He stopped and admired the way she was measuring material for a new dress she was creating.
“Isn’t this fabric gorgeous? I just got it in, and it will go wonderful for the dress I’m making Mrs. Daniel.”
In the time they’d been married, Meg had changed and grown and become a woman he loved more than his next breath. All the doubts he’d had regarding her being enough woman for him had vanished and now seemed so stupid. It didn’t matter whether she wore a dress or pants, Meg had always been a loving woman handling more responsibilities than a young girl should have to. When she’d been allowed to follow her dream, she’d blossomed into more woman than he could often handle, and he was grateful to be her husband. Meg was everything and more than he’d ever dreamed of.
“I fear Ruby may be in trouble,” he said, blurting out the truth he didn’t know how to say nicely.
Her head jerked up, and her hands came to a stop. “What kind of trouble?” Her face drew together, her brows pulling tight across her forehead, and she reached down, smoothing her hand across her belly, like she was protecting their unborn child.
He held up the slip of paper. “I have a telegram from the sheriff in New Hide. He wants to know if I’ve ever heard of female bounty hunters.”
“Oh, no. Didn’t you tell me that sheriff was dishonest?”
“Yes.”
Meg frowned. “Should we tell Annabelle? I really don’t want to worry her at this point in her pregnancy.”
Zach sighed. “How would she feel later if we weren’t honest with her?”
“You’re right,” she said. “Let me close the shop, and we’ll ride out to the farm.”
Zach had watched his wife try to protect her sister as much as possible in this last month. The sisters were close, but he’d never seen Meg so supportive, insulating Annabelle from as much as possible, even working with her husband Beau to keep the woman off her feet and resting, until the baby was born.
Thirty minutes later, Zach pulled the wagon into the front yard of the McKenzie homestead.
Beau Samuel came out of the barn. “Good to see you two.”
After helping Meg alight, Zach approached the man. “We need to sit and talk. I’ve gotten a telegraph about Ruby. She could be in trouble.”
Beau’s mouth twisted into a frown. “Annabelle’s been feeling good today. I hate to give her bad news, but she’d be angry as a hornet in a bee hive, if she found out I was keeping information from her.” He shook his head. “We better tell her.”
They all hurried into the house. Annabelle glanced up from the pie she was making. The expressions on their faces must have alerted her. “What’s wrong?”
She dried her hands on a dishtowel and hurried into the main parlor, her stomach looking like a rounded ball sitting at her waist.
“How are you feeling?” Meg asked.
“Pregnant,” she said and sank onto a nearby chair.
For a moment, Zach swallowed the nerves that rose up in his throat. In four months, Meg would look like Annabelle. It wasn’t that he feared her swelling with his child, but more he feared for her health and well-being.
“Zach received a telegram from the sheriff in Hide Town. He wants to know if Zach has ever heard of any women bounty hunters,” Meg said.
“I don’t trust this sheriff,” Zach said. “He’s known for being shady.”
They watched as Annabelle rubbed her hand against the small of her back, a frown marring her face. “But he didn’t ask specifically about Ruby?”
“No,” Zach said. “I have the telegraph here, if you want to read it.”
Annabelle held out her hand. Together, she and Meg scanned the troublesome document.
As sheriff of Zenith, Zach had sent similar telegrams trying to learn more information about someone before he arrested them. But he didn’t want to tell that to Meg and Annabelle and worry them even more. As soon as his deputy returned and Annabelle had her baby, he’d go to Hide Town to see if he could find Ruby and Deke.
“You two could ride into town and help her,” Meg said, glancing between Zach and Beau.
“I care very much for Ruby, but I’m not leaving Annabelle until after our baby is born,” Beau said, gazing at his wife.
How could they blame the man? Annabelle looked like she could go into labor any moment. Zach wouldn’t leave Meg when she was this far along. He wouldn’t miss the birth of his own child for any reason.
