Pearl's Will Read online

  CONTENTS

  Untitled

  Untitled copy

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Description

  My Locket

  Author Notes

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  ~o0o0o~

  Books By Sophie Dawson

 

 

  Pearl’s Will

  Lockets & Lace

  Book 9

  Sophie Dawson

  Copyright © 2018 Sophie Dawson

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-63376-031-8

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to

  the hard-working authors of the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog who provide the world with sweet/clean historical romances about North Americans between 1820 and 1929.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book is part of a multi-author series sponsored by the authors who write for the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog. My appreciation and thanks go to the other authors who helped develop the Lockets & Lace series of books.

  I offer my appreciation to Carpe Librum Book Covers for the cover design for my novel.

  I thank Zina Abbott for allowing me to be part of this series.

  DISCLAIMER

  All the characters described in this story are fictional. They are not based on any real persons, past or present. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, is coincidental and unintended.

  DESCRIPTION

  Will Miller doesn’t know what to think when the lovely young woman faints in his jewelry and watch repair shop--except he wants to help her any way he can.

  Widow Pearl Ward, struggling to survive, needs to sell the watch-locket given to her on her eighteenth birthday.

  When he learns she’s expecting, he proposes.

  Will Pearl’s feelings for her late husband stand between them? Can they build a life together with his mother dead set against them?

  MY LOCKET

  When I was asked to participate in the Lockets and Lace series I knew I had to do it. First, the Bavarian Jewelry and Watch Shop is set in St. Joseph, Missouri. I was born in St. Joe and my father’s family lived there. We moved when I was two but it’s still the place where I was born.

  Second, is the locket. My grandmother was given a watch-locket pin on her eighteenth birthday by her parents. Engraved on the back cover is To Pearl Henry, Love Papa and Mama Sept. 9, 1906. I have that locket. I have had it modified to be a necklace rather than a pin to work with modern clothing and I wear it on special occasions. It still works and is a wonderful way to remember a woman I loved very much.

  AUTHOR NOTES

  The Edwardian era which ended in 1910 was a new timeframe for me so I did quite a lot of research. I was surprised with what I found out. You’ll find products in the story you never knew were this old. I’m not going to share them here. Just know that all references to them are correct for 1910. One thing I will note is that at the time Ford Model-T automobiles did come in colors other than black. It wasn’t until 1914 when Henry Ford was developing the assembly line to make automobiles available to the genera public that they changed to all black. This was not because he didn’t like other colors, but it was cheaper to make them all one color.

  CHAPTER ONE

  St. Joseph, Missouri

  April 1910

  Pearl Ward looked up at the cloud covered sky as she hurried along the street. She dearly hoped it wouldn’t begin to rain as she hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella along. Hunger made thinking difficult and to plan ahead. If her errand was successful she’d be able to purchase food for the upcoming days.

  She looked down at the object clutched in her hand, her heart breaking at the thought of selling the watch-locket she’d received from her parents on her eighteenth birthday. It would be four years ago in a few months. September. It was late April now. So much had happened since that lovely day. So much happiness and joy, tragedy and sorrow.

  Pearl glanced at the street as the electric trolley went by. It would have made the trip to the Bavarian Jewelry and Watch Repair Shop much easier, but since there was no money for food there certainly weren’t coins for the trolley. Her empty belly cramped as she turned the corner. Just another block. The shop was on the corner.

  “Please, Lord, let them buy my locket. I don’t know what I’ll do if they don’t. Thank you for your provision of the job at the mercantile. I just need to be able to get through this next week until I’m paid. Just until next Friday. Please, please, Lord,” Pearl mumbled her prayer as she dodged the others going about their business on the Saturday morning.

  Stopping outside the shop, Pearl opened the watch side of the locket. Yes, it was running. She’d wound it last night before she climbed into her lonely bed.

  Closing the cover, being careful not to crush the thin crystal, she opened the back to read the inscription one last time. Tears glistened and nearly slipped down her cheeks, but Pearl blinked them away. There was no help for it. She had to sell the watch or she’d starve. Lifting her head in an effort to feel more confident and brave, Pearl went to the door, opened it, and walked inside, stopping just past the entrance.

  The shop was well lit with electric lights and by the windows that flanked the door she had just entered which cut across the corner of the building. On both windows was painted the name of the shop. Though it wasn’t turning there was a ceiling fan that would provide circulation in the summer. Several oak framed glass cases displayed watches and jewelry. To the rear of the shop behind a counter with more cases on both ends there was a large workbench. Shelves and cubbies rose above the bench giving space for tools and the parts used to repair watches and create custom jewelry. Pressed tin decorated the ceiling.

  “Good morning. How may I help you?”

