The Staying Kind

by Cerian Hebert

  Rio couldn’t find it in herself say no. And honestly, she didn’t want to. As scared as she was at making that kind of commitment, she had to acknowledge the fact she already had. Long ago when she accepted Sadie’s offer to ride Dante. When she had made love to Travis for the first time.

  She was in up to her eyebrows.

  “Fine. I’ll stay.”

  Sadie’s smile broadened and she pulled Rio into a warm hug. “Of course you will. I didn’t have any doubts.”

  Chapter 22

  Rio whispered goodnight to Carla and Sadie and tiptoed down to her room. The house was as quiet as the famous Christmas poem, although the three of them had stirred enough to crawl into bed.

  Leaving the light off, Rio closed the door and let loose the yawn she’d been holding in for the past half hour. Opening her eyes, she stared through the pale moonlight at the bed. Disappointment slid through her. She’d been half expecting, half hoping Travis would be waiting for her under the covers.

  There were certain rules of etiquette they agreed to. Sleeping together under Sadie’s roof, especially when most of his family were practically in the next room, was number one on the list of things to avoid doing.

  That hadn’t stopped him from holding her hand under the table after dessert, or kissing her before she left for church. Those few touches remained with her, simmering in her heart, tiding her over until there could be more.

  Silently she removed her clothes and slipped the warm flannel nightgown over her head, then pulled back the blankets on the old spindle bed. She was about to slide in when a small, flat package stopped her. Quickly she switched on the bedside light and picked up the box. It was lightweight and beautifully wrapped in silver, green, and red paper with a matching bow made from silk ribbons. Almost too perfect to unwrap.

  There was no card with it. She didn’t need a card to realize who had sneaked it under the covers. Clever man. Rio couldn’t hold back her smile. He sure knew how to surprise a girl.

  Carefully, unwilling to ruin the ribbon, she slid it off the box and placed it on the table, then pulled the taped edge of the paper enough to reveal a black velvet box, about half the size of her hand.

  Holding her breath, she opened the lid. Nestled in a satin bed was a sterling silver horse pendent on a beautiful twisted silver chain. The horse was leaping, as if over a fence. A tiny rider poised over the horse’s neck. Her and Dante?

  Such a perfect gift. She didn’t understand why he didn’t give it to her in the morning when all the other gifts were to be exchanged. Maybe because it was so special and he didn’t want to share it with the world yet.

  She removed the necklace from the box and clasped it around her neck so the horse rested against her breastbone.

  It was too late to thank him, so Rio crawled into bed and curled on her side. In the morning she’d thank him plenty.

  Travis couldn’t stop grinning. He felt like he was about fifteen and his first crush had just kissed him. Of course Rio was nothing like Barby Hobson, his actual first crush. No, his Rio wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met before or was likely to meet again.

  This morning she came downstairs, a huge smile lighting up her face and ready to head out into the barn, even before Sadie had dressed, which was unheard of at Cobble Creek. A silver chain peeked out from her sweater. The horse necklace he’d left for her. He could see it in her fascinating leaf-green eyes that sparkled as she wished everyone Merry Christmas.

  As soon as they were out in the barn, Travis grabbed Rio around the waist from behind and lifted her off her feet.

  “I love you,” he said and nuzzled a kiss on her neck.

  Rio laughed. “You’re crazy! Sadie will kick us out of here for scaring the horses.”

  Travis set her down. “No she won’t. She’ll tell us it’s about time.”

  Rio turned to face him, a smile of pure contentment on her face. “It’s about time for what?”

  As she gazed at him, the love evident on her face, Travis dropped to one knee, uncaring if the concrete was freezing against his jeans-clad legs. The discomfort was well worth what could be the most important moment of his life, with the exception of the birth of his daughter.

  He took one of Rio’s gloved hands and grinned as her eyes grew wide. The smile faded from her face. While she didn’t pull her hand from his, there was a second when he thought she’d run.

  From his jacket pocket he withdrew the box he’d put in there last night.

  “Travis.” Her voice was barely a whisper. Her hand, tucked inside his grip, trembled. He squeezed her fingers, then released her so he could open the box.

  Rio’s soft intake of breath assured him the ring met with her approval. It wasn’t anything fancy. The carat-and-a-half square cut diamond had two half-carat diamonds on each side, set into a simple gold band. It had belonged to Sadie’s mother.

  Before Sadie had left for church the night before, she had approached Travis with the box.

  “You’re in love, dear. And Rio loves you too. I want you to have this. I never had a chance to make use of it, and I have no regrets. But you, well . . . My parents had over seventy years of happiness. I think you and that girl of yours could give each other some of the same joy.”

  So, here he was, ready to give Rio everything he had.

  “Marry me, Rio. Please? We haven’t had much time together, but I think we know each other as well as anyone could. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You won’t ever have a reason to search for anything else in your life.”

  Rio’s eyes were glued on his, wide, scared, yet full of love and hope. “What about Jessa?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I talked to her last night after you left for church. She loves the idea. Really.”

