Ruby (23 page)

Read Ruby Online

Authors: Ruth Langan

Tags: #Romance, #General, #Fiction

BOOK: Ruby
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Through gritted teeth he asked, “Where’s Patience?”
“She’s in the other room. Tending to Neville Oakley.”
“You’d better call her out here.” There was a fire in his eyes. “Right now.”
“But—”
“Call her, Ruby.” A little muscle was working in his jaw.
“Patience,” Ruby shouted. “Could you come in here a moment?”
The young woman stuck her head out the door. “Do you need some help?”
 
“No...” Ruby began.
“Yes.” Quent picked Ruby up and tossed her over his shoulder. “You’d better take care of the shop. Ruby’s going to be busy for a while.”
“Where are you taking her?” Patience demanded.
“To jail. It’s the only place left in this whole damned town that isn’t crowded.” He stalked off, carrying Ruby like a sack of grain.
Lavinia Thurlong, Gladys Witherspoon and Effie Spitz nearly fell over each other to pay for their purchases, so they could follow along at a distance.
 
Arlo looked up as Quent stormed into the jail and set Ruby on her feet.
“Morning, Marshal. What’s Miss Ruby done this time?”
“Go outside and sweep up, Arlo,” Quent said.
“Already did.”
“Then do it again.” Quent handed him the broom and shoved him out the door, locking it behind him.
Ruby was so furious, she was practically breathing fire. “Do you realize what you just did?”
“I got rid of Arlo,” he said smugly.
“I mean, by carrying me off to jail again. You heard your deputy. That’s what the whole town will think. What has Ruby Jewel done this time?”
“I don’t give a—” He bit back his oath and said, “I don’t care what the town thinks, Ruby. All I care about is what you think.”
“About what?”
“About us. About you and me. I’ve had plenty of time to think this through. I’ll give up the law, if that’s what you want.”
 
“And why would I want that?”
“Because you can’t stand my badge of authority. You said so yourself.”
She shrugged. “Maybe I did say that. Maybe there was a time when I meant it. But not now. Besides, what else could you do? You said yourself you’ve been a lawman all your life.”
“I don’t know. I could try farming. Or ranching.”
“And what would the town of Hanging Tree do for a marshal?”
“They’d find somebody else. Arlo, maybe.” Even as he said it, he winced.
“Enough of this foolish talk. The town needs you. And you need this town. I won’t hear of you giving up the law.”
“You mean you’d be willing to be married to a lawman?”
“Marriage?” She drew herself up to her full height. “I haven’t heard any talk of marriage.”
“That’s because I haven’t gotten around to it yet. But I’m getting there. Now, there’s the matter of where we’d live. Your ranch is too far from town. And my job doesn’t allow for more than a room in the back of the jail.”
“If you
were to ask me to marry you, and if I were to accept,” she said carefully, “there is a simple solution.”
“What?”
“We could hire Farley Duke to add another story to my shop. We could live above it. Of course, it will be filled with frilly dresses and sweet-smelling jars and pots and vials and all manner of feminine frills.”
“And with my luck I’d probably have six strapping sons who’d have to walk through their mother’s prissy shop every day of their lives.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that what you’re hoping for? Six strapping sons?”
He shrugged. “I’d settle for three. And maybe three girls for you.” He was staring at her in a strange new way. “Would you, Ruby? Like children, I mean?”
“At least half a dozen,” she said on a sweet sigh. “I was always so alone. It was my dream to be part of a big family. But I think you’ve forgotten something.”
“I have? What?”
“A proper proposal.”
“You mean...on my knees?”
She smiled.
“Oui.
On your knees.”
“Ruby, I’d crawl over broken glass for you. Or through fire.” He dropped to his knees and caught her hands. “Ruby, please say you’ll marry me.”
“That is not a very romantic proposal.”
“Dammit, I love you. I want to marry you. Do you love me? Will you marry me?” He waited, feeling his heartbeat stop.
She made him suffer a moment longer. Then she could bear no more.
“Oui.
Oh, I do love you, Quent. And I will marry you. On one condition.”
“Anything.”
“That you will never again offer to be a farmer or a rancher.”
He stood, then pulled her close. “I give you my word,” he murmured, covering her mouth with his.
“Bon.
Now,” she muttered against his lips, “let’s go back to my shop and share our happy news with my family.”
Just then Arlo began pounding on the door. And through the window they could see Lavinia, Gladys, Effie and a crowd beginning to form. All were pointing at the jail and grinning like fools.
As Ruby started to pull away Quent gathered her close.
Against her temple he whispered, “Oh, Ruby, have mercy. I’ve been wanting to hold you like this for so long.”
Giving in to the heat that surged through her veins, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her lips to his throat. “So have I.”
He took a long, deep breath. “There’s a cot in the back room. And the door is locked.”
“But my family...”
“Ruby, you said yourself they’ll be there for days.”
“And the townspeople...”
“Have already figured out what it took us all this time to learn.” He nibbled at the corner of her mouth. “At least for the next hour, let’s just forget about everyone except us.”
“Us.” It was, Ruby thought as she followed him to his room and lost herself in his kisses, the sweetest word she’d ever heard.
And then there was no time to think, as with sighs and kisses and tender touches, he took her to that special place where only lovers can go.
Epilogue
 
