“Why did you shoot your rifle?” Her question wasn’t more than a whisper.
Travis ran his hand over his face. He swayed toward her slightly, and his hold on her arm increased again. His mouth opened, and he hesitated. A weak laugh escaped his lips.
“Josie, I need you to marry me.”
Josie stared at Travis. Their eyes locked. His were wide with a hint of dread and hope. The uncertainty she witnessed was so unlike the self-assured and confident Travis Wilder she knew. Her mouth dropped open slightly, and her breath caught in her throat. A sheen of perspiration appeared on his forehead, and even trickled down the side of his face. He seemed not to notice as his eyes remained glued to her.
Josie’s heart sped up once again. She shook her head slightly. He was drunk. Whatever nonsense had gotten into his head, it was due to the whiskey. She laughed. There was no other way to respond.
“What? I . . . no. What’s gotten into you?”
Josie pulled her arm away so he would release her and took a step back. Travis nearly lunged for her. His hand wrapped around her arm again, but he immediately seemed to catch himself and let go.
“I’m in trouble, Josie. I need your help.” There seemed to be so much more he wanted to say to her, and the pain in his eyes as he spoke was clearly evident.
Josie’s forehead scrunched with incomprehension. “You need my help by marrying you?”
He nodded, and a smile lit up his face. There was even relief in his gaze, and his shoulders visibly dropped as if he was relieved that she understood. But she didn’t. What he’d said was even more confusing.
Travis ran his hand over his face again, then leaned toward her. He looked almost apologetic. “I know you and . . . you and Hammond . . . I know the two of you are sweet on each other, and I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.” He hesitated before adding, “We don’t have to stay married long, only until we reach Independence.”
A hint of annoyance erupted in her.
“Travis Wilder, you’re making absolutely no sense. I think you need to sleep off the alcohol, and in the morning you’ll be able to think clearly again.”
She moved to turn as her irritation grew. Some small part way in the back of her mind had ignited with a spark of hope that he was actually proposing marriage. It seemed silly even as she thought it. She had no intention of ever getting married, and neither did Travis. A gentle hold on her arm stopped her from walking away. She turned to face him again.
“I may be drunk, Josie, but my mind’s never been clearer.”
He took a step closer, close enough for their bodies to touch. The intensity of his eyes staring into hers took her breath away. Was she scared or excited? She’d never had these feelings for a man before. Having Travis close was almost like when he’d held and protected her earlier today from the storm. She yearned for more of that feeling of safety with him.
Not a second later, Travis let go and took an abrupt step back. He gritted his teeth and ran his fingers through his hair. When their eyes met again, there was a sudden sense of anger on his face.
“I need your help, Josie,” he rasped. “I need you to marry me.” He scoffed, almost in desperation. “I think we both know that you have nothing to be afraid of from me. I’ll never lay a hand on you. I’m the perfect husband for you. I’m only asking until we reach Independence, and then we can get the marriage dissolved.”
Nothing was making sense anymore. Should she be angry or laugh at his ludicrous proposal? He seemed serious. For days, her impression of him had changed, but now? He was right back to being the incorrigible man she’d always known.
Travis was right about one thing. He was familiar. He was safe. She blinked. Where had that thought come from all of a sudden? He was the safest man she could ever marry, other than Harley, and that was even more absurd. The strangest thing was that she’d started caring for – even liking – Travis and seeing him in a new light.
Which was the real Travis Wilder? The one who’d held and protected her and saved young children, or this man who arrogantly thought she’d do something as outlandish as marry him on a whim?
“I don’t understand, Travis. What kind of trouble are you in, and how is getting married going to help you?”
Travis paced in front of her. He didn’t look at her for several seconds. When he did, his eyes looked repentant as if he’d committed a crime.
“Apparently, I made a bet that if I could hit the ace of hearts with one shot, my prize was to marry Eli Dansforth’s daughter.”
Josie’s eyes widened. Travis was an expert marksman. Of course he would know that he could make such a shot, even with whiskey in his system. Words failed her.
