Chapter 2
Enter Juliet Heatherstone
“You are J. Heatherstone?”
Joseph Goodman, editor of the Territorial Enterprise, couldn’t believe his eyes. Or his sanity.
“You are J. Heatherstone?”
“Juliet Heatherstone, yes. Is there a problem?” Her tone indicated that she did not esteem his repeated disbelief.
She sat very straight, her expression somewhat indignant, one eyebrow raised. Goodman found that irritating. The whole woman was irritating. Covered in trail dust, her hair disheveled, her face tired and worn, she still bore the signs of self confidence and determination. Was there a problem? Oh yes, there most certainly was a problem.
“You’re a woman!” he blurted out.
“I am glad you noticed that. I very much appreciate an employer with keen perception.” Her eyebrow rose even higher.
“You don’t happen to have a husband named Jacob or John?” he persisted.
“Mr. Goodman, I am not married, neither to a Jacob nor a John nor to any other man. And I have no inclination to change that any time soon. All I want is the job you were offering me two weeks ago.” She spoke with deliberate calm. Only her eyebrow gave her away.
“But I didn’t know you were a woman then. In his letter Sam Clemens just told me about an upcoming young writer named J. Heatherstone he recommended as his successor for the Enterprise.” Goodman felt sudden anger rising. This obviously was Clemens’ one last joke at his expense. “Did you even write those samples you sent me? Or did Clemens scribble them just to make sure I will let you come?”
She heaved a suffering sigh. “You are doing Sam great injustice, Mr. Goodman. You know perfectly well that his writing skills exceed mine by far. Maybe Sam did hide my first name on purpose, and I have to admit this does sound very much like him, but I am a writer and I do want this job.”
“I can’t employ a woman. You have to understand, I can’t have a female writer. You’d be supposed to stroll around Virginia City and investigate.”
“Investigate?” Another inch on the eyebrow front.
“Investigate. Find stories. Discover secrets. Speak to people. To men!”
“I did that in San Francisco, you know. Writing stories and speaking to people. Even to men.” She had very elastic eyebrows, Goodman observed.
“You don’t have to be sarcastic with me, Miss Heatherstone. This is a wild country, with rough people. I need a confident writer, somebody who isn’t threatened very easily.”
“I can be quite threatening myself, Mr. Goodman. Or so people tell me.”
He considered her in surprise. She didn’t look threatening at all. Despite her sheer height, surely near six feet as Goodman mused, she was rather fragile. Slender, with narrow shoulders and waist. No, there was nothing threatening about her. Though not stunningly beautiful she had a pleasant, finely cut face, pale with just a shower of faint freckles on her cheeks and nose. Well, Goodman pondered, maybe her eyes, maybe they could be considered threatening if she put some effort in it. They were very expressive eyes, and he had never seen eyebrows rise that high. And, of course, her accent. This infuriating, clipped, English upper class accent. She would have to do something about that if she wanted to have a peaceful life in Virginia City. She would certainly have to do something about that if she wanted a peaceful life with her employer. Goodman groaned inwardly. He knew he was going to regret this.
“Four weeks. If you survive four weeks without being shot or tarred and feathered, or having all of Virginia City’s townsfolk run havoc against you, I’ll give you a permanent position.”
“Well, Mr. Goodman, that sounds as if we have a deal. I’ll get myself settled at Widow Hawkins’ and start working tomorrow morning. I see you eight o’clock sharp. Good day, Mr. Goodman!”
Goodman’s groan was audible this time. He had already begun to regret his decision. Watching his newest employee make her way towards Widow Hawkins’ Boarding House, he shook his head. This must be the bossiest woman he had ever met. Make that the bossiest person. Really, he couldn’t think of anyone who had ever appeared as imperious and bossy as she did. Anyone. Well, except maybe Adam Cartwright. Goodman’s face suddenly lit up. Oh, what a wonderful thought! The next time Adam Cartwright requested a retraction, he would have to fight that out with none other than Juliet Heatherstone. It would lead to a battle of epic dimensions; Goodman didn’t have any doubts about that.
Perhaps he could sell tickets.
I just love so much that you developed a friendship between Adam and Juliet in this series before developing a romance (though of course there were sparks from the start). ? I just always feel like friendship is so important for a couple …
Enjoyable, as your writing always is. So glad there’s more to go. Thx for writing! (And hope all is well w you …)
Oh, oh, I’m so happy you are starting to read the series!
I agree, friendship is important for a couple. And I really wanted to explore why they would fall for each other rather than making it love at first sight. Even though I suspect ghat at the end of the day it was love at first sight, only they did not recognise it for what it was.
I hope you’ll enjoy the otherbstories, too.
(And yes, all is well. Just keep my fingers crossed it stays so.)
I would pay to give Adam a bath!!!? Like the way this is headed.
Well, yes, who wouldn’t? 🙂
Thanks a lot, Neano, for reading this and for letting me know you liked it. It’s very much appreciated!