Jamie shrugged and shook his head as if saying he had no idea what Travis was talking about. Maybe he didn’t.
Travis let out a puff of air. “Look, son, I know there’s something wrong. You don’t act the same to me as you did before the campout. Something had to have happened right about then that upset you. I thought you blamed me for Trixie getting hurt. Is that it? Do you think I should’ve done something different that could’ve kept that big cat off her?”
“No.” Finally the boy spoke and still didn’t say anything.
“Well, what then?” Travis tried to keep his voice soft, but figured a little frustration crept in when Jamie’s eyes widened as he looked up at him. “Why are you mad at me, Jamie? What’d I do? If you don’t tell me, I won’t be able to make things right.”
Jamie crossed his arms and glared at Travis. “I saw you—”
Kim’s voice preceded the slamming of the back door by mere seconds. “Jamie. Come on, we’re ready to go.”
Jamie bolted from the porch without a backward glance. Trixie barked once and followed at his heels. Travis watched them go as frustration pooled in his chest. He’d been within a few words of knowing what was wrong with Jamie. Kim’s timing could’ve been better.
Travis watched Gran walk with Kim from the house to the van. They would be going together. He’d drive in alone. Elliott had left earlier to help in whatever job he could find. Red and Jason were working out on the range. He welcomed the time driving in alone. He could use the solitude to pray and plan his approach to Kim. Before night fell, he intended to place a ring on her finger and have the assurance of her love and commitment to be his wife. Jamie’s problem would have to be worked through later.
~*~
Kimberly cut a pie into six pieces and set each wedge on a small paper plate. A steady stream of customers came into the large fellowship room through the open side door from outside where they’d paid for a meal before getting in line. Kimberly’s pie table was one of three holding food. Ella McMilin was in charge of cakes, cookies, and brownies on one side of her, and two women on the other side kept the pots of chili and vegetable soup going while they ladled the customer’s choice into bowls. Tables and chairs for eating had been set up in rows across the remainder of the large fellowship room.
Most of the town’s population as well as the outlying areas surely had come in for a day of fun and bargains. Only one person seemed to be conspicuously absent. Travis had been outside when they left the ranch. She’d assumed he would follow them in, but she hadn’t seen him.
“Momma, can I go to Gray’s Variety?” Jamie leaned against the pie table and looked at Kimberly with a pleading expression.
“Jamie, that’s two blocks away.”
“With Jonathan and his big brother.”
That did make it better, but was a twelve-year-old boy old enough to watch two younger kids? Even a boy as mature as Daniel seemed to be? “I don’t know. Isn’t there enough going on here to keep you busy?”
“You said I could spend my money wherever I wanted. Jonathan says Gray’s Variety has some super sling-shots and he wants to get one.” He looked at her with innocent eyes. “I won’t, though, if you don’t want me to.”
She laughed. “All right. I suppose you can go if you go straight there and straight back. First, I need to talk to Daniel.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll get him.” Jamie swung around, narrowly missing a woman. “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t wait to hear her response and came back with Daniel and his friend as the woman moved on to the next table.
Kimberly smiled at the three boys. “Hi, Daniel. Jamie says you and Jonathan are going to Gray’s Variety. Are you sure you want to watch these two boys?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He doubled up his fist and touched first one boy and then the other on the top of their heads in a mock pounding. “I’m sure they’ll be good.”
Kimberly laughed at his antics. “I told Jamie I want him to go straight there and straight back. Is that okay with you?”
“I don’t know what else we’d do, and it’s only two blocks from here. You’d be able to watch us all the way except when we’re in front of the stores if you could get away from your job.” He shrugged. “We’ll hurry, and we won’t talk to strangers.”
Kimberly felt silly worrying about someone lurking around a sleepy, little town like Bow Creek to snatch her son. With so many people out and about in town today, no one could do anything without someone seeing. She smiled. “Okay, be careful but have fun.”
~*~
Travis checked at the church first to make sure there was nothing he needed to do. After being assured there wasn’t, he left his truck on the back row of the church parking lot and walked the short distance to town. He turned the corner and strolled past Smyth’s Appliance to the jewelry store while his heart pounded out a rhythm that seemed to say, “Run, run, run.”
He hesitated outside the door of the jewelry store and glanced at Gray’s Variety on the other side. Sure would be a lot easier if he started with a simple gift from the variety store first. Maybe work his way up to an engagement ring. Someone grabbed his arm from behind.
He swung to find Shelia grinning at him. “We aren’t getting cold feet, are we?”
