Page 39 of Native Hawk
Catalina nodded.
“She’ll outshine us all,” Emily said.
“Did you figure that out yourself?” Anne asked. “The ribbons and whatnot?”
“Of course.”
Anne studied the dress. “Do you think you could do somethin’ like that with a few o’myold rags?”
Catalina shrugged. “It is possible.”
Emily looked longingly at the dress, reaching out to caress the ruffles in the front. “That’s real pretty. My frocks could use a freshenin’ up too. Would you have time to take a look at ’em? I’d pay you.”
It was on the tip of Catalina’s tongue to refuse her offer of payment. But then she reconsidered. She’d learned to her chagrin that the twenty dollars she’d earned last night was in fact only half hers. The other half belonged to Miss Hattie. Of course, it made perfect sense. Miss Hattie owned The Parlor, after all, and kept the ladies housed and fed. But it meant that earning enough for her sewing machine would take that much longer.
As for Anne and Emily, when Catalina’s business was thriving, she would make special dresses for them for free. But for now, she had to save every penny she could.
“Bring them in,” she said. “I will look at them.”
The three ladies spent half an hour poring over the dozen dresses between them. Catalina saw a lot of possibilities—ways to make the gowns more stylish, ways to make a more flattering fit, ways to add lace and bows here and there for interest. By the time Anne and Emily left to begin work, their eyes were shining with excitement. Catalina wished she could start on the dresses right away.
But there were other chores to do. She had to wash the dishes from dinner and sweep the floors.
Still, her mind was so full of ideas for making over her friends’ gowns that she completely forgot about Drew Hawk.
As she sidled past the ladies strutting on the balcony and started down the stairs, her breath caught at the sight of him, playing cards with three other men at one of the tables. His hair was glossy in the lamplight, and his sleeves were neatly rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms. He dealt the cards with practiced dexterity. And even though he had a casual look about him, as if he hadn’t a care in the world, she could see him studying the other players.
She continued down the stairs, and the motion made him glance up, twice. The second time, his face broke into a small smile of pleased recognition.
Her heart fluttered. She’d forgotten how appealing he was, with his twinkling eyes and his sly grin.
“Hawk!” one of the other men barked. “Your move.”
Drew turned his attention back to the game, and she tried to stop her racing heart. It was no use longing for what she couldn’t have. Drew Hawk was not a foolish man. He knew he’d wasted his money last night. He wouldn’t do it again. She just hoped, if he was seeking entertainment, he wouldn’t choose Anne or Emily. Or Amanda, who was too cruel. Or Mary, who was too pretty for her own good. Or Jenny, who was too young for him. Or…or any of them.
She sighed. What was wrong with her, she didn’t know. It wasn’t like she owned him. He was a free man. He could spend his money where he liked.
Besides, she had dishes to do.
