Artist's Dream by Gerri Hill Page A

off a speck of dust from his wing. She was being silly, she knew. Luke probably thought she’d lost her mind.
    But Luke was looking at her in an odd way, her smile gentle.
    “What if I promise there won’t be strangers touching him? And he won’t be at a public place. He’ll be at someone’s home, guardŹing their backyard.”
    Cassie slid her eyes from Luke back to her eagle. “You really think you can sell it for me? Your friends on Russian River?”
    “Oh, they would love him.”
     
    Cassie nodded. “Okay then. I mean, I can’t keep him here, that’s for sure.”
    Luke looked around the shop for the first time, and her lips parted in surprise. “You’ve got tons of stuff here,” she said as she walked over to a beaver that was chewing happily on a log. “This one is great, too.”
    “I want to take at least ten pieces with me to the County Fair next month. These are all but finished. They just need touch-ups here and there,” she said, waving at the animals that stood in varyŹing positions around the shop.
    Luke walked to the workbench and gently picked up a fawn. “This is so delicate,” she said softly. She glanced up and met Cassie’s eyes. “You have incredible talent.”
    “Please stop,” Cassie said, blushing again. “You’re starting to embarrass me.”
    Luke turned the fawn around in her hands, then set it back down. “With the type of homes I design, I meet a lot of woodŹworkers, mostly men. They make beautiful cabinets, furniture, railings. Anything the homeowner wants.” Luke paused. “Do you ever work on commission?”
    Cassie nodded. “I have on a few occasions.”
    “If you’re interested, I could probably get you more business than you could handle. Most of the homes I design are totally natŹural.” Luke waved a hand at Cassie’s workshop. “These pieces would fit perfectly.”
    “The problem I’ve found with commissions is that the cusŹtomer wants something other than wildlife, and I’m not at all comŹfortable producing that.” Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Or fish. They always want carved fish stuck on a board. To me, it just looks like a dead fish.” She, too, waved at the pieces scattered about. “I like to think that my animals are very much alive, all with different looks and personalities.”
    “Well, that is one good thing about working for commission. You can always say no. Of course, if you agree, that will really limit
     
    the time that you can devote to regular art shows and county fairs and such.”
    “You’re right, but the people who frequent those places usually can only afford the small carvings. Fortunately, it doesn’t take me long to make them.”
    “Well, right off the top of my head, I can think of three or four clients who would be interested in your work. If it’s okay with you, I’ll give them your business card.”
    Cassie hesitated only a moment Did she want to be indebted to Luke? It didn’t matter. She was no fool. It would be insane for her to turn down an opportunity like this.
    So she nodded. “I would appreciate it.”
    “You have great talent,” Luke said again. “And you should be getting paid for it. Truthfully, the eagle I bought from you was practically a steal. It was worth twice what I paid.”
    “Yes, but I wouldn’t sell any if I priced them that high.”
    “No, probably not at the county fair.” It was Luke’s turn to hesŹitate. “I know it’s really none of my business, but have you tried the Internet?”
    Cassie blushed. “I don’t even own a computer.”
    Luke rolled her eyes.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” Cassie said. “How can people exist without a computer? I hear it from Kim all the time. I just…”
    “You’re afraid?”
    “I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
    Luke laughed. “Gotta start somewhere, sweet ie. Next time we’ve both got a free evening, I’ll show you my Web page. You could fix one up like that for yourself. It’d be great advertising.”
    Cassie nodded