A Virtuous Ruby (17 page)

“What about my family?” Ruby’s voice was small.

“What about your son? You can do more for him by getting away.”

“He needs his family. This is where he was born.”

“Ruby, I didn’t want to alarm you, but David and I, we spoke at the holiday celebration last week.”

The freckles stood out on her blanched features. “You and David talked about me?”

“He knows he did you a great wrong.”

Her beautiful eyes grew shiny and bright. “He does?”

“He does. I didn’t like him talking to me about it, but, Ruby,” he forced himself to touch her shoulder, dared himself to stay under control from wanting to touch her any further. “He says Mary Winslow has fallen for Solomon. She had a difficult childbearing history, and they were asking me questions to see if he was okay.”

“I don’t believe it.” To his surprise, a slight flush came back into Ruby’s pretty face. “She doesn’t care anything about little Negro children, but to be seen as a generous lady like in slave times.”

“Maybe,” Adam said. “But some women can become unbalanced if they want a baby. I’ve seen it before on my rotations. I thought you should know.”

“He—he might be in danger now.” Ruby reached over for the wheel. “Let’s go.”

“My point is, he
is
in danger now. And you are too.” He felt more alive every time he touched her and it struck him how normal that could be. Something in his heart grew and became alive. His loneliness seemed foolish to him now.

Why had he closed himself off to feeling this way? Oh, to become a doctor. Well he was one now. And he didn’t have to be closed off anymore.

“I—I don’t know what to do.”

“You can go to nursing school. You can learn how to be a nurse and take care of yourself. But you have to leave this place. Can’t you make a difference for the race by going and getting some education to better your life? Solomon’s life?”

“I don’t know about all of that.”

“Because it would involve me? Helping you?”

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him and she pulled his hand away from her arm. No. Did she just attack him in a small way and he didn’t even know it? “I don’t know if what you’re saying is true. How would it make things better here? For my sisters?”

“Sometimes, things have to be about what
you
need.”

“No, Dr. Morson. Everything is connected. If I leave, I have to take my sisters with me. Somehow. Someone like you wouldn’t understand that, having been by yourself all of your life. I suppose that’s not your fault, but that is what it is when you are linked with someone. You just can’t leave them behind. Better start the car now. I want to see if Solomon is okay.”

Well, she could be very decisive. There was a finality to her words and as he started up the car, and pulled back into the road, he mused. Was it still about David? Or did she really despise him that much? Him as a deliverer? Maybe God didn’t know everything after all.

On Sunday, Adam planned to let Dodge see them sitting together, and see he how he handled Solomon. Now everyone would know where Ruby stood. Dodge would not be embarrassed—he would see how things were and back off. “I’m going to tell him.” Ruby opened the door herself and handed Solomon to him.

“Ruby, I don’t know if that is the best thing.”

“I just want to get it over with.” She left him and went right up the stairs to the minister by herself, who was there greeting people on their way into the church. And in speaking to him, her voice sounded a little high up at one point, but then she marched right into the church, leaving a dazed looking Dodge in her wake. The minister’s flinty, cold, hard gaze met his as he held Solomon and handed Nettie, Delie, and Em out of the car’s backseat.

Adam couldn’t blame him. If anyone tried to hone in on Ruby, he would have been upset about it too. He didn’t know what he would do about it, but he would have been angry. Dodge bore watching. Adam just tipped his hat at the minister and made his way into the church. When it was time to greet the remaining Bledsoes, Dodge made a big show about it being late, and sweeping everyone into the church without saying anything to him on an individual basis. Very clever.

He sat down next to Ruby. “What did you say to him?”

“I just told him no thank you.”

“Why did you seem angry then?”

“He said something to the effect about how I’m going to hell,” Ruby said rather brazenly not minding she was in God’s house. His Aunt Lizzie would have dragged him out by the ear for such an offense.

“What did you say?” Adam said, speaking above the threadbare little choir beginning a hymn.

“I said he couldn’t tell me about where I would go when I died. It’s a matter for God and God alone.” Ruby fixed him a look. “I didn’t make it about us, if you were wondering.”

Adam had wondered about it. “I’m glad you didn’t. He might have gotten even angrier.”