“At the moment, I can’t leave town,” Zach responded. “But she’s got Deke with her. She should be all right.” He hoped like hell he was right and that the two of them were not in any real danger. Just being in Hide Town was perilous for a law-abiding citizen, certain death for known bounty hunters and lawmen.
“If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d go after her myself,” Meg said, twisting her hands.
“You’ve got our baby to think about,” Zach informed her.
“I know. But this is the exact reason she needs to stop bounty hunting. It’s dangerous.”
Meg wanted Ruby to stop doing what she loved, and while Zach agreed it was a hazardous profession, the girl was good at catching outlaws and bringing them to justice. And because she was a woman, she got away with things men could never do. She was his sister-in-law and he’d agree with his wife, but Ruby was a woman who’d always taken chances, even before Zach had come into their lives.
“So what are we going to do?” Annabelle asked, glancing at the men.
“I’m going to respond to his telegram and say I’ve not heard of any women bounty hunters,” Zach said.
Annabelle wiped away a tear. “That just seems wrong. I’m proud of what we’ve done and accomplished. I hate to deny that we even exist.”
“Honey, it’s the best we can do. By making the man think there are no female bounty hunters, then he can’t connect that she’s one. If she doesn’t come home after the baby is born, I’ll go after her,” Beau said, patting his wife on the arm.
“We could do more harm riding in there searching for her,” Zach said.
Reaching out and gripping Meg’s hand, Annabelle said, “I wish she would come home. But she’s going after the man who killed our father. The one who put us on this journey.”
“It needs to end,” Meg said. “It’s time to put this all behind us.”
“Deke is with her. Let’s just hope and pray she’s okay,” Beau said, rubbing his wife’s arm.
The next day, Ruby heard someone lightly knocking on her hotel door. Holding her breath, she swallowed nervously and opened the door her hand on her gun.
Hannah rushed into the room. “I’m sorry, but I have to tell you something, and it couldn’t be at the saloon.”
“Come in,” Ruby said, though the girl had already pushed her way in. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”
“I made certain,” she said. Her face was flushed, her breathing quick.
Ruby feared they were after her, and she’d run to Ruby’s hotel room to escape Mrs. Hutchins and her goons.
“I can’t stay but a moment, and then I have to get back,” she said, pacing the floor.
Ruby stared at the girl; her eyes were dancing with merriment.
“Today at lunch, Clara said James Rivera should be coming home in the next few days. She looks for him no later than Saturday. Since you asked me about him, I thought you might want to know.”
Exhilaration zipped through Ruby, and she smiled. Finally, maybe soon, they would be done with this hellhole town. They could capture Rivera and get out of here, without the sheriff or Mrs. Hutchins realizing what they were doing. “That’s great news. Thanks. I know it was risky for you to come over here.”
The girl gazed around the room. “I should probably make my way back. They’ll be looking for me, though things have been better since you talked to Mrs. Hutchins.”
Ruby looked at the young girl, wondering what she’d been like before she’d been sold into prostitution. Wondering, who could do such a terrible thing and live with himself?
Hannah laughed. “Oh, believe me, the girls upstairs know everything that’s going on down below. They’ve been talking about how they want to learn to deal cards and stop being whores.”
“Are you doing okay?” Ruby asked Hannah, knowing the waiting and hoping it was really true that she was escaping couldn’t be easy on her.
“I’m making it. Just don’t forget your promise. I’ve been thinking. You’ve got something planned for Rivera, don’t you?”
It was better for Hannah not to know what the plan was until they were riding out of town, escaping with her in tow, just in case something went wrong. Ruby prayed everything would go smoothly, but one never knew, and she wasn’t going to take a chance that somehow the sheriff would go after Hannah if Ruby couldn’t get her out Hide Town.
“The least you know, the safer you’ll be. Thanks for giving me the information, Hannah. Let me know if you hear anything else,” Ruby said, ushering her to the door. They didn’t need to get caught talking to one another again, or they would both suffer the consequences. Ruby could lose her job, and worse, they would kill Hannah.
