Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) (12 page)

Brent was standing off to the side of the dance floor
that had been set up outdoors for the evening's
activities. He'd lost track of his father and was
considering going to look for him when Melinda
sought him out.

"There you are, Brent!" Melinda cooed as she
came to stand at his side. Brent was the handsomest
man in Diablo, and she was determined to make
him her own. "I've been looking for you."

"You have?" he asked with a smile.

Melinda was a pretty enough girl with her dark
hair and blue eyes, but as he looked down at her an
image of Opal flashed in his mind. He'd thought of
the lovely singer often at first, but as the weeks
passed, the memory of their encounter faded. Opal
was gone from his life. They wouldn't meet again.

Melinda gazed up at him adoringly, believing
she had his undivided attention. "Yes. I was afraid
you would be in a hurry to get back to the ranch
after the dinner, and I wouldn't get the chance to
see you.

"No, we're staying in town tonight."

"I am so glad."

"Would you like to dance?" Brent offered, trying
to focus his thoughts on the present-on the pretty
girl who wanted to be with him, and not on his
father, or the beautiful blonde he would never see
again.

"I was hoping you would ask," Melinda answered.
She had never been accused of being shy, and she
went straight into his arms.

Brent swept her out onto the dance floor. His
mother had taught him how to dance at a young age,
and the lessons had stayed with him. He smiled
down at Melinda as he whirled her about.

Melinda knew Brent was watching her, and she
batted her eyes at him flirtatiously. She was glad
she'd worn her prettiest gown. She wanted to look
her best for him. He didn't come to town that often,
so she had to make good use of what little time they
had together. Her secret plan for the evening was to
get Brent alone, so she could steal a kiss. Of course,
he had to think the kiss was his idea, but she would
find a way to do it. She'd waited too long for this
night to waste one minute of it.

Brent glanced away from Melinda for a moment to scan the faces of those looking on. He was hoping
to spot his father, but saw no sign of him standing in
the crowd. He looked beyond the dance area, and he
caught sight of him heading off down the street in
the direction of the Lone Star Saloon. Brent
frowned.

"Is something wrong?" Melinda asked, noticing
the change in his expression.

"No, everything's fine," he lied. He had no
intention of sharing his concerns with her. What
went on between him and his father was going to
stay within the family. He turned his attention back
to her.

Melinda was pleased to have his undivided
attention again. She gave him a coquettish smile and
allowed herself to simply enjoy being in his arms, for
that was right where she wanted to be. This was
going to be a wonderful night. She was sure of it.

"We've got some new entertainment tonight, boys,"
Babe told the men standing at the bar in the Lone
Star Saloon as she came to join them.

"What kind of entertainment?" a cowboy named
Joe asked the pretty dance-hall girl. He was more
than ready and very willing to be entertained by the
beautiful Babe. He had heard tell that she knew all
kinds of exciting ways to please a man.

"We've hired a new singer to perform for you,
and I think you're going to enjoy her."

"I'd rather enjoy you," Joe told her.

She gave him a throaty laugh. "Thank you for the
compliment, Joe, honey. Let's talk later. Right now I
want you all to welcome Miss Ruby."

The piano player started a tune, and they all
turned to the small stage.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Crystal said as she
came out onstage, smiling.

The men in the Lone Star took one look at the
beautiful redhead in the red dress, and they
immediately fell in love.

"Evenin', Miss Ruby," one drunken cowhand
called back.

Crystal smiled and winked outrageously at the
man. As she began to sing, they all fell even more
completely under her spell.

Crystal looked as beautiful as ever, but she was
close to exhaustion. The weeks since she'd fled
San Antonio had been long and tense. She had
hoped to start a whole new life for herself in the
small town of San Miguel. Liking the look of the
place, she'd gotten off the stage there, and had tried
to continue the ruse of being a widow looking for
employment, but no one in San Miguel would hire
her.

