, get a job there and send Adam the money. The thought of leaving now made her feel sick to her stomach, but what else was she to do? And she wouldn’t be able to tell him either. She knew Adam would just tell her it didn’t matter and ask her to stay, and if he asked her to stay she didn’t think she’d be strong enough to say no.
A frown
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