In Town…
Theresa walked around the back of the store and across the yard to the house. Stepping inside she called out, "Aunt Lucy, I'm back. Are you ready to take me on a tour of the town?"
Lucy had just finished putting the last of the washing on the line and had only returned into the house a few moments ago. "Let me just get changed, Theresa, I will only take a few minutes."
"OK, Aunt Lucy. Oh by the way, Uncle Sam said to thank you for the sandwiches," Theresa called out as her Aunt hurried off to her bedroom to get changed.
5 minutes later, Lucy was ready to go. "Did you wash up, Theresa?"
"Yes ma'am, whilst you were changing. Is what I'm wearing ok to walk around town?" Theresa asked.
Lucy, looked at the young girl closely, "Yes, you'll do," and she winked.
Lucy fixed a bonnet to her head and then grabbed her basket, linking her arm through her niece's arm she said, "OK, let's go."
The two women left the house and walked around the store, "Left or right, Theresa? You can choose," said Lucy.
"Don't you have errands to run, Aunt Lucy? " asked Theresa.
"Yes I do, but we can go in either direction first as I have different errands to run in town. So are we going right or left?"
"Left, I think," replied Theresa.
Turning left they made their way along the boardwalk. Theresa asked many questions as the two women passed the various establishments on the same side of the road and Lucy answered them as best she could, explaining who owned each one and a little about their families if they had them.
It wasn't long before they were standing outside of the tailors. "I need to go in here, Theresa," said Lucy and she opened the door.
The tailor was actually a tailoress called Mrs Marchant. Mrs Marchant was a grey haired lady in her fifties who had lost her husband two years prior from Yellow Fever. They had been on vacation, visiting family in San Francisco when her husband had succumbed and he had died in the hospital there suddenly. Both of the Marchant's had been tailors and Mrs Marchant had decided that instead of remaining in San Francisco with her family she felt that she should continue to run the small but profitable store in Virginia City. Her family had thought that she was mad to do so, being a woman now all alone, but Emily had made a great many friends in the town and they would look after her. She had not regretted her decision and now ran a small evening sewing circle on Wednesday evenings in her home which was locate in the town.
"Good afternoon Mrs Marchant, " said Lucy.
"Lucy! It is good to see you, what can I do for you this fine afternoon. And who is this fetching young lady you have with you today?" replied Emily Marchant.
"This is my niece Theresa, Emily." Said Lucy gesturing to Theresa. "Theresa, this is Emily Marchant. Emily runs a sewing circle I attend on a Wednesday night."
Theresa stepped forwards and held out her hand, "I'm please to meet you ma'am."
Emily accepted the young ladies' hand and gently shook it, "As am I young lady. So you are staying with your aunt are you? Would you consider attending our sewing circle? You do not have to of course but you would be most welcome. There are women of various ages attending and one or two of my attendees brings their daughters on occasion. If you started to attend I am sure that the others would attend more regularly."
"Uhm,… I don't know ma'am I'm not very good at sewing," replied Theresa.
"Oh that's OK, we can teach you, if you wanted to learn that is."
"Oh yes ma'am I'd like to learn how to make my own clothes if I could, I just didn't want to give you the wrong impression. I'd hate for you to waste your time on a dead loss," said Theresa shyly as she looked at her feet.
Emily laughed, "My dear, when I met my husband I couldn't sew a stitch. He taught me everything I know and so I am sure that I can teach you. If you are free, you come with your Aunt and I just bet we can get you creating something nice in a few short weeks."
"Really?" asked Theresa looking at the older lady and smiling.
"Yes really my dear."
"In that case, I'd like to come along, that is if it's ok with my Aunt Lucy and Uncle Sam," said Theresa looking at her Aunt for permission.
"It's OK with me, Theresa; it will be nice for us to do something together. We can then work on a project between times if you'd like." Said Lucy.
"Looks like it's settled then, both of you will come along to our next sewing circle." Said Emily clapping her hands in glee.
"Now that's settled Lucy, what did you come in to the shop for?" Emily asked.
