Jodi Thomas - WM 1

by Texas Rain

  Travis looked at Rainey. “I haven’t decided yet. I’m not sure I have a reason to stay in Austin.”

  She didn’t meet his eyes. She knew how much his love meant to her, but she couldn’t return it. She couldn’t give up the freedom she’d fought so hard to get.

  Something rattled beyond the door and all were silent. It was probably only the bartender moving down the stairs for more beer, but still they listened and waited.

  “I locked both the doors when the sisters left,” Travis said.

  Dottie nodded, but didn’t look reassured. “Want to play some poker?”

  Travis declined. “I’ve never won at that game. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a waste of time to play.”

  Rainey agreed just to calm Dottie. Travis stood and paced around the room. He barely limped, but she noticed when he thought no one was looking he sometimes rubbed his leg as if to force the pain out.

  “Roy will tap three times when he wants in.” He told them the code they already knew. “Once he’s here, we can settle down for the night.”

  Rainey tried not to look like she was watching him, but she knew Travis was on edge. Every now and then he touched the handle of his gun, and his gaze circled the room every time a log snapped in the fire. Somehow his gaze always ended on her as if watching her relaxed him.

  Rainey took a deep breath and jumped at the sudden crack of wood. Duck dived beneath the table, disappearing completely in an instant. Dottie’s cards flew across the table.

  Travis pulled his gun and stepped in front of the women. “Get down!” he yelled.

  Rainey hugged Dottie, and they joined Duck beneath the table, holding on to one another tightly.

  She heard a thump. The door to the cellar crashed open and slapped against the floor.

  Dottie screamed as a man tumbled with the door to the floor of her kitchen. He jerked once, twice, then collapsed. The back of his head was splattered with blood.

  A moment later Roy appeared with a board in his hand. “Got him, Travis!” He laughed, and a wildness danced in his eyes. “Eldon came through the cellar just like you said he would.”

  Travis fired one signal shot that echoed off the walls like thunder. Then, as calmly as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, he turned and held his hand out to Rainey. “Come on out. It’s all over.”

  Rainey wasn’t sure she wanted to, but she took his offered help and crawled out from beneath the table, pulling Dottie with her. The little widow jumped up like a jack-in-the-box asking questions in rapid fire.

  Travis pointed with his gun. “Ladies, I’d like you to meet Eldon Norman, the last brother. We’ve been waiting for him all day.”

  Dottie took a few steps toward the man. “Is he dead?”

  “No,” Roy answered. “I kind of hope he wakes up so I can hit him again. He’s sneaky. I never seen a man move so silently. He’d crossed the cellar and was halfway up the stairs before I even knew he’d come in from the alley.”

  Roy pulled Eldon to his feet as Rangers stormed both the front door and the back stairs. They’d obviously been near, also watching and waiting.

  Rainey stood frozen. It was all over. The nightmare that began when she heard men talking of kidnapping Sage had finally ended. All the outlaws had been caught.

  In all the confusion, Travis moved close to Rainey and asked quietly, “If you ladies have no objections, I’d like to have a few of the men take you back to the Baileys’ house. They’ll stay with you until I get there. I’d like to go with Eldon to jail and see what the man has to say for himself.”

  Rainey nodded. She was ready for a quiet room, a cup of tea, and a real bed. “What about Duck?”

  “He can go with me.” Travis pulled the boy from beneath the table, but when Duck climbed out, he took Rainey’s hand.

  Travis raised an eyebrow. “You want to go with her for a while, son? I should be back at the Baileys’ house before you go to bed.”

  Duck nodded.

  Travis touched the boy’s head as he looked at Rainey. “You don’t mind taking care of him?”

  “Of course not. He can be my guard.” She smiled down at the boy, having a feeling that her pies did more to win him over than anything else.

  They left by the front door for the first time. The air felt cool and fresh. Rainey couldn’t remember how long it had been since she’d taken a deep breath.

