The Loves of Ruby Dee

by Curtiss Ann Matlock

  Will, his voice husky, said, “Sit with me on the steps for a few minutes, and I’ll share my coffee with you."

  If she shared his coffee, she wouldn’t make noise getting her own. They sat side by side on the steps. A blue jay swooped and chattered at Sally, and in the far distance coyotes yipped.

  Ruby Dee asked Will how he had liked his first night in his house, and he said it had been uncomfortable, because not only didn’t he have a coffeepot, but he didn’t have a bed, either. Then he gave her specific directions to his place, which was just over five miles away. “You’ll know you’re close when you see the old cattle loading pens on the right.”

  His eyes rested on hers for long seconds. He was giving her an invitation, and Ruby Dee felt a warm excitement wash over her.

  He started talking about the land then. Only a hundred and sixty acres would be his, but he would have access to two thousand more. That was small by comparison to the Starr ranch, or almost any of the other ranches around, but it was plenty for him to begin a breeding program. What he wanted to do, he said, was try for a new cross, which would combine the Starr-registered Herefords and the best qualities of Red Angus and Brahmans.

  There was something different about Will today, she thought, watching his earnest expression. There was a certainty about him, as if he had crossed a bridge in his mind and was heading resolutely down the road, face forward.

  It made Ruby Dee feel at once excited for him and uneasy, too, because she didn’t want him to go down that road and leave her behind. Yet she wasn’t certain she wanted to go with him, either. She was even less certain that he wanted her to go with him.

  Minutes later they heard the sound of Hardy’s cane on the kitchen floor. Will cast her a reluctant grin and rose. “Guess our day is startin’.”

  He handed her the coffee cup and rose.

  “Will..." He turned. “You are havin’ breakfast with us, aren’t you?” She didn’t know what to expect anymore.

  He nodded and gave that slight, slow grin. “Yes, ma’am. I don’t have any food at my place, either.”

  “Well, there’s food here,” she said.

  And he said, “Even better, there’s you.” And then he walked away in that easy saunter he had.

  * * * *

  For the following week it was almost as if Will had never moved away. He came for coffee each morning and took most of his meals with them. He spent the days working with Lonnie and Wildcat, when he wasn’t in his office. But every evening after supper, he left to go to work on his own place, so Ruby Dee saw little of him.

  Several times she brought up the subject of going to see Will’s house, but Hardy said, “I’ve seen it.”

  Hardy had taken up what Ruby Dee considered passive resistance. Once more he spent long hours out in his shop, and when he was around either Will or Lonnie, he had very little to say to either of them. Of course, Hardy never had been much of a talker. His resistance now came in the form of attitude. He barely even acknowledged his sons with so much as a nod.

  One afternoon Ruby Dee drove up to Woodward for shopping, and to simply have time alone to drive around and have a hot dog and cherry limeade at the Sonic. She left Sally with Hardy, since she didn’t want to leave him alone. Deep inside she felt guilty because she fully intended to drive by Will’s house on the way home. She didn’t know why she should feel guilty about that, but she did.

  She took Will a coffee maker as a housewarming present. Having a gift made going by easier to do.

  It turned out that Georgia Reeves had picked the same evening to pay Will a visit.

  Ruby Dee didn’t see Georgia’s red Suburban. She was carrying the big box containing the Braun coffee maker, and she had her eyes fastened on the side door, which she figured led into the kitchen. She kept thinking he would have heard her car and come out, but as she neared the screen door, she heard voices and figured he was busy talking to someone and hadn’t heard her come up. Not until she was standing right smack in front of the screen door did Ruby Dee recognize Georgia’s voice.

  Georgia said, “Frank is off in Fort Worth. He’s been gone four days, and he’s called once. That’s about the way it is.”

  Through the screen, peering over the top of the box, Ruby Dee saw Will and Georgia facing each other in the glaring light of the kitchen.

  Will said, “Well, I’m sorry, Georgia.”

  Right then Ruby Dee figured she had better sneak away or bust in, because she didn’t want to get caught just standing there. She said, “Hello, in there.”

