Ruby's Song (Love in the Sierras Book 3) (25 page)

Chapter 26

Marlena bowed to each corner as she waited for the applause to die down. Once silence descended again, she walked to the front of the stage to speak with the crowd.

“Thank you for such a warm response,” she said. “I consider Virginia City my home. It was in this town my sister met her husband and we made many wonderful friends. In this town, we felt looked after. We felt the spirit of community when the mines caved in, when our shop burned down and many other times. Well, it is time to feel that community spirit again.

“There’s been no catastrophe, no tragedy for us all to rally behind. Except for one. We’ve forgotten the children of our fallen. Our orphanage is in need of your donations to provide clothing and coal through winter, food, soap, schooling supplies and more. Whenever you read of an untimely death in the Territorial Enterprise, there is likely a child left without a mother or father. I love this town, and I know we can do better than this. Tonight, I am donating all of the proceeds from your ticket purchases to the orphanage.”

    Murmurs of approval filled the air before the crowd erupted into applause. Marlena nodded and held her hands up to silence the crowd. “Our orphans are strong, proud people, like all Nevadans, and they don’t want your pity or your charity. They want to give you something in return. So, I’ve got a special surprise for you tonight. Please enjoy this encore. If the message inspires you to give more than the cost of your ticket, ushers will be around to accept your donation.”

People in the audience shifted back and forth in their seats, and Marlena nodded to the harpist on the stage, who began a gentle strum. When the moment came, she lifted her voice to sing the first verse of Amazing Grace, suspending the words and notes she wanted to infuse in her captive listeners. When the verse finished, the harpist ceased playing, and Marlena remained quiet while Hazel stepped through the part of the curtain and took center stage.

She glanced at Marlena, who gave her an encouraging nod. The girl took a deep breath and sang the second verse a capella. Her tone was pure and solid, her ability natural. It didn’t surprise Marlena. She knew Hazel inherited the talent from her mother. Sarah stood at stage-right, watching the child sing, unaware it was her own flesh and blood she admired. But Marlena would soon remedy that.

When the third verse began, the curtain pulled apart to reveal four rows of orphans, cleaned and dressed in their finest clothes. The chorus of children’s voices added two harmonies, giving the song another dimension, a beauty that brought bumps to Marlena’s arms. Patrons sat forward in their seats, their jaws dropped in awe.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home

For the fourth verse, Marlena joined the chorus, offering a fourth harmony. Her singing encouraged the children to project louder and the music swelled to reach the topmost balcony seat. She nodded toward the back of the auditorium and the aisles were swarmed with some of the older orphan boys, carrying upturned hats. They passed them down the aisles, where they were filled with money.

Tears rushed to her eyes at the sight. Not one person she saw failed to donate. When the final verse neared its end, she nodded at the children, preparing them to belt out the finale as she’d taught them. Their voices divided into five harmonies, starting soft and building as the children walked forward toward the edge of the stage. They spread in a straight line, raising the tone until they bellowed at full capacity and held the note as long as possible. Marlena swiped her arm in one smooth motion and the voices fell silent, leaving a convicting quietness as Hazel stepped forward to issue one final appeal in her soft, angelic voice.

Was blind, but now I see.

A long pause ensued, during which Marlena watched several women dab at their dripping eyes. Soon, a single pair of hands applauded from the back of the theater, and she saw Dalton standing there. Others joined and before long every seat emptied as the audience came to their feet with rapturous applause. The kids glanced from one another with wide, excited smiles. Several of them ran to Marlena, throwing their arms around her waist. She laughed and hugged them back, grabbing their hands and raising them before she led them in a bow. When she stood up, she looked to the side of the stage and found Emily Stacy applauding while tears streamed down her cheeks.

Marlena smiled, feeling the greatest sense of fulfillment in her life. She motioned the children back and had them remain standing until the curtain closed in front of them. Then, it all turned to chaos as children screamed and jumped up and down, hugging each other and running around in triumph.  

She grabbed Hazel and led her away from the celebrating group, preparing to do the second greatest deed of her life, but Sarah seemed to have disappeared. Marlena spied Harrison and went to him.

“Where is Sarah?” she asked. “I saw her a moment ago, but now I can’t seem to find her.”

He looked around with pursed lips. “I’ve no idea, my dear. Oh, forgive me. I shouldn’t call you that.”

She reached out and squeezed his forearm. “You’re fine to call me that, Harrison.”

He patted her hand. “Probably best if I didn’t. I can already see the way this will go.”

