their thoughts. “From my earliest days I was instructed that even simple people have a need for beauty and elegance in their lives. It was the reason why the Golden Dragon was so successful.”
“Is that why the Golden Dragon is now a church named the Golden Rule?” Diamond asked sarcastically over a mouthful of food.
“Oh, Diamond.” Pearl laid a hand over her sister’s sun-reddened arm. “Must you use every opportunity to pick a fight?”
Diamond shrugged. “It’s just my nature. Pa taught me to be sensible.”
“Maybe too sensible.” Pearl forced her loveliest smile to her lips before turning to Ruby. “The town scoffed at my idea for a school here in Hanging Tree. But in scant months they’ve come to accept it. As they’ve accepted me. I think it’s wonderful that you have a dream, Ruby. And I, for one, urge you to do all you can to fulfill that dream.”
“I agree,” Jade said softly. “You will add beauty and glamour to our little town. Not to mention a touch of fashion.”
“Merci.” Ruby turned to Diamond. “But I desire your approval, as well, chérie. This is, after all, your town. These are your people. If my own sister does not approve, how can I expect it from strangers?”
Diamond glanced around the table and realized that the others had stopped eating and were staring at her. She shoved aside her plate. “I don’t disapprove, Ruby. I think it’s fine that you want to use your talents. Just don’t expect the women of Hanging Tree to beat down your door. They work all day in the blazing sun, turning the soil or tending the herds. Every dollar they have goes to buy seed or tools or other necessities. There isn’t room in their lives for fancy dresses and feathered bonnets.”
“There is room in every woman’s life for something soft and pretty,” Ruby said fiercely. “If I make it attractive enough, and reasonable enough, they will buy.”
“I hope so.” Diamond shoved back her chair. “I’ve got to go. I promised Adam I’d help him clear some more brush today.” She pressed a kiss to the housekeeper’s cheek. “Thanks for the vittles, Carmelita. I sure do miss your cooking.”
“Then you must come back one night this week,” Carmelita pleaded. “I will make you and Senor Adam a special supper.”
“How about tomorrow?” Diamond snatched at the opportunity to avoid cooking. “That’ll give me a chance to hear more of Ruby’s plans.” She strolled around the table and brushed a kiss over each of her sister’s cheeks. When she reached Ruby she kissed her, then added, “I don’t mean to discourage you. Pearl is right. You have to follow your dream.”
“Do you mean it?” Ruby’s eyes were alight with surprise.
“Of course I do. Pa said that’s what made Texas so special. It’s a land of dreamers, who followed their hearts.”
“Oh, chérie . You have made me so happy. I needed your approval.”
“Then you have it.” Diamond strolled to the door, then turned and added, “Just don’t ask me to be your first customer.”
Chapter Six.
“M arshal.” Deputy Arlo Spitz leaned on his broom, trying to look important. “Millie Potter sent Birdie Bidwell over to see if you’re planning on coming to her boardinghouse for lunch, or if you want a tray.”
Quent looked up from his paperwork, rubbing the back of his neck. He disliked this part of his job almost as much as he disliked looking down the barrel of an outlaw’s gun. But it went with the territory.
“I’m not very hungry.” He shuffled through the Wanted posters a final time, committing the names and faces to memory, before filing them away in a drawer.
“She said to tell you she’s making chicken and dumplings.”
Quent grinned. “Guess I could force myself. Tell Birdie I’ll be along shortly.”
He shoved back from his desk and crossed the room to pluck his hat from a peg by the door. “After lunch I’m planning to ride out to Widow’s Peak. See if there’s
“Is that why the Golden Dragon is now a church named the Golden Rule?” Diamond asked sarcastically over a mouthful of food.
“Oh, Diamond.” Pearl laid a hand over her sister’s sun-reddened arm. “Must you use every opportunity to pick a fight?”
Diamond shrugged. “It’s just my nature. Pa taught me to be sensible.”
“Maybe too sensible.” Pearl forced her loveliest smile to her lips before turning to Ruby. “The town scoffed at my idea for a school here in Hanging Tree. But in scant months they’ve come to accept it. As they’ve accepted me. I think it’s wonderful that you have a dream, Ruby. And I, for one, urge you to do all you can to fulfill that dream.”
“I agree,” Jade said softly. “You will add beauty and glamour to our little town. Not to mention a touch of fashion.”
“Merci.” Ruby turned to Diamond. “But I desire your approval, as well, chérie. This is, after all, your town. These are your people. If my own sister does not approve, how can I expect it from strangers?”
Diamond glanced around the table and realized that the others had stopped eating and were staring at her. She shoved aside her plate. “I don’t disapprove, Ruby. I think it’s fine that you want to use your talents. Just don’t expect the women of Hanging Tree to beat down your door. They work all day in the blazing sun, turning the soil or tending the herds. Every dollar they have goes to buy seed or tools or other necessities. There isn’t room in their lives for fancy dresses and feathered bonnets.”
“There is room in every woman’s life for something soft and pretty,” Ruby said fiercely. “If I make it attractive enough, and reasonable enough, they will buy.”
“I hope so.” Diamond shoved back her chair. “I’ve got to go. I promised Adam I’d help him clear some more brush today.” She pressed a kiss to the housekeeper’s cheek. “Thanks for the vittles, Carmelita. I sure do miss your cooking.”
“Then you must come back one night this week,” Carmelita pleaded. “I will make you and Senor Adam a special supper.”
“How about tomorrow?” Diamond snatched at the opportunity to avoid cooking. “That’ll give me a chance to hear more of Ruby’s plans.” She strolled around the table and brushed a kiss over each of her sister’s cheeks. When she reached Ruby she kissed her, then added, “I don’t mean to discourage you. Pearl is right. You have to follow your dream.”
“Do you mean it?” Ruby’s eyes were alight with surprise.
“Of course I do. Pa said that’s what made Texas so special. It’s a land of dreamers, who followed their hearts.”
“Oh, chérie . You have made me so happy. I needed your approval.”
“Then you have it.” Diamond strolled to the door, then turned and added, “Just don’t ask me to be your first customer.”
Chapter Six.
“M arshal.” Deputy Arlo Spitz leaned on his broom, trying to look important. “Millie Potter sent Birdie Bidwell over to see if you’re planning on coming to her boardinghouse for lunch, or if you want a tray.”
Quent looked up from his paperwork, rubbing the back of his neck. He disliked this part of his job almost as much as he disliked looking down the barrel of an outlaw’s gun. But it went with the territory.
“I’m not very hungry.” He shuffled through the Wanted posters a final time, committing the names and faces to memory, before filing them away in a drawer.
“She said to tell you she’s making chicken and dumplings.”
Quent grinned. “Guess I could force myself. Tell Birdie I’ll be along shortly.”
He shoved back from his desk and crossed the room to pluck his hat from a peg by the door. “After lunch I’m planning to ride out to Widow’s Peak. See if there’s
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