have saddled the Duchess and ridden her, but that left the problem of getting things back to the farm. Ranch, she corrected herself.
Fences were in good condition, and the horses in corrals were handsome and healthy. She could see the results of Nash’s hard work everywhere.
Butterflies attacked her stomach as she reached the outskirts of town. She hadn’t been this nervous about going home. There would be a lot of people who remembered her from years ago, and most folks had known her mother and Pearl. As far as Crosby was concerned, Ruby already had a reputation.
One other buckboard sat in front of the mercantile, so she stopped behind it. The bell over the door rang as she entered the store.
“Be right with you!” a man called.
A combination of smells assailed her senses, bringing back vivid memories. Coffee, kerosene, leather and brine combined to transport her to her childhood, when she’d stand beside her mother as Laura made her meager purchases.
Two women, one older, one younger, stood browsing through fabric bolts. Ruby gave the mature one a smile when she looked her way.
“Ruby? Ruby Dearing?” the woman asked.
Ruby nodded, trying to place the face.
The younger one turned at her mother’s exclamation. Ruby did recognize her. “Audra Harper?”
“It’s Reed now, but yes, it’s me.” She laid down the fabric she’d been holding and walked toward Ruby. Her gaze traveled over the skirt that had been Ruby’s mother’s and over her barely restrained hair. “You’re the last person I ever expected to see shopping in the mercantile today.”
Ruby still wasn’t sure of Audra’s reaction to her presence. “I got here evening before last.”
“Do you remember my mother, Ettie?”
“Of course. Nice to see you, Mrs. Harper.”
“Well, I am surprised to see you after all this time,” Ettie said. “How long has it been? Seven years? Eight?”
“About that,” Ruby replied with a nod.
Ettie gave her a sideways look. “Some of us thought we’d see you at your sister’s funeral. Or your mother’s.”
Ruby fished in the pocket of her skirt and pulled out her list. “I didn’t know of their deaths until two nights ago.”
“Shame to lose them both like that,” Ettie said, but Ruby didn’t hear much sympathy in her tone. “Your mother was a wonderful, God-fearing woman. She never missed a Sunday service until she was too weak to ride into town.”
“She always did set store by going to church,” Ruby said simply.
The white-haired man Ruby identified as Edwin Brubeker had finished with his last customer, and now stood listening with interest. She turned and acknowledged him. “Hello, Mr. Brubeker.”
“Hello, Ruby. I would have recognized you anywhere. You haven’t changed a bit, and you strongly resemble your sister.”
“Pearl’s hair didn’t look like that,” Ettie interjected.
“And you’re taller, aren’t you?” Audra asked curiously.
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen her since she was thirteen or fourteen.”
“You’re definitely taller,” Audra assured her, as though it was important that Ruby know.
Wanting to escape their scrutiny now, Ruby handed her list to Mr. Brubeker. “I’ll look around a bit while you put my order together.” She dismissed the women with a brief, “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again soon,” and headed for a wall of goods in the opposite direction. She stood looking at small kegs of nails and rows of tools as though they were of extreme interest. She’d wanted a hammer just that morning, so she selected one and carried it to the counter, avoiding meeting anyone’s eyes.
After she’d picked out a few more items, the store owner had her order ready. “On the Lazy S’s bill?” he asked.
Nash hadn’t said anything about paying for supplies, and she hadn’t thought about it. The least she could do was supply these things. “I’ll pay now.”
Mr. Brubeker’s white eyebrows rose. He looked at the cash she placed on the counter. “My grandson will load the wagon.”
“Thank you.” Audra and Ettie were still hovering near the aisle when she turned to go. “Nice to see you both,” she said.
“What are you doing back in Crosby?” Ettie asked.
“Mother,” Audra chided.
Ruby paused only briefly. “I’m figuring that out. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Mr. Brubeker’s grandson was a lanky redheaded youth with a charming grin and freckles spattered across his nose and cheeks. He was still loading the buckboard, so she strolled along the street, gazing into the windows of the printer, the barber and a locksmith. A commotion at the end of the block caught her attention and she made sure the Brubeker boy was still loading her purchases before walking toward the gathering.
Next to the livery, a small crowd had formed around the corral, where four horses stood listlessly.
Ruby inched her way closer to the barricade to see the animals. They were all appallingly thin, with splotchy coats, and one in particular, a speckled gray gelding, had bare spots on his hide and ribs showing.
“What’s going on?” she asked the men beside her.
“That fella’s tryin’ to sell those horses, but don’t look like he’s gettin’ any takers.”
She observed silently for a few painful minutes. It was obvious the poor animals were undernourished and neglected. Ruby felt sick at first, but then anger swept over her. “Who do they belong to?”
“See the short bald fella over there? Him.”
She skirted the gathering until she reached the man he’d indicated. “Are those your horses?”
He turned and looked at her. She was an inch or two taller and he had to gaze up. His eyes widened. “Who are you?”
She ignored the question. “These horses haven’t been cared for or fed properly.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Who the hell are you and what would you know?”
“My name’s Ruby Dearing, and it doesn’t take a genius to look at their coats and ribs and see they’ve been neglected.” She glanced around, noting the curious faces of the bystanders. “Isn’t there a law to protect those animals?”
A couple men shrugged.
“Well, little lady. If’n you’re so fixed on the critters, why don’t you fork over the cash to buy ’em and take ’em home?”
Ruby’s skin burned hot. She shot the gathering