Travis scoffed. “I have no intention of getting hitched to a woman I’ve never met. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Tell him you didn’t mean it,” she offered. Wouldn’t that be the most logical thing to do?
Travis shook his head and glared at her as if she was daft. “He’ll call me a lying cheat for backing out of a bet, and I don’t want to have to kill a man for that.”
Josie studied him as he paced. Travis truly believed he was in a life-or-death dilemma. He was right when he worried that a gunfight would result in the other man losing his life. Perhaps once he was sober again, he’d see things differently, and this entire situation could be worked out rationally.
His next words sent the blood rushing through her again as her heart slammed against her ribs.
“I told Dansforth that I had a sweetheart, and that you and I planned to get married . . . tomorrow morning. He’s holding me to it because he thinks I’m lying, so he wants proof.”
“You did lie to him, Travis.” The words were out before she could stop them. Her body trembled with anger. Exactly what, though, was she angry about? She’d seen Harley say and do irrational things after he’d been drinking.
She owed Travis something. He’d saved her life twice today. What harm was there in pretending that she’d marry him? They could simply say they were going to wait until the journey was over. Once everyone arrived in Independence, they would all be going their separate ways, and Travis wouldn’t have to deal with Eli Dansforth again.
Travis stepped closer. His hand came up to touch her cheek. The caress was soft and tender, and her eyes blurred until she blinked away the built-up moisture. What might things be like if he wasn’t drunk? Travis leaned slightly forward, his breath warm against her cheek.
“Maybe I wasn’t lying, Josie.” His words sent a shiver of longing down her spine. “Maybe I’ve thought about you more than you’ll ever know and wished what I’d said to Dansforth was the truth. Maybe I was thinking I’d be honored if you were my sweetheart and not Hammond’s.”
Travis paused for a brief second. She opened her mouth to object to what he’d said, but her breath caught in her throat at his final words. “Maybe I’m in love with you, Josie Hudson.”
Chapter 15
Travis rubbed his throbbing temples. He groaned and rolled over, pulling his blanket around his sore muscles that rebelled against the movement. When he leaned on his shoulder, an involuntary gasp reminded him of the trauma he endured the previous day and brought him fully awake. Was there any part on his body that didn’t hurt or burn with pain?
His back hurt due to the countless cuts and scrapes he’d received during the dust storm. His head pounded because he’d gotten drunk . . . and . . . Travis groaned again.
He’d asked Josie to marry him. Worse than that, he’d told her that he loved her.
Travis cursed. Everything from the night before came rushing back. He’d made one hell of a mess of things. Asking Josie to help him out of his predicament with Eli Dansforth was one thing, but telling her he loved her?
She’d rushed off into the darkness in response to his confession, and the stunned, almost panicked look in her eyes had haunted him for hours until he’d finally fallen asleep.
That look when he’d said he loved her was all he needed for him to kn
ow she’d never agree to marry him. She’d panicked and run back to camp, leaving him standing in the dark. She would never know he meant every word of what he’d said, but as soon as possible, he’d set her mind at ease about it.
Travis laughed at the irony. She’d called him a liar last night and hadn’t believed his profession of love. It was probably better that way, but he’d been completely truthful. He’d spilled his heart to her without meaning to. She wasn’t supposed to know that he had feelings for her. All he could do now was blame the whiskey.
Anthony Hammond was the man she wanted. He was mild-mannered and no doubt made her feel safe. He was the perfect choice for her.
Travis raked his fingers through his hair. Around him, the sounds of people moving about, starting cooking fires, and getting ready to break camp became louder. After yesterday, the families should be well rested and eager to get back on the trail.
Spirits had certainly been a lot higher last evening during the feast the women had prepared. Josie had been correct when she’d called for a day of rest. He should have stayed around and socialized with Loretta Colby and Ada Hammond rather than walking off to sulk about Josie and Anthony. He wouldn’t have gotten himself drunk and into the fix he was in now.
