“I know. Those rapids just look huge and dangerous, though.”
“The part of the river we’ll be on, they even let kids raft down. I personally promise we’ll get you safely to the end,” Travis said, holding up one hand to make a solemn vow.
“Okay, I’m holding you to it,” Cady grinned as she started whipping a bowl full of heavy cream. “I know Trent and Lindsay are going and Ben and Brice. Did you talk Tess into going?”
Travis felt a little heat climb up his neck at the mention of Tess.
“Brice and I tried. She seems reluctant to go.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Cady said, shooting Travis a sassy grin. “Especially when it means she’d be squashed between you and her two brothers the entire trip.”
“We wouldn’t squash her,” Travis said, suddenly very intent on chopping olives for the salad.
Cady finished whipping the cream, then leaned across the counter, putting a hand on his arm. “I think you have a thing for Tess, don’t you?”
Travis didn’t say anything for a moment, just studied his sister-in-law’s face, looking into her kind hazel eyes.
“Maybe,” Travis finally agreed. “But please keep that to yourself. Tess has always looked at me like one more brother and I don’t think that is ever going to change. No matter how much I want it to.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Cady said with a laugh. “You Thompson men are all so thick!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Travis asked, not quite sure what Cady was telling him.
“Ask your brother,” she said, returning to dinner preparations.
“Which one?”
“Either. They both suffer from the same malady.”
Travis and Cady kept up a friendly banter until dinner was ready. He rang the triangle letting everyone know it was time for dinner while Cady finished setting the table.
The ranch hands came in along with Trent, Trey and Cass, who was jabbering about getting to go for a ride with Trey to check on the cows. They were just sitting down to eat when a knock sounded at the back door and Brice and Tess stuck their heads in the kitchen.
“Hey, come on in,” Trey called to them as they walked in the room. “Want to join us for dinner?”
“No, we didn’t mean to intrude,” Tess said, looking uncomfortable. “We just wanted to see how Travis was doing?”
“Great,” Travis said, standing up to greet them both. Trent got up and gathered two more plates while Cady poured two more glasses of iced tea. “You’re here so you might as well join us for dinner.”
“You won’t get any argument from me,” Brice said, washing up at the sink and sliding into a seat next to Cass.
Tess washed her hands then took the seat Travis held out for her next to his own chair. She nodded her head in thanks as she sat down.
Trent asked the blessing on the meal. Between bites of the delicious food, they discussed the weather, the end of school picnic and when the next cutting of hay would be ready to put down.
“Where’s Lindsay?” Trey asked, noticing for the first time that the pretty blond-headed school teacher was absent from the table. She usually ate dinner with them, especially since Trent proposed a few weeks ago.
“She had a lot of stuff to get ready for the picnic tomorrow and wanted to finish it tonight. I told her I’d bring her a plate later,” Trent said.
Trey nodded and turned the conversation to the construction project Brice was working on. Eventually, one of the hands asked Tess about her job.
“I’ve never been to a physical therapist, Miss Tess. What do you do?” asked Henry, the oldest of the Triple T hands. He had been on the ranch for as long as any of the Thompson boys could remember.
“I help people with their ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability through individualized treatment plans,” Tess explained.
“In other words, she likes to make people suffer,” Brice said with a wicked grin.
Tess shot him a glare across the table and shook her head.
“Do you do all your work at the hospital?” Tommy, the youngest of the five ranch hands asked.
“No. The position I have in The Dalles is somewhat unique. Some days I may do acute care, which is hospital care, other days I may do some outpatient rehabilitation at the physical therapy office and then I also do home care for those who aren’t able to travel for outpatient care,” Tess said, warming to the topic. “Normally, a therapist would focus on just one area. When I worked in Portland, all my work was in outpatient care. I enjoy the combination in my job here. It keeps things from getting boring.”
