Whispers of Moonlight (13 page)

"Paul West was out here today."

"Do I know him?"

"Probably not. He's a lawyer. Got a small practice in town. I'd say he and the wife are nearly starving on what he takes in, but I had business for him today."

Travis waited.

"I've changed my will."

Travis shook his head. "You're not going to die. In fact, I think you'll be out of that bed this week."

"Well, I plan to be, but just in case ..

Travis shook his head. "Don't talk like that."

"I have to, and I want you to listen!"

It was the last thing Travis wanted to do, but Andrew looked agitated, so he made himself sit quietly.

"I've left it all to you, Travis," he said softly. "To you and Reba. This marriage may not seem like a match from heaven, but I know you'll take care of my girl."

Travis frowned. He would take care of Rebecca, no matter what, but he didn't care for people thinking he'd used his wife to get the ranch.

"I don't care what people think," Andrew went on as if he'd read his thoughts. "Rebecca needs you, and that's all there is to it. I have your word, don't I, Travis? Before God, you will take care of her, won't you?"

"Yes, sir, I will. I'm confident that you'll be here to see it all happen, but no matter what, Rebecca is my wife and I'll take care of her."

Andrew nodded, his head falling back on the pillow.

"Can I do something for you, sir?"

"No, no. Lavena will be up to settle me. I just want to sit here awhile."

"All right. I'll see you tomorrow, sir."

"Good night, Travis."

"Good night, sir."

Travis walked calmly from the older man's room, but his step livened perceptibly when he hit the hall. He smiled in anticipation as he opened his door, but his face fell when he found the room empty. His disappointment that Rebecca was not waiting for him knew no bounds. He sat on the edge of the bed and took his boots off, all the while contemplating his next move. It didn't take long to decide. Although he'd already washed for dinner, he again removed his shirt, scrubbed his face, neck, and arms over the washbowl, dried off, and put on a clean cotton shirt. Leaving his boots in his room, he exited and started toward his wife's door.

Rebecca had been pulling her hair back with a ribbon before going to bed for as many years as she could remember. Tonight was no different. When the knock sounded on the door, she was already in bed, sitting up against the headboard, hair in a blue ribbon, a lace-trimmed nightgown on her frame, and a book in her hand. When she heard the knock, she assumed it to be Lavena as Travis had the night before.

"Come in," she called, not raising her eyes from the page. It took a moment for her to realize it wasn't the housekeeper. She wasn't startled or upset, just curious. However, Travis spoke before she could ask a single question.

"I was pretty disappointed not to find you waiting in my room."

Rebecca's brow lowered. "Why? Was I supposed to come to your room?"

Travis should not have been surprised by the question. Rebecca had learned the previous night that he was capable of great tenderness, but she had not learned about passion. He came to the bed and sat down, his back against the footboard.

"I won't stay if you don't want me to, Reba."

She loved it when he called her that and said softly, "You can stay if you want to, Travis. I don't mind."

Travis smiled at her. His hand waved toward her high neckline. "I think I like this outfit even better than the dress you had on yesterday."

Rebecca's hand went self-consciously to the lace, but she smiled with pleasure. Travis leaned forward very slowly and took the book from her lap. Rebecca made no protest. He set it on the nightstand and then moved to kiss her. It crossed Travis' mind that their relationship was unlike anything he'd ever known. Rebecca was still trying to figure out why she should have come to his room, until she lost herself in his kiss and thought to herself that she'd married the most handsome man in the territory.

The next morning Andrew shocked everyone in the household by coming down to the breakfast table. They all stared at him, but he looked wonderful.

"A fool," Lavena said. "That's what you are, a fool." She served him anyway and hovered around him until he sent her away.

"I'm going to ride for a time today, Travis," he told his foreman. "I won't go far, but I need to get out."

"Can't that wait. Papa? It's still so cold," Rebecca put in softly, but Andrew ignored her. Her eyes went to her husband's, but a small shake of his head told her he'd keep an eye on things.