Night after lonely night, she'd lain in bed in her
room at the hotel, unable to sleep. Her thoughts had
been haunted by the fear that Dan or the law would
find her. To calm herself, she'd thought of Brent
Hunter. She'd remembered how the handsome
stranger had rescued her during the robbery, and she'd washed he would show up again and save her
from the terror her life had become.

But Crystal knew that was just a young girl's
fantasy-being rescued by a handsome knight.
Crystal knew the truth about life. That night with
Brent had been an aberration. If she was going to be
saved, she would have to save herself.

When her funds ran dangerously low, Crystal
packed up again and moved on-this time all the
way to Diablo. She resigned herself to returning to
work in a saloon. She took a room at the small
boardinghouse in town, registering under the name
of Ruby Morgan, and then set about changing her
looks once again. The widow disappeared, to be
replaced by Miss Ruby, a flame-haired seductress.

Crystal had been worried about how Anne Pals,
the owner of the boardinghouse, would react to the
change in her appearance. The first time Anne saw
her with red hair she'd been startled, but had not
questioned her. Crystal had been glad to find out
Anne respected her boarders' privacy. Perhaps she'd
found a safe haven in Diablo after all.

When Crystal approached Ken Gilbert, the owner
of the Lone Star Saloon, he hired her right away. She
made certain he understood her job was for
entertainment only, and he had eagerly agreed after
hearing her sing.

Even though she was relieved that her concerns
about money were over for now, Crystal could not
completely dismiss the possibility that someone might find her. Dan didn't forget when someone
double-crossed him-and she was sure her brother
believed she'd betrayed him. But worse
than her worry about Dan was the thought that the
law was after her. She hadn't seen one yet, but she
realized there might even be a wanted poster out for
her.

It took a major effort on her part not to give in to
pure panic, but Crystal managed. She kept smiling
and concentrated on her performance.

Jack entered the saloon and went straight to the bar.
He noticed there was a pretty woman singing, but
paid her no attention. All he wanted was a drink. He
had been ten years without one, and that was way
too long.

Everyone in the bar was intent on watching the
woman's performance, and Jack was glad. He didn't
want anyone paying attention to him. He just
wanted to drink in peace. The barkeep approached,
and Jack was pleased that he did not recognize the
man.

"Get you something?"

"Whiskey," Jack ordered.

"Coming right up." The bartender served him
quickly.

Jack picked up the tumbler and studied the golden
liquid for a long moment before taking a deep
swallow. The whiskey was potent, and he relished its
power. Soon, very soon, he would be feeling better.

"I could use a cool drink; what about you?" Melinda
suggested to Brent when their dance ended.

Brent escorted her to the refreshment table and
got them each a cup of punch.

"Thank you."

They enjoyed their drinks together.

"I wish I could see you more often," she said,
gazing up at him adoringly.

"It's hard for me to get away from the ranch.
Running the Half-Moon is a big responsibility."

"I know." She smiled. That big ranch was one of
the reasons she wanted to marry him.

"Would you like to dance again?" he invited as
another tune began.

"Of course. I love dancing with you."

Melinda went eagerly into his arms.

As they moved about the dance floor together,
Brent saw Leroy again, and his thoughts were drawn
back to his father. A part of Brent almost felt sorry
for him, but he pushed that emotion away. It was
going to be a while before he could deal with all the
difficulties of having his father back home again after
so many years away.

Brent wondered if Jack had gone to the saloon,
as he suspected. If he had, there was no telling
how drunk he'd get. He knew he would have to
go check on him, but first he'd finish his dance
with Melinda.

Edmund turned toward the table where Iona and
Abby were sitting together, a slight distance away
from the dance floor. He had left Iona there with a
promise to return, but returning had been the
farthest thing from his mind-until he saw Abby
join her. He'd been trying to escape the company of
his fellow deacons from the church ever since.