“So you really make house calls?” Danny, the best looking of the hired men and a known womanizer asked, looking over Tess. He generally preferred petite girls, but anyone pretty was generally fair game to him. His intent perusal of Tess didn’t go unnoticed.
Travis caught Danny’s eye and gave him a steely look that caused him to return his gaze to his plate.
“Yes, I do. If someone needs therapy and is unable to make it to our offices, we are more than happy to come into their home and help them.”
“Well, I think it sounds like a wonderful way to help people,” Cady said. “Speaking of helping people did you hear about the family in…”
Tess was grateful to Cady for turning the conversation away from her. She was tired and really all she wanted to do was check to make sure Travis was doing fine, which he obviously was. After their late night yesterday, she wanted to go home and relax. She was debating on taking a long bath or going for a ride on Lila, her good-natured mare.
After dinner and dessert of strawberry shortcake, the dishes were soon done and the hands went back outside. Trent filled a plate and left to go see Lindsay while Brice, Trey and Travis sat at the table talking about ranching.
Cass climbed onto Tess’ lap and was showing her the storybook she was reading. Tess smiled as Cass sounded out the words. The little girl was a ball of energy. Even sitting on her lap, Cass kept one foot in a constant swinging motion.
Finishing the story, Cass turned around and looked up at Tess with her big blue eyes. “I like you. You’re nice like my mama and Aunt Lindsay.”
“Well, thank you, Cass. I like you, too.” Tess kissed the little girl’s forehead and gave her a hug.
Cady came to the table and asked Cass if she wanted to go play with the three dogs for a while. Bob and Bonnie were cow dogs that were on the ranch long before Cady arrived last fall. Buddy, a stray Trent worked to rehabilitate a few months earlier, especially loved to play with Cass.
“I bet I can get Buddy to run real fast,” Cass said as she charged out the door.
“Sometimes our ears just need a break,” Cady said as she poured Tess another glass of tea and one for herself.
Tess laughed. “She is quite the talker.”
“I think she even talks in her sleep,” Cady said with a grin.
“I know she does,” Travis said, joining the conversation. “When Trent and I took care of her, we’d check in on her and you could hear her mumbling in the middle of the night.”
“You and Trent took care of her?” Tess asked in surprise.
“They sure did. For almost two weeks while Trey and I went on a honeymoon,” Cady said, looking down the table at her husband with a soft light in her eyes. When Trey looked back all moony-eyed, it made Tess’ heart ache.
She wanted a love like Trey and Cady found with each other. One that softened the edges of the world and wrapped you up in its spell. The problem was the only person who came to mind when she thought of a love like that was sitting beside her and she knew Travis was never going to see her as a woman, just his best friend’s sister.
“I’m impressed,” Tess said sincerely. She couldn’t believe Travis and Trent would take on the care of a 5-year-old for an extended period of time. “And all three of you survived the experience.”
“That we did, although there were a few moments when we weren’t so sure,�
� Travis said, causing everyone to laugh.
“Brice, it appears Travis is doing fine, so let’s go home. I’m beat,” Tess said, standing up from the table. Carrying her empty tea glass to the sink, she turned to give Cady a hug. “Thank you so much for dinner. We certainly didn’t mean to intrude and very much appreciate the hospitality.”
“What she means is we’re glad you asked us to stay and the meal was delicious,” Brice said, giving Cady a hug and shaking Trey’s hand.
Travis did his best to walk normally but his leg was throbbing again and he could feel the heat through his shorts. Tess turned to look at him and noticed his wince as he walked toward the door.
Walking back to where he stood by the counter, she shoved him down onto a bar stool and pushed up the leg of his shorts.
“Good grief, Trav. Did you not keep this elevated or ice it today?” Tess said looking at the swollen, bruised skin. She could feel the heat without even touching him and the discoloration was intense.
“He kept ice on it this morning, but I don’t think he had any on this afternoon,” Cady said, getting a cold pack from the freezer and wrapping it in a clean dish towel before handing it to Tess.
