Ruby’s Rhapsody

by Budge, Vicki Hunt

  “Who needs a gun when you have three girls who can scream in harmony,” Nathan said, chuckling.

  His grin was totally spontaneous, and the dimples in his cheeks made Ruby’s heart flutter.

  Everyone laughed and talked excitedly as they continued on their way. The bear scare evidently had a giddy effect on all of them, including the schoolteacher. Ruby couldn’t help but wonder if her luck with getting the fiddler to smile had already changed.

  The largest animal sighted for the rest of the trip home was an eight-point buck, followed by a trail of deer, but there was no more screaming. There were, however, constant giggles, laughter, and pleasant conversation for the rest of their journey.

  4

  Once the wagon reached the crossroads where Nathan had met Ruby and her sisters in the morning, Nathan brought the horses to a halt. “I’ll walk the rest of the way into Clover Creek,” he said. When it looked as if Ruby might protest, he insisted. “It’s not much further, and I’ll enjoy the walk.” He didn’t add that he wanted to give them all more time to get ready for the dance.

  He handed the reins to Ruby, thanked her again for taking him to see his students, and hopped down from the wagon.

  “Bye, Nathan,” the girls in the back of the wagon called out.

  “Watch out for bear,” Cora called as the wagon moved away, and Nathan took off walking toward town. He chuckled at the memory of the girls screaming when they saw the bear, and of Ruby grabbing for his arm before she thought of the rifle. He liked that she reached out to him first.

  Nathan walked along, whistling and swinging his arms until he came to a bridge over the creek. He stopped and listened as clear water bubbled along. Part of the creek was shallow enough for wading, and parts of it had deeper sections where trout most likely hid. Birds sang in the trees as Nathan stopped to enjoy the peaceful scene. He inhaled deeply of the sweet-smelling air. He wished he had time to wade in the cool water or drag out his fishing pole. It occurred to him that he should spend less time holed up in the schoolhouse, avoiding people, and at least get out in the country more. Perhaps he could start taking early morning walks before too many people were out and about.

  Nathan wondered if Ruby and her sisters liked to fish, but he immediately dismissed the thought. He didn’t intend to pursue any further outings with the Gardner girls, especially Ruby. He was far from ready to take a chance on courting a young lady again. Especially one who played the organ with such passion, and who had the loveliest eyes and long blond curls that were tempting to touch.

  When Nathan reached the schoolhouse, he was met by one indignant cat. Bo swished his tail menacingly, and narrowed his eyes as though indignant that he’d been left alone for so long. Nathan even offered Bo a can of sardines, but the cat flicked his ears in Nathan’s direction, and stalked off across the room.

  “Bo, if you’d let me put you on a leash, I could take you with me,” Nathan said.

  The cat arched his back as though that comment disgusted him.

  “Okay, but you’re missing out. If you’d let me put you on a leash, I could show you the most beautiful place to go fishing.”

  Even the mention of fish didn’t change Bo’s mood, so Nathan shrugged his shoulders and left the cat to sulk. He took a quick bath and changed into his trousers, white shirt, and vest for the dance. By the time he was ready, he heard footfalls in the schoolroom. Some of the men had come to help set up for the dance. Nathan opened the door into the schoolroom and motioned to Bo, giving the feline one last chance to change his mood. “Do you want to come and watch us set up for the dance?” he asked.

  Bo gave Nathan an annoyed look and didn’t move.

  “Okay, be that way,” Nathan said, walking into the schoolroom and shutting the door to the teacherage behind him. Within minutes, he and the men had the center of the large room cleared out and the desks and benches shoved to the walls. Soon the townsfolk started showing up, ready for the dance.

  Nathan watched Ruby as he tuned his fiddle and warmed up with the bow. She greeted several of the townsfolk, and then, smiling, she took her place at the organ. Nathan’s somber facial expression had returned in the short time he’d been home. After spending such a pleasant day with Ruby and her sisters, his mood had changed in less time than it took to string a bow.

  And it was all Bo’s fault.

