Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y'Barbo Page B

Gayarre’s brother.”
    This was news. No wonder the two women were so close. They’d come near to being family.
    “He’s dead now,” Viola said, her hand still resting against her cheek.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” She turned to face Ruby, releasing her grip on the curtains then watching them fall together as if that were the most interesting thing she’d seen all day. “Suffice it to say I know what a man’s capable of when provoked. I also know sometimes what provokes a man is a woman who loves him unconditionally.”
    “Your man hit you.” The words tumbled out, and even as she heard herself say them, Ruby longed to gather them back up.
    “As did yours,” Viola said softly, her expression unchanged.

Chapter 13

    How to tell a lady of quality that ducking a man’s fists started well before Ruby was of age to have a man of her own?
    “No need to answer, Ruby. I’ve found that the past fits much better where it belongs—behind us.” Viola moved from the window and slipped past to open the door. “No sense in dredging it up and wearing it for all the world to see. That’s what I say, anyway.”
    “Vivi, is that you?” A dark-haired man eased around the corner, wearing a sleepy expression and a wrinkled shirt half tucked into trousers in a similar state. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.” Dark eyes locked with Ruby’s as one corner of his mouth turned up in a crooked grin. “Remy,” he said as he lifted a dark brow and moved toward her. “Remy Dumont. And you are. . . ?”
    Viola stepped between them. “Ruby O’Shea, meet my brother.”
    Her smile was as much for Viola as for the man who stood behind her. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “He’s only just arrived.” Viola turned to give Remy a look then a swift peck on the cheek. “So forgive his unkempt appearance. I’m sure he was just off to repair himself.”
    Remy pushed his hair from his face then smoothed the front of his wrinkled shirt. “Indeed,” he said as he winked at Viola, “I was off to do just that.” His gaze swung to Ruby. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m certain we’ll meet again before Vivi and I return to New Orleans.”
    “You’re leaving?” Ruby turned her attention to the midwife. “I had no idea.”
    “Neither did I,” Viola said with some measure of what appeared to be exasperation. “And for the record, my brother has not consulted me on this decision of his. Shall we?”
    Ruby followed Viola outside, unsure whether she’d just made a friend or lost one. She paused when Viola did, watching while the midwife snapped the head off a perfectly beautiful flower of some sort.
    “Micah Tate,” she said as she studied the flower. “Where does he fit in all this?”
    “I don’t know,” Ruby said. “I thought maybe the Lord would tell me, but it seems He’s left me to figure it out.”
    Viola gestured toward the docks. “Better think fast, because here he comes.” With that, she threw open the latch and opened the gate for Ruby. “Know this,” she said as she paused to close the gate once Ruby had passed through. “Micah Tate has never shown me to be anything but a good man. I understand Rev. Carter’s decided he’ll pastor the church someday.”
    From the corner of her eye, Ruby watched the wrecker approach. “Yes, I’ve heard as much.”
    “I know him to be a man of his word, Ruby,” Viola said. “So if he’s made you any promise, you can stand on the fact he’ll see it through until he shows you otherwise.”
    Ruby groaned as she waved to Viola and walked away. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    By picking up her pace, Ruby reached the parsonage before Micah could catch her. There she found Tess playing tag with a tolerant William Carter. The younger son of the Reverend and Mary Carter had allowed Tess to charm him into tying a handkerchief around his eyes, rendering him nearly helpless as she danced just out of his reach.
    “Mind the child,