  Will’s head jerked up, and then he was hurrying forward to open the door for her and welcoming her in. Ruby Dee thought he did seem glad to see her. She said hello to Georgia, and if looks could kill, Georgia’s would have buried Ruby Dee.

  “This is a housewarming present.” Ruby Dee handed Will the box.

  He thanked her profusely. Georgia said he would probably need to get bottled water, or the coffee maker would be clogged up in a few days. “The way Will drinks coffee, you know,” she said, as if she were intimately aware of Will’s habits.

  Ruby Dee said, “He does love his coffee, doesn’t he?” in the same manner, showing Georgia right off that she could match that game.

  Georgia pressed her lips into a tight line. Will looked from Ruby Dee to Georgia as if he wished to be somewhere else.

  “You sure are doin’ a lot of work, aren’t you?” Ruby Dee said and started to look around.

  Will hurried to show her all he had done in the house and what he planned to do. Georgia went right along with them. It was a small house with almost everything gutted but the bathroom, so it didn’t take long to see it. Back in the kitchen, Will offered cold drinks, and suddenly, with Georgia and Will both drinking Red Dog beer and Ruby Dee drinking Dr. Pepper, Ruby Dee felt distinctly out of place.

  She set her half-empty glass on the counter, saying, “I guess I’d better get back. I don’t want to worry Hardy... he’s waitin’ on me to play dominoes.” She made that up as she went to the door.

  Will followed her out to her car. Ruby Dee saw Georgia’s Suburban then, parked over to the side, between two big cedars. As if she had tried to hide it.

  “Thanks for the coffee maker,” Will said, as Ruby Dee slipped behind the wheel.

  “You’re welcome.”

  His hands were on the door, his eyes hard on her. “I’m glad you came over. If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll drive on home with you.”

  But Ruby Dee said, “No need. I know the way.” She sent the Galaxie speeding back down the drive. When she turned onto the road, she almost hit the ditch, because she had trouble seeing through her tears.

  Georgia waited back in the kitchen. Will snatched his Red Dog off the counter and downed the contents in three long swallows.

  Georgia said, “All those years I waited for you to move off from your daddy, and now you finally do it. Why, Will? For her?”

  Will shook his head. “I don’t have to leave the old man for Ruby Dee.” Then he added ruefully. “I might be fightin’ him for her, though.”

  Georgia’s eyes went wide with questions, but Will wasn’t about to explain it to her. He knew she would never understand. He barely did himself.

  Setting her empty bottle on the counter, she said, “Well, we could ease each other,” and her eyes were heavy with invitation.

  But Will said he had somewhere to go, and opened the screen door.

  When she left, Georgia said, “I wish you luck with Ruby Dee, Will...One of us should find somethin’ with someone.” She shifted into gear, and then she looked at him again, her face shadowed now in dim light. “But I’ll be around, should you change your mind.”

  Will said, “Georgia, don’t do that to yourself. We were done a long time ago. It just took us awhile to find it out.”

  He thought he heard her swear at him before she drove off.

  Will turned out the lights in his house, then drove over to the ranch. Light streamed out the back door. Ruby Dee and the ol
d man were at the table, playing dominoes. Ruby Dee looked at him with surprise, and then with doubt. But he caught a hint of pleasure, too. Ruby Dee never had been able to hide anything.

  Will poured himself a cup of Ruby Dee’s coffee and sat and watched the game, offering occasional suggestions to both sides. Hardy told him to shut up, but Will just said, “I figure after all those weeks you spent in the wheelchair, it’s my turn to annoy you."

  Hardy’s eyebrows rose, and then, imperceptibly, a grin played at the corners of his mouth.

  * * * *

  During the following days, the old man met with Billy Stumblingbear and Mike Tilley, the two men Will had recommended for the manager’s job. The old man was polite enough, but he told each one to send him a written résumé.

  “I want to wait for answers to our ads and take a look at every possible prospect,” he told Will. “I can handle things, if you’re in a hurry to be off.”

  His tone made Will want to dump it all in his lap, but Will was too busy to spend much time being annoyed. After the haying and cattle work, he spent every available minute working on his house. He put Lonnie and Wildcat to work there, too, and both helped long after the workday was done. Will wanted the house to be ready, so he would have a place to bring Ruby Dee when he asked her to marry him.

