“Not a word, and that would be a tough secret to keep. If he came back, he’d have to be bunking with a friend, right? I think the boys at the mine would know, and I’d hear about it fast.”

“Well, keep an ear to the ground, okay?”

“I will. Have you told Darrell?”

I shook my head. “He’d want me to come live with them, but he’s got enough to worry about with Marilyn.”

“If Ricky’s back, you’ve got shit to worry about, too,” Sandra replied. “This isn’t the time to be proud, honey. You’ve got a baby to think about.”

“I know.”

“That little prick should be in jail for what he did to you.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you need a gun? Are you packing?”

I patted the purse that was slung over my shoulder. “Always.”

“Well, good.” Sandra smiled at me, but then her face darkened. I saw her staring over my shoulder. “Uh-oh. Here comes trouble.”

“What?”

I turned around. Penny Ramsey had found a cocktail table by herself. She sipped from a glass of white wine in front of her, and she primped her hair and smiled nervously as the men in the bar whistled at the display of her cleavage. But unbeknownst to Penny, Ruby had spotted her, too. Like the black clouds of a storm front coming, Ruby stalked toward Penny across the 126, and silence fell over the bar, table by table, as Ajax’s widow zeroed in on Ajax’s mistress.

Penny didn’t notice Ruby until the two women were eye to eye. By then, it was too late to leave. When Penny tried to back away, Ruby grabbed her wrist and held it while Penny struggled. Ruby twisted the chain of Penny’s necklace around one of her fingers.

“He gave this to you?” she asked, tightening the necklace like a knot around Penny’s throat.

“That’s none of your business,” she retorted. “Let go of me.”

“You were sleeping with my husband. That makes it my business.”

“He didn’t love you anymore.”

“And you think he loved you? You’re a fool.”

“He did love me. He told me. You’re just jealous.”

“Jealous of a nothing little wallflower like you? The only thing that makes me jealous is this necklace. I want it, and you’re going to give it to me.”

Ruby bunched her fist together and yanked the necklace off Penny’s neck. Penny tried to grab it from her, but Ruby held it out of her reach, letting the chain dangle from her hand.

“Give that back,” Penny snapped.

“If my husband bought it, then it’s mine. Now be a good tramp and go away.”

“Give it back!”

“I said, stuff your boobs back in your coat and get the hell out of here.”

“No, I won’t. I want my necklace.”

“It’s mine now, so you can just go. Understand?”