Page 18 of December's Ride with Scar

“Oh, she’s going to be teaching?” she asks hesitantly.

“Completely her choice. She loves it. If I had it my way, she'd be attached to my side every minute of every day.” I walk over to her.

“That sounds about right. So now you are just waiting for her to be done?” Ruby asks.

“Actually, I came to talk to you.” I look around and there are a few people doing some shopping.

Sage has a basket of what looks like Christmas gifts, and one of the girls that works at the hair salon is looking at chocolate.

“Can we chat in the back really quick?” I ask. Ruby may be a gossip, but she can keep a secret when needed. I can't say that about other people in town.

“Of course. Just come on back to my office,” she says, leading me to a makeshift desk area in the back room. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, but I need to get Evelyn a ring, and I'm hoping you can help me because I want to surprise her with it.”

Ruby's eyes light up right before anger takes over.“You proposed to that girl without a ring? What is wrong with you?” She swats my arm.

“Most of our relationship has been online. Until she moved here the day before you met her, we hadn't spent much time together.” I tell Ruby what I had worked out in my head last night.

It’s close enough to the truth without lying, but far enough away from the truth that it shouldn't embarrass Evelyn.

“Well, okay then. I'm glad you are making it right. How can I help?”

I pull out one of Evelyn's rings I saw her wearing on her ring finger the other day and hand it to Ruby.

“This is her ring size,” I say and then pull out my phone. “This is what I'm thinking as far as rings.”

I show her the links I had bookmarked.

“Since I can't get away into Helene without her asking questions, I'm hoping you can. You have great taste and there isn't anyone else I'd trust,” I tell her, pouring on a bit of sugar I know she will eat right up.

“Well, of course. All I need to do is tell Orville we need to go there tomorrow for some shopping. Then we will go our separate ways because I know he hasn't bought anything for me yet, even though I got his gifts last month. Just leave it to me!” she says, the smile back on her face.

“I need it in a week or less and will pay the rush fee.” I hand her my credit card.

“That will be a nice hefty rush fee. Do you want a wedding band to go with it?”

“Yes, and one for me, too. She wants to be married before Christmas,” I say, giving her my ring size.

“All right then, you work on the rest of the plans and leave these to me.” Ruby winks.

She loves being involved with anything love-related in this town. Because of everything going on with the Savage Bones this past year, she hasn't been able to be as involved as she likes. So, I'm happy to enlist her aid with this, and I’m glad that I can get the ring in time.It’s a win-win.

With a final hug, I head out to meet Atlas at the clubhouse. Evelyn calls just as I get there.

“Hey, how did the interview go?” I ask.

“It went really well. It was more like friends talking than any interview I've ever been on. Right there on the spot, I got offered the job. Best yet, it pays more than my job back home. I didn’t even have to think about it, I just accepted the position. Luna is waiting outside for me, and we are going to do some shopping here in town,” she says in what sounds like one breath.

“I'm happy for you. We will celebrate tonight. Have fun shopping and call me when you are done, and I'll come get you. Right now, I'm at the clubhouse checking out the renovations.”

“Okay, be safe,” she says.

“You too.”

“I thought you’d end up staying there gossiping on your phone all day,” Atlas says when I walk in.

“It was Evelyn. She called to tell me she got the teacher position on the spot. A few of the girls are with her, and they’re going shopping now. So, you have me for at least an hour.”

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