Chapter 16

R obert clung to the protection of the trees. He'd been tailing these men in the hopes of discovering the location of the other two and the missing horses. Until then, he'd stay out of sight. It meant cold camps. A man could survive a long time on pemmican and dried meat, but he'd sure love a cup of hot coffee. And to see Ruby's smiling face.

At least the men seemed to have forgotten any plan to kidnap her—for the moment. And he'd been saved dealing with three men at once when he'd realized the sound he'd heard was their packhorse. He'd realized then that it was wiser to be cautious and take his time.

But his task wasn't over until he had the thieves behind bars and the horses recovered. And most of all, Ruby and her family are safe from any threat from these nasty men.

A rider approached the three men.

Robert strained to hear what was said. He caught the word horses several times, and the rider gestured to the nearby hills. He made out a dark shadow at the side of one hill. It appeared to be large boulders. Did it hide a draw of some sort? Was this where they'd kept the stolen animals?

The four of them rode in that direction.

With no cover between his current position and the hills, he'd have to wait until the riders were out of sight to follow. They seemed in no hurry, so he leaned against a tree to bide his time.

A movement in the opposite direction caught his eye. Red jackets. More Mounties. He untied his horse and, under cover of the trees, made his way toward the approaching pair. He needed to warn them to stay out of sight.

As he rode toward them, he recognized Carson and Allard.

They reined in at his approach.

He gave them the information about the men he followed.

As they waited for their chance to ride forward undetected, Robert quizzed Carson about the wagon train travelers.

"It was something to see Ma, Louse, Hazel, and Irene married and my little sisters grown up."

"You mean Ruby?"

"Her and Angela. Last time I saw either of them, they were in pigtails."

Robert chuckled. "That's what Ruby said."

"Say, what's this about her planning to go to Banff?"

Robert stared at Carson. "She told you that?"

"Seemed to me everyone knew. Then, they said something about her losing her sketchbook back where they'd stopped for the noon break."

The words constricted his chest. She'd lost her sketches? All her work gone? How was that possible? "Poor Ruby. She'll be heartbroken."

Carson's piercing gaze studied Robert. "Sounds like you've gotten to know my little sister pretty well."

"We're friends."

"That's all?"

"That's all it can be." But wait. If she didn't have her sketches, would she still have work to offer to The Society? Maybe she'd forget that plan and consider his offer? Exactly what had he offered?

Flowers galore and a home full of love.

His heart twisted. He couldn't rejoice in her loss. Besides, she could always draw more pictures. "Did they look for her sketchbook?"

"Ma said she and Cecil had gone back and searched. Couldn't find it."

Allard interrupted their discussion. "We can ride on now."

The three of them moved forward cautiously. They were still outnumbered. Surprise was their biggest weapon.

They edged into a narrow opening between boulders. Open grassland lay before them. Along with the missing horses and five men crouched around a fire.

The Mounties knew what to do and galloped forward, startling the men. Two grabbed for their sidearms. Carson and Robert fired shots, and the men changed their minds.

"Guns on the ground and step away." Allard's loud, guttural voice warned them not to fool with the Mounties.

The five obeyed the command and soon had their hands tied behind their backs and sat on their horses.

The nearest town was ten miles away, but that's where these men were going.

Robert helped barricade the opening between the boulders to keep the horses contained until they got back. The three Mounties and five rustlers proceeded on their way.

Shadows lengthened, and the sky grew dusky before they reached Big Prairie.

The Mounties were familiar with the town. The station agent had handled prisoners before and helped chain them to the metal stanchions to await the next train that would take them for trial.

Robert wrote out a report. Then, the three of them went in search of a hot meal. Having agreed they preferred to sleep under the stars, they bedded down near the river that provided water for the town and steam engines.

They took time the next morning to have a hot breakfast and several cups of coffee. Before they left, Robert went to the store to buy Ruby a new sketchbook if they had one. They didn't, but he picked up several newspapers, knowing everyone would welcome news of the outside world, even if it was two weeks old or more.

By mid-afternoon, the five horses followed on lead ropes, and they began the trek to rejoin the wagon train.

He stopped and faced the abandoned homesite. It was a few miles out of the way, but maybe he'd discover something more. "I'm going to ride over there and have another look." He'd told Carson and Allard about the graves. Let them think that was his only interest, but after he was there, he'd ride to the trail the wagons left and search for Ruby's sketchbook. "I'll catch up."

Carson gave a quick salute as they rode on.

Robert urged his mount to a faster pace until he topped a hill and looked down into the hollow. He reached for his canteen to ease his scratchy throat before he rode on and dismounted at the graves. So many feelings rushed over him. The pain of those who left the graves behind. How it had made Dobie so sad. Most of all, missing Ruby.

Was it God directing them to a shared life that led to the loss of her sketchbook? He wished he could believe that, but although it might have given him hope she'd consider not going to Banff, he couldn't bring himself to be so selfish. Besides, she could draw new pictures. She could start over.

