Ruby felt as if her heart would beat right out of her chest. She put the paper in her reticule and walked into the dining room. Miss O’Brien turned to her with a smile.

“Mrs. Monroe! How wonderful to see you. Please, come and sit. I’ve made some roast beef with potatoes this evening.”

“It sounds delicious, Miss O’Brien. Thank you very much.” Ruby moved toward the table, conscious that the man sitting there was watching her very carefully.

“And I’d like to introduce you to Corbin MacAllister. He runs our newspaper.”

The man stood as the hotel owner said his name. He bowed and smiled at Ruby, and she felt her stomach perform the same acrobatics that her heart had been doing since she’d heard Miss O’Brien’s fateful words.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said softly.

“And you, too, Mrs. Monroe. Please, join me for dinner. Of course I’ve already eaten, but I wouldn’t be averse to having more of Miss O’Brien’s fine cooking.”

The older woman slapped him on the arm playfully. “Stop that. But eat, eat, both of you. The only person I have to save something for is Ted Riley. Since his wife passed he’s been taking his meals here. She died in childbirth. So very sad.”

The last words were said as an aside to Ruby, who shook her head in sorrowful agreement.

“Now, I’ve made some delicious pie for dessert. You two eat, and I’ll just go and make sure it’s cool enough for when you’re ready.”

She moved out of the room quickly, looking back over her shoulder with a smile. From the look on the older woman’s face, Ruby wondered whether or not she was thinking that maybe Ruby and Corbin would make a great couple. The widow and the newspaper owner.

“So, I hear you’re from Wyoming. I’ve been up there a few times. It’s very beautiful.”

Ruby smiled in agreement and cursed herself for not coming up with a better story, for not picking someplace that was further away, that maybe people had never been to.

“Yes, it is very lovely.” She put some food on her plate and delicately cut into it. She was starved, but her stomach was so jumpy that she wasn’t sure how eating would affect her.

“And now you’re going to Texas, to live with family? What part?”

Ruby swallowed and cleared her throat. “Down by the coast. A small town near, um, Galveston. Have you ever been there?”

“No, I’ve never made it down that far. My parents founded Mac’s Crossing some years ago. My brothers and I were all born and raised here.”

A sense of relief swept over Ruby. At least she wouldn’t have to invent relatives in Texas, too. It might be hard to remember all the fake people she’d given birth to in her mind, trying to keep them straight while taking with Corbin, or Miss O’Brien.

“How many brothers do you have?” There, that was a safe way to steer the conversation away from her.

“There are five of us. Win’s the oldest, and Josh and I are the youngest. Twins.”

“Oh, you’re a twin. How fascinating.”

His humph of disagreement made her smile. “I suppose so. Josh and I get along all right, but he can be a bit of a pain. Of course, I suppose all my brother’s could be.”

“What are their names?” She ate a tiny piece of food and smiled at him.

“There’s Win, he’s a banker, and Ben’s the sheriff here, and Rob, he owns a ranch outside town. Then Josh and me.”

“And do you all get along?”

Ruby focused her eyes on his lips as he talked about his brothers, about their adventures as they grew up, and the many things they had done. Win and Rob were now married, with families of their own. Josh, he told her, would be soon, he was sure of it.

“As for the rest of us, there’s not that many opportunities here. But, we’ll manage.” The look he gave her made her toes curl.

Miss O’Brien took that moment to come in with a large pie in her hands.

“It’s cherry, Corbin, you’re favorite.”

“Why Catherine O’Brien, I swear, if you don’t stop cooking this way I’m going to gain twenty pounds.”

The giggle that statement produced let Ruby know that ‘Katherine’ loved the attention. It also provided her with the hotel owner’s first name. That was one problem solved.

“If you’ll excuse me a moment, I’m going to go and freshen up. I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time dear,” Miss O’Brien said. “I’ll cut you a good slice of pie, and leave it on your plate. I’ve even made some clotted cream.”

“It sounds delicious. Thank you very much.”

She hurried out of the room and over to the desk where she picked up the pen and wrote the name ‘Katherine’, at the bottom of the paper. Then she put it back in her reticule and waited a few moments before heading back inside the dining room. One half of her plan was in place. Now, she just had to replace the paper that Corbin had tucked into his jacket pocket.

“Mr. MacAllister, I thank you for agreeing to take me on a turn around the streets of your wonderful city. It’s really very quaint.”

“Well, we can’t have a pretty woman like you walking the streets all alone. It wouldn’t be proper.”

“You’re a tease,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

Corbin studied Ruby Monroe as she looked around at the storefronts. She seemed nervous, almost scared that someone was going to jump out and catch her doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing.

When she’d proposed a walk, he’d been more than happy to agree to escort her outside. She was a very pretty woman, and spending time with her was no trouble at all. But he was beginning to think there was some ulterior motive to her need for an after dinner walk.

