He swallowed the first bite and took a second that was larger and full of the sugary mixture of huckleberries and chokecherries. This time as he chewed, his gaze met Greta’s across the distance, glowing with the same fatherly warmth she’d seen the day they’d traveled together in the stagecoach. “Very tasty, Mrs. McQuaid. I don’t think I’ve had anything as delicious in a long time.”

Wyatt gently squeezed her arm, as though to tell her everything would be alright.

She released a pent-up breath. “Thank you.”

Before she could say anything more, Wyatt was laying on more charm and convincing the men they were getting a good deal by paying a whole silver dollar. She tried to whisper to Wyatt that back in Illinois at the state fair, she’d bought a hand pie for ten cents. But he only shook his head and continued to gather the silver dollar pieces from the men, who seemed all too eager to hand over their hard-earned money.

By the time they exited the hotel a short while later, Wyatt had managed to sell a pie to every man present and then sold the rest to Mr. Fehling, the owner of the hotel, who planned to add them to his menu for the day, charging at least a dollar and twenty-five cents.

She wasn’t sure whether to feel guilty or excited. “It’s too much, Wyatt.” She walked alongside him, swinging her now-empty basket. “I just don’t feel right charging such a high price for them when they’re not worth it.”

“Everything costs more up here, especially something as special as the pies.”

“Even so, I’d feel better asking for a fair price.”

“A dollar’s a real fair price seeing how it’s all about the supply and demand. When there ain’t much of something to go around, folks’ll put out more cash for it.” He told her that’s what he had done already with his cattle when he sold off a couple last month. Since the miners were eager for fresh beef, they were willing to pay a high price for the luxuries they missed from back East.

When they halted in front of the general store, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a neckerchief full of coins. He reached for her hand and placed the bulging bundle in her palm. “Get all the supplies you need for making jam or more hand pies. And if you have any money left, buy yourself something special.”

The weight of the silver pieces was strange but exhilarating. She’d never had so much money all at once, and she couldn’t imagine using a cent on something special for herself.