Chapter Seven
Ruby hadn’t been in the kitchen at the Gold Nugget’s main house since that first morning when Cliff kissed her. She entered the room in a rush—and discovered eight pairs of eyes fastened on her.
No less than she deserved for being late to the staff meeting. Her reasons were many.
First, she’d overslept. Awaking with a start and a killer tension headache, she’d raced around the trailer in a frenzy, doing barely more than throwing on some clothes and brushing her teeth.
She’d overslept because of arriving home late from Cliff’s cousin’s. Maeve had refused to let Ruby leave without ‘having a chat’. She’d gotten the distinct impression the woman was fishing for information. That, or Ruby was becoming suspicious of everyone and everything.
Like Erin, for instance. The girl was nobody’s fool. Neither was Will Dessaro, whose furtive glances Ruby was avidly avoiding from across the kitchen.
Granted, being late to the staff meeting deserved a furtive glance or two.
Another reason for her tardiness was having to drop Sarge off at the sheriff station. The dog had woken her up three times during the night with his barking.
Okay, that wasn’t his fault. His job was to alert her to potential danger and keep intruders away. But each time he’d barked, Ruby bolted upright in bed, then tossed and turned before falling back into a fitful slumber.
During those tossing and turning episodes, she’d think of Cliff, not what had caused the noise. There had been no hug when they parted the previous night. He’d simply followed her home, checked out the inside of the trailer while she waited, then waved goodbye before driving off.
That lack of a hug kept playing through her mind over and over. It shouldn’t matter, she reminded herself. The attention he paid her was purely for the sake of appearances.
“Is everyone going to the barbeque and square dance tonight?” Sam asked.
He stood by the sink. On the counter beside him the coffee pot emitted gurgling sounds as it spewed the last drops of a fresh pot.
Ruby eyed the coffee with envy. She wanted a cup. Wanted it with the desperation of a desert wanderer craving water. Instead, she squeezed into the only vacant seat.
The hands of almost everyone in the room shot up in response to Sam’s question.
The woman sitting beside Ruby nudged her in the side. “Aren’t you going to the dance with Cliff?”
“Oh, yeah.” Ruby raised her hand, too.
Fiona. That was the woman’s name. She was Sam’s mother-in-law as well as head cook and guest relations manager. Ruby’s gaze took in the rest of the employees. She silently repeated their names and positions at the ranch. Her third day on the job, and she was still a little unclear.
“Good.” Sam smiled. “There’ll be no trail rides after 1:00 p.m. and no evening meal served in the dining hall. Any of the guests not attending the dinner and square dance are on their own. Quitting time will be three o’clock so you all can head home early and get prettied up.”
Prettied up? Ruby suppressed a sigh. All the hours she’d spent last night thinking about Cliff, not once did she consider what to wear to the dance. She hadn’t brought anything suitable along. Maybe Scarlett had something in her closet.
She could call and ask. As of yesterday when they’d talked, Scarlett was in love with Demitri and dreading coming home next week. Ruby hoped her sister didn’t do anything rash and impulsive. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Then again, who was she to talk? Wasn’t she right this minute impersonating Scarlett?
“I want you all to have fun,” Sam continued. “You certainly deserve it. But remember, you’re representing the Gold Nugget. Conduct yourselves accordingly.”
Luis became the center of attention and the brunt of several jokes. Apparently he’d overindulged at the last cookout and hay ride.
“Now, for an update on the Mega Weekend of Weddings.” Sam picked up a clipboard and pen from the counter. “As of yesterday, the ranch is booked almost to capacity.”
“That’s great,” someone said.
“For us. Not for the rest of the town, unfortunately. According to the mayor, registration is only about half of what they’d hoped for. Fifty-three couples. Mayor Dempsey’s trying to generate more publicity and has invited TV stations from Reno, Carson and Vegas to Sweetheart hoping they’ll do a story.”
He continued for several minutes, informing the employees on their expected duties. Ruby paid minimal attention. She wouldn’t be here in five weeks. Scarlett would. Hopefully, she added.
At the mention of her sister’s name, Ruby was suddenly all ears.
“I’m sorry.” She looked at Sam. “Did you say something?” Dang it. She should have been listening instead of daydreaming. Once more, all eyes were on her.
“You can drive a buggy, right?” he asked.
She’d never in her life driven a buggy. Scarlett, however, had spent a year working at Hickory Farms. One of her jobs had been giving wagon rides.
“Um, yes. I can drive a buggy.” A bad feeling lodged in the pit of her stomach.