  “It’s finally over,” Dottie said. “I’m terribly sorry it happened, but it did get me off the rock I’ve been sitting on for a year and back into living. Nothing like worrying about getting killed to make you wanta live.”

  The Baileys treated them as family when they came in. Mrs. Bailey ordered them both a bath, and Dr. Bailey wanted to take a look at Dottie’s arm as soon as possible. The housekeeper and Dottie kept Duck busy in the kitchen while Rainey took a quick bath and changed into a clean nightgown and robe.

  When Rainey joined them in the kitchen, she heard Duck laugh and it warmed her heart. An hour later when she rocked him by the fire in the tiny sitting room between Travis’s and Sage’s rooms, she hummed softly. “You’re too big to rock,” she whispered, “but thanks for letting me. It’s nice to relax.”

  He looked up and smiled, not at her, but at the man standing in the doorway watching.

  Travis crossed the room without a word and took Duck from her. He knelt and laid the boy in his covers by the fire. “Sleep well,” Travis said as he covered Duck. “You did a great job of doing just like I told you.”

  Duck closed his eyes and Rainey knew that he felt safe for the first time in days.

  They moved away from the boy and into Travis’s bedroom, but he didn’t close the door. “What did you learn?” she whispered.

  “Eldon confessed to killing the barmaid. She drove him to it, he claimed. Seems he’d always been jealous of Seth and her. He couldn’t understand why she’d be upset about his brother’s death when he was standing right in front of her alive.” Travis shook his head. “He wasn’t too bright. It took Dillon less then an hour to have him confessing everything. He told Dillon about jobs his brothers did that the Rangers hadn’t even connected them to yet.”

  Travis leaned against the doorframe and pulled her gently against him. He played with her hair as he talked. “When I left he was claiming he didn’t have anything to do with Mrs. Vivian’s death.”

  “Do you think he’s telling the truth? I could swear I saw a shadow, but I was so tired. Is it possible that Mrs. Vivian really did kill herself.”

  “Looks that way.”

  “And there was no rider for the fourth horse I thought I saw?”

  Travis rubbed his big hands over her shoulders. “Forget about it. Maybe they’d thought Sage would ride without fighting.” He combed his fingers through her curls as if touching her were the most important thing he had to do in the world. “It’s over. You’re safe and we’re finally alone.”

  Rainey glanced to where Duck was sleeping. “Almost alone.”

  Travis smiled. “Almost alone is about as good as it’ll get for the next fifteen years or so.”

  She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “You’ll be a great father for the boy.”

  He returned her kiss with long slow caresses as he molded against her, letting her know of his need for her.

  She didn’t pull away. The feel of him so near seemed right somehow. The warmth of him spread through her, making her feel alive. She felt wanted. For the first time in her life, she felt loved.

  Leaning against him made her smile.

  He kissed the corners of her mouth as his chest pressed lightly into her breasts. When she moaned softly against his ear, his hand moved over her until her breast filled his fingers and he made her moan again in pleasure.

  She circled her arms about his neck and melted against him as he caught her next moan of pleasure in his mouth. His kiss was deep and tender, as his hands slowly moved over her body. The gown and robe did nothing to mask his touch as his hands warmed her and surprised
her with their boldness.

  He shifted and she felt his desire for her press against her abdomen. All the world slipped away as the need for him consumed her. Pulling his mouth down a few inches, she kissed him hard.

  Finally he straightened as if fighting for control. His hands moved over her once more in need, then he shoved her gently away. “Good night, Rainey.”

  She saw it then, a sadness in his brown eyes. “But we’re alone.” She’d slept in his arms through all the danger and fear. Now, finally, when they could relax, he was turning her away.

  Something in the back of her mind said she should be the one walking away, but she couldn’t. She wanted him, all of him.

  “Good night,” he said again and walked her to the door.

  “But . . .” All the old fears came back. The panic that he didn’t care for her, that no one cared for her.

  How could he kiss her like that, hold her so close, and then turn her out of his room?

