Read Online Ruby by Ruth Langan - Free Book Online Page B

were behaving like a couple of lechers.
    “Well, ma’am.” Farley glanced at Quent, then rubbed his hand on his pants and offered it to Ruby. “I’ll be here tomorrow with a crew.”
    “That’s fine, Mr. Duke. I’ll be here, too.” Ruby accepted his handshake, then turned to lay a hand on the banker’s arm. “You will keep me informed of the cost?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He closed a hand over hers. “I’ll personally see to it that your money is well spent. You can count on me being here every day.”
    As would every man in town, Quent thought irritably.
    When they walked away, Ruby remained, staring at the patch of dusty earth as though it were a palace.
    Quent cleared his throat.
    She turned her head and fixed him with a cold look. “Are you still here, Marshal? I thought by now you’d be busy arresting some terrible outlaw.”
    “There don’t seem to be any outlaws around at the moment.”
    “Then perhaps you should arrest some poor helpless lady.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. He couldn’t help himself. The fire in her eyes was positively scorching. “Ruby, you’re neither poor nor helpless. And in fact, after that little charade, I’m not even certain you’re a lady.”
    “Charade?” She turned on him, hands on her hips. “Whatever are you talking about?”
    “Don’t use that innocent act on me. Those fluttery lashes. The heaving bosom. That breathless little voice. And that smile when you thanked Farley and Byron. Ruby, you may be just about the best actress this town has ever seen.”
    “Oh, what a terrible thing to say. I was just being myself.” She stomped her foot and turned her back on him. “You are a mean, miserable, spiteful man.”
     
    “And arrogant,” he said, trying not to laugh.
    “Don’t forget arrogant.”
    “Oh, you are that,” she called over her shoulder before walking away.
    A few steps later he caught up with her.
    “Now what do you want?” she demanded.
    “Nothing. I just noticed we’re headed in the same direction.” He was struggling hard not to laugh again, knowing it would only add fuel to the fire burning in those eyes.
    As they passed Durfee’s Mercantile, he caught sight of Lavinia Thurlong and Gladys Witherspoon huddling in the doorway with Effie Spitz. The three women fell silent and stared hard at Ruby as she approached.
    Seeing them, she lifted her head and stared straight ahead.
    “Is it true, Miss Jewel,” Lavinia began, “that you spent the night in jail with Beau Baskin?”
    Quent’s head came up sharply, but before he could utter a word Ruby said, in her most charming French accent, “I do not believe I could have heard correctly. Is it your suggestion, Mrs. Thurlong, that Beau and I spent the night together?”
    Lavinia’s face turned several shades of scarlet, while Rufus Durfee and several men inside the store could be heard choking on their laughter.
    “If that is what you are suggesting, then you must also think Marshal Regan would not only permit such a thing, but, in fact, demand it. Is that what you are implying? That your fine marshal is competing with Buck Coffee and his saloon?”
     
    “You know perfectly well what I mean—” Lavinia began.
    But Ruby cut her off with a tart “I would think your meaning is very clear, Mrs. Thurlong.”
    She swept along the walkway, her head high, her eyes straight ahead.
    Beside her, Quent was silently cheering. This time, Lavinia had met her match.
    When they reached Millie Potter’s boardinghouse, and Quent climbed the steps behind her, Ruby gave a little groan of disgust. “I should have known there was no escaping you, Marshal. I suppose you’re having lunch here, too?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “I hope you’re satisfied,” she muttered. “The idle gossip of your deputy’s wife has made me an object of scorn.”
    “Only among those three fools,” Quent said.
    “Then you do not understand the nature of people,” she said softly. “The tale will be repeated until