“This here is Waterhole, Miss.” Jericho, the driver called into the stage.
Seth stood beside the stage and watched as a slender foot, shod in a white leather boot, slid out the door. The young woman finally stood on the ground next to Seth and turned a smiling face up at him.
Seth’s ears started pounding as anger coursed through him. It was obvious from the sleeveless white dress with its black velvet corset laced across her chest and the layers of silk chiffon ruffles underneath, along with the garish red ruby necklace she wore around her petite neck, this was no Miss, this was a dance hall girl come to work in the Saloon.
Without allowing the woman to speak, Seth grabbed her arm abruptly and began to pull her toward the jailhouse. He didn’t stop to think or rationalize or remember that it wasn’t against the law for the saloon to hire girls. However, his anger was so great, he decided he would at least scare her enough to make her turn right around and go back to whatever place she’d come from.
He didn’t hear her insistent pleas to let her go and when she began to call out the name Timmy over and over again, he shut his mind to what that might mean. All he wanted was to throw her into the jail cell long enough for his own anger to cool.
***
Seth didn’t say a word. He dragged the woman to the jail house, pushed open the door and thrust her into the room and across to a cell. With a final heave, he slammed the cell door behind her, not caring that his shove had actually caused her to trip and fall.
Seth stomped to his desk and sat down, the blood pounding through him. He took several deep breaths trying to calm himself. He didn’t want to look at the woman, he knew what she looked like; a brazen beauty all painted with unnatural colors.
“Why… why are you doing this?” the woman’s young voice trembled, but Seth still didn’t look up.
“We don’t need any more saloon girls here.” He spoke through clenched teeth.
“I’m not a saloon girl!” Her words were adamant, and somehow the tone slipped through his ire. Seth looked up and met her eyes. This was not a painted face. She was young and beautiful.
Her head tilted a bit higher as he scanned her.
“You’re dressed like a saloon girl.” He slammed his hand down on the table.
“That may be true, but I’m not a saloon girl. However, the most important thing right now is that you made me leave my baby brother on the stage.”
Her words seemed incredulous. His eyes opened wide.
The girl placed a hand on her hip and stomped her foot. “Are you going to let me out of here so I can get him?” She moved closer to the cell bars. “Please!”
Seth wasn’t sure he was ready to believe her, but he knew he couldn’t keep her locked up. He ran his hand through his hair then moved across the room and unlocked the cell.
“Let’s go see this brother of yours.” He reached out to grab her arm again, but noted there was a bruise beginning to show where he’d held her so tightly.
“I’m sorry about that.” Seth lifted his hand and gently touched the bruise. The girl pulled her arm away and pushed past him. Seth had to jog to keep up with her as she hurried to the stage. When they reached the coach, Jericho smiled, revealing several gaps where his teeth had rotted away.
“Glad you came back; I wasn’t sure what to do with the little mite.”
Seth watched as the lovely woman reached into the stage coach, then straightened, holding a small child; a boy. After checking him over, giving the boy a kiss, she turned around to face Seth again.
“Now, can you please tell me who Seth Miller is?”
Seth stepped back as if he’d been slapped. “Why?” His stomach tightened.
The girl glanced around the town once, then settled back on Seth.
“Because, I’m his mail order bride.”
Chapter Three
Seth picked up the two cases Jericho had set on the ground, then turned on his heel and began to stomp away. Over his shoulder he called, “Follow me.”
Ruby held back for a moment, not sure what to do. This man had already thrown her in jail once, she wasn’t sure if he were heading her back there now, or to find Seth Miller. She looked around. There was no one in the street or on the boardwalk nearby. Jericho had scrambled back onto the seat of the stage coach and was getting ready to slap the reins.
“Sir! Mr. Jericho. Can you tell me if you know someone named Seth Miller?” She cupped her hand over her eyes as she tilted her head up so she could see the man in the bright afternoon sunlight.
Jericho took off his hat and scratched his head, a look of confusion on his face. “Sure, Miss. I know him.”
“Could you tell me where I can find him?”
Now Jericho really gave her a strange look. “Miss, you was just talking to him. He’s the one who’s got your bags yonder down the street.” Jericho pointed at Seth Miller’s retreating back.
Ruby held in a cry. The man who’d tossed her in a jail cell was her intended? She shook her head in despair and stepped away from the stage coach as Jericho slapped the reins and steered the horses out
