Letter Perfect ( Book #1) (34 page)

“Charity begins at home.” McCain’s voice was tough as granite.

“Oh, I’m so glad we agree. You see, I’m going to found a library for the whole town!”

“Daddy’s acting funny,” Laney said as she crawled into bed.

Ruth wondered why the belt of her dressing gown was so short. She glanced down to find she’d knotted it into a huge mess.

“It’s sweet, the way he’s hovering over you. It’s not my business, and I don’t want to pry, but you truly don’t have to worry about your future, Ruth. Daddy’s right. You belong here with us, and nothing’s ever going to change that.”

Keeping her head bowed as she untangled the knot, Ruth changed the subject. “Do I need to mix one of the headache powders for you tonight?”

“I’m quite well, thank you.” Laney patted the other side of the bed. “Isn’t it something, how everything always works out? Why, since you’ve been staying with me, it left your room vacant for that nice Mr. Farnsworth.”

“He is nice, isn’t he?” Ruth lifted the kerosene lamp from the washstand and carried it to a small table in the far corner of the bedchamber.

“I’m not overly sleepy. Are you going to read to me?”

“You need your rest, Laney. The doctor said you wouldn’t make a complete recovery if we weren’t diligent about your sleeping sufficiently.” Ruth picked up the portfolio Mr. Farnsworth had given her. “I’m supposed to look this over.”

Laney’s pretty face scrunched up. “I bet it’s so boring, you fall asleep faster than I do.”

Ruth laughed as she opened the folder. Grandfather had inherited a small shipping company and invested some of the profits in a Lowell textile mill. When Mama returned home, Grandfather sold his holdings and moved them to St. Louis. No one ever discussed finances, so Ruth hadn’t known what a shrewd businessman her grandfather had been.

Learning of the size of her inheritance came as a shock. Now Ruth got a clear picture as to just how sharp her grandfather had been. Page after page of the portfolio represented the various investments, stocks, and bonds. Though Farnsworth mentioned the collection was well diversified, Ruth marveled at the wide range of companies and products. Two railroads. Western Union. The Overland Mail Company. The I.M. Singer Sewing Machine Company. Otis Safety Elevator. The list went on. A list of how many shares, what their current value was, and how they’d been earning accompanied each listing.

The second section contained certificates to accompany the diamonds. Other than an emerald ring she occasionally wore and a pair of ruby earbobs, Ruth owned no jewels. The prices listed for the diamonds shocked her. She opened the velvet pouch and poured two-dozen ice-like stones into her palm. They glittered in the lamplight. Their value didn’t make sense. A man could labor for years and never spend a penny of his wages before he could buy the smallest of the diamonds. Ruth shook her head as she carefully poured them back into the bag and tied it shut.

A knock sounded at the door.

Ruth slipped the pouch into her pocket, then scurried to the door before whoever was there would knock again and disturb Laney. She opened it a crack.

“I wanted to check in on you and Elaine.”

“Laney is already asleep, Mr. McCain.”

“But you can’t sleep? Poor little Ruth. Dear, you don’t need to worry your pretty little head over all of these business matters. I feared that Farnsworth overburdened you.”

“Not at all. I appreciated his recognizing that I have a sound mind and am eager to use it.”

He nodded sagely. “That’s good to know. The other good thing is knowing whom you can trust.”

“Oh, I agree!” She nodded her head in agreement but didn’t meet his eyes. “Well, thank you for checking in on us.”

“I could stay for a time and keep you company … until you fall asleep,” McCain suggested.

Ruth tried hard to look notably shocked. “That would hardly be appropriate, Mr. McCain. We are not related.”

“Well, you’re practically a daughter to me. Indeed, I think of you that way.”

His expression made Ruth most uncomfortable. Josh and Farnsworth’s voices drifted up the stairs. Ruth could hear them drawing nearer and raised the volume of her voice as much as she dared. “Good night, Mr. McCain.”

McCain hesitated, then seemed to realize it would do him little good to protest. “Good night, Ruth.” He turned and said, “Laney’s already asleep. Ruth’s settling in nicely.”

“Ruth?”

She opened the door about six more inches. “Yes, Josh?”

He bid good night to Farnsworth and came to her door. “I suggested to Hilda that she bring up a breakfast tray for you and Laney. It should give you a little more time to get ready to go into town, and I want my sister to have as much sleep as possible.”

“How thoughtful! She’s still recovering.”

“Good idea, son.” McCain slapped Josh on the shoulder.

“Thanks, Dad. Good night.” Josh didn’t move an inch.

Ruth wanted to hug him for being so stalwart.

“It’s not seemly for you to be at the door of a young lady’s bedchamber,” McCain muttered.

Ruth opened her mouth to tell McCain he had no room to cast stones, but Laney’s sleepy voice called, “Josh, is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me, Laney Lou.”

“Ruth showed me her grandmother’s brooch. It made me remember Mama’s cameo. Do you know where it is?”

McCain shouldered past Ruth and into the room. “I’m the one you ought to ask. I’ve been keeping it for you.”

Ruth stood in the wide-open doorway, astonished at his nerve. He’d just faulted his son for standing out in the hall, yet he’d barged straight in!

Josh tugged on her sleeve, and she stepped out of the room. He dipped his head. “Wait until I come to get you in the morning. Otherwise Dad will sneak in and nose through your papers.”