"Well Emily, it is Sam's birthday in two weeks and I was hoping that you would make him a new waistcoat. I would make it but I am still having trouble with getting the arms holes in line, based on that last pattern you gave us. Would you please make Sam a black waistcoat with a silk lining? I have brought the measurement for you." Asked Lucy.
"Yes of course Lucy, would you like to choose the outer clothing, I have several bolts in the back of different materials."
"Thank you Emily. Yes, if you could show me the materials, I would like to choose from them."
Emily disappeared into the back and returned a few minutes later with 3 bolts of black material. The bolts were heavy but the tailoress was used to carrying them and did so easily.
Lucy chose a charcoal black thick woollen cloth that would she hoped look good and be practical for Sam. Sam always liked to wear a waistcoat in the winter and summer when he was working in the store and Lucy wanted him to be comfortable.
Decisions made Lucy and Theresa excused themselves from the store and continued on their tour of the town.
Reaching the end of the boardwalk on this side of the street, Lucy told Theresa that she needed to cross the street as she wanted to visit the livery to see the cobbler who has setup there. Checking the wide street carefully the two women crossed to the other side and walking on the boardwalk they made their way to the livery.
Sitting outside the livery, on a wooden bench was Henry Daniel Weeks, the saddler / cobbler. Henry had started out trading as a saddler, furnishing saddles and bridles and such, but often found himself being asked to repair leather boots and shoes, so he had agreed to branch out.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Weeks," said Lucy.
"Good afternoon to you, Mrs. Carter. I take it you've come to collect Samuel's boots. I've finished them, the left one also needed a repair to the sole which I've also completed," replied Henry.
"Oh, I didn't know Sam had damaged the sole as well Mr. Weeks, I hope that it did not take you too much longer and affect your other business," Lucy said as she looked at the old man.
"It was no problem to repair Mrs. Carter, I just needed to fashion a thinker piece of leather to replace the whole sole as I was unable to patch it. There is a small extra cost I'm afraid but it is only a dollar more than I previously agreed. I hope that this is acceptable, ma'am."
"Yes, Mr. Weeks that is perfectly reasonable, thank you for spotting the damage and replacing the sole at the same time as repairing the heel. Samuel always seems to wear the left boot or shoe out quicker than the right," Lucy laughed.
Henry laughed as well, whilst he disappeared into the livery to his little store room, returning a few moments later with the boots. Handing them over to Lucy, he suddenly realised that she was accompanied by a much younger lady, who had been hiding behind her aunt. "Well now, Mrs Carter, it seems that you have come to see me with a guest. And a very pretty young lady she is too."
"Yes, Mr. Weeks. This is my niece, Theresa."
"Good afternoon, Miss Theresa," said Henry smiling.
"Good afternoon, sir, " Theresa said smiling polity back at the old man.
"Well Mrs. Carter, she's not only a pretty young thing, it seems that she is also very polite too, not something you see as much as you used to around town. More and more I see youngsters running around being sassy." He turned to Theresa, "I just bet that you already have your fair share of admirers around here?" and he winked.
Theresa blushed, "I've only been in town a week sir, this is actually my first real walk around town. "
"Is that so? Well let me tell you, Theresa, you are a very pretty and polite young lady and the cowboys around here will certain to take notice of you. You just remember to be careful around them and obey your aunt and uncles rules to keep you safe."
"Yes sir, thank you for the advice, I like to," Theresa said.
Lucy smiled at the older man knowing that Henry had given advice to practically everyone in town about something or other so she was not offended.
Lucy accepted the repaired boots and placed them in her basket before paying the agreed 3 dollars for the repaired boots. "Thank you once again Mr. Weeks. If you will excuse myself and Theresa we must be getting on as I have other errands to run."
"Yes of course, Mrs Carter. Any problems with the boots please come back. It was good to meet you, Theresa, please come back and see me again sometime," replied Henry.
"I will sir," Theresa smiled as she turned to her aunt and offered to carry the basket.
Lucy accepted the offer and saying her goodbyes to Henry before the two women walked off down the street.