Ruby's Rhapsody (The Surveyor's Daughters Book 2)
Author: Budge, Vicki Hunt
Date: 2019-08-21
Rights: Copyright 2019 Vicki Hunt Budge. All rights reserved.

Ruby’s Rhapsody

Vicki Hunt Budge

Eastwood Press

Copyright © 2019 by Vicki Hunt Budge

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

For my Hunt family and the memories
of sitting around in the twilight
hour after picnics, listening
to Uncle Marvin play the guitar,
and singing old country songs.

Introduction

Ruby Gardner plays the organ with gusto, but only in the privacy of her own home with family around. When the handsome schoolteacher and fiddler moved to town, Ruby fell in love with him, and his music. Now, nearly two years later, the aloof fiddler still doesn’t know she exists.

There’s only one thing that Nathan Banks loves more than teaching children, and that’s playing fiddle at the Saturday night dances, accompanied by Mr. Jones, the town organist. But some tragedy or heartache in Nathan’s past torments him when he fiddles, and he’s gained a reputation as the stone-faced fiddler.

One Saturday night, when the organist doesn’t show, Ruby volunteers to accompany Nathan at the dance. Will Ruby and her fast-paced music entice that stone-faced fiddler to smile and help him to love and laugh again?

Ruby’s Rhapsody is a story of music, friendship, and the possibility of something far greater.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Author’s Note

The Next Book

Also by Vicki Hunt Budge

Acknowledgments

About the Author

1

Ruby Gardner tapped her foot on the wooden floor to the sound of the fiddler tuning his fiddle. She and two of her sisters were practically dancing in place, waiting for the dance to start. Ruby, Belle, and Cora stood inside the schoolhouse entrance, waving at some people, hugging others, and helping the older folks find seats near the music or the food. The Saturday night dance was the biggest event of the week in Clover Creek, Idaho.

Ruby’s mother and her four youngest sisters helped with the dance by setting out platters of cake and cookies. Ruby’s brother Charlie helped bring in jugs of fresh apple cider. Everyone laughed and chatted happily, the fiddle music seeming to wash away everyday cares and responsibilities.

After a while, the fiddler brought his warmup music to a close and conferred with Ruby’s father and Mr. Jepson who were standing close by. Mr. Jepson, the owner of the mercantile and post office, called the dances. He shook his head now, as though perplexed about something. Ruby’s father walked over to where Charlie helped at the food table, and spoke to him. Charlie took off out the front door in a sprint.

“Mr. Banks makes that fiddle sing,” Ruby said, sighing. Her toes tapped out part of the last tune he’d whipped through in his warm up. Her blue eyes sparkled. “And he’s so cute.”

“He’d be cuter if he smiled,” Belle said. “He’s the only stone-faced fiddler I’ve ever heard of.”

Ruby shrugged and tucked an errant blond curl behind her ear. “He’s serious about his music.”

“You’re serious about your music,” Cora argued, “but you glow when you play the organ. You’re never gloomy like Mr. Banks.”

“His fiddling isn’t gloomy,” Belle said. “Only his face. His fiddling is wild and fun. Makes me want to dance all night. You’d think he’d be grinning all over the place when he picks up the bow and fiddle.”

“His music takes my breath away.” Ruby crossed her arms over her chest and stretched up on the tips of her toes. The townsfolk who had crowded into the schoolhouse were blocking her view of the fiddler. “Mr. Banks is simply divine, and I adore his fiddling.”

Belle waved to one of her friends who had entered the building, motioning for her to come and join them. “I wish Mr. Banks would hurry and start,” she said. “I’m ready for the dance to begin!”

It was then that Ruby noticed the reed organ player hadn’t taken his place at the organ. Where is that man? The fiddler wasn’t the only one who created lively music that made people want to dance, clap, and stomp their feet. Mr. Jones, the older gentleman who played the reed organ like it was an extension of himself, was missing. Ruby adored Mr. Jones. He was the one responsible for her love of playing the organ with gusto, as he had coached her for the past ten years.

Charlie reentered the schoolhouse, a somber look on his face. He walked straight to Ruby and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s your turn, little sis,” he said. “Mr. Jones isn’t feeling well. He said that if there’s going to be organ accompaniment tonight, it’s up to you.”

“Me?” Ruby squeaked. She took note of the only exit where more townsfolk streamed in. Ruby loved to play the organ, more than anyone in her family, but not for the dance.

Sometimes her mother and father excused Ruby from family chores to play fast-paced music while they and the others worked. Everyone said they worked twice as fast when Ruby played the organ, and the chores were done in no time.

Charlie winked at Ruby, and then walked across the floor to where their father, Mr. Jepson, and the fiddler stood waiting for him. Ruby could see them conversing and looking her way. She loved playing the organ at home, but she had never played in front of so many people. And besides, Nathan Banks intimidated her. It wasn’t just his superb fiddling or his dour expression. It was his kindhearted manner in school with her younger siblings, his dignified presence in the community, and his dangerous-looking dark eyes. For the past year and a half, since the schoolteacher had first come to Clover Creek, Ruby had wondered why a man who had to be nearly ten years older than her wasn’t married. She had secretly thought he would make a splendid husband for someone who loved music.

Someone like her.

The problem was, the schoolteacher had never encouraged her. Never looked at her, never smiled at her. Even the times her parents had had him come for dinner, he visited politely with her parents and the younger girls, ate his dinner, and left.

After taking an enormous breath of air and forcing her shoulders back, Ruby strode across the schoolroom floor and approached the fiddler. “I’m Ruby Gardner,” she said. “I understand Mr. Jones is ill tonight. Would you like me to fill in for him?”

Nathan Banks looked at her, mouth agape. “You play the organ?”

Ruby stifled the urge to say she wouldn’t be volunteering to accompany him for the dance if she didn’t play the organ. “I do,” she said coyly, just wanting the dance and his fiddle music to begin.

Nathan Banks still didn’t smile. Most people in town generally accepted that the schoolteacher seldom smiled when he was out of his classroom setting. He lived a quiet life, keeping to himself when he wasn’t teaching or fiddling. His mouth opened as if he was skeptical, but his eyes widened as if he was considering Ruby’s offer.

A nervous, tingling feeling ran through Ruby. She was going to accompany the fiddler in front of the whole town, and she hoped to change his dour countenance this very night. This was her chance. The stone-faced fiddler would acknowledge her existence after tonight, and he was going to smile while he fiddled.

“Do you even know the tunes?” Mr. Banks asked.

“I should. I’ve been listening to you play every Saturday night for months.”

His brow furrowed and his piercing eyes questioned her answer. “Do you think you can keep up?”

Ruby smiled. “We won’t know until we try.”

“I only know how to play one way,” the schoolteacher said, his voice snappish. “Breakneck speed.”

“That’s why the whole town flocks down here on Saturday night, Mr. Banks. Just to hear you play.”

The schoolteacher’s face reddened. His gaze bounced from Ruby’s father to Mr. Jepson, to Charlie, and finally back to Ruby. “Well, then, Miss Gardner, let’s see what you can do. We’ll start with, Dance All Night with a Bottle in Your Hand.”

Ruby positioned herself at the organ and nodded when she was ready. Mr. Banks brought the fiddle to his chin, gave her a sharp look, and started in. Couples quickly filled the center of the room, their stomping, shuffling feet shook the wood floor and competed with the fiddle and organ music. The dancers spun and twirled, and those individuals standing or sitting around the perimeter of the room joined in by clapping or slapping their legs to the rhythm. An old-timer took up one corner of the floor with his rambunctious flat-foot dancing.

The schoolteacher and Ruby played one dance tune after another with Mr. Jepson’s booming voice calling the dances. Ruby’s organ accompaniment kept up for nearly every beat. After several circle dances, mixers, and line dances, the fiddler took out a handkerchief and wiped sweat from his brow. He motioned to Ruby and Mr. Jepson to take a break.

“Can I get you a glass of cider?” Mr. Banks asked, leaning close to the organ.

“Yes, please.” Ruby fanned the warm air in front of her face. “And can we please get some fresh air while we drink it?” Accompanying the schoolteacher in front of the whole town and keeping up with him was the most exciting thing Ruby had ever done. Now her curious nature took over, and she determined to find out more about this reclusive man. What made a man scowl when fiddling music that he obviously loved?

Nathan and Ruby went outside to breathe in the fresh air while they drank cider. Half the dancers had the same idea. So, after fielding many favorable comments and congratulations on their playing, Ruby suggested to the schoolteacher that they sit on one of her father’s wagon seats for a little bit of tranquility. The wagon was parked not too far away.

“I’m impressed with your organ playing, Miss Gardner,” Mr. Banks said, after helping Ruby onto the wagon.

“Thank you. Please call me Ruby, Mr. Banks.” She straightened her skirt and took another sip of her cider. When two people’s music intertwines like ours does, we shouldn’t need formal names.

“All right, Ruby,” he said. “And I’m Nathan, not Mr. Banks. May I ask where you learned to play the organ so spontaneously?”

Laughter and spirited conversation carried over to the wagon from those milling about in front of the schoolhouse. The evening air smelled like fresh-cut hay and ripe apples from two large apple trees nearby. “Mostly self-taught,” Ruby said. “But my entire family loves music. Pa taught us to sing when we work, and everyone in our family plays the organ or some instrument. I just happen to love the organ and spend more time playing it than any of my siblings.”

“Interesting,” Nathan said, looking at her intently. “Quite interesting.”

Chills flowed through every part of Ruby’s body. It seemed to Ruby that the fiddler saw her for the first time in that moment. “Mr. Jones mentored me over the years,” she added.

“Ah, that explains everything. Mr. Jones is a marvelous organist. I surely hope he’ll be well by tomorrow.”

“I do too,” Ruby said, and then added, “where did you learn to fiddle? You are a natural entertainer.”

Nathan smiled for the first time that evening. “My granddad. I spent a lot of evenings on his front porch listening to him fiddle and trying to keep up. All his tunes were memorized and had been passed down to him from his pa and a couple of uncles. He was the greatest mountain music man I’ve ever known.”

Nathan’s smile lingered, and Ruby thought it was the first time she had ever seen him really happy. “Tell me more about your granddad,” she said softly.

“Well, he was a nearly blind fiddler from Tennessee,” Nathan’s eyes took on a soft glow and a faraway look. “Raised a family of ten with his farm and fiddle playing. He and Grams both fiddled. Their music was hard scrabbling, real people music, pure and sincere.”

Ruby took another sip of her cider. “Do you ever fiddle with your granddad anymore?” she asked.

“He and Grams both passed the year I turned twenty-seven.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Ruby said. “But I think it’s wonderful that you keep his memory alive with your fiddling.”

“My fiddling is all I have. I lost more than my grandparents that year.” Nathan’s voice lowered as he spoke and he glanced away from her.

Ruby drew in a breath, realizing the conversation had suddenly become painful for the schoolteacher. “What brought you out to Idaho?” she asked, hoping a change of topic would keep their conversation going.

“You know what?” Nathan said pointedly. “The dancers are waiting. We need to return to the dance.”

While Nathan helped her down from the wagon, Ruby’s oldest sister, Nellie, and her family pulled up in their wagon. Ruby immediately ran to be the first Gardner to hold Nellie’s six-month-old daughter, Zillah. Nellie and her husband, Evan Howell lived in a small valley near the Gardner homestead. The surveying for their farm had all been done by Evan and Mr. Gardner. Aspen Valley was close enough to Clover Creek that the Gardners saw Nellie’s baby every Saturday and Sunday, and more often some weeks. But, because there were so many Gardners, eight daughters plus one son, and because the baby was the first grandchild, there was always a competition as to who got to hold her first, or the longest.

“Oh, she’s so precious,” Ruby said, burying her face in the side of Zillah’s neck to take in her sweet baby smell. She held the sleeping baby close to Nathan so he could get a glimpse. He surprised her by taking Zillah in his arms and cradling her to his chest.

“You are as bad as my siblings!” Ruby said, placing her hands on her hips. “Snatching Zillah away from me like that.”

A look of horror filled Nathan’s face. His dark eyes lit up, and he offered the baby back to Ruby. “I thought you wanted me to take her,” he said apologetically. “I love babies.”

Ruby leaned over and kissed Zillah. When she did so, she had to place one hand on Nathan’s arm to keep from falling into him. The nearness and touch of him caused her to hold her breath. “I was just teasing,” she said, stepping back and leaving the baby with him. “Enjoy her while you can. As soon as my family sees that Nellie and Evan are here, they’ll wrest her away from you.”

“Do you think she’ll enjoy our music?” Nathan whispered, cuddling Zillah once again. “She’s a little young for dancing.”

Ruby like the way he said, our music. Did he feel like they made great music together, as she did? She hoped they would have the opportunity to play together again and again after this evening. “Here comes Belle and Cora,” Ruby said, looking at the schoolhouse door. “Let me hold Zillah for another moment. I told you they’d come and snatch her away from us.”

“Take your time,” Nathan said, handing the baby to her. “I’ll go start tuning up again, so the folks will know we’re ready to start.”

Ruby snuggled Zillah for a few more seconds before handing her off to Belle. Belle and Cora took off for the entrance to the schoolhouse, arguing over who got to dance with their niece first.

“That was interesting,” Nellie said, watching her younger sisters abscond with her baby. She placed her arm through Ruby’s and her other arm through her husband’s. They started walking toward the schoolhouse entrance together. “What am I missing here? I knew the schoolteacher liked children, but I didn’t realize he was also fond of babies. And he seems quite fond of you too. Did I hear him say ‘our music?’ Are you accompanying him tonight?”

Ruby nodded, her eyes fairly dancing. She couldn’t keep anything from Nellie. She and her older sister had been close for years until Nellie married Evan and started her own home. The two sisters were probably closer than Nellie and Charlie, even though Charlie was Nellie’s twin.

“Mr. Jones is ill tonight,” Ruby said. “Somehow, I became the accompanist for Nathan. And we play really well together, if I do say so myself.”

“Hmm,” Nellie said, smiling at Ruby and then at her husband. “So, it’s Nathan already instead of Mr. Banks. This could prove to be a promising evening.”

Ruby grinned and pulled away from her sister. “I’d better hurry and take my place at the organ. I’m taking too long of a break.”

“I’d say, you and the fiddler took too short of a break,” Evan said, raising his brows at his sister-in-law.

Nellie nodded her agreement. “This could be the beginning of something spectacular. You accompanying the schoolteacher. I can’t wait to hear you play.”

Ruby took off to where Nathan waited for her. “I can’t wait, either,” she said to herself, shivers running through her. She hoped the evening truly was the beginning of something wonderful between Mr. Nathan Banks and her.

Ruby positioned herself at the organ and nodded when she was ready. Nathan brought the fiddle to his chin, gave her another piercing look and started in. Was there something more in his look than the one he had given her at the beginning of the evening? Ruby didn’t know, but there was definitely something more than just the music between them. She could feel it. Could he?

The dancers whirled, pivoted, and stomped to the music, but no one’s heart beat faster than Ruby’s. Was Nathan’s fiddle playing more intense than at the beginning of the dance? Ruby didn’t know, but no matter how fast he fiddled, her fingers flew across the organ keys as she belted out the tunes along with him. She reveled in the fact that no matter how fast he played, she kept up with him.

Still, the fiddler never smiled.

2

Later that night, Nathan sat at the table in the teacherage attached to the schoolhouse. The room was dark and quiet, and Nathan’s fingers tapped out the tunes he had played earlier with the surveyor’s daughter. He was so wound up from fiddling that sleep wouldn’t come for hours. It was always this way after the Saturday night dances, but more so tonight with the image of Ruby Gardner in his head.

Nathan groaned as he thought about church in only a few hours. The schoolhouse also served as the community chapel and the schoolteacher was expected to attend. Nathan had been devout until two years ago when God let him down. Now, church was simply a duty, and he would have greatly preferred to sleep in.

Nathan’s cat, Bo, jumped onto his lap, and Nathan stroked the cat’s back with his long, slim fingers. Bo expressed his appreciation by curling his silky gray body into Nathan’s arms and purring. The cat had somehow come with the school when Nathan had first moved to town as the new schoolteacher. At first Bo had been standoffish, as if he was trying to decide if he liked this new person. But after only two days, Bo was sleeping on Nathan’s chest or curled up next to him on the bed. Nathan wasn’t sure if Bo trusted him, or if he simply liked the warmth from Nathan’s body.

Bo was Nathan’s only family in Idaho. Nathan could never go back to Tennessee to see his family there. Seeing the town and the people where he grew up, and where he suffered his greatest humiliation, was too painful to even contemplate. He wrote to his parents every month, and treasured the letters from his mother, but he could never go back to his hometown.

“Why didn’t I know the surveyor’s daughter could play the organ so well?” Nathan asked Bo. He didn’t really expect Bo to answer, but it was nice when the cat looked up at him with his big eyes and snub face, as if he too was curious about the answer.

The answer was quite simple. Nathan had come to Clover Creek nearly two years ago a brokenhearted man. It was no wonder he and Bo had taken to each other so quickly. Two lonely bachelors finding peace with each other. Nathan had never tried to learn about the people in Clover Creek except to teach their children. He had lost confidence in himself and in people, withdrawing from society except for church and his fiddle playing. No matter how withdrawn Nathan had become, he could never give up his fiddle. Playing the fiddle comforted him in a way that he couldn’t explain.

Nathan desperately wanted to avoid the sympathetic looks he had suffered in Tennessee, so he kept to himself most of the time, seldom talking to anyone outside of school or after the dances. He had not only been left standing at the altar in front of the whole community where he grew up, but his supposed sweetheart had taken off that very night with the banjo player from Nathan’s band.

“Emmeline was nearly nineteen by the time we were to marry,” Nathan told Bo, “eight years younger than me. We grew up on adjoining farms, and I loved her from the first time she was old enough to climb trees with me and my siblings. I waited patiently for her to grow into a young lady. We courted, and I, as well as the whole town, assumed we would marry someday. When she accepted my proposal, the whole town looked forward to our wedding. Why did she wait so long to change her mind?”

Bo narrowed his eyes as though Nathan was the most brainless man he’d ever met.

“Did I suffocate her with my attentions?”

When Bo didn’t answer, Nathan went on with his pitiful story. “After Emmeline didn’t show, I felt obligated to play for the wedding crowd anyway, without my bride, and without my banjo player. After all, the folks didn’t just come to witness our marriage. They came to dance.”

Bo dropped his head back against Nathan’s chest as though bored with the story he’d endured numerous times.

“A few weeks after that wretched night, I couldn’t take the woeful looks of the townsfolk anymore.”

Nathan fled almost as far from Tennessee as he could go without leaving the country. He would have gone on to Oregon as planned if he hadn’t seen a notice in the train station in Pocatello, Idaho. The notice told of a friendly community less than two hours away by horse that was in need of a schoolteacher. Nathan, fully qualified, had ripped the notice off the wall, and hired someone to take him to Clover Creek.