Ruby patted his knee, which was just under Solomon’s little leg. She did it so artfully, anyone in the adjoining pew, like her father, might have thought she was patting Solomon. But she wasn’t. She patted him. “I didn’t want to presume too much.”

Her wide brown eyes were so soulful, he couldn’t question what she was doing. So, despite this depth of feeling, and Ruby’s risqué behavior and willingness to cross a line of propriety, he adjusted the baby, just a little bit, to stop her from what she was doing. “You aren’t.” He cleared his throat.

But in the minx-like way she was staring at him, she had won the moment.

“I want to take my text this morning,” Dodge boomed out in a loud voice making everyone jump, “from a different place. We been following along with the commandments, but I think I want to shake things up some, amen.”

“Amen,” the congregation agreed.

“I’m going on ahead to Proverbs, 31. When old King Lemuel learns from his mama. It’s important to learn from your mama. I hope you got a mama who teaches you right from wrong. If you do, praise the Lord.”

There were various people who agreed and opened their bibles. Adam glanced over at Ruby and her skin had gone a little paler, making her brown freckles stand out more than usual. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my passage.”

They should have expected such a reaction from Dodge, since he was so touchy and now, Adam could see, he was vindictive as well. She would have to sit there and take the humiliation Dodge doled out, claiming his right as a minister. Adam tightened his jaw and shifted his arms a little bit to comfort a sleepy-headed Solomon.

Dodge was going to use this opportunity to expound about why he couldn’t find a virtuous woman. Like Ruby. Adam tried to tune him out, but the beauty of the passage beckoned to him and it made him think of Ruby even more. He wanted to feel sorry for Dodge, but this kind of confrontation in a place meant for comfort and solace was too much.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he will have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

The description suited Ruby perfectly. Adam stared at the beautiful little freckles standing out on her face. “Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain,” Dodge said with unnecessary force. “But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” He shut his bible and started on his harangue. “Let us hear the word of God and know it’s good and true. Let us hear and know to follow God is to obey. And for a woman to disobey God, to show she does not fear God by her bearing, and her attitude and ways is an abomination.”

The congregation quieted. Strange. Usually, there would have been a great show of shouts praising God, but Adam could sense the tension in the people. Dodge went on, “A virtuous woman obeys the law. She does not get herself into trouble. She follows a righteous path. A woman who determines her own path, is not walking in the Lord’s light, amen.” He took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.

“A woman like this, who flies in the face of God’s plan, and of God’s desires is headed for sure and certain trouble, pain and heartache. A woman like this needs the hand God provides, of a ‘husband who is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.’ That’s the kind of husband she needs. Anything else, anybody else, is asking for trouble, amen.”

A rustling next to him.

Ruby. She was standing.

Parched, Adam tried to swallow for a second. Ruby was standing in the church, when everyone else was sitting and she stared at the Reverend, eye to eye. She then edged herself out of the row into the middle aisle. The murmurs in the congregation grew louder.

The only time anyone should be in the center aisle during the service would be if the person gave his or her life to God. No. Ruby dared to stand in the aisle and look at Dodge, eye to eye. She then, turned on her heel and walked out of the front doors of the little country church, in the most direct way. The sound of the doors shutting behind her sounded like a slap or a rebuke. The church congregation murmured then was quiet.

“There may be some who don’t like what I say. But it’s God’s word, and cannot be denied. It’s in the Bible. That’s what it say.” Dodge made a show of gesturing to the book. Adam took the sleeping Solomon and draped him over his shoulder. He edged his way out of the pew, down the side aisle and carried the baby out through the front doors and went outside. Ruby sat in his car, with her arms folded.

“I’ve had enough. I’m never stepping foot in First Water again.”

Adam handed her the baby and began to start up the car. He would rather have walked through fire than to see Ruby disgraced again. Would people reject his treatment if she accompanied him? It didn’t matter. Ruby did not resemble the elegant doctor’s wife he imagined, but he did not care. She deserved to be happy. He slid in the car next to her. “I couldn’t agree with you more. Let’s go.”

The reverberation of the engine of the car as it retreated from the little country church sounded like a parting shot in the still summer Sunday morning.

