It didn’t matter, she told herself, squaring her shoulders. Even with Quent Regan out of her life, and the entire town having taken sides against her, she would endure. Hadn’t she always endured the disapproval of others?
No amount of gossip was going to quench her dream. No matter what people said about her, they couldn’t deny her talent with needle and thread. And wasn’t that, after all, the important thing? Let them ridicule her, as long as they paid her for her services.
As for Quent Regan, she would simply put him out of her mind. And get on with her life.
Chapter Thirteen
“Señorita Ruby. What are you doing?”
Carmelita stepped from her rig and waved her husband off before hurrying toward the wagon parked beside the back door of the ranch house. It was already packed with a desk and chair. Several wranglers were wrestling a chaise across the porch, under Ruby’s direction.
“Don’t worry, Carmelita. I asked Diamond’s permission. These are just a few things I’m taking to my shop in town.”
“But why? What need have you of all this?”
“It’s just so far to ride from the ranch into town and back. If I ever find the day too long, I’ll just stay in town and sleep in my shop. That’s why I had the workmen add a back room.”
“But this is your home.” The housekeeper looked as if she might actually cry. “You are all I have left. Who will I cook for? Clean for?”
Ruby put her arm around the woman. “You make it sound as though I’m leaving for good. I’ll still spend more nights here than in town. But I’m going to have to spend my days there. And I want to make it as comfortable as I can.”
“Sí ” The housekeeper brightened. “I will go with you. I will help you arrange your furniture, and make you something good to eat while you work.”
Ruby gave her a gentle smile. “No, Carmelita. This is something I have to do by myself.”
Carmelita dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her apron. “What about supper? I could make you food so hot your mouth would think it was back in Louisiana.”
Ruby kissed her cheek. “You’re so good to me. But save it for tomorrow. Today I must settle in. And don’t bother making supper. I’ve taken along some of your corn bread and cold chicken.”
“Then I will fix you something more. Some tortillas and chili peppers. Some—”
“I have more than enough, Carmelita.” Seeing that the wranglers had already loaded the chaise aboard the wagon, Ruby climbed into her small rig, which was abloom with nearly a dozen gowns, petticoats, bonnets and shawls, all new, and all waiting to be displayed. “Don’t wait for me tonight I’ll be home late.”
With a wave of her hand, she was gone, leading the way to town.
As their tiny procession made its way up the main street, Ruby noticed a number of carts and wagons parked in the dusty street. At this time of year ranchers and their families often came to trade the fruits of their harvest for seed and farm implements at Durfee’s Mercantile. There was even a cluster of men and boys outside Barney Healey’s barbershop. Children played hide-and-seek among the wagons and horses, while the women browsed the, shelves of the mercantile.
Ruby halted her rig in front of her shop, then began directing the wranglers as they lifted down the furniture from the wagon and carried it inside.
“I’d like you to put the chaise over here in my private room,” she called. “And that little stand beside it. I think the desk should be along this wall. Yes. That’s fine. And the chair here, beside the fireplace.”
It took several hours before she was satisfied. Long after the wranglers had returned to the ranch, she continued working alone, changing, rearranging, until finally she sank down and studied her shop and, through the open door, her new office and sitting room.
In the shop there were giant woven baskets filled with bolts of bright fabric standing guard in one corner of the room. On the shelves were trays of buttons, both plain and fancy, and all manner of trims to be used for making bonnets. Feathers, plumes, ribbons, pins were arranged in dishes and jars.
Framed in the window for all the town to see was Millie Potter’s nearly completed lace tablecloth. For dramatic effect, Ruby had draped the remainder of the lace over two bolts of red satin. It made a stunning picture.
Along one wall, hanging from wooden pegs, were the ready-made gowns of pink organdy, yellow gingham, bleached muslin.
My shop, Papa, Ruby thought as she drank it all in. My very own. Do you see it, Papa? Do you have any idea how much it means to me?
She was so caught up in the excitement of the moment, she didn’t even hear the door open.
“I see you’ve settled in.”
At the sound of Millie Potter’s voice, she jumped.
“Sorry,” Millie said quickly. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s all right. Please.” Ruby got to her feet. “Come in.”
“I didn’t know if I’d be welcome, after what’s happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Ruby rubbed her damp palms along her skirt. She hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been about seeing Millie again. Or any of the other women from town. “It was a natural conclusion.”
“It’s kind of you to say, Ruby.” Millie stepped closer and placed a hand on Ruby’s arm. “But it never should have happened. I had no right to think such a vile thing of you....”
“We’ll speak of it no more.” Ruby caught Millie’s hand and led her to the window display. “What do you think of your tablecloth?”
Millie touched a hand to her throat. “Oh, my, Ruby. It’s so beautiful, it takes my breath away.” She stepped closer. “May I touch it?”
“But of course. It’s yours. And I hope very soon it will be on your table.”
“Do you think it can be done in time for the town social?”
“I have no doubt of it.”
