The Guilty Proposal (Heroes of Hays Book 1)

by Barbara Goss

  “Well, I can see by that dreamy look on your face that you enjoyed the dance,” he said.

  “Father, I think I’m in love.”

  “You couldn’t have picked a better man. I like Travis.”

  “Now I’m hoping Roger Fairfax does come to Victoria. I think it would be romantic to be carried off by Travis.”

  Her father put his book down. “Maybe kidnapping won’t be necessary. If you see Travis a few more times and if you still feel the same, maybe, just maybe, you two could marry. There’d be nothing your mother or Roger could possibly do, then.”

  “I was thinking that tonight. I hinted at it, but I think Travis thought I was joking.”

  “You never know,” he said.

  “Father, do you think it’s possible to fall in love with someone this quickly?” she asked.

  Her father got a dreamy, far-away look in his eyes. “Certainly.”

  “You were in love once, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, a long time ago. I was promised to your mother so I had to let her go, but I’ve never forgotten her,” he said.

  “What was her name?”

  “Sophia,” he said. “And I fell in love with her at first sight, so it is possible.”

  “I’m so sorry, Father.”

  “Don’t be. I love your mother, and we have two beautiful daughters that bring a bit of sunshine into my life,” he said.

  “So you’re in love with mother, too?”

  “It’s a different kind of love, honey.”

  “I don’t want that,” she said.

  “It didn’t turn out so bad in our case, but sometimes fixed marriages end up horribly wrong. I don’t want that for you. I won’t let it happen,” he said.

  Evaline hugged her father. “I love you, Father.”

  Travis felt guilty when he visited Libby the next day. She always smiled and her eyes lit up when he entered the room. He brought her a bouquet of flowers that he’d picked himself. She smelled them and thanked him.

  “I’ll get a vase,” Ned said.

  Travis swung around to see Ned behind him. “Hey, Ned. Didn’t know you were here.”

  “Wouldn’t miss Treasure Island and Jim Hawkins,” he said and walked away to find a vase.

  “What’s buggin’ him?” he asked Libby.

  “I was going to ask you the same thing,” Libby said. “He’s been rather moody lately.”

  “Well, maybe finishing our book today will enliven him,” Travis said as he pulled up a chair alongside hers.

  “I’m so happy to see you,” Libby said, taking his hand.

  He squeezed her hand and then pulled it away in order to open the book. When Ned came in with a vase he put the flowers in and then pulled up a chair.

  “Is something wrong, Ned?” Travis asked.

  “No, I’m just anxious what that new doctor will say when he gets here,” Ned said. “I want it to be good news.”

  “It will be!” both Libby and Travis said in unison.

  After they’d finished the book, Ned and Travis left together, as they sometimes did. As they went to their horses, Travis asked Ned again if something was bothering him.

  Ned left his horse and came to stand by Travis’s. “You want to know what’s bothering me? You!”

  “What?” Travis asked.

  “You. You're all Libby talks about,” he said. “And she’s gawking at that cheap ring you bought her like it was a fifty-carat diamond. She loves you and you don’t love her, and that bothers me. It bothers me a lot.”

  Travis didn’t know what to say. He mounted his horse and then bent down and asked, “What would you have done in my place, Ned?” Travis galloped away, leaving Ned in his dust.

  Sadie met him at the doorway and held it wide for him. “A telegram has come for you, Travis.” She handed him the missive.

  Travis read it. “Good news, the doctor will be here in three days.”

  “Oh, goodness, I’ll get the spare room ready,” Sadie said. “Oh, your father wants to see you.”

  “Is he in his room?”

  “No, he’s in the stable. He’s walking with a cane because he’s still weak, but he’s really looking better and walking better, too.”

  “Good. Thanks, Sadie.”

  Travis walked into the barn and spotted his father stroking his horse, Apollo, talking to him.

  “If that horse answers you, I’m leaving,” Travis said.

  “I missed him,” Edward said.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “Let’s go up on the front porch,” he said.

  Once they'd both been seated, he turned to Travis and said, “I’m wondering if you might have a problem?”

  “What do you mean?” Travis was puzzled.

  “My friend, Robert Radcliffe, dropped by this morning. I've been showing him how to make the beds for the baby calves,” he said. “Nice gentleman, I like him.”

  “And?” Travis urged.

  “He told me you and his daughter had a good time last night, it wasn’t so much what he said, but the way he said it…you know, with a wink.”

  Travis put his head down and scratched his head. “That could mean nothing.”

  “Or it could mean you’re betrothed to one woman and bedazzled by another,” he said.

  “I’m awfully fond of her, Father. She’s wonderful. I think I’m falling in love with her. I don’t want to hurt Libby since I feel I’ve hurt her enough already. I don’t know what to do: be with the love of my life or give her up for a loveless marriage because it’s the 'right' thing to do.”

  “Just as I thought: you have a big problem,” Edward said. “I wish I had a solution for you.”

  “So do I,” Travis said.

  “I do know one thing: you can’t string them both along. You have to make a decision, and sooner rather than later.”

