Breaking Travis (The West Series Book 5)

by Jill Sanders

  She laughed. “Where to begin?” She leaned back on the deck chair and started to tell her friend everything that had happened as she looked off to their back yard. Reece had bought the old place earlier that year and they were still doing major repairs to the place. But, like the bookstore, it was coming along quickly.

  “Oh my god!” Missy looked at her with her eyes wide. “Are you okay?”

  Holly laughed. “I’m fine, really.”

  “I can’t believe it.” She shook her head. “I’ve never met anyone who’s lived through something like that. It’s almost straight out of a movie.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.” She giggled. “Underground in Vegas,” she said in her best broadcasting voice.

  Melissa chuckled. “Well, I can’t believe it. You actually look great.” She leaned back and took another sip. “If something like that had happened to me, I’d be a wreck.”

  “Oh, please. You’re Miss Cool under pressure. I’ve seen you work at the clinic, remember?”

  Missy smiled. “Being a nurse doesn’t mean you know how to keep your cool when there are people kidnapping you or shooting at you.”

  “They weren’t actually shooting at us.” She shook her head. “Anyway, your place is coming along great.” She waved her glass to the back of the house.

  “Yeah, Reece is in there hammering away on the bathroom. He wants the new bathtub installed before we get married.” Melissa set her glass down and then squealed. “It still gets me.” She shook her head. “Sorry.”

  Holly laughed. “That’s okay. Have you found out anything about Ryan yet?”

  Melissa shook her head no. “We heard from the private investigator’s daughter that they were working on it, but other than that, nothing more.”

  She leaned back. “I’m sure you’ll find Ryan before your wedding.”

  “I just hope he’s okay.” She leaned forward and whispered. “The last time I saw him he had two bullet holes in his stomach.”

  “Maybe it was a misunderstanding. I mean, look at everything I went through in Vegas. Maybe Ryan really isn’t in trouble with the law.”

  Missy leaned back and took another drink. “I hope so. It’s just weird that the police signed him out, like he was in custody.” She shook her head. “Reece would be heartbroken to know that his brother was on the wrong side of the law.”

  She thought about Travis and knew that if he was still his old self, she wouldn’t be with him. “Let me know when you find something out.”

  She thought about their conversation on her short drive home. So much was still undetermined in her relationship with Travis. She didn’t know how much longer she could stand not knowing where they were headed. Was he going to leave town like he was talking about, or was there was a possibility of him sticking around?

  She parked her car in front of the garage and flipped off her lights. Frowning, she got out and looked at the empty spot where his car usually sat. Maybe he took his friends up on their offer? She grabbed her bag from the seat and locked her car. They needed some time apart; after all, they’d spent the last week together. He was bound to get bored with her sooner or later.

  She unlocked her door and flipped on the light. She gasped and took a step backwards when she saw the damage. Her couch was upside down, and her dishes were broken and in a pile on the floor. Her clothes were thrown around the room and covered in something dark and gooey. She closed the door and rested her forehead on it, struggling to fight back the tears. When her hands stopped shaking and her mind finally kicked into gear, she pulled out her cell phone and called the sheriff.

  She crawled back in her car and locked the door behind her, as he’d told her to do. A short while later a car pulled in behind her, but it seemed too soon to be the sheriff. Between the headlights and the darkness, she couldn’t tell what kind of car it was, and she tensed when she heard the door open. She jumped at the knock on her window and was relieved to see Travis standing there.

  “Everything okay?” he asked. When she rolled down her window and he saw her face, he yanked open her door and pulled her out. “What? What’s happened?”

  “My—” She shook her head. “Someone broke into my apartment.”

  “What?” He released her and started to head up the stairs.

  “Wait.” She raced after him. “The sheriff told me to not go in.”

  He glanced at her and frowned. “He said that to you, not me.” He used his key and unlocked the door. “Was it locked when you got here?”

  She thought about it. “Yes, I remember unlocking it.”

  He opened the door and stepped in to the lit room. “Damn.” He looked around. “I liked that couch.” He walked around and then disappeared into the back as she stood in the doorway.

  “I told you to stay in your car,” the sheriff said behind her, causing her to scream and jump. She covered her mouth and her heart with her hands, and Travis rushed from the back with a baseball bat in his hands.

  “Don’t scare me like that.” She punched the sheriff on the shoulder.

  Sheriff Miller frowned. “Sorry.” He turned and nodded to Travis. “Evening.”

  Travis set the bat down. “No one’s here.”

  Travis sat in the big kitchen in his parents’ house and tried to be patient with the questions Sheriff Miller asked. When did they leave the house? What time did they return? Did they see anything? He’d answered fewer questions when he’d turned over the underground cage fighting ring.

  Holly sat next to him, sipping on a soda and looking tired and scared. She had dealt with being threatened with a gun better than someone breaking in and trashing her stuff.

  He couldn’t prove it, but he had a sinking feeling that it was his fault. There were a handful of people who came to mind when the sheriff asked if he knew who could have done this.

  He mentioned some names and watched Holly’s expression.

  “You really think Savannah could have done all that?” she asked when he mentioned her name. “She’s…” Holly looked towards the sheriff.