Chapter Sixteen

The family didn’t talk or laugh at dinner after church, but she was determined to be joyful. “I don’t know what is wrong with you all. The Carvers are coming. It’s like Christmas time when they come.” She had the baby on her knee, giving him a little ham in his mouth and a squeeze.

Her mother’s face was morose at her disgraceful behavior, but Ruby did not care. She had never felt so free.

“Ruby’s right.” Mags took up some support for her sister and Ruby threw her a look of gratitude with pitched eyebrows. “We get off two hours early from the mill all week for the revivals. Mr. Winslow gets all generous because of it.”

Ruby’s heart sank a bit at having to hear Mags talk about being glad to be off for two hours. She insisted her work in the mill was going just fine, but it still bothered Ruby.

She folded up a corner of the tablecloth and said, “The tent goes up, and all the people go in, ready to praise God. When the sun goes down, people can go to the tent for five nights and worship God. As far as I’m concerned, this is our real church. I hope you will come, Dr. Morson.”

“Sounds like something to see.”

“Oh it is. We love the Carvers.” Ruby shouted as she reminded her mother and father about what really mattered. Not being turned out of First Water.

Delie wriggled. “Brother Carver preaches and Sister Jane plays the music.” She jumped on the bench and boomed. “We going to get right with God today, people!”

The family started giggling. Delie could do a fine impression of Brother Carver. Lona was the only one not amused. “Sit down, Cordelia May.” Delie obeyed immediately. Lona was not happy, Ruby knew, because she called out her younger sister by her full name.

“Should have waited for them to bless Solomon. That’s the real blessing.” Ruby looked up at Adam. “Each one of us. We was blessed at First Water, but every time they come, the Carvers bless us too.”

“Solomon had to be blessed somewhere. Besides, they should be here by now. Revival starts tomorrow.”

“Must be running late, Lona. Nothing to get worried about.” Her father sipped at his coffee.

“Last year, when Brother was here, he wasn’t looking so spry.”

Her remark gained Adam’s attention. “Do you think they would have gotten in touch with you if something were wrong?”

John shrugged his shoulders. “Might have sent a letter. Hard to say. I just know Paul Winslow wouldn’t pay for no mill closings unless they coming. Did he say any different, Mags?”

Mags came back in from the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. “No, we thought we were getting out for the revival like always. I hope we are.” Her brown finely-etched features wrinkled with worry.

A few weeks ago, Ruby would not have dared to speak, but things had changed. “We aren’t finding out anything by sitting here. I’m going to change and go into town.”

Adam stood. “I’ll take you.”

“Thank you, Dr. Morson. She done caused enough trouble today.” Lona echoed giving Ruby a fierce look.

Ruby handed Solomon off to John, and he took his grandson, willingly. “Let’s have some Bible stories for this young man from his aunties. Em, you need to read. Come on now.”

Adam wanted to laugh at Em’s reluctant-looking face, but she complied immediately. “We’ll be back soon.” Delie looked after him longingly but he made her grin when he waved just at her.

After Ruby changed into her overalls, Adam and Ruby went down the steps to the car and Ruby brushed the red dirt from her feet, but she did not put on shoes. She probably should have. “I’ll stay in the car,” she promised. “Although poor Delie would not have minded if she’d been allowed to come.”

“She had already been solicited by your father to help with Solomon.” Adam slid in the driver’s seat after he cranked the gear shaft to start the car.

“Poor Delie,” Ruby chuckled. “I think she want to fight me sometimes, she loves you so.”

Now Adam was embarrassed. “There’s no need for resentments. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble between you.”

Ruby waved him off as he turned the car down the street. “She knows she’s too young for stuff.” Her countenance turned serious. “I worry about her, though and Em too. Em’ll be thirteen in three years and then they’ll want her for the mill. They already trying to get Nettie in there with Mags. I don’t want Em in the mill—her lungs have always been kind of weak.”

“What do you think should happen for her?”

“She got to get into a high school somewhere. I got to work on my getting a nursing job. I can help out the younger ones. It’s probably too late for Mags and Nettie.” She stared out of the side of the car, lost in thought.