She frowned, feeling her body soften with pity, for she could neither confirm nor deny his statement. Sarah appeared through the opera house’s back door and Marlena turned a wide smile onto her.

“Where did you go?”

Sarah’s eyes darted from side to side and her forehead fell into worried grooves. She swallowed and stepped forward. “Marlena, I need to talk to you.”

Marlena grabbed her hand. “I need to talk to you, too. I want you to meet someone special.” She pulled Hazel forward to stand between them as she placed her hands on her shoulders.

“Ah yes,” Sarah drawled. “The little starlet. You did extremely well, my dear.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Marlena smiled knowingly. “Sarah, this is my new friend,
Hazel
.” Sarah’s smile fell and her wide eyes darted to Marlena’s. “She’s seven years old. Her father was an engineer who died during a site walk, and her mother succumbed soon after to pneumonia. She’s been living at the orphanage for the past six months.”

Sarah’s hand flew up to cover her mouth and she spun around, giving them her back. Hazel looked up in question at Marlena, who patted her lightly on the shoulder. Harrison sent her an incredulous look and she nodded. Sarah’s shoulders shook several times before she finally turned around again.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she sank to her knees, bringing her face-to-face with Hazel. Her eyes roved the girl’s features while her lips quivered. Her throat moved up and down as she swallowed several times. “Hazel,” she said softly, emotion making her voice hoarse. “May I hug you?”

Hazel’s eyes darted back and forth. “Um...if you want to.”

Sarah chuckled through her falling tears and nodded. “I do. I really, really do.” Hazel nodded and Sarah wrapped her arms around the girl. She pinched her eyes shut, but the tears continued to fall. A long and happy sigh escaped her lips. Marlena glanced at Harrison through her own tears and he smiled as they hugged one another, too full of joy and celebration not to.

Sarah pulled back and studied her daughter’s face. “You are a very beautiful, very special young lady. Do you know, I used to be an opera singer?”

“You were?”

A wide smile spread across Sarah’s face as she nodded. “A pretty famous one, actually.”

“She taught me everything I know,” Marlena said and Hazel’s eyes widened in awe.

“What did they call you?” she asked.

“Sarah Jeanne, the Opera Queen.”

Hazel’s gaze turned dreamy and she looked between Marlena and Sarah. “I wish I could be famous like you two.”

Sarah tilted her head. “It will take a lot of work. That’s what the word opera means, you know.” She glanced up and smiled at Marlena, who returned the gesture. “If you are serious, I could teach you, but you’d have to come live with me.”

“Where do you live?”

Sarah’s eyes turned sad and fell to the ground. “Well, I...um...don’t really have a home yet. That is something we will have to work out.”

“Why not here?” Marlena asked. “There’s a whole choir of children out there who need instruction.”

Sarah slowly came to her feet. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t pay. How would I make a living?”

“Elijah has no reach out here, Sarah. I’m sure you could do concerts at Piper’s and nearby towns. Your name still means something. You’re not forgotten. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of families willing to pay to have their children taught by the great Opera Queen. Plus, you’ll have half of my earnings for the next four years.”

Sarah smiled, considering it until Hazel tugged on her skirt. She dropped back down to a squat.

“If you don’t live here, I’m afraid I can’t go with you,” she told Sarah, whose face fell in worry.

“Why not?”

“Because my family is here. The other children at the orphanage and Miss Stacy, they’re my family and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere without them.”

Marlena knelt beside Hazel and gave her a hug. “You’re a very wise girl, Hazel.”

“That settles it then,” Sarah said without hesitation. “I’ll stay here.”

“What about the tour?” Harrison interjected. “What about the next four years with Ruby?”

“You can handle that,” she said before turning her gaze on Marlena. “And so can Marlena. She is more than capable. Once you marry, you’ll control the enterprise together.”

Harrison cleared his throat. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. In fact, I wish to discuss something with you both. That is, if little Hazel doesn’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Hazel said before running back to her friends.

Marlena felt her brow wrinkle curiously as Harrison faced them. He turned his hat in his hands as he took a deep breath. “I wish to issue my resignation as Ruby’s manager. And there won’t be a wedding.”

Sarah’s face fell. “What do you mean?”

Harrison’s sad eyes met Marlena’s. “Ruby’s heart belongs to Dalton. I can see it, plain as day, and I won’t come between them. However, I am not man enough to stick around and bear witness. I will give you two or three names of very capable managers to replace me.”

Marlena’s lips pressed together in a small smile. “Where will you go?”

