Wanted- Developer Read online

  Contents

  Title

  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

  Wanted:

  Developer

  Sophie Dawson

  © 2019 Sophie Dawson

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-63376-042-4

  ASIN: B07P6D3K2X

  No part of this publication maybe reproduced or distributed in print or electronic form without prior permission of the author. Please respect the hard work of the author and do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials.

  This is a work of fiction. The people, unless you recognize the name of a real historical person, are not real.

  ~~~~~

  When Silverpines burns, Denver knows his job just got bigger. Belle knows she is just what he needs.

  Denver Hughes, Silverpines new City Developer, arrived to see his plans for Silverpines just went up in smoke, literally. He is confident he is up to the task, but he might need a little bit of help. He never expected Belle Stewart.

  Widow and mother of two children, Belle Stewart’s day was supposed to be spent applying for a job. Instead she’s surveying what little is left of the downtown. The offhand remark of the new City Developer gives her an idea.

  Will hiring Belle as his assistant make his job easier or harder? Will the changes wrought by an unexpected fall add more complications to their lives? Can these two find love in the midst of rebuilding Silverpines?

  CHAPTER ONE

  DENVER HUGHES STRAIGHTENED HIS COAT before placing his hat on his head. The conductor had called his stop, Silverpines, Oregon, just a few minutes before. Denver expected to be met by the mayor and others of the city council. They knew when his train was to arrive.

  Concentrating on his opening remarks to those who would meet him, Denver wasn’t aware of the gasps, curses, and cries of those across the aisle until the train pulled to a stop. The river was on his side of the train, but all the passengers were crowded against the windows facing most of the town.

  He took his carpetbag and exited the car. A young woman was standing, waiting for the steps to be positioned so she could descend. “May I give you a hand?” he asked.

  “Thank you.” She placed her hand in his and stepped off the train. She was slight with deep brown hair arranged becomingly under her hat.

  “How do you do, miss? I’m Denver Hughes.” He bowed slightly.

  “I’d be better if I knew what was going on. I’m Willa Brown, by the way.” Smoke was rising in lazy plumes from behind the train station. Ash drifted down carpeting the platform in light gray.

  “Pleased to meet you, miss. Whatever happened must be something horrid to cause the passengers to react so. I was sitting on the opposite side, so I didn’t see what was going on.”

  She nodded. “As was I. But with this smoke and ash,” she said, putting her hand out to catch a few flakes that showed up clearly against the brown of her kid gloves, “I think a fire might be to blame.”

  “Perhaps the train worker coming toward us will have an answer,” Denver said.

  “I should warn you both, I’m not sure you will want to stay here, considering what happened in town last evening.” The man was obviously exhausted and stressed.

  “What are you referring to? What exactly happened?” Willa asked. She started to cross the platform with Denver at her side.

  The train worker scurried in front of them, blocking her path. “Trust me, neither of you want to see the results of what happened,” he warned. “You’d do best to get back on the train and head to Astoria.”

  “I can’t do that. My family lives here,” she whispered, pushing past him. “My word, what awful destruction,” she gasped. “I cannot believe what my eyes behold.”

  “Why I never…” Denver said, nearly speechless. “To think, I came here to help this town develop. I never imagined walking into something like this.”

  Rather than the downtown district that had been described to him in the letters he received from Mayor Garrison and Nathan Ryder, smoke hung low in the air and ash lifted as the breeze stirred the remains of buildings. A few timbers stood straight up framing what had been businesses, blackened by the flames that must have occurred recently. Several square blocks were nothing but heaps of rubble and smoldering wood. Men raked through the ash, scattering the still burning embers. Others were comforting people who were crying. Still others were searching through the cinders attempting to find whatever might have survived the conflagration.

  “What caused this?” Denver attempted to control his shock.

  “A fire started in Chinatown last night and spread through the town,” the worker explained. “We were able to subdue the majority of the flames towards early morning, but pockets of the fire managed to rekindle. Only early this afternoon was the fire completely extinguished.”

  “How far did the fire reach?” Willa asked. Her face was devoid of color. Denver wondered if she was going to faint and held his arm out to catch her if she did.

  “It crossed over part of the cemetery near Maple Street, then continued up through town to Ash Street. We were able to keep it from going past Main Street, but…” The man took a deep breath, swallowed, then continued. “Huge sections of the center of town were destroyed. I’m not sure how the town is going to recover from this.”

  Miss Brown hurried off, no doubt wanting to find her family. Denver stood for a moment, then looked back toward the train. His trunks were now standing on the platform. He had planned to have them delivered to the hotel where he would be staying until he found an apartment. He would have to change that plan as most of the buildings that would have had upper story residences were now nothing but ash. He didn’t even know if the hotel had survived the fire.

  “Sir, can I leave my trunks here until I know where I will be staying?”

  “You can, but aren’t you putting up in the hotel?” the worker asked.

  “That was the plan. Is it still standing?”

  “Yes, but its water tower was taken down to help put out the fire. It will be short on water as will the rest of the town.”

  Denver nodded. “As long as I have a bed, I can deal with some lack of water.”

  “I’ll see your trunks get there then.” The worker headed away, but Denver called him back.

  “Before you do that, will you, please, help me find Mayor Garrison or another of the city council?”

  “What do you need them for?”

  “I’m Denver Hughes. I’ve been hired as the city’s developer.”

  “You don’t say.” The man looked over the burned-out blocks. “Seems you got your work cut out for you.”

  Denver thought the same thing.

