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  “Girl, you gave me a start. Who ya lookin’ for?”

  “I’m looking for dinner.”

  The man laughed as he set the tray down and began putting the glasses under the polished counter. “I’m afraid you’re not going to find that here.”

  Greta walked on into the room, stepping up to the bar to address the man as he continued to put the glasses away. “Has the restaurant already closed?” Greta looked around the empty room.

  “Restaurant? Is that what you think this is?”

  “Well, yes, I was told there was a place to eat off the lobby, so I came here.”

  “Well, miss, this ain’t no restaurant. It’s a saloon. We don’t serve nothin’ here but drinks,” the man said with a broad smile.

  “No food?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Why not? This is part of the hotel, isn’t it? Don’t you think some of the people who are staying here might want to eat?”

  “You’ll have to talk to Mr. McGowan about that. He’s the one that runs the place.”

  “Where will I find this Mr. McGowan?”

  “Right now you’ll find him behind the check-in desk.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tom McGowan looked up when the pretty, young woman approached his desk. At first glance he thought it was the same woman he had spoken to earlier, the woman who had booked the room for a week. Then he realized this must be the sister. He looked at the register to check her name.

  “Yes, Miss Kaiser, may I help you?”

  Greta looked surprised. “How do you know my name?”

  Tom chuckled. “The only two young ladies staying in the Custer Hotel are you and your sister. She made arrangements this morning for the two of you to stay for the rest of the week. Now, what can I do for you?”

  Greta pointed toward the saloon. “Why don’t you serve food in there?”

  “Well, Miss Kaiser, we don’t serve food in there because it’s a saloon. It’s where people come to drink.”

  “When it’s time for dinner, or supper, where do they go?”

  “We have restaurants in town. Nice ones. The Sheridan House probably has the finest dining room in the territory. I sent your sister there when she asked where she could go to eat.”

  “Is the Sheridan House a hotel?”

  “It is.”

  “Let me ask you something, Mr. McGowan. When the people leave the—saloon—to go eat, aren’t they taking their money to another hotel? What if you served a meal here? Wouldn’t they stay for the meal? And if they stayed, wouldn’t you make more money?”

  “I don’t know, I suppose so,” Tom agreed. “I’ve never really given it any thought.”

  “She’s got you there, Tom,” the old man, who was now sitting in one of the chairs, chimed in. “I’ve been asking ya to feed us ever since I been staying here, but, no, not the Custer. No food here.”

  “Hank, you know the reason we don’t serve food. Where would we put a dining room and a kitchen?”

  “Oh, pish posh,” Greta said. “You could serve in that saloon. You already have the tables, and what does it take to prepare and serve a meal but a stove, a pot, and a few bowls?”

  “She’s right,” Hank said. “Think about how we do it on a steamer. We feed a whole crew with a lot less space than you got here.”

  “A pot and a few bowls, huh?”

  “Yes. You could serve a stew or a soup every day. And if I were you, I’d give it away for free. You’d make up the difference by selling more drinks.”

  “By damn, listen to the woman. She’s makin’ a lot of sense,” Hank said.

  Tom stroked his chin as he studied the young woman who was standing before him.

  “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions as to who I might hire to fix this stew, do you?”

  Greta thought this would be her opportunity to take some of the load off Jana’s shoulders. If she could convince Mr. McGowan to hire her, she could not only help with some of the expenses, she could prove to Jana—and to herself—that she wasn’t entirely helpless.

  Greta smiled. “I have the perfect person in mind.”

  Jana and Drew left the dining room of the Sheridan House. On this chilly November day, as they walked toward the Western Union office, she noticed that Drew hadn’t even bothered to put on an overcoat over the brown town coat he was wearing. But how he was dressed wasn’t the only thing she noticed about him. She noticed his physique, perhaps as much as six inches taller than her own five feet eight inches, and she found he was a most attractive man. She had been drawn to the deep blue of his eyes in the restaurant, but here in the sunlight they seemed to be almost magnetic.