“Just because the bone isn’t broken, doesn’t mean you don’t need to take care of this,” Tess said as she probed the edges of the wound. She could feel a knot beneath the skin and knew Travis was going to have some tightness in the muscle. “You are such an…”
“Idiot,” Travis finished her sentence for her, taking her probing fingers captive. He tried to keep a jaunty grin on his face but if she poked his thigh one more time, he was either going to pass out or holler. “I promise, Nurse Nancy, to behave myself if you’ll quite that infernal poking.”
Tess dropped the cold pack on his leg none too gently, making Travis gulp in air. “Fine, have it your way.”
Turning she walked to the door with a wave back at Cady and Trey. “Thanks again for dinner. It was wonderful.”
Cady and Trey looked at Travis, at Tess’ retreating back, and then each other. He cocked an eyebrow and she nodded her head. Travis may have noticed if his eyes hadn’t been squeezed shut to keep from yelling. When Tess dropped the ice on his leg, he thought he might fall off the stool as pain shot through his thigh.
“Need anything, Trav?” Trey asked, with a funny smile on his face.
“No. I’ll be fine,” he said, limping toward the great room where he could stretch out on the couch.
“I’m not so sure of that,” Trey said, giving his wife a wink.
Chapter Four
Love is a kind of warfare.
Ovid
“Tell me again why we all need to go,” Travis said, helping Cady load coolers full of food into the back of Trey’s pickup.
“Because Cass expects all of us to watch her compete in the races and join her for lunch, that’s why,” Cady said, carrying out a stack of blankets and a few folding lawn chairs. “She’ll be so disappointed if you aren’t there, Travis.”
“She won’t even notice me missing,” Travis commented, really hoping he would be missed.
“Oh, yes, she would. That child thinks both you and Trent exist just to make her feel special. So quit pouting and come on,” Cady said, giving Travis’ hand a playful tug.
“You’re almost as bossy as that husband of yours,” Travis said, giving his sister-in-law’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Almost, but I’m working on it,” Cady said, with a mischievous grin. “I just need more practice.”
“Practice at what, Cady-girl?” Trey asked as he came out the back door carrying a large thermal jug full of iced tea.
“Being as bossy as you, boss-man,” Cady teased, giving his cheek a kiss as he loaded the tea.
“You’ve got a long way to go, darlin’,” Trey said, grabbing Cady around the waist and pulling her to him. Giving her a quick kiss, he popped her on the bottom and turned to grin at his brother. “She’s giving you marching orders, is that it?”
“Something like that,” Travis said, stepping inside the house to grab a ball cap, his cell phone and wallet. Wearing cargo shorts and a T-shirt again today, along with sneakers, he wanted to be comfortable. Cady added a cold pack for him in one of the coolers, so if his leg started to throb, he could ice it down.
Hurrying back out to Trey’s truck, he slid in the backseat. “Is Trent going with us?”
“No, he left earlier to help Lindsay get ready for the picnic and races,” Cady said, turning around in the front seat to talk to him. “The rest of the guys will come for the picnic.”
“You mean you even talked Henry into going?” Travis asked, surprised all five ranch hands would attend the end-of-school picnic.
“I didn’t. Cass did,” Cady said. “You know how they are when she asks them to do a favor. We’ve got to be careful or that child is going to be completely spoiled.”
“I’m not too worried about that happening,” Trey said, kissing Cady’s hand. “She’s too sweet to turn into a brat.”
“You should know,” Travis said, poking Trey in the shoulder.
“Yeah, I do. I had two of them for younger brothers,” Trey said dryly as he turned into the school parking lot.
The children were all outside and when Cass saw her family arrive, she ran toward them wildly waving her hands over her head.
“Mama, Daddy, you came!” she said, launching herself at Trey who picked her up and hugged her. Noticing Travis, she leaned over and squeezed him around his neck from her position in Trey’s arms. “Hi, Uncle Travis!”