  “Oh, my God, Travis,” Rio whispered. “My life up to now has been a disaster. I don’t feel like I’m worth enough to be here half the time. How can I live up to being your wife?”

  Travis squeezed her hand again. “Shh. It has not been a disaster. Since leaving your mother you have lived more courageously than nearly any other person I’ve had the honor of knowing. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Marry me, Rio. Please. I can’t imagine my life without you. I want to be by your side for all the wonderful things that are waiting for you.”

  A smile bloomed across her face as a tear escaped the corner of her eye and trailed down her cheek. She swiped it away, not taking her gaze off him. Slowly she nodded, her smile trembling. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I still think you’re crazy and you’ll probably regret it, but yes. I love you and I would be honored to be your wife.”

  Travis pulled off her glove, removed the ring from its velvet nest and slipped it on her finger. A perfect fit.

  Then he stood and wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you,” he murmured against her hair before seeking out her lips.

  “Okay, kids. These horses aren’t going to feed themselves.”

  Travis grinned, pulled away from the kiss he had begun, and looked over Rio’s shoulder at Sadie, who stood in the door, a smile lighting her whole face. He held up Rio’s left hand. “She said yes.”

  “Of course she did.” Sadie strode down the aisle and caught them both in her embrace. “I told you she was a keeper.”

  The three of them dealt with feeding the horses before heading to the house and a celebratory breakfast. Carla and Todd were both pleased and the only thing to put a damper on the day was the lack of Jessa’s company. Travis could only accept her word that she’d been enjoying her visit with her mother, but couldn’t wait to be home.

  The day seemed to fly by in a flurry of colorful wrapping paper, snacks, festive music and kids playing with toys. Travis sat on the couch, Rio nestled against him, loving the way she gazed at her ring. The difference between her now, and the way she’d been when they first
met, amazed him. The Rio who stood at the door to the tiny rental cabin, drenched to her skin, trying to pretend she had a key to the place. The woman who had stuffed everything she owned into one old, tattered backpack. That woman was long gone.

  Tiny remnants of that former Rio peeked out now and then. The uncertainty, how a few times she’d teetered on the verge of flight when something she didn’t think she could deal with came at her.

  Together they could change that, too.

  After the traditional turkey dinner, Carla and her family hugged everyone goodbye and took their leave.

  “Now, I expect you two don’t want an old woman around.” Sadie patted Travis on the cheek. “Why don’t you go to Shadow Oak and enjoy your engagement? When the holidays are over and Jessa comes home, there’ll be precious little privacy for you both.”

  Rio frowned. She slid her arm around Travis’s waist. “I hate to leave you alone on Christmas night.”

  Sadie waved her hand. “Never mind. I’m going to keep up my own tradition and spend a few hours with some friends. Don’t worry about me. Now head home.”

  Rio pulled away from Travis and moved to hug Sadie. “Thank you for today. And last night. I love you, Sadie.”

  “Oh child, I love you too. You’ll make a fine addition to the family.”

  Travis helped Rio gather her stuff and they made the short trip to Shadow Oak in silence. The moon glittered against the snow. He’d never paid much attention to those things. With Rio next to him, her fingers intertwined with his, a whole new world emerged and he was eager to take it all in.

  As soon as they closed the door behind them at Shadow Oak, Travis took her hand and silently led her upstairs to his room. No, to their room.

  What a nice ring that had.

  The sound of the phone jarred Travis out of sleep. Carefully, he dislodged his arm from around Rio’s body and rolled over. Through blurry eyes, he gave the clock a quick glimpse. Barely three a.m. Not a good sign. He grabbed the phone, praying it wouldn’t have anything to do with Jessa.

  The voice on the other end belonged to Oscar Radcliffe, his second in command. “Sorry to bother you. We received a call in from your aunt’s place. It’s bad. There was a break-in. I think you should get over there.”

  A cold fist hit him straight in the gut. He pushed it aside. “I’ll be right there.”

  Before Oscar could respond, Travis hung up and scooped up the clothes he discarded on the chair the night before.

  “What’s wrong?” Rio murmured sleepily.

  “Didn’t mean to wake you. There was a break-in. Need to go.” Right now he didn’t want to fill her in on all the details or Sadie’s involvement. No need for her to worry unless there was something to be concerned about.

  “Go to sleep. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

  “Okay. Be safe. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Travis bent over and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She sighed contentedly.

  The red lights strobing through the night filled Travis with more dread as he pulled into the Cobble Creek drive. They blended in with the blues from two of the town cruisers. An ambulance. He didn’t expect that—

  Dread and urgency pressed against his chest.

  “Where is she?”

  Oscar, shoulders slumped, met Travis in the middle of the yard. “She’s still inside. She was assaulted during the break-in. Must have walked in on it. She got in a shot at one of them before they knocked her out. They beat her up pretty bad, Trav.”

  As Oscar spoke, two EMTs came through the front door, Sadie strapped down to a gurney. Her face was an ugly array of red, both from bruises and blood.

  “Dear God,” he muttered. “How is she?”

  “Unconscious. Lots of bleeding from a laceration to the back of the head and at least two to the side. Busted arm.”