  ~~~~~

  Isabelle Stewart’s heart sank as she walked through the downtown of Silverpines. Now what was she going to do? Just when she recovered enough to hunt for a job, the entire business district burns to the ground. Though the mercantile was still standing, Belle thought the building would have to be taken down and replaced. The walls were burned as well as shot through when the gunsmith’s shop had exploded.

  “Belle, what are you doing here?” Ella Grace Karson asked.

  Belle realized she was standing in front of the hotel Ella Grace and her husband, Michael, ran.

  “Just looking over the damage. What a shame?
Just after the ceremony to mark a year since the earthquakes, this happens. Was… was anyone injured or killed?”

  “Some burns and a couple of broken bones, so I hear. Mrs. Fannie Pearl Edmondson was found passed away when they checked each house. Seems she passed in her sleep before the fire started. Bless her heart.”

  Belle took a sharp intake of breath. “Mrs. Edmondson? How sad. At least she was spared seeing this.” Belle lifted her hand, waving it toward the burned-out buildings.

  Ella Grace and Belle walked silently to stand in front of the lawyer’s office to watch the activity in the burned area and the mercantile. Lumber was being nailed at an angle to the store to shore it up since the northwest corner was badly damaged.

  “How can the mercantile still operate there? Can the Cutlers live there with all that damage?” Belle asked.

  Millie and Clay Cutler ran the store. Millie had advertised in the Groom’s Gazette, as had many of the widows and daughters of the men lost in the devastation caused a year ago by the earthquakes and mudslide. Clay had surprised her when he came to marry Millie with his five children in tow. With her four, they’d ended up with nine children. A tenth was expected in June.

  “They are staying at the hotel until they figure out what to do. The building will have to come down. Mr. Cutler is planning to rebuild as soon as he can. They are going to erect a tent to have the store in. I think the mayor is going to let them set up in the park temporarily. I saw them talking this morning. Did you know all the warehouses burned too? Terrible loss.”

  Belle nodded. At least she and her children had a home. She and her mother-in-law had already started a large garden. She wished she knew how to build. There would be a lot of that going on in the next few months.

  Saying goodbye to Ella Grace, Belle walked down the street, trying to get an idea of all that had been destroyed. All of the business district on this side of the railroad tracks was gone other than the hotel, Mayor Garrison’s office, and the bank along Main Street. Even the railroad station was damaged. Everything else was gone, or would be soon.

  There were no jobs available when there were no businesses. Belle’s heart sank further. They weren’t desperate, but now that Belle was recovered, she wanted to provide more for her children and her mother-in-law whom the children called Bama.

  The earthquake that took her husband’s and father-in-law’s lives had caused Belle to miscarry the baby she had just realized she was carrying. The resulting depression led to several severe illnesses due to Belle’s weakened condition. It had taken the entire year for her to gain back her strength. Though this new disaster wouldn’t impact her as much as the last, it was definitely a setback for her plans to gain employment.

  “As you can see, Mr. Hughes, your job will be much more involved than we’d thought. This is going to be more of a challenge. Do you think you are up to it?” The voice was that of Mayor Garrison. Belle turned and saw him standing next to a well-dressed man who held his hands behind his back.

  “A challenge indeed, sir. I do believe I’m up to the task. Depending on what businesses want to rebuild and if they want to stay on their same lot, it could become even more of an improvement to the town, though the losses certainly far outweigh any benefits gained.” The man who spoke was just above average height with broad shoulders. The hair peeking out below his hat was a medium brown. His profile was strong, his nose straight. Clean-shaven, his lips were full, well-shaped. What made her notice his lips? The thought made her gasp slightly.

  The men turned toward her. “Mrs. Stewart, are you overcome with the devastation?” Mayor Garrison asked.

  “It is rather overwhelming.” Belle wasn’t going to say she’d been admiring the unfamiliar man’s lips. She glanced at him, then looked down. Heat rushed up her face.

  “Mr. Hughes, this is Mrs. Isabelle Stewart. Mrs. Stewart, Mr. Hughes is Silverpines’ new City Developer. We hired him to help coordinate the modernization of our town. He just arrived on the afternoon train.”

