Letter Perfect ( Book #1) (28 page)
“But I would have cared for her,” Ruth whispered thickly.
“And you did. Six months is a long while, and I don’t doubt that you were with her constantly. She did her best to equip you for a good life when she’d be gone. I’ll bet that was why she sent you to those schools. When push came to shove, though, your mama kept you close to her side.”
“But I failed her. Every school sent me back in disgrace. I didn’t fit in.”
“God doesn’t make any two people alike, Ruthie. Just because you didn’t fit into their idea of a ‘perfect lady’ doesn’t mean you aren’t a daughter of the King.”
“I bet He’s tired of me being a wild, rebellious child, too.” She pushed away from Josh and sat up.
Josh slid his hand under her chin and turned her to face him. His hazel eyes radiated warmth, not the judgment she expected. “God made you special in your own right. It occurs to me that you were true to Him when you didn’t let them squish you into a mold that didn’t fit.”
When he withdrew his touch, she missed the contact. Ruth tried to gather her wits. “Laney—”
“You know I love my sister, Ruth. But my sister has a docile temperament. She’s a lamb and you’re a lioness. God created both.”
“He made a lot more lambs than lions.”
Josh chuckled, and Ruth knotted her hands in her lap.
I’m making
an utter fool of myself. I’m not going to say another word. No, maybe I
should. I could change the subject to something safe
. She moistened her lips. “It’s taking forever to get back home.” Just as soon as she’d spoken, she tacked on, “It’s no reflection on your companionship, Josh. I’m just nervous about Laney.”
“No offense taken. I feel much the same way.”
She sighed. “I can’t for the life of me imagine anyone trying to harm her. I’ve been praying for the Lord to keep a score of angels about her.”
“Me too.”
“Those poor angels. They’re having to contend with Hilda today.” Ruth clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, I don’t believe I said that. It’s dreadful, the way I blurt things out like that.”
Josh started laughing. “Hilda’s been difficult, hasn’t she?”
“Difficult?” Ruth compressed her lips and started to fan herself.
“Oh, I get it. This is one of those times where you’re falling back on manners. It’s the old if-you-can’t-say-something-nice situation, eh?”
“Are all summers in California this warm?”
“Ruth?”
“Yes, Josh?”
“Do me a favor and stop carrying a fan. You’re going to put out your eye with it one of these days.”
Thoroughly disgruntled, Ruth closed the ivory-and-silk frippery with a snap. “I wish your father was going back home with us.”
He shot her an impish grin. “He would have told you to put away the fan, too. You’re dangerous with the silly thing.”
“Well, if I don’t carry it, I’ll just start toting around my muff pistol.”
“I told you that fan was dangerous. It just wafted your brains clear out of your head.”
“That trip to town took forever,” Laney complained as Ruth entered her room.
“Tell me about it,” Ruth muttered.
“Well, I’ll go on down and get busy.” Hilda pried herself out of the rocking chair and trundled to the door. “Elaine Louise, if you dare try to get out of that bed, I’m going to come back up here and sit on you!”
“I’ll make sure she behaves,” Ruth said.
“I’ve heard some tall promises in my day, but that one …” Hilda snorted and left.
“I don’t think she’s forgiven me for bumping into the clothesline yet.” Ruth shed her crinoline and plopped down next to Laney.
“I’m sure she has.” Laney grinned. “But it’s going to take a while before she forgives you for sneezing over the sauerkraut at supper night before last.”
“I didn’t do that on purpose, Laney. Truly I didn’t.”
“Don’t tell Daddy or Josh. They both considered that to be a brilliant tactical move.”
Ruth couldn’t contain her laughter. Then spying the books Josh had purchased, she held one aloft before Laney. “Look here! I never imagined it possible, but Lester had that dime novel we were going to order!”
“For true?”
“The proof’s right here.” She pressed the book into Laney’s hands. “I peeked at it already—and it’s going to be a wonderful adventure.”
“I never thought of a book as an adventure.”
“Well, they are. We’re going to share it. I’ll read one page, and you’ll read the next.”
“I don’t know if I can. I won’t be able to read very fast.”
“This isn’t a race, Laney. It’s a book. What’s wrong with relishing the story instead of rushing through it?” Ruth scooted back against the headboard.
Laney wiggled next to her. “I’m in trouble already. I can’t even pronounce the first word in the title.”
Ruth drummed her fingers on the paper cover. “I’ve been trying to decide how to say it, too. It’s an Indian name, so it probably doesn’t follow normal rules. Why don’t we just decide on something, and since we agree, it’ll work.”
“Okay.”
“
Malaseka, The Indian Wife of the White Hunter
.” Ruth shivered. “Doesn’t the title just give you a thrill?”
“Wait a minute,” Laney whispered.
“What’s wrong?”
“My door’s open. Daddy might hear me bumbling to read.”
“That’s not a problem. He’s on his way to Sacramento. Here. The first page is on your side.”
Laney started out very slowly and tentatively. Her finger trailed across the page beneath each word as she sounded it out. When she finished the first page, Ruth congratulated her, then read her page aloud at a slow pace so Laney could follow along. They continued to take turns.
“Hey.”
Ruth and Laney both jumped.
Josh stood in the doorway. “It’s suppertime, and you didn’t answer when Hilda called. That must be a good book.”
