Free Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y'Barbo

spine.
    The schoolteacher had been the first to take them in, offering shelter on that rainy night in August. She’d offered clean clothes and soft beds and never once inquired of the how or why of their arrival. Along with her sister, Isabelle, Emilie had made them feel welcome and offered a measure of dignity to a woman who’d had none for a very long time.
    Ruby took a deep breath and said a quick prayer the best way she knew how. “I’ll answer whatever questions you’ve got.” She paused. “At least I’ll try.”
    Emilie seemed to consider the statement a moment. “All right, then.” She came to sit next to Ruby. “The twins,” she said tentatively. “I’ve noticed, well. . .” The schoolteacher turned her attention away from Ruby to study something off on the horizon. “I think perhaps there’s more to your story,” she finally said. “To their story.”
    Here was her moment to tell the truth. To take God at His word and offer up only that which was accurate.
    Ruby opened her mouth, fully intent on telling the woman who would soon become the judge’s wife everything. Or at least most of it.
    Then she heard herself say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chapter 9

    An opportunity missed, Ruby knew. Yet when Emilie rose and offered a smile, all she could think was how very much she wanted to be anywhere but in this place at this time having this sort of talk with Emilie Gayarre.
    There would be time again for the truth; this she knew. For the look on the schoolteacher’s face told her the subject would be broached again.
    Ruby’s stomach began to churn, and she knew it was not from the stew.
    “Of course,” Emilie said as she rose and sent the chickens scattering. “Where has the time gone? I’m certain the children will be wondering where their teacher is.”
    Ruby forced a smile, but she could not bring herself to meet the woman’s gaze. “I reckon so,” she said. “I’ll go and fetch the girls and see they get themselves back to the schoolhouse.”
    “No need,” Emilie said. “I can do that.” She reached to touch Ruby’s sleeve. Only then did Ruby look into Emilie’s eyes.
    “Leave Tess to Mary Carter this afternoon,” she said. “Isabelle will be there with Joey, and you’re in dire need of some time to yourself.”
    Time to herself? She’d gone without so long that she didn’t know if she remembered what that was. Even in her sleep, she shared a cot with Tess, and depending on whether one of the notorious Florida storms rolled in, sometimes with all three.
    “I couldn’t impose,” she said, imagining what she might accomplish with even one undivided hour.
    “Then it’s settled.” The schoolteacher smiled. “You see, my nephew may not yet be two, but he adores Tess. She’s quite a help to Isabelle in keeping him busy.”
    Tess did love to amuse the little fellow.
    “Will you tell the ladies how much I appreciate the help?”
    Emilie looked as if she was about to say something, but after a moment, she nodded and headed for the gate. “I’ll be baking pies for the both of them,” Ruby called, “and I’ll have no argument about it.”
    Emilie paused at the gate and rested both palms on the whitewashed wood. “Someday perhaps you’ll tell me where you learned to cook so well, Ruby.”
    The schoolteacher’s expression seemed innocent enough, but Ruby couldn’t help but feel they were no longer talking about pies. A sudden urge to gather up the girls and run for the nearest oceangoing vessel bore down on her, but Ruby forced a smile.
    “Yes,” she said as she took an unsteady step toward the back door. “Perhaps I will.”
    And then Emilie was gone, leaving Ruby to sort out her aching bones from her painful conscience. Neither could be done in the kitchen, where bread crumbs still dotted the floor and the lunch dishes awaited cleaning.
    A trip out back to the room she shared with the girls would likely allow for private reflection, but no