Without thinking, she reached up and walloped him upside the head. “Why the hell were you talking about kissing when you’re married? That ceremony means one woman—one man. No one else. Understand?”
“Ouch. You didn’t have to hit me.”
“The hell I didn’t. I’m not smooching a wedded man.”
“You just did.”
“I didn’t know. You’re lucky I’m not putting a bullet in you.” She turned and glared at him over the fire and then moved her bedroll as far from his as she could get. “This is why you didn’t want to tell me what happened to you in the last three years. This is why nothing much is going on in your life. You’re married.” Ruby couldn’t sit still.
He was hitched, as in a wife, ring, and vows of till death do us part. The shock of those words had not worn off. Revulsion swept through her like a band of Indians chasing the cavalry.
And to think he had a wife sitting at home waiting on him. Poor unknowing woman. Ungrateful bastard.
“When did you meet her?”
“I’ve known her all my life.”
“Oh, so even before you puckered up with me that very first time, she was in your life. Maybe I should do this woman a favor and make her a widow.”
How could he have betrayed the woman he was going to marry by kissing Ruby? He couldn’t be the man she’d believed he was if he had knowingly smacked his lips with hers all those years ago and then gone home to stand before a preacher man.
“No, I didn’t know we were going to marry. It wasn’t planned. I didn’t tie the knot with her until six months after I left your place.”
Ruby sighed. Thank goodness he’d never taken her up on her offer. But still, the man was attached with a ring and a vow; he shouldn’t be smacking lips with Ruby now.
“Maybe it’s time we caught some shut eye.” She climbed into her bedroll, still smarting from the fact that for once she’d felt safe in a man’s arms. She’d enjoyed his touch and hadn’t cringed until after the kiss when she’d learned he was married.
Listening, she heard him rustling around getting into his bedroll. Finally, he settled down and she began to relax.
“Just like your father dying unexpectedly, sometimes things happen to people and they have no control. I hadn’t planned on marrying Laura,” he said from across the fire in the darkness.
Years ago, she’d been so angry when he’d ridden off that afternoon after telling her no, she’d even pulled out her gun and fired at him. Then he’d gone home and married another woman. If this didn’t prove to her that men were simple-minded creatures who didn’t know what they wanted, what would? She didn’t need the heartache. Her independence was much more satisfying.
“After kissing me, you married Laura.” Not that kissing was a commitment, more like a promise.
“I had no choice.”
“Well, I do. Goodnight, Deke. As soon as we catch Rivera, we part ways forever. Do you understand?”
“Clearly.”
Hopefully after tomorrow, they would never see each other again.
Chapter 5
As they rode into Hide Town, Ruby noticed that though the town was small, a fair amount of people bustled about. There was a hotel, a mercantile, a saloon, the sheriff’s office, a barber, livery stable, blacksmith, and a church. Several homes were on the outskirts of town, and then there were the shanties. Those tiny buildings, built of scrap, where men and women lived with barely enough room to survive.
Ruby cringed at the thought of having to live in a dwelling that was more like a cell than a home. Usually, they consisted of a kitchen and a bed. Nothing else.
“I’ve been thinking, Ruby. Maybe we should check into the hotel and pretend we’re married. That way you’ll be protected,” Deke said, glancing over at her.
She shot him her surliest look, her lungs freezing at the audacity of him. The man was married. And she wasn’t sharing a hotel room with a man who had a wife. “Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“If I need to explain the reason why a single woman and a married man do not share a hotel room, then you’re not the man I thought you were. In fact, I’m going to check into the Hide Town Hotel and pretend I don’t even know you. I would suggest you do the same. This way we can both be scouting around town without anyone knowing we’re connected.” Though Ruby had never lain with a man before, she knew most people assumed the worst about her. They thought that because she was strong and hunted criminals for a living she’d probably slept with half of Texas. Well, surprise, she was a virgin.
And she intended to stay one for a while. There was no hurry or reason for her to lay with a man.
