An Agent for Pearl by Christine Sterling

Author:Christine Sterling [Sterling, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-24T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“Have you ever been in a cooking competition, Miss Bolton?”

“No,” Pearl whispered.

She was seated at a round table back in the dining room with nine other women. Two of the women happened to be the witch and the canary. Turns out they were a mother-daughter duo from Oregon who came specifically for the contest, and not at all what Pearl imagined them to be.

The mother, whom Pearl had dubbed the witch, was Mrs. Betsy Williams and her daughter went by Cecilia, or Sissy for short. Pearl wanted to dislike them at every level, but she couldn’t. Sissy was just around Pearl’s age and had been traveling overseas with an aunt. She recently returned and was ready to settle down.

Pearl knew Sissy would have no problem capturing a man’s attention. Her golden-brown hair hung perfectly around her face. She had light brown eyes with flecks of gold in their depth. Pearl guessed that the color of her lips wasn’t from any rouge. Yes, Pearl wanted to dislike her, but she couldn’t.

They were divine dinner companions. Sissy entertained the table with her tales from overseas. Her mother entertained the table with her excitement over Sissy entering the Denver Dinner contest.

“I’ve won several of the cash prizes, but I’ve not won an oven yet.”

“How exciting,” one of the other women at the table responded. “I’d be happy winning anything.”

“Why have you competed so much, Miss Williams?” Pearl asked the younger woman in the yellow dress.

Sissy hid her hand behind her mouth and giggled. “I haven’t found the one yet.”

“The one?”

Mrs. Williams nodded. She looked over her glasses and smiled, showing all her teeth. Pearl noticed that the rouge had transferred and was sitting like a red blob on the woman’s front tooth. “You know the purpose of these contests is to help women find husbands.”

Pearl shifted in her seat. “I thought it was to showcase our cooking skills and have the opportunity to win a new range.”

Mrs. Williams waved her hand. “Of course. That is part of it. But who do you think is judging these contests? Why, eligible young men, of course.”

Pearl looked over Sissy’s shoulder. She could see Zeke standing in the doorway. He was scanning the room and his eyes landed on their table. He raised his hand in greeting. Pearl was about to raise hers when she realized that Sissy had turned and noticed him as well. Her hand was already raised.

“I do hope that Sissy finds herself a husband here,” Mrs. Williams continued. “Cecilia, turn around.”

Sissy turned in her chair and smiled at the women seated around her. “I think I found someone. I met him today. He’ll be here the entire contest.”

“Well you just need to win, then, Cecilia.” Mrs. Williams said, patting her daughter’s hand. “What a fine-looking man, too.” She looked around at the women at the table. “Sissy has won first place in the past five contests. She would have won the baking competition, but that didn’t go so well.”

“Mama,” Sissy blushed, “you don’t have to tell everyone.

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