The thought of sweet Delie working in the mill turned his stomach and Adam thought again of proposing to Ruby, thought she might turn him down again. He still wasn’t worthy of her. He couldn’t face anymore rejection. They were quiet until they arrived into town and Ruby hopped out of the car and went into the store. “I’m sorry, Adam, I did forget. I got to go into the store to see what the word is.”

Her pretty feet and trim ankles retreated into the store. If he bought her high topped boots with buttons on them, would she wear them? He had thoughts, rather impure ones of helping them onto her pretty feet, one little hook at a time and of Ruby’s laughing brown eyes looking at him seriously as he had the pleasure of unhooking them and touching the rounded bump of her little ankle. Before he knew it, Ruby had come in the car and pointed northward. “They’re coming in on the train this time. In about thirty minutes.”

“Let’s go. Hopefully, we will be able to see them there.”

They drove to the depot and clearly, the word had gotten around because there was a good portion of the Negro population, about twenty people, at the depot as well. “Unless there is a convention, or Mrs. Ida Wells-Barnett coming in, they must be for Brother Carver and Sister Jane.”

“You’re the one who would get excited about Mrs. Wells-Barnett coming in.”

“Did you just make a joke?” Ruby amazed, continued, “There is hope for you yet.” Once he drove the short distance to the train station, she hopped out of the car to exchange conversation with those who waited on the platform, leaving him to contemplate her pretty feet, out in public, once again.

What could he do to help her, to keep her son and her sisters away from Winslow? If he only had the courage to do so. He gripped the wheel. What would give him the purpose? Could it be the God Ruby relied on so much? He didn’t know, and as a doctor and a scientist, the space of the unknown made him feel very, very uncomfortable.

When Ruby climbed the steps to the platform, everyone who was standing there got very quiet. She was used to that kind of response from people when she approached them, but going back to the way things were last year was a bit of a shock. She cleared her throat. “Hey, good to see you up and about, Agnes. This where Brother Carver and Sister Jane coming in?”

“They is.” Bob’s Agnes spoke to Ruby, guarded and distant. What was wrong with her?

“I’m looking forward to seeing them. Hope they come and stay with us.”

“I would say you all have enough company right through here,” Bob moved Agnes over a bit, away from Ruby. “They probably need to find someplace else to stay.”

Ruby started down at her bare toes. “We don’t mind. Although we don’t want to hog up any attention from anyone else. If you all can accommodate.”

“If we can what?” Agnes asked her, looking as if she had two heads.

“You know, if you all got the space for them. Don’t want you to be crowded.”

“We do fine and plenty right by Brother and Sister, Ruby,” Bob said.

“Fine then. I’ll just wait down here until they get in.” Ruby walked away from the small crowd quickly. Agnes had stuck up for her before. Now she was so cold and Bob was acting strange. What was going on? Who knew what Dodge was saying about her. Or maybe it was about her abrupt exit. She just wasn’t going to pay any attention to it all. Adam came behind her as she walked to the other side of the platform.

“What’s the matter?”

Ruby tucked her hands into her overalls and tried not to feel the sting of tears behind her eyes. She had been treated this way many, many times before. That was why she stayed in the house, to avoid the hurt. Now, after she had been treated so nicely by so many, it was startling to go back to the old way. But she didn’t want to stay in the house, not anymore. “I’m just down here waiting for Brother and Sister.”

“Did they say something to you?”

“They let me know they were not going to allow some soiled dove to tell them about where Brother and Sister were going to stay.” Despite herself, the tears began to fall. “They have always stayed with us, and they said we already had company.”

“Well, you do, after a fashion. Me.”

Ruby wiped at her eyes. “I don’t think of you as company.”

“Well, that’s how I’m seen in the community.”

“No one else has a house bigger than ours. I don’t know what can be done. Brother and Sister can’t stay in the hotel.”

“No. I guess not.”

“It’ll all work out, Ruby. I can go back to the Winslows, or the hotel.” Adam informed her.

Ruby’s eyes got big as saucers looking at him. “Oh, no. It’ll all be okay. I’m sure of it. It’s summer now, and not cold at all. I would sleep outside before you had to go back to the Winslows.”

Adam put a warm and comforting hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, your hospitality means a lot, but I’ve slept in a barn or two in my time. We’ll work it out. It’s only over a week.”

