He stayed silent for a time as he drove the truck higher and higher into the forested mountains, the scent of pines wafting into the truck’s cab. At last, he reached the overlook, and parked among a few others in the lot. Without second guessing it, Travis took Addie’s hand as they walked along the path to the overlook.
Just as it felt twelve years ago when he held her hand, striding through the trees and scrub oak, it all felt so right, as though they had been made for each other long before time began.
A few other people gazed at the vista that fell below them, taking pictures of the view and each other. Travis led her to the stone bench closest to the edge, the place where they always sat. The place where he once had gotten the idea to propose marriage. Tension seemed to ooze out of Addie. She relaxed fully for the first time since she got into his truck.
“I just love this place,” she murmured. “Maybe there’s more to love in this part of Texas than I thought.”
Travis never let go of her hand. “There is more to love, Addie. There’s me. I blew it the last time we talked, and I believe there is another chance for us. We can try again, make it work this time.”
“You’d trust me?” she asked, her wide eyes focused on his. “You forgive me for hurting you?”
“I do forgive you,” he replied, smiling, cupping her cheek with his palm. “I want you to forgive yourself.”
At long last, Addie smiled back, her lips trembling, and Travis half expected tears to roll down her cheeks. Instead, she leaned toward him, her eyes closing, and Travis needed no second invitation.
He kissed her. Into it, he poured all his love, all his desire, everything he had kept locked away, even from himself. He breathed in her fresh clean scent, and breathed out his need to have her in his life. At last he broke from her, gazing into her eyes.
“This is what I’ve been missing for twelve years.”
Addie put her arms around his neck and smiled. “Same here.”
Chapter 16
“I know that look.”
Callie sat in the kitchen chair with Gus in her arms, feeding him his bottle. Addie floated in after Travis dropped her off, and the last kiss they shared in his truck. “What look?”
“That dreamy look that says I am so smitten with him I’m beside myself.”
Laughing, Addie sat down, knowing she blushed but that she’d never halt it, nor hide it, from her sharp-eyed sister. “I suppose I am.”
“What happened to ‘nothing will ever happen between you?’ That he’d never trust you again?”
“He said he’d been thinking since Colton spoke to him about forgiveness. That he didn’t want to lose me again.”
Callie nodded. “That’s all good then.”
“Why am I getting the idea that you think this is all a bad thing?”
“I don’t.” Callie smiled. “I’m happy for you.”
Despite Callie’s words, Addie felt that she was holding something back. “You’d tell me if you thought I was making a mistake, right?”
“Addie, it’s your life. You’re an adult, and you make your own decisions. It’s not for me to approve or disapprove.”
“Then why do I get the idea I am making a mistake?”
Setting the bottle down on the table, Callie lifted Gus to her shoulder, and rubbed his back. “Maybe because you’re still having doubts. You never wanted to stay in this town, you miss the city, you want a good job again.”
“And here I thought I was finally coming to terms with living in this town.”
Addie stared into space, not really seeing anything at all. Without a doubt, she loved Travis. She knew she had never stopped loving him through all the years, and perhaps that’s why Eric fell so short in her estimation. He wasn’t Travis. And now that they had opened up about one another’s feelings, was that enough for her?
“That’s why you’re torn, Addie,” Callie told her gently. “You want it all. You want Travis, but you want to be a big-city lawyer again. But you can’t have it both ways. You have to find what you truly want.”
“If I got a big job in the city,” Addie began carefully. “Would you come with me?”
“No.”
Addie’s face fell slightly, but Callie rushed on. “Addie, I love it here. I want Gus to grow up in a small town. I don’t want him to fall in with a gang, or go to a high school where there’s five hundred students in a single graduating class. We both belong here. Just as you do.”
Miserable, Addie knotted her fingers together. “Travis said the same thing.”
“You do belong here. This is your home. I know you didn’t really ask my advice, but I’m going to say just give it a chance. Give Travis and yourself a chance, give Honey Creek an opportunity to grow on you.”
“How can I practice law in a town this size?” Addie asked, her voice high and protesting. Then she caught herself. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you. But think about it, Callie. Am I cut out to be a rancher’s wife?”
“You’re cut out to be anything you want to be. And don’t think you can’t practice law around here. There are lots of people who need your help, just like I did. You know, I can’t believe you found Brett.”
Addie shrugged, glancing at Callie’s relieved, grateful expression. “It wasn’t even that hard. Once you and I go to court, I’m sure the judge will order child support whether Brett wants to pay it or not.”
“See? You can do so much for people here. I don’t think there’s another lawyer anywhere in West Texas closer than Odessa.”
“Well, they aren’t knocking on my door yet.” Addie stood just as Gus burped loudly and upchucked a thin stream of white onto the cloth Callie put over her shoulder. “Even Gus has his opinion on it. What do you want for dinner?”
Callie also stood, and put Gus in his bassinet. “Honey, we have loads of food in the refrigerator.”
Addie peered in at all the containers and foil wrapped food on the refrigerator’s shelves. “Where’d all this come from?”
“The potluck. It seems folks are worried that you and I will starve while you’re getting your business off the ground. You don’t find that kind of concern and generosity in the big city, now do you?”