“Don’t go off and leave me, Ruby,” Hannah said.
“I won’t, Hannah. You’ll know when it’s time to go,” Ruby promised her. “I’ll send you a box of candy from an admirer—GR for get ready. The number of words in the message is the time we’re leaving. At that time, meet us behind the hotel. Be careful and try to get away without them following you.”
“I can hardly wait. I’m so ready to get out of here,” Hannah said, hugging Ruby briefly. She opened the door and peered outside. There was no one around at this hour of the morning.
Hannah snuck out into the hall and hurried to the back staircase. Ruby watched until she was out of sight. So, Rivera would be coming to town. Excitement spiraled through her, and she almost felt giddy.
She needed to tell Deke, so he’d realize they weren’t wasting their time. And he was right, it was time to leave, but not without Rivera in tow.
Crossing the hall, Ruby knocked on Deke’s door. There was no answer.
Could he have left town last night after she’d warned him she wasn’t leaving without Rivera?
No, he would have said goodbye.
Still, doubts lingered. She walked away missing him, wondering where he could be.
Ruby felt on edge. She hadn’t seen or heard from Deke all day. She wondered if the bastard had up and left Hide Town without her. After everything they’d shared, surely he would have said something before he pulled up stakes and rode out of town. But she wasn’t certain, and now here she was dealing cards in the Hide and Seek saloon once again. Alone and vulnerable.
Another night of men sitting at her table, counting on lady luck to make them rich or hang them out to dry.
“Miss Callahan, can I rub my cards against your chest?” an ole geezer asked her, his eyes almost falling out of his head.
Her first response was one she was certain Madam Hutchins would not appreciate. So, she tried to ease her rejection, wishing Rivera would show up and they could put the dust of this lawless town behind them.
“Now, old-timer, if I let you, then all these other men sitting at the table are going to want to do the same. The luck would be lost. I can’t treat you any differently than I treat them.”
The doors to the saloon swung open and in walked Deke. Her heart jumped and her pulse raced at the sight of the handsome man. He hadn’t given up on her. He was still here. He glanced over at her, and she smiled and gave him a wink. God, she was glad to see him.
And she needed to tell him about Rivera.
She loved the way he wore his hat, the sound of his boots on the wooden floor, and the stretch of his shirt across his strong shoulders. Deke Culver was the real deal—a man with a heart of gold who had married a woman because she was his friend and needed help. A man who saved stranded puppies. A man who had rejected her…
She’d been young. She’d been angry and hurt and so full of conflicting emotions that day she’d just wanted someone to soothe her, make her feel better, and he had, up until she’d pressed him to take it even further. And he’d refused.
“Are you going to deal the cards tonight?” a man seated in front of her asked. “Or keep staring off into space with that dreamy moony look you women get?”
“Sir, that dreamy look you’re referring to is because someone at this table needs a bath, and I suspect it’s you,” she said, flinging a card at the man.
He laughed. “Excuse me. I just got into town and didn’t stop at the bath house.”
“The ladies upstairs always like a gentleman who smells good,” she said, flinging another card at him.
Maybe Deke had been right. If he’d taken her and ridden off, she would have looked back and thought he was just like Clay Mullens. Only instead of force, he’d persuaded her, though she’d been the one who was begging him to finish what they’d started.
That entire time had been confusing and one she tried not to think about. She’d been young, impressionable, wanting to understand life and be a woman, not the baby of the family who no one thought was capable.
So, she’d become very capable. Fearless. Skilled. And get out of her way clever.
Deke walked to the bar and ordered a drink. A sense of satisfaction filled her. He was here. He hadn’t left her behind.
“Come on, gentlemen. Is that all you’re going to bet?” she asked her players.
“You’ve just about cleaned me out as it is,” a man said. “What more do you want?”
