Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) by Bobbi Smith

Abby. I'm sure."
    Edmund managed a smile as he took Iona's hand
and guided her out onto the dance floor. He
couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed
himself with his wife, and holding her up while she
staggered through the dance was not his idea of a
good time.
    As they danced, Edmund realized disgustedly that
Iona was beginning to sober up. At least when she
was drunk it was easy to elude her. He would pay
enough attention to her now to shut her up for a
while, and then he was going to invite Abby to
dance. He didn't know if she would accept, but just
the thought of holding her close excited him.
    "I think that's Jack Hunter at the bar," Seth
Richards, one of the hands from the Bar W Ranch,
told the other men sitting at the poker table as they
listened to the new girl sing.
    "Isn't he the one who-"
    "That's him."
    "They let him out already? Damn."
    "Who's Jack Hunter?" another cowboy at the
table asked.
    Seth quickly explained about Jack's scandalous
past. The other man eyed Jack suspiciously.
    "I'm surprised he came back to Diablo."

    "I imagine everybody in town is surprised by his
return, but it ain't no surprise that he's here getting
drunk. He was nothing but a drunk before, and it
looks like he ain't changed any. If his coming home
wasn't already the talk of the town, it will be after
tonight."
    The new singer began another song, and the men
turned their attention back to her. Watching Miss
Ruby was far more entertaining than watching the
old drunk at the bar.
    Jack drained his drink and signaled the bartender
for another refill as he watched the pretty little
entertainer. She was a talented girl, and he meant to
tell her so once she was finished performing. He was
very glad that he'd left the church dance. He was
having a far better time here with his whiskey.
    "Get me a bottle to take with me," Jack told the
barkeep when he was filling his glass.
    "How big?"
    "Something I can carry in my coat pocket."
    "Coming right up." The bartender brought him a
good-sized flask of whiskey.
    Jack smiled and put it in his pocket. So much for
Brent's ordering him not to drink on the HalfMoon. It was his ranch, and he'd drink there if he
wanted to.
    Crystal finished her last song to rousing applause.
In keeping with her usual friendly manner, she left
the stage to greet everyone in the saloon. The
cowboys gloried in her attention.

    As she went from table to table talking to the
men, Crystal noticed the older man standing at the
bar. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar,
although she was certain she'd never met him before.
    "Good evening," Crystal said as she stopped
before him.
    "Miss Ruby, you sure have a pretty voice," Jack
told her.
    "Why, thank you, sir."
    "I'm only speaking the truth," he assured her.
"My name's Jack. Would you care to join me for a
drink tonight?"
    "I'd love to." Crystal looked at the bartender and
ordered a sarsaparilla.
    Jack was surprised. Usually the women who
worked in saloons were heavy drinkers. "Why are
you drinking that? Have some of the good stuff," he
encouraged.
    "Sarsaparilla is good stuff, for me," she answered.
"I have to perform again a little later, and I don't
want to risk not doing my best for my audience."
    "You are a rare woman indeed, Miss Ruby," Jack
said.
    "I'll take that as a compliment, Jack." She beamed
at him.
    "That's what it was."
    Crystal moved on to chat with the other
customers. She wasn't sure why she'd felt drawn to
the older man, but she had enjoyed talking with
him.

    Jack watched her go, and he was most impressed.
She was pretty and talented, and she'd been kind to
him, which was something that hadn't happened a
lot since his return.
    Edmund and Iona returned to the table where Abby
was sitting alone.
    "May I have the honor of the next dance, Abby?"
he asked.
    "I'm sorry. I don't dance."
    "I could teach you."
    "I'm perfectly happy sitting here with Iona."
    Edmund studied her as boldly as he dared,