Pearl (17 page)
‘‘The marquis left early this morning. He’s out scouting for something, I guess. I’m sure they’ll be back for supper. Did you want to talk with the marquis?’’ She hoped Mrs. McGeeney got the point. Frenchies indeed.
‘‘No, not me, but if’n half of what I heard happens, would be good for Little Misery.’’
Which wouldn’t be so miserable if you would get along with your
neighbors
. Ruby hoped she kept her thoughts from showing on her face. She looked around for Opal, who, along with the Robertson girls, was nowhere in sight. She was out showing off Bay, if she knew her sister.
‘‘Did you get the letter off to the Board of Education?’’ Mrs. Robertson declined a refill on her coffee. She pointed to the chair. ‘‘Can you sit and talk for a few minutes? I know you have plenty to do.’’
‘‘For a bit. The girls are getting dinner ready. I doubt there’ll be very many today.’’
‘‘I’ve been thinking about the school.’’
‘‘Me too.’’ Ruby nodded when Charlie offered to pour her a cup of coffee.
‘‘The rolls are coming up.’’
‘‘You make the best sweet rolls here. I’m afraid some come for the treat rather than for the service.’’
‘‘Whatever brings them in. You think the men around here would like to take turns preaching?’’
‘‘I doubt it. But Charlie did a fine job today. Who’d have thought . . .’’ A slow smile matched the gentle shaking of her head. ‘‘Things sure have changed.’’
‘‘I know, but I keep thinking we haven’t seen anything yet compared to what the marquis wants to do.’’
‘‘Those of us who are already here better make sure we lay claim to our land, or we could be in real trouble.’’
‘‘You mean you don’t own the land where your house is?’’
‘‘No, didn’t need to. Let the cattle range, and you could build a house anywhere. But we got good water, so Mr. Robertson is going to Dickinson on Monday and take care of that matter.’’
‘‘I better go say good-bye to the folks who are leaving. Can you stay for dinner so we can have a real visit? Please. It’s on the house.’’
‘‘I’ll have to ask Mr. Robertson, but you can’t keep giving everything away like this. I was going to talk with you about the rolls, as it is.’’
Ruby fluttered her hand. ‘‘Please, pay no attention to that. If this was my house, you wouldn’t say no, would you?’’
‘‘No, but I’da brought somethin’ along.’’
Ruby shrugged and headed for the open door where the Bensons and the Paddocks were talking. But not to one another.
‘‘Thank you all for coming. I hope we’ll see you again in two weeks.’’
‘‘That you will. And thank you for hosting us again.’’
Ruby watched others go down the steps, one behind the other, not exchanging a word or even smile. She shook her head and turned back into the dining room. Mrs. Robertson caught her eye and cocked an eyebrow, making Ruby smile. While they hadn’t spent much time together, she finally felt like she had a friend in the territory. Beyond those at Dove House.
They quickly restored the tables and chairs to the proper order, flipping the crisp white tablecloths in place. Even Belle helped instead of leaving or returning to her room, as she so often did.
What is she going to demand of me this time,
Ruby thought, then immediately castigated herself for her unchristian attitude. Love others as yourself were indeed hard words to follow.
‘‘Hey, Rand, I hear you’re bringing in another horse.’’
‘‘Sure enough, Belle. You want to ride too?’’
‘‘Me? I don’t think so, but Ruby hasn’t had her head out of this hotel for weeks. She needs to get out and see what spring does in this country.’’
Ruby stopped in her headlong rush to the kitchen like she’d hit a glass wall.
I must be hearing things
. She turned in time to see Belle wink. Wink? For mercy’s sake, what was going on?
‘‘Would you go for a ride with Opal and me if I bring another horse?’’
‘‘But I don’t have a saddle.’’
‘‘I’ll look around at the ranch. We must have an extra.’’
‘‘I . . . I . . .’’
‘‘Ruby!’’ Opal’s wail came from outside.
Ruby straight-armed the door and headed on out back, Rand hot on her heels.
Tears running down her cheeks, limping, and with dust and dirt on face and dress, Opal also wore a bloody lip.
‘‘Are you hurt?’’ Ruby caught her little sister in a hug.
‘‘Bay got stung by a bee, and when she swerved, we fell off.’’
Ruby tipped Opal’s head back. ‘‘Your lip is bleeding. Anything else? Wait a minute—we?’’
‘‘Virginia and me.’’
‘‘Where is she?’’
‘‘Hiding behind her sister. She doesn’t want to get scolded.’’
Ruby dabbed at Opal’s lip with her handkerchief.
‘‘Ouch.’’
‘‘Where’s Bay?’’ Rand looked from the girl out to the pasture where Bay stood still, her reins tying her to the ground. Rand turned back to Opal. ‘‘Time to get back on. I’m thinkin’ you better learn to ride really good yourself before riding double.’’
Ruby turned on Rand. ‘‘She most certainly should not get back on right now. She’s hurt and dusty and—’
’ ‘‘Opal, you go get your horse, and I’ll help you mount. Virginia, it’ll be your turn as soon as Opal rides around the pasture again.’’