“It’s wonderful, Josh!” Laney started to stuff her arms into the sleeves of her robe. “We lost all track of time.”
“I heard you reading, Laney Lou. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, but it’s all because of Ruth.”
“No, it’s not.” Ruth smiled. “We dedicated your reading to the Lord. He’s blessing your efforts.”
“From what I heard, He’s showering His blessing on your efforts.” Josh jerked his head toward the stairs. “Come on, Ruth.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Ruth remained on the bed. She couldn’t very well stand and call Josh’s attention to the fact that her skirts all draped around her ankles while the crinoline formed a collapsed beehive on the far side of the bed. They’d just discussed what an abysmal misfit she was when it came to ladylike comportment; the last thing she wanted to do was provide another example for him.
“I’m such a dolt!” Laney pushed her brother. “Josh, you go on downstairs.”
“The only way I’m letting you go downstairs is if I’m with you.”
“Now you’re the one who’s being a dolt.” Laney poked at his arm.
“Supper’s getting stone cold!” Hilda hollered.
“Talk about being trapped between a rock and a hard place …” Josh muttered. He crooked his forefinger at Ruth and called down, “We’ll be there in just a minute.”
“Josh—”
“Laney, tell Ruth not to make a liar out of me. Even with your help, it’ll take five minutes for her to”—he waved his hand toward her skirts—“tend to things.”
Ruth muffled a moan. Of course he noticed.
Laney made a shooing motion with her hands. “Go on. She’ll break her neck if she tries to go downstairs in her current state.”
“I get no appreciation around here!” Hilda yelled.
“Far be it from me to get her any more upset with me than she already is.” Ruth flung herself out of the bed, grabbed handfuls of her skirts and traipsed to the door. “So help me, Josh, if you dare say one thing, I’ll take it as cause to abandon all of the expensive education I received. Then you’ll wish you’d tangled with Hilda.”
Suave as could be, he braced her elbow and led her and Laney to the top of the stairs. “Shall we, ladies?”
Yards of material dragged behind her. Head held high, Ruth whispered to Laney, “No matter what, Hilda’s going to be upset. Your brother is making me get my new dress all dirty.”
“Did Hilda say a word to you at all the time you came down in your—I mean to say, without your shoes?”
“When did you do that?” Laney demanded.
“Never you mind. Laney, your brother talks too much.”
“In this case,” Laney asserted, “he hasn’t talked enough.”
“I’m going to take supper off the table—”
“Hilda, we’re right here,” Laney said. “And supper smells marvelous.”
“No thanks to you youngsters. No appreciation. I tell you— Well, lo and behold! Ruth finally got some common sense and gave up on those ridiculous hoops.”
“She made the sacrifice only because we all knew you’d make such a fine meal.” Josh seated Ruth and had to seesaw the chair in and out three times before it didn’t catch on her voluminous gown. In a wry tone, he added, “Ruth didn’t want to hold us up.”
“I’m ever so glad you’re finally letting me out of my room.” Laney took her seat.
Hilda shook her finger at Laney. “Right after you eat, you’re going right back up to your bed.”
“I’ll ask the blessing.” Josh bowed his head.
“Be sure to tell God to rope in that father of yours,” Hilda ordered. “Seein’ as how he’s not here at the table, and the Good Book says where two or three are gathered and all that, you might as well hit the Lord with important matters instead of reminding Him you’re grateful for ’taters and gravy.”
I
’ve been thinking,” Ruth said as she set down her silverware.
Not again
. Josh plunked his empty coffee cup on the table.
How can I get Ruth to stop concocting wild plans before an implementation
turns into an execution?
“Tomorrow Laney and I will spend the day in the parlor.”
Laney’s expression lit with delight. “What a wonderful idea! I’m so sick of my room, I could weep.”
“If you do well,” Ruth patted Laney’s arm, “then you ought to be able to attend church on Sunday. Supposing that goes well, we could go to visit the O’Sullivans on Monday.”
“I don’t know if I’ll have time to take you there.” Josh pushed away from the table. “I don’t want you girls going off on your own.”
“You’re worried, Josh. I understand.” Ruth touched her sleeve. “But remember how I have a knife?”
Josh looked over his shoulder to make certain Hilda wouldn’t overhear them. “That little pig sticker wouldn’t begin to protect the two of you. Your grand plans for a library are going to have to sit by the wayside until we figure out who hit Laney. Until I’m convinced you’ll both be safe, you’re not going trotting off anywhere.”
“You’re the one who pointed out how we need to help over there,” Laney wheedled.
“Whoever struck you is obviously not right in the head. He’s just as likely to try to strike Ruth. Anytime you girls step foot outside this house, you are not to be alone. Is that understood?”
“We’ll work something out,” Ruth said as her chair slid across the floor. She gave him a we’ll-talk-later look while resting her hand on Laney’s shoulder. “Let’s go back upstairs. We can read a bit more before you go to sleep.”
“I’ll help you ladies up the stairs.”
Ruth looked down at herself, then back at him. “If you were any gentleman whatsoever, you’d walk out the door.”
“And if I weren’t a gentleman?” he teased.
“You’d wear the dress and tackle the stairs, yourself!” Ruth looked just as surprised at her response as Laney did. The two of them flushed brightly and broke out laughing.
Josh shoved his hands into his pockets, puckered up, and started whistling as he headed toward the door.