  Pearl quit her perusal of the shop’s interior and took in the young man who’d risen from the workbench and come to the counter. He was lean and just slightly above average height. Wavy blonde hair, just long enough to fall over his forehead brought out the silver within the blue eyes. A dark blue bibbed apron covered his white shirt and there were black garters on his upper arms holding back his sleeves.

  Pearl took a couple of steps further into the shop. “Um, yes, I hope so.” Now that it was finally time to offer her locket, Pearl found it was much more difficult than she’d anticipated. The watch-locket represented so many aspects of her life that she’d lost. To have to sell it tore a hole in her heart and ripped the scabs off the hurts and pain she’d gone through so recently.

  Steeling herself, Pearl walked up to the counter where the man was patiently waiting. “I…” Pearl cleared her throat of the lump lodged there. “I’m wanting to sell my watch-locket. I was told you will purchase jewelry and watches.”

  “We do at times.” When she didn’t offer the piece, the man said, “May I see what you’ve brought?”

  “Oh, yes.” Pearl set the locket into his outstretched hand.

  The jeweler stepped back to the workbench, picked up his jeweler’s loop, and began inspecting the watch-locket. Pearl stepped over to a case that flanked the counter. Seeing what was displayed, she laid her hand, fingers spread wide, on the glass.

  Inside were sever
al pieces of handmade lace. There were collars and lace edged-handkerchiefs. Pearl leaned down and studied them. When she saw the prices listed on the tags, she closed her hand into a fist. Her lace was of higher quality than these. She glanced at the jeweler. Would he be interested in her lace? Would he consider selling hers as he did these? If he would, maybe she wouldn’t have to sell the locket.

  ~~~~~

  Will Miller opened the back of the locket and sighed. The engraving lessened the value. The piece was high quality. The cover over the watch was decorated with a five lobed clover design surrounded by scrolling. In the clover was a thin-pointed star with a small diamond in the center. The back cover repeated the design without the stone. Inside the back cover where a photograph could be placed was an engraving. ‘To Pearl Henry, From Papa and Mama, Sept. 9, 1906.”

  Will glanced at the woman who was looking intently into the lace display. She was quite thin, honey blonde hair peeked out from under her wide-brimmed hat. She was wearing the simple clothing of a working woman. Navy skirt with a matching double-breasted long jacket, white blouse with a crocheted lace collar that spread beautifully over the blue. What he could see of her face showed a slim nose, unlike his fairly broad one. He’d have to see what color her eyes were. She lifted her hand and touched the glass of the case. A lace glove encased her slim fingers.

  Will looked back at the watch-locket. It was suspended from a gold bow-shaped pin. It would look lovely on the bodice of her jacket. He wondered why she was wanting to sell it. The quality of her clothing wasn’t high-society, but it was well tailored and didn’t look worn.

  Standing, Will moved back to the counter. She came over, waiting with a hopeful expression on her face. Her eyes were a deep green, nearly the color of pine needles. Framed with long lashes, they spoke of sadness, despair, loneliness, and desperation.

  Even though Will knew what the true value of the watch-locket was, something told him to offer more. He wouldn’t tell his father he paid more for it. He’d pay for it up with his own money.

  “Miss? Are you sure you want to sell this? It must have great sentimental value to you.”

  She looked down a moment, then lifted her eyes again. They glittered with moisture. “Yes, but, if it’s possible, and I’ll understand if you can’t do it, would there be any chance I could purchase it back in the future?”

  She must have fallen on extremely hard times. It firmed his intention to help her. It wasn’t because she was lovely, Will assured himself. Well, maybe it was a little. He hoped that wasn’t his main motivation. His Christian ethic called for being a Good Samaritan for others.

  Will set the watch on the counter and named the amount he would pay her for the locket. She lifted a trembling hand to her lips. “I’ll hold it back from display so you can redeem it. At least, I can for several months. Would that work for you?”

  “Thank you. You’re most generous. I’ll try to redeem it as soon as I can.”

  Will picked up the locket and placed it on the workbench. Rather than pay her from the cash register, he opened his personal cash drawer and counted out the bills. He put the locket into the drawer, near the back.

  As he turned around to go back to the counter, he saw the woman lay one hand on the counter. The other she raised to her forehead. Then, she collapsed to the floor.

  Will ran to the back stairs, opened the door, and yelled for his sister. “Lillian, I need your help.” Hoping she heard him, Will ran to the woman now lying in a crumpled heap.

  “Miss? Miss?” He patted her cheek. She didn’t respond. Relief flooded through him as he heard his sister running down the stairs.

  “Will, where are you? What’s happened?”

  “Out here. This woman fainted. She was standing by the counter and just went down.”

