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Ruby

In the heart of the bayou, Ruby Landry lives a simple, happy life. But innocence can't last forever...

The only family Ruby Landry has ever known are her loving guardian, Grandmère Catherine, a Cajun spiritual healer, and her drunken, outcast Grandpèrb Jack. Although thinking about her dead mother and mysterious father sometimes makes her feel as mournful as the wind sighing through the Spanish moss, Ruby is grateful for all she has. Her life is filled with hope and promise...especially when her attraction for handsome Paul Tate blossoms into a mysterious, wonderful love. But Paul's wealthy parents forbid him to associate with a poor Landry, and Grandmère urges her to follow her dream of becoming a great painter, foreseeing a time when Ruby will be surrounded with riches in the dazzling city of New Orleans! Yet she cannot know how close that uncertain future looms....

In a faded photograph, Ruby glimpses for the first time the image of her father -- and learns of a shameful deception and a shocking scheme of blackmail that now must come to light. Stunned by these revelations, she is devastated when Grandmère dies, leaving her to seek out her father in his vast New Orleans mansion. There, in a house of lies, madness, and cruel torment, Ruby clings to her memories of Paul to keep her heart alive. For only their love can save her now....

Pearl in the Mist

Fate whisked Ruby from a simple life in the Louisiana Bayou. But her new riches bring more treachery than happiness...

Even after a year as a Dumas, Ruby still wonders at the splendor of the family's New Orleans mansion, and rejoices in the love of the father she had never known. But true happiness in her new home is as elusive as d swamp mist. Ruby must carefully avoid a venomous enemy: her stepmother, Daphne, who cringes and sneers at her backwater upbringing. And Ruby's every effort to befriend her twin sister, Gisselle -- especially since Gisselle's crippling accident -- is answered with bitterness and vicious backstabbing.

So idyllic Greenwood -- the exclusive girls' boarding school that her father has chosen for his daughters' senior year -- seems to promise some peace from the conniving Daphne, and maybe even a fresh start with Gisselle. But Ruby's kind isn't welcome at Greenwood, and the legendarily strict headmistress, Mrs. Ironwood, plots with her stepmother to make her life miserable. Meanwhile, Gisselle is on a mission to break every school rule, leaving Ruby to suffer the humiliating punishments. But Ruby doesn't lose hope -- until a terrible tragedy leaves her alone in a world that never really wanted her. Ruby will have to summon every last ounce of her Cajun strength to reclaim her home, her future, and the happiness she once knew....

All That Glitters

Driven from the Dumas Mansion back to her beloved bayou, Ruby's only hope is that fate will let her begin anew...

Living again in a humble shack, Ruby is determined to make a secure and happy home for her precious infant daughter, Pearl. Paul Tate -- her first love, whom she was forced to abandon -- is at her side once more, now a man of dazzling wealth. When he whisks her into his grand house, it seems their future is assured. As mistress of Cypress Woods, Ruby can forget even the shocking reason she and Paul must wed in a secret ceremony and remain husband and wife in name alone.

But the thick, expensive walls of Cypress Woods cannot shut out the terrible memories that have woven their fabric over her destiny, or the cold eyes of Paul's mother, Gladys, reminding Ruby of the secret she must keep to give Pearl a loving father. Then her venomous twin sister, Gisselle, arrives to taunt her with news of Beau Andreas, the true father Pearl has never met, and the only man Ruby will ever long for with all her body and soul, Desperate to find the complete, fulfilling life she craves, Ruby builds a precarious new existence, a flimsy shanty of hope that the first flood washes away. Only when the storm exposes the very blackest evils of the past will she glimpse the rainbow's fragile promise, a morning of sunshine and laughter with a family of her own....

Hidden Jewel

Raised in a New Orleans mansion filled with kindness and laughter, Pearl Andreas dreams of going to college and becoming a doctor. But when a cruel accident befalls one of her twin brothers, her mother flees to her Cajun roots. While searching for her mother, Pearl finds refuge in the arms of a Cajun man the gentlest friend she has ever known. But only when the storm clouds clear will she discover the shocking truth of her heritage . . .