It had been easy to assume the role of a quiet bachelor after the citizens of Clover Creek hired him. The community had a good-sized schoolhouse, but for some time, they hadn’t had a fiddler or anyone willing to step forward and organize a Saturday night dance. Everyone was thrilled when he offered to organize the dances, and play for them as well. After all, he had lost so much; he couldn’t give up his fiddling too. Once the townsfolk heard him fiddle, they didn’t care that he never danced or talked much with anyone. They loved his music and only wanted to hear him play.

“Some people in this community ask why I fiddle so passionately, but never smile.” Nathan lifted Bo for a moment in order to bury his face in the feline’s fur. When Bo squirmed, Nathan lowered the cat back to his chest and whispered. “I would never tell anyone else but you. But I play so passionately to drive away the memory of that last dance in Tennessee. And who can smile when a memory like that returns every time they fiddle?”

The cat pawed against Nathan’s chest.

Nathan sighed, strumming his fingers across Bo’s back. “You’re a good friend, Bo. I don’t have any friends except for you. Most people in town don’t mind my odd ways. They like the way I teach their children and the way I play the fiddle.”

Bo yawned and snuggled in closer to Nathan’s chest.

“There is that eccentric older lady here in Clover Creek that worries me, Bo. Mrs. Stribling. Mrs. Stribling gives me the impression that she sees inside of me. She knows I’m determined to guard my heart against the whims of fickle females. She’s always after me to let the older men hambone along with Mr. Jones for a few dances and force me out onto the dance floor.”

Nathan clenched his jaw at the thought, and Bo leaned forward as though he felt the tension in his person’s body. When Nathan finally drew in a softening breath, the cat settled back as though trying to comfort him.

Back in Tennessee Nathan had loved to dance as well as fiddle. He had often taken time away from fiddling to dance with the girl he loved. Nowadays, he never cared to dance again, and especially not with Ruby Gardner. Now that he’d heard Ruby play, and paid attention to her enchanting smile, he definitely didn’t want to dance with her. He couldn’t afford to take another chance with his heart.

When Nathan’s eyes finally closed sometime early in the morning, he was worn out from his night of fiddling and his troubling thoughts. He hoped Mr. Jones felt better during the following week. Nathan couldn’t play music with the surveyor’s daughter again. He had to stay away from her. Their music last night had been beguiling, possessing the power to cast a spell over him. There was no denying it. But Nathan would never give his heart to another woman. He couldn’t bear to have his heart crushed again.

A few hours later, Bo woke Nathan, and Nathan fed them both. He made sure Bo had plenty of water. “Today’s the day you stay here all morning by yourself,” Nathan said. The cat gave him a disgruntled look. “I know. It’s lonely by yourself in this tiny room. But can you imagine the screaming that would take place during the sermon, if Mrs. Stribling or any of the older ladies felt you brush up against their legs?”

Nathan chuckled as the scenario crossed his mind. On school days, Bo was free to roam about the schoolroom and sleep in any sunny spot he chose. The children loved Bo to brush up against their legs. They loved to pet him, listen to him purr, and laugh at his antics. And Bo was so patient with them. It was almost as if Bo encouraged the children to come to school and enjoy the work of learning to read and write.

“Now be a good boy,” Nathan said, after making sure Bo’s toys were spread out on the floor. He scratched Bo’s thick fur before he walked to the door adjoining the schoolroom. Looking back at the forlorn cat, he shook his finger at him. “No more scratching my best chair. You hear?”

Nathan helped Reverend Cary finish setting up the schoolhouse for church services. He wasn’t required to help, but he enjoyed doing so. He always looked forward to seeing his students and their families come through the door. Nathan had wanted a family of his own for years, and at age twenty-two had even taken to praying that when Emmeline grew old enough, she would want to marry him and have a family with him. When the day finally came that Emmeline accepted his proposal, he thought God had answered his prayer. Now, at nearly twenty-nine and with no family of his own, he knew better.

Nathan wasn’t prepared for the intoxicating jolt that surged through him at the sight of Ruby Gardner when she and her family walked into the schoolroom. Her blond curls were neatly arranged under her woven straw hat. A blue silk ribbon attached to the hat accented her eyes. Nathan almost broke into a smile, but nodded stoically instead. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let his heart run away with this woman. He had a good life just as it was, with the companionship of Bo, two lonely bachelors living together in the teacherage. He had been content for the past months since he moved to Idaho. Why did his heart have to race now in the presence of the charming organ player?

Nathan watched with a sharp intake of breath as Ruby made her way to the organ. He smiled inwardly, realizing that she was going to play, once again filling in for Mr. Jones. He wondered how one tiny lady could play the reed organ with such gusto. And Nathan wondered how he could sing the hymns while watching her play them. He soon found out as the congregation sang, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and later Shall We Gather at the River?

He sang heartily while Ruby played. She played the organ with reverence today, but also with the quick tempo popularized by Mr. Jones.

Nathan’s thoughts turned to the older gentleman, finally realizing that Mr. Jones must still be ill since Ruby was filling in for him. Nathan determined to pay a visit to his friend and fellow musician that very afternoon.

After the services, Nathan found that he hadn’t enjoyed church so much for months. Nearly two years to be precise. Perhaps it was the dazzling sight of Ruby Gardner and listening to her play. Perhaps he was finally starting to forgive God for not answering his prayers. Nathan wasn’t sure, but he savored the new feeling. He dared to approach Ruby and compliment her on her playing of the hymns. That seemed like a safe enough subject, and simply a polite thing to do.

“Thank you,” Ruby said in return after Nathan complimented her. Her smile made his heart do strange things.

“I enjoy playing hymns and I enjoyed accompanying you for the dance last night,” Ruby added. “It was a thrill to accompany you, and try to keep up. I’ve loved dancing to your fiddle music since you first came to town.”

She laughed so naturally, as though laughter was as much a part of her being as music.

“You kept up beautifully,” Nathan said, drawing in a breath. His deceitful heart raced all the more, and his eyes pierced hers.

Ruby’s face flushed for a moment, but then her face turned somber as though she thought of something grave. “Have you been over to see how Mr. Jones is doing?”

“I, uh, no. I thought I’d go over today after church.”

“Part of my family is going now,” Ruby said. “Would you like to accompany us? Only Pa, Beth, and I are going. We always bring two wagons when our whole family comes to town. Ma and Charlie are taking the rest of the girls home to start dinner.”

“I’d love to join you,” Nathan said, and he found that he meant every word of it. He intended to go see Mr. Jones anyway. And for some reason, even though he was trying to stay away from the surveyor’s daughter, he couldn’t think of anything more pleasant to do on this beautiful Sabbath day.

He was certainly in no hurry to join Bo for another long boring afternoon.

Since the Jones family didn’t live too far from the schoolhouse, Ruby, her youngest sister, Beth, and Nathan elected to walk. Mr. Gardner’s horses clopped on down the road, but the wagon didn’t reach the Jones’ house much before the young people did.

Mrs. Stribling met them at the door.

“Thank you for coming,” Mrs. Stribling said in her rather loud voice, motioning the visitors inside. “Dr. Williams just left, and Mrs. Jones is sitting with her husband. Mr. Jones is feeling better today, but Dr. Williams told him to take it easy for at least four weeks.” She leaned forward and spoke as softly as possible, which wasn’t very soft at all. “The doctor said it’s his heart.”

Nathan watched as Mrs. Jones emerged from the bedroom, covered her mouth as though to stop her grief, and sat on the sofa.

Ruby quickly sat beside the woman and took her into a gentle hug. Mr. Gardner walked into the bedroom to see the patient.

“Tell me how you’re doing,” Ruby said to the older woman. “This has to be so hard on you.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Mrs. Jones answered. “Just a little worried . . . and . . . a lot scared.”

Mrs. Stribling proceeded to take charge of Mrs. Jones. “I’ll make some tea for you and Mr. Jones,” she said. “A cup of tea will be good for both of you. And I brought dinner. As soon as everyone finishes their visit, I’ll serve it to you.”

Nathan thought Mrs. Stribling was more or less telling the new arrivals to keep their visit short. Apparently, Mr. Gardner felt the same way because he returned to the living room shortly, sat on the other side of Mrs. Jones, and took her hand in his. “My Charlie and I will be back tomorrow afternoon to see what needs to be done around the house,” he said. “And my wife is planning to come with us and bring some of her good food. I suggest you just rest now and let Mrs. Stribling take care of things today.”

Ruby and Beth slipped into the bedroom to see Mr. Jones before they left. Nathan followed them. When Ruby knelt beside Mr. Jones’ bed and took his hand in hers, Mr. Jones smiled at her. “Ah, my dear Ruby,” he said. “I hear you did a right dandy job of covering for me at the dance last night.”

“Well, I tried,” Ruby said, softly, smiling at the older man, and then up at Nathan. “Everyone missed your organ music though.”

“I, for one, missed your organ music,” Mrs. Stribling said. She filled the doorframe behind Nathan. “But this young lady was amazing. Whoever taught her how to play the organ deserves another piece of pie.”

“I taught her,” Mr. Jones said, raising his hand and grinning slyly. “At least, I encouraged her. She taught herself.”

“Well, this young lady and Nathan here are quite the talented duo.” Mrs. Stribling wiggled her brows at Nathan when she spoke. “It’s almost as if they were born to play fiddle and organ together. I look forward to them playing for the dance next Saturday night.”

“Oh, no,” Ruby said. “I’m sure Mr. Jones will feel like playing by Saturday.”

“Whether he does, or whether he doesn’t, he can’t play for at least four weeks,” Mrs. Stribling said, her double chin wiggling about as she spoke. “Doctor’s orders.”

Mrs. Stribling looked back into the living room at Mrs. Jones who nodded her head in agreement.

“But I might feel well enough to come out and hear you two play.” Mr. Jones smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Especially if there’s pie involved.”

“Humph,” Mrs. Jones said from the living room. “Maybe a small piece, and only if you stay at the dance for a short time.”

“So, it looks like you two have a Saturday night date for the next four weeks,” Mrs. Stribling said. She grinned as though she had made the arrangement herself. “And I think it’s about time we got the old-timers to do some hambone so you two can get out on that floor and dance. I’ll make sure that happens.”

“What’s hambone?” Beth asked, once they’d said their goodbyes left the Jones’ home.

“Hambone is music made without instruments,” Mr. Gardner said. “There’s a lot of lively hand slapping and patting on your legs, arms, chest, and cheeks. I used to be pretty good at it when I was Charlie’s age.” He winked at Ruby and Beth and grinned. “At least, your ma thought I was pretty good.”

“Can you do this hamboning?” Ruby asked, looking at Nathan.

Nathan nodded. “Of course,” he said. “I’m from Tennessee.”

“Do people dance to hamboning?” Beth asked.

“Absolutely,” Mr. Gardner said.

“Music is music and people dance,” Nathan added. Part of him wanted to give Ruby and her youngest sister a demonstration and show off for them. Another part of him tensed with fear. He couldn’t let Mrs. Stribling force he and Ruby onto the dance floor while the old-timers hamboned. It would be a swell time in other circumstances, but not now. Not after what happened in Tennessee.

As they stood by the wagon, a gentle breeze swished through the cottonwood trees nearby, causing Ruby’s loose curls to float softly in the air. A few yellow and orange tree leaves fell to the ground and swirled about, reminding Nathan that he wasn’t a young man anymore. His heart had been broken beyond repair, and he could not risk becoming enamored with a young lady again. Especially someone as young and attractive as Ruby Gardner. Hadn’t his age been a factor in Emmeline’s change of affection? He felt sure it had been so. The banjo player had been a young buck, barely over twenty.

“Excuse me, what was that?” Nathan asked when he realized that Mr. Gardner had spoken to him.

“Would you care to join our family for dinner?” Mr. Gardner said. “I don’t believe we’ve had you out to our place for months. That’s a real shame because our daughters who attend your schoolroom idolize you. It’s always, ‘Mr. Banks says this and Mr. Banks says that.’”

Beth covered her face as though thoroughly embarrassed by her father.

Nathan couldn’t believe anyone idolized him. His first instinct was to politely decline the invitation, but his traitorous heart leaped within him when Ruby smiled after her father’s offer.

Nathan clearly heard himself say, “Thank you, sir. I would love to share a meal with you and your family.”

3

Ruby watched Nathan throughout dinner, and later when they sat in the parlor for tea and coffee. The stone-faced fiddler appeared happy with her family, taking a turn holding baby Zillah and playing silly games with her. Nathan conversed easily with Ruby’s father and Evan about their upcoming survey project for a new canal, and he joked and teased Ruby’s youngest sisters. The stern expression he so easily wore around town had disappeared.

“Once this new canal is built, we’ll see a lot of families move into the area,” Mr. Gardner said. “It’ll take a lot of hard work to clear the land, but most people who move west are more than willing to do the work. This rich desert land will ultimately yield to the farmer.”

“The new canal is being built in Aspen Valley just over the hill,” Ruby said, pointing to give Nathan the general direction. “It’s where Nellie and Evan live with Zillah,” she added.

“Yes, it is,” Charlie said. “Except it’s that way.” He laughed along with Ruby’s sisters and pointed at a ninety-degree angle from where Ruby had pointed.

Ruby wrinkled her nose at him. “Okay,” she said. “So, I still don’t know east from west and north from south. But when I leave the house, I know exactly where I’m going.”

“You’re just fun to tease,” Charlie said, picking up Zillah’s rag doll and throwing it at Ruby. “But if the state builds too many more roads around here, you’ll be lost.”

Ruby grabbed the rag doll, but she didn’t throw it. She gently placed it in Zillah’s lap. “Here, sweet pea,” she said. “Uncle Charlie is being mean with your baby doll.”

“Pa and Evan are pretty excited about the new land grants, roads, and canals,” Charlie explained to Nathan. “It keeps their brains busy with all the equations and measurements needed to map out Idaho. For me, I prefer cutting a spud into pieces, and watching the pieces grow into plants, and the plants grow into healthy green fields.”

“Charlie keeps his brain busy producing food,” Ruby said. “He’s a big pest most of the time, but we like him anyway, since we all like to eat.”

“Speaking of food,” Nellie said, “did anyone decide who’s coming to help me cook for the survey crew?” Nellie looked at her sisters and parents. She and Alice, one of her younger sisters, had cooked for the survey crew a year and a half ago, and Evan had been part of that crew. It was during that summer survey that Nellie and Evan had allowed their feelings for each other to blossom.

“I wish I were cooking this time,” Ruby said. “The girls are lucky, getting to stay in your house and do all the cooking in your kitchen instead of outside. Zina and I cooked last summer, when Pa took us down by the Snake River. We had to camp out all summer and cook over the fire. The dirt and wild critters got to be too much for me.”

“Alice and I are coming to help you,” Cora said, chiming in. “But I hope we can eat around a campfire some of the time. I like eating outdoors and looking at the stars when it gets dark.”

“Me too,” Alice said. “But I’m excited this year because Cora and I get to sleep in the house and play with Zillah when we’re not cooking.”

“I think I have two students who live in the valley you’re talking about,” Nathan said. “I’ll have to rent a buggy and take a drive over there sometime before winter sets in.”

“The aspens are gorgeous right now,” Nellie said. “Fall is the perfect time for a visit to your students.”

“I can drive you over there Saturday in one of our wagons,” Ruby added rather quickly.

Mrs. Gardner’s eyes widened.

“Belle and I, or Cora and I,” Ruby amended. She didn’t mean to imply that just the two of them would go unchaperoned. Mrs. Gardner had trained her daughters to be respectable young ladies. Even though they lived on what was still considered the American frontier, Mrs. Gardner expected them to follow certain rules of decorum. “Or, for that matter, any number of my sisters can go along.”

Ruby motioned to all of her six younger sisters in the room. She felt a flush of heat spread to her face with her error in etiquette in front of the schoolteacher. She certainly didn’t mean to imply that she wanted to travel to the valley and spend the whole day with just him. Still feeling a little flustered, she added, “With the leaves turning colors, it’s a beautiful ride this time of year. I know my sisters would love to ride along.”

“I wish I could go with you on Saturday,” Belle said, “but I promised Mrs. Stribling that I’d help with her housework.”

“I’ll go,” Cora said. “I love rides in the country anytime.”

Alice, Zina, Fern, and Beth nodded enthusiastically, wanting to go on the ride.

“I love this,” Nellie said to Nathan. “I hope you’ll come to our little valley on Saturday. I’d be happy to fix lunch for everyone. Zillah will be thrilled to see her aunties.”

Nathan shifted in his chair. He appeared uncomfortable for a few moments, as though struggling with a difficult decision. Finally, he agreed. “Thank you,” he said, smiling at Ruby and Nellie. “I accept your offer and look forward to the outing on Saturday.”

Alice, Zina, Fern, and Beth clapped and cheered.

Nathan cleared his throat and fidgeted in his chair.

Ruby smiled modestly. The stoic schoolteacher was embarrassed by her sisters’ enthusiasm at spending the day with him. Little did he know that Ruby was more excited to spend the day with him than any of her sisters. It was all she could do to not clap and cheer herself.

“I’ll have my students, Rachel and Thomas Jorgensen, let their parents know I’m coming for a visit,” Nathan said.

He ran his fingers through his hair, and Ruby had to suppress a chuckle. The poor man was probably wondering what had just happened.

The week flew by as Ruby helped her family with preparations for her father’s last survey before winter set in. Mr. Gardner, Charlie, and the rest of the crew were leaving Monday morning and camping right next to Nellie’s and Evan’s house in Aspen Valley. There were potatoes to dig, alfalfa to cut, and a hundred more chores to take care of before the men departed. Mr. Gardner had even hired a couple of workers from town to make sure all the farm work was completed before they left for the survey.

Saturday morning, Ruby and Cora harnessed the horses and hitched them to the family wagon for their outing with Nathan. They were both sunburned and sore from all the field work of the past few days. Some housework and canning had been neglected during the week, but Mrs. Gardner had told Ruby not to worry about the house. “We’ll catch up on the house and canning next week while your pa’s gone,” she had said. “You and the younger girls deserve this outing after all the hard work you’ve done this week.”

Ruby and her sisters folded blankets and laid them across the wagon seat and in the wagon to make the ride more comfortable for everyone. Ruby had wrapped one of her father’s rifles in a blanket and placed it at her feet. She didn’t expect to need the rifle, but Mr. Gardner trained every girl over the age of twelve to load and shoot. He also expected them to keep a rifle handy when they were out and away from the house.

The girls hadn’t ridden too far when they saw Nathan walking along the road toward them. Ruby’s heart leapt at the sight of him. He was tall and lanky, and walked with a dignity that befitted a schoolteacher.