  Young women are as fickle as cats, Nathan thought. Friendly one day, and showing their claws the next. Ruby Gardner may be sweet and enchanting today, but tomorrow she might be as sulky and bad-tempered as Bo. He could not take a chance, even with someone as lovely and kind as the surveyor’s daughter.

  Nathan had to admit that he’d had a wonderful day with Ruby and her sisters. He had loosened up and had even laughed and conversed amiably before they returned to Clover Creek. Even so, Bo’s attitude reminded him that he shouldn’t let down his guard. He and Emmeline had had many such enjoyable days together in the past, and Emmeline had still changed her affections at the last minute. Left him standing at the altar. His mood changed from stoic to sour. As Nathan glanced at Ruby’s enchanting face, he made a vow to protect his heart at all costs. He would leave his teaching position and continue on to Oregon if necessary.

  Setting aside his thoughts, Nathan concentrated on his responsibilities to the dancers. Couples were on the floor, waiting for him to begin. Old-timers were sitting around watching him. People near the food table looked his way. Everyone waited for the fiddler. The time had come to forget his pathetic past and fiddle, but when he picked up his fiddle, the pain of the past gripped him like a table vise.

  Nathan gave Ruby a searing look, silently placing a wall between them, and then struck the first note. He took off fiddling with such vigor and power that his heart pounded in his chest. He fiddled to forget Emmeline. He fiddled to forget the pitiful looks of the people in Tennessee. He even fiddled to see if he could lose Ruby, or if she’d give up on him.

  Every so often, Nathan glanced at Ruby, wondering what thoughts were behind those fiery eyes of hers as her fingers flew over the organ keys and her feet pumped the pedals. No matter how fast he fiddled, she kept up. No matter how irregularly he played, she kept up. No matter how often he improvised, she kept up. It was almost as though she could read his mind. Something tangible grew between them the more they played, and he couldn’t deny it.

  Nathan’s music was on fire, and he was deathly worried about his head and his heart.

  They played full tilt for one dance after another until the air in the schoolroom became suffocating. The dancers whirled and twirled in dizzy mazes on the floor until Nathan brought his fiddle to a screeching halt. He pulled out his handkerchief and called for a break. It seemed to him that Ruby nearly collapsed with relief.

  “Can I get you some cider?” Nathan asked, leaning close to her ear amid the clapping and hooting from the dancers. He suddenly felt like a bully. He was taking his conflicting emotions out on his fiddle, and therefore on his lovely accompanist. Ruby deserved to be treated with the utmost respect, not with his boorish disregard. She and her family had offered him nothing but kindness, and suddenly, Nathan felt dreadful.

  “I would love some cider,” Ruby said, pulling a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wiping her brow. “And I could use some fresh air.”

  After Bo’s spurning, Nathan had not intended to take his breaks with Ruby. But, since he had driven their playing so hard, he changed his mind. Looking after her, and making sure she was comfortable, was the least he could do.

  It took forever to work through the crowd of revelers who all wanted to slap Nathan on the back and congratulate Ruby for keeping up with his wild fiddle playing. Extra benches had been pulled out of a storage shed, and Nathan found an empty one near the open doorway for them to sit on. Crisp, cool air greeted them, and an owl hooted as Nathan sat next to Ruby with a cup of cider for each of them.

  “I sure wish Mr. and Mrs. Jones could have come tonight,” Ruby said after taking a long drink of her cide
r.

  “I do too,” Nathan said. If Mr. Jones was where he belonged at the organ, none of this conflict going on in Nathan’s head would be happening. The Gardner family would simply be another nice family in the community, and Nathan would not be looking into Ruby’s blue eyes while they created music together. “I slipped over to check on Mr. Jones on my way home today, and Mrs. Jones said the doctor had been by. He’s asked that Mr. Jones wait one more week before he comes out to watch the dance, and several more weeks before he accompanies me on the organ.”

