Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
A t the mercantile, Elsie excitedly poured out the story of her visit to the dress shop to her family. With an excited clap of her hands and several toe bounces, she ended with the job offer.
Without a word, her mother handed Elsie a basket. “Please get one bag of flour and a pound of brown sugar. Five pounds of beans, too.
Disappointment made it hard for Elsie to keep her expression civil. If she showed a hint of attitude, Ma would likely take against the idea. Still, hiding her impatience while her parents shopped, deliberating over every item, almost made her skin itch.
A few minutes later, Elsie saw the dressmaker coming toward them. She grinned in surprise and hastened over, carrying the heavy basket. “I told them about the job, Miss Taylor,” she said in a low voice. “But they haven’t given me an answer. I thought we best get the shopping over with before I press my case.”
Her parents turned and stared at Miss Taylor.
To Elsie’s dismay, neither one of them looked welcoming. She touched the dressmaker’s shoulder, praying that her parents would approve of the woman. “This is Miss Taylor, whom I told you about. Miss Taylor, these are my parents, Anne and Richard Bailey, and my brother, Ricky, and sister, Mary.”
Miss Taylor stepped forward and offered a gloved hand to Ma, who took it in her bare, work-roughened one. “Your daughter was so eager to tell you about the job that she didn’t stay for more information.” She released Ma’s hand. “I’m sure those details are important to you, such as how much your daughter will be paid.”
Pa cleared his throat. “An offer in hand is important.”
“I’ll pay fifty cents a day with free room and board—living with me, of course, so your daughter will be chaperoned.” She hesitated. “We’ll chaperone each other. A day off every other week. We can figure out when. Perhaps, Sunday, so if you come to church, Elsie can spend time with her family.”
Elsie sucked in a breath, her eyes widening.
Her parents exchanged thoughtful glances.
“In addition, I will train her in dressmaking, so she’ll be learning important skills. I’ll give her a discount on all fabric and other goods.”
Please, please, please! Elsie clasped her hands together, sending them a pleading expression.
“Why don’t we give this arrangement a try?” Miss Taylor coaxed. “Say, a month? Then, if the situation doesn’t suit Elsie or you, or me, for that matter….”
Her father sighed. He pushed back his hat and rubbed his head. “There might be times when we have sore need of another pair of hands. The harvest….”
“I see no reason she can’t go home for a week or two.”
“Please, Pa. Ma,” Elsie begged. “My wages could really help out, and I’ll be able to make everyone new clothes.”
Pa shifted his feet and shook his head. “We couldn’t take all your money, Daughter, generous though the offer is.”
“Half, then. I insist. You need new boots, Pa. Yours have already been resoled twice.” Elsie placed a hand on his arm. “Please, I want to help my family.”
He glanced at his feet and then at her. “You’re sure about this?”
“Oh, yes, Pa.” Her head bobbed.
Her father exchanged a glance with her mother, and then held up a hand in apparent resignation. “All right then.”
Elsie gave a joyful bounce. “Oh, thank you!” Belatedly remembering she was supposed to be a grownup lady now, she stilled.
Pa looked at Ma again and shrugged before turning back to his daughter. “Barring bad weather or some unforeseen circumstance, we’ll make sure to attend church in the next few weeks to see how you do.”
Miss Taylor smiled at Elsie. “Can you stay and start tomorrow, or do you need to return home and pack your things? If you remain in town, I can lend you the necessities,” she offered, seeming anxious to put her plan in motion. “Or, if you wish, you can take a nightgown, undergarments, a skirt and shirtwaist, from what I have in stock. We’ll deduct the cost from your wages.”
“I think you should do that, Elsie.” Her mother spoke up for the first time. “If you work in Miss Taylor’s shop, you’ll need to be dressed well.” Her cheeks reddened. “Everything you have at home is even shabbier than what you’re wearing. As for the rest of your things, we can bring them with us next Sunday.”
“Three Sundays hence,” Pa corrected. “Weather permitting.” He sent Miss Taylor a sheepish look. “Plan to break ground on a new field and get it planted.” He glanced at Elsie. “But you’ll put all your wages to paying back Miss Taylor. Only after that will I take half.”
Elsie nodded vigorously, too happy to utter any words.
“That’s settled, then,” Miss Taylor said briskly. She smiled. “I’ll leave you to finish your shopping. Afterwards, Elsie, why don’t you bring your family to the shop? We can show them around and go upstairs, so they can see where you’ll live.”