“I thought it was a beautiful morning for a walk,” Nathan said once he was in the wagon sitting next to Ruby. “No sense of you having to come all the way into town to pick me up and then back out this way to head over to the valley. Besides, as a transplant from Tennessee, I’m beginning to love the smell of sagebrush.”

Ruby glowed under her bonnet as she set the horses in motion. Not only was Nathan Banks sitting almost close enough to touch her shoulder, but she loved the fresh minty smell of him. By walking to meet them, he had saved them travel time, and gave them more time to spend together. Ruby wished she could get a better look at him. With her sunbonnet shielding most of her face, she had to simply listen to his strong voice as he talked, and imagine what his dreamy eyes looked like.

As the horses plodded along and pulled the wagon over the rutted road, the travelers saw antelope and deer in the hills. The creek meandered by at times, and then wandered off at other times. Sagebrush and scrubby evergreens filled the landscape along with an occasional outcropping of lava rock. A few wild chickens and rabbits darted here and there, and a red-tailed hawk screeched from high above.

By the time they reached the crest of the hill between the valleys, the sun had risen higher in the sky. The bright yellow and orange leaves of the aspen trees glowed, making a brilliant corridor for them to pass through. The air was woodsy and pure, and all the fun chatter that had been going on, came to a halt. It was as though every member of their party had to pause and inhale the beauty of the countryside.

“These leaves remind me a little of Tennessee this time of year,” Nathan finally said. “Fall is my favorite season.”

“Do you miss your home?” Ruby asked. She briefly pulled her bonnet back to get a better look at him.

“I grew up loving Tennessee,” Nathan said, his expression void of emotion. “But, I think I love Idaho now that I’m used to the dry climate. It’s fascinating to hear about all the roads and canals that are being built for new settlements. Farmers don’t need so many irrigation projects in Tennessee. We get a lot of rain back home.”

Almost as if he wished to change the subject, he started talking about the animals they’d seen. “We’ve seen a lot of deer and antelope. Do people around here have trouble with mountain lions or cougars? My pa always taught me that where there are deer, there are cougars.”

“Evan had an encounter with a mountain lion when they were surveying for the road through this valley over a year ago,” Ruby said as they started down the hill. “The big cat followed him halfway down a hill to camp. Pa chased it off with a shot from his rifle. I think it was over that way.” She pointed off to the rolling sagebrush area to the south, but then she laughed when she heard Cora laughing.

“It could have been over there for all Ruby knows,” Cora said, grinning and pointing off to the north.

“And a mountain lion almost attacked Nellie and I in the chuck wagon that same summer,” Alice said. “We screamed so loud, we scared that big cat away.”

Everyone laughed except for Nathan. His eyes crinkled, though, as if he could imagine the scene in his mind.

“They never found out if it was the same cat Evan saw.” Ruby shuddered as she spoke. “Wild animals are one reason I don’t like to cook for Pa’s survey crews. I don’t know how brave I’d be if I was confronted with a mountain lion or a bear.”

“I wish I’d been there when that mountain lion came around,” Cora said over the rumble of the wagon going down the hill. “I’d love to see a mountain lion or a bear. When I cooked for Pa’s crew last year, the only exciting thing that happened was that I burned the bacon.”

Everyone laughed again. Even Nathan couldn’t hold on to his restraint. “Does it make you nervous to travel out here where there’s bound to be wild animals?” Nathan asked. “There’s nothing but sagebrush, rock, and trees between your home and this valley.”

Ruby leaned over and uncovered a portion of the rifle that lay at her feet. “Pa says the animals won’t bother us unless we surprise them,” she said. “The wagon makes enough noise to let them know we’re coming and frighten them off when we’re traveling. But just in case, one shot from Pa’s rifle, and they’d be on the run.”

Nathan’s lips turned up ever so slightly. “Them and every other critter around,” he said. “Sounds like you girls would fit right in if you lived in Tennessee.”

“Tell us more about Tennessee,” Ruby said.

“Oh, yes, tell us about Tennessee,” Cora said. “I love to learn about new places. Someday, I’m planning to travel all over the country.”

“See that spread at the foot of the hill?” Nathan said, the slight smile leaving his face. He took off his hat and slapped at a bee that buzzed too close to the wagon. “I think that’s where my students live. They told me it’s the first farm you come to in this valley.”

“What time did you tell them you’d be by?” Ruby asked.

Nathan ran his hand through his hair before replacing his hat. “Sometime before lunch. But I made sure they knew we were having lunch with Nellie and her family. I didn’t want them to worry about feeding us.”

“I’ll stop the wagon where there’s a little shade and grass for the horses,” Ruby said. “We’ll wait in the wagon. You don’t want to take a flock of girls with you on your school visit.”

“Can I go with Mr. Banks?” Beth asked from the back of the wagon. “Rachel’s my friend from school. I told her I might get to see her when Mr. Banks came for his visit.”

Ruby started to protest, but Nathan stopped her by gently laying his hand across her arm.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m sure Rachel would love to see Beth. It’s a long way out here from Clover Creek, and I’m impressed that Rachel and her brother ride their horse into town every day for school. They’d probably both like to see Beth.”

While Nathan and Beth went inside the newly built farm house, Ruby and the rest of her sisters watered the horses and spread a couple of blankets on the ground near a small creek. Beth soon reappeared with Rachel and her brother, a tall boy toting a bucket of cool water and a dipper for the travelers. After everyone had a drink, the younger sisters went on a tour of the homestead.

Ruby and Cora lay on the blanket looking up at the pure blue sky and talking after the younger children took off. “Have you noticed that Nathan seldom talks about Tennessee?” Ruby asked. “Every time someone asks about his home state, he changes the subject.”

“Maybe something bad happened back in Tennessee,” Cora said. “He almost always has a melancholy look about him.”

Ruby rolled over and pulled a piece of clover out of the ground. She counted the leaves and saw only three, and then flipped the clover off to the side. “Perhaps. I wish I knew. I’ve seen him smile, but not a lot.” Ruby giggled, thinking about the warm feeling that had flooded through her when Nathan placed his hand on her arm just moments ago. “He has the cutest dimples when he does smile.”

“You’re the one smiling now,” Cora said, “just talking about him.”

“I know.” Ruby sighed, searching through the clover and pulling at another stem. “I wish I knew how to get that man to smile, especially when he fiddles. It’s obvious to the whole town that he loves to fiddle.” Then thinking of the dance in the evening, Ruby added, “I had so much fun accompanying him last week. I think he enjoyed it too, even though he had that sober look of his all evening. I wonder if he’ll smile tonight when we play.”

“If anyone can get the schoolteacher to smile, it’s you,” Cora said, and they both giggled.

“I hope so. Look! A four-leaf clover!” Ruby pulled the bright green clover from among a cluster near them and grinned.

“Nice,” Cora said as Ruby studied the tiny plant. “A four-leaf clover brings good luck to the person who finds it. I hope this one brings you good luck in getting Mr. Banks to smile when he fiddles.”

Ruby jumped up and pressed the clover against the floor of the wagon box, covering it gently with the blanket wrapped around the heavy rifle. “Let’s hope so,” she said, a dreamy tone to her voice. Then she lowered her voice to a whisper. “I hope he smiles at me.”

In less than an hour, Nathan returned to the wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen. He had a distinguished look in his countenance, but nary a smile.

“Thank you for coming all the way out here,” Mrs. Jorgensen said to Nathan as all the visitors climbed into the wagon. “It was so nice to hear how the children are doing in school.”

The Jorgensen family stood off to the side of the wagon and waved as the horses started for the main road. “They’re a really nice family,” Nathan said. “I’m so happy I got to talk with them today.”

Ruby’s heart went out to the schoolteacher. If he was so happy to talk to this family, why couldn’t he show his happiness by smiling? It was almost as if he was afraid to share his emotions with other people.

Baby Zillah kept Nathan and her aunts entertained once they arrived at Nellie’s house, trying to crawl on her hands and knees, but usually resorting to her belly. Ruby watched Nathan while they played with the baby and enjoyed Nellie’s good food. He seemed to lose some of his melancholy and enjoy himself when he was around her family, especially when he crossed one knee over the other and gave Zillah horsey rides on his ankle.

All too soon, it was time to harness the horses again and head home.

“See you at the dance tonight,” Nellie said, waving Nathan and her sisters off. “Evan and the rest of us will head out for the dance in a couple of hours. I can’t wait to hear the music tonight!”

This time, Nathan offered to take charge of the reins, and Ruby let him. She wondered what he thought of Nellie’s excitement to hear the music tonight. She couldn’t wait to accompany this timid fiddler. Excitement rushed through her at the thought. Did Nathan look forward to her accompaniment? She would give anything to know his feelings.

Fern and Beth, her two youngest sisters, had chosen to remain behind and ride into Clover Creek with Evan and Nellie. Cora had climbed into the back of the wagon with Alice and Zina, leaving Nathan and Ruby alone, sitting side by side on the wagon seat. Ruby removed her bonnet for the ride home as the sun was now behind them. She brushed a few tendrils of hair behind her ears, but a breeze had picked up, and they quickly broke free and flitted about her face again.

As the horses plodded along on the dirt road, and the harnesses rattled in rhythm, the travelers chatted amiably, enjoying the pure air and scenery once again. Ruby worked up her courage to ask Nathan about Tennessee again. But before she dared ask, they came across a brown bear off to the side of the road. The bear foraged for some kind of berries in a large bush. Ruby instinctively grabbed Nathan’s arm for a few seconds before reaching for the rifle at her feet. At the exact same time, a fierce scream went up from Cora and her sisters in the back of the wagon. The bear turned, looked their way as though annoyed, and then dropped to all fours, loping off in the opposite direction.

“Who needs a gun when you have three girls who can scream in harmony,” Nathan said, chuckling.

His grin was totally spontaneous, and the dimples in his cheeks made Ruby’s heart flutter.

Everyone laughed and talked excitedly as they continued on their way. The bear scare evidently had a giddy effect on all of them, including the schoolteacher. Ruby couldn’t help but wonder if her luck with getting the fiddler to smile had already changed.

The largest animal sighted for the rest of the trip home was an eight-point buck, followed by a trail of deer, but there was no more screaming. There were, however, constant giggles, laughter, and pleasant conversation for the rest of their journey.

4

Once the wagon reached the crossroads where Nathan had met Ruby and her sisters in the morning, Nathan brought the horses to a halt. “I’ll walk the rest of the way into Clover Creek,” he said. When it looked as if Ruby might protest, he insisted. “It’s not much further, and I’ll enjoy the walk.” He didn’t add that he wanted to give them all more time to get ready for the dance.

He handed the reins to Ruby, thanked her again for taking him to see his students, and hopped down from the wagon.

“Bye, Nathan,” the girls in the back of the wagon called out.

“Watch out for bear,” Cora called as the wagon moved away, and Nathan took off walking toward town. He chuckled at the memory of the girls screaming when they saw the bear, and of Ruby grabbing for his arm before she thought of the rifle. He liked that she reached out to him first.

Nathan walked along, whistling and swinging his arms until he came to a bridge over the creek. He stopped and listened as clear water bubbled along. Part of the creek was shallow enough for wading, and parts of it had deeper sections where trout most likely hid. Birds sang in the trees as Nathan stopped to enjoy the peaceful scene. He inhaled deeply of the sweet-smelling air. He wished he had time to wade in the cool water or drag out his fishing pole. It occurred to him that he should spend less time holed up in the schoolhouse, avoiding people, and at least get out in the country more. Perhaps he could start taking early morning walks before too many people were out and about.

Nathan wondered if Ruby and her sisters liked to fish, but he immediately dismissed the thought. He didn’t intend to pursue any further outings with the Gardner girls, especially Ruby. He was far from ready to take a chance on courting a young lady again. Especially one who played the organ with such passion, and who had the loveliest eyes and long blond curls that were tempting to touch.

When Nathan reached the schoolhouse, he was met by one indignant cat. Bo swished his tail menacingly, and narrowed his eyes as though indignant that he’d been left alone for so long. Nathan even offered Bo a can of sardines, but the cat flicked his ears in Nathan’s direction, and stalked off across the room.

“Bo, if you’d let me put you on a leash, I could take you with me,” Nathan said.

The cat arched his back as though that comment disgusted him.

“Okay, but you’re missing out. If you’d let me put you on a leash, I could show you the most beautiful place to go fishing.”

Even the mention of fish didn’t change Bo’s mood, so Nathan shrugged his shoulders and left the cat to sulk. He took a quick bath and changed into his trousers, white shirt, and vest for the dance. By the time he was ready, he heard footfalls in the schoolroom. Some of the men had come to help set up for the dance. Nathan opened the door into the schoolroom and motioned to Bo, giving the feline one last chance to change his mood. “Do you want to come and watch us set up for the dance?” he asked.

Bo gave Nathan an annoyed look and didn’t move.

“Okay, be that way,” Nathan said, walking into the schoolroom and shutting the door to the teacherage behind him. Within minutes, he and the men had the center of the large room cleared out and the desks and benches shoved to the walls. Soon the townsfolk started showing up, ready for the dance.

Nathan watched Ruby as he tuned his fiddle and warmed up with the bow. She greeted several of the townsfolk, and then, smiling, she took her place at the organ. Nathan’s somber facial expression had returned in the short time he’d been home. After spending such a pleasant day with Ruby and her sisters, his mood had changed in less time than it took to string a bow.

And it was all Bo’s fault.

Young women are as fickle as cats, Nathan thought. Friendly one day, and showing their claws the next. Ruby Gardner may be sweet and enchanting today, but tomorrow she might be as sulky and bad-tempered as Bo. He could not take a chance, even with someone as lovely and kind as the surveyor’s daughter.

Nathan had to admit that he’d had a wonderful day with Ruby and her sisters. He had loosened up and had even laughed and conversed amiably before they returned to Clover Creek. Even so, Bo’s attitude reminded him that he shouldn’t let down his guard. He and Emmeline had had many such enjoyable days together in the past, and Emmeline had still changed her affections at the last minute. Left him standing at the altar. His mood changed from stoic to sour. As Nathan glanced at Ruby’s enchanting face, he made a vow to protect his heart at all costs. He would leave his teaching position and continue on to Oregon if necessary.

Setting aside his thoughts, Nathan concentrated on his responsibilities to the dancers. Couples were on the floor, waiting for him to begin. Old-timers were sitting around watching him. People near the food table looked his way. Everyone waited for the fiddler. The time had come to forget his pathetic past and fiddle, but when he picked up his fiddle, the pain of the past gripped him like a table vise.

Nathan gave Ruby a searing look, silently placing a wall between them, and then struck the first note. He took off fiddling with such vigor and power that his heart pounded in his chest. He fiddled to forget Emmeline. He fiddled to forget the pitiful looks of the people in Tennessee. He even fiddled to see if he could lose Ruby, or if she’d give up on him.

Every so often, Nathan glanced at Ruby, wondering what thoughts were behind those fiery eyes of hers as her fingers flew over the organ keys and her feet pumped the pedals. No matter how fast he fiddled, she kept up. No matter how irregularly he played, she kept up. No matter how often he improvised, she kept up. It was almost as though she could read his mind. Something tangible grew between them the more they played, and he couldn’t deny it.

Nathan’s music was on fire, and he was deathly worried about his head and his heart.

They played full tilt for one dance after another until the air in the schoolroom became suffocating. The dancers whirled and twirled in dizzy mazes on the floor until Nathan brought his fiddle to a screeching halt. He pulled out his handkerchief and called for a break. It seemed to him that Ruby nearly collapsed with relief.

“Can I get you some cider?” Nathan asked, leaning close to her ear amid the clapping and hooting from the dancers. He suddenly felt like a bully. He was taking his conflicting emotions out on his fiddle, and therefore on his lovely accompanist. Ruby deserved to be treated with the utmost respect, not with his boorish disregard. She and her family had offered him nothing but kindness, and suddenly, Nathan felt dreadful.

“I would love some cider,” Ruby said, pulling a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wiping her brow. “And I could use some fresh air.”

After Bo’s spurning, Nathan had not intended to take his breaks with Ruby. But, since he had driven their playing so hard, he changed his mind. Looking after her, and making sure she was comfortable, was the least he could do.

It took forever to work through the crowd of revelers who all wanted to slap Nathan on the back and congratulate Ruby for keeping up with his wild fiddle playing. Extra benches had been pulled out of a storage shed, and Nathan found an empty one near the open doorway for them to sit on. Crisp, cool air greeted them, and an owl hooted as Nathan sat next to Ruby with a cup of cider for each of them.

“I sure wish Mr. and Mrs. Jones could have come tonight,” Ruby said after taking a long drink of her cider.

“I do too,” Nathan said. If Mr. Jones was where he belonged at the organ, none of this conflict going on in Nathan’s head would be happening. The Gardner family would simply be another nice family in the community, and Nathan would not be looking into Ruby’s blue eyes while they created music together. “I slipped over to check on Mr. Jones on my way home today, and Mrs. Jones said the doctor had been by. He’s asked that Mr. Jones wait one more week before he comes out to watch the dance, and several more weeks before he accompanies me on the organ.”

Ruby smiled that most charming smile of hers. It was almost as if she knew the very information he shared, and was pleased with it. “When I returned home from the valley earlier today,” she said, “I found that Belle had not only cleaned Mrs. Stribling’s house, but she had stopped by the Jones’s as well. She told me that Mr. Jones looked much better and looked forward to at least attending the dance next week.”

All through their break, people continued to congratulate them and tell them how fun their music was. Nathan wished everyone would leave them alone. Despite his vow, despite all the turmoil his heart was going through, he had to admit that he enjoyed Ruby’s company in more ways than just their music. He enjoyed sitting near her on the bench, and he enjoyed talking to her. He wanted to reach out and touch one of her curls that had come loose. As they finally stood to continue the dance, Nathan found himself looking forward to creating music with her again.

Nathan made another vow as he picked up his fiddle. He vowed that he would slow down his fiddling, and not take his frustrations out on the fiddle or on Ruby. He would treat Ruby with the respect and courtesy she deserved. She hadn’t said a word about their outing earlier in the day, and he wondered if she enjoyed the day as much as he had. Perhaps she was simply a kind and thoughtful person with an intense love of music, and didn’t have any feelings for him at all.

For some strange reason, that thought put a scowl back on Nathan’s face. He picked up his fiddle and bow, gave her another piercing look, and started to play.

When the evening finally came to a close, Nathan was sad to see the dance end. Everyone thanked him for fiddling and left for their homes, including the Gardner family. Once again, he had played with little emotion on his face, but a lot in his fingers.

Nathan sighed as he tenderly packed up his fiddle and bow. Something was terribly wrong with him, and he hated the inner turmoil that left him with a sense of suffocation. He had loved fiddling since he’d been a small boy and fiddled with his granddad. Now, because he let his broken heart reign over him, he fiddled with a vengeance instead of with pure heart and soul.