“Good. We’ll be hosting our first guest wedding here at the Gold Nugget since we reopened. And it’s going to be a traditional cowboy wedding. The groom and groomsmen will ride up on horseback. The bride and her maids will arrive in the buggy. A makeshift altar will be set up on the west hill. The ceremony will take place right at sunset.”
“How nice!” Fiona exclaimed and clasped her hands together.
“The wedding is Memorial Day weekend.”
Groans filled the room.
“I realize it’s short notice, but we didn’t want to turn them down for obvious reasons. It goes without saying we have a lot of preparation ahead of us. And we’re going to need several run-throughs to perfect the timing of the riders and the buggy. Will.” He nodded at the trail boss. “You’re in charge of the horses. Scarlett, you’re in charge of the buggy. Talk to me or Will on any repairs.”
“Okay.” Ruby’s headache intensified. This was so not going to work out for her.
“Now, about the rodeo and gymkhana a week from Saturday.” Sam moved on to the next topic without drawing a breath. “There’s been a change in assignments.”
Ruby had heard mention of the gymkhana from Luis and the stable hand, a high school student who worked afternoons and on the weekends. It was a fun family day for both ranch guests and people from town. There would be calf roping, team penning, barrel racing and horseback relay races. The kids would have their own little buckaroo rodeo, the highlight of which was mutton busting.
Ruby couldn’t imagine what parent in their right mind would allow their child to ride a sheep. Wasn’t there a law against it?
Her job, or Scarlett’s, actually, was to help with the horses and calves. Again, she doubted she’d be here. Crowley’s arraignment was scheduled for this coming Wednesday. And Scarlett was due to return.
One way or the other, Ruby would be gone by then or the next day. But she supposed she could help out before then.
“Scarlett.” Sam consulted his clipboard. “I’m putting you in charge of the mutton busting.”
“You’re kidding!” The words popped out before she could stop them.
“Is something wrong?” He set the clipboard down and crossed his arms. “You told me when I hired you that you have experience with mutton busting.”
“Well, yes,” Ruby answered meekly, silently cursing her sister. “It’s just been a while.”
“You can practice with my kids.”
“Mine, too,” another employee volunteered.
“Okay.” She smiled, feeling anything but reassured. Scarlett could not get home fast enough.
The meeting broke up not long after. Ruby made straight for the barn, ignoring the curious stares that followed her and skipping the coffee she longed for. She’d been taken off trail rides again and put on chore duty, which was fine with her. She didn’t like the idea of putting the guests in danger should Crowley appear. Better to hide out in the barn.
Sugar Pie and Mooney greeted her with nickers and pricked ears. In the past three days, the old mare and pony had come to expect a petting and treat from Ruby. She didn’t disappoint them and pulled two carrots she’d grabbed earlier from her back pocket.
Mooney’s thrush was greatly improved, thanks to Sam’s daughter’s diligent care. Good thing. She was a hit with the younger guests and frequently requested for trail rides.
Sugar Pie was another story. She’d developed an eye infection several months ago that kept returning despite constant treatment. Her advanced age didn’t help her ability to fight it off.
Twice each day, Ruby flushed the mare’s eyes with water and applied an ointment. When she was done, she exercised the mare by walking her around the grounds.
“Poor girl,” she crooned and entered the stall. Mindful of the mare’s sensitive eyes, she gently haltered her. “Wish you were better.”
If Ruby could accomplish one thing during her week at the Gold Nugget, she wanted it to be getting Sugar Pie over her infection.
She led the mare outside to the wash rack beside the barn. Sugar Pie put up no resistance. Ruby suspected the cool water soothed the mare’s painful eyes. She was just finishing up when her cell phone beeped an alarm.
Time to call Cliff. She’d found it easier to set an hourly reminder rather than miss his call and be scolded.
“It’s me,” she said without preamble when he answered. “Are you busy?”
The last time she’d called he’d been in the middle of a dispute between two ranchers, one with cows and the other with an amorous bull that kept pushing down the fence separating their pastures.
“Just trying to find the owner of an illegally parked car.” he said. “Any problems?”
“Yes, and no.”
“Tell me.” Cliff’s tone became brusque.
“It’s not Crowley. Don’t worry.” Ruby wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Well, too late now. “At the staff meeting this morning, Sam assigned me—Scarlett—two new job duties.”
“What?”
“The ranch is hosting a wedding in three weeks. I have to drive the bride and her maids up to the alter in a buggy. Then, he put me in charge of mutton busting at the gymkhana.”