Edmund's gaze narrowed as he saw Dr. Gibbs
approach Iona. He watched as the physician offered
her his hand with a smile and then leaned toward
her to study her with professional scrutiny. Edmund
was ready when Dr. Gibbs looked his way, and he
did not react to his angry, accusing gaze. When the
doctor finally moved away and disappeared into the
crowd after speaking with Iona and Abby for a few
more moments, Edmund excused himself from his
companions and went to join his wife.

"I'm glad you're back," Iona said when he sat
down.

"I came as soon as I could." It wasn't a lie. He'd
been trying ever since Abby had joined her.

Iona's smile was overly bright. "Abby has been
keeping me company, but I missed you, you know.
What have you been doing?"

"I'm sorry, dear. Some of the men asked my
advice. I'm afraid the discussion lasted longer than I
realized."

"It was good of you to help them, but..." Iona
paused, then continued more softly, "I've been
looking forward to dancing with you tonight."

Abby spoke for the first time, whispering, "Are
you sure you want to dance, Iona?"

Attempting to stand with dignity, she replied,
"Oh, yes, Abby. I'm sure."

Edmund managed a smile as he took Iona's hand
and guided her out onto the dance floor. He
couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed
himself with his wife, and holding her up while she
staggered through the dance was not his idea of a
good time.

As they danced, Edmund realized disgustedly that
Iona was beginning to sober up. At least when she
was drunk it was easy to elude her. He would pay
enough attention to her now to shut her up for a
while, and then he was going to invite Abby to
dance. He didn't know if she would accept, but just
the thought of holding her close excited him.

"I think that's Jack Hunter at the bar," Seth
Richards, one of the hands from the Bar W Ranch,
told the other men sitting at the poker table as they
listened to the new girl sing.

"Isn't he the one who-"

"That's him."

"They let him out already? Damn."

"Who's Jack Hunter?" another cowboy at the
table asked.

Seth quickly explained about Jack's scandalous
past. The other man eyed Jack suspiciously.

"I'm surprised he came back to Diablo."

"I imagine everybody in town is surprised by his
return, but it ain't no surprise that he's here getting
drunk. He was nothing but a drunk before, and it
looks like he ain't changed any. If his coming home
wasn't already the talk of the town, it will be after
tonight."

The new singer began another song, and the men
turned their attention back to her. Watching Miss
Ruby was far more entertaining than watching the
old drunk at the bar.

Jack drained his drink and signaled the bartender
for another refill as he watched the pretty little
entertainer. She was a talented girl, and he meant to
tell her so once she was finished performing. He was
very glad that he'd left the church dance. He was
having a far better time here with his whiskey.

"Get me a bottle to take with me," Jack told the
barkeep when he was filling his glass.

"How big?"

"Something I can carry in my coat pocket."

"Coming right up." The bartender brought him a
good-sized flask of whiskey.

Jack smiled and put it in his pocket. So much for
Brent's ordering him not to drink on the HalfMoon. It was his ranch, and he'd drink there if he
wanted to.

Crystal finished her last song to rousing applause.
In keeping with her usual friendly manner, she left
the stage to greet everyone in the saloon. The
cowboys gloried in her attention.

As she went from table to table talking to the
men, Crystal noticed the older man standing at the
bar. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar,
although she was certain she'd never met him before.

"Good evening," Crystal said as she stopped
before him.

"Miss Ruby, you sure have a pretty voice," Jack
told her.

"Why, thank you, sir."

"I'm only speaking the truth," he assured her.
"My name's Jack. Would you care to join me for a
drink tonight?"

"I'd love to." Crystal looked at the bartender and
ordered a sarsaparilla.

Jack was surprised. Usually the women who
worked in saloons were heavy drinkers. "Why are
you drinking that? Have some of the good stuff," he
encouraged.

"Sarsaparilla is good stuff, for me," she answered.
"I have to perform again a little later, and I don't
want to risk not doing my best for my audience."

"You are a rare woman indeed, Miss Ruby," Jack
said.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Jack." She beamed
at him.

"That's what it was."