“What is wrong with me?” He whispered to himself. “Why can’t I enjoy my own music? Why can’t I enjoy my life?”

Nathan’s thoughts were like pouring salt into a wound. He didn’t like how he lived his life, but he didn’t know what to do about it.

After the schoolhouse emptied, a few men stayed behind and helped Nathan clean and prepare the room for church services in the morning. Nathan was exhausted by the time he entered the teacherage. He stripped off his boots and let the cool air reach his feet the second he sat down.

Not only had he walked most of the way to Ruby’s house and back earlier in the day, but he had stood on his feet for hours fiddling. He had also ridden out to the little valley on a terribly bumpy road. He thought that if he ever saved enough money, he would buy a horse and buggy to go about the countryside. A buggy, with springs, would be so much more comfortable than a bumpy wagon.

Leaning back in his chair, Nathan placed his weary feet on the table. Bo immediately leaped into his lap and settled on his chest, as though all was forgiven from earlier in the day.

“Did you miss me?” Nathan asked.

Bo gave him a cold stare, but then settled closer to Nathan’s chest.

“You know, I’m thinking about buying a buggy,” Nathan told the feline. “If I bought a buggy, I could rig some kind of cage on it for you, and then you wouldn’t have to stay home alone on days when I go visit students or maybe fishing. Of course, you’d make a fuss about being cooped up in a cage, and then, if I let you free somewhere, you’d take off. I know you, you old tomcat.”

Bo resettled himself, flicking his tail with a swift motion.

Nathan settled into the chair even more and stroked the feline’s fur. “Guess that’s why I shouldn’t buy a buggy. It’s all your fault, Bo.” As Nathan’s fingers lingered on Bo’s fur, he realized that if he bought a buggy, people might mistakenly think he was planning to court a young lady. He almost fell out of his chair at the thought! He couldn’t allow people to think that was happening.

He immediately gave up his buggy scheme.

Bo began to purr, and that finally encouraged Nathan to stand and stumble to his bed. He laid Bo on the bed and continued talking while he undressed. “I had a nice day while you stayed here and pouted,” Nathan said. “A really nice day. I miss carefree days like today with family and friends. What do you think, Bo? Do you think I’ll ever find happiness? Do you think I’ll ever have a loving family of my own?”

Bo purred. His ears didn’t even twitch.

Nathan crawled into bed and closed his eyes near the purring cat. He dwelt on the memory of sitting so close to Ruby that he smelled lavender in her hair, and of the sensation that traveled through him when they saw the bear and she reached for his arm.

“I never should have gone on that outing,” was the last thing Nathan whispered to Bo before he fell asleep.

5

The following morning, Nathan’s head ached from lack of sleep. His aching head reminded him of his vow to protect his aching heart. If he didn’t watch what he was doing and protect himself, he would get hurt all over again. Nathan was afraid to try for the very home and family he longed for. He had to stay away from Ruby Gardner and her family. He let his guard down and enjoyed himself too much when he was around them.

Nathan had prayed for a family of his own for years, but his prayers had never been answered. He wanted to turn away from God permanently, but he couldn’t quite do it. He clenched his jaw, knowing there was something inside of him that beckoned him toward faith and church in spite of God’s silence.

A cold bath stopped all thoughts of wishing for a family. Nathan quickly dressed in his best trousers and shirt and placed food and water in Bo’s dishes. “I know,” Nathan said to the feline. “I’m leaving you again. I’m a terrible person, and trust me, you’re not the only one who thinks so. But, I won’t be gone long today. I promise. No gallivanting around the countryside with anyone after church. I’ll come right back and we’ll take a nice long nap together.”

Bo lifted his head and looked at Nathan as though he didn’t believe a word he’d said. The cat turned his back and sauntered over to his food dish as Nathan slipped through the doorway to the schoolhouse.

Nathan helped Reverend Cary finish setting up for church. His eyes flashed toward the door every time someone entered the building. He held his breath when the Gardner family finally walked in. Ruby smiled at him. Her lovely blue eyes glowed, and her friendly nature caused sweat to break out on his forehead. How was he supposed to keep his vow to protect his heart when Ruby smiled at him like that?

Somehow, it had slipped Nathan’s mind that Ruby would play the organ for church again, and that his traitorous eyes, as if held in place by magnets, would focus on her loveliness throughout the services. When the services were over, he couldn’t remember one word of Reverend Cary’s sermon, let alone remember the vow he had taken to avoid Ruby and her family.

Before Reverend Cary left the podium, he added a bit of news. “We have a new family in the community,” the Reverend said. “As you know, the widow Anderson moved on to the Boise area to live with her daughter and son-in-law. A new family, the Walkers, came in yesterday evening to take over the Anderson homestead. The family, with six young children, could use a helping hand of fellowship this week if you are so inclined.”

I’ll walk out and visit them after school tomorrow, Nathan thought, wondering how many of the children would attend his school.

Nathan had almost made it through the door of the teacherage when Charlie Gardner caught up to him and clasped him on the shoulder.

“Would you like to have dinner with our family?” Charlie asked. “My pa wants to talk to you before we leave for our survey job tomorrow.”

“Who, me?” Nathan said, sounding idiotic even to himself. He couldn’t believe his ears. Here he had made a solemn vow to avoid Ruby and her family, and now Mr. Gardner wanted him to have dinner with them again. “I, ah, sure,” Nathan said, looking into the teacherage at one indignant cat.

“I’ll wait for you out here in the schoolroom,” Charlie said, slapping Nathan on the back, and then taking a seat on one of the benches. “Take your time. I’m not in a hurry, and dinner won’t be ready for a little while.”

“What on earth does Mr. Gardner want to talk to me about?” Nathan asked Bo once he had shut the door to the schoolroom.

Nathan would have sworn that Bo hissed disgustedly.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Nathan said. “I know I promised not to leave you alone again today, but it’s not my fault. It wasn’t my idea to have dinner with Ruby Gardner’s family again. And I can’t help it if I didn’t turn the invitation down. I’m afraid you’ve got a sorry specimen for your human.”

* * *

Ruby rode home from church with Nellie, Evan, and baby Zillah. Her three youngest sister’s rode with them in the back of the wagon. Her parents rode in the wagon behind them with Mrs. Stribling and Ruby’s other sisters. Mrs. Stribling often had Sunday dinner with Ruby’s family since her husband had passed away a few years ago. For several years in the past, Ruby had rolled her eyes at Mrs. Stribling’s bizarre behaviors. Now that Ruby was more mature, she found the older lady quite delightful with her eccentric ways.

Ruby wasn’t sure where Charlie went after the church services. Neither her brother or Nathan had shown up outside where people liked to congregate and chat for a while before dispersing to their various homes. She didn’t worry about Charlie, knowing he’d show up sooner or later when the food was ready.

Ruby did miss seeing Nathan though. After spending such a wonderful day with him yesterday, she had hoped to invite him to dinner today. The man’s moods were so unpredictable though. He became totally social around her family, but retreated into a dark place when he fiddled. Even though Nathan’s fiddling was lively and spirited, it almost seemed as if he didn’t really enjoy it. Was it because his grandfather taught him to fiddle, and now his grandfather had passed on? Why couldn’t the man realize what a beautiful heritage he had, and that his grandfather would want him to fiddle with joy?

Once Ruby arrived home, she quickly changed her clothes and went to help her mother in the kitchen. Meals were usually simple on Sunday: cold cooked beef or ham, potatoes that had roasted in Dutch ovens overnight, applesauce, pickles, bread, and always pies or a cake. The kitchen still smelled of blackberry pies that had been baked the night before and sat over on a sideboard in her mother’s pie safe.

There were so many helpers in the kitchen that Mrs. Gardner asked Ruby to go into the parlor and play hymns while the rest of the family finished getting the meal ready. Ruby did so gladly, especially because her youngest sisters were already in the parlor playing with baby Zillah. She could play hymns and enjoy the baby at the same time.

Ruby’s lips turned up pleasantly when she heard Nathan’s voice coming from the kitchen, but she kept playing. She was not inclined to rush into the other room to welcome him, although that’s exactly what she wanted to do. Her father would call her and the younger girls when dinner was ready, and that would be soon enough.

After a short time, she looked up to see Nathan standing in the parlor doorway, watching her intently and tapping his fingers on his lips. Her fingers trembled as they continued moving over the keys. She increased the volume slightly, hoping he couldn’t hear her heart pounding in her chest. She played until her father came into the parlor a few moments later and announced that dinner was ready.

The Gardner home was full of fun chatter and laughter as everyone took their seats around the huge dining room table. Ruby sat next to Mrs. Stribling and directly across the table from Nathan. She smiled at him, and he nodded in return. The chatter stopped when Mr. Gardner said, “Let us pray.” Heads bowed while he offered a blessing on the food and on his family and guests for the next few weeks. Soon the chatter started up again, along with the clatter of food being passed and silverware clinking against china.

Mr. Gardner welcomed Nathan and Mrs. Stribling and thanked them for coming to share the meal with his family. The conversation turned to a discussion about Reverend Cary’s sermon, and after that, about the beautiful fall weather they had been having, and the bountiful harvest they had been blessed with. When the meal ended, Mr. Gardner turned his attention to Nathan, while the younger girls started clearing the table.

“Thank you for coming out to talk with me on short notice,” Mr. Gardner said to Nathan. “As you probably know, Charlie and I leave first thing in the morning for our survey job. We’re meeting Evan at his house and the work we’ll do isn’t too far from his home. We’ll be gone for at least two or three weeks if all goes well, and we’ll camp in Nellie and Evan’s yard.”

“Cora and I are going too!” Alice said, slipping up behind her father. Her face fairly danced with excitement as she commented on helping Nellie cook for the survey crew.

“Yes, thankfully, you and Cora are going to look after us.” Mr. Gardner chuckled and placed his hand on his daughter’s arm. “We would be a sorry bunch of men out in the sagebrush if we didn’t take our renowned cooks with us.”

Alice giggled and took off, carrying a platter of leftover roast beef to the kitchen.

Mr. Gardner turned and addressed Nathan again. “Our closest neighbors, the Tanners, look after my family while we’re gone, but my wife is concerned about a mountain lion rumor she heard last night at the dance. Normally, my youngest daughters walk to school and back without any problems, but under the circumstances, I’d feel better if someone transported them every day.”

Nathan looked like he didn’t understand where the conversation was going. “Mr. Gardner, I’d be happy to help you if I could, but I don’t have a wagon or any way to transport your daughters.”

Mr. Gardner nodded. “Well, here’s my situation. I take most of my wagons and horses, on the survey trip. Normally, I leave one wagon at home for my wife and daughters, but someone ran the rear wagon wheel into a boulder this week, and now the wheelwright told me this morning that he won’t have the wheel repaired until late tomorrow afternoon.”

Ruby looked down and bit her lips to stop the giggles that threatened. She couldn’t stop the blush that crept across her face. After all, it was the first accident she’d had in all her years of driving the family wagon. She glanced up in time to see Nathan’s confused look turn into a smirk. He actually winked at her as though he knew it was she who ran the wagon wheel into the boulder.

Nathan’s face quickly returned to his stoic look. “You want me to pick up the wagon tomorrow, along with your girls, and bring them out here?” he asked.

Mr. Gardner cleared his throat, and smiled at his wife. “Well, yes, but more than that. You see, I’m no longer comfortable leaving my family behind when there have been mountain lion sightings. The blacksmith tells me that it’s more than a rumor. One of the farmers actually found a dead deer that had been drug up into one of the trees on the edge of his property. There were mountain lion tracks all around the tree. So, I’m wondering if you might pick up the wagon tomorrow, along with the girls, bring them out to the house, drive them back to school in the morning, and stay here with my family every night while I’m gone?”

“Stay with your family?” Nathan asked, his voice rising in timbre as if he doubted that he’d heard correctly.

Mrs. Stribling, who was known to be hard of hearing, apparently didn’t miss Mr. Gardner’s remarks. She covered her mouth and seemed to have a little coughing attack when Mr. Gardner nodded to Nathan.

Ruby wondered if she had heard correctly. Nathan stay with her family every night while her pa was gone? Her parents must be extremely concerned about the mountain lion threat. She could not believe her good fortune. If Nathan agreed to help, he would be living right under the Gardner roof for at least two or three weeks? Plenty of time to erase those somber looks of his and get him to smile when he fiddles.

“Yes, I’d like you to stay with my family every night if you’re willing,” Mr. Gardner said. “Mr. Jones speaks highly of you, and so does Reverend Cary. I need someone here that I can depend on. You can sleep in Charlie’s room and drive the younger girls into town for school each morning and back each afternoon. It would make my wife feel so much safer if there was a man in the house and helping the girls with the morning and evening outside chores. Is that asking too much?”

“No . . . no, of course not. It’s just that . . .”

“I’ll pay you for your time, of course, but I can’t leave town without knowing that someone capable is protecting my family.”

“I won’t accept any money from you, sir.”

“But you’ll do it?”

Ruby looked at Mrs. Stribling who was coughing again. Was the woman grinning under the napkin she held to her mouth?

“Certainly, sir. I’ll be happy to help your family.”

Ruby’s mother looked at Nathan kindly, and thanked him. All of Ruby’s sisters smiled brightly, the two youngest even dancing around the room and clapping.

Ruby wanted to dance around the room along with her sisters.

6

Monday morning dawned cool and crisp with low clouds mingling among splotches of blue sky. It had rained during the night, not enough to fill the road with mud puddles, but enough to give the air a refreshing cleanse. Ruby watched from the kitchen window as her father and Charlie harnessed the big work horses, hitched them to three supply wagons, and lined them up in front of the barn.

She couldn’t help thinking how bitter sweet her father’s survey jobs were. Even though this job was only in Aspen Valley where Nellie and Evan lived, the family had to split up for a few weeks. There just wasn’t enough time to travel back and forth each day. Separating the family the way they did when some went out on the survey, and some stayed to take care of the farm and home, wasn’t easy on anyone. But the income the survey jobs provided was a huge blessing to the Gardner family, especially during the years when they had had a poor harvest.

Ruby had taken her turn cooking for the survey crew over the years, but she preferred staying behind and helping her mother with the farm and home. This particular survey was unique because the survey was only in the next valley and the crew was camping on Nellie and Evan’s property. The whole crew planned to return home for the Saturday night dance and Sunday services except for Mr. Gardner and Charlie.

A smile spread across Ruby’s face as she helped clean the kitchen and kept glancing out the window. She still couldn’t believe her father had asked Nathan to drive the younger girls to and from school and stay overnight with the family while he was away. She placed her hands to her mouth, trying to suppress her smile before one of her sisters noticed her giddiness and commented about it. Or worse, Charlie would figure out exactly why she was so happy and tease her.

Once the chuck wagon was placed in back of the three survey wagons, and all the straps and buckles were double checked, Charlie strode through the kitchen door and announced that the crew was ready to leave. The whole family assembled outside not far from the wagons and eight snorting, pawing horses. Gunner, the family’s black and white border collie, added to the commotion, running around and sniffing everyone, yelping sometimes and whining the rest of the time.

“I know,” Mr. Gardner said, bending down to pet his dog. “You want to go, but I need you to stay here and look after the family.”

Gunner let out another yelp.

Mr. Garner stood and kissed his wife. After hugging Ruby, he said, “I know you’ll take good care of your ma and sisters. I can always count on you.”

“Thanks, Pa.” Ruby’s throat constricted and she barely got the words out. She hugged Cora and Alice, nearly crying as she did so. She didn’t always get along with either of them, but she loved them dearly and suddenly realized how much she would miss them while they were gone. She hugged her three younger sisters since they were riding into town with the survey crew. She even gave Charlie a hug, to his surprise. Her brother could be an impossible tease at times, but she loved him dearly.

The combination of more than half of her family departing and the elation of Nathan coming to stay in their home brought tears to Ruby’s eyes. Life could be so complex, and she blinked several times, trying unsuccessfully to keep the tears from falling.

Within minutes, those who were leaving climbed into the wagons and the horses leaned into their harnesses, plodding down the road toward town. Those left behind waved until the survey crew was long down the road.

Ruby held onto Gunner until the wagon was out of sight. As she returned to the farm house, her thoughts turned to Nathan. She envied Zina, Fern, and Beth. They got to spend almost every day with Nathan in the schoolroom, watching his every move, enjoying the light in his eyes. She knew he smiled a lot in the classroom from listening to her besotted little sisters talk about him. But then she grinned, remembering that Nathan was bringing them home later in the day. Maybe, after staying with her family for days on end, he would smile more readily around her too.

She couldn’t wait.

Once Mrs. Gardner was back in the kitchen, she turned to Belle, and Ruby. It was obvious that she had been crying. “Do you think Nathan would take us to welcome that new family when he gets home with your sisters this afternoon?”

“I’m sure he would!” Ruby gave her mother a hug, and tried to stifle her excitement. The plan to welcome the new neighbors thrilled her. Even though she was excited about Nathan staying with them each evening, she felt a little nervous about what she would say to him. Fellowshipping the new family sounded perfect because they’d have plenty to talk about as they made their plans. “Besides, if Nathan takes us to see the neighbors,” she added, “it would qualify as an official visit from their new schoolteacher.”

“That’s exactly what I thought,” Mrs. Gardner said. “Let’s start baking. What sounds good to welcome the new family?”

Mrs. Gardner, Ruby, and Belle spent the day baking cinnamon rolls and apple pie. The house filled with the sweet aroma of warm cinnamon and apples. The work kept Ruby from dwelling on how empty the house felt with half of her family gone. She also didn’t have time to dwell on how many hours until Nathan brought her younger sisters home. Energy seemed to course through her, and while the cinnamon rolls and pies baked, she helped her mother and Belle clean the kitchen and most of the house.

Ruby gladly offered to clean Charlie’s room, which was certainly a first for her. She gave her brother’s room an extra good cleaning, knowing Nathan was going to spend each night there. By the time she finally heard Gunner barking and the family wagon rattling up the road toward their house, her nerves had turned into a jumble. Would Nathan talk to her while he stayed in their home? What would she say to him. He was spending every night for several weeks, and she still couldn’t believe it was happening.

* * *

Nathan and the younger girls sat at the kitchen table eating cinnamon rolls when Ruby walked into the room. She paused for only a moment, and then smiled. This amazing sight was to be hers for the next few weeks.

The savory aroma of a shepherd’s pie baking in the oven filled the house, and Mrs. Gardner asked about going to welcome the new neighbors. “The new family live less than a mile away,” Mrs. Gardner said, “but we’ll have to hurry in order to go there and return home before dark.”