It seemed to him as if she was looking for just the right moment to say something, or to suggest something. Surely she wouldn’t…

He pushed the idea from his mind and said, “I have to go and do an errand for Miss O’Brien at the newspaper office. Would you like to come? It won’t take but a few minutes to send the telegram, then we can continue our walk.”

The look of panic that appeared on her face made his eyebrows crease together. She was definitely hiding something. He fingered the piece of paper in his pocket. Something told him that little Ruby Monroe wasn’t who she said she was. And she knew about the telegram he was supposed to send. And she wasn’t happy about it.

He decided to test his theory.

“Well?”

“Of course I don’t mind. Lead the way.”

He helped her off the sidewalk and out into the dirt road. They crossed it slowly, her stopping to pick up her skirts to keep from getting too dirty. He wondered if it was a stall tactic, or if it really was a desire to keep the beautiful dress clean.

He studied the dress as she walked. She’d told Catherine that she’d had to sell most of her things to make the trip, yet the dress that she wore was worth quite a bit of money, he was sure of it. If she had to sell things, how come she’d kept that, and not her wedding ring?

They approached the newspaper office and he pushed open the door.

“You don’t lock it?”

“No need, really. We don’t have problems with people going into places that they’re not supposed to be. Everyone here in Mac’s Crossing is very honest.”

She nodded and he saw a blush creep into her skin.

He ushered her inside, then took off his jacket and placed it on the counter top.

“If you’ll give me just a few minutes, I have to go into the back room and do something real quick. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and Corbin walked past the curtain that separated the printing area from the front room. He stopped inside it and waited a few seconds, then he silently pushed the curtain aside.

Just as he’d thought she’d do, Ruby had hurried to the counter and was feeling in his jacket pockets. When she pulled out Catherine’s telegram, he saw her sigh in relief. She crumbled it up and opened her reticule, taking out another sheet of paper and putting it in his pocket. Then, she put the original message into her reticule and walked back to where she had been earlier.

Well, well, well. Mrs. Monroe has secrets that she wants to hide. And it has something to do with her wedding ring.

He waited a few minutes, just to give her time to stew, then, he went back into the main room.

“Sorry I was gone so long.”

“Oh, it’s no problem, Mr. MacAllister. I was just admiring your set up here. It seems very efficient.”

“I like to think so.” He took his jacket off the counter and reached into the pocket, pulling out Catherine’s note to her sister. He read it slowly, then shook his head, turning to Ruby.

“You misspelled Catherine. She uses a C on her name. You used a K.”

Ruby’s heart went into triple time. “Why I just don’t know what you’re…”

“Please, don’t insult me. You’re not who you say you are. There is no missing ring. And your dress is much too fancy for a widow who had to sell everything. I watched you switch the telegrams. Besides, Catherine told me what she wanted to say, and this isn’t it. No one would send an expensive telegram just to say hello when a letter would do just as well.”

“Who are you?”

“I told you, Ruby Monroe. My late husband and I…”

“Ruby, don’t lie to me. Tell me who you are and why you don’t want this telegram sent.”

“I, I…”

“Shall I go and get my brother Ben? He’s the sheriff, remember? I don’t recall any wanted posters with women’s photos on them, but he’d know.”

He started toward the door and she shook her head violently. “No. Please.”

“Then answer me.”

“My name is Rubalee Parsons. My father’s a miner in the Denver area. He’s trying to force me to marry a man I can’t stand, and I’m running away. Please, don’t tell anyone. Wait until I’m gone tomorrow, send your telegram then. I’ll be long gone when the reply comes that there is no Mr. Monroe, and no sold wedding ring. Please, I’m begging you.”

She twisted her reticule in her hands and watched his face. She couldn’t read his expression and she wondered if he would call his brother, the sheriff. She hadn’t really done anything wrong, unless you counted the fact that she’d switch telegrams.

After a few minutes of long, drawn-out silence, she finally cleared her throat.

“Mr. MacAllister. Please, I’m begging you. Just one night here. I promise.”

“No, not one night.”

“What? That’s all I’m staying. I’m moving on, I’m…”

“You’ll never make it anywhere with the way you lie. You’re terrible at it. Plus, you didn’t take the time to think up a good story. True, being a widow might pass off a few things, but you’re not smart enough to get by on it.”

“I beg your pardon? You know nothing about me!”

“I know enough to know that in the short time you’ve been around me, I figured out something wasn’t right, and got the whole story from you. If I were a thief, I’d have taken everything you own by now. And believe me, there’s plenty of thieves out there.”

“I’ll take my chances. Anything’s better than marrying Jonathan Blake. Are you going to help me, or not?”

“I will, but I want something in return.”

Her eyes bulged out in shock. “And here I thought you were a gentleman. Send your damn telegram. See if I care.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper, throwing it at him.

