Ruby (17 page)
“How did you sleep?” Millie was watching her closely. Almost as closely as Arlo. “Was the bed soft enough? Did you have enough blankets?”
“Everything was grand, Millie. I slept like a baby,” Ruby lied. Without thinking, she poured a liberal amount of sweet cream into her coffee, then sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top.
“What are you doing?” Millie asked.
“This is cafe au lait. Coffee and cream. The way I always drank it in Bayou Rouge,” Ruby explained. “Would you like to try it?”
Millie made herself a cup, sipped, then sighed. “Oh, Ruby, that’s tasty. How about you, Arlo? Care to try it?”
“No, thanks. I’ll just drink plain old Texas coffee,” he said.
“How about some of those cinnamon biscuits you missed last night?” Millie moved a plate of warm biscuits closer to Ruby, along with jam and honey. “I think Arlo’s already eaten half a dozen.”
Ruby shook her head. “No, thank you. But if you don’t mind, I’ll take a few with me. For my assistant.”
“Assistant.” Arlo perked up. “You’ve already hired an assistant at the shop?”
“Yes, I...” Ruby felt both of them staring at her and fought to ignore the flutter in the pit of her stomach. “I couldn’t resist hiring her.”
“Business must be very good,” Arlo remarked.
“A little slow, of course, since I’m just beginning. But I sold two gowns yesterday, along with a bonnet and a length of lace.”
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Millie cracked eggs into a bowl and began to beat them. “Arlo likes his eggs scrambled. How would you like yours?”
“No eggs, thank you. I’ll just finish this coffee and be on my way.”
As Millie turned to the stove Arlo said conversationally, “I looked in on your shop on my way here.”
“And what did you think?”
“Looked a bit prissy for my taste.”
“Well, what did you expect? It is a ladies’ shop.”
“I found the door ajar. Closed it before I headed over here.”
Ruby blanched. Coffee sloshed over the rim of her cup. She took no notice. All she could think of was all those lovely gowns and bonnets. The bolt of expensive lace. The buttons, and feathers, and... All gone? Oh, sweet heaven. And all because of her foolish belief that she could be like her papa.
She scraped back her chair and got to her feet.
Millie turned. “Where are you—?”
“I’m sorry, Millie. I must go.”
As Ruby started down the hall, Arlo jumped up to follow.
“What about your eggs?” Millie called after him.
There was no reply. He was already halfway out the door. He wasn’t about to miss this. It was the most exciting thing that had happened since the marshal left town.
Ruby stopped outside her little shop. With a quick twist of the knob, she strode inside, with Arlo right behind her.
“Patience,” she called as she swept through the empty shop.
There was no response.
A quick glance at the wall assured her that the gowns were still where she’d left them. As were the bonnets, the feathers, the jars of buttons.
She let out an audible sigh as she strode toward the back room. She opened the door and looked around. The chaise was empty, the quilt tossed carelessly to one side. Nothing else in the room appeared to be out of place.
“Well,” Arlo said from behind her. “At least your new assistant didn’t strip your shop bare before she left.”
“But where would she have gone?” Ruby started to pace. “She has no home, no family.”
“Is that what she told you, Miss Jewel? How do you know it was the truth?”
“I don’t understand. Why would she lie?”
“She could be a runaway,” Arlo said. “Maybe she was tired of ranch chores. It happens sometimes. A woman marries young, hoping to escape a hard life, only to find that marriage and young ones and her new chores are even worse than the life she ran from.”
Ruby shook her head, trying to deny what she was already starting to believe. “She did look like someone on the run. She was starving. And exhausted.” And, she thought, her boots had been caked with mud, her gown threadbare. “But she seemed so sincere.”
“If you’d like, Miss Ruby, I’ll check out the Wanted posters, see if anything shows up about her.”
“Yes, thank you, Arlo. I suppose I should...”
They both turned at the sound of footsteps. Patience raced through the open doorway, then skidded to a halt when she saw the deputy. She visibly paled.
“Patience,” Ruby called. “When I found the shop empty, I thought... Where were you?”
“There’s a lovely little stream just over that meadow outside of town. I wanted to wash before you got here this morning, Miss Jewel.”
Little drops of water still glistened in her corn-silk hair. And her face, though still pale, was scrubbed clean. As was her gown.
“You walked all that way just to wash?”
Patience bobbed her head, as eager as a child. “I didn’t want you to be embarrassed by your new assistant.”
Seeing the way Ruby and Arlo were watching her, her smile faded. “Maybe I’m not your assistant anymore. Have you changed your mind, Miss Jewel?”
Ruby ignored the look in the deputy’s eyes and hurried across the room. “Of course I haven’t changed my mind. You’re still my assistant.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Jewel. I’ll work hard. I’ll do anything you want.”
