Two in the Saddle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  He made no effort to hide the fact he was moving back to Gwen’s room, and every night he reached for her, as if to prove he could make love to her whether his mother approved or not. Gwen couldn’t resist him, even when she suspected his reasons weren’t entirely pure. Still, although it wasn’t easy to do, she kept their lovemaking extremely quiet.

  Luann couldn’t have been bothered by any noise from their bedroom activities, Gwen knew, yet Travis’s mother seemed to have picked up the gauntlet he’d thrown down. In the last days of her stay her jaw seemed to tighten with a secret resolution. Gwen was afraid she’d resolved not to give Travis and Gwen her blessing, let alone agree to live with them in Colorado.

  Gwen watched the widening rift between mother and son with anxiety. She couldn’t imagine Travis would be happy if he became estranged from his mother, despite his big talk, and Luann would be downright miserable. She apparently had nobody besides Travis.

  Gwen found herself compensating by urging Luann to relax instead of helping around the house, as she’d done the first four days of the week. Gwen even let some of her own chores go and took Luann into Canon City for lunch one day, and out to Matty’s for lunch and a chance to play with Elizabeth another day.

  Her efforts didn’t do much to loosen the set of Luann’s jaw.

  Travis probably knew they were headed for disaster, but he wouldn’t discuss it with Gwen during any of the private times they had together. So they stumbled through until Luann’s last night at Hawthorne House. Travis had decided that during dinner they’d announce their plans to marry and ask Luann if she’d be willing to move permanently to Colorado.

  Gwen worked most of the day on the meal, and because she wanted Luann to feel special, she’d politely refused her offer of help. Instead she’d suggested Travis take her on a day trip to the Royal Gorge. They both returned from the outing in such a sour mood that Gwen wondered if she’d done the right thing sending them off together.

  While they both went to wash up, she put the finishing touches on the table, lit the candles and adjusted the bouquet of flowers she’d bought for the centerpiece. She knew the beef was tender, the vegetables steamed perfectly, the salad crisp, the dressing imaginative, but she’d never been so nervous about the outcome of a meal in her life.

  Travis and his mother arrived at the table at the same time.

  “Smells great,” Travis said. He walked over to Gwen, pulled her close and kissed her full on the mouth. “I missed you.”

  Gwen blushed and drew back from his embrace, a question in her eyes. Despite his defiant move back to Gwen’s bedroom, he’d never been so blatantly affectionate with Gwen in front of his mother. “I missed you, too,” she said.

  “Don’t mind me,” Luann said, pulling out a chair. “I can dish myself. Unless you need this table for something else. In which case I’ll just take my plate to my room. No problem.”

  Gwen extricated herself from Travis’s arms. “Luann, we didn’t mean to offend you. We—”

  “Love each other,” Travis finished for her. “We love each other, Mom, and we’re going to get married. Soon.”

  Luann gazed at him, and her eyes grew bright. “It’s no more than I expected. Been acting like a couple of rabbits.”

  Gwen opened her mouth to protest, but she noticed that the brightness in Luann’s eyes came from a delicate sheen of tears. The woman was about to cry. Oh, dear. “We want you to come and live with us,” she said quickly.

  Luann pushed back her chair and stood. “I’d sooner hang by my teeth from the Royal Gorge Bridge.” Then she left the room.

  Gwen started to go after her. “Luann, please don’t—”

  Travis caught her arm. “Let her go,” he said in a tense, angry voice. “I knew she’d be like this!”

  Gwen turned to look at him. “You set her up to be like this, by kissing me right in front of her.”

  “There is no reason I shouldn’t!”

  “Maybe not eventually, but right here in the beginning, it looked to me like you were goading her. And it sure worked. I’m going up there to try and straighten things out.”

  His grip tightened on her arm. “Don’t you dare go up there and beg her.”

  Gwen gazed at him. “Why not? Why not beg her to reconsider? What have we got to lose?”

  “Our pride!”

  “To hell with our pride!” She shook her arm from his grasp. “I’m going to talk to her.”