He touched the largest of the three wooden crosses. Death was not the only way to lose a person. Choices could take them in different directions. Part of his heart belonged to that piece of land he meant to make into a forever home. But a larger part belonged with Ruby and what he hoped was a forever love.

He sat beside the graves.

She might have lost her sketchbook, but if he let her go to Banff while he pursued his dream, he'd have lost something far more valuable and irreplaceable.

Words teased at his thoughts. Slowly, they came into focus, spoken in his mother's voice and accompanied by a gentle smile. "We choose what we will sacrifice. To give up something in order to gain something better is perhaps not such a great sacrifice." He could picture her clutching a few belongings in her hands as they followed his pa yet again.

He'd asked what she was gaining.

"You and Henrietta. Your pa might let Hennie come with me, but he'd never let me take you."

How had he forgotten that? His mother endured his father's cruelty because she loved Robert. Giving up his hope of a permanent home out of love for Ruby was little compared to the joy of being with her. He'd go to Banff with her if she'd accept him.

His mind was made up and he focused on the graves. The yellow flowers were but a memory. But where was the blanket Dobie had brought? Had the wind blown it away? He pushed to his feet and looked around, saw a bit of gray fabric sticking out from under the fallen wall. An animal must have dragged it there. He pulled it out. A heavier object thudded at his feet.

He stared. He blinked. Was it possible? But there was no mistaking Ruby's sketchbook. His soft chuckle disturbed nearby birds, and they scattered from the trees. He picked it up. The cover sported chew marks. Opening the pages, he thumbed past a few damaged by teeth and saliva. On the whole, though, the book was intact, and he whooped. Ruby would be so excited to have her drawings back, which are mostly in good condition. He stowed the book in a saddlebag and hurried to remount his horse, keeping up a steady lope as he followed the wagon train tracks.

The dust of the wheels and hooves was evident first and then the gray canvas covers and the line of horses. Soon, he made out the three Mounties' red coats, but they weren't what he searched for.

And then?—

There she was, following the horses. She turned, shielding her eyes with her hand.

He knew the moment she saw him. She gathered her skirt and raced in his direction. His heart leaping, he dropped to the ground and opened his arms. She flew into them, and they laughed and hugged.

"I was so worried about you." She pressed her palm to his cheek. "If something happened to you—" Her voice broke. She swallowed audibly. Tears glistened in her eyes.

"I missed you too." The words growled from his tight throat. "Ruby, I've had time to think."

"Me too. I lost my sketchbook."

"About that?—"

"Let me finish." She pressed her fingers to his lips. "At first, I was devastated. A year's work. Some of it I can never reproduce."

He tried to tell her his news, but the pressure from her fingers increased. A smile grew under her touch, and he settled back to let her have her say.

"With it gone, do I have anything to offer The Society? Can I do enough drawings to make it worth their while? I asked myself all sorts of questions, but the most important one—" Her blue eyes brimmed with sunshine. "Why did I think it was more important to me than you are? It's not. Robert, I believe my heart belongs to you if you'll have it?"

"Have it?" He caught her hand and brought her fingers from his lips. "All I want is you. You have my heart. But you don't have to give up your dream of going to Banff. I'll go with you."

"But—"

Holding her hands in one of his, he reached into his saddlebag and brandished her sketchbook. "Look what I found." His wide grin was accompanied by soft laughter at her surprise.

"Where? How?" She turned the book over in her hand and opened the pages with trembling fingers.

"A wild animal took it. Probably a coyote." He told her how he'd discovered it. "So you see, you don't have to give up your dream of going to Banff."

"But—" Wisps of her hair flipped back and forth as she shook her head. "What about your dream?"

"‘To give up something in order to gain something better is perhaps not such a great sacrifice.' My ma told me that once. I had forgotten it until now. But it's true. When you're done in Banff, we'll settle down in a forever home."

"Please don't look at it as giving up your plans. It's only a delay because I won't stay in Banff long."

He pulled her back into his arms. "Ruby Woods, I love you with a forever love, and that's more important than anything else."

"Oh, Robert, those words are sweet." She cupped her hands to his cheeks. "I love you too. More than anything."

"I'd like to kiss you." His quiet words brought a smile from the depths of her heart.

"I'd like that."

Her lips were sweet and claiming as she gave him her heart.

Ruby held the sketchbook to her chest, but she held Robert close to her heart as they hurried after the wagons. Carson saw them and waved, but the dust of the horses hid them from the others until they stopped for the noon meal.

When Robert strode into their midst, everyone talked at once, welcoming him and asking questions.

Ma was the first one to notice Ruby clutched her sketchbook. "Where did that come from?"

Laughing and sharing the story, Ruby and Robert told what happened.

Angela moved closer and whispered to Ruby, "It looks to me like you've found something besides your book."

Ruby grinned and nodded. "Something far more important."

Angela smiled her approval.

Robert and Ruby turned to each other. She knew he was asking if he could say something about their decision, but before she could nod, Carson spoke.

"Robert, I should tell you something."

At the warning note in her brother's voice, Ruby sucked in air and held it.