  Ruby smiled that most charming smile of hers. It was almost as if she knew the very information he shared, and was pleased with it. “When I returned home from the valley earlier today,” she said, “I found that Belle had not only cleaned Mrs. Stribling’s house, but she had stopped by the Jones’s as well. She told me that Mr. Jones looked much better and looked forward to at least attending the dance next week.”

  All through their break, people continued to congratulate them and tell them how fun their music was. Nathan wished everyone would leave them alone. Despite his vow, despite all the turmoil his heart was going through, he had to admit that he enjoyed Ruby’s company in more ways than just their music. He enjoyed sitting near her on the bench, and he enjoyed talking to her. He wanted to reach out and touch one of her curls that had come loose. As they finally stood to continue the dance, Nathan found himself looking forward to creating music with her again.

  Nathan made another vow as he picked up his fiddle. He vowed that he would slow down his fiddling, and not take his frustrations out on the fiddle or on Ruby. He would treat Ruby with the respect and courtesy she deserved. She hadn’t said a word about their outing earlier in the day, and he wondered if she enjoyed the day as much as he had. Perhaps she was simply a kind and thoughtful person with an intense love of music, and didn’t have any feelings for him at all.

  For some strange reason, that thought put a scowl back on Nathan’s face. He picked up his fiddle and bow, gave her another piercing look, and started to play.

  When the evening finally came to a close, Nathan was sad to see the dance end. Everyone thanked him for fiddling and left for their homes, including the Gardner family. Once again, he had played with little emotion on his face, but a lot in his fingers.

  Nathan sighed as he tenderly packed up his fiddle and bow. Something was terribly wrong with him, and he hated the inner turmoil that left him with a sense of suffocation. He had loved fiddling since he’d been a small boy and fiddled with his granddad. Now, because he let his broken heart reign over him, he fiddled with a vengeance instead of with pure heart and soul.

  “What is wrong with me?” He whispered to himself. “Why can’t I enjoy my own music? Why can’t I enjoy my life?”

  Nathan’s thoughts were like pouring salt into a wound. He didn’t like how he lived his life, but he didn’t know what to do about it.

  After the schoolhouse emptied, a few men stayed behind and helped Nathan clean and prepare the room for church services in the morning. Nathan was exhausted by the time he entered the teacherage. He stripped off his boots and let the cool air reach his feet the second he sat down.

  Not only had he walked most of the way to Ruby’s house and back earlier in the day, but he had stood on his feet for hours fiddling. He had also ridden out to the little valley on a terribly bumpy road. He thought that if he ever saved enough money, he would buy a horse and buggy to go about the countryside. A buggy, with springs, would be so much more comfortable than a bumpy wagon.

  Leaning back in his chair, Nathan placed his weary feet on the table. Bo immediately leaped into his lap and settled on his chest, as though all was forgiven from earlier in the day.

  “Did you miss me?” Nathan asked.

  Bo gave him a cold stare, but then settled closer to Nathan’s chest.

  “You know, I’m thinking about buying a buggy,” Nathan told the feline. “If I bought a buggy, I could rig some kind of cage on it for you, and then you wouldn’t have to stay home alone on days when I go visit students or maybe fishing. Of course, you’d make a fuss about being cooped up in a cage, and then, if I let you free somewhere, you’d take off. I know you, you old tomcat.”

  Bo resettled himself, flicking his tail with a swift motion.

  Nathan settled into the chair even more and stroked the feline’s fur. “Guess that’s why I shouldn’t buy a buggy. It’s all your fault, Bo.” As Nathan’s fingers lingered on Bo’s fur, he realized that if he bought a buggy, people might mistakenly think he was planning to court a young lady. He almost fell out of his chair at the thought! He couldn’t allow people to think that was happening.

  He immediately gave up his buggy scheme.

  Bo began to purr, and that finally encouraged Nathan to stand and stumble to his bed. He laid Bo on the bed and continued talking while he undressed. “I had a nice day while you stayed here and pouted,” Nathan said. “A really nice day. I miss carefree days like today with family and friends. What do you think, Bo? Do you think I’ll ever find happiness? Do you think I’ll ever have a loving family of my own?”

