Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming (19 page)

Angel frowned, not sure how to respond. Sit next to Travis? He was
Libby’s
brother. “Why? I can ride in the back with James.”

“I’d like to, if you don’t mind. I haven’t had much time with my son the past few days, and I’d appreciate being able to chat with him.”

“How about Grandmother? She should sit up front, not me. I can stay home and go in a couple of weeks when the reverend comes back to town—“ Her voice broke on the last note.

“Maria told me she’s tired and decided to spend the morning resting.”

“Tired?” Alarm surged through Angel’s heart. “Is she ill?”

Libby shook her head. “She’s fine. She didn’t sleep well last night. Even if you stayed home, she’d probably doze for the next couple of hours. Smokey will keep an eye on her.” She gripped Angel’s arm and urged her forward. “Come now, climb up. Travis will be out any minute.”

At that moment James and Travis exited the house, their boots clomping on the wood planks as they made their way toward the steps. “Hey, Ma!” James waved at his mother and grinned. “Can I sit with Miss Angel?”

Libby waited until they approached before she answered. “No, Son. You can sit in the back and visit with your mother. Miss Angel is sitting up front with your uncle.”

Angel glanced at Travis, wondering what he might think, but only a brief flash of surprise crossed his features. He quickly masked the emotion and nodded, reached out a hand, and took her arm. “Here, let me help you up.”

Angel felt a rush of relief. She’d never tried to navigate in a skirt with so much material before—or any type of dress, for that matter— and had no idea how she’d keep from stepping on the hem and falling. She settled onto the padded cushion with a sigh. “What a nice buggy.”

Libby answered from her place in the back where she’d climbed without assistance. “Yes. Travis purchased it right after I arrived at the ranch. All he had before was a rickety buckboard that jarred your teeth on every little bump in the road. And this isn’t a bit hard to drive, either.”

James piped up from beside his mother. “Yeah. Uncle Travis is going to teach me to drive soon. Can I ride up front with you on the way back and try?”

Travis picked up the reins and glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll see how it goes, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to have your first lesson with other people onboard.”

“Ah, tarnation. I gotta learn sometime!”

“James!” Libby’s tone was shocked. “I will not have you using that kind of language. Do I need to send you to your room without supper when we return home?”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“No, ma’am. I’m sorry.” James’s words barely connected with Angel’s ears.

The next mile or so rolled by in silence. Occasionally Travis’s arm brushed hers as he tugged on the reins, creating a deep sense of awareness in Angel. He looked handsome in his gray trousers and white shirt partly covered by a buttoned-up vest. The light scent of cologne wafted from his clean-shaven face. He gazed straight ahead and the muscles in his forearms rippled beneath the fabric of his shirt. Her hands grew moist. She rubbed them on her skirt, then yanked them away, realizing what she’d done. Why hadn’t she insisted on sitting in the back with Libby? The nearness of this man disturbed her more than she could account for.

She turned her attention to her surroundings, working to rein in her physical response to Travis. The vast grassy fields disappeared, and they entered a more rugged, heavily treed area. Ridges and rock outcroppings grew more frequent as they drove parallel to a line of mountains.

“How long since you’ve been to a church service?” Travis asked, then clucked to his team as they entered a straight stretch of road.

Angel tipped her head toward him. “I’ve never been to church before. Or I guess I should say, not that I can remember. I think my parents took me when I was very young.”

Travis cocked his head toward her. “I had no idea. I just assumed—“

She shrugged. “We lived a long ways from town, and there was no church nearby.” Angel bit her lip—that much was true. He didn’t need to know that church wasn’t something anyone in the outlaw camp thought of. A couple of the Mexican women had a Catholic background, but they weren’t devout. No one else had seemed to care.

“So, where exactly did you grow up?” His tone was curious.

Angel hesitated, gripping the side rail as the buggy rattled over a rough patch of ground. A hard jolt threw her against Travis and he reached out to steady her, clasping her arm. A pleasant shock traveled through her body. She liked the feel of his strong grip, and she stifled disappointment when he moved away.

Travis slowed the team from a trot back to a walk. “Sorry. I don’t usually rush through here. Guess I wasn’t paying enough attention.”

Angel nodded. “Speaking of growing up, have you lived in the West all your life? I know your sister is from San Francisco.” She spoke in a rush, hoping he’d forget his own question and move on to hers.

He opened his mouth, then scowled. They traveled a few minutes without speaking. “I was raised in St. Louis, as was Libby. She moved to San Francisco after she married. I left home when I was seventeen.”

“Do you still have family there?”

“Yes. My father.” His answer was curt and didn’t invite anything more.

Angel settled against the seat, wishing she were sitting in the back with Libby. This man disturbed her too much. She’d make sure James got his wish to ride up front on the way home, whatever it took.

Travis gripped the reins and mentally kicked himself. Sure he’d been a little miffed when Angel evaded his question and pointed it back at him, but that was no reason to be short. He’d felt her stiffen and withdraw, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. Why was it that the very thought of his father set his teeth on edge? It shouldn’t bother him so much. He was a grown man with his own life now, and if Father wouldn’t acknowledge that fact, there was nothing Travis could do.