  Chapter 23

  The first Saturday of September brought the Harney rodeo, which included a barbecue supper before the rodeo and a dance afterward. Will had asked Ruby Dee to go with him to the rodeo and dance. He had asked her right in front of the old man, because he thought it best for the old man to see. He had not expected the old man to up and say he thought he would go, too.

  “I asked Ruby Dee, Dad,” Will said. “It’s a date.”

  To which the old man said, “That’s fine, but I don’t see that I have to miss out.”

  There was no sense in Will saying he wouldn’t take the old man. Ruby Dee wouldn’t have had that.

  At about three o’clock the house began to buzz with activity, showers going in both bathrooms, Elvis singing out from Ruby Dee’s room, Lonnie hollering for polish for his belt buckle.

  Will dressed in his good Larry Mahan turquoise shirt and starched Wranglers, although he had to forgo his dress snakeskin boots in favor of his bull-hide Noconas, because he was competing in the steer wrestling. He’d been practicing all week. He hadn’t competed in a rodeo for at least six years, but he hadn’t lost his ability to steer-wrestle. After all, he did wrestle cattle all the time.

  He had no illusions about winning—well, maybe he had a few fantasies—but he figured he wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of Ruby Dee. She was the reason he entered. Lonnie was entered in the calf roping, to show off for Ruby Dee and Crystal, and Will didn’t want to be left out. If that was childish, it sure felt good.

  Lonnie turned out in a flashy roping shirt and sporting one of his winning silver belt buckles. He looked handsome as a cowboy calendar model, although Will didn’t tell him so. Lonnie knew too well how good-looking he was.

  Will loaded his dogging horse last into Lonnie’s trailer. Pete sometimes liked to kick, so he went in last, away from Lonnie’s horses. Lonnie’s horses were worth twice as much as any Will had these days. Lonnie closed the doors securely, and Will told him that he and Ruby Dee and the old man would be coming behind him.

  “You’ll let Ruby Dee dance some with me, too, won’t you?” Lonnie said, rapping his knuckles on Will’s chest. “There’s no need for you to hog her.”

  “Hog her? I’m already sharin’ her with the old man."

  “Hey, then one more won’t hurt. You bring a walletful of money to bet on me, hear?” With a happy wave, Lonnie was off.

  Will stood there and watched the dust spiral behind the trailer as it disappeared down the drive. In the past few days he’d sensed Lonnie backing off about Ruby Dee. He didn’t think his brother had actually planned to give up his claim on her, but it did seem to be what was happening. Will no longer felt the heavy worry of hurting his brother because of her.

  But he still had the old man to consider.

  “You ready, Dad?” Will called as he entered the house.

  The old man came thumping through the dining room. Will stared—from the fine gray Stetson on the old man’s head to the starched white shirt, silver-and-turquoise clasp on his string tie, tweed sport coat, brown slacks and gleaming brown boots.

  Here was the Hardy Starr whom Will remembered.

  For a long minute Will just looked at his father, and then Hardy said, “What are you starin’ at? Did you remember to get the lawn chairs? I cain’t be sittin’ up in those stands. Come on...let’s get outside. I’d like to sneak a chew ‘afore Ruby Dee comes.”

  Ruby Dee checked her image in the mirror, smiling as she saw the movement of her dress. It was new, bought for her date with Will—and it was a date, never mind that Hardy was along. She wore her best silver earrings, in the shape of hearts, and a silver cuff bracelet.

  “I guess I have a date with both of them, Miss Edna,” she whispered, feeling a twinge of guilt for her gladness.

  “You may have to make a decision, Ruby Dee.”

  “Well, there’s no need in thinkin’ about it now and spoilin’ today.”

  Leaning close to the mirror, Ruby Dee applied Summer Sunset to her lips. It perfectly matched her fingernails, the tiny dots of red flowers in the brown dress and her red Noconas, too. When she and Sally came walking across the yard toward Will and Hardy, the way both men looked at her was enough to send her heart skipping over her ribs.

  And then she was looking at them, and my goodness, they were so handsome...so commanding. Hardy looked splendid. His gaze touched hers, and she went to him and straightened his tie, just to touch him. He smiled at her, a smile only she ever saw. She was proud of him.

