Mrs. Hampden put Kate’s three spools of thread into a small brown sack.“A job.” She forced herself to look the mercantile owner’s wife in the eye—to make it harder for the woman to say no again.“I’m sorry, but I still haven’t need of you. My children are old enough to do most anything I need done.” The petite older woman scooped the change off the counter. “You’ve put your advertisement on the board, yes?”Kate flicked a glance toward the flyers posted at the front of the store. How often were those looked at? “I have. Has anyone asked about mine?”“No.” She handed Kate the sack of thread. “Would you like me to ask the out-of-towners when they’re in? You might have to live with them depending on how far out they are.”“Just as long as it’s not a single man.” Nowhere had she advertised herself as a bride, yet she’d still garnered two more proposals in the last week.“Of course.” Mrs. Hampden gave her an odd look.“It’s just . . . Aren’t there enough women in Salt Flatts for your men to court?
