She wasn’t alone. Two children crowded forward to be lifted down, but instead of placing the little girl on her feet, Nash enveloped her in a hug. With a gleeful cry, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her stockinged legs around his waist.
The smaller child, a boy in a pressed shirt and suspenders, jumped up and down impatiently.
Finally, Nash placed the girl on the ground and the boy leaped into his arms. “Papa! Papa!”
His cheerful cries penetrated Ruby’s confusion.
Papa?
The woman turned toward Ruby, her expression curious. She was lovely, with dark winged brows, high cheekbones and glowing olive skin. She took in Ruby’s hair and clothing before settling her attention on her face. Recognition dawned in her warm brown eyes and she asked, “Are you going to introduce us, Nash?”
“This is Laura’s other daughter.” He glanced at Ruby. “My mother, Georgia Sommerton.”
“I thought so.” Georgia extended a slender hand. “I remember you, Ruby.”
“You do?”
“Yes, of course. You were an adventurous child, as I recall.”
“I suppose so,” she said, still distracted by the boy’s exclamation. Now the woman’s resemblance to Nash jumped out at her: her black hair and dark eyes...her defined cheekbones. Ruby studied the sturdily built little boy in Nash’s arms. He had the same dark hair and winged brows.
The girl, however, was fair and slender, with radiant skin and shining pale ringlets that hung to her shoulders. She lifted her curious gaze, and Ruby’s heart stopped.
Studying the child was like looking at her sister years ago. Her eyes were the same bright cornflower blue, her expression solemn and wary. With a small hand, she reached to grasp her grandmother’s fingers. Apparently the doll and the clothing in the drawers in Ruby’s old room belonged to this child.
Captivated, Ruby stared. Unexpected tender feelings brought tears to her eyes, but she blinked them back and retained her composure. The oppressive ache that had been a weight on her heart since the day before eased, and an unfamiliar joy rose inside her.
She tore her gaze back to the smaller child, keen to recognize a similarity to her sister. Nash’s hair...his eyes....
“Who is she, Papa?” he asked.
There it was. The shape of his lips...the tilt of his nose. Elation lifted Ruby’s spirits. She shot her attention to the surly man holding the little boy and pierced him with a glare. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Nash scowled at her over his son’s shoulder. “Tell you what?”
“That my sister had children?”
“Didn’t know that you’d care.”
Was this what Ruby deserved? She took a deep breath and composed herself. Why would he think any differently? She hadn’t shown concern until now. His mother hadn’t made any cutting remarks yet, but there was still time. Ruby cast her a cautiously apologetic look, but her anger at Nash’s callousness simmered.
“Ruby, this is Claire,” Georgia said, and raised the hand that the girl held. “That’s Joel. Children, this is your aunt Ruby. She’s your mother’s sister.”
Ruby couldn’t have been more surprised at the matter-of-fact introduction.
Nash turned and headed for the buggy, with Joel looking back at her over his shoulder.
* * *
Georgia didn’t miss the tension between her son and her late friend’s estranged daughter. Nash had set his jaw in that stubborn way he had.
“There’s a bag with lemons under the seat, Nash,” she called after him.
He waved a hand in acknowledgment, and set the boy on the horse’s back while he unharnessed it and led it to a spot in the shade of a tree.
“I’ll make us lemonade and we can chat,” Georgia suggested.
“I’ll help,” Ruby replied. The three females headed into the house.
Georgia noted the wet porch floor and the basket of clothing that needed to be hung up, but Ruby walked straight past them and held open the screen door. She resembled her mother and sister, but her features were stronger, more vibrant. Any other woman would have tamed her hair into a braid or a tight bun to do laundry, but Ruby’s was loosely gathered into a tail by a faded red kerchief, with long spirals framing her face and trailing to her shoulders.
“I’m a little out of practice in the kitchen.” Ruby located a pitcher and a few glasses. “These might need washing. Everything’s still dusty. I’m working on it.”
She was a strong-looking young woman, competent, not frail or delicate as her sister had been. Her strength had nothing to do with size, though she was taller. Her appeal was in her complete lack of guile or airs.
Claire was obviously reluctant to release her grandmother’s hand, but Georgia gave her an assuring smile and gestured for her to take a seat.
“Where’s the other chair?” Claire asked, calling attention to the missing piece of furniture. Georgia glanced at the spot where it had been.
“It got broken,” Ruby replied simply. “How old are you, Claire?”
The child looked first to Georgia, her hesitation obvious. Georgia gave her an encouraging nod.
“Six,” Claire answered.
“And Joel?” Ruby asked. “How old is he?”
“He’s three,” Georgia replied.
“Still just a baby.” Sadness tinged the young woman’s voice.
Georgia had visited Laura and Pearl often, and they had been to her home many times. She knew they hadn’t been able to reach Ruby, so had to assume the new arrival had only just learned of the deaths of her mother and sister. Georgia didn’t understand her motives, but was sure coming back to this news had been shocking.
“The children have been staying with Nash’s father and me, so Nash can run the ranch. I bring them to see him as often as I can, and he comes to dinner on Sundays.” She paused, realizing she had no idea what this woman’s plans were. “You’re welcome to join us this Sunday.”
Ruby appeared surprised at the invitation. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Georgia was curious to know what had brought Ruby here now, after all these years, and whether or not she planned to stay, but she didn’t want to bring up a sensitive subject in front of Claire. She touched the little girl’s shoulder. “Why don’t you run up and get the doll you wanted from your room?”
“Oh, yes’m.” Claire darted from the kitchen.
Ruby had heated water and was washing the pitcher and glasses. Georgia took a clean towel from a cupboard shelf to dry them.
Ruby gave her a cautious, but straightforward look. “You must be surprised to see me.”
Georgia nodded. “More than a little.”
“Your son doesn’t want me here.”
Georgia could only imagine how Ruby’s sudden arrival had surprised Nash. They had all wondered about her, but he had been here with Pearl and Laura all along, so undoubtedly he had more questions than anyone else. “The last few years have been difficult for him. He has strong feelings about all of it. About you.”
Ruby