  “It won’t do any good, I tell you!” His eyes blazed with anger. “She’s going to cut off her nose to spite her face. If she can’t have me all to herself, then she doesn’t want me at all. I knew she’d be that way, and by God, she didn’t disappoint me. Well, I’m finished with her. She’s run my life long enough!”

  Gwen was surprised at the force of his anger. “I can’t see the harm in trying to reason with her. Maybe she just needs time to think about this. I think we should leave the door open, so that she can—”

  “Don’t you understand? This is the first thing I’ve ever asked her to do for me. The first thing. And she can’t even consider it. What kind of mother would be that way?”

  Slowly Gwen began to understand. Travis had learned a few lessons in parenting recently thanks to Elizabeth, and he was freshly acquainted with the fact that parenting involved sacrifice. It had been gnawing at him that his mother didn’t seem the type to sacrifice for him. Once upon a time he might have thought she loved him too much. Now he was afraid she didn’t love him at all.

  But Gwen didn’t believe that for a minute. She’d seen the look on Luann’s face each time Travis walked into a room. “Let me talk to her, Travis. I think we just don’t appreciate how hard this must be for her, but I—”

  “Don’t even think about trying to sweet-talk her into staying. Not now. Not with that reaction. I don’t want her here.”

  Gwen was losing patience with his stubbornness. “You can’t mean that.”

  “I mean it! Damn it, I mean exactly that! And I’m sick to death of debating it with you. I’m going for a drive.” He left the room. Moments later she heard the front door slam and then his truck roared to life.

  Gwen gazed at the flickering candles and the little vase of roses in the middle of the table. The scene she’d worked so hard to create began to blur as tears dripped silently down her cheeks.

  15

  BY THE TIME Travis pulled up in front of the log-style ranch house at the Rocking D he’d cooled down some, but he was still furious with his mother. He used to take it for granted that he had to organize his life around her, because that’s what his father had taught him to do.

  But he’d watched Matty and Sebastian rearrange their whole lives for Lizzie. Hell, he’d rearranged his whole life, too. Without asking, he knew Gwen was prepared to do the same for Lizzie or other children they might have. It was what parents did.

  In the past week he’d come to realize that his mother had no right to control his life the way she’d been doing. He’d still look out for her as he’d promised, but on his own terms. If she wouldn’t move to Colorado, then he’d hire somebody to help her get through the long Utah winter. She wouldn’t like that, but he didn’t much care. She’d had things her way long enough.

  He crossed the wide front porch and rapped on the front door of the ranch house. He had a strong need to see his baby girl.

  Sebastian came to the door chewing a mouthful of food. He swallowed. “Hey, Travis. Where’s the rest of the gang?”

  “Still in town. Sorry. I guess I interrupted your dinner.”

  “No problem.” Sebastian looked curious as hell but he didn’t ask any questions. “We just got a call I’m sure you’ll be interested in hearing about. Come on in.”

  Travis stepped into the rustic living room with its huge rock fireplace and comfortable furniture. He took off his Stetson. “Jessica?”

  “No, but it has to do with her. Hey, Matty,” he called as he headed for the dining room. “Look who’s here.”

  Matt
y sat in a dining chair making an attempt to eat while she gave Lizzie a bottle. “What a coincidence. Hi, Travis. We were just talking about you.”

  “Yeah, Sebastian said something about a phone call.” Travis took a seat next to Matty and hung his hat on the back of his chair. “Why don’t you let me give her the rest of that bottle so you can finish your dinner?”

  “I’ll accept that offer.” Matty eased the bottle away from Lizzie and set it on the table before lifting the baby and transferring her to Travis’s lap. “Oof. This girl is getting heavy.”

  Travis settled the baby in his lap and felt a surge of happiness at having her in his arms again. “She’s growing up, that’s all. She’ll have a tooth soon, won’t you, princess?”

  Lizzie drooled and waved a fist at him.

  “I know, I know. You want to finish your chow. Then we’ll talk.” He poked the bottle back in her eager mouth.

  “Have you eaten?” Matty asked. “I’d be glad to fix you a plate.”