“Back to Boston, I expect.” He turned to Sarah. “If I’m still around when little Hazel there is ready to tour, call on me?”

Sarah leapt into his arms, crying once again. “Of course, though I don’t know how I shall get on without you, my dearest friend.”

“You always manage, old girl. It isn’t your nature to fail.”

When they’d pulled apart, Marlena hugged him next, savoring the warm embrace of his friendship. “Thank you, Harrison,” she whispered, and felt him nod against her ear.

“Best of luck to you and Mr. Cunningham.”

She nodded. He strode away, leaving both women with a certain emptiness. Sarah sighed beside her.

“Marlena, you’ve given me something precious tonight, something I can never repay, so I don’t want to sound ungrateful or presumptuous, but...Dalton? Really? Are you sure?”

Before she could answer, Emily Stacy appeared. “Have you seen Hazel? I’m trying to gather all of the children to go back to the orphanage and she is the only one I can’t find.”

Sarah and Marlena looked around but saw no sign of the child.

“Did you look outside in the carriages?” Marlena asked and Emily shook her head.

Sarah gasped. “Not the carriages!”

She ran outside and Marlena shared a curious look with Emily. “I’ll go after her and see what that’s about.”

Slipping through the back door and out into the alley, rows of carriages crammed into the space, the cubicles she’d hired to cart the children back and forth.

“Sarah?” she called scanning the row. No answer came. “Hazel?” She walked down the line until she reached the first carriage in the line. The driver leaned down from his perch to address her.

“You looking for the lady and the girl?”

“Yes. Have you seen them?”

“They’re inside.”

Marlena opened the door and leaned inside, but without any light she couldn’t see them. “Sarah?” She reached out to a shapeless black form and felt a shoulder. Her hand slid up the unmoving body until it hit something warm and wet. She pulled her hand away and held it up to the moonlight, noticing bright red blood. A gust of air sucked into her lungs before she felt a solid blow to the back of her head and everything went black.

Chapter 27

When Morgan and Val joined Dalton at the back of the theater, the orphan choir was in full roar, and Dalton had never felt so in love with Marlena or so relieved he’d made it back to Virginia City before Shakespeare got his hands on her. He leaned toward Val.

“Did you see anything amiss out there?”

He shook his head.

“No loiterers,” Morgan said. “Only a group of carriage drivers huddling in conversation smoking cigarettes. No sign of anyone lurking about.”

Dalton nodded. “Nothing suspicious in here either. Once the concert is over I don’t want her out of my sight.”

“She rode here with us in our carriage,” Morgan said. “She’s planning to meet us in the lobby once the crowd thins.”

A sigh of relief left his lungs, and when a young boy came over with an upturned hat, Dalton emptied his pockets of money. Morgan and Val added their donations and the young man wandered off. The final note of Amazing Grace swelled to a height that pebbled his skin with gooseflesh and made his eyes sting. Although, that could have been exhaustion. Once the immediate threat subsided, Dalton felt his weariness from head to toe and his body swayed.

He knuckled his eyes and yawned before joining the audience in applauding the singers onstage. Soon, the curtain closed and bodies filed out of the opera house. He kept his eyes on his mother and the man at her side. She leaned into his body and rested her head on his shoulder and Dalton frowned. The man couldn’t be a customer, for his mother had given that up, plus she never showed such affection with customers. Dalton stepped in their path.

“Ma, I need to speak with you.”

Her eyes moved between Dalton and the man beside her. “We need to speak to you, too.”

His forehead wrinkled. “We?”

“Yes,” she answered. “Me and...my husband.”

Dalton blinked through a wide-eyed stare before he stood to his full height and addressed the man. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I’m Urban O’Reilly, the blacksmith.”

He stuck out his hand and Dalton hesitated before shaking it. His mother smiled.

“We’ve been seeing each other for the past year in secret,” she said and Dalton raised an eyebrow at Urban.

“Why in secret?”

“Don’t spew your anger at me,” Urban returned solidly. “I wanted to marry her a year ago. All the running around in secret was her doings, not mine. I finally got her to marry me two nights ago.”

Juliet’s eyes turned sad. “Rosa’s death put a lot into perspective for me.”

A wave of grief washed over him again and he nodded.

“We’re moving away, Dalton,” she continued. “We can’t lead a respectable life here. Urban’s business has already been affected by rumors. Now that we’re out in public, this will ruin him for sure. So, we are going where nobody knows about my past.”

Dalton shook his head, trying to clear it of the chaos of emotions, information and exhaustion flooding him for the past two days. “Where will you go? How far?”

