The Virtuous Woman by Gilbert Morris

unblinking.
    Key saw that there were tears in Cara’s eyes as she came forward. She put out her arms and embraced Ruby, who remained as still as a statue. “My dear, I’m so glad you’re here!” Cara said, her voice filled with emotion. She turned to Phil and said, “This is your father, Phil.”
    He stepped forward and put his hand out, and when Ruby awkwardly took it, he smiled. “It’s good to see you, Grace.”
    The group stood in awkward silence for a moment, and then Cara said rather nervously, “Why are we standing here? Come inside. The rest of the family is waiting.”
    As she led Ruby toward the steps, Phil turned to Key. He took one look at his bruised and stitched face and asked, “Who beat you up?”
    “Oh, just a fellow.” He bent down to pick up his suitcase and grimaced.
    “I’ve been hurt like that,” Phil said. “It must have been pretty bad.”
    “I’ve had worse. I shouldn’t have let that cab driver go. I wasn’t thinking.”
    “No, come on in. I need to pay you, and we need to talk. I want to hear all about your trip. Here, let me take that suitcase.”
    “I can handle it if you can get the others.”
    But Phil ignored him and picked up all three suitcases. “How has she been, Francis?” he asked.
    “It’s been a real test—and I’m afraid it’s going to get tougher.”
    “She looks scared to death.”
    “I think she is, but she’ll probably cover it up. She can be pretty tough.”
    Francis accompanied Phil inside, and they caught up with the two women, who were waiting in the foyer.
    “The children are in the drawing room,” Cara was saying. “Are you very tired after your long trip?”
    “No, I ain’t a bit tired.”
    Key caught the slight antagonism in Ruby’s voice. She was holding her purse tightly, and her skin was drawn across her cheekbones. It was almost as if she’d had a serious car wreck and was in a state of shock. Poor kid. She’s able to handle a monster like Hack Keller, but she’s never experienced anything like this before. He himself felt out of place in the opulent setting. Still, he wanted to see the reaction of the rest of the family. More than that, he wanted somehow to help Ruby, but could think of no way to do so.
    As they stepped inside the drawing room, Key got an impression of spaciousness and very expensive paintings and furniture, but his focus was on the faces of the young adults, who he assumed were the Winslow children. He saw shock run across the features of the young woman who was beautifully and expensively dressed as she took in the newcomer. It was as if the young woman were holding up a huge sign that read, Oh no, this can’t be! She’s a tramp pretending to be a Winslow!
    Key’s eyes went to the smaller of the two young men. The man hid his expression carefully, but something flickered in his eyes, and Key felt that this man would be Ruby’s real enemy. He was conscious of Cara calling their names, and when she introduced Brian, Key saw his lips pull into a tight line. Brian nodded his head and merely said hello.
    The other Winslow son stood back against the wall, his face turned away in a rather awkward position. He was wearing a working man’s outfit: a pair of khakis, heavy boots, and a faded blue shirt. He smiled when he was introduced as Kevin and said, “Just call me Kev. Everybody does.” His voice waswarm, and Key thought, At least this one’s open to what’s happening. The young man finally faced them, and Key saw the terrible scars on the left side of his face. A great compassion arose in him, as always happened when he encountered anyone who was crippled or maimed in any way.
    Key moved slightly so he could get a better view of Ruby’s face, and as he expected, she kept her expression blank. She merely nodded and said hello after Cara introduced each one.
    A silence fell across the room after the introductions. Brian broke it by saying, “Well, I guess we came as quite a surprise to you, didn’t we? I