Ruby had been cleaning out the chicken coop. It was very early in the morning, and the sun hadn't risen yet, but it was light enough to see. She had a lantern hanging in the corner to light the coop anyway. It comforted her, this work. Raking the floor, sweeping, and meditating in the cool, crisp air of pre-dawn. She stopped to inhale September air. This was indeed comfort to her. The years had gone by so fast, and continued to fly by. Some days she would wonder about the family she had left behind. Did they miss her? Did they care? Ruby was sure she had made the right choice, though. She had to go, and free herself from, well, things that hurt. At this point, she had lived at the compound for as long as she had with the family she really couldn't remember anymore. Tomorrow she would turn twenty four. She was seen as almost a second in command beside Sister Abigail. It fell on her to take care of the day to day things. Abby was so much more tired, and weak, lately. Ruby could see it in her pale skin, and sunken eyes.

"I'm a bit exhausted today, Ruby. I'm so sorry to be giving you so much work." She had held Ruby's hand while saying this. Ruby had smiled down at Abby.

"You rest, please. Leave it to me. I won't disappoint you." And she made certain not to. That was two months ago. At this point, due to Sister Abigail's weakness, they had decided not to bring any more orphans in. Ruby could concentrate on who remained. She would be the best stand-in matriarch for this motley clan as she could be.

The wind stirred up a little, blowing Ruby's hair away from her face, and it was refreshing after the work she had done. The coop was spotless, at least for now, and the riled up chickens settled back into their pens. She stood there for a bit, leaning on her broom, watching the sky become lighter. She heard trees close by rustling, and there appeared Bray Wyatt, with his companions Erick and Luke. He saw her lantern first, then finally her, just standing in the coop. He stopped walking, and with a gesture only, he waved his comrades away. He stood for a moment, just staring at Ruby, then he closed the short distance between them.

"Good morning, Brother Bray." Ruby had said. She felt the usual tremble about her every time he would come close to her. As he grew in power, his aura seemed to shake her down to her bones. There was no way she could place a finger on what it was, but this Bray Wyatt was a force to be reckoned with. He stood before her now, his blue eyes glistening in the light of the lantern. His hands, slowly, came to rest upon her cheeks. Ruby took a sharp breath in, unsure of what was happening. It was then that he lowered his lips onto hers. Beard and breath caressed her skin. She dropped the broom, and clutched his shoulders. She had wanted this. Oh, yes. Too soon the kiss ended, but Bray looked into her eyes.

"I have asked Sister Abigail if I could court you. She said she will talk about it later." This was all he said, and it took titanic effort for Ruby to let him walk away after what just happened. She watched him enter the main house, not once looking back. Shock stole over her. Ruby stood there, frozen still in a time when the lips of Bray Wyatt touched hers.

Later that day, when she was a bit more herself, and had been busy helping with lunch, Luke Harper had come to her.

"Sister Abigail needs you." he had simply said. She followed him up the stairs to Abby's room. Ruby saw Bray next to her. Luke ushered her in, then took his leave.

"Ruby, precious Ruby. Come by me, here." Abby gestured to the other side of the bed, across from Bray. Bray nodded at her, but saw something swimming in his eyes. It was confusion. Abigail took their hands, and spoke. "My precious children. You are now adults, and I have gone to trusting you both completely. Ruby? You have grown into a beautiful, and very cherished member of the family. The day I found you was a day of blessing. What would I have done without you?" Abby gently kissed Ruby's hand. Ruby stood there, suddenly afraid of what was going on. "Bray, baby. My Bray. You have been called to have a higher purpose. I am honored to have been a teacher, and a guide for you." Ruby wondered about these words. Was this why Bray was so changed? Sister Abigail? Bray was teary-eyed. What was going on? "Ruby, dear Ruby. I have the cancer. It's all over inside of me, now. I will have to leave you."

"Sister Abigail, no!" was all Ruby could think to say. She grasped Abby's hand in hers as tears poured from her eyes. Bray had turned his back, weeping silently. Abigail smiled weakly at Ruby.

"Ruby, I will ask a lot from you. More than you will want, but please, follow my wishes. You are now the female of this home, and the boys will listen to you as they have me. Take my place, and give this place care, and love. You will also submit to Bray in all things. I cannot let him court you. He will be master of this place, and as a servant, you need to follow your responsibilities, just as he needs to. I only do this to protect what must be done. Please, both of you, forgive me."

Those were the last words of Sister Abigail. She fell into a coma after that. Both Ruby and Bray stayed with her all those long days, eating and sleeping in the room with her. Ruby had no birthday celebration. She did not even care. Five days into their watch, she passed, her last, weak breath straying from her gaping mouth. Both had wailed, and kissed her face. Bray wrapped her into a simple shroud of white cotton, and carried her off himself to a spot she could not follow him to. The next few days were of mourning. Ruby wore a simple black dress, and a dark scarf on her head in respect. The chores remained the same, but the pall over the house was measurable. Bray was still out, but the sounds of sawing, cutting, and pounding could be heard in the distance. Even Erick and Luke were not allowed near. The unlikely trio sat on the porch at night, listening to Bray's incessant work. They were now servants to a master, and were uncertain how the future would unfold.

The day Bray came back to them, he was dirty, disheveled, and obviously still heartbroken. He slowly made his way through the yard, and all turned to watch him. Not a word was said. Ruby saw him walk past the kitchen where she was working. All she wanted to do was call out to him. Comfort him. Ask him what the hell had been happening. All she could do was walk to the doorway of the kitchen, and watch him slowly make his way up the stairs. Bray did not come down for any food that day. Ruby couldn't just let himself starve. She made him a tray of cheeses, meats, and hearty, crusty bread, along with a pitcher of ice cold water. She knocked hesitantly at his door.

"Brother Bray? I, uh, thought you'd be hungry. There's a tray out here for you. If you want." She heard no sound, and no voice called back to her. She left the tray at the foot of his door, and walked away, sure it would be uneaten. Walking to her room later, she noticed the tray was empty. The pitcher empty. Crumbs were all that was left. For the first time in a while, Ruby smiled. Good. She was glad he had taken the nourishment. Bray had not wanted the tray, initially. He had brought it into his room, and had thought for a long moment of just feeding the plate to the wild animals beyond the property. He remembered, though, Ruby had brought it. He suddenly saw her, cutting each morsel of cheese by hand, selecting only the best of the meats for him, and going straight to the well for the pure waters. Her unspoken devotion was all over that tray of food. He devoured it. It was like devouring Ruby's own heart, he thought. So he ate, and ate. He placed the empty tray back by his door where he knew she would see.

She was supposed to be in his arms, right now. His Ruby. She was supposed to open herself to him, and give him as much as he would give her back. They were supposed to be so many things that danced in his mind, but they were now separated by a gulf that extended beyond even the stars. He mourned that almost as much as he mourned Abby's passing. The two women in his life he held most dear were torn from him. But he had this *work* to do, and he would have to leave soon to do it. He walked over to the wall that separated them. If this was the only wall, he thought, he would destroy it. Tear it down with nothing but bare hands. He pressed his hands against it now, and imagined that glow of her hands beneath them. Then he let go. He had to. Time to move on to the next phase of his life.