Everyone looked at Nathan as if they needed his approval for the plan. He had just stuffed his mouth with the last of his cinnamon roll, but he nodded. He even smiled, the kind of smile one does when one’s mouth and cheeks are full. After he swallowed, Nathan offered his own version of how to welcome a new family to the community.

“When a new family moved into the area where I grew up, our family would go serenade them,” Nathan said. “My parents dragged all us kids over to the neighbor’s home and expected us to sing our hearts out. Of course, we were a singing family, so everyone loved to participate.”

“I want to go serenade the new family!” Zina yelled.

Zina’s enthusiasm made Ruby chuckle. She had heard the new family had a boy about Zina’s age.

In less than an hour after reaching Ruby’s home, Nathan was back on the wagon seat, this time with Mrs. Gardner and Ruby squeezed in beside him and the three younger girls in the back with cinnamon rolls and pies.

“What shall we sing?” Zina asked.

“You all know Keep on the Sunny Side, don’t you?” Nathan asked.

“Yes!” the girls chorused.

“How about The Cat Came Back?”

“Yes!” the girls chorused again.

“That’s a good one. What about Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder?”

The girls hooted and hollered at that suggestion. They wanted to sing about the overalls in the chowder despite the fact that they’d never heard of the song.

“Okay, if I can remember the words, I’ll teach it to you,” Nathan said. “It’s about a lady who served chowder at her party, and then fainted after finding a pair of worn out overalls in the bottom of the chowder pot.”

“I love the chowder song,” Fern cried.

“So, do we learn who threw the overalls in the pot?” Ruby asked, grinning at Nathan.

“None of the guests.” Nathan winked at her and turned toward the girls in the back of the wagon. “It seems that earlier in the day, Mrs. Murphy put the overalls in the pot to wash them, and forgot about them. Then she made the chowder in the same pot.”

The wagon rocked with Mrs. Gardner and all the girls laughing hysterically. They practiced singing all the songs the rest of the way to the new neighbors. They especially sang the chowder song with vigor.

When they reached the Walker homestead, their voices were almost worn out from laughing and singing, but everyone was excited about one more round for the neighbors. They found Mrs. Stribling at the Walker home, along with Mr. and Mrs. Jones. They were standing in front of Mrs. Stribling’s carriage handing over baked goods and a deep dish of something that smelled wonderful.

“Well, Nathan, I see you have a new family,” Mrs. Stribling said as he and the Gardner family climbed down from their wagon. “It’s about time.”

Color rose to Nathan’s face, and Ruby felt embarrassed for him. Mrs. Stribling’s comments could be shocking. The new family certainly appeared to appreciate the outspoken woman though.

“I convinced the Joneses here that a ride in the country air would be good for them,” Mrs. Stribling said. She beamed proudly. “But we won’t stay. I’m not wanting to over tax anyone, least of all the Joneses or myself.”

“Don’t you want to hear us sing?” Beth cried out. “We practiced our songs to serenade everyone all the way over.”

“Well then, we wouldn’t think of leaving yet.” Mrs. Stribling beamed and raised her brows toward the Joneses. “Who wouldn’t want to stay for a serenade?”

Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones spoke out in agreement, and the younger Gardner children cheered.

Everyone stood around in the crisp fall air, smelling ripe apples and damp leaves in the orchard nearby. The singers launched into their serenade, singing with gusto as Nathan led them through each song. Ruby couldn’t help noticing that Nathan radiated joy like she had never seen in him before. He is a genuinely happy person deep inside, she thought. Something truly devastating must have happened to dampen his spirit so.

The last song in the serenade, Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder, brought howls of laughter and enthusiastic applause from the entire Walker family and from Mr. and Mrs. Jones. The song brought out a grimace from Mrs. Stribling when it was revealed how the overalls got in the chowder pot, but soon, she laughed too.

Nathan led the singers in a bow, as though to thank the Walkers and their guests for listening and applauding. Ruby watched his buoyant face. It was as though he stepped beyond whatever grieved him for this moment in time.

The sight brought tears to Ruby’s eyes.

Nathan glanced at her as she swiped at her tears. Something almost magical passed between them in that moment. Ruby wasn’t sure what happened, but her heart raced and she saw Nathan’s lips curve into the most tantalizing smile.

“Be sure to come to the Saturday night dance!” Mrs. Stribling called out to the Walker family as she and the Joneses climbed back into her carriage. “Our dance has the best fiddler and organ player in the west!”

Mrs. Stribling’s loud voice broke the spell Ruby found herself under, and she quickly joined her family in waving as the carriage departed, and in saying farewell to the Walker family. Mrs. Gardner hugged her new neighbor and said they wanted to get home before dark . They had outside chores to take care of and supper to eat when they returned home.

The contented group sang softly most of the way home until Fern spoke up.

“It’s getting dark,” Fern said. “What if we see that mountain lion Pa talked about?”

Nathan pointed to a blanket that lay rolled up at his feet. Ruby had noticed the rolled blanket on the way over to the Walker’s. She felt the blanket now and sure enough it was rolled around a rifle. “Nathan has a rifle by his feet,” she said. “So, we’re safe. If that old mountain lion comes around, Nathan will scare him off.”

“Do you know how to shoot?” Fern asked, addressing Nathan.

He laughed for a small moment, and then answered. “I’m from Tennessee. Every Tennessee boy is brought up to hunt and shoot. Actually, most of the girls too. I’ve been told a few girls around here know how to shoot as well.”

Mrs. Gardner patted Nathan’s arm. “I’m glad you thought to bring your rifle,” she said. “I should have thought about coming home so late, and brought one of my husband’s rifles.”

“It all turned out fine,” Nathan said. “When we got to your house earlier, I figured I’d bring in my things after dinner. But, then when you suggested welcoming the Walker’s, I knew there was a reason why I left my rifle in the wagon. And anyway, here we are to your home, and we didn’t need it.”

After they ate their supper, Nathan, Ruby, and Belle went out to milk the cow, feed the pigs, and chickens, and make sure that everything around the farm was taken care of. Because the harvest had already been taken in and sold, canned, or stored in the cellar, the outside work was accomplished in no time. When they returned to the house, Mrs. Gardner and the younger girls had finished cleaning the kitchen and stored the leftover pies in the pie safe. The cinnamon rolls were gone.

Everyone settled in the parlor, and Nathan asked the younger girls to share what they had learned in school that day. Fern and Beth seemed a little shy, reciting in front of the schoolteacher in their own parlor. But Zina was quick to entertain everyone with her adventures in geography earlier that day, namely facts about a country called China. Once the recitations were over, there wasn’t even a lull in the conversation before Nathan asked Ruby if she would play the organ for them.

“Did you bring your fiddle?” Ruby asked in response.

“No, but I will tomorrow, if you’d like. You haven’t had enough of my fiddle playing by now?”

Ruby blushed. She hadn’t. She didn’t think she would ever tire of listening to him fiddle. And she thought it would be delightful to hear him play something calm and relaxing in their home before bedtime. She assumed he could play calm and relaxing music, but she wasn’t sure.

“I’ll play the organ,” Ruby said, “but we’ll want to hear you play something tomorrow night.”

For the rest of the week, the evening routine followed the same pattern. Mrs. Gardner and the younger girls cleaned the kitchen and made preparations for the next school day. Nathan, Ruby, and Belle took care of the outside chores. Then everyone listened to Ruby play the organ, and Nathan play his fiddle. Sometimes they played solo, but they often played a duet.

The music they chose varied from classical, popular, or hymns. Their selections were always something romantic and relaxing. Even though Ruby tried to look at anyone in the room except Nathan, she felt as if the two of them communicated on a special level when they played the organ and fiddle together. She found that as each evening progressed throughout the week, they not only played beautiful music together, but it was as if they drew closer and closer through their music.

Somehow, tender sentiments were communicated that were never expressed in any other way.

* * *

Early Saturday morning, Ruby bundled up in warm clothes and a heavy shawl to help Nathan attend to the animals and milk the cow. Her youngest sisters stayed snuggled in their beds. Nathan placed a cap on his head and wore an extra flannel shirt and followed her. Mrs. Gardner and Belle were getting a fire started in the cookstove and starting to prepare breakfast.

“Did you hear Gunner barking last night?” Ruby asked as she milked the cow and Nathan mucked out one of the empty stalls. She had already done enough work that her shawl had come off and hung on a peg.

“I did,” Nathan said. “I thought I’d take a look around this morning as soon as it’s light.”

“Gunner seldom barks without a good reason,” Ruby said.

By the time they finished milking the cow, gathering eggs, and making sure all the animals had food and water for the day, a reddish sunrise filled in the eastern sky. Ruby wrapped up in her shawl again, and she and Nathan walked around the barn and other outbuildings, looking for anything amiss. Gunner ran ahead of them and found a spot near the corral where he sniffed and barked excitedly. Ruby and Nathan hurried over and examined the ground.

“Mountain lion,” Nathan said.

“Are you sure?” Ruby asked. She knelt by a set of large prints in the dirt. “Could it be a big dog?”

Nathan placed his hand by the paw prints. “It would have to have been a huge dog,” he said, pointing out Gunner’s paw prints as the dog sniffed around. “See how much bigger this print is than Gunner’s? And there’s no claw or paw marks. Mountain lions retract their claws unless they’re using them.”

Ruby let out a shudder. “We’d better make sure the younger girls stay in the house until we leave for town.”

“Good idea,” Nathan said, taking Ruby’s hand and helping her stand. “We’ll secure the animals and leave Gunner in charge when we leave. Gunner’s a smart dog and pretty alert. He’ll protect the place. I know your ma wants to leave early and take care of some errands she has in town. I need to take care of a few things for school next week and help set up for the dance.”

At the mention of the dance, Nathan gave Ruby’s hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. And then he gave her one of his stoic looks. Ruby was already reeling from the touch of his hand holding hers. His piercing dark eyes looking into hers, made her heart feel even more faint. She turned and started walking back to the barn, but then a thought suddenly came to her mind and she stopped, causing Nathan to bump into her. “Sorry,” Ruby said, turning and finding him uncomfortably close, “but I was just thinking . . .”

“About what?” Nathan asked.

“Well, about the dance.”

“What about the dance?” Nathan’s voice suddenly grew softer, his eyes even more intense.

“Well, I really like playing accompaniment for you, but why don’t you . . .”

Nathan’s hand moved to Ruby’s arm and rested there. The warmth of his hand flooded through her, making her heart feel weaker and making it difficult to speak.

“Why don’t I what?” Nathan asked, gently placing his other hand on her other arm.

“I . . . I . . .” She stood there and looked up into those dark eyes of his that were so close, and completely forgot what she intended to say. Finally, she whispered. “Are you going to kiss me?”

“May I?”

When she continued to stare into his eyes, he brushed her lips with his. When she closed her eyes, he kissed her with a passion that only their music could come close to.

The kiss lasted for several impossible to believe moments before Ruby heard the screen door bang shut and someone running toward the barn.

“Hey, Ruby,” came a holler from Beth. “Breakfast is ready!”

7

All the way into Clover Creek, Nathan avoided looking at Ruby. What had he been thinking? He hadn’t been thinking, at least not with any common sense. It was simply the nearness of her and the touch of her hand that caused him to lose control of his mind and kiss her. The kiss was heavenly, but not what he should have done. He berated himself over and over. He could not let all the enjoyable company of the past week with Ruby and her family cloud his thinking. He had to protect his heart. And there was no doubt in Nathan’s mind that Mr. Gardner would not approve of his actions with Ruby. The man had trusted his family to Nathan’s protection, had trusted his daughters to Nathan’s protection, and what had Nathan done?

Regret and apprehension filled him to overflowing. Helping the Gardner family had not been a good idea and now, he had made things worse.

Nathan dropped Mrs. Gardner and her daughters off at the general store. “I’ll leave the wagon here for you and walk on over to the schoolhouse,” he told Mrs. Gardner, not quite looking the woman in the eye. “That way you can make your purchases and have them loaded for you. You’ll have the wagon for any other errands you might have.”

“Thank you for all you’ve done,” Mrs. Gardner said. “I truly appreciate you looking after our family. You’re a fine young man.” She patted Nathan’s arm. “The girls and I will do our shopping and then we have a few people to visit. We’ll see you tonight at the dance.”

Nathan cringed at Mrs. Gardner’s words of appreciation. If she knew what Nathan had done, she wouldn’t think so highly of him. He glanced at Ruby for the first time since they’d left her family’s homestead. Her eyes quickly looked away, as if she was hurt by his actions. But, was she hurt because he had taken advantage and kissed her? Or was she hurt because she liked his kiss, and felt confused because he had ignored her from that moment on?

Nathan knew the answer, and he couldn’t bear to look at Ruby again. She had enjoyed the kiss, as much as he had. There was no doubt in his mind, but now what? He was terrified of what was happening to his heart. He didn’t want to set himself up to get hurt again, but more importantly, he didn’t want to hurt Ruby.

Nathan turned and bolted toward the schoolhouse. Once inside, he scooped Bo into his arms and sat at the table. Obviously Ruby wasn’t the only one offended by Nathan’s actions because Bo swatted at him and wiggled out of his arms. The cat sauntered across the table and looked back as if to say, “You brute. You leave me alone for hours and hours, and then expect me to be your listening ear when you show up.” After the scathing look, Bo jumped to the floor and stalked off toward Nathan’s bed.

“I’m sorry, Bo,” Nathan said, scrubbing his hand through his hair. “What can I say? I’m not trying to ignore you. You’ve had free reign in the schoolhouse with me and the children all week, and that suited your fancy. But I have to spend the night at the Gardner’s every night. It’s my job to protect them. I don’t like leaving you all alone every night.”

Nathan sighed deeply before continuing. “Can’t you understand, Bo. I’m only trying to help Mr. Gardner with his family, and I’m doing a terrible job for him and as well as with you. I’m just a failure as a human, which you’ve already figured out.”

Bo jumped onto the bed as easily as he had jumped off the table. His ears lay flat against his head, and he gave Nathan a look that said he was either angry or utterly bored. After another few moments, the cat turned his head to one side with that air of superiority that he sometimes portrayed.

“I know,” Nathan said. “You would never be so callous with a young lady as I have. Ruby is the most genuine person I know, and I’ve trifled with her feelings.”

Bo yawned.

“I’ve hurt her, and I feel terrible about it!”

Bo yawned again.

“What should I do, Bo? I’m not ready to follow through with what would be proper and ask for her hand in marriage. I’m a failure at marriage, or at least the initial part where a man and his bride actually follow through and get married.”

Bo kneaded the covers on Nathan’s bed. What sounded like mad purrs emanated from him, after he curled up on the covers and closed his eyes. It looked as though he had heard enough pitiful words from Nathan.

Nathan longed to curl up on the bed and sleep too. Anything to stop the deploring thoughts flooding his brain. He came from a poor family, but a principled family. His parents had taught him to treat people with respect, especially young ladies.

“Should I move on to Oregon?” Nathan asked in a plaintive voice.

Bo lay perfectly still.

“Am I obligated to propose and see what happens when Mr. Gardner gets home?”

Nathan shuddered. “I can’t propose, Bo. What if I proposed and Ruby accepted, and then she left me standing at the altar again because that’s what I deserve? Besides, she probably despises me by now, and wouldn’t accept my proposal if I got down on both knees. I need to do the right thing, Bo. But what is the right thing anyway?”

Purring was the only response.

With a sigh, Nathan placed his feet on the table, closed his eyes, and leaned back. He hoped a short nap might clear his mind so he’d know what to do. Later, when he heard clomping around on the schoolhouse floor, he sprang to his feet and ran his hands through his hair. He had slept far too long, and sure enough, men from the community were setting up for the dance.

The lingering nap and quick awakening certainly cleared thoughts of Ruby from Nathan’s mind. He hurried to help the other men push the double wooden desks against the walls. Two long benches were placed in front of them for the townsfolk who wanted to simply sit and enjoy the dance. Two extra benches were brought in from a rickety old storage shed and placed off to one side. Within a few minutes, spiders warming up under the benches dropped to the floor and scurried into the nearest available cracks.

Nathan pushed his desk against the front wall over near the organ. His chair and a visitor’s chair were placed on either side of the wood-burning stove. Even though it was a crisp fall evening, the stove wasn’t lit. Heat from the men working to set up for the dance had already warmed the room. When the dancing started, the room would get even warmer.

The men barely had everything in place before people started arriving. Nathan returned to the teacherage to change his clothes and pick up his fiddle. While he changed, Bo brushed against his leg, apparently having gotten over his earlier temper tantrum.

“I love you, too,” Nathan said to Bo. “You are the ficklest feline I’ve ever known. If I could learn how to please you, perhaps I could learn how to please a young lady enough that she’d follow through and marry me.” Nathan reached down and stroked Bo’s back. “I don’t seem to do anything right.”

Bo curled around Nathan’s leg, his tail the last connection to Nathan before he slinked off to his food dish that Nathan had just filled.

Nathan wondered if Ruby would even show up to accompany him after he had avoided her on the ride into town. He started to worry that she might leave him to fiddle on his own, just as Emmaline and the banjo player had. He rubbed the back of his neck. The more he thought about the possibility that Ruby wouldn’t show, the more sweat broke out all over him.

Before Nathan opened the schoolhouse door, he scooped Bo into his arms and buried his face in the cat’s fur. “I’ll be back,” he whispered.

Bo settled against Nathan’s chest for a few moments. It was as though all was forgiven and they were best friends again.

A huge sigh of relief escaped Nathan’s chest when he entered the schoolhouse and saw Ruby standing by the organ talking to her sisters. He hoped she planned to accompany him. He still couldn’t be sure. The whole Gardner family, including the oldest daughter, Nellie and her family, were in attendance. All of them, that is, except for Charlie and Mr. Gardner.

Another sigh of relief escaped Nathan when he thought of Mr. Gardner’s absence. He remembered that Ruby’s father and brother were staying behind in Aspen Valley to look after the survey equipment. Nathan wasn’t ready to face the man yet, but he knew the moment of reckoning was coming. That thought made his stomach clench so tight, he could hardly breathe. Once again, he was in a grim mood for fiddling.

Nathan donned his most stoic expression as he greeted some of the townsfolk who had come early. He thanked them for coming and expressed his hope that they would enjoy the dance. He went over to his desk which had been turned into the refreshment table and took a long drink of cool water from the water bucket. The cookies and pie didn’t even tempt him. He couldn’t eat a thing.

Replacing the long-handled ladle, Nathan turned to see Mrs. Stribling and another older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jamison, enter the schoolroom.

Mrs. Stribling waved to Nathan and rushed to his side. “I’m so excited to hear you fiddle, Mr. Banks. Your accompanist spent some time at my house this afternoon getting ready for tonight. What a beautiful young lady she is. I hope you appreciate how lucky you are to have her. This is bound to be a night to remember.”

