Ruby's Song (Love in the Sierras Book 3) (19 page)

Chapter 19

Dalton snapped the reins and made a clicking noise, urging the horses to pull the buckboard down Center Street in Carson City before veering west toward Dayton and Virginia City. Indigo sat on the bench beside him, staring out at the desert, barking every once in a while at a racing jackrabbit. Dalton glanced back to be sure the furniture was still covered and secured in the wagon as the road grew rougher, jostling his load even more. Reginald Buford would be meeting him at the crossroads to collect his order. Dalton had been glad for the excuse to ride back to his homestead four days ago. If not for the Buford order, he might still be in Virginia City, torturing himself.

He’d wanted to leave town, to get as far from Marlena as possible, but he couldn’t seem to get his feet to do it. He also wanted to hate her but he couldn’t get his heart to do that either. It would be easier to go on with hate inside instead of the constant ache of lost love. He’d fully intended to leave town after giving her the money for her gown and paying the Silver Queen for the damaged chandelier, but what happened instead took him completely by surprise. He’d fallen completely in love with her all over again. And in an instant.

Ellie had told him she’d gone to the orphanage so he went to seek her out. But he never made it past the front door. Her singing voice found him on the street and beckoned him to an open window. There, he’d stood for two hours, watching her sing and play with the children, soil her rich gown on the dirty orphanage floor as she mended clothing. She was generous with her smiles, liberal with her hugs, and he knew he would always love that heart of hers.

Knowing it belonged to someone else had been too heavy to bear, so he’d rushed away from the orphanage, but not soon enough. She’d followed him. Why, he wasn’t sure, for once she’d seen his bruises her face had turned to one of genuine concern. Seeing it made his heart ache even more. It was obvious she still cared for him, but he couldn’t take having her concern and not her love. He’d had to quit her presence or risk making an even greater fool of himself than he had at the boarding house, seeking out a woman who had chosen another.

The distance had not calmed his emotions, though. If anything, he felt more turmoil as he’d spent the entire four days reliving every word, every touch or encounter between him and Marlena in Boston, trying to determine if he’d misread their connection, their love. He came to the same conclusion after each recollection. They’d loved each other. Something had to have happened to change her heart, and he’d bet all of his money on that
something
having to do with Sarah Jeanne, the Opera Queen.

His jaw clenched and his hands tightened around the leather reins as they continued to climb up the road and wind through the mountains. As he rounded a curve, he came upon another wagon pulled slightly off the road. Its rear wheel had fallen off and a finely dressed gentleman squatted before the axle in study. Dalton slowed his wagon, pulling up behind the stalled vehicle.

As he made to leap down, the gentleman stood, and Indigo growled. Dalton’s shoulders sagged as he sighed, taking in Harrison Brady’s tall form. Harrison brandished a grateful smile and a wave as Dalton jumped down to shake the man’s hand.

“What’s going on here?” he asked.

“The wheel fell off while we were driving and I can get it back on, but it’s loose for some reason.”

Dalton scanned the area. “We?”

“Yes, we,” he heard Marlena’s voice and found her in front of the wagon, petting the mules. Their eyes locked for the briefest moment before she looked away.

“We are very fortunate you’ve come along,” Harrison said. “I secured the wheel back to the axle but it is still loose. I wonder if the axle is broken somewhere I’m not seeing. I’m afraid this contraption is nothing like my carriage in Boston and I’m at quite a loss here.”

Marlena strode toward them, rolling her eyes as if to confirm Harrison’s statement. “We’ve been stranded for almost an hour now.”

Dalton nodded toward the wheel. “The problem is with the wheel, not the axle. The wood is old. You can see tiny cracks in the hub and spokes and the bands are loose. You need a new one.”

Harrison put his hands on his hips and began to pace. “That cheap shyster. He ought to have known his equipment was defunct. What was he thinking sending us out into the desert with a bad wheel?”

“Who did you hire from?” Dalton asked.