Their horses clip clopped along the street as they headed toward the livery stables. People stopped and stared at the two of them riding into town.
“We’ve already been spotted coming in together,” Deke said.
“That doesn’t mean we know each other.”
“No, but they’re going to wonder if we do.”
So what. This was a town filled with criminals; they probably suspected everyone who rode into town. The townspeople would want to protect themselves and their families from people like her and Deke. “Well, good for them.”
“Ruby, don’t be difficult.”
“Difficult? You think I’m being difficult?” A surge of red hot anger spilled into her bloodstream, and she could almost hear the sizzle pulsing through her veins. She turned and slanted her eyes at him. “You haven’t begun to see difficult. I don’t kiss married men.”
She wondered what his wife looked like. And if they were in love, why was he smooching with Ruby? Where did she live? There was more to this story than Deke was telling, and if she ever met his spouse, she would fill the woman’s ears full of information on the cad she’d tied her wagon too.
Passing through town, Ruby ducked her head, so her hat covered her face, yet she tried to peer at the people along the sidewalk. Was Rivera here? She spurred her mustang toward the livery stable. Once she dropped him off, she’d search the town, do some investigating.
And no, Mr. Married Deke Culver was not going with her. She needed some time away from him. Some distance to clear her head and remind her body that yes, she was attracted to him, but he was strictly off limits as in wedding band restrictions.
“I’m going to check into the hotel, and then I’m going exploring,” she informed him as they rode down Main Street.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, I’m doing this alone,” she said, turning in the saddle and glaring at him. Sometimes a girl needed some solitary time. They’d been together for three days. Enough.
“Why? Why can’t I go?”
“Because people don’t talk to me as easy if you’re around. I want them to open up and tell me what I need to know. If you’re near, they’re uneasy, glancing over my shoulder watching you, waiting for you to pounce.”
When another man looked at Ruby, Deke’s stare could scare a buzzard off a dead animal. Since he wasn’t responsible for Ruby, he had no right, and at the moment, she wanted to make herself familiar with the town and the people who lived here.
“I don’t know why. I’m not going to pounce on anyone,” he said.
“Well, let’s see. Could it be the guns on your hips or the way your black hat sits low on your forehead or the chaps you wear on your thighs? Or the scowl on your face?” She put a finger to her mouth and pretended to concentrate. “I just don’t know which one stands out more.”
“Smart ass.”
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Where are you going?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not certain.” Oh, she knew exactly where she was headed, but he didn’t need to know. She didn’t want to listen to his lecture on her personal safety.
She pulled up in front of the livery stable and slid down from her horse. She began to unfasten her saddle, pulling the straps free.
An eager young man came run
ning out. “Can I help you, miss?”
“Why, thank you. I need to board my horse.”
“Sure. I can take care of that for you. Do you want us to feed him?”
“No, she wants you to starve him,” Deke replied.
The boy shot him a look that had it been a bullet, Deke would be dead. Just what she didn’t need, Deke alienating the livery boy. They were some of the best resources of knowledge for the comings and goings of just about everyone in town. This was why she refused to pretend they were husband and wife. Their association had to be kept to a minimum, starting right now.
“Don’t mind him. He’s a cranky old man I met on the trail. We’re parting ways right here,” she whispered to the stable boy.
“Oh,” the kid said kind of surprised. “I thought you were together.”
She looked at Deke. “No, I’m alone.”
“Are you visiting someone in town?” the boy asked.
A horse neighed in the background, and she glanced over to see Deke wandering over to the animal. He put his hand on the horse’s nose and stared into the animal’s eyes. What he was doing?
“I do,” she lied. “I’m looking for the Rivera family. I’m a distant relation, and I wanted to say hello while I was in town. Don’t know how long I’ll be staying, but it would be nice to say hello.”
“I don’t know them.”
“Too bad,” she said, trying to pay attention to the livery kid, but also watching Deke caressing the horse’s face with his fingertips.