  Just then, Jana’s foot caught on a loose board in the walkway and she stumbled.

  “I should have warned you about that,” Drew said as he grabbed Jana to prevent her from falling. “These boardwalks are quite new, and I’m afraid the carpenter didn’t do his job as well as he should have. Would you like to take my arm?”

  Jana thought it strange how easily this man offered her his arm, as if it was expected. An aura of strength and self-confidence seemed to emanate from Drew. But there was something else.

  No man had ever had such an effect on her, and she felt what she could only describe as magnetism, drawing her toward him. But with no real experience in such a situation, she didn’t know if this was normal.

  She accepted his arm as if she had taken the arm of a gentleman hundreds of times before, and they continued down the street until they reached the Western Union office.

  “I’ll be right with you,” a man said without looking up as he continued to write rapidly while the telegraph key tapped out its message.

  At the back of the building, Jana saw an upright cabinet with wires hanging from it. A telephone with three oak boxes was attached to the wall beside the cabinet.

  She turned her attention back to the telegrapher until the instrument quit clicking. Draper put his own hand on the key, sent a brief message, then turned toward Drew and Jana.

  “Mr. Malone, what can I do for you, sir?”

  “Charley, this young lady is Jana Hartmann, and she just arrived in Bismarck. She’s well educated, and she’s looking for employment.”

  “Can you jerk lightning?” Draper asked.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Draper smiled. “I asked if you knew telegraphy. Since you didn’t understand the term, I can only assume that you don’t.”

  “No, I’m not a telegrapher.”

  “I thought perhaps you might hire her to help with the new telephone exchange. Back East, a lot of women are handling the calls, and from what I’ve read, they’re doing a good job,” Drew suggested.

  Draper shook his head. “I’d love to help you out, miss, but I just told Lucy Griffin she could start working a day or two a week. That is, if we ever get all the wires in place.”

  “Are you getting a lot of subscribers?” Drew asked.

  “I’ll say. I got so many I’m going to have to start giving ’em numbers just to keep track of ’em all.”

  “You should do that right from the start anyway, because I know that’s how it’s done in bigger cities,” Drew said.

  “That’s what old Troy Laundry said, but he just said that ’cause he was the first one to sign up and he wants to be number one. Are you and that partner of yours going to subscribe anytime soon?”

  “I think we’ll have to, don’t you? As a law office, we should have all the modern conveniences.”

  “Do you want to sign up now?”

  “I’d be willing to, but Frank wants to wait a couple of weeks, just to make sure everything works right. Maybe you’ll get so many customers you’ll need to keep the exchange open at night. Then you could hire Miss Hartmann.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Charley said.

  “That’s all we can ask. Come on, Miss Hartmann, I know a couple of other places we can try.”

  “Wait,” Jana said. “I’d like to send a telegra
m. What does it cost?”

  “Ten cents a word,” Draper said.

  “Oh, my. That is quite dear.” Jana had never sent nor received a telegram before, so she had no idea of the cost. However, she did need to let the Reverend Kling know that she and her sister would be wintering in Bismarck.

  “Do you still want to send it?”

  “Yes, I suppose so.”

  Draper gave her a pencil and a piece of paper. “You write out your message, and I’ll send it on.”

  Jana began to write: My sister and I have arrived safely in Bismarck. When you come to New Salem, please contact us. Jana and Greta Hartmann.

  Draper counted the words. “If you send it like it’s written, it’ll cost you two dollars and twenty cents. Would you like me to save you some money on your message?”

  “Oh, yes, please do.”

  Draper rewrote the message: Contact me Bismarck when you reach DT. Jana Hartmann.

  “There you are, miss. The same information for ninety cents instead of two twenty.”

  Jana read the message and smiled. “Yes. Thank you very much.”

  “Who is the recipient?”

  “Pastor G. L. Kling of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, in Chicago.

