No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) (6 page)

Further on they passed a three storey wooden clapboard building painted in a faded green with red trim. A big sign on the front of the second floor balcony proclaimed it to be the saloon. From the scantily clad women lounging in chairs on the balcony, Amy guessed it was more than just a drinking establishment.

“If you were thinking... and I’m not saying you were because I’m sure you weren’t, but just in case, that place isn’t safe for women, even just to walk into. Not that I’m suggesting you would want to work as a... I meant if you were thinking of working in the saloon itself, not upstairs.” Adam ran one hand down his face and groaned. “I think I’ll stop talking now.”

Amy put one hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Adam was so adorable when he was flustered. “I understand. No going into the saloon. Got it.”

He gave a rueful chuckle. “Believe it or not, there are times when I do actually sound like I have a brain in my head.” He dug a watch from his pocket, worry on his face as he checked it. “I really need to go and open the post office, but with Mrs Vernon spreading rumours I don’t want to leave you alone. Are you sure you don’t want to wait to do this? I could come with you this afternoon.”

“No, I’ll be fine, I promise. You go and I’ll be back with a job before you know it.” She wasn’t at all sure of that, but she tried to sound positive. She didn’t want Adam worrying about her. He’d done so much already.

He scanned the people around them, finally sighing and returning his attention to her. “All right. But if you change your mind, just come home and I’ll go with you later. I truly don’t mind.”

“I know you don’t, but you don’t have to worry about me. I can look after myself.”

A small smile touched his lips. “I have no doubt of that. I’ll see you later.”

Despite her words, as she watched Adam walk away she suddenly felt very alone.

With a deep sigh, Amy pulled her gaze from Adam’s retreating form and looked around. Her eyes came to rest on the hotel at the top of the street. It was as good a place to start as any.

The four storey building occupied a prime position at the very head of the road where it curved off to the north, giving everyone on the street a view of the hotel and everyone in the hotel a view along the street. It was constructed of brick, unlike most of the other buildings in the town apart from the bank and the marshal’s office, and looked to Amy altogether too fancy for a small town such as Green Hill Creek. Although with its tall windows and decorative columns flanking the entrance, it wouldn’t have been out of place in New York. Not the upper class, wealthy centre, but in the not quite so affluent areas it could have easily passed for a city establishment. Perhaps whoever had invested in it was expecting the new railroad to bring in clientele.

An image of her dream hotel in San Francisco came to mind. Perhaps if she could work here it wouldn’t feel quite so far away.

Reaching the door, Amy smoothed her hair and her skirts and walked inside. Other than a bored looking, red-headed young man behind the reception desk, the velvet draped and wood panelled lobby was deserted.

She walked up to the man and smiled. “I was wondering if I could speak to someone about employment in the hotel?”

He snorted a laugh. “You must be new around here.”

“Uh, yes?”

He swept one hand around the sumptuous room. “See all these guests?”

Amy looked round in case there’d been an influx of people while her back was turned. There hadn’t. “Uh, no?”

“Exactly. No guests, no jobs. If it wasn’t for folks who won’t go into the saloon using the restaurant and just keeping the place above water, I wouldn’t even be here.”

Amy lowered her eyes to the polished surface of the oak reception desk. “Oh.”

The man sighed. “I’m sorry, Miss, I didn’t mean to be sharp. Saturdays are usually my day off. I’m much nicer Monday through Friday.”

Despite her disappointment, Amy laughed. “Maybe I should come back Monday.”

“You should,” he said, smiling. “There still won’t be any jobs, but I’ll be here to brighten your day. Truth is, if there were any jobs and it was up to me, I’d hire you in a second.”

“Without even knowing anything about me?”

A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. “Having a pretty woman on the staff couldn’t hurt business, if there was any business to be had. I’m Zach, by the way. Welcome to Green Hill Creek, I guess.”

“Amy.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amy.... wait.” He frowned. “Not the Amy who came in on the train to marry Adam and now isn’t Amy?”

“I, um, suppose. How do you know all that?”

He rolled his eyes. “Mrs Vernon. By now everyone knows who you are. She didn’t come in to tell me, but I overheard her talking to Mrs Sanchez, the cook here.” He chewed his lip. “Is it true you and Adam are living together?”

Amy pursed her lips, frowning. This gossip thing might turn out to be more trouble than she thought. “If by living together you mean in the same house, yes. If you mean in the same bed,
no
.”

He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “Hey, I didn’t mean to suggest anything. It’s just what Mrs Vernon said. So you and he aren’t...?”

He left it hanging, but they both knew what he meant.

“Absolutely not,” she said, a little more forcefully than she’d intended.

He nodded slowly. “Oh. Well, in that case, would you care to have dinner with me sometime?”

She raised her eyebrows. “You work fast.”

“Not many women out here that aren’t taken,” he said, shrugging, “and certainly none as pretty as you. You’ve got to get ahead of the game.”