“Nope.” Addie unwrapped a foil package and discovered several cold bratwursts in it. “As I don’t feel much like making any big decisions tonight, we’re having brats and chips.”
“That sounded like a decision.”
“I hope someone sent buns.”
“In the cabinet.”
While Gus gurgled happily to himself, Addie and Callie ate warmed up brats as the last light faded from the sky. Addie didn’t want to talk about Travis, but he lingered in her mind. The memory of his words, his kiss, his love all made her feel light as a feather. Most of all, she felt wanted, and that eased the feeling of unworthiness she’d carried for a long time.
Travis wanted her in his life.
Her parents never wanted her, Eric only needed her as a trophy, and from what Callie said, the town both wanted and needed her. Maybe I can finally start to feel as though I belong here. I never did when I was younger, but maybe that stemmed from Mom and Dad rather than any part of the town itself.
Deciding that she would give Travis and the town both a chance, Addie went to bed happy and content for the first time in a very long while.
The next few days passed quickly as Addie immersed herself in getting ready for the hearing of Hamiltons versus Parnell. She spoke with Travis on the phone a few times a day, and not all of it was related to the case. “The results from the lab will come in at any time,” he had told her on Monday. “By the way, have I said how much I miss you yet today?”
Addie laughed. “Not yet.”
“Well, I do. Miss you, that is.”
“Ditto, honey bunch. Call me when the lab results are in.”
“You know it.”
She also gained two more clients between Monday and Tuesday. A divorce case and a child custody dispute. Unable to halt the
feeling that things were finally going her way, Addie stepped onto cloud nine and stayed there for two whole days.
Until she received a call from the law firm in Dallas.
“This is Addie Baker,” she said into her cell, thinking perhaps it was a telemarketing call.
“Ms. Baker, this is Jonathan Meyers from Meyers, Stanton, and Meyers in Dallas.”
Addie froze. She had sent her resume and cover letter the previous week, and had forgotten all about it. Of course, she also hadn’t expected an answer, either, so why bother to remember? “Hello, Mr. Meyers.”
“We have looked at your resume,” he continued. “We like what we’re seeing; it is certainly impressive. I would like to ask you in for an interview.”
“Why, of course,” she replied, feeling like she stammered and sounded like an idiot rather than a competent attorney. “I’d be happy to come in.”
Oh, my goodness, what do I do? This means I have to go to Dallas, and what if I get the job? What then?
“Are you free next Tuesday, Ms. Baker? At ten o’clock?”
Frantic, Addie looked at her schedule which now had penciled appointments. The hearing wasn’t until next Friday, and she’d have to drive to Dallas on Monday, have her interview, and possibly return to Honey Creek by Tuesday evening. If not, then not until Wednesday. “Yes, sir, I am free that day.”
“Good, good. My colleagues and I will see you then. Thank you.”
“No, sir, thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”
After she hung up, Addie stared into space, her stomach churning with nerves. What do I do? Could she refuse this chance to get the sweet job in Dallas? Yes, she could. Did she want to? No.
Addie despaired when she realized how truly right Callie was.
I am tearing myself to shreds. I don’t know what I want, where to go, what to do.
Walking home in the late afternoon heat, Addie felt herself being pulled in different directions. There was her new relationship with Travis, her growing business, Callie and Gus. Now she had her chance to have a great career and make awesome money in Dallas.
When she had sent her resume, Addie had looked up the average salary of an attorney working for Meyers, Stanton and Meyers. The lowest paid lawyer earned over two hundred grand a year. Yeah, I could get used to earning that kind of money.
But what about Travis? What about Honey Creek?
Arriving home, she found Callie in a state of her own excitement. Addie blinked as Callie whirled around the kitchen, laughing and talking a mile a minute. Addie couldn’t discern one word from another.
“Whoa, time out,” Addie put her hands up in a T sign. “Slow down. Speak English, please.”
Laughing, Callie sat in a kitchen chair, and blew out a happy gust of air. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier because it might not have happened.”
“What might not have happened?”
“I got a job, Addie. At the day care center. I can work, earn a living and take Gus there free of charge.”
Callie jumped up, and hugged Addie. “I love having you here, and you’re a blessing in my life. But I can now support myself. Between child support and this job, I, well, may not need your help anymore.”
Addie swallowed and tried to be happy for her. “That’s great, sis, it really is. But I also have news.”
“What? Tell me, what?”
“I have a job interview at that firm in Dallas.”
Callie squealed and woke Gus in his bassinet. “Addie, that is wonderful. I know you’ll be offered the job, I just know you will.”
Addie didn’t share in her enthusiasm. “Just when I felt I was no longer torn in half, this happens. Callie, I don’t know what to do.”
Sobering, Callie reached across the table and took her hand. “Trust in God, Addie. He will show you the way.”
“It seems that He is giving me bad directions.” Addie stared at the table top. “I’m so confused.”
“Just open your heart, Addie. He’s not giving you bad directions.”
The front doorbell rang. Addie eyed Callie in surprise. “Who would that be?”
“We won’t find out by staring at one another.”
