by Kari Trumbo
A lovely woman with hair as black as night approached the table with the man who had laughed earlier. “Beau, are you going to introduce us to your companion?”
Beau turned red as a beet and glared up at the woman. “Ruby, this is my sister May and her escort, Mr. Caruso.”
May held out her hand and Ruby took it in weak fingers. Ruby glanced at the door but escape was just too far away.
“Ruby, I don’t remember you from before I left. Did my brother finally order a mail-order bride, and how has he kept you secret?” She clapped her hands together. “The ladies’ guild at the church will love to hear about this!”
Ruby’s stomach settled somewhere down by her feet. The beef no longer seemed appetizing, in fact, her hunger had flown right out the window.
“Excuse me, I think I need to be going. Beau, enjoy your dinner. Have a nice trip…” Did she express how much she wanted to see him when he returned, when it seemed rather obvious he didn’t share such feelings? “Perhaps I’ll see you when you return.” It wasn’t a question. She didn’t have the heart to pose it as one. Before he could stand, she jumped to her feet and tossed her coat on, running out the front door.
She gripped her elbows and took deep breaths, desperate to keep the tears at bay. The breathing had always worked in the past, but now, the hot tears fell over her lashes and onto her cheeks, the cold December air biting at her.
***
Beau watched helplessly as Ruby ran from the inn. He couldn’t beg her to stay, especially not in front of May. “Why’d you have to scare her away? I’ll be leaving soon and I just wanted to have dinner with a friend. Why’d you have to interfere?”
“I could ask you the same question, Beau. There’s nothing going on between Mr. Caruso and me, so no reason for you to be here. I’m helping him start his practice, nothing more. He’s here on business but may decide to remain here permanently. That’s all you need to know.”
“What do you mean? He’s already set up an office and has an apartment. I thought he was staying.” Beau shot the lawyer a glance and the man joined them at Beau’s table.
May plopped down in Ruby’s vacated seat. “I guess I can tell you, it isn’t like you ever talk to anyone anyway.”
Mr. Caruso threw his hands up and strode away, mumbling about confidentiality.
May rolled her eyes then fixed them on Beau. “Mr. Caruso was the family lawyer of one Calvin Masters. He’s a lumber tycoon in Maine. Amazing fellow, or so I’ve heard, but I’ve never met the man—you know how I feel about social gatherings.” She shook her head and pushed Ruby’s plate to the center of the table.
“Anyway. His wife, Mrs. Ivy Masters, disappeared one day. He’d never paid much attention to what his wife had bought or didn’t so they never knew if she took anything with her. She may have been kidnapped, but he always suspected she just ran.” May leaned in closer and whispered. “Personally, even if I knew my spouse ran, I’d tell everyone it was kidnapping. Wouldn’t you?” She leaned back in her seat. “Here is where we get into the juicy gossip. Her family says that Mr. Masters threatened them, that if they were harboring her, he’d ruin them. Problem is, if they were honest, not a one of them saw Ivy. Only one of her distant relatives couldn’t be reached for questioning; Mrs. Camden.” May sat back with a smug expression.
“The Mrs. Camden…as in, Willow Street Mrs. Camden?” Beau still couldn’t see what this had to do with his sister or Mr. Caruso, but it wasn’t like he could chase Ruby into the street. She was long gone.
“Yes! That’s why I went with Mr. Caruso to the Christmas social. We had hoped that Ivy, if she’s here, would feel safe enough this far away from Mr. Masters to risk showing herself. But it wasn’t like we could just saunter up to Mrs. Camden and ask her. We’ve been keeping an eye on her, though. She’ll slip eventually, then we’ll know where Ivy is.”
“It isn’t like women usually run from their husbands. Have you ever thought there might be a reason she left?” He took a bite of his beef, but it was cold and had lost its appeal.