Ruth nodded. Next, she slipped her hand into the pocket of her dressing gown, closed her fingers around the velvet pouch, and slowly withdrew it. Pressing it into Josh’s hand, she murmured, “For safekeeping.”

“I stored the cameo away for you,” McCain told Laney. “Your mother received it on her eighteenth birthday, and I always thought you’d want me to give it to you on yours.”

“I’m sorry if I spoiled your surprise, Daddy.”

“You didn’t spoil it, sis.” Josh casually slipped his hands into his pants pockets and shrugged. “If anything, I think it will make her appreciate the cameo more now, Dad. She’ll anticipate it.”

“I think that’s enough excitement for Laney,” Ruth announced. “She needs to get back to sleep. If you gentlemen will excuse us …”

“Of course we will,” Josh said. “Come on, Dad. I’ll see you girls in the morning.”

Josh managed to get his father out of the room, and Ruth immediately shut the door. She rued the fact that the door didn’t have a lock. Laney slipped back to sleep, then Ruth scoured the room to find a safe hiding place for her portfolio. Finally, she settled on stuffing it in her pillowslip.

The next morning, Hilda bustled into the room with a breakfast tray. “Don’t know what got into Josh. He suddenly thinks you girls are delicate or something. Of all the nonsense in the world, your not being able to gather yourselves together enough to show up at the breakfast table.”

267

“We’ll put the extra time to good use. Maybe Laney can help me finally tame my hair into a respectable style.”

Setting down the tray, Hilda snorted. “There’s not enough time in all eternity for that. Why you think you have to make your hair look like everybody else’s beats me. Nothin’ wrong with plenty of curl. You don’t see ducklings trying to slick down their fluff. Your hair’s just like that—yellow down. Only curly.”

“Ducklings are adorable,” Laney said. “And so are you, Ruth.”

“Hans Christian Andersen has a fairy tale about the Ugly Duckling. I always loved that story.”

Hilda turned to go. “Anyone who thinks a duckling is ugly just ain’t looking from the right angle. That’s what I say. Maybe you need to think on that good and hard, Ruth Caldwell.”

“Here we go. Ruth, let me help you up.” McCain bustled over to her.

“I’ve got her, Dad.” Josh curled his hands about Ruth’s slender waist.

“Thank you, Josh.” Ruth smiled at him.
Is she glad I’m holding her,
or just that it isn’t Dad?

He’d no more than begun to lift her when his father snapped, “What do you think you’re doing? Ruth belongs on the seat, next to me.”

“Please put me back with Laney, Josh. I couldn’t possibly sit up front.”

He held Ruth suspended in midair, not at all sorry for the opportunity to show her his strength and protection.
If only I’d spoken
about my feelings before she revealed her inheritance. Ruth needs to know I
will cherish her and be her shelter and security. Dad’s acting like a love-struck
swain, and it’s downright embarrassing
.

She lightly patted his shoulder. “It’s only right that Hilda sit up front.”

“Hilda?!” McCain spluttered.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Hilda stepped out onto the porch and fussed with her new dress.

“You have work to do. You can’t go gallivanting to town,” McCain snapped.

As he tucked Ruth in beside his sister, Josh injected a casual note to his voice, “I asked Hilda to go.”

“And look how charming she is in her new gown!” Laney handed Ruth a parasol.

“Ruth, sugar, you come on up front,” his father ordered.

“Dad, you’re embarrassing her.”

“I couldn’t possibly …” Ruth allowed her voice to trail off as she waved her arm over the full skirts surrounding her.

“Age before beauty,” Hilda trundled over.

“You’re not old,” Laney said. “And you are beautiful.”

Josh lifted Hilda up, and she settled in. She glanced at his father, then declared, “That scowl would curdle even goat’s milk. You sufferin’ from indigestion? If you are, you’d best stay home and nibble on a dry biscuit.”

“The last thing I need is an old woman telling me what to do.” McCain climbed into the buckboard and grabbed the reins.

Farnsworth had already mounted up. Josh unhitched his own mare and swung into the saddle. “Let’s go. We have a lot to get done today.”

He and Farnsworth rode their horses on either side of the wagon. Laney chattered like a happy little magpie. Farnsworth proved adept at keeping conversation flowing easily, so he and Ruth only needed to put in a well-timed comment or two.

Before getting out of the wagon when they reached town, Ruth slipped Hilda a coin.

“What is this?” McCain demanded.

“I’ve made extra work for Hilda. It’s only fair that I pay her a little for all she’s done.”

Hilda glanced down at the double eagle and sucked in a loud breath. “Child, I think you gave me—”

“Far less than you deserve,” Ruth cut in. “Please, Hilda, spoil yourself a bit. It would make me so happy if you did.”

“That’s why you need me to look out for you.” McCain shook his finger at Ruth. “You’re making foolish choices and will spend yourself into penury with rash decisions.”

“Oh my!” Ruth hastily opened her reticule. “Here, Hilda. I want to make sure you have more before I fritter away everything.” She took out two more double eagles, pressed them into Hilda’s hand, and curled the gaping housekeeper’s fingers around the coins. Smiling, Ruth addressed his father, “Thank you for reminding me to keep my priorities straight.”