Ruby wanted to run after the coach and get back on it, but she knew she had to stay here and see this through. It was the only hope she had right now. She held Timmy closer and began to scurry down the boardwalk, trying to catch up with Seth Miller. When she looked up, he had stopped and turned back to stare at her. She could see the irritation on his face.
This had not been a good idea after all. For whatever reason, he hated saloon girls and he thought she was one. Her dress had convinced him of that. She wasn’t sure how she would ever convince him she wasn’t that type of girl. She noticed a flash of impatience on his face. Ruby hurried until she reached his side. She could see the anger flashing in his eyes, but then they seemed to settle on Timmy.
“Your letter said nothing about you having a child.”
“He’s not my child, he’s my little brother.” She held up her chin defiantly.
“Even so, there was no mention of a child. I don’t want a child.” He stepped closer to her, towering over her. “What a fool I’ve been. At first, when you didn’t show up for so long, I figured you’d just taken my money, but I think that would have been better than this.” He looked her up and down, an expression of disgust on his face.
“The last thing on earth I’d want is a saloon girl for a wife and another child.” He dropped her bags and stood glaring at her.
A tear escaped from Ruby’s eye. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t explain things here and now and she was sure the man felt betrayed.
“Do you want me to leave?” Her words were barely audible.
Seth nodded. That was exactly what he wanted.
Ruby’s shoulders dropped. She looked at the ground. “When is the next stage? I’ll be on it.”
Just then Timmy tried to push out of Ruby’s arms. He’d noticed a small dog which had wandered up and was standing on the boardwalk beside them.
“No, Timmy. We don’t know who that dog is. He might bite.” She squeezed him tighter, then asked, “Is there somewhere safe I can put him down for a few minutes? He hasn’t been able to crawl around for several days.”
The man blinked as if he’d been awoken from a dream. “The jail is probably the best place. It’s not much, but he’ll be safe there.”
Ruby didn’t move a step. Was it only a ploy to get her back into the jail cell?
He must have noted the fear on her face, because Seth actually laughed. “You don’t need to worry about me locking you up. I’m over my tantrum. I’m trying to clean this town up, which begins with getting rid of the saloon. I was just upset to see yet another saloon girl arrive in town.” Seth spoke and lifted her bags again, stomping away.
Ruby grit her teeth. She wasn’t a saloon girl, but she didn’t want to scream the truth at his back, so she followed.
Lord, I thought this was the right thing to do, coming here, but this man can’t possibly be the answer to my prayers. He doesn’t even want me here.
Seth held open the door and allowed Ruby to step into the room. She moved further in and he closed the door behind her. Ruby scanned the area, looking for the safest place to set Timmy down. He was just starting to crawl.
“The cell is probably the best place. You can sit on the bed.” Seth’s words were spoken softly. She looked up at him in surprise.
“I don’t want you to think I’m going to lock you in.” Seth walked over to the desk, pulled out a set of keys and held them out to her. “These are for the cell.”
Ruby shook her head and swished past him, grasping the keys as she went. She stepped into the cell then sagged down onto the cot. After unwrapping Timmy from the Rose and Tulip Quilt, she set him on the floor. He immediately began to crawl around.
***
Seth sunk into the chair behind the desk and watched the woman. She was very young looking. When she’d told him she was almost eighteen, he hadn’t thought of someone so young.
Of course, that wasn’t all he’d been wrong about. Now, here he was stuck with a girl, obviously a saloon dancer and a child. She claimed the boy as her brother, but there was no proof he wasn’t her own child.
Seth shook his head, trying to erase the situation.
What am I supposed to do, Lord?
The girl seemed to sense his scrutiny, because she met his eyes with her own. He watched as she sighed.
“I’m sorry. I should have sent the ticket and the money back to you. Things became impossible and they were my only escape. I’m sure you don’t want to marry me now, but I can’t even pay you back right away. I’ll have to sell my necklace, and then I’ll be able to pay you.” Her voice faded in a tone of despair, then she added, “I know I said I’d leave on the next stagecoach, but… Well, are there any jobs in town? I have nowhere else to go.”
“I’m sure you could work at the saloon, but I’m doing everything I can to close it down.” Seth’s words revealed his sorrow at the situation.
“I’m not a saloon girl. I would never work in a place like that!” Her voice rose in an adamant tone. He wanted to believe her words but her clothes spoke a different story.
“Well, you’re obviously not the girl I hoped was coming to be my wife. I want to become mayor of the town, how can I explain a wife who arrived in town