  Travis thought of the beautiful dinner Gwen had spent all day preparing and felt really sad that it had all gone to waste. He’d make it up to her. “That’s okay,” he said, gazing down at Lizzie as he gave her the bottle. His baby was getting prettier every day. He couldn’t wait to see that first pearly tooth. “I’m not hungry, but I’d take a cup of coffee, if you have it.”

  “I’ll get you one,” Sebastian said. “Matty, tell him who called.”

  Travis looked up at her. “Yeah, who called?”

  “Boone.”

  “He did?” Travis was pleased. Boone Connor was a hell of a nice guy, and Travis was always glad when summer came and the big blacksmith returned to the Rocking D from his hometown in New Mexico. “He must be about ready to head up here, huh? He needs to shoe the horses before—”

  “He didn’t call about shoeing horses,” Matty said. She glanced down at the baby in Travis’s lap.

  Travis followed her gaze and a feeling of dread washed over him. Boone had been there that night in Aspen, too. Sebastian had said something about the call having to do with Jessica. Slowly his gaze rose to meet Matty’s and his arm tightened instinctively around Lizzie. “Don’t tell me he got a letter.”

  “Okay,” Sebastian said as he set the mug of hot coffee in front of Travis. “Then I’ll tell you. He got a letter.”

  “No way.” Travis’s stomach clenched. “This late?”

  Sebastian sat down across from Travis. “He’s been traveling all over with that horse-shoeing business and the letter just now caught up with him. He’s headed up here.”

  Panic surged through Travis’s heart. This was his baby. His. Once he married Gwen, he’d be in a position to have custody. Matty and Sebastian could have visiting rights, of course. Generous visiting rights. “You’re not going to tell me he thinks he’s Lizzie’s father. In that case we’re talking Immaculate Conception. I think Boone’s still a virgin.”

  “You’d better not say that to Boone. Remember how he was drinking and carrying on that night about feeling betrayed because his old girlfriend was getting married?”

  “Yeah, and I think he lost that girl because he was too slow out of the gate. Next to the word shy in the dictionary is a picture of Boone Connor.”

  “He’s not that bad,” Sebastian protested. “Hell, I’m shy around women, myself.”

  Travis shook his head. “Boone’s shy. You’re clueless. There’s a difference.”

  “A big difference,” Matty said, laughing.

  Travis leaned toward Sebastian. “I’d believe you were Lizzie’s dad before I’d believe Boone was, and I don’t believe you’re even in the running.”

  “Watch it,” Sebastian said.

  Matty pushed back her plate. “You guys may not think it’s true, but Boone is absolutely sure he slept with Jessica, first because drinking makes him act out of character and he drank a lot that night, and second because he was so broken up over his old girlfriend.”

  “Well, that’s just bull!” Travis said.

  Lizzie jerked in surprise at his loud tone.

  “Whoops.” Travis cuddled her closer. “Sorry, sweetheart. Daddy didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Careful how you throw that word around,” Sebastian said with a slight edge to his voice.

  “If the shoe fits,” Travis said casually.

  Sebastian glowered at him. “It fits me like a glove, as a matter of fact. I—”

  “Boys!” Matty held up both hands. “I will not sit here and listen to another one of these idiotic arguments. I tremble to think what it’s going to be like when Boone shows up. I might have to go stay with Gwen.” She glanced at Travis. “And speaking of Gwen, where is she? And Luann? Isn’t this your mother’s last night here?”

  Travis’s chest grew tight and he kept his gaze on Elizabeth. “Yep.”

  “Uh…her last night, but you’re here, not over there,” Matty said. “I detect a problem.”

  “Oh, Matty, you’re always detecting problems,” Sebastian said. “Everything’s fine, right, buddy?”

  “Sure.” Travis watched Lizzie drain the last of her bottle. He set it on the table and lifted the baby to his shoulder. “Couldn’t be better.”

  “Oh, don’t risk your shirt, Travis,” Matty said quickly. “She’s drooling like the dickens these days, and she’ll mess up that black material. Sebastian, why don’t you take Elizabeth? I think she needs to be changed.” She glanced pointedly at Sebastian.