The men put up more money, and she dealt the next round of cards. Now, if only Rivera would show up and they could go home.
“I want you to win and beat the house,” she said, smiling as she gave him a new card.
Business was slow tonight at both the tables and upstairs. The women were lounging around, and some were even lingering on the stairs, watching for any man who walked in the door.
After dealing the cards, she glanced up to see Clara, one of the whores, leaning all over Deke. The soiled dove had her hands wrapped around his shoulders, her body draped over him, and she was whispering into his ear. The hussy was trying to convince Deke to come upstairs with her.
Jealousy slammed into Ruby’s gut, twisting and stabbing like a knife. Deke was her man, and no one touched him, except Ruby. Even if they weren’t courting, he was still the man she considered hers. She’d believed he was her man since she was fifteen years old.
She paused at the realization that she considered him hers. He’d gotten married after leaving her behind, but that didn’t mean she wanted to see another woman, especially a whore draping herself all over her man.
When the hand ended, she threw down her cards and motioned for the backup dealer.
George walked up. “Yes, Ruby?”
“Take over,” she said and strode from behind the table. She walked toward Deke, each step determined, the swish, swish, swish of her petticoats letting everyone know she approached. She marched up to Deke, took the girl by the arm, and pulled her off.
“He’s mine,” she said, her voice low and threatening. “Don’t touch.”
“But…” Clara squealed.
Ruby didn’t hesitate; she grabbed Deke by the hand and pulled him off the stool. Not only did she need to show everyone he belonged to her, but this would give them the opportunity to talk. She could tell him Rivera was expected this weekend, just like she’d predicted.
“Ruby, everyone in the saloon is watching us, including Mrs. Hutchins,” Deke said as he went with her.
“I don’t care,” she said. “I’m staking what’s mine for these women. So they’ll know hands off.” She turned and pulled him up the stairs.
The men in the saloon cheered, and the women clapped and giggled, moving out of her way. At the top of the stairs, she glanced around the parlor and then headed down a hall. The first room she came to was unoccupied. The bed had been fr
eshly made. She pulled Deke inside and shut the door.
He glanced at her. “What was that all about?”
She swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous about her grand gesture that had gotten them time alone in a room where people had sex. “I thought you’d left town. I thought you didn’t say goodbye. I needed some time alone with you, and this was the only way I knew how.”
He smiled. “Is that why you pulled Clara off of me?”
No, that wasn’t the reason at all, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Deke. How did Ruby tell Deke that as long as they were in the same place, that he belonged to no one else but her? Could she admit her jealousy?
She took a deep breath and huffed out her chest. “She had no business…trying to do…sell herself to you.”
He took a step toward her. “You know this kills the idea that we didn’t know each other before we rode into town.”
“No, we’re just getting more acquainted now,” she said, walking backwards away from the door, uneasiness prickling along her spine. The two of them were alone in a bedroom, in a bordello.
Sounds were coming from the room next to them—groaning and moaning and all kinds of noises that made her feel as out of place as a cow on a front porch. What was she thinking dragging Deke upstairs?
She swallowed, her ears cringing, her face heating up, her breath getting raspy. A soiled dove was entertaining a man in the room right next door.
Oh, my God, they were having sex, right next door.
Ruby gazed at Deke to see if he understood what was happening.
His lips turned up in a grin, and he took another step toward her. Oh yeah, he knew.
She hadn’t really thought too much about what people would think they were doing up here in this room. She’d only seen one of those whores going after her man. Deke was hers, even if he didn’t know it yet.
He advanced toward her. “Ruby, we’ve been doing this dance for years.”
“What dance?” she asked, taking another step back, trying to squelch the nerves that were jumping like a Mexican bean at a convention.
“You know what dance. The one you wanted when I rejected you. Then I wanted and you rejected me. Now…now, I have no objections. We’re in a bedroom alone, and people are going to assume we’re consummating our desire for each other.”
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