“We’re finished here.” Ma glanced at the basket over Elsie’s arm. “If you don’t mind waiting just a minute, we’ll buy these and come with you.”
“Shall we?” Miss Taylor turned and walked down the aisle toward the front counter, where Mrs. Cobb, the plump shopkeeper, wrote in a ledger.
Elsie and her family followed.
Mrs. Cobb gave Miss Taylor a hard stare out of her close-set eyes before turning her attention to the Baileys.
The shopkeeper’s baleful look made Elsie quake in her boots. She handed over the basket of supplies, trying not to make eye contact with the unpleasant woman.
Mrs. Cobb took the basket and ignored Miss Taylor. One by one, the shopkeeper removed each item and set them in two stacks. She held her hand over one pile. “The eggs will only cover these. You’ll have to pay cash for the rest.” She sent a malicious glare Miss Taylor’s way. “No credit.”
Why’s she looking at Miss Taylor in that nasty way?
Pa frowned.
“No credit?” Ma echoed, her hand going to her chest, a stricken look on her face. “Why ever not? You’ve always extended us credit before.”
“We’ve paid back every cent,” Mr. Bailey said gruffly.
“Yes, but repayment took far too long.” Mrs. Cobb sniffed. “We’re not a bank.”
Hot shame surged through Elsie, making her stomach tight. She glanced at Miss Taylor, hoping this news wouldn’t make her change her mind about the job. The anger sparking in the dressmaker’s eyes made her stomach relax somewhat but didn’t entirely banish the shame.
“Well, if credit is needed—” from behind them came an unfamiliar male voice with a Scottish accent “—I have nae problem with extending some.”
Curious, Elsie turned. She didn’t recognize the speaker, but from his red hair and Scottish accent, she figured he must be Dr. Cameron’s brother, Angus—another doctor. She’d read in the newspaper that he’d left Scotland to join the medical practice in Sweetwater Springs.
Relief went through Elsie, and she gifted Dr. Angus with a wide smile, which he didn’t seem to notice, so focused was he on Miss Taylor.
Dr. Angus nodded at the pretty dressmaker, a corner of his mouth quirking, before he shifted his attention to Pa.
Her father stiffened. “We have no need of charity.”
There was nothing her father hated more than taking charity. He’d probably die before allowing himself to feel beholden to anyone, much less a stranger.
Pa handed the shovel to Ricky. “Put this back.”
Dr. Angus raised one eyebrow. “I have na’ offered charity. Credit was the word I used. Doctors are used to extending credit.” He held up a palm and offered a slight smile. “We are good at judging when someone will do his or her best to repay us.”
Ricky paused, holding the shovel like a staff, and looked from his father to the doctor.
Miss Taylor stepped closer to the Baileys. “Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, you probably haven’t met Dr. Angus Cameron yet. He’s newly come from Scotland.”
Pa’s hard gaze relaxed. “I heard you were coming here, Doctor.”
Mrs. Cobb let out a huff and reached up to finger the gold flowered brooch pinned to her basque. “Perhaps I spoke hastily.”
Dr. Angus didn’t relax his stern expression. “Does that mean yer reconsidering offering this family credit, Mrs. Cobb?”
The shopkeeper fluttered a plump hand. “Of course, since you practically vouched for them.”
Dr. Angus looked at Pa. “Ye might want to consider whether ye want to be indebted to the mercantile or not.”
Pa broke into an unexpected grin, showing his missing tooth.
That smile made Elsie relax.
“Would rather not be indebted to anyone,” Pa told the doctor. “But I can’t be putting my problems on your shoulders.” He turned back to Mrs. Cobb, the hard expression once again on his face. “We’ll take the credit. We’ll bring eggs whenever we come to town. After the harvest, I’ll make good on what’s still owed.”
The shopkeeper harrumphed. “Very well.” Ignoring the Baileys and Miss Taylor, she glanced at Dr. Angus and bestowed an ingratiating smile upon him. “Dr. Cameron, I’d heard you’d arrived in town. Please allow me to bid you welcome. Can I help you find something?”
He didn’t return the smile. “Nae, Mrs. Cobb, ye canna. I came in to see the store—’tis a fine establishment—and now that I’ve done so, I’ll be about my business.” He gave them all a little bow, turned, and left.
Miss Taylor smiled at the Baileys. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Mr. Bailey nodded.
With an unhurried pace, Miss Taylor sedately crossed to the door.
Elsie couldn’t help but admire her graceful walk and imagined following in her ladylike footsteps. I must practice.