  Mr. Hughes gave her a slight bow. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

  “Welcome to Silverpines, sir.” Belle looked at him then quickly lowered her eyes again. Now that he faced her fully, she noticed more appealing features to his face and form. His eyes were the amber of Scotch whiskey, the kind her father enjoyed after supper. Her husband, Emery, had also.

  “Are you all right, Mrs. Stewart?” Mayor Garrison asked, causing Belle to look at him.

  What was wrong with her? Why was she acting so shy? This wasn’t like her at all. “I think I’m just overwhelmed by the losses for all the business owners. I wish there was something I could do to help.”

  Mr. Hughes chuckled. “Unless there’s a way you could help me navigate this new challenge, I’m not sure there is.”

  Before she could reply, a call came from across the street. “Mayor Garrison, Mayor Garrison, a moment of your time please.” It was Catrina Thorne. She hurried across the street, saying a quick hello to Belle. “Mayor Garrison, you know that the Chinese people lost almost everything they have in the fire. I’m planning on taking donations of clothing and household goods for them. Is there a way that new tents can be supplied until better housing can be erected?”

  “A very generous use of your time, Mrs. Thorne. I’ll see what I can do. We need to see that they are housed somewhere. Mr. Hughes, here, might be able to help with that, but then again, he just arrived today. With the warehouses all burned, I’m not sure Cutlers’ would have the canvas needed to make tents. They will need to find a place to live also. Their building isn’t structurally sound now. Clay told me they were going to tear it down and build new. That will take some time though.”

  “The need for shelter isn’t pressing today. Pastor James is letting them stay in the church. They do need changes of clothing and housewares to cook with.”

  “I have some clothing the children have outgrown,” Belle said. “Where shall I take them? The church?”

  A big smile lit Catrina’s face. “That would be wonderful, thank you.” She gave Belle a hug and hurried off, no doubt to solicit more aid.

  “She may have some trouble getting donations. The fire started in Chinatown. Some of the townsfolk have complained and want them to leave town.”

  “That would be too bad.” Mr. Hughes surveyed the burned-out area. “They would be good help in the rebuilding of Silverpines.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Belle held her parasol over her head to shade her face from the sun as she walked past the park. She was dressed in a white shirtwaist and wide navy skirt. A short navy jacket trimmed with white soutache loops and swirls completed her outfit. Her dark brunette hair was pinned up securely and topped with a navy hat trimmed with a red feather. She wanted to look as professional and competent as possible. She was going to apply for a job with Mr. Denver Hughes.

  It had occurred to her last night that he would benefit from having an assistant who knew Silverpines and its people. He would have to navigate the men and women who lost their businesses in addition to doing what he’d been hired to do; bring Silverpines into the new century with telephones, running water, sewage treatment, and cobbled streets and sidewalks.

  Belle knew the town and its people. She knew their quirks and ways to get around them. She was organized and knew more than many people realized. She thought she was well liked also, which would help when Mr. Hughes put his foot in his mouth as he dealt with the many challenges he faced. That is what she would present to him when she applied for a job. Not that he’d put his foot in his mouth.

  There had been a worship service the previous evening since the morning service was cancelled as the population had been fighting the fire. Pastor James had introduced Mr. Denver Hughes as the new City Developer who would be in charge of the planning and reconstruction of the downtown district. After the service, Belle had watched as people crowded around him all trying to talk to him about his plans. The man had been polite, but looked slightly overwhelmed. Whatever plans
he’d thought of before he arrived were nothing but ashes just as the downtown was.

  The mayor had given him a room in his law office building. Belle closed her parasol, tucking it under her arm, before she opened the door and entered.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Stewart. Is there something I can do for you?” Mayor Garrison asked.

  “I’d like to see Mr. Hughes, if I may?”

  “Certainly, his office is just down the hall on the right.”

  “Thank you.” Belle placed her parasol in the umbrella stand and walked to the door. She straightened her jacket, patted an escaped curl back in place, took a deep breath, and knocked.

  “Come in,” came from behind the door.

  Belle pasted a smile on her face and entered.

  Mr. Hughes looked up and stood. “Mrs. Stewart, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He came around the desk and held out his hand to her. Belle made sure to shake it with a firm grip. She wasn’t going to be a limp-wristed female, quaking with fear. “Please, have a seat.”

  When they were seated, Belle looked straight at the man she wanted to hire her. “I’ve thought of a way I can help you with the challenges of your job.”

  “Oh?” Mr. Hughes leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin.

  “Yes.” She paused then continued. “Whatever plans you had developed for Silverpines went up with the smoke of the fire two days ago. Now, not only do you need to make the improvements to the town, but you need to negotiate with the business owners who will want their businesses rebuilt and opened as soon as possible. For that you need me.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I do?” There was a slight smile on his face that irked Belle. He wasn’t taking her seriously.

  “Yes. I know the people. I know what personality quirks they have. I know what appeals to them. How you can overcome their objections to whatever you might suggest.