“I know you will, Patience. And your first assignment is to go to Millie Potter’s boardinghouse at the end of town.”
The smite was back on the young girl’s face. “Yes, ma’am. And what do you want me to do there?”
“I want you to tell her you’ve come to eat the eggs she scrambled for the deputy.”
Though Patience looked confused, Ruby urged her to the door. “Go now. And tell Millie Potter to add your meal to my bill.”
The shy smile bloomed. “Yes, ma’am. I will. And...” She started away, then called over her shoulder, “I won’t be long.”
When they were alone, Ruby avoided Arlo’s eyes and began folding the quilt. “I’m glad I was wrong. I’m glad we were both wrong,” she amended, still feeling the sting of guilt.
“I hope you’ll take some advice, Miss Ruby.”
She set the quilt at the foot of the chaise and began smoothing the wrinkles.
“Just remember. Sometimes a stray will bite the hand that feeds it.”
She waited until he walked away. Then she sank onto the chaise and stared after him. Her hand reflexively went to the rope of gold at her throat, from which dangled an onyx and a ruby.
“Oh, Papa,” she prayed. “I’m making such a mess of things. I wish you were here to help me sort them out.”
Then, as she fingered the two precious stones, she felt a sense of peace. Hadn’t Onyx Jewel told her, when he’d presented this gift to her on her sixteenth birthday, that he would always be with her?
She took a deep breath and added, “I’ll keep trying, Papa. I know that’s what you would have done.”
Patience returned from breakfast eager to work. The first thing Ruby demanded was that she try on several of the gowns.
“But why?” Patience asked.
“Because you are working in my shop now. And I can’t have my customers seeing you in that.” Ruby pointed to the shabby gown and worn boots. “What would they think if we were not properly dressed?”
“But I couldn’t afford even one of your gowns,” Patience protested. “Let alone several.”
“You will earn them,” Ruby said, leading her toward the changing room.
They finally settled on two simple muslins, one pale pink, one buttercup yellow, along with a creamy white pinafore to keep them clean.
Studying her reflection in the looking glass, the young woman was stunned. A chance to earn her keep. And two new gowns. All within the space of a day and night.
When Ruby asked for a sample of her sewing, Patience took up needle and thread and made a variety of stitches on a piece of white fabric. Pleased, Ruby said, “A worthy assistant. I believe Sister Dominique would be impressed. But for now, come and I’ll show you what services we offer our customers.”
When that was done, she took up Millie’s lace table cover and began to sew, all the while watching as Patience began to wait on first one customer, then another.
Not one woman, Ruby noted, was from the town. All were from outlying ranches. Which only proved to her that the women of Hanging Tree still thought of her as an outsider. One unworthy of their patronage.
Another reason to resent Quent Regan. But she couldn’t resent him. She was too busy missing him. And hating herself for such foolish feelings.
Chapter Fifteen
A
s Jade’s white-and-gilt carriage rolled through the dusty street of Hanging Tree, it caused the usual stir. After all, it was far more suited to the streets of San Francisco. As were the women who rode in it.
s Jade’s white-and-gilt carriage rolled through the dusty street of Hanging Tree, it caused the usual stir. After all, it was far more suited to the streets of San Francisco. As were the women who rode in it.
Jade brought the matched team of whites to a stop in front of Ruby’s shop. Then she and Diamond and Pearl stepped down.
“My, oh, my. Will you look at that.” Patience stared in openmouthed surprise at the three regal beauties heading toward the shop.
Ruby looked up, then set her sewing aside and hurried to hug her sisters.
“Patience,” she said when she’d greeted them, “I’d like you to meet my sisters, Diamond, Pearl and Jade.”
“How do you do?” Patience couldn’t help staring at these exotic women, who all looked so different from each other.
“Patience works for me,” Ruby explained. “As my assistant.”
That caused the three to study this stranger more closely. Pale yellow hair had been carefully washed and combed. And the neat muslin gown fit her perfectly. It was obviously one of Ruby’s creations.
Satisfied, they turned to Ruby.
“We’ve come to fetch you home,” Pearl announced.
“Carmelita’s fit to be tied,” Diamond said. “She hasn’t been able to sleep, just worrying about you here in town.”
“But I still have so much work to do,” Ruby protested. “With the town social ready to begin, there are many ranchers coming into town, bringing me new customers. And I have only two hands.”
“Then you’ll just have to keep those hands busy sewing at the ranch,” Jade said. “And no arguing. You can’t put Carmelita through another night of worry.”
Reluctantly Ruby nodded. “You’re right, of course. It’s been selfish of me not to think about her.”
“Good. You’ll come with us now?” Diamond asked.
Ruby nodded, then had a sudden thought.
“Oui.
And I’m bringing Patience along, as well.”
“Oui.
