Chapter 3

R ules? She meant to lay down rules for him?

He stood, straightening his back until he reached his full height, forcing her to tip her head back to look at him. "Rules?" Where was the rest of his argument? His protest?

Crossing his arms, widening his stance, he tried again. "Rules?" Could he do nothing but repeat her word?

She stowed the pencil in the leather loop from which she'd removed it, set aside her sketchbook, and gracefully, slowly—deliberately slowly, he was certain—got to her feet.

Ha. She still had to look up to meet his gaze. In fact, her head barely came to his shoulder. Itty-bitty thing she was. Little in size but that didn't stop her from facing him, her mouth firm, her eyes challenging.

"Yes, Constable Davis, rules. I've agreed to let you accompany me."

"Agreed? Seems to me?—"

"But I want to proceed with my work." A tip of her head toward the sketchbook she'd set aside as if he might not know what she meant. "I find it impossible if you continually bother me."

"Bother you?" Never before had he been reduced to parroting words. But when he opened his mouth, she hurried on before he could say anything.

"Yes, bother me. Your feet crush the flowers. Your legs—" She shook her head.

What about his legs? But she didn't finish. Instead, she attacked him from a different direction.

"Your questions distract me, your assumptions annoy me, and your peering over my shoulder is—" She lifted her hands into the air. "It's impossible."

"Impos—" No, he wasn't going to repeat her words again. He rolled forward on his toes, adding an inch or two to his height.

Not that she took notice.

He sank back on his heels and gave a weary sigh. "What are your rules? Tell me, and I'll see if I can agree to them. After all—" He leaned toward her. Still, the stubborn miss didn't even back up. "I do have an alternative."

This time, she leaned forward until they were almost nose to nose, only it was more like nose to chin, and even that was granting her a significant amount of leeway.

"And what would that be?"

"I could tell your ma of your plans." Not that he would. But she didn't need to think she could push him around. Not physically, of course. That would be impossible. But she'd learn he didn't like to be threatened. No matter how pretty the threatening person happened to be. He sat down again, plucked out a stem of grass, and chewed it.

A sigh of such proportions blew past her lips that he was surprised the nearby trees didn't all bow down. She sank to the ground beside him. Well, almost beside him. He could reach out and touch her if he wanted to. Would she jerk away if he did? He didn't intend to find out. At least, not at this moment.

"Can we talk about some…expectations?" Her voice was soft, conciliatory, perhaps?

He would not smile at her change in attitude. "I'm always open to discussion." Of course, she'd already mentioned things she wanted changed. "I'm sorry if I trampled the flowers."

"Can't be helped, I suppose." Her glance went pointedly to his boots.

She was insinuating he had big feet? Liking how she could go from aggravated to teasing so quickly, he laughed. "They do tend to cover a lot of territory. How'd it be if you warn me when you see me about to step on a flower you're studying?"

"That would work. And you can't look over my shoulder."

"Fair enough." But maybe if he asked, she let him see what she was doing. It fascinated him to watch her pencil create such an accurate drawing. "Now I'm going to sit back here while you finish what you were doing." He nodded toward the sketchbook. "And I'm going to ignore you. Mind my own business. Not look over your shoulder. Not ask intrusive questions." Too bad he couldn't add, "Not run over at the mouth."

"Thank you." She retrieved the book, pulled out her pencil, and resumed drawing.

She made quick, sure strokes. Inspected the flower at her feet and then resumed drawing. So focused. It was almost as if he didn't exist. Nothing existed but the paper and the pencil as it scratched across the page.

Her hand lifted, holding the pencil off the paper. "You're looking at me."

"Sorry. Is that another rule? No looking."

"I hope it doesn't have to be one."

"Good." What else was he supposed to do? He lay on his back, his hands intertwined behind his head, and looked at the sky. Fluffy clouds drifted across the blue expanse. One resembled a flower. Oh wait, it really didn't. Only that flowers were on his mind. Flowers and an itty-bitty gal with an oversized sense of aggravation.

"Are you always so easily annoyed?" He tossed out the question in an innocent tone.

"Annoyed?"

It sounded good to hear her parroting words now. "Yeah. Here I am being kind enough to escort you around, and you tell me I'm…I'm…impossible." The word stung his lips.