Nathan nodded to Mrs. Stribling, pretending to agree with her. He hoped the night wouldn’t be a night to remember. He just wanted it to be an ordinary Saturday night dance that went smoothly. Nothing too exciting or out of the ordinary. Then he could escort the Gardner family home and collapse into Charlie’s bed. The moment he thought about escorting the Gardner family home, though, his heart beat increased. He had only been looking after Mr. Gardner’s family for one week and he had already botched everything. He didn’t know how he could handle living under the same roof with Ruby Gardner for another few weeks.

He turned to face the young woman who already had such a powerful grip on his heart. Ruby did look different from when they had ridden into town earlier. More beautiful than ever in an off-white lacy blouse and a blue skirt that matched her eyes. Her hair was pulled high on her head, and long blond curls cascaded down her back. She smiled pleasantly as she talked to the townsfolk. Ruby is always pleasant, he thought. And always beautiful.

Nathan walked across the room and stood next to Ruby. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“I’m ready.” There was something mysterious in her eyes. Was it resentment? Was it devotion? No, it couldn’t be devotion, he thought. I’m surprised she’s speaking to me.

Nathan told her the name of the piece he planned to start with, warmed up his fiddle, and then unleashed a seemingly effortless stream of notes. Ruby’s fingers flew across the organ keys, her feet working the pedals. When he moved the bow faster; her fingers moved faster. When he changed the direction of the bow; she changed the direction of her fingers. When he crunched the bow against the strings, creating a raw scraping sound that took that particular tune to a new level; she belted out the chords to match. No matter where he went with his fiddling, she complemented his music with the organ.

The dancers whirled, their feet a blur on the schoolroom floor while Mr. Jepson did the calling. The fiddler and the organ player played for contra, step, and square dancing. All the while Nathan kept his starchy face, almost as if his fingers loved the music, but his heart didn’t. At last Nathan slowed his fiddle to a screeching halt. He had fiddled for nearly an hour, and he was worn out. He figured Ruby and Mr. Jepson were worn out too.

“Can I get you some cider?” Nathan asked.

“Thank you,” Ruby gasped, placing her hand over her heart. “I would love some cider, and I’d like to take it outside in the fresh air.”

Once outside, they found Mr. and Mrs. Jones being helped out of a wagon.

“I heard you playing when we pulled up,” Mr. Jones said, shaking Nathan’s hand. Then he kissed Ruby lightly on her cheek. “Bravo to you both! The town won’t want me back after hearing the two of you play together. Your tempo has increased exponentially, Mr. Banks. Even I didn’t know you could fiddle so fiercely.”

Nathan ducked his head. He looked at Mr. Jones and pursed his lips, not knowing what to say. He couldn’t very well say, “I’ve made a bungle of my life again, sir, and I’m fiddling like a fool, trying to forget all the ways I’ve messed up.”

Ruby hugged Mrs. Jones. “This town will always want to dance to your organ music, Mr. Jones,” she said. “And to hear you play the hymns on Sundays.”

“Well, maybe you’re right about the folks wanting me to play for the dances,” the older man said, chuckling. “After you two wear everyone out with your music, they might welcome a slower pace from a geezer like me.”

He and Mrs. Jones started to go into the schoolhouse. “I heard there was pie here tonight,” Mr. Jones said, turning back with a twinkle in his eyes. “Thought I’d come and see for myself.”

* * *

Ruby and Nathan sat on an empty bench that someone had conveniently placed not too far from the schoolhouse steps. Ruby took several sips of cider. She needed the cool refreshment after their intense playing, and she needed to stretch her tired legs from frantically pumping on the organ pedals. Even though it was cold, she didn’t need her shawl. She couldn’t quit thinking of how tender, Nathan’s kiss had felt earlier in the day, how passionate and enjoyable. After the kiss, she had thought the rest of the day and evening would be the happiest time of her life. She had been confident that she and Nathan would be smiling at each other while they played music together for the dance.

Ruby didn’t understand the man beside her, but she couldn’t quit thinking about him. All too soon after their kiss, Nathan had acted aloof, like he was embarrassed or regretful. Why had he ignored her all the way into town? Why was he fiddling with such a stone face again tonight? Didn’t their kiss mean anything to him?

She didn’t know whether to ignore Nathan as he was ignoring her, or to reassure him in some way that she treasured their kiss. That she yearned for more. That she’d been in love with him since she’d first heard him fiddle when she was only seventeen.

Ruby wanted to talk to Nathan, but more and more people came forward to congratulate them on their music as they sat together, sipping cider and enjoying the crisp evening air. Ruby wished they could have at least a few moments alone so that she might speak to him. She wasn’t sure what she would say, but she wanted to find out why he was so relaxed and comfortable around her family, but grim and forbidding when he fiddled. And now that he’d kissed her, why was he acting more withdrawn than ever?

“I have never danced so fast in my life!” one young lady said to Ruby and Nathan, her voice spilling over with laughter as she and her dance partner stopped to talk. “You two are the most fun!”

“Enjoyed your fiddling!” someone called out as they walked by. “Looked forward to Saturday night all week long.”

A young boy around seven or eight years old ran up to Nathan. “I love your fiddle music!” he said. “I want to fiddle like you someday!”

Ruby watched Nathan’s face as people spoke to him. He nodded, sometimes waved a hand, and occasionally smiled, but his smile stayed formal and stoic. The only truly happy smile he parted with was when the little boy ran up and said he wanted to fiddle like Nathan someday. “Can I ask you a question?” Ruby said quickly when they seemed to have a moment without anyone talking to them.

“Sure,” Nathan said, but his face immediately filled with concern.

“Why don’t you smile when you fiddle? Is it because your grandpa passed away and he’s the one who taught you?”

“No . . . I . . . something happened . . .” Nathan shook his head and quit talking.

Ruby waited a moment, and when he didn’t speak she opened her mouth to reassure him that she cared about him. But Mrs. Stribling and Mrs. Jamison came outside and promptly sat on the bench beside Ruby, sitting so close that they forced Ruby closer to Nathan. Ruby could feel tension in his arm. For a moment, she worried he might stand up and leave, but he simply nodded to the ladies and took another drink of his cider.

“Lovely, lovely dance,” Mrs. Stribling said. “The townsfolk love your music. You have a way of bringing joy into the lives of everyone in attendance.” She leaned over and whispered in Ruby’s ear. “You should marry that man. You two will make beautiful music together for the rest of your lives . . . and beautiful babies too.”

Ruby cringed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She felt herself turn several shades of red. Thankfully the sun had set over the western hills so no one could see the details of her face. She hoped no one had heard Mrs. Stribling, but kept her eyes focused on the ground in case they had.

Ruby didn’t dare look Nathan’s way, hoping he hadn’t heard, but afraid that he had. Mrs. Stribling generally talked loudly. Even her whispers were never true whispers.

“How’s your sister, Mrs. Stribling?” Ruby quickly asked, trying to divert the woman from any more startling statements about marriage and babies. “Have you had any letters lately?”

“Well, I happen to have gotten one today!” Mrs. Stribling replied. She pulled the latest letter from her pocket and slid the paper out of the envelope. “Oh, phooey, I don’t know if I can see to read. My eyes are weak, and it’s getting dark.”

“May I try?” Ruby asked. Anything to keep Mrs. Stribling from going back to the subject of Nathan and Ruby and babies.

Mrs. Stribling happily placed the letter into Ruby’s hands. “I’d love to have you read my letter,” she said. “I’ve read it fifty times today, but I’d like to hear it from your lips.”

“My dear sister, Rolla,” Ruby read. She held the paper up to what light was left. “I loved your last letter, as I always do. It was so good to hear of the doings in Idaho. I know you enjoy your life way out there, but I do wish I could see your lovely face sometime.”

Mrs. Stribling interrupted Ruby by laying her hand on Ruby’s arm. “She hasn’t seen my face for nearly five years. It’s not as lovely as it once was. Wrinkles everywhere!” Everyone who was outside taking in the fresh air couldn’t help hearing Mrs. Stribling as her voice carried around the schoolyard. Ruby noticed that Belle and Cora stood a little way off, giggling quietly.

Ruby kept reading. “Must I fight my way across the continent to see you again? I am getting older by the minute and wish we could have a day or two to spend time together. My eyes are getting weak, and my hearing is bad, as is yours. We might have to sit across the table from each other and shout. Still, I wish we could visit as we have so much more to catch up on than what one can put in a letter.”

There was more, but it was simply too dark to read further.

“Ah . . .” Mrs. Stribling said, her voice soft for the first time that evening. She retrieved her letter and placed it back into her pocket. “Thank you, my dear. What a lovely way to end the evening for me.” She suddenly straightened her back. “Oh, except the evening hasn’t ended yet, has it? It’s just begun! Mr. and Mrs. Jamison brought me tonight, and they are taking me home in a little while. You young folks can party on through the night, but we older folks, we need our beauty rest.”

Mrs. Stribling leaned around Ruby and addressed a question to Nathan. “Are you coming inside soon?”

When Nathan nodded, Mrs. Stribling stood. “Good enough,” she said. “Come, Mrs. Jamison. We seemed to have lost your husband.” The two ladies hurried back into the schoolhouse, giggling as though they were after one more piece of pie.

Ruby dared to look at Nathan after they left. His stern eyes faced straight ahead, his back, ramrod stiff. Not a blink, not a smile came from him.

Surely he had heard Mrs. Stribling speak of marriage and babies.

“I’m sorry about Mrs. Stribling,” Ruby said, feeling completely flustered all over again. “She’s really a very dear lady, but . . .”

Nathan stood up. “We need to get back to the dance,” he said through tight lips.

8

Nathan was horrified that Mrs. Stribling had made reference to he and Ruby marrying and having babies. Of all the bizarre things. He was embarrassed for Ruby too, but hardly knew what to say to her. He had to quit being seen with her before other people started making wild assumptions about them. Even though Ruby Gardner played music like a virtuoso, and was the loveliest young woman he had ever met, he couldn’t think of marrying her. He couldn’t think of marrying anyone. That horrific picture came to his mind of standing at the altar with the preacher, friends, and family, gathered around, but with no bride anywhere.

Oregon wouldn’t be far enough away if he was ever left standing at the altar again.

Ruby had asked him why he didn’t smile when he fiddled. He could never tell her that although he loved to fiddle, every time he did, he relived the hurt of that night back in Tennessee. He couldn’t bear to think about it, let alone share his feelings about it.

The memory still made his stomach churn.

Before Nathan and Ruby made it back inside the schoolhouse, Nathan heard the beginning of Mr. Jamison and some other old-timers hamboning. They slapped and patted their arms, legs, chest, and cheeks, starting out softly, the rhythm steady and fun. The men slowly increased the tempo, and Nathan realized what was happening.

Mrs. Stribling’s voluminous voice reached his ears. The conniving woman stood near the organ and announced her scheme. “Who thinks the fiddler and the organ player are unparalleled in their playing?”

People clapped and cheered, including Mr. Jones. Some stomped their feet.

“Our illustrious musicians haven’t had a chance to dance all evening. Who wants to see them dance?”

People clapped and cheered, stomping their feet louder than before. The old-timers picked up the pace and volume of their slapping rhythm, while the dancers on the floor hooted and waved to Nathan and Ruby to join them.

As the slapping music increased in tempo and volume, a small part of Nathan wanted to cut loose and show Ruby how a farm boy from Tennessee could really dance. Another part of him wanted to run, and not stop running until he reached the Oregon coast. He couldn’t do that to Ruby though. He had already hurt her by withdrawing into himself after their kiss. He couldn’t run off in front of the townsfolk and leave her standing alone like Emmaline had left him.

Nathan compromised by dancing with his feet, but not with his heart. His movements were rigid and laborious. The longer he and Ruby danced, though, something unexpected happened to him. Ruby’s smile and rhythm left him awestruck. She seemed so alive, so captivating, so beautiful. Mixed feelings poured through him like water over a waterfall.

How could this be happening? he wondered as his feet responded to the music faster and faster. It’s like I’m meeting my special someone tonight, and there never was an Emmeline or a banjo player.

When the hamboners threw all their energy into the slapping rhythm, Nathan surrendered to the music and to his heart. He danced like he had never danced before. He smiled like few people had seen him smile before. When the old-timers finally broke off their slapping and the dance ended, the whole schoolroom erupted into a thunderous applause.

The comments and congratulations to the old-timers poured in. The comments and congratulations to the dancers increased ten-fold. Nathan and Ruby were so busy responding to people, it was some time before they took up their positions with the fiddle and the organ again. Once they did, they played with heart and soul, and Nathan’s eyes danced while he fiddled.

After the dance ended, the whole Gardner family helped Nathan clean the schoolhouse and arrange the desks and benches. When Nathan opened the door to the teacherage to put away his fiddle, Bo slithered into the schoolroom, his tail high and curvy. The cat looked around as though to see what all the noise was all about. The younger Gardner girls squealed when they saw their feline friend. Instead of getting his back up at the commotion, Bo sidled up to them one by one, brushing against their legs and letting them run their hands down his back. Beth scooped him into her arms and he snuggled against her like a lost and lonely kitten.

“Is this your cat?” Mrs. Gardner asked, her eyes wide.

“Yes, this is Bo. He likes your girls because he has free reign here in the schoolhouse during school hours. The children spoil him.”

“I feel so terrible,” Mrs. Gardner said. “We should have insisted you bring him with you when we asked you to stay with us. I’m sure he has missed you something terrible every single night you’ve been gone.”

“Oh, Bo’s all right,” Nathan said. “I make sure he has plenty of food and water while I’m gone.” He didn’t look at Bo when he spoke. He was sure he’d get a disgruntled look in return.

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Gardner said. “We’ll take Bo with us tonight and he can sleep in Charlie’s room with you.”

Mrs. Gardner ran her fingers through the cat’s thick fur. Bo looked from her to Nathan as though to say, “See, you wicked person. You made me suffer needlessly all this time.”

“You are very kind,” Nathan said to Mrs. Gardner. “I’m afraid we’ll have to take him now. Bo heard your offer, and he understands more than you might think. Ruby or you had better drive home though, and I’ll hold him. He’s not used to wagon rides, let alone rides in the dark. He’s likely to spring off the wagon, claws flying, over the slightest bump in the road.”

The ride home turned into a small caravan, with Ruby’s oldest sister, husband, and baby in the first wagon. Evan managed the team while Nellie and Belle sat beside him, talking and laughing. The three younger Gardner girls rode in the back. Cora and Alice, who had also returned from the survey for the dance, rode in the back of Ruby’s wagon with Ruby, Nathan, and Mrs. Gardner on the front seat. Ruby handled the horses and Nathan handled Bo, tucking the nervous cat into his shirt and holding him snugly.

The crescent moon offered little light on the way home, but the horses knew the way. The caravan of party goers sang and enjoyed themselves in the moonlight. In between songs, an owl hooted, and Nathan couldn’t help the peaceful feeling that had overtaken him since the dance. This is what life should be like, he thought.

Bo’s head stuck out of Nathan’s shirt, and Nathan stroked the cat’s head, whispering to him occasionally. He tried to reassure Bo and keep him calm as they bumped along over the rutted road. Singing helped the cat more than anything, so Nathan encouraged his group of wagon revelers to keep singing.

The first wagon moved along a little faster because Ruby seemed to be caught up in the magic of the evening, in no hurry to prod her horses along. They were less than a quarter of a mile from home, and the party goers in her wagon had just started singing, The Cat Came Back, when Nathan jumped and let loose with a loud cry. He doubled over his stomach and held Bo tighter to him.

“What’s the matter?” Ruby asked.

Nathan jumped again and let off another cry, groaning and grabbing his stomach again. “Bo is going crazy,” he gasped. “He’s clawing me and trying to get away. Something’s scaring him.”

“The mountain lion!” Ruby and her younger sisters said at the same time.

“Oh, exciting!” Zina added gleefully, and she turned around to look into the darkened valley behind the them. “I can’t see anything, but I bet there’s a big cat following us.”

“We’re almost home,” Mrs. Gardner said, turning toward Nathan with concern. “Can you hang on to Bo a little longer.”

Nathan grunted as Bo clawed him again and tried to break free.

Ruby handed the reins to her mother, and grabbed Nathan’s rifle at her feet. “Is this thing loaded?”

“Yes,” Nathan growled. “But let me shoot the thing, not you.”

“And me hold your cat? No thanks.” Ruby stripped the blanket off, and held the rifle off to one side. “Feels the same as Pa’s,” she said.

As soon as Mrs. Gardner brought the horses to a halt in front of the Gardner home, everyone scrambled out of the wagon and onto the porch. Ruby’s brother-in-law came out of the barn carrying a lantern, and led the horses toward the barn. Ruby started walking back down the dark road, carrying Nathan’s rifle.

Nathan ran after her. “Where are you going?” he ground out as Bo fought like crazy to break free.

“I’m going to put a scare into a mountain lion,” Ruby said.

“Not without me. You can’t walk out into the dark alone.”

“Okay,” Ruby said. “Shove Bo in Charlie’s room and shut the door so he can’t run off. I’ll wait on the porch for you.” She turned and walked to the front porch while Nathan ran Bo into the house.

Once Bo was secure in Charlie’s bedroom, the horses secure in the barn with Evan, and everyone else was in the house, Ruby and Nathan walked down the dark road together. “Are you going to give me my rifle?” Nathan asked.

“Maybe I want to shoot it.”

“Do you know how?”

“I can shoot my pa’s.”

Nathan couldn’t help chuckling. “Okay,” he said. “This is far enough away from the house and barn. Let’s see what you can do.”

Ruby raised the rifle to her shoulder and cocked the hammer. Nathan stood behind her close enough that he could smell lilac in her hair. “Anytime,” he whispered.

The blast from the rifle knocked Ruby backwards right into Nathan’s arms. “Well done,” he said, and he held her quite a bit longer than necessary.

* * *

Much later, in the early morning hours, when Nathan lay awake staring at the ceiling of Charlie’s room, he relived the evening of dancing and fiddling and holding Ruby in his arms. Bo lay curled up beside him, and he spoke quietly to the cat.

“You sure clawed my belly good, you good-for-nothing critter. I should have thrown you out to meet your cousin.”

Bo purred.

“It’s a good thing Mrs. Gardner had some ointment.” Nathan stroked Bo’s head and back. He wished Bo could advise him on what to do about Ruby Gardner. He had come to Clover Creek to start over and forget about a certain young lady, not to get tangled up with another one. He thought of moving on to Oregon, but he had recently started a new teaching year at the school. It would be unprofessional to uproot now and leave them without a teacher. Nathan was not totally sure that’s what he wanted to do anyway.