Tarnished Gold

Her high school graduation just days away, pretty Gabriel Landry is blissfully happy. Then a rich cannery owner, Octavious Tate, surprises her near a secluded pond and shatters her world. Pregnant and desolate, Gabriel agrees to let Mrs. Tate pretend she's the one who's expecting and claim the baby for her own. But after her baby is taken from her, Gabriel's life is shattered again -- until the mysterious Creole millionaire Pierre Dumas comes to the bayou...

Landry Characters

Major Characters

Jack Landry:
Husband to Catherine
Father to Gabrielle

Catherine Landry:
Wife to Jack
Mother of Gabrielle

Gabrielle Landry:
Mother of Paul, Giselle, & Ruby
Daughter of Jack and Catherine

Ruby Landry Dumas Tate Andreas:
1st "wife" to Paul
2nd wife to Beau
Mother of Pearl, Jean (Jr.), and Pierre (Jr.)
Daughter of Pierre & Gabrielle
Twin sister of Giselle
Half-sister to Paul

Giselle Dumas Andreas:
Wife to Beau
Daughter of Pierre & Gabrielle
Twin sister of Ruby
Half-sister to Paul

Octavius Tate:
Husband to Gladys
Father of Paul, Jeanne, & Toby

Gladys White Tate:
Wife to Octavius
Mother of Jeanne & Toby
Stepmother of Paul

Paul Marcus Tate:
"Husband" to Ruby
Son of Octavius & Gabrielle

Jeanne Tate Pitot:
Wife to James
Daughter of Octavius & Gladys

Toby Tate:
Daughter of Octavius & Gladys

Pierre Dumas:
Husband to Daphne
Father of Ruby & Giselle
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Dumas

Jean Dumas:
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Dumas

Charles Dumas:
Father of Jean & Pierre

Daphne Dumas Bristow:
1st wife to Pierre
2nd wife to Bruce
Stepmother of Giselle & Ruby

Beau Andreas:
1st husband to Giselle
2nd husband to Ruby
Father of Pearl, Jean (Jr.), & Pierre (Jr.)

Pearl Andreas:
Daughter of Ruby & Beau

Bruce Bristow:
Husband to Daphne

James Pitot:
Husband to Jeanne Tate

Pierre (Jr.) Andreas:
Son of Ruby & Beau
Twin brother of Jean (Jr.)

Jean (Jr.) Andreas:
Son of Ruby & Beau
Twin brother of Pierre (Jr.)

Minor Characters

WHERE CHARACTER 1ST INTRODUCED:

(R) - Ruby
(PITM) - Pearl in the Mist
(ATG) - All That Glitters
(HJ) - Hidden Jewel
(TG) - Tarnished Gold

in Houma:

(R)Theresa Rodrigues
(R)The Butes
(R)Delores Rodrigues - mother of "couchemal"
(R)Mr. Rodrigues
(R)Mrs. Thibodeau
(R)Mr. Clements
(R)Father Rush
(R)Mrs. Livaudis
(R)Gib Landry - Jack's great-great grandparents
(R)Mrs. Bordeaux
(R)Turner Browne
(R)Mr. Lafouche
(R)Suzette Daisy
(R)Marianne Bruster
(R)Charlie McDermott
(R)Paul & Bernadine Balzac
(R)Jean Balzac
(R)Addie Cochran - Father Rush's housekeeper
(R)Thadeus Bute
(R)Teddy Turner
(R)Mrs. Allard
(R)Buster Trahaw
(ATG)John - Paul's uncle
(ATG)The Slaters
(ATG)Father Antoine - priest that married Ruby & Paul
(ATG)Miss Mulrooney - Father Antoine's housekeeper
(ATG)Danny Morgan
(ATG)Martin Bell & William Rogers - lawyers for Tate's
(ATG)Judge Hilliard Barrow - judge for custody battle
(HJ)Jack Clovis - oil rigger over Pearl's pump
(HJ)Bart LaCroix - oil rigger
(HJ)Thomas & Jimbo - Trahaw family members
(HJ)Daisy & Suzanne - Jack Clovis' sisters
(HJ)"Lefty" - oil rigger
(HJ)Ella Thibodeau - waitress
(HJ)Billy - cook
(HJ)Jimmy Wilson - oil rigger