  “I know,” Travis said, still looking down at his feet. “I’m ashamed to say I feel a bit selfish. I want to break it off with Libby and court Evaline so badly, but I just can’t bear to hurt Lib.”

  “Then it’s best you tell Evaline the truth, son,” his father said, slapping his back. “Whatever you decide to do, I know, since I raised you, it will be the right decision.”

  Travis lay in bed that night reliving his heated kisses and embraces with Evaline, then he thought of how Libby’s eyes lit up each time he visited. It was time to give this problem to God. He prayed that night for thirty minutes straight. Afterward, though he didn’t feel as if the burden had completely gone from his shoulders, he nevertheless felt easier about the task he knew he had to do.

  Chapter 8

  Travis entered the house having finished his morning chores. He grabbed the vat of hot water Sadie had waiting for him and headed upstairs for a hot soak. His father still wasn’t able to do much, but then again with so many calves sold, the chores were finished quickly. They had Freddie, who was an all-around helper too.

  After filling the tub with hot water, he slid in and groaned at how good it felt. He’d just sunk into the warm water up to his neck and was thinking about Evaline when Sadie called to him.

  He quickly soaped up, rinsed, climbed out, and towel dried. As he combed his still wet hair, he felt irritated that his bath had been disturbed. Finally, he was dressed and walked into the kitchen to see what Sadie had wanted that was so important. He stood there, shocked to see Evaline sitting at the table with a cup of tea and a huge piece of cherry pie in front of her. Once he'd gotten over the shock of seeing her, he smiled. She was a sight for sore eyes, and well worth having to exit his bath so soon.

  She wore a green riding outfit of a velvet-like material, with brown trim. She wore her hair up in that style that showed her attractive neck.

  “Are introductions necessary?” he asked as he sat across from her.

  “No,” Evaline said, “we’ve taken care of that ourselves, haven’t we, Sadie?”

  “We sure have,” Sadie said.

  “Good,” was all he could think
of to say.

  “I’ve come to see your ranch. You did say I could, remember?”

  “Yes. Yes, of course.”

  Sadie asked, “Would you like some pie, Travis?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Tea, then?” Sadie asked.

  “Nope,” he said, keeping his eyes on Evaline as she nibbled daintily at her pie.

  “The pie is delicious, Sadie,” Evaline said. “We could sure use you in Victoria. The cook we have is horrible. I think all she knows how to cook are things cowboys eat on the range.”

  “Where did you find her, dear?” Sadie asked.

  “Mr. Grant, the man who started the settlement, brought in servants from who knows where, and we all bid on them upon arrival.”

  “You won’t be stealing our Sadie, but feel free to come over anytime for one of her spectacular meals,” Travis said.

  “Something smells delightful already,” Evaline said.

  “I’m making the sauce for chicken and dumplings,” Sadie said proudly. “It’s Travis’s father’s favorite.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever had that.”

  “You’re welcome to stay,” Sadie said, not catching the warning look from Travis. He loved that Evaline was visiting, but if she stayed for supper he wouldn't get to visit Libby; he hadn't missed a day since the accident.

  “I’d love to,” Evaline said. She looked at Travis and added, “If I’m still here, that is.”

  It seemed to Travis that she added that last part when she saw his face. So he smiled. “Of course you’ll still be here. This is a large ranch and you’ll want to see everything,” he said quickly. He didn’t want her to think she wasn’t welcome. He did want her to stay, truly he did, but he was torn between what he wanted and what he should do.

  Travis was glad Evaline had ridden her horse to Hays. He saddled his horse and started the tour with the cattle at the west end of the ranch. He showed her the pens where they put their baby calves, where they gave the livestock health-checks, where the older cattle grazed, and the spring-fed stream.

  “What's that pile of boulders over there?” she said, pointing.

  “Those are the ruins of a hundred-year-old house. The owner was a trapper, they say. He was a squatter, but he built the place with those boulders, mud, and straw,” he said. “We’ve managed to clean up everything but the boulders.”

  “I think they add to the land,” she said.

  “I heard you're starting to breed horses,” Evaline said as they headed back to the house.

  “I’ve always wanted to. I've just gotten started.”

  “So, what's there to do to raise cattle on a ranch like this?” Evaline asked.

  “We have to check our cattle several times a week throughout the year. It's a chore in itself as we have over 300 head of cattle, or at least, we did until recently. In the winter, the cattle are calving, so we have to check them daily. We also have to put hay out regularly and limit grazing the cattle on winter ryegrass. In the spring and summer we perform our herd-health measures, cut hay, and perform pasture maintenance. The majority of our calves usually sell through auction and leave mid-August. That saves us from having to drive them to market and be away from home weeks at a time. A few are sold throughout the year to the meat market in town. We continue work in the hayfield in the fall, which quickly transitions into planting our winter forages. By November, we start the cycle over again with the calving.”

  “My!” she exclaimed. “That is a lot of work. My father has four men helping him and because our cattle are in such close proximity to other ranches in Victoria, we have to brand them.”

  “We’ve never had to brand here,” Travis said. “Our closest neighbor is over a mile away.”

  They reached the stables and dismounted. “Come on,” Travis said. “I’ll show you my horses.”