  Bo purred. His ears didn’t even twitch.

  Nathan crawled into bed and closed his eyes near the purring cat. He dwelt on the memory of sitting so close to Ruby that he smelled lavender in her hair, and of the sensation that traveled through him when they saw the bear and she reached for his arm.

  “I never should have gone on that outing,” was the last thing Nathan whispered to Bo before he fell asleep.

  5

  The following morning, Nathan’s head ached from lack of sleep. His aching head reminded him of his vow to protect his aching heart. If he didn’t watch what he was doing and protect himself, he would get hurt all over again. Nathan was afraid to try for the very home and family he longed for. He had to stay away from Ruby Gardner and her family. He let his guard down and enjoyed himself too much when he was around them.

  Nathan had prayed for a family of his own for years, but his prayers had never been answered. He wanted to turn away from God permanently, but he couldn’t quite do it. He clenched his jaw, knowing there was something inside of him that beckoned him toward faith and church in spite of God’s silence.

  A cold bath stopped all thoughts of wishing for a family. Nathan quickly dressed in his best trousers and shirt and placed food and water in Bo’s dishes. “I know,” Nathan said to the feline. “I’m leaving you again. I’m a terrible person, and trust me, you’re not the only one who thinks so. But, I won’t be gone long today. I promise. No gallivanting around the countryside with anyone after church. I’ll come right back and we’ll take a nice long nap together.”

  Bo lifted his head and looked at Nathan as though he didn’t believe a word he’d said. The cat turned his back and sauntered over to his food dish as Nathan slipped through the doorway to the schoolhouse.

  Nathan helped Reverend Cary finish setting up for church. His eyes flashed toward the door every time someone entered the building. He held his breath when the Gardner family finally walked in. Ruby smiled at him. Her lovely blue eyes glowed, and her friendly nature caused sweat to break out on his forehead. How was he supposed to keep his vow to protect his heart when Ruby smiled at him like that?

  Somehow, it had slipped Nathan’s mind that Ruby would play the organ for church again, and that his traitorous eyes, as if held in place by magnets, would focus on her loveliness throughout the services. When the services were over, he couldn’t remember one word of Reverend Cary’s sermon, let alone remember the vow he had taken to avoid Ruby and her family.

  Before Reverend Cary left the podium, he added a bit of news. “We have a new family in the community,” the Reverend said. “As you know, the widow Anderson moved on to the Boise area to live with her daughter and son-in-law. A new family, the Walkers, came in yesterday evening to take over the Anderson homestead. The family, with six young children, could use a helping hand of fellowship this week if you are so inclined.”

&n
bsp; I’ll walk out and visit them after school tomorrow, Nathan thought, wondering how many of the children would attend his school.

  Nathan had almost made it through the door of the teacherage when Charlie Gardner caught up to him and clasped him on the shoulder.

  “Would you like to have dinner with our family?” Charlie asked. “My pa wants to talk to you before we leave for our survey job tomorrow.”

  “Who, me?” Nathan said, sounding idiotic even to himself. He couldn’t believe his ears. Here he had made a solemn vow to avoid Ruby and her family, and now Mr. Gardner wanted him to have dinner with them again. “I, ah, sure,” Nathan said, looking into the teacherage at one indignant cat.

  “I’ll wait for you out here in the schoolroom,” Charlie said, slapping Nathan on the back, and then taking a seat on one of the benches. “Take your time. I’m not in a hurry, and dinner won’t be ready for a little while.”

  “What on earth does Mr. Gardner want to talk to me about?” Nathan asked Bo once he had shut the door to the schoolroom.

  Nathan would have sworn that Bo hissed disgustedly.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” Nathan said. “I know I promised not to leave you alone again today, but it’s not my fault. It wasn’t my idea to have dinner with Ruby Gardner’s family again. And I can’t help it if I didn’t turn the invitation down. I’m afraid you’ve got a sorry specimen for your human.”