 
C
arts and wagons clogged the main street. Throngs of ranchers and their families streamed into the Golden Rule. Everyone was wearing their Sunday best. And their best had become much better since they’d begun frequenting Miss Ruby Jewel’s shop.
This day was the biggest in the town of Hanging Tree. Bigger even than the social. And all because two of its most popular citizens were being married.
Upstairs, in the brand-new suite of rooms above her shop, Ruby was surrounded by her sisters.
“Hold still,” Pearl commanded as she laced the ribbons of Ruby’s sheer white chemise. “I can’t believe how much gossip you two have fueled. The whole town is talking about the fact that their marshal spent more nights here than he did at the jail.”
“He can’t stay away from me. I can’t help it if he Haunts his love.”
“If you don’t let me finish lacing this, you’ll be flaunting more than love.” Pearl finished tying with a flourish, until Ruby’s bosom was modestly covered.
 
“Now this,” Jade said, helping her sister step into frothy white petticoats.
“Ruby.” Diamond called from across the room where she sat nursing little Onyx. “I wish you’d reconsider. I love these rooms. They’re big and spacious and comfortable. But it seems sad to see Pa’s ranch house standing empty.”
“But it isn’t empty.” Ruby fell silent a moment as her two sisters slipped the white gown over her head and began fastening the row of tiny buttons that ran from waist to neck. “You said yourself that you’ll probably stay there a month or two, so that Carmelita can give you a hand with the baby.”
“And then what?”
Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know. I only know that my heart is here in town, with Quent.”
Diamond fastened the front of her gown, then, with the baby at her shoulder, crossed the room and stared at her sister. “Oh, my. I think it’s easy to see why Quent was smitten. Ruby Jewel, you’re as pretty as a brand-new calf prancing in a pasture of clover.” She gathered Ruby close for a hug. “I’m so happy for you. I know how happy Adam has made me. And now little Onyx. And I want the same kind of happiness for you and Quent.”
“Thank you,
chérie
.” Ruby’s eyes sparkled. “Motherhood has changed you.”
“In what way?” Diamond studied her reflection in the looking glass, while the others merely grinned.
“For one thing, you are wearing a gown without complaint.”
Diamond chuckled. “You’re right. I forgot to grumble. Well, the truth is, these gowns you made me—with the buttons down the front—have made my last few weeks very comfortable.”
“You see. There is something to be said for dressing like a lady.”
Diamond shook her head. “For a couple of months. Then it’s back to buckskins for me. I’m a rancher, remember?”
Patience entered, carrying a bouquet of wildflowers. For a moment she could only stare at the three sisters in their pale pink, yellow and blue gowns. And at Ruby, in a white confection that would rival a queen’s. Then, her eyes misty, she thrust the flowers into Ruby’s hands. “Neville and I picked these. We wanted them to be as special as you are.”
“Merci.
They are beautiful. Where is our town hero?”
Patience flushed, clearly pleased by the way the town had embraced Neville since his heroic actions. “My new husband...” Oh, how she loved that word. Almost as much as she loved hearing him call her wife. “Is outside. He doesn’t feel right coming into your shop. Says it’s too fancy, and he’s afraid he’ll break something. But he’s the same way in his big rooms behind the livery. Ever since I fixed them up with some pretty rugs and new chairs, he’s been skittish.”
Ruby laughed. “It’s the same with Quent. Even now, he feels clumsy and out of place in the shop.”
“Speaking of Quent,” Patience said softly, “he’s right outside the door. Pacing.”
“As he should be,” Jade said in her lilting voice. “But he isn’t alone. Our husbands are with him. And Gil and Daniel.” She turned to Ruby. “It was sweet of you to ask Daniel to carry your ring. And Gil is bursting with pride over the fact that he’s going to give away the bride.”