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered as he held her tight one last time in a hug that was little more than friendly, then let her go.

  Rainey didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t run back and beg to sleep in his bed. It didn’t seem fair to ask him to say he loved her when she knew she wouldn’t be saying it back. They might not marry, but he could still hold her, touch her, make love to her.

  She wanted to bang on his door and make a bargain. She’d sleep with him. She’d be his lover.

  She’d settle for that, she realized. But, deep down, she knew he wouldn’t.

  She climbed the stairs to her room next to Dottie’s and cried herself to sleep.

  The next morning her eyes were puffy and red when she came down late to breakfast. Dottie and the judge were having coffee. When she asked, they told her they’d had breakfast with Travis and Duck before they left.

  Rainey knew she should be happy. Her life would get back to normal now. The Baileys had told her she and Dottie could stay at their home until they found other lodging. Pearl would be waiting to visit tomorrow when Rainey went back to making pies. And Travis . . . where would Travis be in her life? He’d made it plain he didn’t want to be just a lover last night.

  Dottie broke into her thoughts. “The judge and I are going over to the restaurant to collect all the things we left there. Would you like to ride along with us in a few hours? Henry”—she said his name slowly as if using it for the first time—“said he’ll take us out to eat lunch then we might go shopping for something new to wear at Travis’s swearing-in tonight.”

  Rainey looked up. “Travis is accepting the internship?”

  “He told the judge he’d do it for three months, not six, because that’s how long he needs to let his leg completely heal. Travis said after that, he’ll decide between the law and being a Ranger. Henry agreed. Travis will become a lawyer tonight, but the judge won’t sign the license until he’s served his time in court.”

  She had the feeling that Travis was moving on with his life. He’d done his job. He’d kept her safe and now he planned to step out of her life. She knew little about men. Maybe he only said that he loved her to calm her when they were in danger. Maybe he hadn’t wanted her last night no matter how much it seemed like he had.

  Two hours later she sat beside Dottie as they rode in the judge’s buggy toward the restaurant. Rainey didn’t really have anything she cared about collecting from the place, but she wanted to see if any part of the words Travis had written in the dust still remained. They would be proof that somehow, if only for a moment, his love had been real.

  When they pulled up to Dottie’s place, Rainey noticed someone had pulled the boards from the windows.

  “Oh,” Dottie patted Rainey’s hand. “I forgot to tell you. I lost this place in a poker game last night.”

  Rainey remembered hearing Dottie go downstairs late last night, but because she was crying, Rainey didn’t join her for one of their midnight meetings.

  Dottie shook her head. “The winner played a grand game, but when he won the place, he asked that I deed the restaurant over to you.”

  “What?”

  “You need some place to make your pies and this will work perfect. You can even close off most of the front room for a little apartment if you wish.”

  “But I can’t afford—”

  “There is no afford to it. It’s all yours, paid and clear. The judge as my witness, I swear I always pay off on a bet, and I lost the place fair and square.”

  Before Rainey could believe all Dottie was saying, she saw Mamie step out with a broom in her hand and begin sweeping the entry.

  Rainey was out of the buggy and hugging Mamie a moment later.

  Mrs. Vivian’s slave backed away, hiding her smile. “I ain’t no slave anymore. I’m a free woman. A married woman. And if you need me I’ll work for a fair wage for you, but come suppertime, I’m going home to my man.”

  Rainey laughed. “But how?”

  Mamie smiled. “Mrs. Dottie knew I’d run to my man when the trouble started. She got the judge to marry us and to set my price so low from Mrs. Vivian’s estate that I bought my own freedom. That way I’m not beholden to anyone. Then she found me before dawn and told me what a cleaning this place would need if you was going to take over today.”

  The idea of her own place was starting to settle into Rainey’s brain. “I’d love to have you help me make pies, and maybe we can make some of your wonderful bread and sell it as well. Wait till you see the size of the ovens.”