“Hey, mister, I wouldn’t get too close to that horse. He’s a mean one,” the kid warned.
“He’s not so bad. What you’re feeding him is giving him gas. He’s in pain.”
The kid stared at Deke like he’d lost his mind, and Ruby wondered how Deke knew these things about horses that no one else did. After Deke had recommended they separate Ruby’s and Caroline’s horses at night, Caroline’s mare had done better. But just watching him with the animals, Ruby didn’t know how Deke determined what the horse needed.
The stable boy turned back to Ruby. “Miss, I’d be happy to bring your saddle down to the hotel for you.”
“Why, thank you. What’s your name?”
“Tim, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you, Tim. I’m Ruby Callahan,” she lied, not willing to give her real name. Afraid if the town had heard of Ruby McKenzie, they would indeed go after her.
An older man appeared in the doorway, his hat pushed back, his stomach hanging over his pants, with a gun slung low around his hips, staring at them. A star was pinned to his shirt. He glanced over them from head to toe as if memorizing every detail. “Who are you folks?” he asked.
“I’m Ruby Callahan,” she said, stepping forward and offering him her hand, smiling. “I don’t know the name of this gentleman. We just happened to ride into town at the same time.”
“Deke Culver.” Deke’s voice was low, and she watched the two men eyeing each other like a pair of bullfighters in a ring, circling.
“What’s your business here in town?” the sheriff asked.
Boy, what a friendly place this was. The welcoming committee was the local law wanting to know why you were here.
“What’s your name?” Ruby asked, lifting her chin, staring him in the eyes.
“Sheriff Wyatt Thomas,” he said.
“I’m looking for employment.”
“At the saloon?” he queried.
“Maybe,” she said, not willing to say much in front of Deke. He would only disapprove, and she didn’t want to hear his reasoning.
“What about you, sir? What’s your business in town?”
“I’m looking for my brother. I’m here to do God’s work.”
Ruby had to clench her jaws to keep them from popping open, leaving her mouth hanging wide. She wanted to roar with laughter, but knew that would get them a quick ride out of town. The least said the better. But Deke, a man of God? Really, the man who was married and kissing a single woman?
“We got all the preacher men we need in this town,” the sheriff said, not welcoming. In fact, he seemed rather hostile to the fact that Deke was here. With startling clarity, she remembered how the sheriff of Dyersville had warned them this little country village was known for being a place where the law was corrupt and criminals openly walked the streets.
“Maybe so, but I’m also looking for my brother, Jacob Culver. Have you seen him?” Deke asked, eyeing the man more like a gunfighter than a preacher. Oh, he had just made this trip a little more exciting. The kind of excitement they didn’t need, throwing verbal spears at a crooked lawman.
“No, and the name is not familiar,” the lawman said, crossing his arms across his chest and staring at them.
“My brother rode with the James gang until recently, when he received the calling of Jesus Christ to be saved.” Deke tensed, and Ruby knew he was poking at the lawman.
“Check with the reverend. He might have heard of him,” he said with a nod. He glanced between the two of them. “How long you planning on staying in town?”
The sheriff wanted Deke gone and gone as quick as he could. Could he possibly know Deke was a bounty hunter?
“Just long enough to find my brother.”
“I’ll give you a few days to search around, but then you might want to move on down the road to the next town,” he said. His voice held a strength in it that let you know he was used to getting his way.
Deke smiled. “Why, Sheriff, I may find a few more sinners in your town to convert.”
The man didn’t think Deke’s attempt at humor was funny. In fact he frowned, his eyes narrowing. “All the sinners have moved on. We make certain of that.” He turned his attention to Ruby. His gaze skimmed over her body, sending a shiver of revulsion down her spine.
She swallowed, trying to hold back the bile that threatened to spill. “I’m as free as the wind, Sheriff. I’m going to stay, until I get the urge to move on,” she said, knowing that would put a burr under Deke’s saddle.