May rolled her eyes again and heaved a heavy sigh. “It isn’t like we want to drag her back kicking and screaming, Beau. There is a huge reward for finding her. Finding. Not returning. Remember, Mr. Caruso is Mr. Masters attorney, so he knows all the loopholes in Mr. Masters’ plan. Plus, what we’ve planned isn’t half as bad as what her husband did. Right before we left, Mr. Masters posted a bounty for her return. He had all manner of nasty people coming to see him about it. Mr. Caruso couldn’t wait to leave town and check out this lead.”
Beau shook his head and dropped his fork, having lost all interest in his expensive meal. “Seems to me, to prove you’ve seen her, you‘d have to put her in danger. Don’t seem right, especially for money.”
“That’s your opinion. I’m of the opinion that she said marriage vows and should be held accountable to them, even if her husband is using horrible methods to find her. Perhaps he loves her so much he’s desperate.”
“You and I both know some people don’t say their vows willingly, and still others say them without knowing what they’re getting into. Better to not say them at all.”
“I’m sure her family wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage if Mr. Masters wasn’t a good match. That’s none of my business, but the reward most certainly is.”
“I think I’m going to ask Caroline if I can take these plates over to Ruby. I can bring them back later. Excuse me.” He stood. leaving his sister at the table. Spending time back east had changed her, and maybe not for the better. He frowned, searching the dining room for Caroline. He spotted her at a table by the window overlooking the street.
She smiled up at him as he approached. “Beau, what happened? You were sitting there with that pretty lady then all of a sudden she was just gone.”
“Sisters’ll do that,” he grumbled rubbing the tension from the back of his neck. “Do you have a basket or something I can carry these plates in? I promise I’ll bring them back. I just want to make sure Ruby eats something.”
“Oh, for you, of course.” She bustled back into the kitchen and came back with a large basket. “This was the only one I could find that’d be big enough.” She brushed past him and back to the table. May and Mr. Caruso had left. “I don’t know about that sister of yours.” Caroline pinned him with a stare.
“Yeah, I don’t know about her, either.” He shook his head. “Caroline, if you’d been away from your family for a year and a half, would seeing them again be a good Christmas gift?”
Caroline laughed. “I don’t think I could go that long. I have a mighty big family.”
“Thank you, Caroline. I’ll have this back to you soon.” He grabbed the basket and rushed out into the cold.
Ruby had to have gone back to her apartment, there was nowhere else for her to go, unless she’d gone back to work. Though he didn’t want to, he’d try her place first. Instead of ringing the bell, he toted the basket up the stairs and rapped lightly on the door to her apartment. He’d never been in there, of course, and he wasn’t quite sure where they’d eat, but he still wanted to share a meal with her. He wanted to spend as much time with her as she’d allow.
Lily opened the door a crack and peeked out at him. “Oh, Beau! Goodness, we aren’t used to having anyone come all the way up and knock. Come in, it’s too cold to stand outside.”
Beau ducked into the small room and stood by the door, unsure of what he should do next. Ruby turned away from him and he could see her shoulders quaking.
“Ruby…” he said, taking a step toward her.
Lily directed him over to their small table. “Did you bring a picnic, Beau? Isn’t that so sweet? I’ll sit over on my side of the room and let you two chat. I won’t even listen.” She strode over to Ruby and put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, bending her head close to Ruby’s. They talked quietly together for a minute. Beau turned to remove the plates from the basket and place them on the table but he couldn’t shake the feeling they were talking about him
. This wasn’t quite what he’d had in mind when he’d thought about inviting her to dinner, but now that he’d talked to May and Mr. Caruso, he was pretty certain there wasn’t anything romantic between his sister and the lawyer, far from it.
Ruby approached the table and her red-rimmed eyes tore at his heart. He took a step closer to her and she backed away, her eyes widening, stopping him where he stood.
“I’m sorry, Ruby. My sister…well, I just wanted to spend a few minutes with you before I left town again.” He pulled out her chair.
Ruby considered him stiffly, then she sat, rigid, and allowed him to push her chair in. She studied her plate, but didn’t move to pick up her fork.
“Is there anything I can say or do to make you smile?” How hard did a man have to work for one smile?