“I see.”
“Little kids. Sheep. Me in charge. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
“Ruby, relax.”
How could she? “I realize I won’t be here for either event. Scarlett will. But there’s all this practice and preparation. I don’t know the first thing about driving a buggy. The same goes for sheep and kids riding them.” Her chin dropped to her chest. “This was such a stupid idea.”
“I told Sam earlier I’ll help you.”
“You can drive a buggy?”
“What do you think?”
Of course he could.
“I don’t suppose there’s any point in me asking whether you have experience with mutton busting.”
“Nope.” Was he laughing at her? Probably. “According to my nieces, I’m an expert.”
“Why did I even bring it up?”
“You’ll do great, Ruby. We’ll handle it.”
We. He was including himself. They’d be spending even more time together.
“Let’s talk more about it tonight at the square dance,” he said.
“Okay. I need to go. Call you in an hour.”
She couldn’t lie to herself. His help was what she’d wanted all along. She told herself the reason was because of Crowley and the danger he presented.
The anticipation she felt at the prospect of seeing Cliff tonight made a liar out of her.
* * *
EVERY OTHER TIME Cliff had visited the trailer since Ruby’s arrival, he’d used her key and gone in ahead of her. This time, he waited at the door and knocked. Sarge’s responding bark came instantaneously. Shortly after that, the door opened and Ruby stood before him, Sarge plastered to her side.
She was a vision. The flowered dress she wore fit as if she’d been sewn into it, and her silky brown hair fell in loose waves about her face.
Cliff swallowed the wow he’d been about to exclaim and cleared his throat instead. “How you doing?”
“A bit frazzled and running late.”
“Take your time.” He stepped inside, content with the chance to look at her some more.
“This is Scarlett’s one dress. I hope it’s okay.”
“It’s fine.” More like drop-dead gorgeous.
Sarge nudged his hand, vying for attention. Cliff had little to spare for the dog. Especially when Ruby sat on the worn couch in order to buckle the slinky sandals she wore. He couldn’t pry his glance away if he tried.
Long, toned legs. Slim ankles. Painted toenails. Who knew she’d been hiding those inside her boots? His imagination ran wild, envisioning other, equally delightful, discoveries.
She popped up from the couch. Cliff released his breath.
“Let me grab my purse in the bedroom, and I’ll be right back.
Thank you, he thought as she sashayed down the narrow hallway.
Sarge whined.
“I know, boy.” Cliff patted the dog’s head. “I’ll be careful.”
Ruby emerged a few minutes later. She’d applied lipstick while she was gone. Cliff wanted nothing more than to kiss off every trace of the pretty peach color.
Sarge whined again, Cliff was sure in sympathy. Keeping his hands to himself tonight wasn’t going to be easy.
“Ready?” she asked, flashing him a nervous smile.
“Absolutely.” Was she feeling the sparks, too?
At the door, she flipped on the porch light. “I just let Sarge out a few minutes ago, so he’s fine.”
Cliff watched while she locked the door and engaged the new dead bolt he’d installed yesterday. At the SUV, he held open the passenger side door, enjoying the view as she climbed in and tugged on the hem of her dress.
“You look nice,” she said when they were on the road. “I haven’t seen you out of uniform before.”
He cemented his teeth together. Responding to that remark in his current frame of mind would only lead to trouble.
“I’m off duty for the night.”
“As the only sheriff in town, I’m surprised you’re ever off duty.”
“Hopefully, a call won’t come in.” Dragging himself away from her would be torture.
Loud voices and laughter carried across the community center parking lot as Cliff and Ruby strolled toward the entrance. He didn’t take her hand, not trusting himself to stop there.
Heads turned when they walked inside. Cliff believed it was because of Ruby’s knockout appearance. He did take her hand after noticing several appreciative male glances cast in her direction. She was with him tonight. Make no mistake.
A band consisting of guitar, banjo and fiddle players set up on the small stage at the front of the room. The aroma of barbequing chicken and hamburgers drifted in from the cookers outside. Linen-covered tables had been arranged end to end near the kitchen and were laden with side dishes and desserts.
Children darted to and fro, friends mingled and couples, young and old, sat close together and smiled fondly at one another.
“Maeve and my aunt are over there.” Cliff indicated a dining table to their right. “Do you mind if we sit with them?”
“Um, sure.”
The note of tension in her voice was discernible even over the noisy din. “You can do this, Ruby.”
“Scarlett,” she said softly. “Remember?”
