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There were more attractions listed below that, along with the names of songbirds who had appeared there and announcements for upcoming billiard tournaments and charity raffles, but Priscilla skimmed past all that. She'dmade up her mind to apply for the job the minute she read the words, Inquire Within. It was a crazy idea at best, against her strict upbringing and church-going ways, but given the state of her finances--she was down to her last three dollars--and the fact that she'd secretly dreamed for as long asshe could remember of taking center stage and singing before a real live audience, the decision was remarkably easy. The hard part was trying to workup enough courage to walk inside the saloon. ...(she does find the courage, but falls flat on her face. Payton Cobb, owner of the saloon, comes to herrescue)...

"Thank you, sir," she said, finding her voice before actually turning her head toward the person who'd saved her. She glanced to her right and into anastonishing and engaging pair of silvery eyes. Compounding their impact, was the fact they were set off by thick eyebrows of raven's wing black whicharched high, then swept all the way down to the corners of those dazzling eyes. For the second time that day, Priscilla felt as if her lungs hadcollapsed.

"Better now?" he asked, his deep voice soothing her the way his hands had moments ago. He was waiting for a reply, she could see that by the way hecocked his head and studied her, but Priscilla still hadn't figured out how to breathe again. "Ma'am? Would you like me to get a doctor?"

"Wha--oh, no." She laughed and managed to tear her gaze off of him long enough to gather her wits. "I'm a little embarrassed is all. You wouldn'thappen to have a doctor around who can cure that, would you?"

"Sorry, but no." He rose from his haunches then, and extended a helping hand. "I didn't mean to surprise you like that, but when I saw your shadowat the door, I thought you were a kid trying to sneak a peek at some of my more, ah ... colorful female customers."

"Your customers?" She let him pull her to her feet. "Are you the owner of this establishment?"

"I am."

"In that case, you're just the man I'm looking for."

"I am?"

Priscilla thought she saw amusement in his expression, or something close to it, for his eyes were twinkling in a most intimate manner and his brow waslifted in mock surprise. Wary of the strange way this man was affecting her, she settled her sights on his wide sloping nose and trim nostrils as sheexplained her visit. "I was looking for you to inquire about the job as a singer. Is the position still open?"

"Well, yes, ma'am ... and no."

As he spoke, Priscilla couldn't help but look from his nose to the highly expressive mouth beneath it. His supple lips were even better windows to histhoughts than his unusual eyes, for each word he spoke seemed to be accompanied by a little smirk, the hint of a dimpled grin, or even a quick frown of disapproval, as if he'd judged her and found her lacking. "I am in need of another singer," he went on to say, "but in case youhaven't noticed, this is a saloon, and what I'm looking for is a saloon singer." His skeptical gaze perused her from top to bottom, then he slowlyshook his head. "Excuse me for saying so, ma'am, but you hardly fit the bill."

Priscilla hoped his comments referred to her manner of dress and not her general appearance. Counting on that, she pleaded her case. "Oh, but please,sir--you've got to give me a chance. I can learn to sing anything, honest, I can. Won't you at least let me show you what I can do?"

(after a really dreadful audition, Payton's assistant talks him into giving her a one-week trial period. He reluctantly agrees, then sets down a few ofhis rules)...

Cobb glanced at Priscilla, narrowing his eyes with a considerable amount of suspicion. "Another thing, sweetheart. Most folks come to mining camps likeCentral City for one of two reasons. One, they're looking to get rich by striking gold. Or two, they're running away from something. I'm not in thehabit of asking folks what they're running from 'cause it's none of my damn business unless I decide to make them part of this establishment. Since Iseem to have hired you, I've got to have some idea what kind of trouble you might be bringing along with you. Understand?"

Her heart in her throat, Priscilla nodded. "Yes, sir, I think I do."

"Then I have to ask--you didn't happen to run out on some fella who might come looking for you, did you?"

Weighing her options, Priscilla gulped. She couldn't imagine that her family, or even Boris Hardtack, might come looking for her, and yet shedidn't want to lie, especially to her new employer who was obviously growing impatient for her to answer. As she mulled over her options, he asked yetanother question, this time, getting right to the point.

"Let me make it a little plainer, Miss Prissy. Dressed the way you are, you look as if you've left some poor fool standing at the alter. Did you?"

Relief flooded her.

"Oh, goodness, no," she laughed, giddy with happiness over the fact that she hadn't been forced to lie to her new employer.

And she hadn't. Not really.

After all, Priscilla Stillbottom had not left her groom standing at the altar. She'd gone ahead and married him, and then she'd run away.