Amy couldn’t help laughing. “You’re sweet, Zach, but I have to say no. I’m only staying in Green Hill Creek until I can make enough money to pay Adam back. Then I’ll be leaving for San Francisco.”

He sighed, placing a hand over his heart. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”

“Why don’t you try one of the agencies that matches women back east with men out here? It works for a lot of people. Handsome man like you, I’m sure you’d get lots of interest.”

He leaned one elbow on the desk and looked across the lobby to the door, running a hand through his red hair. “I would, but the pay here barely keeps me fed. If it weren’t for working part time for my pa, I’d be homeless too. I’d have no chance of paying for a girl’s train fare all the way from the east coast.”

Amy patted his hand in sympathy. “My mama always used to say that with God all things are possible. You never know what’s around the next corner.”

He smiled sadly. “I think God’s got more important things to be concerned about than getting me a girl.”

“God is big enough and loving enough to do everything. Besides, it’s important to you. Just keep praying.”

“You think so?”

“He got me here,” she said, stepping back from the desk. “I’d better get looking for that job. It was nice to meet you, Zach.”

“Likewise,” he said. “Good luck. If you change your mind about that dinner, you know where to find me.”

Laughing, she walked back to the door and out into the morning sunshine. Even though her first try hadn’t worked, her conversation with Zach had lifted her spirits. Feeling a little more optimistic, she headed for the store on the other side of the road.

The Green Hill Creek General Store, proprietor G. L. Lamb, was a wooden single storey building fronted by a covered porch crammed with heaps of boxes and barrels. Two wide, grubby windows flanked an open door. Movement caught Amy’s eye as she approached and she watched a large brown rat scurry beneath the raised porch. Maybe she could get a job cleaning the place.

Inside, the building was bigger than it looked, deeper than it’s width at the front suggested. The walls were lined with shelves and merchandise was stacked every which way on the floor. Thanks to the ineffectual windows, which were the only source of light, it was gloomy. Even in the poorer parts of New York it would have struggled to attract customers, but Amy supposed presentation wasn’t a priority when you were the only general store for miles around.

Two women were inspecting brightly coloured bolts of fabric stacked on a table to Amy’s right as she entered and they watched her wend her way through the store. As soon as her back was turned, one of them whispered to the other and they both giggled. Amy did her best to ignore them as she walked up to a plump middle aged man with a balding head standing behind a counter which doubled as a half wood, half glass display case.

“Mornin’, Miss,” he said, a cheerful smile making his red cheeks bulge. “How can I help you?”

Amy glanced back at the women. They were making a show of studying the fabric, but it was obvious they were listening. She stifled a sigh and 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 creased her brow as she thought about that. She’d known Adam for less than twenty-four hours and already she’d grown fond of the idea of being around him. That wasn’t in her plan. Admittedly, though, her plan was on shaky ground right now.

At the sound of men’s voices Amy looked up from the ground. Without realising, she’d wandered right to the very edge of town. A large, barn-like structure stood ahead of her, a sign above the door identifying it as Parson’s Livery. She didn’t know if this was the place he meant, but she remembered Isaiah mentioning the person who owned the livery was looking for help. Working with horses wouldn’t be so bad. Even though she’d never ridden one, she liked horses.

Perking up, she increased her speed.

“Not sure as I can pay more’n six dollars a week. I know people would be more likely to want the job if there were more hours, but that’s stretching it for me as it is.”

“Well, George, I’ll ask around, but I don’t know who’ll be interested. But I’ll ask.”

An older man emerged from the livery entrance, lifting his hat and nodding a greeting as he passed her. Amy walked up to the large double doors and peered in. A man was close to the entrance, his back to her. He was shorter than Adam, but with a larger build, probably from years of hard physical labour. His dark hair was greying and unkempt, falling below his collar.

She stepped forward and looked around the interior of the large building. Stalls lined the walls, all of them empty. A set of double doors stood directly opposite her and she could see a glimpse of fences, grass and blue sky. Riding equipment and saddles hung from hooks dotted around the walls.

The whole place smelled of horse and manure. Mostly manure.

“Can I help you, Miss?”

Amy jumped, startled. She hadn’t realised the man had turned around. His face was what could only be described as craggy, the bottom half hidden by facial hair that looked less like an intentional beard and more like he simply hadn’t shaved in a few days. It was hard to judge his age, but she guessed at somewhere around fifty. As his brown eyes studied her, she couldn’t help feeling she was being judged in some way.

“Um, yes, Sir.” She stood up straight, offering up a quick prayer for strength. “I heard you were looking to hire someone. May I ask what the job is?”

He folded his arms and leaned his hip against an old, battered table standing next to the door. Pieces of paper and a leather-bound ledger were scattered across the top.

“Well, it’s for general help in the livery here, looking after the horses, mucking out the stalls, cleaning, that sort of thing. You know anyone who might be interested? Pays six dollars a week for eight hours work a day, Saturdays and Sundays off.”