“Hey, kiddo. I heard you are going to run circles around everyone today,” Travis teased as he lifted a cooler out the pickup.
“Yep. Uncle Trent helped Aunt Lindsay get stuff ready,” Cass said, squirming down and taking Cady’s hand. “You have to come see my projects.”
Cady followed Cass in the direction of her classroom while Trey and Travis carried coolers, blankets and beverages out to the picnic tables. Trent was across the yard helping Lindsay organize prizes and finish up last minute race details.
A loud whistle signaled it was time for the games to begin, starting with the first grade and kindergarten students.
Cass joined her classmates for a footrace and came in second place. When she crossed the finish line, Travis joined the rest of his family in cheering and clapping for the little red-headed ball of fire. She ran over to them, clutching her red ribbon tightly to her chest.
“Did you see me run? Did you see me?”
“We sure did, honey,” Trey said, sweeping her up in a warm hug. “You did a great job.”
“Congratulations, kiddo,” Travis said, giving her a high-five.
Trent ran over and kissed her cheek. “Way to go, goofball!”
“Yippee!” Cass said, bouncing up and down in her excitement.
They watched the rest of the children race and cheered for the kids they knew. The last of the students were lining up to run when Travis imagined he smelled Tess’ unique scent. Closing his eyes to better inhale it, he opened them and turned his head to find her standing beside him, grinning.
Surprised, he draped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a brotherly squeeze.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m doing in-home appointments today. I was on my way home for lunch when I remembered today is the last day of school. I always loved the picnic and games as a kid,” Tess said, clapping as the winners crossed the finish line.
“I thought you hated the school picnic. You always ended up either mad or in tears before the day was done,” Travis said with an ornery grin.
“That’s because a bunch of mean boys wouldn’t leave me alone. Remember the year you and Brice put worms on my hotdog? Or what about the year Ben and Trent super-glued my shoes together and I had to run the race barefoot?”
Travis laughed and dropped a kiss on her head.
“Those were fun times.”
“For you hooligans, but not for me,” Tess said, turni
ng big brown eyes filled with mirth his direction. “I think I still owe the lot of you some payback.”
“Now, Tessa, don’t you go getting any ideas,” Travis said, wondering what she would consider payback for something he’d done years ago.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” she said, turning her attention to the award ceremony taking place in front of the playground equipment.
With his arm still around her, they watched the kids receive their awards, joining in the clapping and celebration.
“Can you stay for lunch? Cady brought enough food to feed a small army,” Travis asked, bending close to Tess’ ear.
Unable to speak with tingles racing through her from his warm breath tickling her neck, she nodded her head. She really hadn’t intended to stay, but she had an hour and a half before her next appointment and it was just a few miles down the road. When she saw Travis watching the kids, she couldn’t resist the temptation to join him. Fighting the war against her attraction to him was proving to be a losing battle.
“If you stay I promise to keep all worms and any other non-food substances off your plate,” Travis said with a warm smile that made his blue eyes glow.
“You know just the right words to say to convince me,” Tess said, looping her hand through his arm and walking with him to the picnic area. Trent, Lindsay and Cass were spreading out blankets while Trey and Cady unpacked the food.
After eating their fill, the three Thompson brothers along with the five Triple T hands lazed on the blankets. Cady sat with Trey’s head cushioned in her lap and Trent leaned against a tree trunk with Lindsay snuggled up to his chest. Travis sat as close to Tess as he dared with the cold pack on his leg.
When she thought no one was paying attention, Tess tugged up the leg of his shorts and looked at the bruise. It wasn’t nearly as swollen or hot although the discoloration looked worse.
“I think you are officially on the mend,” she said, gently pulling his shorts back down over the bruise.
“Good to know. Here I was thinking the whole thing was going to fall right off,” Travis said, trying to look serious, but the smile that formed brackets at the corners of his lips and danced in his eyes gave him away. “I appreciate the personalized attention.”
The Cowboy's Summer Love Page 5