“Do you mean it?” Millie’s eyes danced with excitement as she fingered the soft, creamy lace. “It just doesn’t seem possible.” She sighed and looked around the shop. “Oh, Ruby, this is a lovely place. When I get more time, I’ll come back and look at everything. But now I’d better get back. Several wagonloads of families just got into town. That means I’ll be cooking and cleaning for a houseful. And I’d like you to join us for supper,” Millie said, catching Ruby’s hand.
It was on the tip of Ruby’s tongue to accept. She knew that she would be shunned by most of the townspeople, and she desperately needed a friend. And the smile on Millie’s face was sincere. Furthermore, there would be potential customers seated around Millie’s table tonight. And she needed customers. But she also needed to spend some time alone in her shop, finishing her work.
“Non. I cannot come for supper. Perhaps another time?”
“All right But very soon. Promise?”
“Oui. I promise.”
As soon as Millie left, Ruby picked up the lace and got to work. The sunlight streaming through the big window of her shop made the task easier. She sat, head bowed, fingers flying.
She looked up as she caught a glimpse of several strangers peering at the delicate lace in the window, then pointing at the row of pretty gowns and bonnets. Her heart nearly stopped when they opened the door and entered.
“Hello,” she called. “Welcome to my shop.” Oh, such lovely words those were. My shop. “Are you interested in buying dresses? Or perhaps bonnets?”
“I’d like to see the lace,” a plump, gray-haired woman said.
While Ruby led her to the bolt of fabric, two other women examined the gowns that hung along the wall.
“Look at these, Hannah,” one woman remarked to her friend. “I’ve never seen anything like this at Durfee’s Mercantile.”
Ruby flushed with pride.
“Did you make all these?” the one named Hannah asked.
“Oui. And I can tailor them to fit,” Ruby assured her. “Would you care to try some on?”
The two women looked at each other, then nodded.
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Ruby opened the door and showed them the private room. “You may undress in there, and then, for a better view, you might want to use these looking glasses.”
“Oh, how fine,” one of the ladies said.
Ruby felt herself absolutely glowing with pride.
“Now about this lace...” began the plump woman.
At once Ruby hurried to her side and began to explain how much fabric she used for a table cover, and how much more was needed for curtains and napkins.
“Can you sew it yourself?” Ruby asked. “Or would you like me to do the hems?”
“I think I can do it,” the woman said. “If you’ll just measure out the fabric I need.”
Ruby began measuring and cutting. While she did, the door opened and a thin, ragged young woman entered.
Ruby looked up, noting the threadbare gown covering a painfully frail body. The woman kept her head down, avoiding Ruby’s eyes.
“I’ll be with you in a minute,” Ruby called.
The young woman said nothing as she began examining the dresses along the wall.
While Ruby collected the money for the lace, Hannah emerged from the back room wearing a pink gown. She stood, preening and posing in front of the looking glasses.
“Why, that gown would need very little work to fit you,” Ruby remarked. “Just a tuck here and there, and a simple hem.”
“I’ll only be in town today,” Hannah said. “We have to leave at dawn to get back in time to see to the ranch chores. Do you think you can have it ready by tonight?”
“Of course.” Ruby calculated the time needed and decided she could do without lunch.
“Oh, do you mean it?” Hannah asked. “I’d hardly dared to ask.”
“If you’d like, you may pick it up before supper.” While she assisted the woman onto the pedestal and knelt to pin the hem, Ruby saw the shabby woman fingering the jars displaying the fancy buttons.
“If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll help you,” she called.
Just then the second woman came out of the back room, wearing a pale blue gown. “I’m going to have mine ready by tonight,” Hannah announced smugly.
The second woman scowled. “That isn’t fair.” She turned to Ruby. “Do you think you could have mine ready, as well? You see, our families are traveling together.”
“Oui. If you wish to buy it, I’ll see that it’s ready before you leave,” Ruby assured her, and found herself wondering how she would manage without a single break. No matter. The success of her shop was much more important right now than mere food or rest.
Ruby’s heart was beating overtime as she pinned and measured, and, after much discussion between the women, made arrangements to deliver the gowns to Millie Potter’s boardinghouse as soon as they were finished.
“I think I’ll want a bonnet to go with this,” Hannah said. She tried on every bonnet in the shop, and finally settled on a simple one, with a pale pink feather that dipped provocatively over one eye.
While Ruby made the sale, the other, woman said, “Well, I can’t afford another bonnet, Hannah. But I do think I’d like some fancy buttons to set this gown off.”
“Of course.” Ruby crossed the room to the jars of buttons. “I have some here that would be the perfect shade of blue....”
She picked up the jar and shook it. Then she set it down and picked up a second jar. The blue buttons were gone. And so was the shabbily dressed woman who had been eyeing them.
Ruby’s first reaction was surprise. How had the woman managed to disappear so quickly?
Then the surprise turned to anger. How dare she! That no-good, miserable thief.
And then suddenly she felt a wave of shame. Was this how others had felt when she or her mother had practiced their petit vengeance?