With a groan, Travis struggled to his feet and stretched. His mind was clear again, but the aftermath of the alcohol remained. He needed a strong cup of coffee this morning for sure. Then he’d have to work out how to get himself out of the mess he’d created with Dansforth. If he recalled correctly, the man had threatened to shoot him if he didn’t honor the terms of the bet he’d supposedly made to marry his daughter.
Dansforth seemed to have backed off after Travis had insisted he’d meant he would marry his sweetheart, not Dansforth’s daughter. Once the man found out that Travis didn’t have a sweetheart, he’d call him out on the bet. The man was too eager to marry off one of his daughters to let this go as a simple misunderstanding.
If only he could recall exactly what he’d said. If he had, in fact, said he’d get married if he could hit the ace of hearts, he certainly hadn’t meant to Dansforth’s daughter. Travis’ mind had been on nothing but Josie all evening. She’d been the reason he’d sought solace in a bottle in the first place.
Whenever Harley had started his crazy talk about marriage and how his boys needed to find wives, Travis had always scoffed at the idea. He’d adamantly maintained that he wanted no part in it. Being tied down to a wife had never been his idea of what his life ought to be about.
As the years had passed, he’d watched his brothers get married one after the other, and they were genuinely happy. The biggest shock had come when Lucas Walker, the friend he could always count on for an adventure in the mountains, had settled down with a wife, as well.
Still, the idea that he’d ever marry had been absurd, until recently. He wasn’t completely warm to the notion of a wife, but if he had to get married, the only woman he would consider was Josie. His feelings for her had changed so abruptly, he’d never seen it coming. Travis stopped and stared at nothing in particular.
Josie had gotten under his skin from the moment she’d first arrived at Harley’s Hole. He’d always passed it off as competition between them, but what if it had been something else entirely? He’d always seemed to be preoccupied with thoughts of her, even if he thought of her as a pesky and annoying female who stole Harley’s attention.
His troubles had really started now that his eyes had finally opened to seeing Josie as a desirable woman and someone with whom to share in his adventures in the mountains. His jealousy had shifted to Anthony Hammond, and it had driven him to seek escape in a bottle of whiskey. It might be impossible to get out of the hole he’d dug.
When the truth came out, Dansforth would insist Travis marry his daughter, whether willingly or at gunpoint. Travis shook his head. Hell would freeze over before he married some unknown and faceless woman. Somehow, he’d have to make things right with Dansforth in a way that wouldn’t include having to shoot the man in self-defense.
He reached for his blanket and shook out the dust, then rolled it and tied it to the back of his saddle. Might as well get the day started and the wagons moving. It might be a long day today. The one person he dreaded facing the most was Josie. Nothing came to mind that he would say to her. No doubt she’d probably try to avoid him.
After a quick detour to the lake to splash some water on his face, he strode into camp. The aroma of coffee and bacon frying was in the air. This morning was really no different than any other. The women all smiled and waved to him as he walked past. Some offered breakfast and coffee, but he declined. It was best to get the conversation with Josie out of the way first thing, so he headed for the Hammond wagon.
He hadn’t made it halfway through camp when a loud voice called his name. Travis froze. He gritted his teeth, then slowly turned to face Eli Dansforth coming out from behind his wagon like a bull bison ready to charge. For a second it even looked like there was steam coming from the man’s nostrils.
“I hope you’re headed to see the preacher for your wedding, Wilder,” Dansforth called loudly.
It sounded as if the man was still slightly drunk. That made him dangerous and unpredictable.
“As a matter of fact, I am on my way to the Hammond wagon.”
Travis gripped his rifle. His eyes fell to the man’s hand at his side, close to his six-shooter. He gritted his teeth. If Dansforth decided to start shooting in the middle of camp, he could hit one of the women or children. Travis strode toward the irate man. Around him, the murmur of women standing nearby grew louder.
“Don’t make a scene, Dansforth. If you’re mad at me, we’ll settle this away from camp. I don’t want any of these people getting hurt.”