  “Well, we can’t help her here. Pick her up and carry her upstairs. You can put her on the davenport.”

  Will did as instructed, noting how thin and light his burden was. Once she was on the davenport, Lillian pulled the pins from her hat, placing them, and it, on the end table. Then, she took off the gloves.

  “You unbutton her shoes and take them off. My hook is on my dressing table. Get it.” She moved to the woman’s side and began unbuttoning the jacket. “Who is she?”

  “I don’t know,” Will said as he went to fetch the hook. When he came back he said, “She came in wanting to sell her watch-locket.” He didn’t mention he’d bought it. He unbuttoned and removed her shoes.

  The woman turned her head from side to side and gave a small moan.

  “Miss, Miss,” Lillian said, patting the hand she was holding.

  The eyes Will had noted were so green opened. The woman jerked.

  “What? What happened?” She looked from Lillian to Will and back.

  “You fainted. Will carried you up here. Do you know why?” Lillian asked.

  The woman raised a hand to her forehead. “It may be because I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. I only had a slice of bread then.”

  “Oh my. Will, get a glass of milk. That will be a good start. I’m Lillian Miller. He’s my brother, Will. You’re in our flat above the shop. Who are you?”

  “Pearl Ward.”

  “Why haven’t you eaten?”

  “No money to buy food. Not until I get paid on Friday.”

  “Oh, honey. That’s why you fainted.” Lillian gently touched Miss Ward’s face.

  Will came back with the glass of milk and a plate with buttered bread. He set them on the coffee table. “Do you think you can sit up?”

  “I think so.”

  When she was upright, Will gave her the milk. She took a long drink. “Thank you. You are most generous.”

  “It’s nothing.” Will passed her the plate. “Eat this.”

  “It is when you don’t have any food or any way to purchase it.”

  Will nodded.

  All three were quiet while she ate the bread and finished the glass of milk. Will was at a loss as to what to do or say. He looked at Lillian, hoping she knew. As usual, she came through for him.

  “Miss Ward. Will you let me fix you some breakfast? I can fry up some bacon and eggs real quick-like. I don’t want you leaving here without filling your stomach.”

  Indecision flashed across the pale face. “I hate to put you out. I’m beholden to you as it is.”

  “I believe it’s Mrs. Ward, Lillian,” Will said, looking at the young woman. “I read the engraving on your locket. Your maiden name was Henry, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  Lillian glanced between them. “Why isn’t your husband making sure you eat?”

  “He passed away twelve days ago after several weeks of illness. He hadn’t worked all that time so there was no money coming in. Doctor bills and then the funeral and cemetery plot took what little savings we had. I had to pawn my wedding ring to pay next month’s rent.”

  “Oh, you poor thing. How sad.” Lillian put a comforting arm around Mrs. Ward.

  “I got a job at Townsend & Wyatt Dry Goods as a sales clerk. They only pay every two weeks. I have until next Friday before I get my first pay.”

  “And you ran out of food.” Lillian stood. “I’m going to fix you that breakfast. I won’t take any argument.”

  Will chuckled. “You sound just like Mother.”

  “Well, sometimes she’s right.” Lillian went to the kitchen.

  Will and Mrs. Ward looked at each other, neither knowing what to say. She bit her lip. It brought color to the pale skin.

  “Mr. Miller. Um, I saw the beautiful lace you had for sale. I was wondering, um, if you take lace on consignment?”

  Will looked at her, then picked up one of the gloves lying on the table. “Did you make these?”

  “Yes, my collar, too. It’s Irish crochet lace. I have several other pieces I could bring to show you. That is, if you are interested.”

  “Will, where are you? Why aren’t you in the shop? The door’s unlocked. Do you want everything stolen
?”

  Will glanced at the stairs. “That’s Mother.” He rose, crossed the room, and said, “I’m sorry. We had a crisis and I forgot to go lock the shop.”

  He stepped back when his mother reached the top of the stairs so she could enter the room.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Pearl looked on as Mr. Miller greeted his mother. She could tell where he got his blonde hair. Mrs. Miller had placed her stamp on Lillian too. The blonde hair, blue eyes, strong chin and determined air was shared by both.

  “What’s crisis enough that you left the shop untended?”

  “Mrs. Ward fainted. We brought her up here to recover,” Mr. Miller said.

  Mrs. Miller came over and looked down at Pearl. “Why’d she faint?”

  “Mrs. Ward has fallen on bad times. She hasn’t eaten in over a day.”

  Pearl was relieved to see some sympathy come into the older woman’s eyes.

  “Lillian’s making her breakfast.”

  “That’s good.” Mrs. Miller sat in a sewing chair opposite Pearl. “I’m Mrs. Luella Miller. What’s happened to bring you such troubles?”

  Before Pearl could answer, Will related what she’d told him and his sister. She noticed he didn’t mention the locket and wondered why. He emphasized how she had taken a job so soon after her husband’s death and that she’d pawned her ring to pay the rent. When he told of the Irish lace, Mrs. Miller’s eyes went to Pearl’s collar then she picked up the gloves.