She cringed at the high prices Elliot had marked on several items. She could see why more customers chose to shop at Hampton, Barrett and Figgins Dry Goods Store—which sat on the southeast corner of the square. However, there were a few men milling around the shop, gathering supplies. Mostly miners, she guessed. Apparently they couldn’t purchase their needed tools and supplies at the other store.Alexa glanced sideways when she heard a disgruntled prospector grumbling while Elliot tallied the purchases.“If the other store in town hadn’t sold out of horse blankets and axes, I wouldn’t be buying my supplies from you,” muttered the crusty miner, who looked to be in his mid-forties. “You oughta be arrested for highway robbery, Webster.”Alexa watched Elliot shrug indifferently. When he noticed that she was watching him, he produced a dazzling smile and ambled toward her.“Please say you’ll marry me, darling. It will make dealing with grumbling customers bearable.”Apparently the prospector thought Elliot’s proposal was as ill timed and unromantic as she did.
