“You mean you can get anything that money can buy?” Ruth said with a half-smile and lifted her chin. She was reminded of the verse in Matthew 6:19-21,
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
“Not anything,” Alistair said with a boastful air. “Everything.I wanteverything.There is just one thing missing and you, my dear, can help me with that.”
Miss Todd and her assistant entered the dining room carrying trays that held platters of roast beef and potatoes, salted pork, fruit, roasted vegetables, scalloped tomatoes, and salads.
Once they laid down the platters Ruth expected Miss Todd, who she assumed was the cook, to stay behind but she left the dining room. Ruth felt uncomfortable being alone with Alistair and watched as he poured himself another glass of wine.
“I was under the impression your cook was going to stay behind.” Ruth tried to keep her voice steady and leveled a piercing look at him.
“I apologize; it must have slipped my mind.” Alistair lifted one shoulder and shrugged casually, “In any case, we cannot have a decent conversation while there are other people about, do you not agree?”
“I would still have preferred that she stay, as we agreed,” Ruth demurred, even as she realized that having Miss Todd out of the room might make it easier to get him to confess his guilt, especially with his evident ease in consuming quantities of wine.
Ruth settled in and helped herself to food from the artful platters emitting fragrant aromas that filled the room. “Tell me, Alistair, what is it you believe that I can help you with?”
Alistair sipped his wine and met her gaze. “I seek a wife and I find you attractive, intelligent, and with the correct attire, we would make a beautiful couple. All eyes would be on us ...” His voice trailed away and he gave her a covetous wink, which almost turned her stomach.
Ruth felt the muscles in her back tighten and bit on her lower lip to prevent herself from replying in disgust.
“I see you have given it a lot of thought,” she responded. “I don’t even know what I would say, as I am quite happy and content with the way things are.”
“But Ruth, you could live here in this grand house, and you would want for nothing. You can see this house is too big for me,” Alistair opened the palms of his hands and gave a twisted half-smile. “It needs children, a family. We could have a dynasty.”
Ruth paused, trying to banish the image of the last thing he mentioned, which almost made her shudder with revulsion. “My Lord God supplies all that I need. I do not look for a life of richness and status; all I want is a simple life and to be happy.”
“Would this magnificent house and a grand lifestyle not make you happy?” Alistair entreated her. “Surely you jest. Anyone in their right mind would gladly take the opportunity I offer. Ladies often beg me to marry them, but I see through their sly deceptions.”
“Deceptions?” Ruth had to stifle a laugh at the thought of ladies begging to marry him. If Jimmy were to hear it, he would laugh for a lifetime. “You do realize that people who service their own personal interests by smooth talk and glowing words deceive countless innocent people.”
“Yes,” Alistair affirmed. “I steadfastly refuse to submit to such deceit and their charmed words. Of course, I knew they were all only after my money and sought to simply look good beside me.”
“Where did you find all these ladies?” Ruth could not help herself from teasing him; she knew she had to share this information with Jimmy.
“Everywhere,” Alistair looked at her in surprise, as if she had asked an ignorant question. “The Cheyenne Club, my dear, is for the most part made up of prestigious men and bachelors. It is nothing like those filthy saloons.”
“And your entourage of ladies waits there for you?” Ruth pressed on, knowing she would have end this soon.
“Do you mock me?” Alistair frowned and looked at her askance.
“No, Alistair, I just find it strange that you would choose me over many other fine women,” she sighed demurely. “Many are surely better suited to society than I.”
Alistair’s baritone laughter resonated throughout the dining room. “No, my dear, I only wanted what was most desirable to Alexander, which became impossible when Daniel took over the clinic.”
“I don’t understand,” Ruth said. “What has any of this to do with me or even Daniel? His father is gone now.”
Alistair’s eyes narrowed and she felt a growing sense of cold apprehension as he stared at her with hatred burning in his eyes.
Chapter Thirty
Daniel released his tight grip on the arms of his desk chair. He tried to push thoughts of Ruth and Alistair far from his mind. He did not like Ruth’s plan, but Alistair would never openly admit what he had done. Ruth was smart and if anyone could get Alistair to confess, he knew it would be her. Daniel prayed for her safety and for the Lord to give her the knowledge to speak wisely. Alistair was a sly man and not easily fooled.
He could hear them speaking downstairs and cringed at every word from Alistair’s mouth. While his attention was occupied with Ruth, Daniel acted on his impulse and began to search through Alistair’s desk drawers and cabinets. He never imagined that Alistair would commit such a heinous act, but it did made sense. The memory of how long his father had suffered filled his mind and Daniel became angry. He had always sensed something was amiss; the symptoms just never added up.
Daniel dug deeper into Alistair’s cabinets and desk drawers but found nothing. In frustration he rapped the top of the desk with his fisted hand. It was strange that Ruth had found the old book and mercury bottle in that old book room which was now only used for patient files, outdated documents, and books. Any such medical stock especially glass bottles, chemicals, or anything related to medicine was kept safe and secure, not randomly placed in a room being used for storage.
Alistair placed the orders for supplies and the chemicals he needed, so where would he put the documents that recorded deliveries? They should have been kept in his cabinets and Ruth had only found books and patient documents in the room.
