She smiled. “How do you do, Lily? I’m Charlotte. You here looking for material too?”
Lily shook her head. “No. Usually I look through the calico there, but Jesse said he would buy me a readymade dress. To be honest, I want to look fancy, like you.”
Charlotte lifted her head and fanned her neck. Perspiration dotted her forehead. “I have to say, being fancy sure is uncomfortable here. I could help you look for a nice dress, though, if you want. I’d like to live vicariously through you.”
Lily didn’t bother asking the book-learned woman what she meant by vicariously, fearing she’d sound ignorant. “I’d love it if you helped me.”
“All right,” Charlotte said, smiling. “Maybe we can help each other. You can show me which material is best for summer.”
Lily nodded, and they walked to the rack. “I like red dresses. What do you think of this one?” Lily showed Charlotte the dress in question. It was made of shimmering silk, like Charlotte’s skirt. The material that covered the shoulders and arms was black netting.
“My,” Charlotte said, continuing to flap the fan in front of her face. “That’s quite the dress. It’s pretty, but to be honest, it looks like something a lady of the line would wear.”
Lily grinned. “Well, I am being courted by a saloon owner. I think he might find me fetching in it.”
“Without a doubt,” Charlotte agreed. She observed Lily for a moment, and then added, “Although I have a feeling he likes the wholesome look. You look as wholesome as a newborn calf, my dear.”
Lily snorted. “Yes, wholesome would be one word for it. And he’d be just as happy if I wore a burlap sack every day. He said as much yesterday when he told me I looked pretty with pig slop stains on my apron and mud caked on my skirt.”
Charlotte laughed. “That’s kind of romantic and sweet, actually. I suppose what’s important is that you pick out something that you like. If you like the red dress, I say you should get it. Come to think of it, I have a hat that would match it. It’s black with red ribbon and a brilliant red and white plume. I could give to you. I don’t wear it anymore.”
“Oh, I couldn’t accept that,” Lily protested.
“I insist,” she replied. “Besides, you’re going to earn it helping me find the right material for a practical dress. I don’t know where to begin.”
Lily felt happy to help her new friend, who was as nice as she was beautiful. Charlotte decided on a light blue calico material with paisley print. “I’m so glad to have met you, Lily. You’ll come by my house soon and pick up the hat, won’t you? I’ll brew us some tea and we’ll have a long yammer.”
“That sounds real nice, Charlotte,” Lily said, beaming. She walked to the counter and asked Marta to package her new red dress. Marta enclosed it in brown paper and wrapped it with twine.
“Don’t you want to show Jesse what you chose before getting it wrapped up?” Charlotte asked.
Lily grinned and shook her head. “I thought it might be fun to surprise him. I want to get all slicked up in my new dress and then have him try to find me out of all the ladies at the barn dance. With your hat, it’ll be even more difficult for him.”
Charlotte laughed. “Jesse’s going to have his hands full with you, isn’t he?”
Lily joined her in laughing. “Yeah, I reckon so.”
The bell on the door jangled and Charlotte’s husband strode in, removing his Stetson as he did.
Charlotte continued speaking to Lily. “That’s good. It’s best to keep the menfolk on their toes. Otherwise they get lazy and terribly dull, not to mention—Oh! Hi, Max,” she said, pretending like she’d just seen him. She flashed an innocent smile at him.
“Very funny, Charlie.” His tone was serious, but his eyes twinkled. “You about done, or should I come back?”
“I just need a few more minutes.” She glided to the display of ribbons.
Max rolled his eyes behind her. “Is that a few more minutes real time or a few more minutes Charlotte time?”
Lily giggled, and Max looked over and winked at her.
Charlotte turned and glared at him. “The definition of a few minutes is anywhere from three minutes to ten, not, as you seem to think, thirty seconds.”
Max groaned. “I’ll be back.” He clapped his hat back on his head and walked out the door.
Jesse arrived a short time later and repeated the same question to Lily regarding whether she was finished. She said she was and bade Charlotte goodbye. When Jesse and Lily walked outside, Lily told him that she wanted to surprise him and not show him the dress until the barn dance.
Jesse adjusted the parcel in his arm. He seemed distracted when he answered, “Sure honey, that sounds fine.”
They walked in the direction of the farm. Lily glanced over to find him frowning. She laced her fingers through his. “Are you all right, Jesse? You look worried about something.”
He squeezed her hand in a reassuring way. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”