Ruby's Song (Love in the Sierras Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

The door opened and Monkey walked in, followed by a tall, rotund middle-aged woman who stood in the middle of the room with legs apart and arms akimbo. A fat cigar hung from her mouth, its smoke filling up the tiny space.
    “So, you want to perform on my stage, eh?” she said, appraising Marlena. “I’m Maggie. Stand up, girl and let me look at you.”
    Marlena obeyed and felt the woman’s eyes roving critically.
    “How old are you?” she asked.
    “Eighteen.”
    Maggie nodded. “You ever act before?”
    Marlena glanced at the floor. Did living in disguise count? Finally, she shook her head. “No, but I sing.”
    A raspy laugh hissed from Maggie’s lungs. “Your voice is as delicate as a whisper. You sure you can project enough to be heard out there? We pack quite a crowd.”
    Marlena nodded.
    “Well, let’s hear you sing something then,” Maggie said, folding her arms over her chest.
    “Here? Now?”
    “Why not? Go ahead, girl.”
    Marlena cleared her throat and sang, watching the bright widening of both Maggie’s and Monkey’s eyes as she did so. The depth and range of her voice made the room seem too small, the roof too low.  Soon, Maggie’s arms fell to her sides and she exchanged a smile and laugh with Monkey before signaling Marlena to stop.
    “You’re hired,” she declared, plucking out the cigar and blowing a cloud of smoke into the air. “What’s your name, girl?”
    “Mar…” she began, then decided it was best to obscure her identity. “My name is Penny Wallace, and my father is an innkeeper.”
    “Sounds good to me,” she said. “Welcome aboard. Monkey will introduce you to everyone.”
    “One thing, Miss Maggie,” Marlena called out, wringing her hands as she studied the floor. “I can only rehearse in the evenings and no one can see my face. My father doesn’t approve.”
    Maggie waited until Marlena raised her eyes and then nodded. “We can work with that.”
    With a wide smile, she left The Museum through the back alley and ran home, forgetting her dress at Eloisa’s. Knowing she couldn’t enter the house looking like a servant, she employed the old oak on the side of the house, using its knots and gnarled limbs to ascend to her window.
    Sleep came easily that night. Forgotten was the bitter prank of Eloisa and her comrades. Set aside was her fears and worries over Sarah’s criticism. For the first time in years, she went to sleep with a smile on her lips, for she could finally call herself a performer.

Chapter 3
    Dalton slid a finger between his neck and the stiff collar of his dress shirt, trying to loosen the cinch of the black bow tie pressing on his Adam’s apple. His mother swatted his hand away and seared him with a scowl as they shuffled along the marble-floored lobby of the Boston Opera House. After two hours of boredom, he couldn’t wait to taste the cooler night air. Out in the moonlight, he removed the top hat and took a deep breath, tugging the bow tie off. “Thank God it’s over.”
    “It wasn’t that bad,” his mother cooed, laughing at Dalton’s public and unabashed disrobing.
    “It wasn’t Marlena,” he returned. “And that’s who we got all dressed up to see. What happened? You said she was supposed to be on stage.”
    Her shoulders rose. “Jess told me she performs at the Boston Opera House each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.”
    “Perhaps you should have double checked prior to purchasing seats.”
    Juliet sighed and placed her fists on her hips. “Dalton Cunningham. Stop acting like a squalling infant. It was a lovely opera, despite some misinformation.”
    “The opera was several things, Mother. Lovely wasn’t one of them. The Opera Queen seemed a bit vacant, don’t you think? And isn’t she Marlena’s patroness? I thought I recognized her.”
    “Yes, that’s her,” Juliet confirmed. “And I agree she did seem a bit distracted, but still. You can’t deny her talent.”
    “I don’t deny it. I just don’t find it