New clothing was not overly accessible to most men and women
in the west. When you needed a new set of ‘duds’ you had to go to a tailor or
dress maker and have them made. Very few ‘mercantiles’ sold new clothing,
however, many did sell ‘ready to wear’ clothes. These were outfits discarded by
the higher class, or just those that had ‘out grown’ their clothes and needed a
new set.
It wasn’t unusual for cowboys to wear suit pants and a vest
(silk not leather) while riding the range, because the ‘fancier’ the clothes,
the harder it was for the store to sell them. Therefore, the ‘fancy duds’ sold
for cheaper. That also explains while chimney sweeps always wore top hats and
tuxedos. Cheap wear for a very dirty job.
There was big business in ‘ready to wear’ clothes for all
the people moving west, and entrepreneurs would scavenge the ‘castaways’ discarded
by the wealthier set back east and drive wagons of clothing west, peddling
their wares as they went.
In my November 1st release from Harlequin, Unclaimed Bride, heroine Constance
Jennings had to sell several outfits in order to pay for food and shelter
before she left New York for Wyoming as a mail order bride. Hence, upon
her arrival, it’s bitterly cold and she has no coat—yes, she sincerely regrets
selling it—especially when it means Ellis Clayton, a complete stranger, has to
buy her a new one at a very exorbitant price, indebting her to him even more.
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| Unclaimed Bride |
Running from the past…she bumps into her future!
Mail-order bride Constance Jennings steps off the stage in Cottonwood, Wyoming, and waits for her husband-to-be. But he never shows up, and instead several other men are vying to take his place!
Single father Ellis Clayton must be the only man in town not looking for a bride. But his young daughter's habit of rescuing wounded critters means he ends up offering Constance a temporary shelter.
Having a woman around the house again is all too easy—especially seeing her bond with his daughter—but Ellis can't seem to let go of the past. Problem is, neither can Constance. And hers is about to catch up with her….
Mail-order bride Constance Jennings steps off the stage in Cottonwood, Wyoming, and waits for her husband-to-be. But he never shows up, and instead several other men are vying to take his place!
Single father Ellis Clayton must be the only man in town not looking for a bride. But his young daughter's habit of rescuing wounded critters means he ends up offering Constance a temporary shelter.
Having a woman around the house again is all too easy—especially seeing her bond with his daughter—but Ellis can't seem to let go of the past. Problem is, neither can Constance. And hers is about to catch up with her….
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