“I would never, never, lie with you just to get a few hours more of freedom.”

“Did I say that? No. You assumed it. What I need is an assistant, someone to help me with the office work for a week or so until I can find someone permanent. Then, you can go.”

“No. I’m not staying here.”

“Trust me, your father will never find you here. And if he does, I’ll protect you from him. I need this, and you need my silence right now. Help me and I’ll help you.”

Ruby looked off into the office, finally turning her head toward Corbin.

“You’ll pay me?”

“Yes. Fifty dollars for the week.”

“One hundred.”

Corbin laughed. “Sixty.”

“Ninety.” She focused on his face. He was smiling, looking as if he were about to laugh out loud.

“Seventy-five. Take it, or leave it.”

“Done. But, what about my room, and Miss O’Brien?”

“I’ll give you money for your room for the week, it’s the least I can do. And I’ll tell Miss O’Brien that I talked you into staying and helping me because you need money. She’ll buy it.”

Ruby exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

“What happens if my father arrives?”

“What do you think the chances of that are?”

“Slim. I left a trail that showed I went to the train station and bought a ticket for California.”

“Good plan. But if he does show up, I’ll help you with him, I promise. How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”

“Then you’re an adult. You can do things as you see fit. Your father needs to realize that.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for this. What about the telegram?”

“I’ll talk to Catherine, convince her that you and I talked and that your husband was abusive and you have no wish to have the ring back. I’ll tell her that it would bring back bad memories, and ask her to reconsider searching for it.”

“You’re brilliant.”

“No, we just got into a lot of mischief as kids, and I had to get out of it.”

She laughed.

“And we got lots of whippings for being bad. So, I guess since you’ve been into mischief that concerned me, I’m going to have to spank you as a punishment.”

“What? You can’t be serious.”

“I’m very serious, Ruby. I want you to know that I’m very, very serious about this arrangement. I need the help, and I want you to know that I’m in charge. We’ll go into the back room and I’ll take you over my knee. A nice spanking on your bare bottom will teach you that you have to mind me while you’re here.”

“I won’t do it.” Ruby looked at the front door nervously.

“You don’t have a choice. This will seal our deal, so to speak.”

“And it will give you power over me, just as my father and Jonathan had. I don’t want that.”

“This will just remind you that you’ve done a bad thing, lying to people. And let’s not forget about stealing the telegram. Now, are you going to submit to your punishment, or do I need to come over there and drag you to the back room?”

“You’re a beast.”

“Am I? If I were a beast, I would turn you over to my brother. I’m sure there’s a reward out for your return. Is your father rich?”

“He is.”

“See, I’m not a beast, then. People get punished for doing bad things.”

“Running from a man I can’t stand is bad?”

“Stealing other people’s property is bad.”

She blushed. “I’m not a thief. I did it for self-preservation.”

“You could have told her the truth. She wouldn’t have turned you over to anyone, and neither would I.”

He waited a few minutes, then pointed to the curtain. “Back room, Ruby.”

She nodded, but stood still. Her options were limited, she knew. If she tried to get away from him, it would bring more attention to her, attention that she didn’t want. If she told him no, then she was sure that he would tell Miss O’Brien that she’d stolen her telegram, and the woman would not take kindly to that, since she was just trying to be kind and helpful.

“Can’t you just spank me, then, and let me leave in the morning?”

“No. I told you, I need your help.”

“Seems to me that a person who needed help wouldn’t be taking the one who could provide it over his knee.”

“And it seems to me that a woman wouldn’t lie, and then steal…”

“All right! All right! You beast!”

She stomped to the back room. She could hear him coming up behind her, his feet heavy on the floor.

When she pushed open the curtain, she came face to face with a large piece of equipment that she decided must be the printing press. She stopped in her tracks and shook her head.

“There’s no place to sit.”

“Go back a little more, into my living quarters. There’s a sofa in there we can use.”

He got in front of her to lead the way and she fought the desire to turn and run. There was no way out of this, she knew.

Once inside, she saw the couch he’d been describing. It was more of a love seat, with flowered upholstery and wooden legs. He crossed to it and sat down.

“Come over here. Take down your drawers when you get here, and then lie across my lap. I’ll lift your skirts.”

“I’ve never been naked in front of a man.”

“And you won’t be now. Just your bottom will be bare.”

She shook her head. “I’ve changed my mind.” She turned and hurried toward the door, surprised when Corbin’s arm came around her waist.

“I don’t think so.” He carried her toward the couch, pulling her into his strong body as he walked.

“Stop that! Stop that! Let me down this instant!”

He sat down and pulled her across his lap. She kicked her legs and moved her arms frantically, desperate to try and get away from him. He wasn’t having anything to do with it, though.

He lifted her skirts up so that they were almost over her head. Then, he moved a leg and put her lower legs between his to keep her steady. He pulled on her drawers and she wailed in dismay.