A nervous laugh tore from him, and he shook his head. “Me? Of course not. Remember, I’ve done this before.”
“I bet you didn’t care about the outcome as much the first time.” Her gaze connected with his in a knowing look. She smiled when he didn’t respond. “Come on, Travis. If I thought you were doing the wrong thing, I wouldn’t be here.”
Travis reached to pull the jewelry store door open. He spoke in a low voice for her alone. “It isn’t me I’m unsure of, Shelia. It’s Kim. What’ll I do if she tells me to take a hike?”
“She won’t, and you’ll never know if you don’t try. Brent thinks she’s carried a torch for you since you spent that summer with him. If so, now’s a good time to fan the flame.” She patted his arm. “If not, you can return the ring within fifteen days.”
Travis jerked the door open and stepped back to let Shelia go ahead of him. She could’ve left off that last comment.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and followed her to the display of wedding rings. She seemed to know exactly where to go. A little detail he was extremely thankful for, since he had no clue. The clerk glanced from Shelia to Travis and smiled. “If you see anything you’d like to look at up close, just let me know.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Travis growled out the words.
Shelia giggled, but thankfully didn’t speak. She pointed to several that caught her eye. “What sort of thing does Kim like?”
“We haven’t exactly discussed rings.” Travis frowned. What was he doing? She’d hate whatever he picked out. “Does the store have a return policy?”
“Within fifteen days.” Shelia giggled again. “Remember, I told you two minutes ago.”
“Oh, yeah.” Travis pointed at one of the sets Shelia had already pointed out. “Let’s look at that one.”
The clerk handed the ring set to Shelia, and Travis didn’t object. “Let me see your left hand.”
She held out her hand, her wedding rings sparkling. She smiled at him. “Shall I take my rings off?”
“Do you mind?” He could only imagine what the clerk thought.
Shelia pulled her rings off and slipped them in her purse. “Travis, if I try the ring on and it fits, that doesn’t mean it will fit Kim.”
Travis took her hand in his and slipped his fingers through hers. “Your hands are about the same size as hers. It’ll fit.”
He looked back at the clerk. “If it doesn’t fit, it can be sized later, can’t it?”
“Yes, that’s one of our services.”
“Okay, I want to see what it looks like on a finger.” Travis shrugged. They both probably thought he was crazy, but he wanted to get the right ring the first time. Once he got a ring on Kim’s finger, he didn’t want it taken off.
They tried that ring and a couple more, but none seemed right to Travis. “These are all nice, but they just aren’t special enough.”
“Have you seen this one?” The clerk brought out a box and set it on the counter. He lifted the engagement ring out first. The band was white gold with a cluster of diamonds. The center marquise diamond, surrounded by smaller baguette-shaped interspersed with smaller round diamonds, sparkled. He handed the ring to Shelia.
“This one is called ‘Now and Forever’ because the smaller diamonds surrounding the center one have no beginning and no end. This indicates forever as they circle the core that represents now. The wedding band is unique, too.”
He held what appeared to be two plain yellow gold bands out so they could see. The bands were joined close together into one ring. “If I may have the engagement ring back, I’ll show you how they look together.”
As soon as he slipped the engagement ring between the two bands of the wedding rings, Travis knew he wanted those rings. They were delicate like Kim, yet the three bands made them strong like he, Kim, and Jamie would be together. The groom’s ring was also three bands joined together with the white gold in the middle. He’d also wear a reminder of their three-way love now and forever.
“‘Now and Forever.’ I like that. Try it on, Shelia.” He shared a grin with her. “In fact, let me put it on your finger.”
He took the rings from the clerk and, facing Shelia, took her left hand and lifted the ring to slide it on her finger. He was grinning like an idiot, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Kim and how pleased she’d be with these rings. They were perfect.
A thump at the front window not far from where they stood distracted him, and he paused with the ring halfway down Shelia’s finger to glance outside. Three young boys stood with their faces pressed against the glass. The one in the center was Jamie, and the scowl on his face that morning could’ve been mistaken for a smile compared to the daggers he was glaring now.
Travis dropped his cousin’s hand and turned toward the door at the same time the boys bolted. He had to catch Jamie and explain. He jerked the door open as the last boy disappeared around the corner of the appliance store. They were going back to the church. He’d catch Jamie there, hopefully before he poisoned Kim’s mind against him.
