Chapter 7:

A/N: After a long time, I have had so much inspiration for this story. I'm super excited to share more with you guys! There is much in store for these two. Thanks for the reviews, they mean a lot to me. On to the next chapter!

Ruth

We walked our horses towards my new home, and then just stood in the street, talking about anything and everything. Once it started getting dark, I again pulled him to me by his kerchief and kissed his cheeks, right, then left, lingering a bit on the left cheek. He smelled like a man-courage, integrity, strength, sweat, and just a bit of stubborn.

I wanted so much to kiss him, deeply and fully, but I knew that if I let myself, I would not stop, and neither would he. He seemed to sense this too, and pulled me into a hug, engulfing me. I wrapped my arms around him and held him, not wanting this moment to end, not wanting him to leave me alone. Eventually, we let go of each other. He tipped his hat to me and sent me a wide grin, then jumped onto Cochise and cantered off towards the Ponderosa. I watched him recede into the countryside, then walked into Mrs. Barton's yard.

The sun had yet to set but was low on the horizon, meaning I had about a half hour to brush Lancelot down. I led him into Mrs. Barton's barn and unsaddled him. His hide was darker where he had sweat under the saddle, and the warm horse smell that came off of him in waves made me smile. I took a curry comb to him, alternating hands so that one did not become stronger than the other. It was good work, and let me think about Joe.

My goodness, how good it felt to be held by him. It felt right, and true, and pure. I admitted to myself, in that moment, how much I was beginning to really like this man, even though I barely knew him. He made me want to stop wandering, stop searching; I felt I had found what I was subconsciously looking for. That thought alone made me feel warm inside. I still barely knew Joe, but I was looking forward to getting to know him better. I would also need to listen to my heart and mind and make sure that I was making the right decision for myself. I finished up in the barn, washed my hands and face in water from the well, cleaned my boots, and went into the kitchen where Mrs. Barton and a few of the other female boarders were already working at making dinner. It smelled heavenly, and my stomach grumbled loudly at that moment, so loud that everyone heard it and laughed. I laughed with them, and the atmosphere became relaxed. I joined in the potato peeling, then helped with the stew, then went to set places at the table. There were seven boarders in total, including me, and adding Mrs. Barton made eight places at the table. One of the boarders had brought a fresh bouquet of flowers for the table, so I found a vase and filled it with water and placed it in the center of the long oak table, flanked by two candles. It was just beginning to get dark as the girls from the kitchen brought the food out. Men came from outside and upstairs. I was both excited and nervous to meet my new housemates.

Mrs. Barton walked in, carrying the last of the food, and everyone took seats around the table.

"Let us join hands and bow our heads before the Lord." Everyone did as she asked. I took the hand of the gentleman to my right and the red-haired girl across from me to my left. "Thank you, Lord for your bountiful blessings, for the health of everyone in this house, and for the arrival of our new boarder, Miss Ruth Armenta. Please bless us all and bless the food before us. Amen." Everyone dropped hands and platters were passed.

"Ruth, I'd like to introduce you to my boarders," Mrs. Barton stated, and went on to introduce Jane Wilson, Patrick O'Rourke, Marcus and Liam Clark, Annie Aver, Johann Meier, Wilhelm Mueller, and Charles Marshall. All smiled at me when she said their name, and they all looked respectable and agreeable.

"I look forward to getting to know you all, and thank you again for having me, Mrs. Barton," I smiled to the table.

Everyone chatted amicably the rest of the dinner, and then it was cleared away and everything was cleaned up. Some of the boarders went into the sitting room, some onto the front porch. The red-haired young woman went outside, and so I followed, wanting to get to know her and some of the men.

They all smiled at me as I came through the door, closing it softly behind me. I sat down on the wicker bench next to a blond man. I stuck out my hand and we shook.

"You're one of the brothers, correct? I'm sorry, names will elude me for a bit until I get to know you better," I apologized.

"Marcus Clark, Miss Armenta, and not to worry," he replied, a smile on his face and a kind glint in his eyes. He then introduced me again to everyone on the porch, and we all talked about our lives for a bit, until it became late and chilly. I learned that the brothers, Liam and Marcus, were from the East, and had traveled west to mine for gold. Being unsuccessful, they went back to their learned trades and were flourishing in Virginia City. Johann Meier, a German of twenty three years, worked at the Virginia City Gazette as a typesetter and occasional writer. There was another German in the house that shared Johann's room, but he had gone to the parlor. I'd meet him later. Patrick O'Rourke, the Irishman with the lovely accent, was a manager at the silver mine outside of town. Annie Aver, the red-haired girl, was really interesting. I found her, at first impression, to share many interests and beliefs of mine. She was studying to become a doctor, under the town's doctor and midwife. I hoped to become her friend.

These people were very welcoming and inviting, and I felt at home. Annie and I said our good nights to the people on the porch and then climbed the stairs to bed. We found that our rooms were next to each other, which made us both happy.

"I hope we will become fast friends, Ruth. I feel we are the same at heart," Annie smiled.

"I feel the same. Thank you for your kindness in welcoming me here, I feel very at home with you all. Sleep well, Annie," I hugged her and we went to our separate rooms. Though I was very tired, I updated my journal on the happenings of the day. Joe was a big part of my entry.

My feelings for him, this man I hardly knew, were already so strong. I wanted to be around him, to learn everything I could about him and his family. I remembered what Adam had said to me about how my heart now held Joe's heart. I wanted so much to live up to that great responsibility, and to live up to it as best I could. With him, my whole being felt at ease, while at the same time excited and ready to conquer the world. There was nothing I wanted more than to simply be with Joe Cartwright.

I undressed, washed, and sat in front of one of my windows. The wind played with my hair. The moon was waxing, and as I sat under it and it shone brilliantly on me, I took comfort in knowing it was shining down on Joe, too.