"No, I said it was impossible to work with you checking over my shoulder."

He sat up. "I can't help but want to see you draw. It's fascinating to see the flower replicated on the page. No wonder the people in Banff invited you to join them."

She closed her book, tied the leather straps together, and put the pencil back in place.

Uh-oh. He'd been talking, but then she hadn't made a rule against that. Though she'd suggested his questions were annoying. He braced for a scolding.

"It is indeed an honor."

"Did I do something to keep you from drawing?"

Her smile lit his insides like a sudden ray of sunshine. "No, I finished for now. But I would like to look around. There are so many flowers and unusual plants here."

"I can show you places where there are more."

Neither of them moved as they gazed at each other. He couldn't say what she saw or sought, but he watched to see if the smile would stay or if a scolding would come.

"More flowers?" Eagerness rounded her words.

"Would you like to see orchids?"

"Really? Here?"

He got to his feet and offered her his hand. "Come with me."

Her hand was small and cool and fit perfectly in his much larger palm, triggering a protectiveness he hadn't felt since—well, in a long time.

Keeping his strides purposely long so she clung to his hand as he pulled her along, he guided them to a spruce forest. She scanned the tree trunks they passed. He grinned widely. He sure had a surprise for her.

"See. There are some."

Her gaze came to his. He nodded toward the ground.

She gasped and knelt. "I always thought orchids grew on trees. Lived off them."

"Someone said these live off decomposing plant matter in the soil." He wasn't sure she heard him as she touched the fragile blossoms. "I have to draw these." Her sketchbook was opened, and she focused on the task.

He knew better than to hover, but he lounged against a tree where he could watch. Mesmerized by the pace with which the flower appeared on the page.

She sat back and cranked her head from side to side. "So beautiful."

Of course, she meant the flowers, but they weren't the only beautiful thing in the area. He tried to imagine her fiery reaction if he said so, and she understood he meant her.

"Are there more, do you suppose?"

"The man who told me about them said he'd discovered a dozen different ones."

Rushing to her feet, she faced him. "Who is this man? Can I talk to him?"

"'Fraid not. He was a scientist fellow who was here for a bit and then gone again."

"Oh."

Her disappointment shafted through him, though he was at a loss to understand why. "I can show you more of them, though."

"Oh. Yes, please." Her fingers insistent, she caught his arm, urging him onward.

He didn't mind in the least. But it only took three steps for him to discover that she meant to examine every leaf, every tree trunk, every bush, and every blade growing from the ground. Not only examine but draw. As she drew, he watched. And admired.

The shadows lengthened.

"Miss Woods—hey, I just thought how your name fit you. Here you are lost in the woods."

"We're lost?" Wide eyes regarded him.

"Not lost in that sense. Lost in your work, I mean."

"By the way, my name is Ruby."

"Nice name."

"My ma thought so."

"I'm Robert."

One corner of her mouth tipped up. "Nice name."

"My ma thought so."

Their gazes held as they laughed together.

With steps as unhurried as those bringing them here had been rapid, they made their way through the dark green trees.

She stopped and caught his arm to slow him. "Doesn't this smell wonderful?" Tilting her nose upward, she inhaled deeply, eyes closed and an expression that spoke volumes about her enjoyment. Her chin came down. Her eyelids popped open. "You can smell it, can't you?"

"Of course. It's pine and decaying leaves."

"Yeow. That sounds terrible." Her nose wrinkled in a most fetching way.

"Not at all. To me, it smells like rich soil. The kind that would produce bumper crops." His sigh maybe said more than his words, revealing his deepest hope. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice. Instead, she nodded.

"I hadn't thought of it like that." With a slight kick, she disturbed a pile of fallen leaves. "It is kind of a pleasant smell."

"The best." His shoulder angled against the nearest tree as they studied one another.

A soft chuckle whispered from her. "Look at that. We almost have something in common. I like the flowers. You like the soil."

"Almost?" No, he wasn't going to start echoing her again. "I'd say we almost have something else in common."

Her raised eyebrows encouraged him to continue.

"Yup. You like drawing, and I like watching you do so."

Her chuckle erupted into laughter that sent birds rushing from the trees, disturbed by the sound. Quite unlike his reaction. "I could listen to you laugh all day."