STUDENTS & TEACHERS

(TG)Evelyn Thibodeau - friend of Gabriel
(TG)Yvette Livaudis - friend of Gabriel
(TG)Claude LeJeune - married Evelyn
(TG)Phillipe Jourdan - married Yvette
(TG)Nicolas Paxton
(TG)Mrs. Parlange - school secretary
(TG)Mr. Pitot - principal
(TG)Bobby Slater
(TG)Mr. Ternant - teacher
(TG)Jacques Bacomb
(TG)Theresa Rousseau
(TG)Jane Crump
(TG)Patti Arnot

OTHER/FAMILIES

(TG)The Daisy's
(TG)Mrs. Dancer
(TG)Spike & Longstreet - came to get Jack to pay debt
(TG)Margot Purcel - Mr. Tate's secretary
(TG)Summers - Tate's butler
(TG)Aunt Haddy - Catherine's aunt
(TG)"Mr. Heron" - bird that visited Gabriel at the Tate's
(TG)Henry - deaf/mute boy
(TG)Porter - Henry's father
(TG)Fletcher Tyler - swamp guide
(TG)Jed Atkins - swamp guide
(TG)Virgil Atkins - Jed's nephew
(TG)John Daisy - fisherman/trapper
(TG)Jed Loomis
(TG)Nicolette Loomis - Jed's mother
(TG)Mrs. Bordeau
(TG)Richard Paxton - Nicolas's father
(TG)The Lagrands
(TG)Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Kenner
(TG)Jacques Thibodeau - Yvette's father
(TG)Guy Larchmont
(TG)Mrs. Soter
(TG)Monsieur Tourdan
(TG)Orville & Maddie Baldwin

in New Orleans:

(R)Charles Dumas - Pierre's father
(R)Annie Gray
(R)Edgar Farrar - butler
(R)Nina Jackson - cook
(R)Tituba - maid (before Giselle's birth)
(R)Wendy Williams - maid
(R)Madam Henreide
(R)Emile
(R)Marie Laveau - Voodoo Queen
(R)Professor Ashbury
(R)Monsieur & Madame Hamilton Davies
(R)Mama Dede - Voodoo Mama
(R)Edith Andreas - Beau's mother
(R)Mrs. Warren - Giselle's nurse
(PitM)Eric Daniels - Wendy William's boyfriend
(PitM)Martha Woods - maid
(PitM)Monsieur Boche - undertaker
(PitM)Bruce Bristow
(PitM)Father McDermott - priest
(PitM)Charles Cardin - investor
(PitM)John Darby - one of Giselle's boyfriends
(PitM)"John" - doctor who was to perform abortion
(PitM)Charles - driver
(PitM)Garton - Andreas' butler
(ATG)Stevens - butler for Giselle
(ATG)"Fury" - horse that killed Daphne
(ATG)Mrs. Gidot - cook for Giselle
(ATG)Simons and Bearegard - lawyers for Giselle
(ATG)Gerhart and Anna Lenggenhager - caretaker of ranch
(ATG)Jill - maid at ranch
(ATG)Dorothea - cook at ranch
(ATG)Pauline - one of Giselle's friends
(ATG)Marcus & Lorraine friends of Giselle & Beau
(ATG)Helaine Delmarco - friend of Giselle's
(ATG)Kurt Peters, George Denning & Henry Martin - Giselle's lovers
(ATG)Aubrey Renner - Ruby & Beau's butler
(ATG)Sally Petersen - maid for Ruby & Beau
(ATG)Edith Ferrier - Pearl's nanny
(ATG)Monsieur Polk - lawyer for Beau & Ruby
(HJ)Claude Avery
(HJ)Ormand Lelock
(HJ)Diane Ratner
(HJ)Charlie Littlefield - friend of Jean & Pierre
(HJ)Lester Anderson
(HJ)Catherine - Pearl's friend
(HJ)Dr. Foster - principal
(HJ)Marie Rose
(HJ)Dr. & Mrs. Portier - guests at Pearl's graduation party
(HJ)Freddy Mainiero - Pearl's first kiss
(HJ)Antoine - waiter
(HJ)Mama Leela - voodoo mama
(HJ)Mrs. Hockingheimer - nurse
(HJ)Lieutenant Ribocheaux
(HJ)Ted & Billy - policeman