Andrew was so anxious to be off that he left half of his meal in the process. This gave Travis and Rebecca a few minutes alone. Travis went to her side of the table and pulled her out of her chair. He captured her jaw in his hand and kissed her.

"I'll see you tonight," he promised, his face still close. The new bride's eyes turned dreamy.

"Shall I come to your room?"

Travis' smile was loving and intimate. "No. Just climb into that lacy gown again, and I'll come to you."

He gave her a quick kiss and reluctantly let her go. Following him all the way to the door, Rebecca watched his long, jean-clad legs carry him to the barn. She had known a moment's worry that her father had purchased a husband for her, but it wasn't true. Rebecca knew Travis loved her, even
though he never said so. And
the
wave he turned to give her before disappearing inside the huge stable stayed with her the rest of the day.

There wasn't a hand on the Double Star Ranch who didn't know that Travis Buchanan had married the owner's daughter on Wednesday of that week. And to a man, while they envied him his bride and position as the owner's son-in-law, they secretly wished him well, though no one offered a word of congratulation. Lucky had been rather quiet on the job the day before, but not angry. Travis had been watchful, but today he could tell it would be more difficult for his own heart than for Lucky. All he wanted to do was think of Rebecca.

Now as the men mounted up to head out for the day, he had to force himself to the task at hand, making sure his father-in-law did not collapse off his horse. The older man was in high spirits, laughing with the hands, but Travis could still picture Andrew's pale face on the pillow just days before.

They moved out as a group and rode together for some time. When they split off to ride the range and check the herds, Andrew, Travis, Lucky, and Race Paulson were together. Normally Travis and Andrew would have split up, but today Travis wouldn't have left his boss even if he'd been ordered to.

The day was warmer than earlier in the week, but by midday, when they stopped to build a fire and warm up, the steaming coffee was very welcome. Talk around the fire was all business, but when Travis saw Andrew surreptitiously rubbing the middle of his chest, he sent Lucky and Race off on their own. Andrew and Travis rode over several more acres, but Travis managed to steer his father-in-law back to the ranch house while salvaging the older man's dignity, Andrew was still in high spirits as they moved into the house, and since the ride back was as cold as the open range, Lavena's fresh coffee, better than Lucky's by a long shot, was more than welcome. Rebecca had cookies waiting for them as well, and her father felt so good that he teased her.

"These are better than the last ones, Reba. You're improving."

She smiled at him, but Travis looked confused.

"She can't cook, you know." His voice was jovial. "I didn't want you to know that ahead of the vows, but Reba can't cook." Andrew laughed at his own joke.

Travis' brows shot into the air as he looked at his wife, but he laughed too, especially when he saw her red face. However, the lightness of the moment didn't last long. Andrew was saying something else, but Travis did not attend. In so many ways he'd married a stranger. It didn't matter to him what she could do, but the reminder of how little they knew about each other was sobering.

Rebecca read his look all wrong. The change in Travis' expression crushed her. After a time,
Lavena and Andrew went their separate ways, leaving husband and wife alone in the kitchen. Try as she might, Rebecca was not able to keep the hurt from her voice. Travis didn't notice at first.

"It's cold out there today, but it could be worse," he offered.

"Oh, really?" Her back was to him and had been since the others left.

"I look forward to spring."

"Yes."

It was on that word that Travis noticed her stiff posture. He moved up behind her and spoke.

"Is something wrong?"

Rebecca turned hurt eyes to him. "I never meant to keep my lack of cooking skills from you. It just didn't come up."

Travis blinked. "I don't care whether you can cook or not, Reba," he told her sincerely.

"That's not true," Rebecca argued with him. "I saw your face."

Travis shook his head. "My mind was a thousand miles away. The cooking doesn't matter to me."

Rebecca searched his face, and then her small hands rose to pull on the front of his dark leather vest. Travis began to lower his head but hesitated.

"I smell like a horse."

"I don't care," his wife whispered, and Travis gladly kissed her. They heard
Lavena's steps returning so they broke apart, but it was the start of a wonderful evening—first eating dinner and laughing the evening away with her father, and then turning in together.
She hadn't felt so warm and loved for a long time.