“Tom Jackson in Gold Hill. We went to Carson City to pick up supplies for the wedding.”

“The wedding?” Dalton asked, almost choking on the words.

“Yes,” Marlena answered. “Harrison and I are getting married at Jess and Val’s next week.”

Dalton swallowed. Did he imagine the sadness in her eyes, or was he thinking merely of his own?

“You will come, of course?” Harrison added. “You and Ruby were so close in Boston. I’m sure she’d love to see you there to celebrate with us.”

“Would she?” Dalton studied Marlena again, waiting for her to meet his gaze but she refused.  

“Yes, of course,” she responded meekly. “You are welcome to attend if you’d like.”

Dalton chewed the inside of his cheek and looked into the afternoon sun. “I’m afraid I can’t. I’ve got important business.” He removed his hat and wiped a hand through his hair. “Let’s get you back to Virginia City. You’d best ride with me. That wheel is no good.”

Harrison huffed. “We’re lucky we made it this far. Ruby nearly fell from the wagon when it stumbled.”

Dalton appraised her. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, thank you. Is there no short-term remedy? Something to get us as far as Gold Hill?”

He shrugged. “If we could soak it, it might swell enough to fit the bands and get you there before it dried back to its old size, but there’s no water near enough to do that. No, I think it’s best y’all come with me. I have to make a delivery, then I can take you into Gold Hill.”

Marlena exchanged a shrug with Harrison. “Do you have room for our packages?”

Dalton nodded and the three of them went to the back of the wagon. He and Marlena reached for the same box. “I’ve got it,” he said, gently tugging it from her grip, but she held firm and pulled it back into her arms.

“No, I’ll manage.”

He released the box. “Fine.”

As soon as she lifted the box from the wagon, she stumbled and spilled the package onto the ground. The lid fell off and slid across the dirt, revealing bolts of shimmering white lace and satin. Marlena scrambled for the lid and slapped it on top of the box, ending his perusal of the pieces that would make up her wedding gown. They eyed one another before she looked away.

“Harrison, would you mind?” she asked.

“Of course not, my dear,” he said before lifting the box and setting it into the back of Dalton’s buckboard.

Once the remaining contents were transferred, Dalton unhitched the mules and tied them to the back of his wagon.

“There’s only room for two on the bench,” he said. “Harrison, do you mind sitting in back?”

“Not at all.”

Dalton patted a spot for Indigo to lay in the back of the wagon while Harrison helped Marlena up into the seat. The dog leapt back there and plopped on his belly. Harrison climbed in and smiled at the mut.

“What a handsome fellow,” he said, reaching out to stroke Indigo’s head, but the dog snarled and growled, warning him away. Harrison snatched his hand back. “Whoa. Not a friendly sort, is he?”

“He’s wary of strangers,” Dalton replied before climbing up into the seat. The bench was small, forcing his and Marlena’s sides to press together. He set the horses in motion, listening to the rattling of wood and metal over rocks and divots.

“Indigo isn’t wary of me,” Marlena said beside him. “I’m a stranger.”

Dalton’s lips stretched in a sideways grin. “He’s also a very good judge of character.”

Her forehead wrinkled as she scowled. “Don’t impugn Harrison’s character. He’s good and honorable.”

Dalton shrugged. “Maybe Indigo senses my dislike for him then.”

Marlena looked over her shoulder, as if to be sure Harrison couldn’t hear their conversation. When she turned back to face him, her violet eyes were full of fury.

“Don’t be rude. Harrison has done nothing to you.”

“Hasn’t he?” Dalton stared at her until she met his gaze. “He’s a thief.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s got you, hasn’t he?”

“Ugh,” she said with a snort, shaking her head. “He didn’t have to steal me, Dalton.
You
gave me to him.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “What the hell does that mean? I did no such thing. Honestly, Marlena, none of this makes any sense to me. Why didn’t you read my letters? Why didn’t you write me? How I longed to hear from you.” He glanced at her with his heart lodged in his throat. “I really thought we…cared for each other.”

Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, as if to ward off fresh tears, and she looked out into the desert. “I read your first letter, and believe me, before reading it I thought we cared for each other, too. Apparently, not in the same capacity.”

He studied her profile, the constant bobble of her throat, the straight rod of her back beside him, the wringing of her hands. It still didn’t make any sense. What in God’s name was she talking about? He knew damn well she’d returned his affections in Boston.

“That’s horseshit,” he said and she turned to him with narrowed eyes.

“
Excuse
me?”

“My feelings haven’t changed. They’re as strong today as they were in Boston. Just as I believe yours are. You expect me to believe I’m the only one feeling the passion between us, the heat where your hip is pressed against mine? You’re not painfully aware of our thighs touching, thinking how much better it would feel to have your skin on mine? You’re not remembering how it felt to touch each other and-”

“Stop it,” she growled. “I cannot believe how inappropriate you are. You’re not the man I thought you were.”

Dalton had little time to ponder her meaning because his name was called out by an over-excited little boy. The wagon rolled to a stop just as Maxwell Buford jumped from his own buckboard and ran up to him. No sooner had Dalton’s feet touched the ground than he was swooping up the child and squeezing him in his arms.

“Ah, little buckaroo,” he said. “You’re almost twice the size you were when I left.”

Maxwell pulled back to scowl at him. “You didn’t say goodbye.”

Dalton felt his throat thicken. “Sorry, kid. I’m not much good at them.” Reginald was by his side then, so Dalton set the boy down to shake the father’s hand. “Thank you for your order. I know you’re putting yourself out there doing business with me.”

“Nonsense,” Reginald dismissed with a wave. “I’ll pay a fair wage for a fair product, no matter who it comes from. Let’s see what you’ve got to show for yourself.”

They went to the back of the wagon and untied the mules. Harrison offered to hold their leads while Dalton uncovered the chest of drawers he’d made for Reginald. It had seven drawers all made of hickory wood, clawed feet, dark pokerwork etchings on the flanks and drawer fronts, and seven handles made of pure silver. Reginald whistled while his eyes roved up and down the piece.

“You made that?” he asked and Dalton nodded. “I think you found your calling, son. It’s a much safer line of work as well.”

“I don’t know about that,” Dalton joked. “Some of those splinters hurt like hell.”

“It’s a fine masterpiece,” Harrison agreed from behind and Dalton said his thanks.

“Let’s get her in your cart.”

Reginald and Dalton moved the chest, covered and secured it, shaking hands one last time. Maxwell ran to Dalton and tugged on the bottom of his coat.

“Show me the trick,” he said and Dalton felt his cheeks flush.

“Aww, little man. I don’t think so. Not today.”

“Please,” Maxwell begged. “I haven’t seen you in over a year. Please show me?” He turned to Marlena and Harrison. “Last year, Dalton killed five men all by himself. They tried to steal me from my ma and pa but Dalton cut ‘em down. He’s the best shooter I ever saw.”

Harrison laughed. “That’s a nice fish story, my boy.”

Maxwell’s chest puffed indignantly. “It’s not a story. It’s true. Tell him, Pa.”

Reginald nodded. “It’s true.”

Harrison started with a look of surprise and respect, but Marlena’s was soft and tender. Dalton cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Some other time, Max. I’ve got to get these two up to Gold Hill, now.”

After a final embrace, each person returned to their wagon. As they passed one another, going in opposite directions, Max shot him a mischievous smirk and pulled a coin from his pocket. Dalton sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing full well he would indulge the boy.

“Hey, Dalton,” Max cried. “Catch!”

He tossed the coin in the air and Dalton drew his pistol, cocking and firing in one smooth motion. All eyes watched as the coin’s direction suddenly reversed in mid-air, showing he’d hit it with his bullet. It landed in the back of the buckboard behind Marlena and she reached down to grab it, holding it up to the sun to reveal a hole in the middle of the coin.