Free Ruby by Lauraine Snelling, Alexandra O'Karm Page A

weeping woman and, resisting the urge to open every door along the hall, made her way down the stairs. Windows covered by thick drapes left a gloom broken only by slivers of light from around the curtains and from two open doorways. The saloon reeked of cigar smoke, spilled liquor, and cheap perfume. She wished for a handkerchief dipped in rose water to hold to her nose. The miasma hung thick enough to chew. She followed the light and a tinkle of sound down a painted hallway that opened into a kitchen where Charlie presided over a cast-iron stove that was providing both welcome warmth and the aroma of frying ham.
    Ruby’s stomach rumbled in anticipation.
    “Opal Marie Torvald, you scared me out of two years’ growth.” Ruby rounded on her little sister who was sitting at the table, spooning applesauce.
    “But you were sound asleep, and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked terrible tired.” She smiled at the man who grinned back. “Charlie asked if I was hungry and I sure was and you say not to lie and so I didn’t and he said he would make me something to eat and so I came down here and. . .” She took a deep breath, and her smile grew beatific as she finished. “And you found me and so all is well.” She sucked the sauce off her spoon. “Charlie is a real good cook too.”
    “Mr. Higgins. You call him Mr. Higgins.”
    “But when I asked him his name, he said Charlie, that I was to call him Charlie and I like that, so I did.”
    Ruby felt like taking a step back before the wall of words pummeled her.
    “I did tell her that, Miss. No one ever calls me Mr. Higgins.” He hefted a cast-iron skillet. “You want some ham and eggs? They be ready in a jiffy. You could start with applesauce like Miss Opal there.”
    Ruby sank down on a chair and nodded. “Yes, I’d love some breakfast. Is there something I can do to help you?”
    “Help me? Why whatever for? Per, he would take a hunk outa my hide if I didn’t take good care of his darlin’ daughters.”
    Ruby thought back to the conversation with this man the night before. He’d said he did whatever needed doing, and obviously at this time of the day, putting food on the table fell under his jurisdiction.
    “Do you cook for the hotel guests also?”
    “Hotel guests?” Confusion darkened his already deep brown eyes even further.
    “You know, the people who stay here?”
    “Oh, you mean the girls? They don’t usually want breakfast, you know. They pretty much sleep until noon. We don’t open again until about two. Then there’s Milly. She does the laundry. You got anything that needs washing, she’s out back.”
    Take care of the girls . Her father’s words echoed those of Charlie Higgins. Why did she feel as though she’d come in on the second act of a play and everyone else knew the lines but her?
    “Here you go.” Charlie slid a slice of ham and two fried eggs onto the plate in front of her, then did the same for Opal. “Hot biscuits coming right up.” He returned to the stove, drew a pan of biscuits from the oven, brought it over, and set it on the battle-scarred pine tabletop. “There’s butter and jam here and honey in the jar there.” He pointed to a squat round jar filled with gold. “Can I get you anything else?”
    “Coffee, please?” Right now her system needed a dose of something strong and hot.
    “I’m sorry. Shoulda brought that first. Your father always wanted his coffee first too. Said it got the juices flowin’ in the morning. Not that he was an early riser either.”
    Pleased on one hand that she had something in common with her father and sad on the other since he was no longer with them, Ruby laid a hand on Opal’s arm. “Did you say grace?”
    Opal laid her fork back down. “No, sorry.”
    “Well, just because we are living on the frontier now, doesn’t mean that we will change the things we know to be proper. Is that understood?”
    “I guess.” Opal bowed her head. “Thank thee, Lord, for these gifts which