“No! No! Stop that right now.”

When her bottom was bare, she thought she would die of embarrassment. She’d never had a man stare at her bare bottom, and to have one she’d known for such a short time do it was absolutely mortifying.

“I can’t believe you think you have the right.”

Slap. His hand came down on her bare bottom and she screamed.

It came down again and again and again and her screams turned into outraged howls.

“Stop that, stop that! I’ll scream so loudly that the sheriff will come. I don’t care who knows now. You can’t treat me this way.”

He delivered several more sharp slaps. “I can, and I will. Besides, this room is set far back from other people. Nobody lives around here but me, so no one will hear you.”

She wiggled around on his lap.

“Mr. MacAllister, please…”

His hand came down again and again. Warmth built in her behind. The spanking stung like the devil. She felt tears well in her eyes, and these ones were for real.

“Please!”

“This is for lying to Miss O’Brien, who is a sweet woman who only wants to help.”

He delivered ten sharp slaps to her right cheek, then moved to the left one and delivered ten more.

Ruby started to cry, big, fat tears escaping her eyes and running down her cheeks.

“And this is for stealing her telegram. You should be happy you’re not spending the night behind bars for that.”

This time he alternated the slaps, from one cheek to the other. Ruby tried to keep track of the number, but she couldn’t concentrate. It stung too much. She knew his words were true, but she also knew that she’d done it for a good reason. He couldn’t fault her for that.

“Please stop!” The words came out on a hiccup, but Corbin didn’t listen to her. His hand continued to fall and the burn that was in her bottom turned into a full-fledged fire.

“Please!”

“You won’t lie anymore, will you?”

He slapped her bottom repeatedly, then stopped. “Will you?”

“No!”

“And you won’t steal anymore, will you?” The spanking started again.

Ruby was sure that her bottom must be a crisscross of red marks from where his hand had fallen.

“No! No! No! I won’t. Please stop.”

He delivered a few more hard smacks, then rubbed her bottom.

“I think I’ve made my point, have I not?”

She snuffled, then jerked against his lap.

“You have made your point. Let me go!”

“Not yet. Just stay where you’re at for a little while. Relax.”

“Relax? Are you serious? You’re not the one whose bottom is on fire.”

“You brought it on yourself. And I warn you, if you act up again, I will spank you again. Do you understand?”

Her tears had dried and she nodded.

“Please let me up.” Her voice was low. “I’m relaxed now.”

“Not quite. This is part of your punishment, to lie here with a reddened bottom.” He rubbed her behind again and she didn’t fight him. Maybe, just maybe, if she relaxed a little bit he would let her up.

Finally, after a few long minutes, he gently lifted her to her feet. She stepped away from him and he stood and turned his back to give her enough privacy to pull her drawers back up.

Her behind burned more as the fabric came into contact with her cheeks. She settled her skirts back down, and then he turned to her.

“I can’t believe you just did that to me.”

“And I will again, if necessary.”

“No, there won’t be a need.”

“Then you behave yourself, understand? You will start work tomorrow morning at nine. You will be here and work until five or six each night. One week for seventy-five dollars.”

“And you will keep my secret, you will tell everyone that I’m Ruby Monroe, going to Texas to be with relatives after the death of my husband?”

“Yes. And I will deal with Miss O’Brien. You will be the model employee. Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Very good. Then we can help each other.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you serious? You just struck my bottom repeatedly and you think that’s helping me?”

“Yes. It does.”

“And just how do you think it does that?”

She wanted to slap the smile off his face. “It’s easy. It reminds you that I’m in charge, that you have to do what is right, and that I won’t let you get away with things that you do wrong. Is there a question about that?”

“No.”

The anger in her voice was very apparent, and she hated the look of mischief that he gave her.

“I’ll walk you back to the hotel.”

“I can walk myself.”

“That wouldn’t be proper, to let a lady like yourself walk the streets alone at night. I will walk you back, and then I will talk with Miss O’Brien and explain the situation to her.”

“So, she will know that I’ll be working for you?”

“Yes, everyone will. I will tell her that you needed the extra money, since you’re so strapped for cash, and I needed the help and we came to this arrangement.”

She nodded and rubbed her bottom.

“I wouldn’t do that in front of her if I were you. She’ll know that you’ve been punished, and she’ll want to know why.”

Ruby turned her face away from him, then looked back at him with a scowl on her face.

“There’s a mirror over there, and water from the pump. Wash your face and clear away your tears, and then we’ll go.”

She nodded and stormed away from him. When she’d done as he said, she walked toward him and stopped.

“I hate you.”

“Fine. Just remember that I will spank you again, if necessary.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and moved towards the door, angry when his laughter rang out. She burned with anger, and with the desire to get back at him. One way or another, he would pay for spanking her.