“Right.” The way she looked tonight, he’d have trouble remembering his own name, much less hers. “There’s bottled wine coolers and beer over there. If you’re inclined.”
“Are you having any?”
“One beer’s my limit.”
“Same here.”
They made their way to the beverage station, Cliff returning a dozen hellos and howdys. He selected two beers from the ice chest and left a donation in the money basket. Unscrewing the cap on the first bottle, he handed it to Ruby.
She raised the beer to her lips and took a sip. Cliff stared. And stared.
“Something wrong?” she dabbed delicately at the corner of her mouth.
“Nothing.” Nothing an hour alone in the dark with her wouldn’t fix.
“I haven’t square danced since I was in grade school.” Her glance wandered to the large empty area in front of the stage that had been cleared for dancing.
“Can’t say I’ve done it recently, either.”
“But more recently than grade school, I’m sure.” Her fingers sifted through that mink-colored hair and lifted it off her smooth neck.
Did she have any idea how she looked?
Cliff guzzled half his beer in one swig. He was quite certain he’d never been out with a sexier woman.
Except this wasn’t a date. Not really.
He finished the rest of his beer rather than reach for her. The line he shouldn’t, couldn’t cross was becoming blurrier by the second. Slamming back a beer hadn’t helped.
“Let’s sit.” He escorted her across the room to the table where his family sat. With them around, he’d be forced to behave.
“Hi, Scarlett. Cliff.” Maeve greeted them warmly and patted the empty folding chair beside her. “Have a seat. We were just beginning to wonder about you.” She smiled up at Ruby. “That’s a great dress.”
“Thank you,” Ruby muttered. Left with no choice, she sat next to Cliff’s cousin, clutching her purse self-consciously in her lap.
Cliff slid into the seat across from her. “Where are Erin and Ellie?”
“Playing with Sam and Annie’s girls.” Maeve wrestled with Evan, who, at the sight of Ruby, tried to launch himself from his mother’s lap into hers. “Sorry,” Maeve apologized when Evan squealed.
“It’s all right.”
To Cliff’s astonishment, Ruby set her purse on the table and opened her arms. “I can hold him if you want.”
“You sure?”
“Hiya, handsome,” she said in response.
Evan toppled head first into her lap. Ruby didn’t object when he pushed upright, wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a kiss on her mouth. Ruby laughed and used her fingertip to wipe a lipstick smear off his lips. “Look what you’ve done.”
For the first time in his life, Cliff was jealous of a two-year-old.
He caught his aunt looking at him and grinning knowingly. Was he that transparent? Better get a grip on himself and fast.
With the help of Evan, Ruby relaxed, and conversation flowed. Cliff’s aunt was eager to update everyone about the Mega Weekend of Weddings. Her persistence had finally paid off. A TV reporter from a Reno station was coming out the following Wednesday and two more from Vegas the week after. Three new couples had registered, bringing the total to fifty-six.
She kept shooting Cliff glances, as if to say he could bring the total to fifty-seven. A brusque head shake from him didn’t dissuade her.
The loudspeaker abruptly crackled to life and Cliff’s uncle, who was head of the town council, boomed, “Evening, folks. Thank you all for coming. We’ve got quite a crowd.” After several mandatory announcements about the location of trash receptacles, shoes being required on the dance floor and thanking the decorating committee for doing such a stellar job, he said, “Dinner will start in ten minutes. Dancing commences at seven, so be ready to grab your partner and do-si-do.”
“I’d best take this young man to the restroom for a hosing down before we eat.” Maeve removed Evan from Ruby’s lap. “For the life of me, I can’t figure out how he gets so dirty.” She looked around. “Where are the girls? Sam and Annie must have had their fill by now.”
Evan resented leaving Ruby’s lap and squawked loudly. Cliff commiserated.
“I’ll go with you.” His aunt sprang from her chair. “I could use with some freshening up. Scarlett, why don’t you join us?”
Her intentions were about as subtle as an elephant trumpeting.
“Um...” Ruby sought out Cliff.
He nodded reassuringly. “I’ll hold down the fort.”
The trio of women and one fussy little boy navigated their way through a maze of people and tables. Cliff hoped his aunt behaved. Ruby could handle herself, but his aunt gave new meaning to the word pushy.
“Hey, pal.”
Cliff felt a firm hand clapping his shoulder and turned. Will sank into the seat Ruby had just vacated.
“Where’s Miranda?” Cliff asked.
Will had married his love this past March, to the delight of the entire town. Miranda owned and operated Harmony House, an elder-care group home. She would soon be opening a second Harmony House, this one for special-needs foster children.
