Want Ad Wedding

“That’s perfectly fine,” her father replied. “You rest. I imagine you’ll want to check out available locations for your shop when you’re up to it.”

She gave him an affectionate smile. Hannah was a talented seamstress and made all of her own clothing.

Leah cast her a curious glance. “You’re planning a shop?”

Hannah nodded. “I’ve always wanted to have my own dressmaking establishment. This place seems like the perfect opportunity, with new businesses cropping up everywhere and more women arriving. I might not have many customers at first, but I’m sure business will flourish as the town grows.”

Which reminded Leah of her own plans for the morning. She was going to visit the newspaper about an advertisement. “The newspaper office is right next door to us here, isn’t it?” she asked.

“I’m heading there right after breakfast,” Prudence replied. She wore a plain brown dress, with her ever-present cameo at her throat.

“We might as well walk over together then,” Leah suggested.

“Actually I went late yesterday, too,” Prudence said. “I got a position.”

“My, my, isn’t that news?” Aunt Mae exclaimed. “What if you get a husband who lives outside town, dear?”

Prudence glanced at the others around the table. “I will choose one who either lives in town or nearby.”

Old Horace squinted at her. “Do you have newspaper experience?”

“D.B.—er, Mr. Burrows has assured me my help is quite welcome.”

“Perhaps Mr. Burrows is in the market for a wife,” Aunt Mae added with a wry lift of one eyebrow. “Wouldn’t that be convenient?”

Prudence pursed her lips in exasperation. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, I’m significantly impressed you’ve found a position so quickly,” Pippa said. “Perhaps you could employ your curious side and find the latest news on all the residents.”

“We got news for ya,” Old Horace chimed in.

“Facts are what we need,” Gus reminded him “That newspaper has a reputation for blowing the truth out of proportion. Why, this town was still a row of clapboard buildings and tents, and The Herald was already calling it a boomtown.”

“It is a boomtown, you old fool,” Old Horace rebutted.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going.” Prudence set down her napkin and stood.

Leah watched her go. She was the least friendly of all the women who had traveled west together. Leah understood Prudence was widowed, as well, so perhaps she was still grieving and not ready for friendships. Everyone handled grief their own way. “May I help you with the breakfast dishes?” she asked Aunt Mae.

“Goodness, no. You’re a paid renter, even if the town is paying your rent for a few weeks. The dishes are my job.”

“Thank you. It was a nice meal.” Leah took care of a few last-minute things, and then walked next door.

D.B. Burrows was a tall fellow with muttonchop sideburns and pale skin. He was standing at a worktable when she entered. “Morning,” he offered.

“Good morning. I’d like to place an ad, please.”

“Miss Haywood will get all the information,” he told her.

Leah hadn’t seen Prudence sitting behind a partition until she stood and reached for paper and ink.

Leah recited what she’d planned for her ad.

“There aren’t many women around here yet,” D.B. said.

“I understand that,” Leah answered. “Hopefully, people will read it and remember me when my midwife services are needed.”

D.B. wiped his hands and moved to stand beside Prudence. He stood a little too close in Leah’s opinion, but the young widow didn’t seem to mind as she showed him what she’d written. “That’s good,” he praised.

This seemed awfully quick, but maybe theirs would be the first marriage, just as Aunt Mae had suggested. Or Leah was reading more into their new employer and employee relationship than was there. She paid for the ad. “Do I remember seeing the doctor’s sign on this street?”

D.B. nodded. “Keep walking the way you came here and on past the jail. Across the street on the corner is Doc Fletcher’s place. If he’s not in, there’s a chalkboard.”

“Thank you.”

Quincy Davis spotted her as she passed, and he came out to greet her. “Morning, Miss...”

“Mrs. Swann,” she supplied.

“Mrs. Swann. I trust Aunt Mae has made you comfortable?”

“Yes, indeed.” She glanced across the street and spotted Gus and Horace settling onto chairs in front of a building. The sign above the door read Booker & Son—Purveyor of Dry Goods from Nails to Cloth.

“Is that the mercantile?”

“It’s one of ’em. The largest, in fact. Gus and Old Horace loiter there all day, except when they go back to the boardinghouse for lunch. Sometimes if I don’t see them, I can hear clanging and I know they’re playing horseshoes behind the store. There’s a lot between the store and the church.”

She continued on her way and found the doctor in his office. He was rail thin and his hair was balding on top, but he still had gray fringe around his ears.

“How do you do?” Leah said. “I’m Mrs. Swann.”

“Welcome to Cowboy Creek.” He had smile lines in both cheeks and his dark eyebrows were thick. “You’re one of the widows? You ladies are the talk of the town, you know.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve come to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me. I’ve had midwife experience and I’m hoping to put my knowledge to use.”

“I’m sure you’ll be quite useful,” he replied. “As soon as we have more women and babies on the way. Right now there is only Opal Godwin here in town, but I know of two more women on nearby ranches who might appreciate your services.”

“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t stepping on your toes before I called on Mrs. Godwin,” she said.

“Goodness, no. I’ll be happy to be relieved of those duties. I have more than enough to keep me busy with all the rowdy cowboys, snakebites, scrapes and cuts, and the occasional construction accident.”

“That’s good to hear. Not the part about the snakebites and the accidents, of course. The part about you being relieved to turn over some of your cases.” She paused and he studied her. “There is one more thing I need to mention.”

The doctor waited.

Leah’s nerves fluttered. She hadn’t told anyone yet. Saying the words aloud brought back her past losses. “I’m going to have a baby myself.”

“I see.” He nodded. “Best you find yourself a husband soon then.”