The look he gave Ruby made her shut her mouth, but her eyes flashed fire. The nerve of him. When Opal left her arms and climbed back through the fence, Ruby turned on Rand.
‘‘How can you—’’
He raised one hand, palm out, his face calm. ‘‘She has to get back on so she doesn’t become afraid. Only thing really hurt is her feelings. These things happen.’’
‘‘If anything . . .’’ She spluttered to a stop at the look in his eyes.
‘‘Trust me. It will be all right.’’
A shiver danced up her spine.
Trust. Why would I trust you!
Why not? Has he ever done or said anything to harm Opal? Or anyone
for that matter?
Even though he drove her to distraction at times, he’d never been anything but a gentleman.
Ruby swallowed the other things she’d been about to say and walked over to the fence. Mrs. Robertson joined her.
‘‘They had a tumble, did they?’’
‘‘Looks that way.’’
‘‘My Virginia, she’s only worried because she is wearing her best dress and I told her not to get dirty. Long as they aren’t really hurt, no nevermind.’’
Ruby sucked in a breath of relief and turned to her friend. ‘‘How can you stay so calm?’’
‘‘Lots of experience. You ride horses; sometimes you fall off. You get hurt; you heal. All told, makes you a stronger person, and we need strong people out here.’’
Ruby watched as Opal swung aboard, listened to Rand tell her something, nodded, and nudged Bay forward to walk around the fence line. When she slid off, Virginia was boosted on and did the same.
Opal came to stand by Ruby. ‘‘It wasn’t Bay’s fault.’’
‘‘It wasn’t anyone’s fault.’’ Ruby brushed dust off Opal’s shoulder. ‘‘I need to get back and make sure dinner is getting ready. Come wash up as soon as you put Bay away.’’
‘‘You’ll make it out here just fine,’’ Mrs. Robertson said as they walked back to the porch.
Ruby nodded. How come she felt like she’d just been given a medal for valor?
The next morning at breakfast the marquis asked to speak with her. She brought another plate of fried ham to his table and waited until he turned to her.
‘‘How can I help you?’’
‘‘I just wanted to tell you that we are leaving on today’s train.
Enrique will settle our bill.’’
‘‘I will have it ready for you in an hour.’’
‘‘Merci. I will tell others of the fine service at your establishment. Be assured you will receive plenty of business in the months and years ahead.’’
‘‘Merci. May you accomplish all you desire.’’ She knew her French wasn’t great, but his smile rewarded her efforts.
As he left Dove House, the Marquis de Mores looked over his shoulder. ‘‘I will be back.’’
‘‘Go with God.’’
He touched the brim of his hat, his dark eyes flashing.
What would all this mean for Dove House? Ruby wished she knew.
‘‘Please, please come be our mother. We need you.’’
Pearl woke with a start, the entreating faces of Mr. Long-street’s children as clear as if they stood at the foot of her bed. She laid her hand against the thudding of her heart in an attempt to quiet herself. This was the second night of dreaming about the children. Why had they trapped her heart so? They were being cared for, one could see that.
But were they being loved?
That was the question all right. Of course their father loved them. She could see it in the way he laid his hand on a shoulder, smiled encouragement. He wasn’t demonstrative, but he also wasn’t abrupt or sarcastic with them. Dared she ask about them at dinner tonight when he would be a guest again?
Or would that be an encouragement?
She poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher that always sat on her bedside table. One of the many little things she took for granted.
Being in my father’s house has me spoiled, and all I really wanted
was for him to notice me, to pay attention to me like he does to Anna and
Arnet. Some Christian you are, jealous of your little brother and sister.
The Bible says clearly ‘‘Thou shalt not covet,’’ and you most certainly do
.
Why were these nocturnal sessions so clear in her mind when during the day she could look the other way so easily? She slumped back against her pillows. ‘‘I’m going to be a bear in the morning if I don’t get back to sleep. Only two more weeks of school, and the picnic almost here.’’
You should have asked your father.
I cleared it with Amalia, and if she wanted Father to know, she could
have told him
.
A wide yawn cracked her jaw.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for
loving me. Help me to be the woman you planned me to be. And forgive
me these trespasses of which I am so prone. Please find a willing wife for
Mr. Longstreet. And if it is you who are bringing the children to my mind,
please make your will clear to me
.
The maid had to touch her shoulder to wake her at rising time.
Her pupils could talk of nothing but the outing on the morrow. ‘‘And you said we would ride the cable car?’’ one of them asked for the third time.
‘‘Yes. But now we will work on our reading again.’’
‘‘And we will have our dinner out in your grassy yard?’’
‘‘Yes, if it does not rain.’’ She pointed to a child in the second row. ‘‘Sally, it is your turn to read. Please stand.’’
And so the day went until she felt like shooing them all out the door for an extra recess. Why hadn’t she thought to do this sooner—and with former classes?