  “I already cleaned them first thing. Mr. Travis said he wanted them ready for a shipment of wood and coal that’ll be here directly.”

  Travis. Rainey should have known he’d be at the bottom of this. She turned to Dottie. “Just out of curiosity, who’d you lose this place to last night?”

  Dottie laughed. “Your Ranger. I found him in the kitchen when I went down for my midnight snack. You know, for a man who claims he doesn’t like to play cards, he sure had some great hands last night.”

  Travis walked out of the restaurant. His sleeves were rolled up and his shirt spotted with sawdust. “I thought I’d have everything ready by the time you got here, but Duck decided to help me.”

  He reached in his pocket and handed her a set of keys. “This is yours, Rainey. All yours. The judge and I made sure that it will stay in your name even if you marry, and all the profits will be yours alone to do with as you please.”

  Before she could say more, he reached for a box Duck carried out and pulled out a shiny new gun. “This is yours, also. If you don’t know how to shoot, I’ll teach you.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb and whispered, “No one will every make you feel helpless or in danger again.”

  Rainey stared at him, not believing what she was hearing.

  “And one more thing, I found that horse you borrowed. I really don’t want him back. He’s become a town horse, you know, and they don’t mix well with the ranch horses. So, after seeing how you ride, I figured I’d save the horse some confusion and have him hitched to a buggy. Now you can make your deliveries, and if you decide to run, you’ll have a good horse and room to pack everything you value.”

  “What are you doing, Travis?” She could hardly believe all he’d given her.

  “I’m making it where, if I ever decide to ask you to marry me again, you won’t say no for all the wrong reasons. You’ll never have to worry about being worthless or losing all you have to a husband. You’ll be able to take care of yourself, protect yourself. You’ll even be able to run if you decide to.”

  He lowered his voice, but he knew everyone was still listening. “The next time I ask you to marry me, say no only if you don’t love me.”

  “Fair enough,” she answered. “But I’ll pay you back for the horse. A dollar a month.”

  “Fair enough,” he answered.

  Dottie had been quiet long enough. “I’d like to see what changes you plan for my old place.”

  They toured the small restaurant as if they h
adn’t spent two days in it. Mamie had spent the morning cleaning and had several ideas for where things should go.

  When Rainey finally got Dottie off by herself, she whispered. “How could you do this, Dottie? What about the ghost of Henry being here?”

  Dottie laughed. “He’s the one who told me to get rid of it. I’d never do anything with the place and you will.” She waved at the judge. “I’ve got other plans.”

  Rainey thanked everyone, even Duck, who’d sawed one of the legs off a table in his attempt to help. Dottie asked her to go to lunch, but she refused. She wanted to stay and work with Travis and Mamie.

  They spent the afternoon getting everything ready to begin baking the following morning. Owen delivered supplies and helped Travis stack them on shelves he’d built across the door leading to the cellar. The saloon could have the cellar; Rainey would have her safety knowing that there was only one way to come into her store.

  The last thing she did was watch Travis hold Duck high as he hung a huge bell over the front door.

  As she locked up, she handed Mamie the spare key. “I’ll meet you here at eight tomorrow, but you’ll need this in case you make it here first.”

  Mamie stared at the key. “What do I do if I’m first?”

  Rainey shrugged. “Let yourself in and make the coffee.”

  “But you don’t drink coffee.”

  “I know, it’d be for you. Unless, you’d rather have tea.”

  Mamie slipped the key into her apron pocket. “I’ll make me a pot of coffee if I’m here before you. Then I’ll have me a seat and think about what needs doing until you get here.”

  Rainey nodded. “That sounds good. If I’m first, I’ll do the same.”

  Mamie turned toward the blacksmith’s shop and walked away with her head high.

  Rainey took Duck’s hand and walked to where her horse and little buggy were tied. When she glanced back, she noticed Travis standing watching her. “Would you like a ride, Mr. McMurray? We’ve not much time to get ready for your ceremony tonight.”