Beloved Counterfeit (37 page)

“No,” came out like a muffled groan.

“Yes,” he said. “And know I’ll be watching you. I’ll come for them,” he said, “but first I want to leave my mark on you.”

She lay still, eyes closed, and tried to remember how to pray. Tried to think. Then tried not to think.

“Fight me, pigeon,” he said against her neck as he untied her wrists. “Give me a reason to hurt you.”

She didn’t.

But he hurt her anyway.

Afterward, he forced her to stand and then to walk out of the cabin and across the deck. At the rail, he handed Ruby her wrinkled dress then gave her a shove.

She landed in the water, where Jean Luc was waiting for her in a rowboat. He said nothing of her unfinished state of dress, which she quickly remedied with the soaked dress. Rather, he guided the boat into a cove and turned away as she scrambled onto the beach.

Run.

That was all she could do.

But where?

Ruby followed her feet as the sound of waves lapping against the shore drowned out the sobs she finally allowed. To go home might be best, but how could she know whether Tommy was watching?

Still, she ran, scrambling across the sand toward the path that led into town. She spied a light in the distance at Emilie’s cottage and raced toward it.
May the Lord forgive me for leading the wretched smuggler here.

As the gate banged shut behind her, Caleb appeared at the door. He brought Ruby inside, never asking about her appearance. Rather, he called to Emilie, who gathered Ruby into an embrace while Caleb slipped away.

“Micah?” Emilie asked, and when Ruby shook her head, she added, “Where are the girls?”

“Home,” she managed through chattering teeth. “Need to get them.”

“I’ll send Caleb. Are you worried about their safety?”

Ruby nodded then reached for Emilie when she backed away. “Don’t tell Micah,” she said. “Promise me. He would never believe me.”

“Of course he would,” Emilie said. “He’s your—”

“No.” Ruby made to stand but swayed instead.

“All right, I won’t tell him, and neither will Caleb. You need a doctor, though. And something warm to drink. You’re shivering.”

“All right, but see to the girls first.” It seemed as though Ruby lay alone for hours, though surely it was only a few moments. When Emilie returned, she brought a basin and towel and a nightgown.

“Caleb’s going to the boardinghouse, and then he’ll get Vi.” She dipped the towel in the basin and offered it to Ruby. “Can you do this yourself?”

Ruby managed it, but only after Emilie left the room to heat water for tea. By the time Emilie returned, she’d scrubbed herself nearly raw, finally giving up on ever feeling clean again, and donned the gown. She huddled under a blanket and only lifted her head to sip at the tea Emilie offered.

When Viola arrived, Ruby closed her eyes and allowed the midwife to see to her. “No permanent damage,” she finally said, “though the man who did this to you should be shot.”

“It wasn’t Micah,” Ruby managed to say, though her teeth still chattered.

Viola looked up, her gaze steady. “I know that.”

She took a long breath and let it out slowly as she shifted positions. “And the girls? Are they with you?”

“No, they’re with Micah,” Emilie supplied. “Caleb found him sitting on the porch at the boardinghouse. He said he figured you’d gone for a walk, and he was waiting for you.”

“What did Caleb tell him?”

“That you were with me,” Emilie said.

Ruby closed her eyes and felt exhaustion wash over her in waves. She could have remained beneath the blankets in the care of these women.

But her husband was waiting.

She threw off the blanket and reached for her dress. “I’ve got to go home.”

“Ruby, no,” Viola said. “You need a night’s rest, at least.”

“Micah will know. I need to go home,” she repeated as she threw off the gown, caring not for the fact that she was not alone in the room. She managed soon enough to set herself aright and even braided her hair with Emilie’s help.

“Just like on my wedding day,” Ruby said then bit back a sob.

“Oh, honey.” Viola came to her and held her while she cried. “This animal should be locked up. Just give Caleb the name, and he’ll see to it.”

Ruby squared her shoulders and swiped at her face. “No,” she said. “But I’ll accept his help in keeping my girls safe. I fear they’re in danger of being taken.”

She repeated the statement to Caleb a moment later, adding that the one who might steal them away was Thomas Hawkins. This she said without allowing any connection between what had happened to her and what might happen to them.

A look passed between Emilie and Caleb. “I do miss your mother,” Emilie said. “I wonder if she might welcome me back with three visitors.”