And I’m bringing Patience along, as well.”
When the girl looked as though she’d refuse, Ruby said, “Now that my sisters have places of their own, the ranch house is practically empty. And Carmelita is always complaining about nobody to cook for. I’d like you to come with me. I promise you’ll enjoy it. Besides, I need you to help with the sewing.”
Patience swallowed, then nodded her head.
“Good.” To her sisters Ruby said, “I’ll take my own rig. It’s been at Neville Oakley’s livery since yesterday morning.”
“Come on, then.” Diamond, whose buckskins looked as though they’d burst if they were stretched any tighter, led the way to the carriage. “You can ride with us as far as the livery.”
“I’ll need a few minutes,” Ruby said as she began to gather up the gowns that still needed tailoring. Patience worked alongside her, gathering up Ruby’s sewing supplies.
When everything was in readiness, they climbed in beside Pearl, Jade and Diamond. Jade flicked the reins.
As soon as they rolled up to the livery, Neville Oakley set aside his bellows and hurried to hitch up Ruby’s horse. A few minutes later he led the horse and cart from the stable.
“Thank you, Mr. Oakley,” Ruby called.
As he helped her into the cart, she said, “This is my assistant, Patience Carter.”
“Hello, Mr. Oakley.” Patience placed her hand in his.
For a moment he seemed robbed of speech at the sight of this frail, delicate creature in the simple gown and worn boots. Then, swallowing, he managed “Ma’am.”
Patience was lifted effortlessly to the seat beside Ruby.
At a flick of the reins, the two carriages rolled out of town. And as they ate up the miles to the Jewel ranch, the air was filled with the sound of women’s voices, laughing, chatting, catching up on each other’s busy lives, and making plans for the big event of the year, the town social.
Along a riverbed far from town, Quent knelt beside his horse and drank.
He’d checked at every ranch. Talked with every wrangler. There had been no reports of stolen horses, no sightings of strangers in the area.
He’d studied the trail for any sign of a makeshift camp and found it remarkably clean.
Why, then, did he have this prickly feeling along his scalp? As though he were being watched.
He got to his feet and stood beside his horse. While he pretended to check the saddle, he studied the surrounding hills. Birds wheeled overhead. A herd of deer moved lazily across a dry gulch. There wasn’t a single thing out of place.
He was a man who’d always relied on his instincts. And right now every instinct was warning of danger.
But where? And who?
He’d come out here for one reason. To make himself a target. He figured if Boyd Barlow was still in the area, he wouldn’t be able to resist the chance for revenge. He’d remained in the open, riding across hills and valleys in plain view. And each night he’d made a campfire that could be seen for miles. But though he’d baited the trap, there’d been not a single nibble.
He pulled himself into the saddle. It was obvious that he’d been wrong. He’d been away too long. It was time to head back to town. He’d never have stayed away so long in the first place, except for Ruby. After the way he’d treated her, he had a need to be alone with his thoughts. But his thoughts were proving to be too troubling. What he needed now was to be around people.
In a way, he dreaded the thought of returning. It meant having to look at her, and reading the censure in her eyes. It meant looking, but never touching. He didn’t know whether he could handle the knowledge that she would never again smile at him, speak with him. Touch him and lie with him.
But he’d been running long enough. It was time to go home and try to get on with his life.
Boyd Barlow held the rifle to his shoulder and squinted through the site as the marshal crested a ridge. His finger actually trembled on the trigger as he imagined squeezing it slowly, and watching the lawman tumble from the saddle and fall to the dirt.
It would be so easy.
But it wasn’t good enough. Not after what the marshal had done to his brother.
He’d had plenty of time to think about this. He didn’t just want Quent Regan dead. What he wanted, he thought, lowering the rifle, was to be close enough to see Regan’s face when he was mortally wounded. To watch the blood pool around him, as his life slowly slipped away, just as the marshal had watched his brother’s blood ooze and his life end. He wanted Quent Regan to know who’d pulled the trigger. In fact, he wanted everyone to know who had cut down this stinking lawman.
That’s why he’d decided to choose a public place to kill Quent Regan. And it didn’t get any more public than the marshal’s own town. During the town social. When everyone would be there to witness it.
Oh, he knew all about the social. And all about the town. He had his own methods of gleaning information. And when he put his plan into action, he’d be able to walk through the town without anyone recognizing him.
Soon, very soon, everyone would know the name Boyd Barlow. The man who killed Marshal Quent Regan, the fastest gun in Texas.
Carmelita stood on the porch and watched until the two wagons rolled to a stop. Then she hurried down the steps to hug Ruby. “At last, you are home. I was so worried.”
“I’m sorry, Carmelita. I shouldn’t have stayed away so long without sending you word.”
“
Sí
. I had you dead, wounded, starving, going without sleep.”
