Before I am Famous

Ruby Begonia finished her clients for the night. She poured a brandy and stood on her porch above the saloon. The town quieted after a normally rough Saturday night. Spying a man in the glow of the kerosene lamps, she thought she recognized him, and smiling at the thought that is might be Ripley, a boy she grew up with.

Sundays were slow because the saloon was closed. The girls weren’t welcome at the church because of their chosen profession. Ruby spent her time along the river. As she sat under a tree and wrote she heard rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig. Ruby looked to the noise, she saw the same man she saw last night, and almost positive it was Ripley. She gathered her things and went back to the saloon.

Ruby wore a low cut crimson dress that accentuated her goods and her raven hair that had the men flock to her bringing in the most business for the Madame. The men adored her and the Madame adored the money. She and the other girls sang and danced until they had work. The Madame called her, “Ruby Begonia, you’ve got a client waiting for you.”
Ruby nodded and rushed upstairs. Opening the door, she saw the same man from the past weekend.

“Sarah?” he asked in surprise.

Sarah, Ruby’s given name. No one called her that since she left home.

Ruby nodded and shut the door.

“Do you remember me? We lived in Davenville. Rip’s the name.”

“Yes, I remember you,” she replied, “look I am booked up for the night so I suppose we should get started.”

“I wanted to talk to you but that woman downstairs said no free rides.”

“Why are you here?”

“I work here now down at the mill. I saw you Saturday night standing on the balcony. I remembered you.”

Ruby moved to the chair and sat, “I thought you looked familiar.”

Ripley, Rip he preferred to be called, grew to be a striking, handsome man. He had a solid build with light brown hair and crystal eyes. Ruby had a crush on him since school even though he was a lot older. She wondered what his intentions were.

“Sarah, I’d like it if we saw each other for lunch or something,” he said.

“I’m not aloud to court men,” she said.

He stared at her, “why Sarah, why are you doing this?”

“I had to make money. My parents died. I had nothing. You know that what could I do?”

He stood up; hat in hand, “I dunno Sarah you could’ve stayed.”

“My home and life is here now,” she said, rising to her feet.

He grabbed her arm and searched her green eyes for a glimmer of Sarah. He kissed her on the cheek; a kiss that sent Ruby’s heart racing. “Please Sarah, think about what I said.” Rip let her arm go and left her.

Clients came and went but her mind elsewhere thinking of Rip. She sought him at the mill and watched him work the saw. Beads of sweat ran down his browned face. He looked up and noticed her. She waited until lunch. He met her.

“Sarah, it’s nice to see you again,” he greeted.

“My name’s Ruby now,” she said.

“Okay, Ruby then.”

They sat together under a tree while he ate. After finishing his coffee, he spoke, “I wanted to tell you that are really beautiful but I always thought that anyhow.”

She smiled and said nothing. Sitting with Rip under the tree made the world disappear. They didn’t talk much but nothing needed to be said. She walked him back to work.

The Madame booked her a full night and with every client she fantasized about Rip; making the night better. Soon, Ruby met Rip everyday at lunch. She enjoyed the time together. Sometimes they talked and sometimes they didn’t.

On a sultry Sunday, they met at her favorite spot. She wanted him to kiss her but he didn’t. They sat by the river, he put his hand on her back and pushed her into the water. He laughed. She stood up and splashed water on him. Rip took off his shoes and jumped in. They did this before when they were growing up.

Rip swam up to her, twirled her around to face him and kissed her. She kissed him back, not wanting to let go. Ruby’s heart fluttered with his kiss, knowing she loved him. Scooping her up, Rip carried Ruby to the bank kissing her. He laid her gently on the ground and started undressing her.

“Ruby, will you be with me and only me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Quit your job, Ruby. I don’t want to share you.”

She stopped the undressing and tender kisses and picked his head up, “I don’t know Rip; it’s too sudden.”

“I love you. I’ve always loved you,” Rid told her.

“What is love anyway? Love dies eventually,” Ruby replied.

“Love creates too, you know.”

As much as she wanted to make love to him she escaped from his grasp, “I’m sorry Rip. I can’t do this to you.” She disappeared into the woods.

Ruby resumed her visits to the mill but he ignored her. She gave up but started to miss him. Writing letters, pouring her heart out to him yet in the end she never sent them.

With dirty hands and the raunchy breath of stale tobacco and alcohol, her clients made her skin crawl. Ruby craved Rip. This time Ruby broke her own heart.

Weeks passed, Ruby waited in her room for the next appointment. She straightened up her clothes when she heard the knock on the door. Rip appeared before her. She smiled.

“Rip! You’ve come. I missed you.”

He said nothing but approached her and kissed her hard. Laying her down on the bed for once her skin didn’t crawl with a man’s touch it awoke with passion.

They made love. Ruby felt one with Rip. He lay next to her breathing heavy. She looked over at him and stroked his bare chest. “If you still want me Rip, I’ll quit. I’ll do anything. I love, Rip. I always have. You’re the one I always thought of.”

He gazed at her and kissed her gently, “I’m going to always love you but I’m getting married tomorrow. I just wanted to be with you.”

Ruby’s heart shattered, “don’t marry her Rip. I’m the one you’re to be with. You know it and I know it.”

He sat, “prove it, Sarah and you will be my wife.”

She walked to the door and locked it and joined him in bed, kissing and embracing him. Someone knocked, Ruby didn’t answer. Ruby made love to Rip.

When the saloon fell silent, she packed a suitcase and the couple snuck downstairs. Helping her on the horse, he mounted behind her and they rode into the thick night.

Special thanks to Charlotte at Word Strumpet for help with this story!

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