  “And now if you don’t mind, I’d like to send another one. This one is to Mr. Dewey Gehrig in Highland, Illinois.”

  “Would you like me to write the message for you?”

  “No, thank you, I think I got the idea.” Jana wrote a second message.

  Tell mama safe in Bismarck DT. Jana.

  Draper counted the words, then smiled. “That’ll do it, and you can send both telegrams for less than the first one would’ve cost you.”

  “I do appreciate your help,” Jana said, smiling at the kindly telegraph man.

  Jana and Drew waited as Draper sent the two messages. After each one, the telegraph key clacked on its own.

  “Both messages got through,” Draper said with a smile.

  “Thank you,” Jana said. Then she turned to Drew. “You said you knew some other places we could try?”

  “Yes, and I have a good idea where to start.”

  Greta, Tom McGowan, and the bartender, whose name Greta learned was Carl Meunch, were in a small storeroom just off the saloon.

  “I think this would work fine as a kitchen,” Tom said. “What about you, Greta?”

  “I think it will be fine, as soon as we can get a cookstove in here.”

  “Oh, that’s no problem. We can go see Ollie Beal,” Tom said. “He’ll give us a good price on a stove, and he’ll even deliver it and put it up for us.”

  “Good,” Greta said. “That’s the most important thing we’ll have to get.”

  “What about dishes and such? What ya gonna cook in?” Carl asked.

  “Greta says we won’t need very many,” said Tom.

  “That’s right,” Greta said. “If we’re only going to serve one thing, all we’ll need is a couple of pots, a frying pan, some serving bowls, and an equal number of spoons.”

  “Don’t forget a dishpan, and a water pail. You can’t use mine.”

  “Oh, Carl, since I’m here, maybe I’ll wash your glasses, too. Would you mind that?”

  Carl smiled. “All right, I’ll get the storeroom ready for you.”

  “I know just the place to buy our supplies,” Tom said. “Greta, you go out the front door of the hotel and turn right. About three doors down you’ll find a place called Cheap Jake’s. Pick out everything you need and have Jake deliver it for us. If we can get everything put together in time, do you think you can fix something for tonight’s supper?”

  “I’m sure I can. I used to put something on the table in just an hour when my mama was out in the field. I was best at putting together a soup when it seemed like there was nothing in the house to eat. Even my father didn’t complain about that.”

  “That’s good to know, because if this harebrained idea you and Hank cooked up about givin’ the food away doesn’t work, we may have to resort to stone soup.”

  FIVE

  It’s too bad Charley already hired Lucy. That would’ve been a great job for you,” Drew said as he and Jana left the Western Union office.

  “Maybe it’s for the best. Did you hear him say she was only going to work a couple of days a week? I really need more than that.”

  Drew smiled at Jana. Somehow this smile, no more than a friendly smile, connected as it was to the confident, almost possessive way he had held her arm, caused her pulse to race.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find something for you to do.” Drew unconsciously took her hand in his, then immediately dropped it. “Oh! I’m sorry.”

  Jana didn’t respond. The feel of his hand felt intimate, if only for a moment. She thought that it might have been the first time any man had taken her hand in his, other than in a handshake. In college, she had been determined to get a degree as quickly as the school would allow it, so all her time was spent in study. Her responsibilities had always come first, so she had never taken the time to be interested in a man.

  “You said you had an idea of where to start looking?” Jana asked so as to break the disquieting connection she was feeling toward this man

  “Yes, I do. How about working in a shop? Would you be willing to do something like that?”

  “Oh, I don’t . . .” Jana started, thinking of the butcher shop where she had worked in Chicago. But no shop in Bismarck could be as bad as that place. “I don’t know why not.”

  “Then I know just the place. I’ve done some work for Walter Watson, and he’s an honest man. He might be a little peculiar though.” Drew again flashed a broad smile.

  The two walked down Main Street, with Drew speaking to almost everyone they met, until they reached a brick building with a large green sign, upon which, painted in gold, was the name of the establishment: W. B. WATSON, LADIES’ EMPORIUM.

