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you.”
    â€œOne thing you should know about me, sir, is I keep my word. We have a bargain. Now, where would you like me to start?”
    â€œDon’t much matter, I reckon. Just know that I expect a full day’s work from you. No lollygagging around. You won’t find this an easy job, Miss…”
    â€œDandridge. Delta Dandridge.” No, she was under no pretense that it would be a picnic working for the man. She already feared he could be a hard taskmaster. But as long as he paid her the wages due, she could ignore his sour disposition. Having lost her mother, first to despair, then to death, she knew the power grief had on a person. She would show Abercrombie nothing but kindness.
    The man’s frown deepened. “That’s a rather odd name.”
    â€œI suppose, sir. If you have no objections, then I’ll start by cleaning the window.” Then maybe she could get a better idea of what she was dealing with. She didn’t work well in the dark.
    Getting a bucket of soapy water and a rag, she set to work. It took repeated washings, inside and out, to remove the thick layers of grime. Having a clean window made all the difference in the world. Bright, glorious sunlight streamed in. It was then she saw exactly how much work lay ahead of her.
    Delta had just put the cleaning supplies away when the first customer walked in, a good two hours since Abercrombie had opened the store. His business was not brisk, to say the least. But she meant to change all that.
    The elderly woman hobbled in on a rickety cane. A large goiter hung from her throat. “Praise the Lord, I can see where I’m walking,” she exclaimed. “The last time I was in here, I fell and came near to breaking my leg.”
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that, ma’am. May I help you?” Delta put on a bright, welcoming smile.
    The patron dragged her attention from the clean window. She appeared dumbstruck at Delta standing there. “Oh, do you work here?”
    â€œI do indeed. I just started this morning.”
    â€œNever thought John would hire anyone. A government mule doesn’t have anything on that man. Never saw a more god-awful stubborn cuss.” The woman leaned closer to Delta and whispered, “Don’t let him run you off. He just forgot how to smile.”
    The old lady spoke the truth on all counts.
    â€œWhat can I assist you with, ma’am?”
    But the woman was in no hurry. She took a pair of spectacles from her pocket and put them on. Her eyes looked huge through the thick lenses. She gave Delta a long stare. “You’re a right pretty little thing. I ’spect you’ll have all the single men in this town ogling you. All except Cooper Thorne and his brothers. Don’t hold your breath there. They’ve got this crazy fool notion that they’re happy being bachelors.”
    The old lady appeared to know the way they sat in their saddle, Delta thought wryly, recalling her almost-groom’s firm avowal to never marry.
    â€œCooper and his brothers formed the Battle Creek Bachelors’ Club, you know,” the woman expounded.
    A club? Of all the silly notions. Did they truly need to band together to keep some female from slipping a rope around one of them and dragging him kicking and screaming to the altar? Their efforts to cling to independence seemed a bit desperate.
    Bachelors’ club, indeed!
    The woman leaned close and peered up into Delta’s face as if she’d just noticed her. “I don’t think I’ve met you. You’re new here, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes, ma’am. I’m Delta Dandridge.”
    â€œPretty name. I’m Granny Ketchum, but everyone just calls me Granny. What brings you to Battle Creek, dear?”
    Heat inched up Delta’s neck. She wondered what would happen if word got out that she was a mail-order bride and the intended groom had spurned her before she even stepped off the stage.