“Over there.”
Cliff followed his friend’s gaze. The four senior residents currently in Miranda’s care were seated at a table. She fussed over them with the dedication of a mother hen. He imagined she took care of Will with the same dedication.
“You’re a lucky man,” he said.
“Tell me about it.” Will broke into a huge grin. “Miranda’s pregnant.”
Cliff grabbed Will’s hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake. “No fooling!”
“We found out a few weeks ago. She wanted to wait before telling anyone. Make sure everything was okay and that the baby’s healthy.” He grinned again. “Doc says it is.”
“Congratulations.”
Cliff’s elation at his friend’s good fortune couldn’t be more genuine. Few folks knew that Will had struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for years after his parents’ deaths. He’d overcome it only with Miranda’s help. No one more than him deserved to be happy.
“Thanks.” He paused, his smile dimming. “Hey, look. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about before Scarlett gets back.”
“What’s that?” Cliff guessed Will’s concerns had something to do with the volunteer fire department or his duties as the town’s EMT.
“She’s been acting funny lately.”
Okay, not about the fire department. “How so?”
Of course, Cliff knew exactly how so. He didn’t mention that to Will, however.
“Can’t pinpoint it exactly. She seems distracted a lot. Kind of nervous. Asks a lot of strange questions.”
“Strange?”
“About things she and I discussed last week. Or where equipment is. Equipment she was the last to use. And Sam’s acting funny, too, where she’s concerned. He’s pulled her off of the trail rides. And when I needed her to drive into town to pick up some horse pellets at the feed store, he told me to send Luis instead.”
“Huh.”
“It’s none of my business, but you and I are friends. If the two of you are having a fight—”
“We’re not fighting,” Cliff said in a tone meant to shut Will down. It did.
“All right.” He scooted his chair back and rose to leave. “Like I said, none of my business.”
“Hold on a minute. It’s not that.”
Will sat back down.
Cliff debated what to say. Ruby didn’t need her boss analyzing her every move. The right answer from him would prevent that. “She’s having some family issues. A problem with her sister.”
Will appeared almost hurt. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“It’s personal.”
“But she told Sam.”
“She didn’t have a choice.”
“I’m on her side, Cliff. I happen to think she’s a good wrangler.”
“I’ll talk to her about including you.” Actually, Cliff didn’t think it was a bad idea at all. Especially if Crowley or one of his hired men showed up.
“If you’re sure.”
Cliff caught sight of Ruby, his aunt, Maeve and Evan returning from the “hosing down” and “freshening up”. Ruby’s features were drawn tight. Great. His aunt and probably Maeve, too, must have drilled her for information.
“This problem of Scarlett’s, it’s going to resolve itself soon. Hopefully in a week or two. Can you cut her a little slack until then?”
“Sure.”
“And congratulations again,” Cliff said as the trio of women and one surly toddler approached. “That’s great news.”
“What’s great news?” Cliff’s aunt asked.
It was exactly the distraction Cliff had hoped for. The moment Will said that his wife was pregnant, Cliff’s aunt and cousin were all over him, clamoring for details.
He tilted his head toward the serving tables and said to Ruby, “Why don’t we get in line?”
She was beside him in a flash.
“We’ll be along in a minute,” his aunt called after them.
Cliff was counting on it being several minutes. “Were they tough on you?”
“Not so much tough as blunt.” She peered at him through lowered lashes. “Your aunt really wants you to get married.”
“She does have that idea.”
“According to her, she gets that idea from you.”
He didn’t have an answer for Ruby. Being a husband and father were indeed in his future plans.
“Is that why you were pursuing my sister?”
The topic was a sticky one for Cliff. “I liked your sister, but we’d only dated a few weeks. It was way too early to consider marriage.”
“I’m sorry about Demitri.”
“All for the best.”
“What are you going to do when she comes back? You can’t keep pretending...”
Was Ruby really curious about her sister? Or did she want to know what Cliff would do when she left?
They fell into line behind the manager of the general store and his wife. Cliff dipped his head close to Ruby’s so as not to be overheard. “She and I will just have to break up.”
“And if she and Demitri have another falling out? You and Scarlett could pick up where you left off.”
Not going to happen. Scarlett wasn’t the one for Cliff, regardless of Demitri. He’d learned that much these past few days.
Neither was Ruby the one for him. Not while she was under his protection and her safety threatened.
That didn’t change how much he wanted her, however. Sitting near her, dancing with her—it was going to be a long night.