Chapter 1 – First Kiss
"Isn't it the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen, Shanny?" Lizzie sighed with a smile as she stared into the large boutique window.
"Completely!" Shanda Dee sighed back.
The two friends stood outside of Miss Finny's Boutique Shop gazing at the window's display of colourful dresses just in time for spring. The proprietor, Finella Doyle, was good at keeping up with the latest fashions, well the latest that Virginia City had seen anyways. Miss Finny – as everyone called her – came to the city ten years ago to work in one of the local saloons. Her striking features, blond hair, and petite size had attracted much attention from several wealthy and influential men – in particular, Frederick Ryan.
Fred Ryan was one of Virginia City's well-to-do mine owners, and a shrewd one at that. He was a manipulative and stingy individual who prided himself on trampling over others for personal gain. Fred was a social hermit, always keeping to himself whenever he went out. That is until he walked into the Lucky Strike saloon one night and met Finny. Being thirty years his junior, Finny wasn't very keen on entertaining a cantankerous old man. That was the job, however, and unless she wanted to be living on the streets she needed to comply. To Finny's surprise Fred Ryan only wanted a bit of companionship, in the nonphysical sense. Whenever he came into the saloon he would ask for Finny and the two of them would grab a bottle of wine and find a dark, quiet corner or an empty room and just sit and talk for hours at a time. The saloon's owner didn't care what his girls did, so long as they got paid and he got his cut. Fred Ryan paid very well for his time with Finny, making him a welcomed and frequent customer to the dingy establishment.
When Frederick Ryan died suddenly a few years later from a heart attack people were shocked to discover he had left everything he owned to his favourite saloon girl. Finny was in disbelief herself when the lawyer delivered the news. All of a sudden she had the means to do whatever she wanted and what Finella Doyle wanted to do was sew. Finny was the best seamstress in Virginia City. Not only did she design and sew her own outfits but some of the other girls at the saloon as well. Besides being free to design what she wanted, Finny also wished to prove to some contemptuous town folk that she was a strong and independent woman who could stand on her own two feet by running a profitable business. So without wasting time Finny sold the mine, moved into Fred's house and set up shop in town.
"Good morning ladies," Finella said cheerfully, breaking the girls out of their dreamy states.
"Morning Miss Doyle," Lizzie greeted with a smile. "You sure have a pretty display set up this month."
"Why thank you Lizzie dear," she acknowledged then continued with a raised eyebrow. "Didn't I tell you before to call me Finny?"
"Yes ma'am you did, but I keep forgetting. It's not every day I get to call an adult by their first name. My folks would have a fit if they ever found out."
"Don't worry, it will be our little secret," Finny winked.
"Makes me feel more like a woman when I can call another woman by her first name," Shanda Dee maturely added.
Finny lightly giggled then composed herself. "You are women, young women who have plenty of smarts, if ya ask me."
"I wish everyone felt as you do, Finny," Lizzie grumbled.
"Ain't that the truth," agreed Shanda Dee.
"I gather your folks are having a hard time watching their girls grow up?" Finny enquired.
"Yes ma'am they sure are, Pa especially. Things between him and me haven't been the same since I snuck away to go to the spring social a couple years back," Lizzie explained.
"Pas tend to be mighty protective of their little girls when it comes to socializing with boys. Just give him some time, Lizzie, he'll come around soon."
"Well I hope it's before my birthday," Lizzie replied as she turned her attention back to the window display.
"Is there something that is catching your eye, Lizzie?" Finny asked.
"Yes ma'am, the lavender one with the sash," she answered with her hands plastered against the window.
"Lovely, isn't it?" Finny said.
The floor-length gown was constructed from a solid lavender coloured cotton material with a deep purple, satin sash that shimmered in the sunlight. The finely tailored bodice was topped with a large wrap around ruffle that fell softly off the mannequin's shoulders and revealing the model's collar bone area. A generous crinoline puffed out the full skirt which was trimmed with a tightly gathered ruffle that fell about a quarter of an inch from the floor.
"I would want the green one," Shanda Dee uttered quietly. "It would sure look great with my hair and bring out the green in my eyes."
"It would indeed," agreed Finny.
The dress Shanda Dee desired was made from kelly-green gingham with a matching green sash. It had ¾ inches puffed sleeves and a slight bustle out of the same material. The dress had a more modest neckline than the purple one and was a couple of inches shorter, but just as lovely.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The school bell rang out, summoning the girls to another day of learning. "Come on, Lizzie," Shanda Dee urged, "if we're late Miss Miller will make us stay after school to write lines. Pa'll have a fit if I'm not home early enough to do my chores."
Lizzie was reluctant to go. She wanted to fix the image of the dress in her mind before leaving. Noticing the girl's hesitation, Finny quickly chimed in. "Why don't you stop by after school, Lizzie, and I'll take your measurements just in case," she suggested with a wink.
"Oh, Miss Finny, that'd be wonderful!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"Lizzie, come on!" Shanda Dee hollered, already making her way towards the schoolhouse.
"Good, then I'll see you here shortly after three o'clock," smiled Finny. "Now get goin' before that high and mighty Clara Miller has a hissy fit."
Lizzie bolted off the wooden planked sidewalk and onto the street, racing to catch up to her friend. Finny laughed to herself as she watched the girls slip into the schoolhouse's front doors just as Clara Miller was about to close them. "How great would life be if one's only worry was whether or not you get a dress?" Finny muttered inaudibly. "How great indeed?"
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I know it's a bit short but I hope it plants the seed for more to come! Thanks sooooooo much for taking the time to read and leave a review!