She exhaled a long breath. I have so much to learn.
Suddenly anxious, Elsie glanced at her parents, knowing she didn’t want to return home because of her own ineptness. Please, may Miss Taylor have patience with me.
After a quick stop for the Baileys to check out the shop, which awed Elsie’s family to silence, they trooped upstairs to view the living quarters. On the third floor, several narrow windows let light into the hallway, showing high carved doors. Miss Taylor pulled out a key and indicated the door on the left.
After inserting her key into the lock, Miss Taylor turned around and made a helpless gesture toward the interior. “You’ll have to excuse the condition of my suite. I wasn’t expecting visitors, and I’ve been working flat out to prepare for the store’s opening. Then this first week, I sold so much of my readymade garments, I’ve been sewing nonstop to fashion more inventory.”
Ma gave Miss Taylor an understanding smile. “You must be exhausted. I can see why you need our Elsie.”
Miss Taylor let out a slow breath. “As soon as I rented these rooms, I sent for my furniture and other possessions from back home. But I haven’t even had time to uncrate most of them. Although, Pepe Sanchez from the livery stable did help uncrate and put together the beds. His wife, Lucia, was kind enough to iron the sheets.” She gave Elsie a wry smile. “So, at least, you have a bed, even if right now it’s covered with fabric and partial gowns.” She pushed open the door and gestured for them all to go inside.
Elsie let Ma and Pa go first, of course. But she followed so closely, she almost trod on the hem of her mother’s dress. Ricky and Mary trailed after.
The large crates in the living room couldn’t hide the elegance of the space—the paneled half-walls with narrow-striped wallpaper, the kitchen with a small stove, counters, and best of all— an indoor sink. Elsie couldn’t help letting out an “oh” of happiness. No more hauling buckets of water from the well.
The windows were three times as big as the small ones her father had installed with such pride at their house. The shiny white radiator meant no carrying in wood or buckets of coal for heat—not that her family could afford coal very often. Elsie wanted to clasp her hands together and twirl with joy. But she restrained herself to twisting her hands in her skirt to hide them and making little dancing motions with her fingers.
“My room is there.” Miss Taylor waved toward a closed door but didn’t invite them to look inside. She walked to an open door on the other side near them. “This is currently a workroom but now will be Elsie’s.”
Ma, Elsie, and Mary followed Miss Taylor into the workspace. This room, too, held crates, stacked haphazardly around. Several half-made garments and a few bolts of fabric lay on the narrow Jenny Lind style bed. A rectangular, flower-embroidered pillow must be stuffed with lavender, for the scent wafted through the air. A small table and chair was tucked underneath the partially-opened window, with a decorative box and a stack of fabric on top.
Mary, who’d been looking around with wide-eyed silence, pointed at the bed. “Elsie and I share a pallet on the floor of the main room of our house, with Ricky sleeping on his next to us. In the morning, we roll them up to push the furniture back in place. I’ll bet Elsie will be happy to sleep in a real bed by herself .”
Ma sent Mary a reproving look, which her sister pretended not to see.
Elsie suppressed a smile. She was the one who usually drew Ma’s ire from her constant daydreaming. She couldn’t help but wonder how her sister would fare being the only daughter under Ma’s strict eyes. She glanced at the bed, imagining herself curled up to sleep. Truth was, her sister had stated exactly the same thing she was thinking about the luxury of having a real bed—one she didn’t have to share.
She walked toward the sewing machine, dodging around several crates, to touch the wheel. Maybe Miss Taylor would let me use this sometimes. She started imagining the dresses she’d fashion.
Pa, lingering in the doorway with Ricky, cleared his throat. “I ‘spose we could spare a little time before we leave town. Miss Taylor, Ricky and I can uncrate the boxes for you? Put the furniture together?” He glanced around. “That is, if you have tools?”
“A hammer and a screwdriver. Mr. Gordon lent me his crowbar.” Miss Taylor waved toward the corner where the tools were propped against the wall.
Pa brushed his hands together and glanced at Ma. “Why don’t you and the girls help with putting everything in order?”
Miss Taylor clasped her hands together. “That would be tremendously kind of you and take a load off my mind.”
Elsie’s chest swelled with pride. She wouldn’t have thought her poor family had anything to offer someone as well-off as Miss Taylor.
Her father flushed. “You’re doing good by our girl. Only right, we do something for you.” He walked to the corner and picked up the crowbar. “Where would you like us to start?”