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. How strange that the fates should send a thief to her shop, on her very first day of business. As a reminder of her past sins? she wondered. It was a humbling experience.
“What about those buttons?” came a voice, jolting Ruby out of her reverie.
“They...are gone. But I have these.” She shook several pretty mother-of-pearl buttons from a jar and offered them to the woman.
“I suppose so.” The woman studied them for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I’ll take them.”
Ruby concluded the sale, assuring the women that their gowns would be ready before they left town.
When they were gone, she walked outside and peered in all directions. The stranger was nowhere to be seen.
She thought about reporting the theft to Deputy Arlo Spitz. Thought about it and instantly rejected it. In her mind’s eye she could see him dragging the poor shabby girl off to jail, to the jeers of the townspeople.
She shook her head. Though she wanted the buttons back, the thought of what might happen to the thief was too offensive.
With a sigh, Ruby returned to her shop and bent to her work. Her customers were her first obligation. She would deal with the thief later.
Quent reined in his mount at the top of a hill that offered a sweeping view of the countryside. Within a few short weeks, if the weather followed its usual pattern. Widow’s Peak would be snowcapped from the first storm. Next spring Poison Creek, now just a narrow strip of water meandering between parched hills and gullies, would become a raging torrent.
He was reminded of the words from his mother’s Bible. “To everything there is a season.” A time for planting, and a time for harvest.
It had been a fine summer. The harvest would be rich. And the ranchers would have enough profit, from the crops and their herds, to survive another year.
Survival was everything in this tough land. Only the strongest made it.
He rolled a cigarette and scratched a thumbnail over a match, then held the flame to the tip, inhaling deeply. He’d always thought of himself as a survivor. Tough as rawhide. He’d faced fists, knives, guns. He’d been involved in bare-knuckled saloon brawls, ambushes, gunfights. He’d faced down his fears more than once in this lifetime.
But Ruby Jewel was a first.
The first woman he’d ever met who made him tongue-tied. Who left him weak in the knees and honest-to-God scared. When he was near her he couldn’t think. Couldn’t take charge of his emotions. The damned woman got under his skin, churned his gut, addled his mind.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way she looked after a night of lovemaking. All soft and sleepy and content. Or the way she’d felt in his arms. That voluptuous body fitting so perfectly to his. As if she’d been made just for him.
For a while there, he’d started to think this was his season. His season to love, to plan for the future. Hell, he’d even been letting himself think about settling down and having a family.
The thought of Ruby was driving him mad. He couldn’t eat or sleep. Couldn’t concentrate on his work.
He took one last deep drag on the cigarette, then tossed it aside and nudged his horse into a trot.
He’d already gone farther than he’d intended on his first day. But damned if he didn’t feel like riding right through the night. It would be better than lying awake under the stars in a bedroll, cursing the wind and the cold and the coyotes. Cursing Ruby Jewel, for being so beautiful and unforgettable.
And cursing himself, for being such a brainless fool.
On a distant hillside, tucked inside a cave for concealment, a figure huddled close to a small fire. A stolen calf from a nearby ranch roasted over a spit. He tore off a hunk of meat and ate until his hunger was abated. Then he leaned back and plotted his next move.
The young rancher and his wife had been easy. The minute they’d spotted the badge, they’d let down their guard. The only trouble was, their ranch had yielded little of value. He would need money when he was ready to flee.
When he was ready.
He smiled and tipped his head back, draining the last of his whiskey. There were still things he had to do here. The first was to find another vict
im. One who could yield cash, and a couple of good horses. Only this time, he’d find someone who was so isolated, his death would go unnoticed for weeks, even months. No point bringing the law down on him until he was ready.
The law. His smile widened. That was the most important thing he had to do here. Deal with the law. Or at least one lawman.
His smile faded, to be replaced with an almost feral snarl. Marshal Quent Regan would taste his vengeance. The vengeance he’d sworn on his brother’s grave.
Chapter Fourteen
With a gesture of weariness Ruby rubbed the back of her neck and blew out the lantern. It was a good thing she’d told Carmelita not to expect her. Who would have believed she would work this late into the evening? But she had wanted the gowns to be perfect. After all, these two customers were important. If the townspeople should notice and admire what they were wearing, they might be willing to put away their own prejudices and come to her shop.
Moonlight drifted in the window, illuminating the chaise longue in the corner of the room. Ruby was grateful now that she’d insisted upon bringing it here. She was too tired to face the ride back to the ranch. Instead, she would curl up under a quilt and spend the night.
Just as she turned she saw a shadow drift past her window. It appeared to be the figure of a child. Now, why on earth would a child be prowling the town at such an hour?
She dismissed the question from her mind as she bent to the chaise. Just then she heard a slight muffled sound. She turned. The figure had stopped outside her shop and was now peering in the window. A moment later the door began to open ever so slowly.
Heart pounding, Ruby pressed herself back against the wall. With every second that she wasted, the intruder was advancing deeper into the room.
Her hand closed around the heavy base of the lantern. Taking pains to move silently, she crept forward until she was directly behind the shadowy figure.