“That’s my cue to go.” Jenna scooped up the sleeping Brandon. “For what it’s worth, he loves you.”
Ruby nodded and she let it go. She didn’t need to hear that he loved her. She couldn’t take hearing those words. The door clicked quietly behind Jenna’s departure.
And then it opened again and Derek stepped inside, giving her a cautious look as he kicked off his boots.
“What’s up at the McKay place? Another burglary?”
“Ruby is about to tell us. Have a seat, Derek.” Gran nodded toward the sofa. “Sit down, Ruby, before you fall down.”
“I’m afraid if I sit, I won’t get back up.”
Iva laughed a little. “Welcome to my world. Now sit down, you’re making me tired looking at you.”
Ruby sat down and she locked gazes with her brother. “Where were you tonight?”
“With Alyssa’s family.”
She’d known that plan. “You were seen walking down the highway. In front of the McKays’.”
“Great, now you’re going to paint me as a suspect. I didn’t go anywhere near that ranch. Alyssa picked me up and we headed to her place.”
“Then why is someone saying they saw you?”
“I don’t know why, but I’ll find out. It wasn’t me.”
“How’d you buy the necklace?” The second the words left her mouth she wanted them back. She wanted to undo the hurt look on her brother’s face.
“I bought it with money. I’m going to bed. And as soon as I can, I’m moving.”
“You’re going to have to talk to Lucy.”
“I’m not talking to anyone.” With that he walked out the door, and a few minutes later they heard his truck fire up and head down the drive.
“You could have handled that better.” Iva’s voice shook as she spoke. “I know it’s hard, trying to be the head of this family, Ruby. But you have to trust. You have to stick together. You’ve only got each other.”
Ruby couldn’t look at her grandmother. “We have you.”
“Yes, you have me. But you won’t always have me. I’ve done my best, and now it’s up to you.”
“I want to sell the ranch. Carson says he’ll buy it.”
“And where would we go?”
She shrugged and finally looked at her grandmother. “Back to Oklahoma. I can get my job back. We can live in my little house.”
“You leased it out for a year.”
“We can live somewhere else until the lease is up.”
Iva pushed herself to her feet, using the handles of the walker. “I’m not moving. I’m not selling this ranch. And we are not running from this. Stay and fight. Try trusting God to do something with this situation.”
“I’m trying,” Ruby insisted.
Iva stopped her slow progress from the room. “Lip service and real action are two different things, Ruby Jo Donovan. God is going to do something in this situation. He’s going to use it to teach some lessons, to solve some problems and whatever else He sees fit to do with it. You running from it won’t help matters at all.”
“I want to protect my brother.”
“Then believe he’s innocent.”
She nodded, but her grandmother was already heading down the hall to her room. Ruby got up and went after her.
“Gran, I love you.” She caught up with Iva as she walked through the door of her bedroom.
“If you love me, help me get into that bed. And then go spend some time with God, because that’s the only way you’re going to find any peace in this situation. And tomorrow, I’m assuming you’ll have to make peace with Carson.”
“I think that ship has sailed. He wants Lucy to question Derek.”
“There’s probably a reason.”
“Maybe there is, but I’d like for him to defend my brother and tell people he believes he’s innocent.”
Iva patted her cheek with a hand that shook in a heartbreaking way. “Oh, Ruby, you do want it all.”
Ruby wrapped her arms around her grandmother and held her. “I’m so glad we have you. Thank you.”
“No, thank you. For coming home. I’ve missed having you here. And I’m going to be sadly disappointed to leave this earth without seeing you married and happy. I never thought I’d see the day that Derek would be the one settling down. Not that I’m not happy for him.”
“You aren’t leaving this earth anytime soon, so don’t talk like that.”
Iva’s face lit up as she sat down on her bed. “That’s good to hear. That gives you time to marry and make sure I have great-grandchildren.”
“Now you’ve gone too far.” She helped her grandmother get settled, and then she kissed her brow and smoothed her gray hair. “I love you,” she said again.
“Oh, honey, I love you, too.”
She walked to the front door and looked out. Somewhere in the distance she heard a truck engine. She stepped out, wondering if it was Derek’s truck. He needed to come home. If he was out there alone it made him a suspect all over again. The last thing he needed to do was give people another reason to suspect him.
The advice her grandmother had given seemed to take precedence over her fears. She needed to pray and trust that God had this situation firmly under control. Her worries and fears weren’t going to change a thing. But her faith might.
* * *
For the first time in a lot of years, the Thorns went to church as a family. Carson and Brandon had picked up Jenna at the trailer she’d been working on all weekend. The three of them pulled into the parking lot of Little Horn Community Christian Church a few minutes later.
“There’s Ruby!” Brandon let out a whoop of excitement. “And Derek.”
“Yes, there they are.” Carson watched as they got out of their car, and then Derek moved to help Iva out of the front passenger seat.
“Can I get out?” Brandon already had his seat belt off and the door pushed open.