  They walked into the stable and Travis pointed to each horse by name. “I want to breed my Stallion with this pretty mare, but she isn’t…well, she’s not ready yet.”

  Evaline walked to the back of the stable where the hay had been stacked almost to the ceiling. “What’s back here?”

  “Just the straw, a water trough, and a small office.”

  “Oh, I love straw,” she said, throwing herself backward onto the pile.

  “Careful: sometimes Freddie leaves the pitchfork in there,” Travis said.

  “Come here,” she said, patting the hay beside her.

  Travis sat on the hay, gingerly. Before he knew it, she had her arms around his neck. “I've missed you, Travis.”

  Travis groaned. He couldn’t resist her. He lay down beside her and kissed her passionately, their bodies pressed closely together. He thought he’d lose his mind with her shapely body breathtakingly against his own. Without removing his lips totally from hers, he murmured, “I've missed you, too,” and then dove into the kiss with all he had, their bodies pressed closely as they were wont to do. He knew he was in deep trouble.

  Why, he thought, didn’t God create an off and on switch if He didn’t want unmarried people to make love? This passion was near impossible to control. He felt as weak as a newborn colt trying to stand on his legs after birth.

  Evaline was more than responsive, she ripped his shirt open and rubbed his chest with both hands. He didn’t think he'd be able to back away this time. He panted, wanting her so badly it was almost painful. Then he thought about God, all-seeing and all- knowing, and probably looking down at him with disappointment. He was on the verge of pulling away from her when she groaned and moved her hips in such a way, that he gasped. He started to pull away. He couldn’t take this torture anymore. He knew that if he hadn’t gone this far, the temptation wouldn’t have been this great. He broke the kiss, still breathing heavily.

  “No! No more,” he said. “We have to stop.”

  “Why?” she whispered. “I love you and I’m ready to give myself to you right now, Travis Grayson.”

  Travis gazed at the passion in her eyes and expression, moaned, and then buried his face in the straw. He prayed harder than he ever had before and a Bible verse suddenly came to him: For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil. Get thee hence, Satan, he thought, and sat up.

  “No, Evaline, it’s not right. We can’t tempt ourselves like that again. What comes next is for married couples, or it would cheapen the love we share, and then we'd be guilt-ridden instead of happily sated. I want God’s blessing when I take my wife for the first time.”

  Evaline sat up, too. “Love we share? Travis, are you saying that you love me, too?”

  “More than anything,” he said, rubbing his forehead. What had he just confessed to? “But no more of this. I don’t want to spoil things or disobey God.”

  She smiled. “We can wait until…” he knew she’d hesitated thinking he’d finish the sentence or propose, but he said nothing.

  “I bet it’s time for the chicken and dumplings,” he said, standing and helping her up.

  She brushed the straw from her riding outfit. “Don’t leave things like this, Travis.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t turn all cold and unaffectionate after what we've just shared. It makes me feel used,” she said.

  Travis took her by the shoulders. “How used would you feel if I'd accepted your generous invitation moments ago?”

  “I'd feel loved, as long as you held me afterward.”

  He kissed her nose and then hugged her loosely. She was more beautiful when she was all rosy-cheeked from the passion. “You’re a Jezebel, do you know that?”

  She held back. “Tell me again that you love me, Travis.”

  Travis closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything in my life.”

  “And I love you, so why can’t we marry, then?” she asked.

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He hugged her to him. “I’m ju
st not ready yet.”

  She pulled away again. “When will you be ready?”

  “Soon, I hope,” he said, thinking about what that special doctor might report. “Very soon, my love.”

  As they walked to the house, hand in hand, Travis froze when he saw Ned sitting on his horse near the front porch, and he didn’t look happy.

  “Ned? What are you doing here,” Travis said, quickly dropping Evaline’s hand.

  “I got worried when you didn’t show up today,” he said. “I should have known you had something more important to do.” He turned his horse and galloped away.

  “Who was that?” Evaline asked.

  “My friend, Ned.”

  “Were you supposed to meet him today?”

  “It was nothing important. He’s just a bit high-strung. Let’s go eat.” Travis tried to pretend that it didn’t bother him, but it did.

  Chapter 9

  Evaline moped about the house. She missed Travis. All she could think about was how wonderful he was, how great it felt to be in his arms, and that she just had to have him. She’d never wanted anything so much in her life. In England, she’d been quite privileged in material ways and never wanted for anything. They still had the resources to buy things here, in Kansas, but there was no place to shop. The stores in Hays weren't even close in comparison to London’s boutiques.

  She wasn’t really spoiled, but she’d never been denied anything she ever wanted either. She wanted Travis for her husband, to grow old with him, and have a family with him. There wasn't an inkling of doubt in her mind about that.

  It was a Saturday evening, and they’d just finished dinner. Her father took his book, and sat down in the sitting room for the evening. He lit his pipe, opened his book and began to read. Ellen and Evaline had just finished washing and drying the dishes. They had a cook, but all she did was to cook and then go home.

  Ellen went upstairs to her room to read, and Evaline plopped down on the sofa and sighed.

  “What’s wrong, Evie? Have you heard news from your mother?” her father asked without looking up from his book.