If only he hadn’t kissed Ruby! He wouldn’t be struggling with what to do now if he hadn’t kissed her. And if he hadn’t let Ruby shoot his rifle and fall into his arms, he wouldn’t be dealing with all the more turmoil now. If it wasn’t for those sweet moments with Ruby, her loveliness, her radiant smile, her musical talent, he could continue to teach school every weekday and not think about her. He could fiddle for the dances on Saturdays, and attend church on Sunday without thinking of her. And the rest of the time, he could keep to himself as he had been doing for the past year and a half.

“I couldn’t stop myself,” Nathan said, his fingers pausing over Bo’s fur. “I knew that rifle was going to kick her back into my arms, and I welcomed the feel of her against me. But, I was still filled with fire from those old-timers’ music working me into a dancing fever. Ruby was so dazzling, the way she danced, the way her hair flew about, the way her eyes met mine. Do you think she wore her hair all curly like that on purpose?”

Bo pawed at Nathan’s sore chest, and then went back to purring.

“I think you’re right. I think she wore her hair all curly like that on purpose. Do you think she conspired with Mrs. Stribling to get me to dance with her?”

Bo didn’t flinch.

“You don’t think so, huh? You’re probably right. I don’t think Ruby is the conspiring kind. She’s a sweet person, unlike some I have known.”

Nathan continued to stroke the top of Bo’s head. “But now what, Bo? When I held her in my arms earlier tonight, I wanted to kiss her so badly. I think she wanted me to kiss her, but I panicked and stalked into the house. Her pa’s already going to skin me alive when he gets back. And besides, kissing leads to commitments, commitments lead to weddings, and then if the bride changes her mind at the last minute, the hurt changes your life forever.”

Nathan looked down at the sleeping fur ball beside him. “So what do I do now, Bo?” he whispered, a tightness choking his throat.

“You’re not helping me, Bo.”

9

The following morning, Ruby took her time getting ready for church. She had helped Nathan, Belle, and Zina with the farm chores earlier, and Nathan had avoided her eyes during the whole process. She wanted to march down the stairs now, and say, “Nathan Banks, what are your intentions? If you’re going to kiss me, or nearly kiss me one minute, and then scowl and ignore me another minute, you can just go stay in the barn.”

Ruby looked out her window and saw Nathan harnessing the horses and getting ready to drive the family into town for church. She wanted to yell at him that she didn’t need his protection, and neither did her little sisters. She could transport the girls to school and back each day, and she could scare off any old mountain lion with her father’s rifle.

“And the next time I shoot a rifle, I’ll remember to position my feet better, and not let the gun jolt me into anyone’s arms.” Ruby cringed and looked around her room, hoping that no one had been out in the hall and heard her rant. The thought of Nathan’s arms around her last night after she shot his rifle, mellowed her feelings, but infuriated her at the same time. “What kind of game are you playing, Mr. Banks?” she whispered as she stood next to her curtains.

Ruby sat on her bed and placed her head in her hands, her anger spent. She had had such a marvelous time at the dance last night. Nathan hadn’t smiled while fiddling for the second half of the dance, but he had come close to it. In addition, he had sung and laughed with the family on the ride home. Then, after she had shot the rifle and landed in his arms, he had held her close for several breathtaking moments, almost as if he never wanted to release her. When she turned to face him, she had thought he was going to kiss her for sure, but he hadn’t. He had suddenly grumbled something about losing his mind and bolted toward the house, calling for her to follow.

When Ruby decided that she had stewed and primped long enough, she went downstairs to a quick breakfast. Nathan was nowhere to be seen. When she and her family went out to climb in the wagon, she found him holding Bo and waiting patiently. She gave him an icy look meant to say, “You and I are going to have a talk.”

The ride to church was as pleasant as possible with the crisp morning air and fall colors. The fields lay fallow and quiet, ready for a long winter’s rest. Birds chirped and flew from tree to tree, convincing Ruby that her rifle shot had indeed scared any mountain lions over the distant hills. The clopping of the horse’s hoofs set a peaceful rhythm all the way into Clover Creek, and gave Ruby time to think.

She was convinced that Nathan had feelings for her, but every time he let his true feelings show, he seemed to panic within a short time and withdraw. Instead of getting upset with him, she decided to be pleasant and supportive, to see if he would open up and talk to her about whatever bothered him.

For the rest of the day, Ruby smiled and talked cheerfully, like nothing had transpired between her and Nathan to make her upset. By the end of the day, she felt like she had succeeded in helping him feel comfortable with her family again. Nellie, Evan, Cora, and Alice had left right after dinner to rejoin Mr. Gardner for the upcoming week of surveying. They took leftovers with them to share with Mr. Gardner and Charlie. The rest of the family retreated to the parlor ready to enjoy fiddle and organ music.

Ruby hoped to have time in the evening to talk to Nathan, but the opportunity never presented itself. The younger Gardner girls had become so comfortable with having their schoolteacher living with them that they seldom left his side. All week long, the girls settled into a routine of helping Nathan with whatever he was doing, riding to school with him, and reciting their schoolwork for him and their mother in the evenings. They listened to Ruby and Nathan play music together and solo. And with the weather turning colder every passing day, the girls helped Nathan build a fire in the fireplace each evening.

Ruby watched for a time to talk to Nathan as the days slipped by, but they were never alone for more than a few minutes. She wanted to talk to him so badly about what was bothering him, but she never found a good opportunity as he constantly interacted with her mother and sisters. But the more comfortable he got with Ruby’s family, the more comfortable he seemed to feel around Ruby. They both avoided any close affection for each other, but Ruby noticed him looking at her often with a gentle smile. She found that this attentiveness brought peace and joy to her heart.

Even Bo settled in with the family, strutting around like he owned the place. He managed to disappear each morning when Nathan and the younger girls left for school, ensuring that he stayed at the Gardner home during the weekdays. When Nathan first started searching for Bo to take the cat with him, Mrs. Gardner insisted that she enjoyed having Bo around during the day.

* * *

The following Saturday morning dawned crisp and cold. Frost blanketed the fields and a layer of ice covered the water troughs. After Nathan and the girls finished the morning chores and cleaned up, everyone prepared to leave for Clover Creek. Mrs. Gardner had shopping to do and people to visit before the dance that evening. Ruby was starting to feel desperate about missing an opportunity to talk to Nathan. It was the last day for him to stay with the family. The survey crew had sent word that they were finishing up in Aspen Valley and were expected to show up for the dance sometime during the evening.

“I’m sure you have a lot of things to do back at the school,” Mrs. Gardner said to Nathan as the family finished eating a light dinner and cleaned the kitchen. “We have appreciated your help and protection so very much. And it’s been a delight for the girls and I to have you in our home each evening. Your music has brought so much tranquility during this time when half the family has been gone.”

“It’s been a pleasure to be here and to play for you,” Nathan said. “And to accompany your daughters while they’ve sang or played the organ. I grew up with evenings filled with music and family. It’s been nice to enjoy that feeling again.” He smiled at the younger Gardner girls, and sighed slightly when he looked at Ruby.

“Every time I think that a mountain lion might have been following us home after the dance last week, I get chills,” Mrs. Gardner said. “I think I was as scared as Bo. I’m so thankful you frightened that big cat away.”

Nathan’s eyes rested on Ruby again. “Your daughter frightened the mountain lion away,” he said softly. “She’s quite capable with a rifle.”

Mrs. Garner nodded. “Oh, I know, but I still felt better having you in our home. I’m sure you’re anxious to return to your own residence and routine though.”

Nathan looked at her like he might argue that point, but he said nothing.

“I’ll go pack my bag with a change of clothes for the dance,” Ruby said after placing a clean tablecloth on the table. “Then I’ll be ready to leave. I’m helping Belle with Mrs. Stribling’s housework today.”

Ruby hated to bring up whatever caused her and Nathan’s relationship to fluctuate so drastically, but she felt that if anything more than friendship was to ever develop between them, she had to speak up soon. When she returned to the kitchen, she saw Nathan out by the barn harnessing the horses. Her mother and sisters were in their rooms getting ready for the day, so Ruby slipped out of the house. This might be her only time to talk to him alone.

“Do you need help?” Ruby asked when she reached the barn.

“No, I’m okay,” Nathan said, “but thanks.”

Ruby helped him anyway, liking the feeling of working beside of him. “I hope Mr. Jones makes it to the dance tonight,” she said, bringing up the subject of the dance on purpose.

“Hopefully he’ll be able to play for the dance pretty soon.”

Ruby couldn’t help but wonder if Nathan would prefer the accompaniment of Mr. Jones over her for the dances.

“The doctor said Mr. Jones should only play for part of the dance, and relax the rest of the time,” Nathan added. He smiled, making Ruby think he did like her accompaniment. She found his back and forth moods exasperating.

“Can I ask you a question?” she said.

Nathan stopped tightening the straps, leaned his hand against the big work horse, and tipped his hat back. “Now why do I have the feeling that I might not want to answer your question?”

“Because I asked you last week at the dance, but you didn’t answer me,” Ruby said. She smiled at him, hoping to put him at ease. “Why don’t you smile when you fiddle? You almost did last week, and it was so fun to see you enjoy the dance more. A lot of people wonder if you’re sad when you fiddle, or if something is bothering you.”

Nathan jerked on one of the harness straps. “Why do people care?” he said. “It’s none of their business.”

“I care,” Ruby said, trying to arrange her words so she wouldn’t frustrate him any more than she already had. “I care because . . . I care about you. And sometimes I think you care about me, but then you suddenly retreat into a sad place or something.”

“You have no idea,” Nathan grumbled.

“No, I don’t.” Ruby gently laid her hand on his arm. “But I’d like to know. Why do you seem to withdraw when you fiddle? You love to play the fiddle, and you’re so amazing.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Nathan snapped. He walked over to the wagon tongue and picked it up with a jerk, lining it up with the horses. “Look, I don’t want your pity, or anyone’s pity. I’ve had enough people feeling sorry for me to last a life time.”

Ruby placed her hands on her hips. She hadn’t expected him to snap at her. “Who says anyone pities you? Everyone I know admires you.”

Zina, Fern, and Beth came running out of the house before Nathan could respond. “We’re ready!” Beth yelled when they reached the wagon. “And Ma said she’ll be out in five minutes.”

Nathan finished hitching the horses to the wagon and Ruby helped him. He worked with sharp movements, and then double checked his work, never looking at Ruby again. When he stood back with a look of satisfaction, he took off his hat, and stalked into the barn. Fern and Beth ran after him and within seconds, Ruby could hear him teasing them. It was as if Ruby upset him, but the fun and innocence of the younger girls made him happy.

Ruby turned abruptly and walked toward the house. If Nathan Banks was going to treat her like that when she was just trying to help, he could crawl into his shell and stay there as far as she was concerned. He could also quit kissing her or looking at her like he wanted to kiss her. She didn’t need someone who was affectionate one minute and cold as ice the next.

“Hey, Ma,” Ruby called as she opened the kitchen door, “do you need any help?”

Mrs. Gardner came out of the house a few moments later, carrying her handbag and an empty gunny sack. She offered the gunny sack to Nathan. “Do you want to put Bo in this?” she asked. “If you wrap him in the bag, and let his head stick out, he might feel more comfortable.”

“Good idea,” Nathan said, rubbing his hand over his stomach where Bo had scratched him on the way home from the dance last week. “Anything to make him feel more secure while we travel.”

What would it take to make you feel more secure? Ruby thought as she carried her own bag with a change of clothes for the dance. She wanted to say the words out loud, but stopped herself. She wished she knew what was hurting Nathan, but if he wanted to hang onto his gloomy outlook in life, that was his choice.

The ride into Clover Creek was quiet except for the chatter of the younger girls in the back of the wagon. Mrs. Gardner attempted to start a conversation with Ruby and Nathan a couple of times, but gave up when neither of them responded with more than a word or two. When they reached the schoolhouse, Nathan thanked Mrs. Gardner for the ride and took off with Bo. Mrs. Gardner dropped Ruby and Belle off at Mrs. Stribling’s, and took the younger girls with her to help with the shopping.

“How are you, my dear friends, and how’s your family?” Mrs. Stribling asked. “I’ve looked forward to you coming all week.”

“We’re all doing well,” Ruby said. “Pa and the survey crew are expected back sometime tonight, or tomorrow morning if they can’t make it tonight. We’re looking forward to having them home.”

“Oh, I’m sure you are. But what about Nathan Banks? He’s been helping out at your place, and I’m dying to know if anything’s coming of it between the two of you.”

Ruby’s eyes widened at Mrs. Stribling’s outspoken comment.

Belle smirked. “That’s what Ma and I would like to know. Ruby and Nathan play beautiful music together, but the rest of the time, watch out!”

Ruby shook her head. She had no idea that her mother and sister could see what was happening between she and Nathan. “That man is infuriating,” she said, drawing in a breath and releasing it before speaking again. “He’s haunted by something from his past, but he won’t talk about it. He allows himself to be happy around my family, but never when he fiddles for the dances. You should hear him play the fiddle in our home. It’s the sweetest, most beautiful music, and he smiles when he plays. But put him in front of the dancers on Saturday night, and he practically turns to stone.”

“I’ve wondered about him,” Mrs. Stribling said. “Do you remember when he first moved to Clover Creek? He hadn’t been here long when Nellie married Evan Howell. I asked Nathan if he was going to attend the wedding, and his whole face contorted. ‘I hate weddings,’ were his exact words.”

“Hmm,” Ruby said, tapping her fingers across her mouth. “That might explain a lot.”

“Do you love him?”

Ruby’s hand flew to her heart. Mrs. Stribling was so brazen, but the woman could see right into Ruby’s heart. She glanced at Belle and then Mrs. Stribling and nodded. It took several minutes for her throat to relax enough to speak without falling apart.

Belle reached out and placed her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, rubbing it gently.

“I do love him,” Ruby finally said, bursting into tears. “And I think he cares for me . . . but he’s scared about something, and freezes up like he’s enduring some kind of personal pain.”

Mrs. Stribling raised her chin. “Well, the last thing you want to do is baby him.”

“Baby him?”

Ruby almost burst out laughing and saw that Belle was suppressing laughter too.

“Yes, don’t baby him,” Mrs. Stribling said. “He has to overcome whatever is bothering him without your help. You don’t want to marry a man who’s constantly feeling sorry for himself. My Walter was like that when I first met him. His first fiancé had broken off their engagement. I let him know that I liked him, but that I wouldn’t put up with his downcast attitude. If Nathan knows you care about him and he’s not responding the way you want him to, then you should act aloof.”

“Aloof?” Ruby and Belle said at the same time.

Mrs. Stribling raised her chin. “Yes, give him some of his own medicine, so to speak.”

By the time Mrs. Stribling stopped giving out advice, Ruby and Belle had to fly through the housework so they had plenty of time to bathe and dress for the dance. Mrs. Stribling spent an inordinate amount of time curling Ruby’s hair, arranging some of the curls high on her head, and allowing the rest to lace down her neck and back.

When Mrs. Gardner arrived to give them a ride, Mrs. Stribling fussed about her house until she nearly made them late for the dance. “You don’t want to seem too eager,” Mrs. Stribling whispered to Ruby as the wagon jolted along toward the schoolhouse. “Simply walk in the schoolroom with your head erect and act like you weren’t in any hurry to accompany him tonight.”

* * *

By the time Nathan finished tuning his fiddle and warming up, the schoolhouse was crowded with townsfolk ready to dance. Nathan’s eyes darted to the schoolhouse door for the hundredth time, but Ruby had yet to walk into the room. Where was she? Didn’t she know she should be sitting at the organ by now? Mr. and Mrs. Jones were in attendance, but Nathan couldn’t expect the older man to step in and accompany him. The doctor had said Mr. Jones should wait a few more weeks before playing for the dance.

Nathan paced the few steps to the wood stove, and back again. He checked his pocket watch and paced again. Three minutes to go before the dance was supposed to start, and still no Ruby. She was usually early. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. The night was freezing cold, but Nathan was pouring sweat.

Mr. Jepson, the caller for the dance, took out his timepiece and studied it. “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight,” he said.

Nathan squeezed his eyes shut. Where is that woman? An uneasy feeling settled over him. It was almost like waiting at the altar all over again. Waiting and waiting, and Emmeline never showing. Would Ruby do the same tonight? They hadn’t parted on the best of terms, and it was all his fault.

Nathan almost stalked into the teacherage and packed for Oregon. But he couldn’t abandon the townsfolk now. They were waiting and wanting to dance. He glanced at the door one more time, and saw Ruby walk in with part of her family and Mrs. Stribling.

He looked at his pocket watch again.

Ruby was precisely on time, but she had caused his heart to beat so loudly that it was thrashing in his ears.

Nathan thought Ruby might say something about making him worry, or at least smile, but she did neither. She handed her coat to her mother, walked straight to the organ, arranged her skirts, and sat with her back stiff. With a somber face, she nodded at Nathan as if to say, “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Nathan ground out the name of the tune he planned to start with, and took off fiddling in a stone-faced frenzy. Ruby’s fingers skirted over the organ keys, while her feet pumped the pedals almost as quickly. Mr. Jepson called the dance, and the dancers flew around the schoolroom. Nathan and Ruby played one tune after another at the same frantic pace until Ruby leaned onto the organ with one arm and rested her head on her arm. Nathan lowered his bow in surprise, and the dancers, exhausted, left the floor.

“Would you like some cider?” Nathan asked, his voice rather clipped.

“Yes, thank you,” Ruby said, her voice rather clipped as well.

The night was too cold to sit outside, so some of the men brought in extra benches and placed them around the room for the dancers to sit on and rest during the break. Nathan escorted Ruby to a seat on the last bench brought in. It was placed near the open doorway and offered them plenty of refreshingly cool air. While Ruby waited, Nathan walked to the refreshment desk and returned with two cups of warm cider.

Nathan stewed as he handed Ruby the cider. He wanted to ask her why she was so late and made him fret, but he restrained himself. For one thing, a young couple sat beside them, talking happily and complementing Ruby and him on the fiddle and organ music. For another thing, Nathan didn’t dare speak to Ruby in his frustrated state. All he could think about was the humiliation of Emmeline leaving him standing at the altar, and now Ruby making him wait and wonder if she was abandoning him in front of everyone too.

Doesn’t she realize how terrified that made me feel to wait and wait and wait? Doesn’t she care? He took several gulps of cider and a few deep breaths, trying to overcome his agitation.

She doesn’t realize how you feel because you refused to share your feelings with her.

Nathan wondered where that thought came from. It was as though a small voice spoke inside of his chest. He wanted to rebel at the words, but he knew they were true. Ruby was the loveliest woman he had ever known. She had even said she cared for him, but he had chosen to turn away with no explanation. Why couldn’t he let go of his bitterness toward Emmaline and his banjo player? Why couldn’t he allow his heart love again? Would he always remain a lonely and bitter man?

He experienced the small voice inside of him again.

Nathan, my son, you erred in thinking that I didn’t answer your prayers. I had something planned for your life that was more beautiful than what you had planned. Can you open your heart to my ways?