“To the sidewalk and be careful not to plow Iva down,” Jenna warned.
They watched as her son hurried to greet the Donovans. It took everything in Carson not to go after the boy. Next to him, Jenna cleared her throat.
“I’m not sure what you did to Ruby, but after all the work I went to, smoothing the way for you, I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed?” He took his keys out of the ignition. “Let’s go to church.”
“Yeah,” she said when they met on the sidewalk. She smiled up at him, almost her old self. He hoped she didn’t lose that part of herself again. “I thought you would make things right and instead she came home looking like someone who had completely given up.”
“She...” He shook his head. “I’m not having this conversation.”
“Fine, go ahead and be stubborn. All of those years ago you should have gone after her. You should have found out the truth. Instead, you shrugged it off and said if she wanted to go, she should go.”
“You can’t force someone to stay in your life.”
“No, you can’t, you stubborn fool. But sometimes people don’t want to go. Sometimes they leave because they think it’s the only option. She didn’t feel as if she had options.”
“Is that how you felt?” he asked, curious.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I needed time to think and to realize what’s important.” She cleared her throat. “I joined a support group. I’m going to keep getting help.”
“I would have—”
“Carson.” She smiled and stopped him. “I’m an alcoholic. You couldn’t have helped.”
The news shouldn’t have shocked him, but it did. He didn’t know what to say. But Brandon was heading their way and he couldn’t say anything.
“It’s okay.” Jenna filled the void and then turned to hug her son.
He hugged his mom tight and then hugged Carson.
“I’m going to my class,” Brandon called out as he hurried away again.
“Be good,” Jenna called out after him. He was already heading for the door to the classrooms.
The sermon that day started out about having giving hearts. But then Pastor Mathers, not much older than Carson, stopped midsentence. He looked out at his congregation and shook his head.
“Today I see neighbor divided against neighbor. I see you all whispering, pointing. Let’s just call it what it is, gossip. Bearing false witness. I see the worst of human nature right here in our congregation. And I wonder when it will stop. Who will be the godly leaders to put a stop to this bitterness that could easily divide this town? Could even divide this church? I see you all here each Sunday, and I know that most of you have been in church your entire lives. So today I’m going to ask you to behave like people who have been in church your entire lives.”
Someone shouted an “Amen.”
Pastor Mathers continued. “There are those of you who think this thief is the worst among you. I’ll remind you of a man who died on a cross, who was told by our Savior, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ Forgiven. I would like to believe we have compassion and forgiveness. It is wrong to steal. But the rest of this, the anger and pointing fingers, how is that any better? In the middle of all of this chaos, I see something else that inspires. Someone is giving to neighbors in need. Someone, we don’t know who, is looking with open eyes and seeing that there are those among us who could use help. And I wonder why haven’t we all looked to see who we could help? I’m going to end our sermon with this. I don’t know how long this will go on, but we have a choice. We can be strong together. Or we can let our community fall apart. You all have to make the decision.”
Byron McKay got up and walked out.
Carson joined the others in applauding their pastor and his bravery. It had had to be said. He’d needed to hear it. Now if they could just remember it until the thief or thieves were caught.
After they were dismissed, he stood and glanced around the church for Ruby. She was at the back, seated next to her grandmother and Derek. They made eye contact but she quickly looked away.
He started toward her but Tom Horton stepped in his way, blocking not only his view but his path to Ruby.
“Carson, we need to talk about Friday night.”
“What about it, Tom?” He glanced past the other man and saw Ruby heading for the door. Derek walked next to their grandmother, shielding her.
“We were out patrolling and we saw Derek Donovan driving around the back roads.”
“Not a crime that I’m aware of.” Carson tried to step around the other man. “I hate to end this conversation this way, but I need to go.”
Tom glanced back over his shoulder and then he pinned Carson with a steel-gray look. “I realize you and Ruby have had a relationship over the years. That doesn’t mean we can ignore Derek. He was slowing down, looking at fences. They saw him at the Hansen place, out of his truck and walking down fence rows.”
“And you didn’t call the police? Lucy is the one who needs to hear this, not me.”
“I’m going to tell Lucy tomorrow morning. But you have to admit, the local law hasn’t done much to solve this crime.”
“Tom, they’re working on it. The last thing we need to do is start running down our law enforcement.” He started to remind the other man of the sermon they’d just listened to, but Lynette Fields appeared, looking flustered. And Lynette never looked flustered.
“We’re going to have to call a meeting this next week.”
“Why is that?” Carson asked.
Lynette gave Tom Horton a narrow-eyed look. “Because some members of our committee want to see Derek Donovan arrested without sufficient evidence. Also, Lucy has the list of items stolen and the details, so we can take a look and see if anyone can think of something we’ve missed that might point to the thief.” She paused and let out a sigh.
“And?” Carson prompted.
“Byron said he wants the recipients of any gifts investigated. That means the Bunkers and everyone else. Millicent Anders had a load of hay show up, then there were the saddles at Ruby’s and even that cowhand who found some nice boots and gloves at his place.”