Ruby sat up straight and avoided his eyes. “I’m surprised you came back. You seemed to want to run from the table as soon as you heard the word ‘married’. I just saved you the trouble. If you’d bothered to listen to me, you’d have heard—”
He held up his hand. He didn’t want to hear any more about her marriage. It tore him up inside to know that she wasn’t who she’d said she was. “It was just a shock, is all. I guess, well, it doesn’t matter now.” He pushed his food around. So much for eating.
“I think you should finish your meal and then go. I hope you find what you’re searching for in Yellow Medicine, because you’ll not find it here.” The biggest tear he’d ever seen trickled down her cheek. He tossed his napkin down on top of his plate and scraped his chair on the floor as he shoved it back.
Beau stood in front of her as her shoulders quaked, and a need rose up in him that he’d never experienced before. He took her elbow and guided her to her feet, wrapping her in his arms before he could convince himself not to. Her head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck.
“Whoever he is. He’s a lucky man.” Beau turned from her, grabbed his hat and left before he could make a bigger fool of himself.
8
Ruby hugged herself to retain some of the heat Beau had willingly given, then all to quickly took away. Arnold was dead; of that she was certain. She’d pushed his body, frozen like a moonshine icicle, over the edge of the ravine because she couldn’t dig a hole. As for him being lucky? It had been torture living with Arnold Gresham. She’d been ready to tell Beau the truth back at the inn and now here, but he hadn’t wanted to hear it.
Ruby turned to face Lily. “If you’re still hungry there’s no sense in this food going to waste. I don’t want it.”
Lily stood from where she’d been reclining on her bed. “Why don’t you tell me what’s eating at you. I’ve never seen Beau intentionally talk to a woman…ever. And an embrace? That tells me he considers you pretty special. He is a great guy and I’ve prayed he’d find someone like you. Why’re you fighting him, don’t you find him attractive?”
Ruby flopped back into her chair and buried her head in her arms along the backrest. It was a poor attempt at hiding the heat crawling up her neck. “Of course, I think he’s handsome, who wouldn’t? But, it doesn’t matter what I think. He doesn’t want me because of Arnold. Maybe neither of us talk enough for our own good. I just don’t understand him.”
Lily sat in the chair Beau had vacated. “It just seems to me both of you are longing to be with someone, and just maybe that someone could be each other. Especially now that Carol Williams is quite wrapped up with some new tall, dark Texan. I saw her staring at him at the social. She used to only have eyes for Beau.”
Ruby shook the image of Carol chasing after Beau out of her mind. “I asked her about that man at the social. Now that you mention it, she didn’t even look for Beau, even though I’d heard a rumor he was home and asked her about it. She changed the subject. I guess I’m glad of that.”
“Why? If you don’t want him, shouldn’t Carol be able to chase after him if she wants?” Lily’s eyebrow rose.
“If Carol has her eye on this other man, Beau shouldn’t matter.” Ruby clacked her jaw shut. She couldn’t explain why she wanted Carol as far away from Beau as possible any more than she could explain what had happened between them at dinner an hour before. She only knew her heart wasn’t having any of it.
“Beau mentioned he wanted to spend a few minutes with you before he left. Is he leaving again?” Lily said.
Ruby nodded, desperate to keep her hands from shaking. “He said he’d try to make it back before Christmas.” Ruby stood and then threw herself onto her bed.
“Perhaps you should think of something you can give him for Christmas so that he never wants to leave again?”
Ruby pushed herself up on her arms and glared over her shoulder at Lily. “You have no idea. There’s no way I can give him what he wants. I’d love to go back sixteen months and run away instead of living a day of what I did. I did everything I could to keep that man from ever touching me, but what does it matter? I lived with him so it’s just as bad as if I’d given myself to him.” She lay down on her back and covered her face with her arm. If Beau would only listen, if he hadn’t been so angry, but he was and now he was leaving.