  “Maybe Travis would like to change her,” Sebastian said. “He hardly ever gets—”

  “Sebastian.”

  “On the other hand, I’d be more than happy to do it.” He took the baby from Travis. “Come on, little one. Let’s go find Bruce.”

  As he left, Matty leaned closer to Travis. “What happened?”

  “Gwen asked her to move in permanently to Hawthorne House, and she said she’d rather hang by her teeth from the Royal Gorge Bridge.”

  “Oh, Travis.” Sympathy shadowed Matty’s blue eyes. “Did you try to talk to her about it?”

  “Nope. And don’t be telling me I should.” A bitter taste returned to his mouth. “I’ve been dancing to that lady’s tune for a long time, and if she’s not willing to sacrifice a little bit for me, then I’m through with her.”

  Matty didn’t say anything for a minute. Finally she spoke. “How’d Gwen take it?”

  Travis sighed. “I’m sure she’s upset. She wanted to try and talk my mother into changing her mind, but damn it, I don’t want my mother there if she has to be dragged into it. She’ll make me pay if that’s the way it goes. Gwen doesn’t get that.”

  “Did you fight with Gwen?”

  “No. Yes.” He looked away from Matty’s direct gaze. “Sort of. But I’m sure she knows I’m not mad at her, just at my mother.”

  Matty reached over and squeezed his hand. Then she stood. “I’m going to drive into town and see Gwen.”

  Travis glanced up at her. “You’re not thinking you’ll talk my mother into staying, are you? Because I don’t want you doing that. Not you or Gwen.”

  She patted his shoulder. “I won’t try to talk your mother into staying. I just think Gwen could use a friend right now.”

  “She made a beautiful dinner,” Travis said. “And we didn’t get to eat it.” Because he’d kissed Gwen and forced the issue, he thought sadly. But it would have come out the same in the end. His mother was insanely jealous, and she didn’t want her perfect little life disturbed for anything or anyone.

  “Tell Sebastian I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” Matty said. “And try not to get into a wrestling match with him over this kid while I’m gone.”

  DINNER WAS TUCKED into plastic containers in the refrigerator by the time Gwen opened the door and found Matty standing there.

  “Got dessert?” Matty said with a grin.

  “Oh, God, Matty. Travis must have driven to your place and told you what happened.”

  “He did.”

  Gwen hugged her
friend tightly. “Thank you for coming. I’ve never been so glad to see anybody in my life.”

  Matty laughed and hung her jacket on the coat tree in the hall. “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. I’m sure you were more glad to see Travis earlier this week.”

  Gwen felt her cheeks warm as she remembered exactly what had gone on in the hall, right about where she and Matty were standing at this very moment. “It’s a different kind of glad,” she said.

  “Let’s hope so.” Matty chuckled as she headed back toward the kitchen. “So, what did you make for dessert?”

  “That better-than-sex chocolate cake you gave me the recipe for.”

  Matty groaned. “I knew it was calling me. Is it gone yet?”

  “Gone? Why would it be gone?”

  Matty sat at the kitchen table in her regular seat. “If I’d been the one dealing with this horse hockey, I probably would’ve eaten the whole thing by now.”

  Gwen smiled at her friend. “You’re so good for me. I feel about a hundred percent better, already.”

  “Don’t mention it. You’ve come through for me a time or two. So, where’s Luann?”

  “Upstairs in her room.” Gwen looked up at the ceiling and grimaced. “She probably won’t come down until she’s ready to leave in the morning.”

  “I see. Well, first off I need to tell you that Boone Connor called and he got a letter asking him to be a godfather, too. He’s on his way, ready to do his duty by this little girl he thinks is his.”

  Gwen sank onto a chair in amazement. “You’re kidding.”

  “Don’t I wish. Jessica has created a real mess. I’d love to get my hands on that woman.”

  Gwen shook her head. “Three men, all thinking they did the deed. Jessica had better show up fast.”

  “The detective is working on it, but Jessica’s slippery. So anyway, I thought you should know about that little development.”