“This is crazy,” Carson said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I can call a meeting for more neighbor-against-neighbor bullying.”
“It isn’t bullying,” Tom said. “It’s an investigation. We have to look at everyone.”
Carson shook his head. “Call your meeting. I’ll be there. But I want it known that I don’t approve, and if this continues, I’m resigning.”
He headed out the front door, catching up with Ruby and her family as they were getting into their car. “Ruby, as members of the league, you all need to know that there is a meeting tomorrow. I want you to be there.”
Ruby shook her head. “I’m not going to your meetings. I’m not the member and Gran has resigned from the board.”
“They’re calling into question everyone who has received an anonymous gift,” he told her. “I’m under the impression that no one really listened to the sermon.”
“Well, we’d be a far sight better off if they had,” Iva Donovan said as she let Derek help her into the car. “I’ll be at that meeting, Carson. And I’ll see if I can’t get my stubborn granddaughter to show up, too.”
“I have lessons tomorrow afternoon,” Ruby informed them with a little smile. “I’m sorry, I won’t be there.”
Carson ran a hand over the top of his head and tried to think of something to get her to listen. He’d rather have her mad and arguing than this passive person who wouldn’t fight.
She got behind the wheel of the car, started it up and backed out of the parking space. Carson watched her go and then he turned. Lucy Benson stood behind him. Her gaze followed the departing sedan and then shifted to him.
“We’re going to bring him in for questioning,” she said. At his look she shrugged. “I don’t really have a choice. He was at the Meadowses’ place last night, but then he was seen by himself walking along fences. I’m going to have to find out why.”
“I know you are.”
“I don’t want to cause problems between you and Ruby. It seemed like the two of you were working things out.”
“Yeah, we were.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “I have to get home.”
Jenna and Brandon were heading his way. They were talking; Brandon’s hand was in his mom’s. Everything else seemed to be falling apart. At least this was going in the direction that it needed to go. His family seemed stronger than it had been in years.
But just as he thought maybe he had a chance with Ruby, things looked like they were going south.
Chapter Sixteen
Ruby had no intention of going to the meeting on Monday. But she guessed she wouldn’t be having a riding class, either. None of her students had showed up. Derek had driven Iva to the meeting, taking the sedan. Ruby drove her old farm truck to Little Horn.
Town was busy, maybe because it was a pretty day, or maybe because it was the last week of the month. The grocery store parking lot was packed for a Monday. Ruby parked in front of Maggie’s and glanced inside. Nearly every table was full. At four in the afternoon. She continued down the street, saying hi to neighbors she met. At least those who would speak to her.
She happened to glance down the street in the direction of the police station and saw her brother walk through the door with Lucy Benson. Ruby’s feet froze as she watched. She hadn’t been in town last time. Iva had handled it all. Ruby had come home on weekends to give their grandmother emotional support.
This time they were together. But Iva didn’t need this. They wouldn’t survive it. She glanced at the store building. Someone had put a flea market in the old Five-And-Dime. She didn’t want to keep walking. She did
n’t want to meet any more neighbors and pretend everything was okay. To avoid skeptical eye contact and awkward greetings, she stepped into the Little Horn Flea Market.
The owner, a man she didn’t recognize, greeted her with a smile. “Anything I can help you find?”
“No, I’m just looking.” Truth be told she was avoiding. But this stranger didn’t need to know that.
“You new to town?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, but I’ve been gone awhile.”
He went back to work dusting figurines on a shelf. Ruby stopped at a case of jewelry. She’d never been one to wear jewelry. An occasional bracelet, sometimes a necklace, but that was it. But she did like to look. She always thought she’d wear turquoise if she wore anything.
Her gaze settled on a row of belt buckles. She scanned the engravings, stopping at the last one. She turned to the owner of the shop.
“This buckle. The championship buckle. Where did you get that?”
He climbed down off his ladder, a little out of breath, and walked back behind the counter. She pointed through the glass and he nodded, smiling. “That’s a real beaut, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but where did you get it?”
“Kid came in a week or so ago and asked if I bought gold or silver. I do from time to time, but this is worth more than the silver. It’s a collector’s item. Did you know there are kids who collect anything they can of Earl Donovan’s?”
“Why?” Her heart beat a little unsteadily, making her feel shaky.
“He was a real champion. I know it was fifteen years ago, give or take, but he made an impression. The kid who sold me this was his son. I asked why he’d want to get rid of something so important and he said it was time to let go of the past.”
“Yes, it is.” She swiped at a tear trickling down her cheek. “What did he get for it?”
“A necklace. A real nice sapphire piece. He has a girlfriend. Said she’s more important to him than a keepsake.”
Ruby nodded and walked away. She’d started to doubt her brother. Now she had to go tell Lucy what she’d found. As she headed toward the police station, Amelia Klondike caught up with her.
A Reunion for the Rancher (Lone Star Cowboy League 1) Page 16