Reaching into her purse, Abby pulled out a ten. She took her change and held the small bag in her hand.
When Abby turned, the female mob burst into applause.
“About time someone stood up to that old prude,” she heard someone mutter.
“He won’t even carry hair color,” another said bitterly. “He says it’s for loose women.”
“Maybe a little protest is still called for.” Jan stared at the very nervous grocery store owner.
“Maybe a new store is called for,” Sam offered cheerfully. “I’ve been looking to invest.” He took Abby by the hand and started to lead her away. “Baby, I take it all back. This is so much more fun than letting Jack scare the shit out of people. Let’s go up and down Main Street buying stuff you don’t need.”
As Abby let Sam lead her triumphantly out of the store, she noticed the stock boy watching her. Their eyes met, and he held a single hand up to wave goodbye. The lovelorn look on his face was enough to make Abby giggle. It really had been worth the trouble.
The nicest salon in town was across the street.
Abby decided she needed conditioner.
Ruby Echols heard of Abigail Moore’s conquest of Main Street very quickly. She’d been taking tea in her sitting room when the phone was brought to her. Helen Talbot had been in the Winchester Salon when Abby had threatened a multitude of lawsuits if she was not offered the ability to purchase hair products. What was the world coming to when decent store owners were not allowed to select their clientele?
Ruby wanted to shake with rage as she thought about the night before. It had taken a lot out of her to start that fire. It wasn’t as if the trashy little trailer had put up much of a fight, but she had been obliged to walk through the woods in order to conceal her vehicle. A window had been conveniently left open, and some filmy curtains had been easy to set aflame. Ruby was disappointed Abby hadn’t been caught in the trailer, but she should have known the tramp would have the devil’s own luck.
It was the sight of Adam taking care of the bitch that had infuriated Ruby. Adam had walked up the lane and taken charge, as she had always known he would. Adam was the smart, confident one. He was a leader. He was everything she had dreamed he would become. His body was a man’s body now. He wasn’t a boy anymore.
But he still needed a mother’s protection. He was still in that siren’s clutches, and it was up to Ruby to make sure things turned out differently this time.
Ruby’s head began to pound. Oh, she wondered, where was that youngest boy of hers? He was supposed to bring her those pills. She hadn’t taken them already, had she? Sometimes things were very confusing.
Ruby gathered the cashmere cardigan around her shoulders. The door chimes rang, and Ruby heard the housekeeper hustling to the door. She sat carefully on the antique sofa as Hillary Glass, Helen Talbot, and Miranda Knight were shown into the sitting room.
“Oh, Ruby, we heard all about it,” Miranda fretted as she moved to greet Ruby.
“Did you hear the news that the tramp’s trailer burned down?” Hillary settled herself on the early American arm chair Ruby’s great-grandmother had brought with her when the family moved from Atlanta after the War of Northern Aggression.
“Yes,” Ruby murmured. “I heard about it this morning. It doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure someone was drunk at the time. I doubt that her mother had insurance. Are they at a shelter?” It suited Ruby to think of those trashy women as homeless.
“No.” Helen shook her overly round head. Ruby had always thought Helen should lose some weight, but then again, her bloodlines were impeccable. One had to overlook such things at times. Now Helen’s large hands fluttered. “The rumor is she’s moved in with Jack Barnes, and they’re getting married on Thursday. Barnes called the judge this morning and got the paperwork going. Can you imagine it? Abigail Moore is going to marry the largest land holder in the county.”
Ruby flushed. “No, she is not.”
Helen shook her head. “I don’t know that you can stop this, Ruby. That Barnes fellow is quite intimidating. My son has done business with him. He says the man is tough but fair. However, when he’s crossed, he can be ruthless.”
“If he’s decided he wants Abigail Moore, then he’ll have her,” Miranda pronounced.
A plan formed in Ruby’s brain. She would drive Abigail out of town once and for all, and then Adam could come home. “Then we’ll have to convince little Abby to leave him, won’t we? I do believe I would like to get a cup of coffee at the café in town. I think Abigail will more than likely show up there, don’t you?”
Three hours later, Ruby smiled as a shaken Abigail Moore walked out of the café. It had been relatively simple to corner the girl. Miranda had waylaid the young man escorting Abigail around with tales of car trouble. The handsome blond man had been more than willing to help out a little old lady. Abigail had been flush with her own success. She had accepted Ruby’s invitation to talk with a look of challenge in her eyes.
She wasn’t so arrogant now, Ruby thought with pride.
She had shown the little tramp what real power was. Ruby had laid out a detailed plan of how she and her friends intended to destroy Jack Barnes and his business. When they were through, his business would be in ruins. Any money Abby thought she would take from the smitten man wouldn’t be worth the trouble Ruby would put them all through.
Ruby had made it very clear that if Abby Moore didn’t leave town by the end of the day, she would make Barnes’s life a living hell.
Ruby had no delusions that Abby loved her fiancé. A gold digger like Abigail Moore wasn’t capable of love. She was a practical girl, however. She had learned her lesson the first time. She would move on and find easier prey.
Ruby sipped at the coffee. It wasn’t up to her standards, but it tasted like victory nonetheless.
Chapter Eleven
Jack rode in from the south field with a mounting sense of anticipation. He gently prodded Ranger, his solid-brown gelding, and the horse moved easily toward the barn. It had been a long day. The south fence had several places he and Juan had been forced to replace entirely. It was hard work, but it was best to get it all done now while the weather was nice. The weather could be very unpredictable this time of year. It could get cold fast, and Jack didn’t want to be pounding fence posts in freezing temperatures.
Tipping his Stetson as he passed one of the wives of his ranch hands, Jack contemplated his current happiness. During his lunch break, he had made arrangements for his marriage to Abigail. The thought that he would soon have an honest-to-god wife made Jack smile. He’d always thought Sam would be the one to fall in love and Jack would allow him to have the legally recognized relationship. Loving Abby changed everything, and he thought it would be for the better. He hoped Sam wasn’t disappointed, but Jack wasn’t letting Abby have any name but his.
And she would be taking his name, he promised himself.
She had kept her maiden name when she married her first husband because she wanted to share her daughter’s name, but Lexi was a grown woman. That argument would never have worked with him. He would have insisted on adopting Lexi and changing her name as well. He was a possessive man. He’d long ago stopped fighting it. He didn’t get close to many people in the world, but the few he did, he considered his. Sam was his. Abby was his. Jack knew it was a weird relationship, but he didn’t care.
Jack dismounted and walked the gelding inside the barn.
He could still remember the day he met Sam like it was yesterday. Sam Fleetwood had looked terrified. Everything the boy owned was in one suitcase and a backpack. Jack remembered thinking it was more than he’d ever had. Jack had been jealous of the kid. He looked all wide-eyed and innocent. He had an easy charm, even through his grief. Jack had known it would carry him through most things.