She shrugged. “No farther than necessary. We’re thinking Placerville, maybe.”

He sighed, knowing he could get there in two days if needed.

“I’m going to change my hair color,” she said. “Go back to my natural brown.” Her chest filled as she took a deep breath. “And…I sold the brothel to
the Dutchess
.”

A smirk tugged on Dalton’s lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Oh, hush up,” Juliet said. “It’s already souring my stomach that I had to sell to that strumpet after she’s been stealing my customers for the past six years, but I had no choice. I wanted my girls looked after and she’s the best one to do it.”

“She’s been trying to get you to sell to her for years now,” Dalton said. “I hope you made her pay handsomely for it.”

“I did,” Juliet answered with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Thirty thousand dollars.”

“What?! She paid you that?”

“Oh, hell yes. She knows she’ll make more than that in a year or two based off of my reputation alone. Plus, she can sell the building as well to recoup some of that.” A small smile played on her lips. “Besides, that’s how much I needed. I’m giving it all to you Dalton. I know you’ve been saving to buyout Marlena’s contract. Now, you can.”

He was stunned, speechless. To know it was within his grasp to free Marlena after laboring for more than a year, he nearly fell to his knees. Turning it down was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.

“I can’t, Ma. You earned that money, having to live the life you have. I can’t take it from you.”

“There’s no need for you to take it, Dalton. It’s already in your account. Besides, Urban can provide for us.”

Urban nodded and clasped Juliet’s hand. “Too right, I will. On my honor, boy, your mother will be taken care of.”

The crowd was almost completely dispersed and Dalton wanted to go to the lobby to await Marlena. He held his hands out wide. “I wish I had more time to get to know you, to celebrate with you both, but I have to be going. When do you leave for Placerville?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

“I’m afraid so. I’ll write you when we’re settled.”

He clutched his mother to him with mixed feelings. She looked genuinely happy and in love, and Urban seemed a decent man. Dalton trusted his instincts, and they told him Urban would treat his mother well. He decided against telling them about Shakespeare and the truth about Rosa’s death. She was riding away from this town, its memories and dangers, and he’d let her go with a happy heart.

“I love you, Ma.”

“Love you, too.”

Her eyes were wet when they pulled apart. He shook Urban’s hand one last time and watched them leave before joining the Kellys in the lobby. Marlena was not among them and Jess paced vigorously across the floor.

“She hasn’t come out yet?”

“No,” Jess said. “And I wish you idiots would have told us what was going on before you took off for two days.” She shot a glare at Val who pointed at Dalton.

“His idea,” Val said.

“Morgan knew,” Dalton defended.

“We’re not helpless,” Jess continued. “If we had known, we would have been more vigilant and armed.”

“Yes, but in your condition, you don’t need the extra worry,” Dalton said and Jess pinned him with a cold, violet stare.

“You be careful, Dalton Cunningham. My esteem for you is questionable as of late. My sister does nothing but cry every time she sees you and now you’re making decisions for me? Watch yourself or that funny feeling you get in the front of your trousers may be the barrel of my gun.”

Dalton looked to Val for defense but he only shrugged. Lila stepped forward and gripped her husband’s elbow. “I don’t like being away from the children with this madman about. Perhaps Morgan and I could leave now for Ellie’s and the rest of you join up after you’ve collected Marlena?”

“That’s a good idea,” Dalton said and the two of them left.

The minutes ticked by until Dalton felt an eerie sensation, a prickling in the back of his neck that never boded well. The sensation grew until his entire body tingled with apprehension. Without a word he ran back into the opera house and down toward the stage. He’d just leapt atop it as Emily Stacy came running from backstage, calling for help. He gripped her arms.

“Where’s Marlena?”

“She’s gone!” Emily wailed. “Sarah and Hazel, too, and there’s blood outside!”

His heart sank and Jess gasped behind him. He turned in time to see her fall faint. Val caught her and looked at Dalton with grim determination.

“Go! I’ll take her to Ellie’s and catch up.”

Dalton turned back to Emily. “Show me the blood.”

She led him past a huddle of fearful orphans clinging to one another and out the back door into the alley. They passed three parked carriages as she rattled on.

“There were four carriages out here to transport the children. Hazel was missing. Marlena and Sarah came out here to look. They were gone for a while so I came out and found the front carriage gone and this blood.”

