Free Ruby (Orlan Orphans Book 2) by Kirsten Osbourne

I'd known she was threatening you, I'd never have left you alone with her.  I hope you know that, Robert."
    Robert nodded.  "I do know that, Pa.  You always made sure we knew you loved us."  He smiled at Lewis.  "I'm so glad we get to spend so much time together now. You never used to have time to take us fishing."
    "We moved out here and bought the mercantile so we'd have more time together.  Now that you have a ma, she's going to be able to help me run it as well."  He looked at James, realizing he was the one struggling with Ruby.  Robert had no problem with getting a new mother.  "You know it's okay to love them both, don't you, James?"
    "Both our new ma and our old ma?  We don't have to pick?"  The boy looked intrigued by the idea. 
    "No, you don't have to pick."  Not that it would matter, because Roberta's new husband had given him a lot of money to take the boys out of the state and never see them again.  Buying the mercantile and moving to Texas had been the best thing to ever happen to him and his boys.  Other than Ruby, of course.
    Ruby was everything he'd hoped she'd be and more.  She was good with the children, a wonderful housewife, and a warm loving wife in bed.  He couldn't believe how lucky he'd gotten.  Roberta had been a nightmare from day one, but he didn't believe in divorce.  Well, he hadn't then at least.
    "I can love them both?" James asked, cutting into Lewis's thoughts. 
    "Of course you can!  Do you think I love you any less because I have Robert too?  If I have another child with Ruby, do you think it will make me love you less?"
    James shook his head.  "No, I guess not."
    Lewis watched as James grew silent, obviously thinking.  Robert seemed content to never think about Roberta again, and he suddenly understood why.  He had worried about James having too few memories of his mother, but apparently Robert had too many.
     
    *****
     
    Ruby had supper on the table for her men when they arrived home.  The entire house smelled of the baking she'd spent her day working on.  She served country fried steak for supper, something Cletus had taught her to make.  He'd told her that the Texas cattle were so thin and tough they'd been hard to eat, so on the trail, they'd started pounding the steaks flat and frying them, turning them into one of the tastiest things Ruby had ever eaten.  It definitely wasn't a New York meal, and she didn't know if Lewis and the boys had ever eaten it, because they had lived in New Jersey until a few months before.
    Lewis washed his hands, informing her that the fish had been too cold to bite, which sounded like a typical fisherman's excuse to Ruby.  Why couldn't men just admit they hadn't been able to catch anything?  When he walked to the table and sat down, he poked at the steak with his fork.  "What is this?"
    "One of the few Texas meals I know how to make.  It's called country fried steak.  Try it.  It's delicious." 
    Both boys watched as Lewis took his first bite, obviously afraid to try something new, so they let their father go first.  Lewis chewed it slowly, smiling.  "The consistency is strange for steak, but it's really good."
    Robert quickly took a bite.  "I like this!"
    James followed suit, declaring he'd eat it for every meal.
    "How was fishing?" Ruby asked, cutting into her own steak.
    "It was good.  We got some good man-talking done, didn't we boys?" Lewis asked.
    "Yes, sir," Robert replied.  "Fishing is the best time for man talk."
    James just nodded, applying himself to his meal, but Ruby was satisfied they'd talked. 
     
    *****
     
    Ruby spent the following morning finishing up more shirt orders.  She was pleased with how few she had left.  Between the work she did in the mornings, and the work Penny did in the afternoons, they had accomplished a great deal in a short time.  Ruby knew if she could keep working at the pace she had been, they would be caught up by the end of the week, and she would be free to make all the