Next morning Quinn sucked in a breath when the door to the store opened and their first customer walked in. It was Lola Norwood. Where was Deborah? Her oldest sister hadn’t been worth a penny this morning. All she’d done was walk around with a big smile on her face. Now she was hidden in the backroom with Marlene.
Quinn plastered on a smile. “Good morning.”
Lola didn’t return the greeting. “I saw the dress in the window and decided to come in. I think it’s time this town got a dressmaker, but you really should put up a sign.”
“We have a sign ordered. It should be up this week.” Quinn bit her lip to keep her voice calm. “Please look around.”
Lola walked to the counter where Quinn stood. “You do have some pretty lingerie.”
“Thank you.”
She picked up a pink silk nightgown which was cut low and trimmed in lace around the breast and down the front. “Ashe would probably like this.”
Quinn felt her stomach flip over, but she managed not to let her feelings show on her face. When she made no comment, Lola held the gown up to her chest.
“Don’t you think this would excite my man?”
“I’m sure it would excite most any man.” Quinn’s voice was lower than she wanted it to be.
Lola laughed. “Embarrassed you, didn’t I?”
“Maybe, a little.”
Lola shook her head. “If you ever want to catch a real man like my Ashe you’re going to have to loosen up. Women are so tight around here it’s a wonder any of them ever get married.”
“I’m not out to catch a man, Mrs. Norwood.” Quinn’s voice was a little sharper than she intended.
“Somebody told me they saw you walking in town with Ashe yesterday.” She looked directly at Quinn.
“Sheriff Montgomery has been kind to my sisters and me. So have his brothers.”
“I don’t care about his brothers. It’s him I’m talking about. You better not get your hat set for him. Ashe Montgomery belongs to me and I don’t intend to let some little Philadelphia skirt take him away from me.” Her voice was not only harsh, it was threatening.
Quinn snapped, “Let me assure you, I have no intention of taking Ashe Montgomery from you.”
Lola laughed. “Not that you could. A woman as uptight as you could never satisfy a man like Ashe. It takes a real woman to please him, not a little girl.”
Before she could stop herself, Quinn snapped, “There’s no accounting for the taste of some men.”
“What do you mean?”
“I simply mean if Ashe is satisfied with a woman from a brothel or a needy widow like you, I wouldn’t lower myself to go after him.” Quinn snapped, then with a smile she asked, “Are you going to buy that nightgown or do you want me to refold it?”
Lola looked at Quinn as if she wanted to hit her. Instead, she threw the gown on the counter, flipped her head and stomped out the door.
“Well, little sister, looks like your ran off our first customer.” Deborah came into the front.
Marlene followed her. “Keep this up and we’ll be out of business in the first week.”
“I’m sorry. She made me mad and I couldn’t help it.”
Deborah walked over to her and put her arm around her shoulders. “I don’t blame you. Marlene and I heard every word. I’m surprised you didn’t slap her face.”
“I probably would have if she’d been talking about Beck.”
They both looked at Marlene.
“All right. I admit I’m interested in Beck, but I’m not the only one who likes a Montgomery brother. You haven’t quit smiling since Cal brought you home last night. You said you had a good time, but I’m wondering just how good that time was.”
“It was wonderful.”
“Oh?” Quinn looked at her.
Deborah put her hands on her hips. “If you must know, I think I’m falling in love with him and I think he cares for me, too.”
Before anyone could say anything, the front door opened again. A tall lady with graying hair topped with a red and black bonnet came in.
“Hello ladies. I’m Naomi Coddler and I’m delighted to see a new business in town.”
The Stockton sisters introduced themselves.
“Philadelphia, huh? I have a cousin in Philadelphia, but I’m sure you wouldn’t know her. She went bad and now works in a house of ill repute.”
Quinn didn’t know what to say, but she couldn’t help smiling when she heard Naomi Coddler laugh. “I don’t suppose we did know her, Mrs. Coddler.”
“Call me Naomi and I’m sorry if my bluntness shocked you. I’ve always said what I thought.”
The sisters introduced themselves.
“Glad to meet you all. I’ll have to have you for tea. My teas are famous in this town.”
“We’d be delighted to come.” Deborah smiled at her.
“Good.” She turned around. “I saw Lola Norwood come out when I was coming down the street. Did she buy anything?”
“No, she only looked around.” Quinn gave her sisters a warning glance.
“Good. I want to be your first customer. I think it’d be better if you told everyone the banker’s wife was the first to buy something from you than to say you made your first sale to the town slut.”
Again, Quinn didn’t know what to say. So she only nodded and asked, “What can we show you, Naomi?”
“I’ll get a shawl or something before I leave, but right now I like the looks of the dress in the window. I know it wouldn’t fit me so how about showing me some material and patterns? Norman doesn’t seem to think things like new clothes are important, but you know how men are. They don’t ever understand what a woman needs.”
Marlene smiled at her. “I’d love to make you a dress, Ms—I mean Naomi. Please come with me. We have a selection of materials in the back room and I can show you some patterns.”
“Thank you, Marlene.” She went through the work room door behind Marlene.
“I like Naomi,” Deborah said. “She tells it the way it should be told”
“I agree.” Quinn chuckled. “I like people who are so honest.”