  The building had a rather large, three-sided bay window in front that projected out onto the boardwalk. A platform was built to elevate a dress form that was draped in a beautiful green silk dress.

  “Oh, my.” Jana stopped for a moment to look through the window. “I’ve never seen a dress like that. It’s so beautiful.”

  “It is pretty. Let’s go see what Mr. Watson has to say.” As Drew opened the door for Jana, a small bell dinged to announce their entry.

  “I’ll be right with you,” a man’s voice called out.

  “That’s all right, Walt, we’ll come to you,” Drew replied.

  In all her life, Jana had never seen so many ready-made women’s clothes in one place. Highland had fewer than two thousand people in the whole area, and the one store that handled ready-made clothing never had more than a dozen dresses at any time. Everyone usually stitched her own.

  When Drew and Jana found Walter Watson, he was bent over a counter writing something.

  “Hello, Drew.”

  “What are you doing, adding up all your money?” Drew teased.

  “No, I’m trying to come up with an advertisement to run in tomorrow’s paper. You see all this merchandise?” Walt swept his hand in an arc. “You can barely walk now, and the missus keeps ordering more and more stuff. She says I’ll sell it by Christmas, but nobody can find anything in this place.”

  “Well, I’ve got the answer for you,” Drew said.

  “Unless you want to be a hawker on the street corner, I don’t know what that answer would be.”

  “Miss Hartmann, meet Walter Watson. This young lady, who has just arrived from the East, has the answer.”

  “And what would that be, madam?”

  Jana was speechless. She had no idea what Drew had in mind.

  “Ah, Mr. Watson,” Drew said, holding up his hand, “at the present time, my client isn’t at liberty to tell you, but I can assure you that your stock will be greatly reduced by Christmas if you’ll consent to hire her.”

  “Oh, Drew, I don’t know. I’m spending all my money on inventory. I’m afraid
I can’t afford a salesgirl.”

  “It’s your loss, Walt. Come on, Jana,” Drew said, taking Jana’s arm and turning toward the door. “Let’s go down to Sig Hanauer’s establishment. I thought Mr. Watson would be more receptive to your talents, but perhaps he is not.”

  “Wait just a minute. What are you telling me she can do?”

  “First, will you hire the young woman?”

  Walter expelled a long sigh. “I’ll hire her.”

  “How much will you pay?”

  “Not much, I’m afraid. Would you take ten dollars a week?”

  “Walter! That’s an insult,” Drew said. “She needs at least twenty dollars a week and a percentage of whatever she sells, say two percent.”

  “All right, all right, but it’s only till Christmas.”

  “You won’t be sorry. She’ll start tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Watson. I appreciate the opportunity to work with such beautiful clothing.”

  “Humph. Twenty dollars a week. We’ll see what you can do.”

  “Good day, Walter.” Drew took Jana by the arm and escorted her out of the store.

  “Whew,” Jana exclaimed when they got outside. “I’ll bet you’re a very persuasive lawyer. I feel sorry for poor Mr. Watson.”

  “Why? He needs to clear that store out. He’s got so much stuff in there, no one can find anything.”

  “But twenty dollars a week. That’s twice the amount I made teaching school!”

  “Welcome to the frontier, my friend. We’re used to paying higher prices for everything.”

  Jana’s arm was still snugly hooked over Drew’s, and she didn’t try to withdraw it as they walked along together.

  “Mr. Malone, I can’t thank you enough. I couldn’t have gotten a job today without you.”

  “Mr. Malone, is it? Didn’t you hear? You’re my client.” Drew flashed another devastating smile. “Please, from now on when I see you, call me Drew. Now, may I walk you to your abode?”

  “That’s not necessary. I’m just around the corner at the hotel.”

  “At the Sheridan House?”

  “No, at the Custer.”

  The expression on Drew’s face changed suddenly, as he dropped her arm. “Where are you staying?”