Dalton knelt to study the drops. It wasn’t enough to prove a killing, but that didn’t stop the panic and fear from clawing around his heart, nearly squeezing the life out of him. Marlena may still be alive, but if he knew Shakespeare, it wouldn’t be for long. He had to hurry. If they left the city, he’d have only the light of the moon to look for tracks and that would slow him down considerably.

His horse was tied in front and as he rounded the corner of the building, a tired Indigo rose from his spot on the ground. He must have caught up to him during the show and waited out front. Dalton had never been so relieved.

“Indigo, come!”

The dog ran to him, full of renewed energy at his master’s call. He took him to the tiny puddle of blood where he sniffed, dragging his nose across the dirt all around the area.

“Good boy,” Dalton encouraged. “We have to find Marlena, Indigo.” He lifted the dog’s head to look him straight in the eye. “We
have
to find her. Help me, boy. Go, find Marlena.”

Indigo’s tongue lapped once over Dalton’s face before he took off at a run. Dalton ran to his horse, climbed in the saddle and followed Indigo out of town and into the desert outside of Carson City. They found the abandoned carriage and Dalton studied ground around it in the blue light of the moon, determining that five horses had ridden away from the carriage.

Indigo shook rapidly as he panted and Dalton knew he needed water, but he had no canteen or saddle bags with food. He’d left all of that on his other horse when they’d arrived at the boarding house. He could go without it for a bit longer, but Indigo couldn’t.

A dry creek bed meandered through the landscape and Dalton knelt atop it, using his hands to dig. The soil beneath the surface was moist, letting him know groundwater was within reach. He shaped his hand into a hook and clawed at the ground, scooping out great heaps of muddy dirt until he was rewarded with a small puddle of murky water.

“Indigo, here boy. Drink.” The dog lapped up every bit of the liquid and Dalton dug up some more. He grabbed a few handfuls for himself, too, not knowing where he’d end up and how long he’d have to go without water.

They got back on the trail, with Indigo leading the way, stopping every now and then to sniff a bit of brush or dirt. Dalton watched the tracks and pulled on his reins when he noticed the tracks veer south. Indigo continued on a northern course and Dalton called him back. Dismounting, he studied the tracks. They definitely turned south. Indigo dug his heels in and barked, spinning in a circle before taking a few steps north. Dalton climbed onto the saddle and turned to follow the tracks.

“Come, Indigo. This way.”

Indigo barked and backed up, turning north again and running a few paces before turning to bark again.

“No, Indigo.” Dalton shook his head. “This way.”

Indigo never moved. He stood still and barked endlessly. Dalton frowned, wondering what to do. There were no tracks moving north, only south, but Indigo was hell bent on moving north. If they went the wrong way, he would lose precious time, time that could mean devastation to him. He took a deep breath and went with his gut.

“Indigo, you better be right, boy.”

They carried on north, with Dalton uttering prayers of guidance the entire way. An hour before sunrise, Indigo began to slow, his back legs limping a bit and Dalton called him to a stop, upon which he immediately laid down. Dalton dismounted and sat on the ground beside his dog, pulling him onto his lap.

“I know, boy,” he said as he stroked the animal’s fur. “I know you’re hurting and you’re tired and hungry. You’re doing so good, Indigo. Such a good dog.”

Dalton picked up Indigo’s feet to massage their pads, but they were bloody so he ripped the bottom of his shirt into bandages and wrapped the dog’s feet. Indigo whined and panted. Dalton could feel the great expansion of the dog’s chest with every labored breath. His heart ached. He didn’t want to risk Indigo, but every second was precious in saving Marlena. A single teardrop slid down his cheek and he leaned down to whisper in Indigo’s ear.

“If you’ve got it in you, buddy, I need you to keep going,” he said, and Indigo looked up to him with apologetic, tired eyes, and Dalton nodded. “Don’t worry, boy. You did good.”

Dalton stood and lifted Indigo onto the saddle and strapped him in with the excess cinch strap. He grabbed the horse’s reins and led him across the desert. When five distinct horse trails re-emerged he sighed heavily, whooping inside for Indigo’s astuteness. He landed a kiss on top of the dog’s head before climbing in the saddle with him.

They followed the horse tracks into the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where the terrain shifted into pine forests with game and water. Once they found Marlena, he’d shoot a deer and give it all to Indigo and his horse. The weary animal stumbled over logs and plants so Dalton slid down to lead him by the reins.

His legs were numb from exhaustion. Even his vision clouded and blurred until everything looked a light blue haze. He fell to his knees, praying for the strength to carry on, but he couldn’t. His body gave out and he lurched forward, asleep before his head hit the leafy ground.