“The only one who’s gonna get hurt is you if you’ve cheated and lied to me, Wilder.”
Travis stopped a couple of feet in front of the ruddy-faced man. He eyed him squarely.
“I didn’t cheat, and I don’t much appreciate that you’re suggesting I am.” His voice was low and firm as he faced the older man. “Truth is, I don’t remember what kind of bet I made, but I know without fail that if I said I’d get married if I could hit the ace of hearts on my first shot, I wasn’t referring to marrying your daughter.” He laughed. “I just met you yesterday, Dansforth, and I don’t even know your daughter’s name.”
Dansforth frowned for a moment, then advanced on Travis. “You’re just trying to back out of marrying my girl. It’s your word against mine that you said you’d take Rosie to wife. If you’re telling the truth about getting hitched to someone else today, where is she? And when’s the wedding? If you’ve lied to me, you’re either getting a bullet in your heart, or you’ll wed my daughter.”
Dansforth’s attitude didn’t make marrying his daughter any more appealing. If he was so eager to get rid of her that he’d be willing to shoot someone, maybe the woman had some serious flaws. Not someone Travis wanted to bring back to Harley’s Hole.
Travis ran his hand over his face as his headache increased. There was no reasoning with this man. Dansforth had it in his head that Travis had agreed to marry his daughter. . . Rosie? That could easily be mistaken for Josie, but Dansforth wouldn’t see it. The man was so eager to be rid of one of his girls that it didn’t matter how he accomplished handing them over to the first willing – or unwilling – man.
“May I ask what is going on here and what the disagreement seems to be about? Surely, whatever it is can be settled without the threat of violence.”
Travis glanced over his shoulder. He groaned for the third time that morning. Anthony Hammond was coming toward them. Hammond was the last person he wanted mixed up in this mess.
Dansforth wasted no time. He pointed at Travis with a gleam of triumph in his eyes. “Hammond, your scout is a liar and a cheat. We had an agreement last night and now he’s trying to back out.” He paused, then sneered. “Unless you can tell me that you were going to wed him to a woman he claims he’
s marrying today.”
Hammond looked from Dansforth to Travis with confusion in his eyes. “Travis, is there something you wanted to –”
“There you are, Travis. Why are you trying to get into a fight with someone on our wedding day? When are you going to learn to stop being so impulsive? Sometimes you have the sense of a headless mule.”
Everyone turned at once. Josie strode past the women who had gathered around to see what all the commotion was about. She headed straight for Travis. The glare in her eyes would put her sister Cora to shame.
Travis stared with furrowed brows. An overwhelming sense of elation consumed his entire body. Josie? Was she coming to his rescue? She’d said it was her wedding day. Did that mean –?
She came to a stop directly in front of him, gripping her rifle in her right hand. The glare in her eyes hadn’t wavered. Travis’ lips twitched. He couldn’t hold back a grin much longer. Quiet and meek little Josie was displaying what she was truly made of. Pride and love for her swelled in his chest. The moment his lips widened in a smile, she directed her attention to Dansforth, and then Hammond.
“Anthony, I was looking for you, too. I meant to ask you if you could perform a wedding later today.” She paused, darting a quick glance at Travis. “Travis and I decided to get married. He asked me yesterday, and it was getting too late last evening to bring it up.”
Travis stepped up next to Josie and reached for her hand. She instantly stiffened when he touched her but seemed to remember her role and relaxed enough to slip her hand in his.
Travis kept his eyes on Hammond for a reaction. They widened when Hammond smiled. That was hardly the response he’d anticipated from a man whose sweetheart had just announced she was marrying someone else.
“This comes as a surprise, but I always knew the two of you were perfect for each other. Of course, I’d be honored to join you in marriage.”
Josie nodded. She turned to Dansforth after tugging her hand away from Travis and held it out to him. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Josie Hudson, Travis Wilder’s betrothed.”
Josie's Valor Page 13