What did Adam mean? But then, the train whistle sounded in the distance and everyone turned toward it. The sound of the engine increased and grew bigger and more ominous until the train was upon them. It took some time to unload the train of its mail, luggage and passengers, but finally, a small couple got off, nearly at the end of the train on the Jim Crow car. Ruby was closer to them, so she was able to get to them first.

The Jim Crow car didn’t have regular seats and would have been a hard trip. They usually came by use of their mule, Old Casey, because they didn’t have to deal with the rules on the train. However, as she came closer to them, Brother Carver walked with a bit of a stoop and Sister Jane had new wrinkles at her neck. They were getting old, and as hard as the train trip was, it was an easier choice than having to travel with bumpy Old Casey all the time. Ruby spread out her arms and embraced the couple. “I’m so glad to see you both,” she exclaimed.

“Lookee here, Sister,” Brother Carver held Ruby out from him and marveled. “See how pretty Ruby is now.”

“I see,” Sister Jane smiled at her. “I always knew she would be, God bless her. She a woman now.”

“Who this?” Brother Carver peered behind Ruby at Adam. “You courtin’ Ruby Jean?”

“This is Dr. Morson, who has come to Winslow to doctor on us.”

“Lord, don’t You provide,” Sister Jane shook Adam’s hand. “What a blessing.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Sister Jane kept an arm around Ruby and pulled her to her side so she could see the rest of the people who were approaching them. “Are you sure you ain’t courting him? He’s pretty too.”

“Here come everybody,” Ruby waved at the other folks to come down. She wouldn’t be as small to them as they had been to her. “People sure missed you all.”

“We love coming to Winslow, for sure.” Brother Carver kept up a steady inspection of Adam. “We never know what we going to find, but we always know there’s a warm welcome and plenty of God’s people, right here who crave the word.”

“We made the trip special.” Sister Jane hugged Agnes and Bob. Ruby was still at her side, despite Agnes fixing her with a cross look.

“Special?” Ruby said.

“Can’t get so many places by train. Some folks don’t want revivals no more, God bless them. So we just coming to places where we know we will be welcome.”

“I see,” Ruby said, as Sister Jane walked down the platform with her. Adam and Bob followed with the luggage. “You’ll staying with us, ain’t you? Like always?”

Bob overheard and stood before them, stopping their path. “Them Bledsoes got a whole lot of sinning going on there. You don’t want to stay in a house of sin.”

Ruby took in a sharp breath. What in the world had gotten into Bob? “What you talking about?” Sister Jane’s tone and disposition showed she could match Bob for meanness if she had to.

Bob was ashamed for a minute, then stood tall. “Ruby got a baby. Everyone knows.”

Ruby felt as if the blood had drained from her, but instead of Sister Jane dropping her hold on her, she pulled her closer, “Yes? What of it? I knew. Remember what the dear Lord say ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, ye shall be judged.’”

Ruby’s head throbbed, nearly seeing stars at her astonishment. “You knew?”

“’Course I knew. I been knowing you since you was little. I saw last year, something in your eyes. Something wasn’t right, but you look like you was full to bursting. I knew—didn’t I, Brother?”

Brother nodded his head, “I recollect Sister saying to me, something was not right with Ruby. It was a reason we come special this year. Cut out a lot of other stops, but we had to see about this dear child. You all right?”

Ruby nodded, too much in shock to say anything.

“And the baby?” Sister Jane demanded of her.

“Fine, ma’am.”

Sister Jane drew herself up. “Well, then, what’s the problem? If we all stood up to the measure, most of us would fall way short, and why the dear Lord said what he say. We could do much counting on our fingers when some of these babies come, but they is all blessings from the Lord, no matter how they come.” She squeezed Ruby once more. “And I wants to see this dear little blessing of Ruby’s. Come on.”

Ruby could see that Bob was cowed, but looked like he had a whole lot more to say. She ignored him and helped Sister Jane down the steps to the car and the men followed with the luggage. “Oh my, Carver, we riding high style today,” Sister Jane said in delight.

“This is Dr. Morson’s car.” Ruby helped her inside in the front seat.

“He the baby’s father?” Brother Carver said from the backseat where he sat next to Ruby.