  “Who the hell?”

  “One suspect inside. Another got away.”

  Travis watched as Sadie was loaded into the ambulance, torn as to what to do next. He was Sadie’s closest relative, he needed to be with her, but a strong need to stay tugged at him relentlessly, to go into the house and confront the suspect. Find out what the hell happened. He pushed a hand through his hair, then balled it into a fist.

  Oscar glanced down at Travis’s hand. “Trav, go with your aunt. Let me handle this. We’ll book the suspect into the station. When things are settled at the hospital, call Carla and have her come down for Sadie. Right now, your aunt needs you.”

  Travis nodded. “Call me as soon as you hear anything and I’ll be back when Carla arrives. Oh, damn. Rio. I need to tell her. She’s coming over to feed the horses in a few hours.”

  When Oscar frowned, Travis clarified. “Yeah, she usually stays in the apartment over the barn, but she stayed over at my place last night.” He sighed. “It’s not common knowledge that we’ve been seeing each other for a while now. I don’t have time to explain my love life to you. I do have to give her a heads up.”

  “No, it’s not that. The suspect, Travis, she identified herself as Katrina Presley. Rio’s mother. I thought, well . . . since Rio wasn’t around, she might be involved.”

  The information was like a slug straight to Travis’s gut, followed by a kick in the ass. “You’re kidding me. Tell me you’re kidding me.”

  “Wish I could, man. Doesn’t change anything. Get your ass to the hospital. We’ll iron out the rest of this shit later.”

  Oscar was right. Travis needed to be with Sadie. As soon as he felt she was comfortable and Carla was able to sit with her, then he’d sure as hell have a few words with Katrina Presley.

  Rio’s phone woke her up five minutes before the alarm should’ve gone off. Disoriented, it took her a moment before she remembered she was in Travis’s bed and not her own. Travis hadn’t come back after his early morning call. A break-in. This would be a frequent occurrence, she supposed sleepily, and reached for her phone. Probably most policemen’s wives woke up alone at one time or another.

  Wife. The word sent a curl of warmth through her body.

  “Hello?”

  “Rio, it’s Travis.”

  The warmth spread, heated up. “Hi. I miss you.”

  “I miss you too. But I have to tell you something, and you need to listen closely.”

  The warmth immediately evaporated, replaced by an icy feeling of dread. This is it. Her happiness was going to be short lived. She fingered the ring he gave her.

  “Okay. I’m listening.”

  “The break-in happened at Sadie’s.”

  “Oh my God. I’ll be right over. Is she okay?” Rio leapt off the bed and searched around for her clothes.

  “Rio, honey, listen. Sadie’s in the hospital. Carla is with her now. She got beat up pretty badly.”

  “Oh God, Travis. I should have been there. Is she going to be okay? Please say yes. Do you have who did it?”

  The pause on the other end of the line chilled her even more. Why wasn’t he saying anything? “Travis?”

  “We have one person. She was hurt, knocked out, but she’s in custody.”

  “Thank God. Only one? How many people were involved?”

  “We think three. Rio, you need to take a breath. Honey, the person we have in custody is your mother.”

  Rio sank down on the bed as if she’d been shoved hard. “No.”

  Another pause. “Yes. I’m sorry. I wish I could say differently.”

  “But she . . . I never told Storm where I lived. Oh, God! Storm! He had to be involved.” Rio’s heart crumbled in her chest. The new life she’d been building with Travis . . . she knew her mother would try to destroy it. If only I’d left when I had a chance, none of this would have happened.

  This was no random crime. Sadie’s home had been targeted bec
ause of her. No one could deny it.

  “We don’t know that yet. Your mother isn’t talking. She wasn’t alone in the house. We also know someone, not Sadie, a male, called the police. Whether it was the same person who . . . who attacked Sadie, we’re not sure. It’s unlikely though.”

  “Damned unlikely.” Nausea churned in Rio’s belly. It had to have been Storm who attacked Sadie. The baby brother she had loved so dearly growing up. He did this despicable thing. “What do I do, Travis?” She didn’t like to feel so weak, so powerless. She couldn’t seem to summon any strength. “The horses. I have to feed them, clean the stalls.”

  “No, two of Sadie’s boarders are coming over to take care of the barn. Rio, I’m sending one of my officers to pick you up and bring you to Sadie. She’ll need you.”

  The sick panic rose into her throat. “No, I can’t. This is all my fault, Travis, I couldn’t bear to see what my mother did to her. Sadie will hate me. How can I face her?”

  “She couldn’t hate you. Rio, she loves you. You’re like a daughter to her. She won’t blame you for this.” Travis’s voice had gentled, soothing her unraveling nerves.

  She didn’t necessarily doubt him, but why would anyone feel that way?

  “I’ll send Todd over to pick you up.”

  “Okay.” What choice did she have? Run and hide? No, if Sadie needed her then she’d be at her side. She’d do anything in the world for that woman. Sadie had saved her.

  And look how you pay her back.

  “Okay. Rio, I love you. I’ll be there when I can.”

  “I love you too. One thing though. Can I talk to her?”