“I think you ought to talk to Reverend Bligh and see what he tells you. Even a leper could be made clean, Ruby.” Lily placed the plates, still loaded, back into the basket and swung into her coat. “I’ll be back after a while. I think you could use some peace.” She strode out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her.
As much as Ruby wanted to talk to Reverend Bligh, she couldn’t do it today. Just having Beau show up and ask her to dinner had set her spirit soaring. Then the realization that, as much as he’d asked about the truth, he didn’t really want the truth, had crushed her. All she wanted now was to forget Beau Rockford.
***
Beau stomped into the house and slammed the door. May came rushing to the front then stopped when she saw him.
“What’s got your dander up?” She frowned. “You’ll take the whole house down with all your ruckus.”
“Maybe I’ll just take my ruckus and go.” He smashed his hat back on his head.
“Brother, will you just sit down,” she huffed.
Beau dragged himself to the kitchen table and allowed May to plop him into a seat. She ducked into an apron and fixed him a cup of coffee.
“So, you have my attention.” She set down his cup and put her hands on her hips. “I’m making soup for Pa, it’s his favorite and he’s in a snit because I told him what I told you about Mr. Caruso. He chooses to believe otherwise.”
“You’ll have to convince him. I’m not going to be around. I need out of this town. Everything is closing in around me. Getting to where a man can’t breathe.”
Her face softened and she clicked her tongue. “Oh, Beau, there’s plenty of room. The air isn’t your problem and you know it. Spit it out, you need to talk to someone.”
He glared at her. “She’s married. That’s what’s the matter.”
“Who, Ruby?” May sat down and leaned her elbow on the table, propping her head in her hand.
“Of course, Ruby. Who else?” He snarled at her. Women and their infernal talking.
“She doesn’t act like a married woman. You said she’s been living here since Josiah and Penny were married, that’s over two months.”
“That’s what confuses me, she said ‘he’s dead…I think’.” He scraped his eye lids with his hands. “I don’t even know what that means. Does she think he’s dead? How does she not know if her husband is alive or not?”
“Sounds to me like you heard wrong, brother.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I most certainly did not. That’s what she said. I was so confused; I didn’t want to hear anymore. It’s bad enough that I was starting to like a married woman, but then to think she’s just living here without knowing…” He shook his head. “I don’t even want to think about it. I’m going to go hunt for her family. She finally told me her family name and I’m pretty sure I met them last time I worked in Yellow Medi
cine.”
“What do you aim to do and why do you care anymore?” She got up from her seat and stirred the soup, avoiding his glare.
“I aim to take her home for Christmas. Her family should miss her. She can go back and live with them.”
“Wouldn’t that work out just perfectly for you?” she snipped. “You’re not fooling anyone, Beau. You want her far away because you’re flustered and confused. That’s what you always do. Instead of just asking her to explain herself, you got rattled and left. Women don’t like that. It isn’t that we don’t understand you, Beau, it’s that some of us need to talk—not to just fill the air with noise, but to know what’s happening in someone else’s head. No one knows Ruby’s mind better than she does, excepting the Lord, of course.”
“Well, maybe I don’t want to share my life with someone who jabbers at me all the time.” He leaned back in his seat, knowing that would get to her for a change.
May threw her head back and laughed. “You? You want to get married, just like every other man does. It’s only right. In fact, you’re supposed to. Paul said it’s better to get married than be wanting. It’ll lead to sin.”
“She kicked me out of her apartment, May. She doesn’t want me around. For someone who’s supposed to like to talk, she sure didn’t want to.”
May threw her hands in the air. “If you acted anything with her like you just did with me, I don’t blame her. Stomping, pouting, yelling, those won’t endear you to anyone, Beau.”
“She’s married, May.” He laid his head in his hands, unable to shake that fact from his brain.
May sat next to him and laid her hand on his shoulder. “Did it ever occur to you that I work with a lawyer who can easily check the public record and find out about Ruby and her husband? If she’s married, all the paperwork will be on file. It might take some poking around to find out where she was married, but once we have that, then you’ll know. Since just asking seems like such a chore to you.”
