Amanda gasped and Lily reached for her hand.
“Papa!” Amanda exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.
Jackson and Daniel stepped into the room, blocking AJ’s exit. Lily realized they’d been eavesdropping in the hallway. Had Amanda’s brothers seriously thought she and Amanda could hoodwink their father? Or would the brothers be on their sister’s side?
“Now, Pa, you should think about this. The town could use a dressmaker,” Daniel observed. “Amanda could make a go of a business like this. And she wouldn’t be living alone if Lily moved into the living quarters with her.”
“Then I’d be worried about both of them!” AJ blurted.
“I’m leaning toward similar thoughts as you, Pa,” Jackson added. “If Lily isn’t here with us at the ranch, how can I…how can we protect her?”
“Besides, what would folks think?” AJ continued his argument. “My daughter working as a seamstress in a dress shop. They’d figure A. J. McLennon can’t afford his daughter’s keep until she marries.”
“What would people think?” Lily blurted. “Since her mother’s passing, Amanda has been doing your cooking and cleaning, washing the family’s clothes.”
AJ stood, arms crossed, glowering at her.
“Essentially, she’s been working at a position not unlike that of the indentured servants my grandfather employed in Boston.” Lily straightened her spine. “In my opinion, owning and operating your own dress shop in town would be considered rising up several steps in the world.”
AJ waved off her comment. “Amanda, you’ve been wonderful, caring for all of us since your mother’s passing. If you’re finished with the housework, I’ll hire a housekeeper.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“I may not have offered praise frequently enough,” AJ said, reaching for his daughter’s hand. “But we wouldn’t have survived without your help. Your brothers and I will be forever indebted to you for putting your life on hold for our benefit.”
“And we certainly never considered you any kind of indebted servant!” Daniel exclaimed.
“Indentured,” Lily corrected him.
“Same dang thing,” he muttered. “My sister is nobody’s servant.”
Amanda’s eyes still held unshed tears which she blinked away. “But if I’m not permitted to move to town and open my shop, there’s no sense in hiring help for the ranch.”
“Glad you see it my way.” Jackson folded his arms across his chest, mirroring his father’s posture. “And Lily will remain here under our protection.”
Daniel shifted to his other foot. “Not so fast. Let’s think about this. You’re familiar with the building Amanda mentioned, Pa. Ray’s old store is a sound structure.”
Jackson glowered at his brother.
AJ nodded. “Ray built a new store on his current location and relocated his business when it grew so quickly his ever-increasing amount of stock had the old place bursting at the seams.”
Lily recalled observing the extent of the general store inventory when she first arrived in town. Mr. Cochrane could be looking to expand again if his business continued to grow.
Amanda smiled. “I remember shopping there with Mama when I was little.”
“He rented his old store to the lawyer fellow for several years, but it’s been empty for a few months now since Davies built his own building for his law office.” AJ scratched his chin.
“Pa, you should give Amanda a chance to make a go of her own business. She’s going to turn eighteen in a couple weeks.” Daniel glanced at his sister. “The fellers aren’t busting the door down to marry her. She’ll have something to occupy her time.”
Amanda gasped and her eyes filled with tears. “Are you suggesting I’m destined to be an old maid?”
“That’s ridiculous!” Lily blurted. “Amanda is beautiful. She’ll marry when the right fellow comes along.”
“Whoa. Hold your tempers. I didn’t mean nothing by it.” Daniel’s apology was accompanied by a sheepish expression.
“And as to my safety,” Lily addressed Jackson. “If I’m helping Amanda fulfill her dream, I’ll be living in town close to the sheriff’s office. If trouble comes to Milestone, I’ll be closer to Sheriff Robertson than I would be out here on the Double M.”
Jackson muttered something most likely best not heard by ladies’ ears. “If their hearts are set on this, Pa, you’d better check into renting that building for them or they’ll do it themselves.” Obviously, he didn’t approve of the plan but it appeared he would go along with it.
Amanda shook her head. “Lily and I insist on setting up and operating the business ourselves. We don’t require your assistance, Papa, except to hire a housekeeper for the ranch to cook and clean. Neither of us plans on marrying anytime soon, and we need to prove to ourselves, that if ever necessary, we can be independent.”
“And you still plan on marrying some feller?” AJ stared at his daughter.
“Of course.” Amanda shook her head. “Don’t listen to Daniel. I fully intend to marry one day and make you a grandfather also. But first I need to do this for myself.”
“And since my engagement was canceled, I require something to occupy my time.” Lily smiled at AJ. “Until a gentleman comes along who catches my fancy.”
AJ chuckled and briefly glanced at Jackson. “All right, you girls win. Jackson will drive the two of you into town tomorrow. He’ll stand back and allow you to negotiate the rental agreement with Ray.”
Jackson nodded in agreement, although judging by his expression, he did so begrudgingly. “We can leave by nine o’clock.”
“Good. And we’ll insist the rental agreement be put in writing,” Lily stated.
“Definitely,” Amanda added.
AJ smiled. “The place will require a good cleaning up, Amanda, and then I’ll have your brothers help move your things to town.”
“Including my sewing machine?” Amanda met her father’s eyes.