So it was decided that Emilie, her trunk still not unpacked from her voyage home, would sail on the morrow with the girls to Santa Lucida. “But I can’t be without them,” Ruby said, her mind reeling from the decisions she felt helpless to make.

“Hawkins will follow you,” was Caleb’s unwavering answer. “Do you want that?”

“No, but they’ve never been without me.” A sob jerked through her, sending Caleb from the room. “What if something happens and I’m not there? I’d never forgive myself.”

“You’ve not met Caleb’s mother,” Emilie said gently, “but I warrant no more tenacious woman has been put on this earth. Have the girls known either of their grandmothers?” When Ruby shook her head, Emilie continued. “Then they are in for a treat.” A pause. “Or would you rather they stay with you and fear for their lives?”

“No.” Yet her heart hurt at the thought of going home to pack the girls’ things and send them away. “What will I tell Micah?”

“The truth?” Emilie supplied.

Chapter 43

Micah awakened to the moon high in the sky and Ruby’s hand on his shoulder. “Come to bed,” she said lightly as she led the way inside. When he made to light the lamp, she quickly stepped out of its glow.

She slipped behind the armoire door to emerge a moment later in her nightgown. “Might you dim the lamp?”

He took her question and her quick move to climb beneath the blankets as an invitation to join her. She was shivering, likely from the damp dress now lying in a heap on the floor.

As he gathered her to him, Micah considered chastising her for the swim he figured she’d taken before paying Emilie a visit. Or perhaps after.

He knew too well Ruby’s penchant for tromping about in the waves when riled, and he also knew he’d given her plenty of reason to be riled tonight. Not that he didn’t have more than his own share of reasons, too.

Yet this was the wife the Lord had given him. The wife he’d sworn to keep safe.

Micah fitted her against him and breathed in the salty scent of seawater from her hair. Indeed, they would have a talk tomorrow about her habits. But tonight was not the night for words.

His lips found her forehead, and he kissed her. “Ruby,” he whispered. “I want to be the husband God made me to be, but I’ve got a long way to go. Will you forgive me?”

Silence.

“Ruby?”

He almost believed she’d slipped into slumber. Until he heard the sniffle.

Something deep in his gut wrenched, and his palm reached to cup her damp cheek. “Ruby, sweetheart. I’m sorry. So very, very sorry.”

“The girls,” Ruby said. “I’ve decided to send them to Santa Lucida.”

“Santa Lucida?” He rolled back to rest on his elbow. “Why?”

“I think it’s better for. . .” Her shuddering gasp told him her tears had intensified.

“For us?” He gathered her to him. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to do that. We’ll get past this.”

“I know,” she said, “but I think some time alone would be good for us, don’t you think?” She sniffled again, but her tears seemed to have slowed. “Emilie will be with them, so their schooling won’t suffer. She’s excited about the prospect of showing the girls Santa Lucida.”

Something didn’t make sense in all of this, but Micah was loath to figure out what it was. Rather, he took hope in the fact that he hadn’t caused his wife to want to leave with them.

“Ruby,” he said, “I don’t care what happened before now. Nothing else matters except that you’re here with me.” His lips found her ear and the spot that always made her sigh. Instead, Micah felt her stiffen in his arms. “I love you, Ruby,” he said against the curve of her neck. He tugged at her gown, but she pulled away. “Don’t do this to me, Ruby,” he whispered as she turned her back to him. “Tonight I need to be your husband. Please let me show you that I love you.”

* * *

Afterward Ruby cried as much for the pain Hawkins had knowingly inflicted as for the pain Micah had no idea he’d caused. She closed her eyes, knowing she would take both facts to her deathbed.

Her next thought was that she hoped that moment would come sooner rather than later.

Ruby rolled onto her side to stare out the window at the horizon. What the moon did not illuminate, her fears did. When the first rays of orange teased the horizon, she rose and donned her wrapper without feeling the slightest need for sleep.

Moving quietly, she went to the attic and cast about for a suitable trunk. Finding one beneath a stack of quilts, she hauled it down the stairs to their sitting room despite her body’s protest.

Then she went about the process of gathering up what the girls would need during their time away. Time away. “I will not cry,” she said even as she swiped at her damp eyes with the back of her hand.

By the time Carol stirred, Ruby had nearly accomplished the deed.

“What are you doing?”