“And why not? They’re family. And this is a special day for our family.”
When Patience took her leave, Quent grabbed the door before it could close and forced his way through.
“You mustn’t see the bride, Quent. You have to leave.” Pearl started toward him, but at the look in his eyes, she took a step back.
“You can’t keep me out any longer,” Quent said, daring them to argue. “I need to see Ruby.”
Seeing the way he was sweating, Pearl turned to her sisters and whispered, “I think we ought to take pity on him. What do you say?”
Diamond and Jade nodded. With quick kisses on Ruby’s cheek, they slipped from the room.
Quent couldn’t stop staring at Ruby. She was a vision. Suddenly all his nerves were forgotten. This was why he’d dressed in a fancy suit. And why he’d permitted the entire town to watch him make a fool of himself in church. And why he’d allowed himself to be caught up in all the silly festivities of the past weeks. Dinner at the widow Purdy’s. Cake and lemonade with gossips Lavinia, Gladys and Effie, who acted like fussy old aunts. And elderberry wine at Millie Potter’s, who kept saying she’d known all along that he’d fallen for Ruby. When he hadn’t even known it himself.
But here she was. Still taking his breath away. And the need for her just grew every day, until all he could think about was seeing Ruby, being with her, holding her.
“Nervous?” she asked.
He stepped closer and took her hand. “I was. But not now. What about you?”
She shook her head. “How could I be nervous, with my big, brave, strong lawman beside me?” She glanced at his lapel. “I didn’t think you’d wear your badge today.”
“Why not? I’m still a marshal. Even on my wedding day.”
She lifted her hands to it and began to unpin it.
His eyes narrowed slightly. “I thought you said you didn’t mind my badge?”
“I don’t.” She slipped it off and casually tossed it down. “But that isn’t your badge.”
He looked puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“This is.” She opened her palm to display an old, dented, badly worn badge that winked in the sunlight.
“My father’s badge.” He felt a lump in his throat. His voice was gruff. “I thought it had been lost in the scuffle with Boyd Barlow. How did you...? Where did you...?”
“Even though I am about to marry a man of the law, it is difficult to give up everything in my less-than-perfect past. I managed to slip it away from Boyd Barlow while he was...otherwise engaged. He, more than any other, deserved my petit vengeance,
chéri
.”
“Remind me to never get on your bad side,” he said with a laugh.
 
She pinned the badge to his lapel, then stood back to admire.
“Oui.
It looks right. Perfect.”
He hauled her into his arms. Against her cheek he muttered, “Oh, Ruby. You’re the one who’s perfect. Promise me you’ll never change.”
“Oui
.
I promise. And I promise something else. I will love you, my beloved lawman, for all time.”
“I remember when you called me a cochon,” he said with a laugh.
She returned the laughter. “You are a
cochon
. But you are my
cochon
. And a most loved one.”
The kiss she gave him was long and slow and deep.
A knock sounded on the door, and Diamond’s muffled voice could be heard calling them to hurry. “There’s a churchful of people waiting for you two.”
As they joined her family for the walk to the church, Ruby felt her heart nearly bursting with happiness.
“Merci, Papa,” she whispered. “For giving me my heart’s desire. The family I always dreamed of. A chance for a new life in Texas. And best of all, a man who loves me...just as I am.”
The sun slipped from behind a cloud, bathing them in golden rays. And Ruby smiled, feeling the benediction of her father’s love upon all of them. This was Onyx Jewel’s finest gift to his daughters. The fulfillment of his promise to be with them always.
 
 

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