AJ nodded. “It’s yours, and even a dimwit knows a professional seamstress requires a good sewing machine.”
Amanda squealed, leapt off her chair, and threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Thank you, Papa. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Lily smiled at the unbridled display of love between father and daughter. Her heart ached and she felt her recent losses—her mother to the grave and her father’s attentions to the bottle—even more. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am with these plans for our little endeavor.”
“You’re a few years older than my daughter, Lily, and I trust you’ll keep her on the straight and narrow should a time come when youthful exuberance overshadows common sense.” AJ hugged Amanda tightly.
“Your daughter has a good head on her shoulders, sir.” Lily glanced at Amanda. “If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t have partnered up with her. And we’ll be putting our joint agreement in writing also.”
“Well, I admit this is the last thing I expected of the two of you.” AJ stood hands on hips. “But your enthusiasm is contagious and I wish both of you all the success in the world. However, remember if you ever require help with anything, don’t you hesitate to ask me or your brothers to come to your aid.”
“I will,” Amanda readily agreed.
“We will,” Lily added.
AJ wagged a finger at his daughter. “No putting pride ahead of necessity.”
Lily nodded. “I would never allow any harm to come to Amanda, physically or financially. You can count on me, sir.”
“Thank you. Striking out for Montana on your own shows you’re independent and brave, Lily. But don’t you take chances either. You can count on me to come to the rescue for either or both of you.”
“I appreciate your kindness. It’s a comfort knowing we can rely on your assistance should the need arise.” Lily smiled at him. “But your daughter has been planning this for years. She’s taken everything into consideration and made wise decisions so far.”
“I gathered that,” AJ agreed. “
But don’t underestimate Fate’s ability to ruin the best of plans.”
Lily smiled. “Like counting on a proposal to rescue you from an impossible situation, only to have your intended change his mind?”
AJ laughed. “Exactly like that. But I believe your situation has been altered to everyone’s satisfaction.” His cough returned and it appeared he was having trouble catching his breath. Finally, the spell subsided.
“I’ll make you another cup of hot tea, Papa.” Amanda smiled at Lily. “Isn’t this exciting?”
“Yes, so far it most certainly has been. And I cannot wait to see where our endeavor takes us.” Lily reached for Amanda’s hand. “But first we need to hire that housekeeper!”
Amanda squeezed her friend’s hand. “And rent that building before someone else does.”
Chapter 7
The next morning, Lily and Amanda had taken special care in selecting their best dresses and subdued hats that matched their outfits, hoping to project a professional impression. Standing in front of the abandoned building, Amanda stuck out her hand. “Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice, Mr. Cochrane.”
“Not a problem at all.” He shook her hand, still wearing his shopkeeper’s apron.
“You’ve met Miss Lily Watson?” Amanda added.
“Pleased to see you again, sir.” Lily offered her gloved hand.
“Nice to see you, too.” Ray shook her hand in turn, nodding at Jackson who touched the brim of his Stetson. “What can I do for you young ladies?”
“As I explained the other day, I intend to open a dressmaker’s shop,” Amanda began. “Actually, a general clothing shop to create and sell clothing for every member of the family. Lily has agreed to be my partner in the business.”
“We’re considering renting your building,” Lily added.
Ray glanced over at Jackson standing beside the Double M buggy. He waved his hand, indicating Ray was dealing with the women, not him.
Ray crossed his arms over his chest. “All right. When do you want to rent the building? And for how long?”
Lily straightened her back and met Ray’s eyes. “Well, firstly we need to establish the building’s suitability before we even consider cost. We need to thoroughly view the property. If Amanda and I both agree upon its usefulness, we would be open to negotiating a sum.”
“Of course, it would have to be an amount agreeable to all parties.” Amanda straightened her back.
Lily nodded. “If the rent is beyond our means, then naturally we’ll look elsewhere.”
Ray’s arms dropped to his sides and a frown appeared on his face.
Lily considered the possibility he’d assumed he’d as much as rented the place with a tidy sum in mind since this was Amanda’s second visit to the property. Lily needed to utilize a few of the savvy business practices she’d learned from her father and play her cards close to the vest, as he would say, to negotiate the best deal. Which, being a new enterprise, meant as inexpensive as possible.
Ray headed for the front door. “Well, I have the key. Let’s go inside and take a peek.”
“After you,” Amanda said, waving Lily ahead of her.
Ray unlocked the door and everyone stepped inside. Jackson planted himself inside the door, leaning against the wall, indicating he wouldn’t be part of the negotiating.
Lily wandered farther inside and crossed the wood plank floor. Each step taken in her buttoned-up boots echoed throughout the almost empty room. Amanda followed on her heels. Lily noticed the large counter pushed against one wall and the floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving that lined two walls. The two large display windows in front required a thorough cleaning, but they would offer sufficient daylight to provide a clear view of the interior and provide some savings on the cost of lamp oil. The wide ledges would provide sufficient room to display sample wares and catch the attention of passersby on the sidewalk.
“What do you think, Lily?” Amanda glanced her way.
“Providing it’s sturdy, that counter would serve us well for closing sales if it were moved over here,” she said, pointing to a spot to her left.