He could listen to her laugh all day! Did he really say that? Ruby pressed her lips together and knelt beside the decomposing leaves, pretending an interest she didn't feel. Just because she'd been forced to agree to this man accompanying her was no reason for him to think it meant anything more. There was no need for him to take advantage of the situation.

Yet…

Fine. Yes, she'd enjoyed his company, at least part of the time. It was mildly reassuring to know someone paid attention to their surroundings while she lost herself, like he said, in her efforts to capture every detail of the flowers in her sketchbook. And she was grateful he'd shown her the orchids.

"I never thought to see orchids in Canada."

He squatted beside her and ran his fingers through the rich soil, as he called it. "Not many realize there are some here. The Cypress Hills are an unusual formation. It's the highest bit of ground between the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean." He lifted a handful of the soil to his nose and inhaled the scent. "Remember that scientist fellow I said was around? An interesting man but a bit strange. He said the evidence supported the idea that the area had never been touched by glaciers." He let the dirt sift through his fingers. "Of course, I had to take his word on the matter because I know nothing about such things."

"I could learn all sorts of wonderful information from such a man. I wish I could have met him."

Robert dug his fingers into the soil again. "Because he was a scientist or because he was strange?"

"Not because he was strange, silly." She gave him a little push, which put him off-balance. Or else he pretended it did. And he fell to the forest floor, his legs jutting out like stilts.

He righted himself. "Haven't I shown you something wonderful and amazing?"

Was his injured tone real or not? She couldn't tell. But to be on the safe side, she better mollify him. "I thank you, again, for showing me the orchids."

"There's lots more I can show you." He leaned close enough she could see how large his pupils were.

Because it was getting dark!

"I need to return and help Ma."

On his feet, before she finished speaking, he held out a hand and pulled her upright. He didn't release her hand, and for reasons she couldn't explain, she didn't pull free. They looked at each other, their faces shadowed by the fading light.

With a start, she put a step between them. "Ma will be wondering?—"

"Indeed. I must get you back."

Crashing past the overhanging branches, she rushed down the trail. Only there wasn't a trail, and she wasn't sure what direction to go.

"This way."

Good thing he knew because she'd not paid a speck of attention.

They broke into the open, and she blinked. The sun was still bright. Only the thickness of the woods and the hill to the side made it seem otherwise among the trees.

The wagons lay a distance ahead.

"I didn't realize we'd gone so far."

"Are you worried they'll be concerned?"

"Ma is used to me hunkering down over my notebook without any regard for time but—" She didn't want him to think she wandered off like Irene often did. "I'm not usually gone very long. It was the orchids, you see."

His big hand splayed to his chest. "I'm hurt."

"What? How?" Had a sharp branch poked him? She couldn't imagine what else it would be.

"Only the orchids? What about me?"

His injured tone almost convinced her he was serious. But he couldn't hide the twinkle in the depths of his eyes.

"I guess you are to blame, seeing as you showed them to me." Did her airy way of talking impress him?

"To blame? I have to say I'm disappointed at your attitude." He turned away and began the journey back to the wagons.

She trotted after him. "Fine. You win. Robert Davis, I had a very good time this afternoon. Well, mostly. Thank you."

He ground to a halt. "Mostly?"

"Well, there were a few minutes up on the hill when you were bothersome until I let you know the rules of our time together." Would he realize she was teasing or be offended?

"So you did." He draped an arm over her shoulders, sending a tiny thread of alarm through her, followed by an immediate sense of safety. "I'll do my best to do better in the future."

Was there going to be a future? But the weight of his arm somehow affected her mouth, and she couldn't force the words out.

Ma would see him holding her and come to her own—wrong—conclusions, so Ruby shrugged away from him as they neared the wagon. She'd put deep pockets in all her dresses, so she slipped her sketchbook into the depths.

"Goodbye and thank you." Her words were soft, full of gratitude, and a touch of anticipation that they might do this again. Go looking for flowers. Not walking with his arm over her shoulders. That wasn't what she meant.

But Robert didn't leave her side. Of course, it was only polite for him to greet Ma and Gabe.

Her heart slid down to the tips of her toes. The entire crew was assembled. That left her no choice but to introduce them all.

