any fresh sign of Boyd Barlow. I should be back well before dark.”
“Don’t worry about a thing, Marshal. I can handle the job.”
Quent strode down the dusty main street, knowing that his deputy was already sprawled in the chair, feet on the desk, hat over his eyes. It would take a dozen outlaws, guns blazing, to budge Arlo from that chair for the next hour or more.
As Quent strolled past the bank and the mercantile, he saw a crowd forming up ahead. Men and boys mostly, though a few women craned their necks, as well. When he got closer he saw the reason for the crowd.
Ruby Jewel was standing between Farley Duke, owner of the sawmill, and the handsome young banker, Byron Conner, staring at a spot of vacant land.
Quent shook his head. He should have expected that it was Ruby. No other woman in town could attract so many men. Like bees to honey.
As he drew near he could hear that smooth drawl. “Oh, no. It must have several steps up, so that the dirt of the road is not tramped inside on shoes. And windows, so that I can display my wares.”
Wares? That brought Quent up short. Lunch was forgotten as he veered off the path to join the others.
Farley finished his measurements. “I can start cutting the logs tomorrow, Miss Ruby. Soon as I finish up work on the Tates’ barn.”
“That would be fine, Mr. Duke.” Ruby pressed a fine silk handkerchief to her forehead, then touched it lightly to her throat. Both Farley and Byron Conner watched wide-eyed as her hand moved lower, to tuck the bit of silk into the cleft between her breasts.
“Morning, gentlemen.” Quent stepped between them, then tipped his hat. “Ruby.”
He saw the sudden narrowing of her eyes. It was the only indication that she hadn’t forgotten. Or forgiven. “Planning on building something, are you?”
When Ruby didn’t respond, Farley Duke nodded. “Miss Ruby is opening a new shop.”
Quent couldn’t hide his surprise. “That so? What for?”
“Miss Ruby is going to be making ladies’ gowns and such,” the banker said.
Quent knew his mouth was hanging open. But he couldn’t help it. Somehow, he’d never imagined Ruby Jewel as a seamstress. In fact, it had never occurred to Quent that she knew how to do anything except flit around town like a colorful butterfly.
“It’s just what this town needs,” the banker went on. “The women of Hanging Tree will be delighted.”
Quent felt a ripple of annoyance. If Ruby had been looking for a loan, this same banker would have laughed her out of town. But because the Jewel family kept all their money in his bank, he was positively fawning over her.
“Mr. Duke, my sister Jade said you might be willing to oversee the workers, as well. She said she couldn’t have built the Golden Rule without your help.” Ruby gave the owner of the sawmill a smile so warm it would have melted glaciers.
“Why, yes, ma’am. I’d be pleased to take care of that for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Duke. And thank you, Mr. Conner.” She offered her hand and the banker accepted as though he were holding a banknote worth a king’s ransom. “I value your opinion. For a woman alone, it is so comforting to know I have friends I can trust.”
“And I value your...friendship, Miss Jewel.”
Quent gave a hiss of disgust. Ruby Jewel knew exactly what she was doing. She had these two fools practically drooling over the chance to help her in any way they could.
“When do you think I can settle in?” Ruby asked.
Farley scratched his head, mentally calculating. “If the weather holds, ma’am, we can have the building up in a couple of weeks. After that, it’ll be easy to finish the inside. I’d say a month. Maybe a little longer.”
“Oh, that is wonderful news, Mr. Duke.” She clapped her hands in delight and danced around, causing the hem of her gown to swirl. The display of shapely ankles caused both men to smile their appreciation.
Quent’s frown deepened. These two were worse than fools. They
“Don’t worry about a thing, Marshal. I can handle the job.”
Quent strode down the dusty main street, knowing that his deputy was already sprawled in the chair, feet on the desk, hat over his eyes. It would take a dozen outlaws, guns blazing, to budge Arlo from that chair for the next hour or more.
As Quent strolled past the bank and the mercantile, he saw a crowd forming up ahead. Men and boys mostly, though a few women craned their necks, as well. When he got closer he saw the reason for the crowd.
Ruby Jewel was standing between Farley Duke, owner of the sawmill, and the handsome young banker, Byron Conner, staring at a spot of vacant land.
Quent shook his head. He should have expected that it was Ruby. No other woman in town could attract so many men. Like bees to honey.
As he drew near he could hear that smooth drawl. “Oh, no. It must have several steps up, so that the dirt of the road is not tramped inside on shoes. And windows, so that I can display my wares.”
Wares? That brought Quent up short. Lunch was forgotten as he veered off the path to join the others.
Farley finished his measurements. “I can start cutting the logs tomorrow, Miss Ruby. Soon as I finish up work on the Tates’ barn.”
“That would be fine, Mr. Duke.” Ruby pressed a fine silk handkerchief to her forehead, then touched it lightly to her throat. Both Farley and Byron Conner watched wide-eyed as her hand moved lower, to tuck the bit of silk into the cleft between her breasts.
“Morning, gentlemen.” Quent stepped between them, then tipped his hat. “Ruby.”
He saw the sudden narrowing of her eyes. It was the only indication that she hadn’t forgotten. Or forgiven. “Planning on building something, are you?”
When Ruby didn’t respond, Farley Duke nodded. “Miss Ruby is opening a new shop.”
Quent couldn’t hide his surprise. “That so? What for?”
“Miss Ruby is going to be making ladies’ gowns and such,” the banker said.
Quent knew his mouth was hanging open. But he couldn’t help it. Somehow, he’d never imagined Ruby Jewel as a seamstress. In fact, it had never occurred to Quent that she knew how to do anything except flit around town like a colorful butterfly.
“It’s just what this town needs,” the banker went on. “The women of Hanging Tree will be delighted.”
Quent felt a ripple of annoyance. If Ruby had been looking for a loan, this same banker would have laughed her out of town. But because the Jewel family kept all their money in his bank, he was positively fawning over her.
“Mr. Duke, my sister Jade said you might be willing to oversee the workers, as well. She said she couldn’t have built the Golden Rule without your help.” Ruby gave the owner of the sawmill a smile so warm it would have melted glaciers.
“Why, yes, ma’am. I’d be pleased to take care of that for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Duke. And thank you, Mr. Conner.” She offered her hand and the banker accepted as though he were holding a banknote worth a king’s ransom. “I value your opinion. For a woman alone, it is so comforting to know I have friends I can trust.”
“And I value your...friendship, Miss Jewel.”
Quent gave a hiss of disgust. Ruby Jewel knew exactly what she was doing. She had these two fools practically drooling over the chance to help her in any way they could.
“When do you think I can settle in?” Ruby asked.
Farley scratched his head, mentally calculating. “If the weather holds, ma’am, we can have the building up in a couple of weeks. After that, it’ll be easy to finish the inside. I’d say a month. Maybe a little longer.”
“Oh, that is wonderful news, Mr. Duke.” She clapped her hands in delight and danced around, causing the hem of her gown to swirl. The display of shapely ankles caused both men to smile their appreciation.
Quent’s frown deepened. These two were worse than fools. They
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