Page 56 of Heart of the West

“I want to use that pizza oven.” Ruby says.

I smile. “I thought you might. Maybe on New Year's Eve we can have pizza night.”

Nods of agrement went along the table.

“We can have a pizza contest.” Clyde says. “See who makes the best pizza.”

“Who’s going to judge?”

“You, Ruby and Maya. I want to beat Xavier. He’s been bragging about his kitchen skills.”

“Hey, it’s not bragging. If it’s a fact,” Xavier retorts.

“We’ll see X.” Clyde says.

I sit and watch my family banter back and forth with old and new members alike. Ruby joins in a little but I can tell she’s not feeling great.

“Let’s get you tucked in.”

When she nods her head. I pull back her chair and pick her up. She’s either too tired or too shocked to protest. When she laysher head against my shoulder, I know it’s because she’s in a lot of pain.

I carry her to my room. With her eyes closed she doesn’t notice. I set her on the bed before I undress her. And tuck her in.

Chapter 33

Ruby

I wake up with a start. Nausea slams into me with a vengeance. I throw back the covers and race for the bathroom. It’s not until I’m bent over the porcelain goddess with someone holding my hair, I realize I’m in Effrem’s room.

Thankfully, I’d slept through the night and digested all that delicious pizza. I still threw up bile several times before I felt safe enough to lean back from the bowl. He helped me from the floor to the lip of the tub.

“I’ll be right back, baby.”

I hold on to the side of the tub. I feel a thousand percent better. Effrem comes back with a cool washcloth for my neck and a warm one for my face.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to get you settled on the call Doc Nash. He’ll come out to the ranch and check you out.”

I nod my head and let him help me to the sink. He pulls out a fresh toothbrush, takes it out of the wrapper and hands it to me. I smiled when I looked at the old-fashioned toothbrush. My guess, it’s been in the drawer a very long time.

He gets me settled then grabs his phone and makes a call.

“Doc’s on his way. I’m headed downstairs to make you some peppermint tea. Evie swore by it when any of us had an upset stomach.”

“Thank you. Can I have a little honey in it.”

“Of course. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Here I sit propped up in Effrem’s bed with a houseful of his kids. I hope they don’t think less of me. I wonder what made him bring me here instead of to the guest room. He was attentive at dinner last night. Touching my hand, getting me slices of pizza and soda. Little touches to my arm or leg when he sat down. All of it in front of the guests. If anyone noticed they didn’t say anything.

Not that we’re hiding anything, but we are taking it slow. You usually don’t meet the family until the relationship is serious. Then again, nothing about this relationship is serious and I’m meeting the kids to help him out.

They’re great kids too. He’s done a wonderful job of raising them the last sixteen years without Evie by his side. Jessi is warm and welcoming. Clyde is easy to laugh and a little unsure of himself. Expected at the age of nineteen. And, Dalton, who’s closer to my age than his father, is brave and full of personality. He’s got a casual ease about him whereas Effrem has an air of intensity that surrounds him.

Maya and Xavier enter the bedroom coming to my side.

“Effrem said you’re not feeling well, dear. You tell us what you have planned for the day and we’ll take care of it.”

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