Ruby forced a smile. “I have a surprise,” she whispered. “You’re going on a trip.”

“Did you say we’re going on a trip?” Maggie asked as she wandered in. “Where are we going?”

“Now that’s where it gets really fun.” Ruby closed the trunk. “The three of you are going with Miss Emilie to Santa Lucida. Do you know where that is?”

“He wants us gone, doesn’t he?” Carol gestured to the closed door. “I knew he didn’t really want to be our papa.”

“No, that’s not true at all,” Ruby said. “It’s just that Miss Emilie asked if you three might want to go with her for a visit, and I told her—”

“She just came back,” Carol said.

“I know that.” Ruby saw Tess climb from her bed and snatched her up into her lap. “Did you hear about the trip you’re taking today?”

“Are you going, too?” Tess asked.

“No, sweetheart, I’m not, but Micah and I hope to come and fetch you back soon.” Ruby pulled the precious child to her chest and buried her face in her hair. “You know I can’t be without you long.” She gestured to the twins. “Come here and give me a hug, dears. You know it must last a week or two.”

Likely more, though she’d not tell them that.

“Is Joey going?” Tess asked.

“No, I don’t think so. Girls only this time.”

Micah opened the door and offered a lazy smile as he stretched then swept hair from his face. As he walked toward her, Ruby’s heart flip-flopped.

He knelt down to kiss Ruby on the cheek and then took Tess from her arms. “Am I the only one who thinks girls only is a bad rule?” he asked as Tess giggled.

Carol tugged on Ruby’s sleeve. “Do you promise to come and get us?”

Ruby entwined her fingers with Carol’s. “I promise with all my heart,” she said. “And the sooner the better.”

“Don’t come too soon,” Maggie said. “I think a vacation from school sounds fun.”

Micah shook his head. “I think perhaps Emilie remembers a thing or two about being your teacher.”

The twins groaned, but Tess smiled. “Do you think she’d teach me now? I’m much older than before.”

“Yes, you are,” Ruby said with a smile. It was all she could do to keep her smile in place until Emilie and Caleb arrived to fetch the girls.

Caleb did not meet Ruby’s gaze as Emilie linked arms with her and moved her into the kitchen. No words passed between them, though Ruby tightened her grip when Micah walked through with the trunk.

“Did you tell him about Hawkins?” Emilie whispered when the men were safely outside the gate.

“I couldn’t,” Ruby breathed as she turned her attention out the window to the rooster crowing like a fool on the other side of the yard. “I didn’t even try.”

Emilie sighed. “I know this man Hawkins. Were it not for Caleb Spencer, I might have a similar story to tell.”

Ruby jerked her attention from the window. “What?”

She looked away. “He is evil, Ruby, and not a man from whom a woman might easily free herself. Please do not question yourself.”

“How can I not?” The gate opened then banged shut as Ruby stifled a sob.

Heavy footsteps climbed the back porch steps and stopped at the door. Micah. “This is difficult for her,” she heard Emilie say.

Then her husband’s arms were around her. Ruby allowed her head to rest on Micah’s chest, her ear snuggled against the sound of his beating heart. And she let him comfort her even though he did not know the depth of her sorrow or its true source.

“Don’t cry, Mama,” Maggie said as she wedged herself into the space between Ruby and Micah. “Else I’ll have to cry, too, and then so will Tess.”

“Traitor,” came a voice that could only belong to Carol.

“Mama, is it time to. . .” Tess launched herself past Carol. “It’s a family good-bye, Carol. Come on.”

Ruby recognized that stubborn look as one she’d worn herself. “Honey,” she said to the reluctant twin. “Please. You’re a part of us, too.”

With as little enthusiasm as she could muster, Carol edged forward.

Micah stepped aside to offer his attention fully to her. “Come on, sweetheart,” he said gently as he dropped to one knee. “I’m gonna miss you something awful.”

Carol ran, stumbling toward Micah’s open arms.

“It’s time.” This from Caleb, who stood at the kitchen door. “We’ll need to get you safely aboard, ladies.”

Safely aboard.
Thankfully, Micah seemed oblivious to the importance of those words as he rose.

Caleb had brought a wagon, a treat for the girls, and they now scrambled past to vie for a coveted spot up front. “Slow down,” Micah called, “and come tell your mother good-bye before you go running off.”