“I agree.”
“The counter’s sturdy,” Ray muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. “Used it for years.”
“We can make good use of the built-in shelving for displaying stock,” Amanda suggested. “And there’s substantial room in the windows to set up displays of some of our ready-made clothing.”
Lily nodded. “The shelving looks well built, the floor appears level, and I haven’t noticed any warped boards.”
Ray cleared his throat and muttered something under his breath.
“The open area in the back will be perfect to set up tables for cutting material and situating the sewing machine,” Amanda added. “There’s even room for another one or two machines when the business grows.”
“Expansion is a definite possibility, and sooner rather than later. The front door appears brand new,” Lily observed, discreetly winking at Amanda. “We need to ensure the back door is of equal quality to prevent break-ins and robberies. Otherwise, the premises will be anything but suitable.”
“For the love of…” Ray grumbled.
Lily glanced over at Jackson; the man was close to bursting an artery with the effort needed to stop himself from laughing. She hoped he was proud of their negotiation skills.
“We need to inspect the living quarters before deciding.” Amanda led the way up the stairs in back, leaving Ray downstairs with her brother.
Lily followed, smiling. To be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
After a quick inspection, they both agreed the property was perfect.
“Please let me do the talking though, Amanda,” Lily whispered the request.
“Mention of the back door was so clever. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”
“Just follow my lead.”
Amanda nodded and they retraced their steps to the lower floor.
“What do you think, Lily?” Amanda stood, hands on her hips.
“Suitable as a starter property, I suppose,” Lily muttered looking about. “The back door and lock are quite substantial. No problem there.”
Amanda tapped her chin with her finger. “The location here beside the bank should work. Of course, only time will tell if that’s the case.”
“Young lady, you know perfectly well when I ran the general store out of here, I did a flourishing business,” Ray observed, sounding close to the end of his rope. “And I required a larger property because of it!”
“That is true,” Amanda agreed, with a completely straight face.
“So, Mr. Cochrane.” Lily met his eyes. “Providing we have our lawyer draw up a one-year lease for the premises, what would the rental be? With a guarantee income for the entire year, I hope we can expect a reduced rate compared to renting month-to-month when we could vacate at any time.”
Ray’s jaw dropped again.
“Of course, the choice is up to you, Mr. Cochrane,” Amanda added.
“Goodness! Let’s consider something for a minute, Amanda. What if the business grows even faster than we anticipate?” Lily ventured. “If renting month-to-month, we would be free to move to larger premises with only thirty days’ notice. Should we reconsider the year’s lease option?”
Ray quickly named a sum provided a twelve-month lease was signed.
Amanda met Lily’s eyes.
Lily had discussed a suitable rent with AJ last night and the sum Ray offered was two-thirds of what AJ considered reasonable. With her back to Ray, Lily winked at her friend.
Amanda stuck out her hand and smiled at their new landlord. “I believe we have a deal, Mr. Cochrane.”
“I believe we do,” Lily added, shaking his hand as well.
Jackson stood in the corner shaking his head. Lily smiled. No doubt, he figured the two of them had browbeaten the man into renting the premises to them. But they required every bargain they could find if they were to succeed at their new v
enture. Nailing down a year’s lease at this rate was an excellent beginning.
“Our lawyer should have something in writing by tomorrow. Shall we meet at the Davies Law Office at noon?” Amanda suggested, smiling.
They hadn’t made inquiries yet, and Lily hoped Mr. Davies was even in town. The law office would be their next stop.
“It would be my pleasure.” Ray headed for the front door and glared at Jackson. “She’s your father’s daughter all right,” he muttered on his way out.
Once Mr. Cochrane had crossed to the other side of the street, far out of earshot, the two ladies grabbed each other and squealed, dancing in a circle around the middle of their new shop.
Jackson stood hands on hips, grinning. “If Ray had agreed to any lower sum, I’d have summoned Sheriff Robertson to report a robbery.”
Lily and Amanda halted their dance, then burst out laughing.
“Well done,” Jackson conceded. “Get that key off the counter and lock up so we can head home. You can return tomorrow to start the cleaning. And you both have some packing to do. Today, however, I’d like to take Lily on a tour of the Double M before darkness sets in.”
Lily smiled. “I’d love that.”
“But first we must drop by the law office to see Jamieson Davies.” Amanda touched her arm. “And I’m sorry if I overstepped prematurely mentioning the paperwork. My enthusiasm got the best of me.”
Lily hugged her. “Never apologize for finding your passion in life. But we need to ensure the lawyer can prepare our paperwork in time.”
“That includes our business agreement,” Amanda added.
“We’re really doing this,” Lily whispered. When she’d boarded the train in Boston, she would never have believed she’d be starting a new business venture with someone who’d been a complete stranger a few days ago. She’d expected she would have become Mrs. A. J. McLennon by now, certain she could convince her intended who’d canceled his proposal to change his mind. AJ was right; Fate had an amazing ability to alter one’s plans in life. For once, this change was definitely for the better. And she couldn’t be happier.
Canceled-Order Bride (Sons Of A Gun Book 1) Page 6
