"Darling," she said gently, "maybe we can buy the store. I mean how do we know unless we try? It is a lot of money, but everyone here knows you… Mr. Quigg at the bank is John Blodgett's brother-in-law, you know. I'm sure he'd consider loaning you the money… Mr. Blodgett could talk to him… why, everyone in town likes you!"

"That isn't exactly security for fifty thousand bucks," he pointed out grimly, "But… you're right, I guess. It won't do any harm to ask-we've got to know where we stand."

Ray did not fall asleep easily that night, but Sally lay awake long after he finally dropped off. It seemed that the crisis had awakened all her instincts… she was prepared to fight for her man, to do anything to insure that he got what he wanted. She believed she had an idea… although she'd never been able to bring herself to completely trust Mr. Blodgett, she must admit that his manner toward her had always been extremely courteous and friendly. In fact, he had treated her with real old-fashioned southern politeness and had been very solicitous about whether she was happily settled in Quiggville and liked his community.

Somehow she felt that… well, that she might have more influence with him than Ray would. Ray was apt to get hotheaded, as he admitted he had this afternoon. If only he hadn't really alienated John Blodgett, perhaps she could persuade him to change his mind about selling out, or at the very least enlist his aid in getting them a loan. He would not be so bluntly business-like with a woman, she felt, and she did not mind begging for Ray's sake. Yes, she must manage to see John Blodgett alone, and without Ray's knowledge of the meeting. God, Ray would kill her if he even guessed what she was thinking!

Arranging to see her husband's boss was not so easy, however, Sally Denham found. He did maintain an office over the bank, but it was a sort of dummy office. There was no secretary and you could never tell when Blodgett himself would be there. Sally took to watching the square from her front windows for a glimpse of the tobacco-colored station wagon that he drove.