  Then she turned to Will, brushed imaginary specks from his shirt front and told him not to put cigarettes in his pocket. His eyes were on her...his turquoise shirt brought them out, shimmering and brilliant in his tanned face. They stirred a warmth deep inside Ruby Dee. She almost touched his face, then drew her hand back, conscious of Hardy looking on.

  Hardy held the door for her to get into the front seat. Will was there to help Hardy into the back seat, but he said, “Three can ride in front,” and, with Will’s help, he got up into the tall pickup and sat beside Ruby Dee.

  Will said, “I don’t think we can go without Sally,” and let the dog hop into the back seat.

  Hardy’s arm rested along the back of the seat, and as they turned onto the blacktop, heading for Harney, his hand came to rest on Ruby Dee’s shoulder. Will noticed it when he went to put his own arm behind her on the back of the seat.

  * * * *

  There was a festive air about Harney. Vehicles streamed through the crossroads, all headed toward the rodeo grounds. It was early enough, however, that Hardy could choose the place he wanted beside the arena to set up the lawn chairs. Lonnie joined them, bestowing a charming grin on Ruby Dee, and even planting a kiss on her cheek. He was so handsome that he turned heads, both male and female, and he knew it, reveled in it.

  Will and Lonnie went off and brought back the barbecue dinners and drinks. The crowd continued to grow, kids raced around chasing one another, and riders began working their horses in the arena.

  People called greetings to the Starrs and stopped to talk. Will and Lonnie gave up their lawn chairs so many times that they ended up eating in a squatting position. Ruby Dee was amazed by how comfortable they seemed.

  Hardy was something of a revelation. He took on the role of grand patriarch, seeming to grow taller each time someone greeted him. A lot of people were plainly surprised to see him.

  “Hardy Starr! I thought you’d passed on.”

  “Well, I ain’t.”

  “Hardy Starr...you haven’t changed a bit.”

  “Who in hell was that, Will?”

  “Moser Huggins.”

  “Good God, that’s Moser Huggins? He got old,
didn’t he?” And then, “Who’s that young fella just waved at us? He looks familiar.”

  “B.J. Coley, Jr.”

  Hardy’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh.” He looked thoughtful. “How’s his daddy?”

  Will said, “Last I heard Buck was down at Graceful Manor,” and drank deeply from his soft-drink cup.

  Hardy looked startled, then said, “That’s too bad.”

  “Who’s Buck?” Ruby Dee asked, curious about their manner.

  Hardy kept his gaze averted from hers, like he always did when he didn’t intend to answer.

  Will said, “Buck Coley—he was an old enemy of Dad’s.” He glanced at his father, and his lips twitched. “He caught Dad with his wife once.”

  Well. Ruby Dee looked at Hardy in some amazement.

  “A long time ago, ‘afore any of you were born,” Hardy said. Lonnie was staring at his father. He plainly hadn’t known of this episode, either.

  Among the people saying hello and visiting, there were certainly a lot of young women who stopped to flirt with Lonnie. At one point Hardy said, “Is there a pretty gal in this county you don’t know?”

  “If there is, I don’t know who she is,” Lonnie answered with high satisfaction.

  Crystal came along with another young woman named Shauna, who giggled when spoken to. Crystal greeted Ruby Dee with a friendly smile, Will with a soft hello, and looked at Hardy as if he might yell at her any minute. He ignored her. Ruby Dee thought Crystal looked awfully pretty in a shimmering soft blue silk blouse and slim-fitting jeans. She looked pretty beside Lonnie. She gazed at him like he was a god, and after a minute hooked her finger in Lonnie’s back pocket and took bites of his sandwich.

  Wildcat came by with Charlene, and Ruby Dee finally got to meet her. Charlene was small and plump, with gray, poodle-cut hair, and she wore a polyester pants suit that made her resemble a round cluster of lilac flowers. But there was a certain passion in her eyes, especially when she turned those eyes on Wildcat. Ruby Dee was almost startled by the depth of her passion. It just went to show that people were like books and shouldn’t be judged by their covers.