@ Broadmoor General Hospital:

(HJ)Mrs. Morgan
(HJ)Mr. Marbella - hospital administrator
(HJ)Mrs. Winthrop
(HJ)Sophie - nurse's aide
(HJ)Dr. Jackson Marcus Weller - intern
(HJ)Mrs. Randle - nurse
(HJ)Sheila - patient
(HJ)Dr. Bardot
(HJ)Mrs. Conti - patient
(HJ)Mrs. Brennen - patient
(HJ)Dr. Lasky
(HJ)Mrs. Lochet - ICU nurse

@ Beauregard School:

STUDENTS
(R)Claudine Montaigne
(R)Antoniette
(R)Martin Fowler
(R)"Mookie" Caroline Higgins
(R)Billy
(R)Edward
(R)James
(R)Charles
(R)Mary & Grace Gibson
(R)Theresa DuPratz
(R)Deborah Tallant
(R)Todd Lambert

TEACHERS
(R)Dr. Lawrence P. Storm - principal
(R)Mrs. Eltz - principal's secretary
(R)Mr. Stegman
(R)Mr. Divito
(R)Mr. Saxon

@ The Greenwood School for Girls:

CLAIRBORNES
(PitM)Edith Clairborne - Louis's grandmother
(PitM)Martha Ironwood (The Iron Lady) - chief administrator of the school
(PitM)Louella Clairborne - dorm named after her
(PitM)Louis Turnbull - Mrs. Clairborne's grandson
(PitM)Otis - Clairborne butler
(ATG)Mrs. Waverly - replaced the Iron Lady (per Louis)

STUDENTS
(PitM)Jacqueline Gidot
(PitM)Kathleen "Chubs" Norton
(PitM)Samantha
(PitM)Victoria
(PitM)Abby Tyler
(PitM)Mr. & Mrs. Tyler
(PitM)William Huntington Cambridge - Abby's old boyfriend
(PitM)Deborah Stewart
(PitM)Susan Peck
(PitM)Deborah Peck
(PitM)Camille Ripley
(PitM)Patti Denning
(PitM)Jonathon Peck - at Rosewood School for Boys
(PitM)Sarah Peters

TEACHERS
(PitM)Mrs. Penny - dorm mother
(PitM)Mr. Warden
(PitM)Mr. Foster
(PitM)Mr. Norman
(PitM)Mr. Risel
(PitM)Monsieur Marabeau
(PitM)Miss Rachel Stevens
(PitM)Buck Dardar ("Mr. Mud") - groundskeeper
(PitM)Miss Randle - Ironwood's secretary
(PitM)Mrs. Brennan
(PitM)Miss Weller
(PitM)Mrs. Gray
(PitM)Mr. Norman
(PitM)Mrs. Johnson
(PitM)Mr. Wessenberg
(PitM)Mr. Hull - custodian
(PitM)Mrs. Miller - school nurse

@ Cypress Woods:

(ATG)James Humble - butler
(ATG)Holly Mixon/Molly Hixon - maid
(ATG)Letitia "Letty" Brown - cook
(ATG)Mrs. Flemming - nanny for Pearl
(ATG)Darby Hennessey & Henry Howard - Giselle's guests
(ATG)"William Henry Tate" - Paul's make-believe "soldier"