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    Ruby: Mail Order Bride Series, #9
    Ruby: Mail Order Bride Series, #9
    Ruby: Mail Order Bride Series, #9
    Ebook80 pages1 hour

    Ruby: Mail Order Bride Series, #9

    By R L Butler

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    About this ebook

    This is a clean Western Historical Mail Order Bride Romance book that does not contain any foul language or sexual situations.

    From the moment actress, Ruby O’Dell met Ted Summers at the theater stage door, he was enchanted with her.  Ted lived in Prescott, Arizona Territory, but visited Boston, Massachusetts, where Ruby was living, many times during the year and would even write to her between trips.

    After months of correspondence and visits, Ted invited Ruby to join him in Prescott to work in a theater where she could finally become a star. After much deliberation, Ruby finally agreed to travel to Prescott with Ted to audition for the theater.

    On the way to Prescott, Ruby and Ted were involved in an accident where they both sustained, what appeared to be, just a few minor injuries. Later, Ruby started to exhibit signs of a latent illness or injury that could prevent her from ever working in the theater again.

    What will Ruby do if she's no longer able to work in the theater?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMail Order Bride Press
    Release dateDec 2, 2017
    ISBN9781386208228
    Ruby: Mail Order Bride Series, #9

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      Book preview

      Ruby - R L Butler

      Chapter 1

      With the rest of the cast, Ruby O’Dell took her place behind the curtain of the Gaiety Theatre of Boston. Usually she played Alice Munro in the play The Last of the Mohicans , adapted from a book of the same name by James Fennimore Cooper, but tonight she had the more compelling role of Cora Munro, Alice’s older half-sister. The other actress had become ill with laryngitis and couldn’t work. Since Ruby knew all the lines for both characters, she substituted. A lesser actress substituted in her own part .

      This was a wonderful opportunity. If she could succeed in this role, she had a good chance of getting ahead in the theater. She would love to be an actress of the same caliber as Sarah Bernhardt.

      The heavy curtain rose slowly, and the gas footlights blinded her. A dark figure before her shot to his feet and began to cheer wildly over the applause, calling out her name over and over. Ru-by! Ru-by! Ru-by!

      With the other female cast members, she curtsied, while the male cast members bowed. The chant grew louder as others joined in the ovation. Ru-by! Ru-by! Ru-by! Her co-star, Gerald Jordan, gently pushed her toward the edge of the stage.

      Take your own bow, Ruby, he said with a smile. You deserve it.

      Numb with disbelief, she performed a deep curtsy. Upon rising again, she waved at the crowd. This was the first time she’d ever had such an outpouring of acceptance for a character she’d portrayed, and she loved the feeling. Unfortunately, as soon as Patsy Roman returned to the part, Ruby knew, she would no longer receive such accolades.

      She strained to see past the limelights as the gas lights of the audience area brightened. Most of the attendees were on their feet, applauding and cheering. Her heart swelled with joy. Her parents had never given her such support when she was following her dream to become an actress in the theater.

      Gerald took her hand and pulled her back into line with the rest of the cast, all of whom bowed or curtsied one last time as the curtains closed. Her co-workers gathered around her, many of them hugging her and expressing their congratulations.

      After two years in the acting profession, her work was finally being acknowledged, and she couldn’t be happier. She didn’t want it to end. In fact, now that she had it, she felt as though she wanted more. And more and more. Right this minute, she was happier than she’d been in her entire life.

      As she exited the building after changing into her street clothes, a gentleman with blond hair, which seemed golden in the gas-lit street, approached her.

      You did a wonderful job tonight, Miss O’Dell, he said from her right.

      Thank you, she replied. I assume you were in the audience?

      I was, and I was the first one on my feet, calling out your name.

      That was you?

      I was overwhelmed by your performance. Is that your hansom cab waiting over there?

      Ruby glanced over at the two-wheeled carriage with the sprung seat attached to the vehicle so the driver could see over the top of the carriage. Looking back to the man, she shook her head. No. I live nearby, so I always walk. I don’t spend money frivolously when it’s not necessary.

      May I escort you home, then?

      I’d like that, she agreed, glad that she didn’t have to navigate the streets alone, which always made her nervous.

      Thank you, he replied as they began walking. My name is Edward Summers. My friends call me Ted, though. May I call you Ruby?

      Of course. Why did you meet me out here tonight?

      I couldn’t stop thinking about you — your performance, I mean. I wanted to meet you in person.

      How exciting! Ted was her first professional admirer, at least, the first one who had admitted it. Curious, she asked, How did you know I’m Ruby? Patsy usually plays the part.

      It wasn’t hard to figure out. The theater poster out front has your picture on it. You’re much too small to be Patsy Roman. I’m guessing you normally play the role of Alice, the small, sickly Munro sister.

      And I’m guessing that you’ve seen the play before.

      "In New York, yes. I was in town alone and had nothing to do tonight, and I saw in the newspaper that The Last of the Mohicans was being performed here. I thought I’d take it in. He paused, as though hesitant about what he wanted to say. Then he continued. I must say, you did a wonderful job on stage. It’s too bad you’re so petite. You played Cora perfectly, like you were really her."

      Her face heated. Right now, she was glad that the gas streetlights weren’t as bright as the limelights around the stage. She didn’t want him to see her blush; she wanted to appear confident. To hide her embarrassment, she grinned up at him and said, You don’t have to keep complimenting me. You’re already walking me home.

      And I appreciate the opportunity to accompany you.

      Stopping at the foot of a brownstone staircase, Ruby said, This is where I live.

      "That was close, he replied as he situated himself against the stone newel of the staircase. That didn’t give us much time to talk."

      I won’t invite you in, but we can chat here for a few minutes, if you’d like.

      I’d like that a lot.

      Ruby settled herself on the

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