Nathan’s thoughts were interrupted by the young couple sitting next to him. The young lady giggled and swatted at the young man. The young man laughed and swatted at the young lady, making both of them laugh. Some people across the room jumped up when the people behind them swatted at their backs or shoulders. Laughter broke out everywhere as people frantically swatted at each other.

“Spiders,” Nathan whispered as he watched a spider crawling up Ruby’s back toward her shoulder. He swatted the spider to the floor and couldn’t stop grinning at her shocked expression. “Spiders shelter under the benches when they’re in the storage shed, but now that the benches are inside, the spiders are warming up.”

Ruby jumped to her feet at the mention of spiders. “Do I have any more spiders on me?” she asked, frantically turning her back to him.

“No more,” Nathan said, standing and running his hand over her back and shoulders just to be sure. He leaned his head near her ear and inhaled the sweet scent of her. One of her curls tickled his nose. “The spiders just wanted to see what the party’s all about, but now they’re running for cover.”

Turning slowly so that she was facing him, Ruby looked into his eyes for the first time that evening.

Suddenly, Mrs. Stribling let out a scream from across the room, causing a commotion near her. She swatted at herself with both of her arms and pumped her feet up and down on the floor. Soon the whole room was full of people laughing, swatting, and inspecting each other for spiders.

Ruby turned back to Nathan and shortly hit him on his upper arm, a little more forcefully than he thought necessary. “Spider,” she said, lifting her chin.

Nathan was still reeling from running his hand over Ruby’s back and shoulders and from the scent of lilac in her hair. He reflected on the thoughts that had filled his chest only moments ago. He wanted a family of his own and someone to love and cherish, and here was the most delightful young woman right in front of him. Had God been trying to lead him to Ruby all along, but he had been too stubborn and bitter to trust what was happening? Perhaps what happened in Tennessee was best for Emmaline and the banjo player. And perhaps what happened in Tennessee was best for Nathan too. It had driven him to Idaho where someone special, someone who loved to make music as much he did, awaited. Why hadn’t he considered this whole experience in such a wondrous way before?

Ruby had said she cared for him, and Nathan suddenly hoped with everything in him that she still might feel that way. Did he have the courage to give his heart another chance? Did he have the courage to tell Ruby how he felt? With the din of the townsfolk still laughing and exclaiming about spiders, Nathan leaned close to Ruby again and whispered. “I love you, Ruby Gardner.”

Ruby’s eyes widened as if she questioned what she’d heard.

“Shall we?” he said, reaching for her hand and leading her back to the organ. The moment he reached for his fiddle and started to warm up, the men in the room quickly removed the extra benches and the dancers took to the floor. After all the excitement of the spiders, people talked in bubbly, happy tones, while waiting for the dance to begin.

Nathan took the time to lay his fiddle aside for a moment and roll up his sleeves. He hadn’t been so excited to fiddle since he moved to Idaho. He leaned over to whisper in Ruby’s ear and inhale the scent of her hair before he began. “Everything about you is so beautiful,” he said, and then he straightened and fiddled with more spirit than ever before. And he smiled. It was the first time the townsfolk of Clover Creek had ever seen their stone-faced fiddler smile, and the more he smiled, the faster he fiddled.

The dancers stepped a little livelier and the onlookers clapped and stomped their feet a little louder for the second half of the dance.

10

Ruby made one mistake after another as she played feverishly, trying to keep up with Nathan’s fiddling. What did the man think he was doing? Did he really say he loved her? Did he really say she was beautiful? Everything happened so fast, so unexpectedly, that she wasn’t sure. She wanted to stop the dance and demand that he explain himself. There was one thing that couldn’t be denied though. Nathan Banks was smiling while he fiddled. He wasn’t only smiling; he looked the happiest she had ever seen him.

Before the dance progressed much further, Ruby looked up to see her father, Charlie, and her sisters, Cora and Alice, walk into the schoolroom. Nellie, Evan, and baby Zillah weren’t far behind. The younger girls in the Gardner family rushed to greet them.

Ruby kept playing, trying like crazy to keep up. She was so happy to see her family, but sad in a small way. Now that the survey was over, Nathan wouldn’t be staying with her family anymore. It didn’t seem possible that he’d said he loved her, but something had changed. His eyes danced as he played and he smiled. He actually swayed to the music. And when he looked over at her, there was a warmth in his eyes that she had never seen before.

Chills ran through her.

When the final dance ended with a resounding round of applause, people stopped to thank Ruby and Nathan for the music. Many of them commented on the change in appearance of the fiddler.

“I thought you’d never smile while fiddling,” one lady said.

“It was like you were mad at the world and taking it out on your fiddle,” an older gentleman said.

The little boy who had previously said he wanted to play the fiddle just like Nathan had a comment too. “You fiddled happy tonight,” he said.

Ruby thanked everyone for coming who stopped to talk to them. When the people thinned out somewhat, she turned to Nathan, and took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure what to say to him.

“Nice to see your pa and the rest of the survey crew,” Nathan said.

Ruby nodded. “It’ll be good to have them home.”

“A few weeks ago, your pa asked me to come to Sunday dinner so he could talk to me,” Nathan said. “Now I’d like to talk to him.”

“Really? What do you want to talk to him about?”

Nathan narrowed his eyes. “About you,” he said.

“Me?”

“I want to tell him he needs to give you lessons on how to plant your feet when you shoot a rifle, so the gun doesn’t kick you off your feet.”

Ruby laughed, but then she shook her head slowly. “I got the impression you liked my incompetence at the time, at least initially,” she said.

“I liked it more than you know,” Nathan said.

“It didn’t seem liked it when you went stomping into the house.”

Nathan gently placed his hand on Ruby’s arm. “Like I said, I liked it more than you know.”

“So . . . you want me to get you an invitation to Sunday dinner?”

“Who gets an invitation to Sunday dinner?” Mrs. Stribling said, walking up to them while carrying three cookies wrapped in her handkerchief. “I’d like an invitation to Sunday dinner myself, especially if our esteemed fiddler is going to be in attendance.”

Ruby kissed Mrs. Stribling’s cheek. “You have a standing invitation to Sunday dinner at our house,” she said.

“That was some mighty fine fiddling,” Mrs. Stribling said, turning her attention to Nathan. “The best I’ve seen for a long time. Yes, mighty fine fiddling.” With that comment, she nodded her head at Ruby as if she gave her approval on the evening and walked back to the refreshment table.

“She’s quite an unusual lady, isn’t she?” Nathan said.

“Mrs. Stribling? I adore her,” Ruby said. “More than you know.”

Nathan chuckled. “Now we both like something or someone more than the other person knows. We should try to change that.”

“You mean as in getting to know what the other person likes?”

“That’s exactly what I had in mind,” Nathan said.

* * *

In the early Sunday morning hours, Nathan lay in bed wide awake with Bo at his side. The two windows in his room were open, allowing the crisp night air to flow through. “I really missed you, Bo, that first week I stayed with the Gardner family. But, you saw how enjoyable life was at Ruby’s house this past week. I’m so thankful for my time there.”

Bo rubbed one of his cheeks on Nathan’s arm, perhaps agreeing that he liked the Gardner home too.

“The Gardner family have the type of life I’ve wanted for years,” Nathan said. “I grew up in a music loving home where people worked hard and loved life, so I like the feel of this family. All this time, I thought God didn’t answer my prayers, but maybe He did. Maybe He just didn’t answer the way I thought He should. Or maybe He just wanted me to show some faith.”

Bo rolled to his side and extended his hind legs out as far as he could stretch. The rest of his body stretched in the other direction.

“I’ve decided that developing a closer relationship to Ruby is worth the risk. I really like her. I know I sound pathetic, but I’m in love. If Ruby and I could have a loving home together like her parents have and like my parents have, it would be the biggest answer to prayer. What do you think, Bo? These feeling that are running through me are exciting, but they’re frightening. It’s a huge risk I’m taking. I could use some help here.”

Bo’s tail curled forward, the tip moving up, down, and around.

“Is that a yes? You agree it’s worth the risk to give my heart to Ruby?”

Bo’s tail twitched.

“What if Ruby agrees with my plan, and then backs out at the last moment? The possibility terrifies me, Bo. It really terrifies me.”

Bo yawned.

Nathan snuggled deeper into his covers. He decided he shouldn’t go after a marriage commitment tomorrow. He would simply suggest that he and Ruby get to know more about each other to see if they would suit. His eyes finally closed as he replayed the second half of the dance in his mind, and how much more he enjoyed fiddling for the first time in nearly two years. It had almost felt like he was fiddling with his granddad again.

After several minutes, Nathan spoke again, his voice low and groggy. “It means I’ll be leaving you alone more often if I go courting, Bo.”

Bo hissed and his ears flattened.

“Well . . . I could buy a buggy and a box to take you along.”

Bo’s tailed twitched and he pawed at Nathan’s chest. No more was said. Both of them slept peacefully in the crisp air until the sound of boots on the schoolroom floor ruined whatever dreams they were having.

* * *

After church, Ruby climbed into Mrs. Stribling’s buggy. Nathan climbed in beside her and took the reins. “Whose idea was this,” Ruby asked, “for you and me to ride alone in Mrs. Stribling’s buggy? She knew the answer. Mrs. Stribling seemed determined to ensure a union between Nathan Banks and her.

The Stribling buggy was the last in line heading out to the Gardner homestead. Evan, Nellie, baby Zillah, and the youngest Gardner girls were in the first wagon, along with Bo snuggled in a canvas bag. Mrs. Stribling rode in the second wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. Charlie, Belle, Cora, and Alice were in the third wagon. Ruby could hear the younger girls singing from way up the road.

“It wasn’t my idea to take Mrs. Stribling’s buggy,” Nathan said, raising a hand, “but I’m liking the idea. I’m thinking of buying a buggy of my own.”

“Really? A buggy for you and Bo?”

“A buggy for me to take courting if I can talk someone into letting me call on her. Sadly, Bo will have to stay home and sulk.” Nathan tried to frown, but his lips didn’t cooperate for long.

“And who are you wanting to court?” Ruby asked.

“The best organ player this side of heaven,” Nathan replied.

Ruby laid her hand on his arm. If their relationship was going to progress beyond playing for the Saturday night dance, they had to be open and honest with each other. She couldn’t think about marriage to someone who kept their inner turmoil pent-up inside of them. “So . . . tell me about Tennessee,” she said.

“I had a feeling you’d say that.” Nathan let out a long audible breath. He placed his free hand over hers, and proceeded to tell her all about Emmeline and about being left at the altar in front of the whole community.

“And you fiddled for the wedding dance?” Ruby asked when he finished.

“I did.”

“No wonder you never smiled while you fiddled here in Clover Creek.”

“People back in Tennessee pitied me and talked behind my back, but I knew what they were saying. It was horrible.”

“No one out here will ever pity you,” Ruby said, “even if they know your story.”

“You don’t think so?”

She shook her head. Giving his arm a squeeze, she added, “Everyone in Clover Creek adores you. What happened in Tennessee drove you to Idaho to bless the lives of people here.”

Nathan didn’t speak for a long time, as if letting her words penetrate his heart. “You are very kind,” he finally said. “I’d like to ask your pa if I may court you.”

“He’ll say yes. My pa likes you.”

“He trusted me with your care. That morning by the barn, I may have abused that trust.”

“Not in my opinion.”

“Really?

“Really.”

“Should we try that again, then?”

“Right here with my family and Mrs. Stribling in the wagons ahead?”

Nathan nodded. “We’ll let them get further ahead.” He stopped the horses and watched the wagons ahead of them move on down the road. Then he gently took Ruby’s face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “I love you, Ruby Gardner. If I could, I’d marry you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow would be rather quick, but now that I know your story, I think I understand where you’re coming from. A long wait might make you suffer with worry after what you’ve been through.”

Nathan sighed. He drew her closer to him. “You know my biggest fear.”

“But you needn’t fear.” Ruby’s lips parted into a gentle smile. “I’d never leave you standing at the altar. I have loved you and your music for nearly two years. I’ve simply been practicing the organ with a passion during that time, anticipating and hoping that I might accompany you some day, and that you might fall in love with me.”

“I have fallen in love with you,” Nathan said, “utterly and completely in love with you.” He brushed her lips with his, and then without hurrying, he kissed her one more time, a gentle, lingering kiss.

Author’s Note

The reed organ was a musical instrument that was first introduced in 1840 by Alexandre Debain in France. The organ quickly became popular in the United States. It generated sound when wind produced by foot-operated bellows flowed past a vibrating piece of thin metal called a reed. Pitch was determined by the size of the reed. Smaller and less complicated than pipe organs, the reed organ was popular in homes and institutions until around 1930 when electronic organs and mass-produced pianos became popular.

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Thank you for reading Ruby’s story.

If you’ve enjoyed Ruby’s Rhapsody, watch for more books in The Surveyor’s Daughters series. There will be eight books total in the series, and all stand alone. Please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews help more readers find my books and are really appreciated. Thank you so very much.

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I love to hear from readers. You can email me at vicki@vickihuntbudge.com. To hear about the upcoming books you can find me on the web at vickihuntbudge.com or on Facebook at VickiHuntBudgeAuthor.

The Next Book

Watch for Daring Endearment.

Belle is the third sister in The Surveyor’s Daughters series, and will be available soon. I’ve included a sneak peek of Belle’s story here.

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Belle Gardner’s extended family crowded around the dining room table on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. “Please pass the rolls,” Belle said. Two baskets of flakey brown dinner rolls came at Belle from different directions, causing her to laugh at which basket to accept. Belle’s brother, Charlie, lifted the towel from the basket he held and made the decision for her, taking the last roll from that basket, and biting into it.

Belle grinned and elbowed her brother, and then took a roll from the other basket which was also nearly empty. “I’ll get more rolls,” she said, pushing back from the table.

“I’ll get them,” Cora said. “I’m already stuffed.” Cora, Belle’s closest sister, shared a bedroom and many late-night talks with Belle, talking about their hopes, dreams, and preferences in young men.

Belle’s problem was there were no young men close to her age in Clover Creek, a small farming community in southern Idaho. The boys she had gone to school with were either married and farming, or had gone back east for more schooling. Belle envied the boys who had gone for more schooling. She loved to read and keep up with current events. Now, instead of school assignments, Belle read her father’s books, newspapers, and the magazines to which he subscribed. She even read his professional survey journal.

“Thank you, Cora,” Mrs. Gardner said, wiping her forehead with her napkin. Although the windows were open, there wasn’t a breeze coming in to cool the home. Plus, after preparing dinner for their large family, heat from the kitchen range permeated the dining area. There were bowls of potatoes at both ends of the long table as well as gravy boats, platters of fried chicken, tender asparagus, and pickled beets.

“Thank you for a fine meal, Mama,” Mr. Gardner said, leaning back in his chair. “Charlie, Evan, Nathan, and I will take care of the cleanup right after we sample that heavenly rhubarb pie I smelled baking last night.”

Charlie grimaced at the mention of cleaning up. The table was overflowing with crusty dishes and flatware.

“We men will have a contest,” Mr. Gardner said. “See if the four of us can clean up faster than we cleaned up last Sunday. He pulled out his little notebook where he kept track of family competitions.”

Belle snickered at the scowl on Charlie’s face. She loved that her pa always had the men clean up after Sunday dinners.

“Hey, did you guys hear who’s back in town?” Charlie asked. He didn’t wait for an answer. “George Jepson. I didn’t see him at church, but I heard half the town talking about him.”

“Didn’t he go back east to study medicine?” Ruby asked. “Seems like he didn’t want to run the mercantile with his pa.” Ruby, eighteen months older than Belle, was married to Nathan Banks, the schoolteacher in Clover Creek. She and Nathan were expecting their first child at the end of summer.

“I heard more than that,” Charlie said. “I heard George ran into problems practicing medicine in New York. Got in trouble with the law even. Maybe that’s why he’s back.”

Belle opened her mouth to ask what else Charlie had heard, but she noticed her oldest sister give her husband a knowing glance. George Jepson had tried to court Nellie at one time, before Nellie gave her heart to Evan Howell. Belle never really knew why Nellie chose Evan over George, but she wondered what Nellie might have to say now.

Nellie and Evan had their toddler, baby Zillah, sitting between them, strapped to a dining room chair by a large tea towel. When neither of them spoke, or offered more than a raised brow to the conversation, Belle looked back to Charlie for more information. She always liked to hear of families moving in, or former citizens returning. So much of life in Clover Creek was the same as far as Belle was concerned; hard work on the farm or with her pa’s survey crews, Saturday night dances in the one-room schoolhouse, and worship services on Sundays. Belle loved news of any kind, whether it was by mouth or from newspapers and magazines.

“From what I hear, George supposedly—”

“I hope we don’t get any more spring rain,” Mr. Gardner said, cutting in on Charlie. “If we get too much rain, it’ll be bad for the spuds.”

Belle focused on eating her dinner roll. Whenever Mr. Gardner abruptly changed the subject at the dinner table, it meant he didn’t care for how the discussion was going. Her parents always discouraged gossip, but that didn’t mean Belle was immune to it. If there was something to be heard regarding the flamboyant George Jepson, who was nearly four years older than her, she wanted to hear it.

Also by Vicki Hunt Budge

The Surveyor’s Daughters Series:

Her Believing Heart

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[ Contemporary Women’s Fiction ]

Hope & Healing Series

Intercession

Renewal

Deliverance

Acknowledgments

Once again, a special thanks to you, the reader. The response to the first book in this series has been so rewarding and makes this whole process worthwhile. I love my characters, but nothing thrills me more than to have my readers love them too.

I am indebted to Nancy, Peggy, Janice, Angie, and Michelle. Their insights and suggestions were invaluable and greatly improved my writing.

A special thank you to Malary Bartholomew for editing this manuscript, and to Erin Dameron-Hill of EDHGraphics for the amazing cover art!

I’d like to express my love and gratitude to my husband and best friend. His devotion and encouragement mean everything to me.

I want to acknowledge the help and guidance I received to countless prayers about my writing. When I prayed, the answers always came. The joy of writing increased tenfold during these moments.

About the Author

Vicki Hunt Budge grew up in southern Idaho with a mother who read to her and a father who taught her to golf and swim. She attended Idaho State University and the University of Utah. Vicki and her husband raised four children on a small peppermint farm in Central Oregon. She has always loved history and the settling of the west because years ago her ancestors broke up sod and sagebrush in southern Idaho to farm and raise their families. In addition to her family, Vicki enjoys reading, family history, long walks along the river trails, writing sweet historical western romance and contemporary women’s fiction, and not cooking. Nothing makes her happier than beating her grandchildren at the game of Aggravation, or their wild celebrations when they beat her. This is Vicki’s fifth book.