The Blacksmith’s Bravery by Susan Page Davis

trail gets narrow up ahead. You go ahead of me.”
    Justin looked ahead and then back to him. “What if there’s outlaws in those rocks?”
    Griffin patted his sidearm. Since he’d ridden to Boise on the stage, he hadn’t packed a long gun, but he had worn his pistol. He’d had the same thought as Justin, but he wasn’t about to tell the boy that.
    â€œReckon there won’t be. If there are, I’ve got my Colt, and it won’t be much longer until the stage comes along behind us.”
    Justin hesitated, his eyes squinted into slits. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and turned forward. “Come on, mule. Get up!”
    Griffin smiled. That was progress.

    Vashti entered the emporium, carefully holding her basket level. In it,she carried four of Augie Moore’s famous cinnamon buns wrapped in clean napkins—two for Griffin and two for his nephew. They’d be hungry when they got off the stagecoach from Boise. She intended to wait at the office and greet them when the stage came in, but first she had business to tend to with Libby Adams.
    â€œGood afternoon, Vashti,” Libby called from the hardware section of the store. “Don’t you look pretty!”
    â€œThank you, ma’am.” Vashti had taken special care in her grooming after she and Bill brought the stage in from Silver City late that morning. She’d bathed and arranged her hair in feminine waves about her face. Then she’d put on her most conservative dress. Even so, when she’d mentally compared her image in the gilt-framed mirror to the way Libby and some of her other friends looked, she knew she’d still missed the bull’s-eye when it came to dressing like a lady. The hem of her dress was too short, the fabric too gaudy, and the neck too low—though she’d basted a row of lace along the edge.
    â€œI wondered if I could have a moment of your time.” Vashti looked about the dim interior of the store. A couple of women shopped among the groceries; Mrs. Walker was engrossed in yard goods, assisted by Florence Nash; and it appeared that Goldie and Libby were sorting out nails and bolts.
    â€œOf course.” Libby touched Goldie’s shoulder. “Just keep counting each size, dear, and write the totals down as we’ve been doing.” She smiled and walked toward Vashti. Even her workaday outfit was a soft blue dress with black braid and buttons—a gown any lady could wear proudly to church or on a stroll about town. “How may I help you?”
    â€œI didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”
    â€œThink nothing of it. Goldie and I are taking inventory. I’m selling the emporium to the Hamiltons—that couple who came in on the stage the other day. We’re counting all the merchandise so we can give them a list of what they’re buying.” Libby pushed back a strand of her golden hair.
    â€œThat’s a big job.”
    â€œYes, but not too bad. I’ve kept good records. It shouldn’t take us more than a couple of days. They can’t move here immediately, but we’ve signed the paperwork. They’ll come back in the spring andtake over the store.” She smiled, and her teeth showed pearly white against her pink lips. Vashti was sure Libby wore discreet cosmetics—never enough to overpower her lovely features. Libby was the most beautiful woman she knew, and she hardly needed enhancements.
    Vashti gulped. “Well, ma’am, I wanted to settle up with you on the bill for the clothes you provided for me yesterday, and”—she looked down the aisle toward the yard goods—“well, I wondered if you could help me pick out a pattern for a regular dress.”
    â€œA regular… Oh, I see.” Libby smiled. “The one you have on is very becoming.”
    â€œThank you, but I know it’s too short, and the fabric isn’t at all suitable for… well, for most