Callie rose from the table, and went to answer the door. Lost in her misery, Addie hardly paid attention to the voices as Callie greeted their visitor. Thinking it was a neighbor to come coo and gush over Gus, she continued to ponder her life’s dilemma.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
Addie, turning her head, found Travis leaning against the kitchen entryway and wearing a grin, his hat in his hand. “Or in this case, I’ll give you a dime.”
No matter how low spirited she might be, Travis always knew how to make her smile. Going to him, she received a kiss and a hug, happy to be in his arms. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I came to see if I might take two lovely ladies out to dinner,” he replied. “And Gus, too, of course.”
“Isn’t that a wonderful thought?” Callie exclaimed. “Now we have so much to celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” Travis asked, glancing between Addie and Callie.
“Yeah,” Callie rushed on, and, too late, Addie realized what she intended to say. “I have a new job opportunity, and Addie has an interview with a top law firm in Dallas.”
Chapter 17
Feeling as though he had just been kicked in the gut by a bull, Travis stared at Addie. She grimaced, and glared at her sister. Callie, realizing what she had just done, looked back and forth between them, her mouth slack.
“Oh, dear,” she mumbled. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have just blurted that.”
“It’s all right, Callie,” Travis said, his lips numbs, his hands and feet icy. “It’s something I’d like to know about.”
“Travis, I only got the phone call an hour ago.” Addie continued to glare at her sister. “I haven’t even digested it yet. Yes, Callie got a job, which means I’m not needed anymore.”
“Addie, that’s not true!”
Addie stood up abruptly, and touched Travis on the arm, leading him into the living room. He followed her, his numbness receding and leaving in its place fear. This is all happening again. She’s going to leave again. Leave as she did before, break my heart for a job, a future, that doesn’t include me.
“I don’t know what to do,” Addie told him, pacing, running her hands through her hair. “And anyway, it’s just an interview, not an actual offer.”
“But you want the job. Don’t you?”
Throwing her hands up, she cried, “I don’t know, Travis. I’m torn here, I’m a mess. Part of me wants it, and part of me wants to stay here. Grow my own business, have a life – with you.”
“Do you?” he asked, his tone soft. “Do you want to be with me?”
“You know I do.”
“No. Actually I don’t. I thought I did, but if you’re off job seeking in Dallas, I guess that means you don’t.”
Addie whirled to face him, her expression tight. “I sent that resume when you told me you couldn’t trust me, that we had no future together. How was I to know you’d have a change of heart?”
“Maybe you should have realized how much I cared for you.”
Travis knew he was growing unreasonably angry, ready to make this Addie’s fault yet again, but couldn’t seem to stop himself.
“That’s not fair,” she snapped. “You were clear in what you said, and you know what I said. That I wished I had never come back here.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he replied, his temper flaring. “Now you’re going to leave, take that job, and go away again. I should never have trusted you.”
Addie froze. She stared at him, and if he had taken a whip to her, he could not have hurt her more. In his own anger and bewildered hurt, he refused to back down. “I should have known better.”
Addie stared at him, speechless.
Travis put his hat back on, and yanked it down low over his eyes, glaring at her even as she returned his hot stare. “Fine. Go
to Dallas and good luck with the job. I hope you get it.”
Storming from the house, Travis stalked to his truck. Climbing in, he slammed the door, then started the engine. Hitting the accelerator, he screamed away from the curb, so angry he could hardly see straight. Ignoring the speed limits, he roared onto the highway and only realized when he had gone ten miles that he headed away from the ranch, not toward it.
“That’s fine,” he muttered. “I don’t want to go home yet, anyway.”
What was at home for him? Colton’s judgment? Brady’s acid comments? And face, yet again, a future without Addie in it? No happy ending, no children, just the endless ranch work until he grew old and died?
There can be no other woman for me than Addie.
While he recognized that, he also mentally kicked himself for ever trusting her again. How could I have been so stupid? Addie will never change what she wants: a life away from here.
Dusk, and then full dark fell across Texas, and Travis continued to drive. His cell buzzed from time to time, but he never bothered to see who it was who called. On he drove, and by the clock on the truck’s dash, the hour also grew late. Not caring about that either, he let the soothing purr of the truck’s big engine seep into him, calm his troubled mind and heart.
When he started to yawn, and grow hungry at the same time, Travis realized it was time to head home. Turning the truck around at the next exit, he planned to stop at the burger joint at the small town he had just passed through. Slowing down to pull into the parking lot, he finally picked up his cell to see who had tried to call.
Hoping to see Addie’s number on the list, disappointment eclipsed his weariness. Both Brady and Colton had tried a couple of times to reach him. They had left voice messages, he saw, but he couldn’t be bothered to listen to them. Thinking to perhaps call Addie and apologize, he tossed the phone back into the console, and pulled into the drive thru lane.
With his burger, fries and an iced tea, Travis ate as he drove, wondering if he had overreacted with Addie. She had just gotten the call for an interview. She asked for the job after I shoved her away from me. What right do I have to jump to such conclusions that she’d planned behind my back to leave again?
Cowboy Billionaire's Second Chance Page 11