"A man's been looking around. He told me he'd found the perfect land to file on." He drew back his lips, then went on. "I think he means the same land you picked out. I spoke to the sergeant, and he said he'd release you early from your contract with the Mounties so you could file on it while you have the chance."

Ruby was sitting close enough to feel the shock race through Robert. This was his dream. He might think he was willing to give it up to accompany her to Banff, but she couldn't ask that of him. Couldn't accept it. But she couldn't tell him in front of everyone. It would have to wait until they were alone. She'd walk behind the horses again.

Although the conversation flowed around them as Carson relayed story after story, sometimes helped by Allard or Jones, Robert contributed little. Keenly aware of his troubled thoughts, Ruby listened with half her attention.

The others rested after their cold meal, but Ruby was far too unsettled. She looked for Robert, but he was deep in conversation with the other Mounties.

As soon as they began to move again, she walked behind the horses, waiting for him to join her. They walked for half a mile and then a mile. Still, he hadn't dropped back, so she hurried forward until she spied him riding next to Carson with a lead rope in his hands.

She waited until he noticed her and lifted her hand to wave and mouthed, "Please, come."

He nodded, handed the horses off to Carson, and then joined her, swinging from his saddle to walk at her side. "Missing me?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes remained sober.

"I want to talk to you."

"Go ahead."

Her laugh was short and mirthless at his tone. "I can't let you sacrifice the piece of land you want."

"There will be other pieces."

"But I want to see the view from the kitchen window you described."

His feet stilled. "What are you saying?"

They faced each other, gazes seeking truth and hope. "Robert, you must file on that land. I'll write and tell The Society I've changed my mind."

"I can't let you do that."

"I know you're wanting to do what you think is best for me, but I want the same for you. What can we do?"

They stared at each other.

"Maybe—" They spoke at the same time.

"It will require a sacrifice on your part," he warned. "But what if I file right away, and we spend a few weeks there, and then I go with you to Banff?"

"I love that idea." But oh! Such problems that choice would cause. "I had planned to accompany them into the mountains to find flowers."

He grew thoughtful. "My land—if I get it—is close to alpine slopes. You and I can explore. You can draw the flowers we discover and mail them to The Society."

She considered his suggestion. "I like that."

"Then you'll marry me, and we'll do all this together?"

In answer, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Or did he kiss her? It didn't matter.

At the end of the day, she and Robert stood before Ma and Gabe.

Robert addressed her ma first. "Mrs. Miller, if it meets with your approval, I would like to marry Ruby."

Ma barely registered surprise. "You have my blessing."

Gabe held out his hand to Robert. "And mine."

The rest of the family surrounded them, patting Robert on the back and shaking his hand. The ladies hugged Ruby.

Carson hugged her and said how pleased he was. But Bertie's hug was the tightest of all.

Carson eased his brother back. "She needs to breathe."

Ruby laughed at Bertie's enthusiasm.

They were plied with questions. "Where? When?"

Robert and Ruby grinned at each other.

"We thought we'd wait until we reached the fort," she said. "Robert says they have a very nice chapel there."

As they continued the journey, Ruby spent hours drawing. She drew a picture of Petey for her ma, one of Dobie for Louise, and another for her ma of Gabe playing his guitar. She drew Joe for Hazel. She drew Irene and Cecil together on horseback and presented it to them. She discovered drawing a horse wasn't unlike drawing a flower—lots of careful detail.

She drew the wagons. Ma cooking for the fire—that was for Ruby to keep.

She drew Bertie with his pets around him, and when she gave it to him, he hugged her hard enough to make her grunt.

A few evenings later, she and Robert sat together, reading through the newspapers he'd brought.

"Look at this." She pointed out a column with the heading "Frontier Days and Ways." It consisted of a simple sketch showing a sod shanty. The write-up described life inside the hut. At the bottom was a notice:

Are you planning to homestead? We'd like to have input from settlers. If you can write about your experiences and perhaps include pictures, we'd like to hear from you.

Robert read the entire article, then looked at her. "Would you like to do that?"

"We're going to be homesteading, aren't we?"

"And building a house, starting a home, raising a family, exploring the mountains?—"

Her laughter cut him off.

"I can draw. You can help me write. This would be fun. In fact—" She opened to a new page and began… "The day I decided to be a homesteader."

She began penning a story about crossing the country in a covered wagon with her family and meeting the man of her dreams. In quick sure strokes, she fashioned a drawing of a covered wagon drawn by a team of oxen. She penciled in their names, as Zeb and Pike. And she and Robert laughed together at the reference to the explorer of the Colorado Territory.

"I'll mail it as soon as we reach the fort."

They sat in companionable silence as the sun set.

The next day, she drew Carson in his Stetson and handed it to Angela.

"Oh no. You better give it to Ma."

Ruby shrugged and sauntered off to find Robert and went eagerly into his arms. "When I left home, who would've guessed I'd find more than I expected?"

"I think God had it in His plan the whole time. You remember the verse I told you Ma taught me? ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.'"

"His plans are better than mine, for sure."

"And better than mine."