He’d hoped to draw Angel out about her past—find a clue as to why she had no religious background. How could she grow up and never attend church? For that matter, why hadn’t she known her grandparents were living? If Maria and her husband hadn’t sent letters to practically every sheriff from Texas to Wyoming asking for word of a woman named Maria de Luca or her husband, Carlo Ramirez, Angel still wouldn’t know her grandmother existed. It was a good thing Angel had chosen to use her mother’s last name while riding as a man.

Libby’s soft voice caught his ear, but he couldn’t decipher the words. Hopefully she was discussing the sheriff’s concerns with James, since Travis hadn’t made time to follow through on that chore. He heaved a sigh. There was so much that he didn’t seem to get right in this life. He’d have to apologize to Libby for not spending more time with James and setting a better example. The boy needed a strong man to shape his life now that his father was dead. Not that Travis had a lot of positive input in his life from his own father.

Angel shifted her position beside him, and he turned his head. “Comfortable? We’re almost to town.”

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Her tone didn’t invite conversation.

If the return trip was anything like this, it would be a long ride home. Maybe he’d allow James a few minutes at the reins, after all.

Angel stood beside the buggy after the church service, gazing at the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd. Faint memories of attending a Catholic church with her parents niggled her mind, and gratitude flooded her that this Episcopal service hadn’t been too far different from what she recalled. She tipped her head back, noting the beauty of multiple windows above the peaked front entrance to the soaring, steepled bell tower above.

She glanced back at the crowd gathering outside the building, grateful Travis had invited James to sit beside him on the way home. She wondered if it had anything to do with not answering his question about where she grew up. He’d been none too forthcoming about his childhood, either, and
she
hadn’t gotten angry. The last thing she wanted was anyone prying into her background and uncovering her secrets. If they discovered she’d ridden on that last cattle drive where a Texas Ranger and posse were killed, she’d have to disappear. Fast.

Libby stood chatting with an older woman in the churchyard, and James was laughing with a boy who appeared close to his age. She’d liked the service well enough, although she didn’t know any of the songs and couldn’t make sense of much of what the pastor said. But the music was nice and the preacher didn’t shout. Some of the men back at the camp made jokes about the hellfire-and-brimstone preachers who did nothing but scream at their flock, and she’d shuddered at the picture that painted in her mind. She’d been tense when the man stepped behind his big wooden stand, but he’d started out by greeting the people and praying in a gentle voice.

She headed for the buggy as soon as the service ended. She didn’t know these people and had no desire to get acquainted. It was doubtful she’d come again anyway before she hit the trail for a new job.

A stab of pain sharp enough to make her wince hit her at the thought. A few weeks ago losing her job created concern, but now it was so much more. Now it hurt. And what of Grandmother, if Travis found someone to take her place? Would Maria return to Italy, or go with Angel? Angel shook her head. Too many unknowns.

A hand touched her arm, and she jumped. Libby smiled. “I’m sorry I startled you. I called James and told Travis we’re ready to go. James is so excited his uncle is allowing him to ride up front, and I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to sitting by someone who’s not sulking all the way home.” She grasped the handle on the outside of the buggy, picked up her skirt with her other hand, and swung aboard.

Angel clambered in after her, struggling to avoid getting tangled in her skirt as she moved from the step to the seat.

James bounded up to the buggy, his face alight. “Where’s Uncle Travis? I want to get going so I can drive.”

Libby leaned forward and shook her head. “He didn’t say you could drive, James. Just that he’d show you the proper way to hold the reins. You mustn’t pester him.”

The boy’s shoulders slumped and his expression turned sullen. “Yes, Ma.” He perked up. “But maybe he’ll let me for a few minutes.” James scrambled onto the seat and twisted around to face the two women. “Don’t worry, I won’t beg him—too much.” He grinned and turned back to the front, his hands hovering over the reins wound around the brake.

“Don’t touch that brake, James.” Travis stepped into view alongside the boy. “Scoot over. I’ve got a lot of explaining to do before I let you handle the team.”

He settled into his seat, picked up the buggy whip, and pulled out of the churchyard. Libby patted Angel’s arm and whispered, “So nice to have another woman to chat with.”

Angel’s heart swelled with gratitude. When had she ever had someone she could think of as a friend? “Yes. You’re much easier to talk to than Travis.” She nearly bit off the tip of her tongue after the words left her mouth. This was Travis’s sister. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

Libby chuckled. “Not to worry, my dear. Men are strange creatures. They think
we’re
hard to understand, but we’re easy in comparison. And
believe me,
I know Travis isn’t always the best communicator in the world.”

“Thank you for understanding. I haven’t met many men like your brother, so I’m not always sure what to think.”

“In what way?”

“Most of the time he’s kind and courteous, but other times he snaps at me, or seems worried I’m doing something wrong.” She shrugged. “Maybe I irritate him. I’m not sure.”

“I wouldn’t fret about it. What did you think of the service?”

The sudden change in topic caught Angel off guard. “Excuse me?”

“Church. Was it similar to other services you’ve attended?”

Angel stifled a groan. She didn’t care to go through this again. Travis would probably tell Libby later what a sinner she was, never having attended church. Seeing disappointment or censure on Libby’s face didn’t appeal. “It was fine. I liked the singing.”

Libby beamed. “The music is one of my favorite things. Our pastor has taught us several new hymns lately, and I’m glad. Our church in San Francisco stayed up to date on things like that.”