Sí
. I had you dead, wounded, starving, going without sleep.”
“And that was only the first hour,” Diamond said dryly as she awkwardly climbed the stairs.
“And you, Senora Diamond,” Carmelita scolded. “Look at you. You should not be riding around the countryside in your condition. You should be confined to bed until this baby is born.”
“This baby might not come for weeks yet. I’d go crazy lying in bed for that long.” Diamond pressed her hands to the small of her back. “Though I must admit, I don’t think I could take another mile in that carriage.” She glanced around. “Where’s Adam? I told him to meet me here, so he’d have a good supper.”
“He is inside, talking with Cal and Dan and Marshal Regan,” the housekeeper said.
At that, Ruby’s heart stuttered, then began racing.
Quent Regan here?
Before she could smooth down her skirts, or touch a hand to her tousled hair, the door opened and Adam, Cal and Dan emerged from the house, followed by Quent.
While Diamond, Pearl and Jade smiled their pleasure at the sight of their husbands, and greeted them affectionately, Ruby and Quent merely stared at one another.
He looked as he had the last time he’d returned from the wilderness. His hair long enough to curl over the collar of his shirt, the shirt she’d made for him. His cheeks and chin covered by a dark, shaggy growth of beard. His eyes seemed even more penetrating than she’d remembered. As though they could see clear through to her soul. He was a handsome, commanding presence, as wild, as primitive as this place he called home. And she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until now, when he was standing here before her.
She felt her heart lurch.
When she finally managed to find her voice she said, “What are you doing here, Marshal?”
“I had some business in the area. Thought I’d pay a neighborly visit.”
“I invited him to stay for supper,” Carmelita said. “But he refuses.”
“I need to get back to town. I’m sure by now Arlo has my paperwork in a shambles.”
Carmelita stared at the stranger still seated in Ruby’s rig. “And who is this?”
“I’m sorry.” With much effort, Ruby pulled her scrambled thoughts together. “This is Patience Carter. My new assistant. Patience, our housekeeper, Carmelita Alvarez, and the marshal of Hanging Tree, Quent Regan.”
“Marshal?”
Quent noticed the way the young woman avoided his eyes before turning to the housekeeper. “I hope you don’t mind an extra mouth to feed. But Ruby insisted.”
“Of course she did. The house has become too empty. All my birds have flown away.”
“Well, this chicken has come home to roost,” Adam said after giving his wife a long, loving look. “At least for the night.”
“What do you mean?” Diamond demanded.
“I mean that you can’t hide your discomfort anymore. I think we should move back here, where Carmelita can keep an eye on you.”
“Now you are being sensible.” A wide smile split Carmelita’s lips.
Pearl nodded. “I think you should listen, Di. I’m really afraid you’ll end up having that baby all alone while Adam’s miles from home.”
Seeing that Diamond was about to argue, Carmelita caught her hand. “You will go inside and sit,” she ordered. “And I will fix you tea.”
“Coffee,” Diamond called to her retreating back. “Hot and black.”
“
Sí.
Tea.” The housekeeper hurried away. “And while I am gone, the rest of you will talk some sense into Senora Diamond.”
Sí.
Tea.” The housekeeper hurried away. “And while I am gone, the rest of you will talk some sense into Senora Diamond.”
The others merely grinned. Carmelita Alvarez was the only person who could bully Diamond into taking care of herself. Whether she liked it or not.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Diamond demanded. “Let’s go inside.”
As the others followed her indoors, Quent started down the steps.
“Can’t we persuade you to stay for supper?” Adam called.
“Another time.” As he passed Ruby, Quent inhaled the sweet, dark fragrance of roses.
The pain was so sharp and swift, it felt like a knife in his heart. He’d known it would be painful to see her again. But he hadn’t been prepared for this.
Mustering all his willpower, he pulled himself into the saddle and took off without a backward glance.
As he rode away, Ruby stood alone, watching until he disappeared from view.
From inside she could hear the voices and laughter of her family. For some strange reason, they only added to her misery.
She had never felt so alone, or so wretched, in her life.
Ruby carefully folded the length of lace and wrapped it in brown paper, then placed the bundle in a basket, which she carried over her arm. As she drew near the boardinghouse, she saw the wagons and carts of several boarders, in town for the social. Only the most prosperous ranchers would pay to put their families up at Millie Potter’s. The rest would sleep in their wagons, or under the stars.
All around town could be seen the glow of campfires. The air was sharp with the tang of roasting meat. But the sweetest smells of all came from Millie’s kitchen. As Birdie Bidwell opened the front door to admit Ruby, the fragrance of Millie’s pot roast and freshly baked bread wafted on the air.
Birdie’s freckled face bore a dusting of flour. A smear of chocolate ran from the corner of her mouth to her chin.
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