  “Pregnant?” he said, smiling. “Everyone in town knows.”

  Travis felt a weird sensation run down his body and without thinking, he blurted out. “It’s not mine.”

  The sheriff looked at him. His gray eyebrows shot up, and then he smiled. “That’s good to know. It seems to be the assumption around town. But under the circumstances, it isn’t surprising.” He wrote something down on his pad of paper and Travis felt his face turn beet red.

  For the first time since coming back, he cared what others thought of him. At least where Savannah and her condition were concerned. He didn’t want anyone thinking he was irresponsible. Not anymore.

  “Now, what’s all this about Vegas?” The sheriff looked at him and he groaned. Now it would be several more hours before he ate anything because he’d have to explain everything.

  “Do you mind if I make a sandwich?” He stood up and walked to the kitchen when the sheriff nodded. For the next hour they explained everything again and by the time the sheriff finally drove off, Travis had a splitting headache.

  “I guess…” Holly started to say, looking towards the back door.

  “You can stay here,” he said, knowing what she was thinking. “There are two spare rooms. Pick one.” He turned and put his plate into the dishwasher, something that was still engrained in him from his childhood.

  She nodded and turned to walk down the hallway, but stopped and looked back. “Are you upset with me?”

  “Why would I be?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

  “I’m trouble. You’re better off steering clear of me until I leave.”

  “It’s not your fault, you know.” She took a step towards him.

  “What?” He leaned against the countertop and rubbed his forehead.

  “Everything. Vegas. My apartment.” She nodded towards the garage.

  He laughed and turned to get the bottle of aspirin from
the cabinet. “Sure it is. I have jacked up friends. I’m sure they trashed my place to get to me.”

  “Have you ever thought that maybe it was just a robbery?” She took another step towards him.

  He downed a couple of aspirin and shook his head. “Doubtful.”

  “Does it hurt that bad?” She nodded to his head when he looked confused. He dropped his hand and realized he’d been trying to peel his skin off his forehead.

  “I get migraines for a few days following a fight.”

  “I can help,” she said, taking his hand and walking him back towards the couch. He sat down when she pushed him backwards. “Relax.” She knelt beside him and started rubbing his shoulders.

  “What do my back and neck have to do with a migraine?”

  “You’d be surprised. I’ve read several books on the subject. Did you know that this pressure point”—she pushed her thumb into a spot on his back and he felt his head spin—“if pressed hard enough can cause a man to pass out?” He believed it; when she moved her hand he felt light-headed. “Here, lie down.” She pulled his shirt over his head and motioned for him to lay down on his stomach. “Put your arms here.” She moved his arms so they lay next to his body.

  Her hands roamed over his sore muscles until every inch of him was relaxed. She talked to him the entire time about pressure points and what each one did. The sound of her voice was so soothing, he found himself drifting off.

  When he woke, the sun was blinding him from the living room window, and he realized he’d fallen asleep face down on the couch. One of his mother’s throw blankets was thrown on him, and when he stood up, he realized his headache was completely gone. So were some of the aches and pains he’d had since the fight.

  Grabbing his shirt, he headed upstairs for a shower. When he walked into his parents’ room, he stopped. Holly was asleep on the bed. Her long red hair was fanned out over his grandmother’s quilt. He stepped closer. Her skin was flawless. Her dark eyelashes closed as he stepped closer. He noticed how pink her lips were, and he remembered how sweet they were, how soft and warm.

  She was wearing a green tank top and gray shorts that hugged her bottom perfectly. His eyes roamed over every inch of her, remembering how she felt next to him.

  He’d meant it last night—he wasn’t good for her. She’d be better off if he left town, and she found someone who wanted to settle down in Fairplay and raise a family. He shook his head and stepped back. She was better off with anyone else but him.

  He turned away from the sweet sight of her and decided he’d deal with the pink bathroom and shower down the hallway.

  ·Chapter Twelve

  It took Holly and Melissa all day to clean her apartment. Half of her clothes were destroyed, including some of the new shoes she’d bought in Vegas that she hadn’t even had a chance to wear yet. She controlled her emotions until Missy left, and then she locked her door with the new deadbolt Reece had installed and walked into the bathroom and cried in the shower.

  She couldn’t wait until her apartment was done, so she could go back home and feel safe again. After dragging herself out of the shower, she put on her thickest pair of sweats and crawled into her new sheets and comforter and watched cartoons until she fell asleep.

  The next week, Travis was scarce. He left before sunrise and returned after dark and never stopped by to see her. She seemed to always miss him when he’d stop by the store and check in on the progress. She’d heard he’d been spending a lot of time at the theater, but didn’t have the heart to stop by and see. She’d noticed he’d moved the Mustang out into the driveway and on several occasions had heard him pounding away in the house.

  Something told her to allow him his space, at least for now. The sheriff stopped by and gave her an update on his search for who had destroyed her stuff. She’d given him a copy of the list of items that she’d given her insurance company.

  “If I hadn’t sold my old place a few blocks away, last month, I’d have let you stay there,” he said, frowning down at her.