"Everyone, this is Constable Robert Davis. A Mountie, as you can see. He knows Carson." She should have asked about her brother, but somehow, the subject hadn't come up. "Constable, you've met my ma and Gabe and Bertie."

Bertie nodded over and over, his face beaming. "And Alice and Limpy and Fluff and Smoke."

"How do again." He spoke to Ma and Gabe and then clamped a big hand on Bertie's shoulder. "Thank you for showing me your pets."

"Constable, this is the rest of the family. Irene, my sister, and Walt, Gabe's son."

Both Irene and Walt shook Robert's hand.

"Hazel and Joe and little Petey. Joe is our scout. They got married back at Fort Qu'Appelle."

"That's a nice place to get married."

More greetings. More shaking hands. More comments about things.

Ruby guided Robert to Louise and Cecil and Dobie. "Louise is a nurse. She started out as a friend of Hazel's, but now she's married to Gabe's other son." She didn't mean it to sound as if the friendship with her sister was over. Maybe no one would notice her choice of words. And maybe she could pretend she didn't want to pull Robert away and keep him to herself.

Nope. She didn't think that for a minute.

Angela removed biscuits from the Dutch oven. Seeing she was done, Ruby introduced her as well. She'd already told Robert that Angela was almost a year older.

Angela welcomed the man. Eyed him from under the cover of her lashes and then flashed a smile at Ruby.

Ruby shook her head. It wasn't like that. She'd explain it later—well some of it. No way could she tell the full story.

"You must join us for supper," Ma said. "There's plenty of food."

"Don't mind if I do." He hung his hat on a nearby tree and washed his hands in the basin of water Ma indicated.

Ruby shuffled her feet, unsure if she was glad he was sharing the meal or annoyed at how everyone wanted to talk to him. Granted, they mostly wanted to know about Carson.

"I was sent here to take delivery of some horses. Before that, I was away on patrol, so it's been several weeks since I last saw him. At that time, he was extremely pleased his family was going to join him. He purchased a house in town for you all."

Ma leaned forward, her smile as wide as the sky. "Tell us about the house and the town."

Ruby went toward the fire and checked the food the others seemed to have forgotten as they huddled close to Robert. Venison roast. New potatoes and carrots Ma purchased from the trading post. Everything was cooked. With a fork, she lifted the roast to a platter on the table. Then, she made gravy from the broth.

The others suddenly remembered the meal, and soon, everything was served up.

Gabe stood. "I'll ask the blessing."

They all bowed their heads though Ruby might have peeked out to see what Robert did. Her breath released as he bowed his head and closed his eyes. Of course, it didn't mean anything. Unless it did.

Conversation returned to Carson as they ate.

Ruby was as anxious to hear about her big brother as any of them. But they were consuming Robert's complete attention. At least he sat at her side. There was some consolation in that.

All too soon, the meal was over, though no one seemed in a hurry to depart. Nor, to her surprise, was she eager for the evening to draw to a close.

Gabe got his guitar and began to strum. As had become their habit, Ma and Gabe sang "Home Sweet Home."

Today, for some reason, hearing them sing and seeing how they looked at each other with open affection, Ruby blinked back a sting of tears.

Only the crackling of the fire broke the silence that followed their song. And then Gabe plucked out a few chords and led them in singing a rousing tune or two. He closed with a slow, gentle hymn. One they'd sung so many times on this journey, and the lyrics fell in soft comfort:

"All the way my Savior leads me–

What have I to ask beside?"

The song had become both praise and prayer for Ruby's family.

Little Petey fussed, and Hazel excused herself. "I need to put the baby to bed." Of course, Joe followed, saying he would take first watch.

The others began to slip away.

Robert rose and turned to Ruby. "Do you want to see more Cypress Hills secrets tomorrow?"

"I'd love to." The words were out before she could even think. But if it meant she'd see more orchids, then there was no other answer.

He snagged his hat, thanked Ma for the meal, and strode away, disappearing out of sight behind the trading post.

"I wonder where he sleeps." Whoops. She hadn't meant to say that aloud. "Not that it matters. I'm going to bed."

Angela rushed after her, waiting until they were away from the others to whisper. "You must tell me all about Constable Robert Davis."

There was nothing for Ruby to tell. At least, not to Angela. Or anyone else, for that matter. What was wrong with wishing she could keep him to herself?