The sheriff stared at both of them. “We’re a small cozy place, and as sheriff, I don’t put up with any shenanigans. Don’t make me chase you out of here.”
Ruby almost laughed. An outlaw town with a controlling lawman. Wonder which side of the law he operated on? She just bet it wasn’t the side of the constitution, but rather a vigilante type of law.
“Sheriff,” she said with a drawl as she flashed her lashes at him and smiled her most flirtatious. “I don’t know about the gentleman, but I’m here to earn some money until I get that wandering eye again.”
The man laughed. “Honey, I’m not worried about you, only the preacher man here. We don’t need any more gospel preached in this town. One of you guys is enough.”
With all this scrutiny, they would need to find Rivera as quick as possible and get out of this center of corruption. If he hadn’t killed her father, she would let this one go, just because of the town. But for justice for her father, she would stick out this one horse borough with the crooked lawman and make certain she found Rivera.
“Oh, I’m not a preacher. I just follow the spirit and go wherever it takes me. Right now, it’s calling me to find my brother.”
The sheriff wasn’t nearly as receptive to Deke as he was to Ruby. “Just don’t overstay your welcome, preacher man.” The man turned and walked out of the livery stable.
“Does everyone get a welcome into town from the sheriff?” Ruby asked Tim.
“Just about. Be careful and you’ll be all right.”
Ruby frowned and thought of Zenith and how the law would never accost visitors, unless they were causing trouble or were wanted. Somehow, she got the feeling she needed to find Rivera quickly before trouble wearing a badge found her.
Later that afternoon, Ruby pushed through the swinging doors of the saloon, walking toward the bar. Inside, the smell of whisky and smoke lingered in the dark shadowy room. A staircase led to a parlor upstairs, where she could hear women laughing and talking. On the m
ain floor, a bar ran across the back wall where the bottles of liquor were stored in cabinets. To the right were tables where card games were held. And to the left was a stage where entertainment could perform.
A middle-aged woman with dark hair and an elegant dress met Ruby before she reached the bar.
“Can I help you?” she asked, eyeing Ruby up and down in her split skirt and fitted shirt.
“I’m looking for a job.”
The woman smiled. “I’d be happy to help you, dear. I charge one dollar for the men to sleep with my girls, and you receive half. The other goes toward your room and board. Clothing is added on to your bill and taken off at the end of the month.”
A shudder rippled through Ruby at the idea of unknown men touching, kissing her and trying to… There was no way she could ever work in a bordello. Never.
“No, ma’am. I respect your business, but I’m a card dealer,” Ruby said, hoping they wouldn’t try to force her upstairs. She’d heard horror tales of women being coerced into prostitution. She’d kill anyone who tried.
The woman didn’t even try to hide her fascination with Ruby’s figure. Her eyes were taking in Ruby’s measurements as they stood talking. It was the creepiest feeling Ruby had ever experienced. “Oh, honey, you could be making so much more working upstairs.”
Firmly, Ruby shook her head. “No, I about killed the last man who tried to sleep with me. So, I don’t think I’d be much good.” Maybe telling the woman she would kill any man who tried, she’d understand Ruby would never be a willing participant.
The lady laughed and held out her hand. “Mrs. Emily Hutchins.”
“Ruby Callahan.”
“Nice to meet you, Ruby.” She continued to stare, her eyes traveling the length of Ruby’s body, like she was assessing a piece of meat. “I’ve never hired a woman card dealer before. How do I know you can deal?”
Now Ruby’s acting ability kicked in, and she thought of the card games she’d once played with her sisters. “I was a dealer at the Elephant saloon in Fort Worth for many years. I also worked in Dodge City for a while.”
“Great credentials,” she replied, her eyes finally gazing into Ruby’s. “While I would rather hire you upstairs, I think you will certainly draw the men into the saloon. I tell you what. I’ll hire you for one night. Please the clientele, and if I like what I see, we’ll talk about a permanent job.”
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 57