  She smiled. “That’s okay. I’ll be fine here. Besides, they’ll be done with my apartment next month. They have tripled their efforts there, and I’ll be in a whole month before the store is finished.”

  “That’s great news.” She followed him out to his car. “Well, if you need anything, just let Jamella or I know.” He smiled and waved as he drove away.

  She was done for the day and stood in the driveway in the heat. It had been a while since she’d enjoyed the pool and decided to head up and put on her swimsuit. But when she turned to go inside, she heard a car drive up and saw Savannah’s Jeep stop in the driveway.

  She stood where she was and waited for the other woman to get out of the car.

  “How dare you.” She slammed the Jeep’s door. “How dare you spread lies about me?” Savannah walked over and stopped less than a foot from her.

  There was no hiding the fact that she was very pregnant now. The woman’s belly stuck out like a beach ball. Her hands and face were swollen and even her ankles were three times the size they used to be. Her long blonde hair was still perfectly in place, as was the layer of caked-on makeup. Her clothes were even tighter now than usual.

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She stood her ground even though the woman was almost twice her size now.

  “You’re spreading lies about me. About Travis and I. Telling everyone that he’s not the daddy.” She rubbed her belly in what was the first maternal action she’d seen.

  Holly looked at her and tilted her head. “It’s not Travis’ baby.”

  “It is,” she almost screamed. “When I visited him in Vegas. Ask him about it.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And you’re telling everyone that I broke into your place and trashed it.” She nodded to the apartment above the garage.

  Holly laughed. “No, I’m not.”

  Savannah took a step towards her until her face was inches from her own. “You think he’ll keep you?” Her eyes raked up and down her. “It’s just like before. He’ll use you until he’s bored and then come running back to me, and we’ll be a happy family. Just wait and see. All you are is a warm body to fit his needs.”

  “Be careful, Savannah,” she warned her.

  “Or what?” She laughed and leaned back a little. “You’ve already hit me when I was pregnant. You’ll do it again?”

  Holly shook her head and stepped back. “No one knew you were pregnant that time.”

  Savannah laughed and then glared at her. “Tread lightly, little book worm. No one believes your stories anyway. We all know that Travis is only amusing himself with you. He’ll be bored with you soon enough, if he already isn’t.” She turned and got back into her Jeep. It took her a few tries to hoist herself up into the tall vehicle, but finally she managed it and drove off, peeling out of the driveway.

  Holly stood in the driveway, trying not to shake. Everything Savannah said hit too close to home. Travis had been pulling back from her.

  Walking up the stairs, she ran over the last conversation they’d had and how he’d warned her that he wasn’t good for her. He’d been trying to break it off and she’d been too big of a fool to see it.

  All thoughts of a dip in the pool fled, replaced by a strong desire to go riding. Changing into her old jeans and boots, she drove out to Saddleback Ranch, knowing there was always a horse ready to be saddled up at her friends’ ranch.

  When she drove up, she saw Lauren step off the front porch with a baby in her arms. Emma had just turned one last month and was the spitting image of her mama. Rickie, their son, was running around the yard playing with fire trucks.

  “Evening,” Lauren said, stepping off the porch.

  “Hi.” She bent down and picked up Rickie and gave him a sloppy kiss. The boy hugged her back and started chatting about his trucks.

  Holly laughed. “Maybe I can play trucks with you later. Right now I was hoping to go for a ride?” She looked at Lauren.

  “Absolutely. Yo
u’re welcome to take Tanner. He’s in the first stall and ready for a run.” She nodded towards the barn. “I think you still have a saddle somewhere in there.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I’ll find everything else. Thank you.” She sat Rickie back down and walked towards the barn.

  It had been almost six months since she’d ridden—too long. She saddled up Tanner, Lauren’s gentle gelding. The horse snuggled with her shoulder as she strapped on the saddle.

  She jumped on his back and they bolted from the yard. Holly’s mind cleared.

  She’d never really thanked Haley for teaching her how to ride, or the West sisters for always having an open door and a horse to take out. Some things just didn’t need to be said. The sisters had always been there for her and their friends.

  Holly could remember wishing she had two sisters and dreaming that they would be as close as Lauren, Alex, and Haley were. But her mother had always told her that being raised an only child had perks, like more Christmas presents. Holly would have gladly shared her presents if it meant having just one sibling.

  Travis was also an only child. He’d been spoiled by his parents, and everyone in town had seen it firsthand. His father had constantly bailed him out of his problems, and his mother had spoiled him all throughout school. She’d attended every school function, and her voice was loud enough to make sure that her son was the star of every play or sporting event.

  The woman had always claimed it was her duty as the mayor’s wife, but everyone had known it was her devotion to her son that caused her to push so hard. She supposed that, in the end, it had been that devotion that had caused her to go off the deep end and almost kill Grant Holton shortly after he and Alex had started dating, even though it was because Travis had cheated on Alex with Savannah that Alex and Grant had started seeing one another.

  Holly slowed the horse down to open a gate so she could ride in the back fields towards the small pond.

  Thinking of Travis only caused the hurt to surface again. She’d known what he was, who he was, before she’d let her heart get involved. Her mind had screamed at her, warning her to steer clear, but her body had taken over.