Ruby's Song (Love in the Sierras Book 3) by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

no fear of Elijah. He ruled by the power of threat. There was meanness of manner in him, but not in deed. Not yet, anyway.
    “I assure you, I didn’t,” she said, and the sides of her mouth curled in a grin. He flinched, surely not expecting such a response from her.
    “Just remember who has financed your little opera enterprise all these years, my dear.  Remember whom you owe.”
    He turned and left the room.
    Sarah slammed her teacup into the saucer, and glowered at her. “Are you out of your mind? For years, you hardly speak a word in this house and when you finally do, that is what you say? What were you thinking, provoking him like that?”
    Marlena felt her forehead scrunch indignantly. “I defer to Elijah out of respect for him and his home, but I’ll not cower before him as you and your family do. He doesn’t own me and he certainly doesn’t frighten me. I’ve been through worse than he can inflict.”
    “Don’t underestimate my brother,” Sarah returned with a warning shake of her head. “You don’t think Elijah owns you, but he does. He owns us all. Believe me, I know from experience he always makes good on his threats. There’s no way you’d be able to repay the funds it’s taken to turn you from little more than a street urchin to the lady you are today. He’ll see your family in financial ruin, no matter how much silver is in Nevada. Is that what you want?”
    Marlena shook her head, feeling her entire body droop.
    “Sit up straight, please,” Sarah commanded quietly, after which she sighed and Marlena thought she saw the bright glistening of unshed tears, but as soon as she blinked they disappeared. “Marlena, be sure the thing you risk everything for is nothing less than your heart’s truest desire. Regret is the first step toward ruin.”
    A moment passed in silence between them, a moment where Marlena felt strangely connected to Sarah. In some ways, they were both trapped and beholden to Elijah. A twinge of sympathy ached in her chest.
    “I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me,” Marlena said, guilt weighing down the tone of her voice. “I’m just restless to begin the life I came here to build and you reminding me of my debt makes me that much more anxious to set my debut and get started paying it back.”
    In the last four months, she had been praised and paraded three nights a week before a growing crowd of admirers. The more her confidence grew at The Museum the more frustrated she became with Sarah’s constant criticism and reluctance to set her opera debut. “Put me on the stage, Sarah. I’m ready. I know I am.”
    Sarah’s brow knotted contemplatively. “I agree it is time. The first of next month, then. That gives us three weeks to prepare.”
    Marlena’s spirits soared, her body feeling light and weightless for the first time in years. She felt her smile all the way to her ears as she ran to Sarah and threw her arms around her neck.
    “Thank you!” she wailed. “You won’t regret this. I promise.”
    Sarah gently pushed Marlena away. “You’re going to snap my neck, girl.”
    “Sorry,” she laughed and pulled away.
    A pointed finger waggled in her face. “I still meant what I said to you before, Marlena. You must find a way to emotionally connect with the music and your audience. Work on that, or I won’t be blamed for your downfall.”
    “I will,” Marlena said with a nod. “I promise.”
    Sarah waved her away with a tired gesture. “I don’t feel up to a lesson today. I pray you can find some other occupation of your time?”
    “I’ll be fine,” Marlena said.
    She ran to her room, excited enough to burst only to turn crestfallen at having no one to share the happy news with. The stationary sat undisturbed, mocking her for the many untruthful letters she’d written to Jess about fictitious performances at the Boston Opera House. She couldn’t very well write about a debut that Jess believed had already happened.
    She sat near the window,