He headed back into the store as Kim’s and Jamie’s accusations rang in his memory. Jamie saw you kissing a woman. I saw you—
The day after their campout, he’d run into Shelia and kissed her cheek. How had Jamie seen that? He didn’t know, but that had to be it. He hadn’t kissed any other woman.
“What’s going on, Travis?” Shelia touched his arm. “Was one of those boys Jamie?”
“Good guess. He’s high-tailing it back to the church right now to tell Kim he saw me buying you a ring. Do they fit? I want those rings.”
“They fit perfectly.”
“Good.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket. “I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
The man rushed through the purchase and Travis took the small white bag holding the ring box.
“Thank you for your purchase, sir.”
Travis gave the man a quick nod of thanks, and hurried Shelia from the store. “I’m sorry to run, but my future is in the balance about now. You don’t know how much I appreciate your help this morning.”
“Go on, Travis. I understand.” Shelia motioned for him to go. “I do want to hear how this turns out, though.”
“You bet.” Travis took off in a run. Maybe he could at least do some damage control at the church if he could find Kim.
He saw her when he reached the church parking lot. He also saw the top of Jamie’s head in the backseat of Kim’s van as she peeled out of the lot and drove away.
Chapter Twenty
Travis ran for his truck and leapt inside, gasping for breath. He stuck the key in the ignition. His truck roared to life, and he pulled out. Kim wasn’t in sight, but he knew where she’d go. He followed the road leading to his ranch. When he turned off the highway onto the gravel road, a cloud of dust ahead told him he was right.
He almost caught up with Kim’s van in the driveway. Jamie ran into the barn, but Kim headed toward the cabin before Travis could get out of his truck. She ran across the driveway and slammed the door as he called out to her. He hesitated midway between the barn and the cabin, torn between the two people he loved more than anyone else. Then he felt for the jeweler’s box in his pocket and walked with resolute steps toward the cabin. He might not win Kim’s love again, but he would clear his name.
He knocked on the door like a civilized man and met silence. He knocked again. “Kim, let me in. We need to talk.”
Nothing. He pounded on the door. “Kim, open up. I’ll break in if I have to.”
“Go away, Travis. I never want to see you again.” Kim’s voice sounded muffled. From the barrier of the door? Or from her tears? Did she care enough to cry?
“I’m coming in, Kim.” He thumped his shoulder against the door, shaking it. “You’d better get out of the way.”
He took a couple of steps back, but before he could rush the door, it opened framing Kim. Her eyes were red rimmed. She had been crying. His conscience smote his heart with a sharp pang.
“Kim, I love you.” He took a step forward.
“Ha.” The door started swinging shut. “I don’t believe you.”
He caught the door before it closed. He held it and looked into her damp but beautiful eyes. “You’d better believe it. You’re the only woman I’ve asked to marry me twice, and I’m about to make it three times. Quite a record, don’t you think? A man doesn’t put his heart on the line that way for just any woman.”
She let out an unladylike snort. “Of course not. Instead, he goes around kissing as many women as will let him. And doing who knows what else.”
Travis grinned when she shoved against the door. “Well now, maybe rich businessmen do that, but us ranchers are true blue. A rare breed. Men like me believe one woman’s enough. You’re the only woman I’ll ever want, Kim.”
She closed her eyes a moment, and a tear slid down her cheek. “I saw you kiss her, Travis. Jamie and I stood outside The Diner and watched you kiss that woman. He saw you in the jewelry store a while ago buying her a ring. The same woman.” She glared at him. “And don’t tell me he didn’t. He was too upset to be making it up. I can’t believe you followed us here after being with her. What do you take me for? I’m packing. I’ll be out of here as soon as I can load my van.”
“And you will go where?” Travis put pressure against the door until he had the gap almost wide enough to slip through.
“That’s none of your business.” Kim stepped back and the door flew open.
Travis strode across the room, looking at the mess. He knew she worked fast, but she’d been moving like a tornado. She already had a suitcase full of clothing ready to close on the sofa. He grinned. She cared. The evidence was in the clothing strewn across the floor and the dresser drawers hanging open in her bedroom. If he wasn’t mistaken, she loved him as much as he loved her.
He picked up his original conversation. “Of course, kissing my cousin on the cheek shouldn’t be considered the same as kissing some other woman, don’t you agree? Whether it’s Beth or Shelia, it shouldn’t make a difference. I mean Shelia is Brent’s sister, and I know you like Brent well enough. You’ll like Shelia and her husband, too. She’s looking forward to meeting you and Jamie.”
Travis stopped in the middle of the room and watched Kim sink to the sofa beside her suitcase. She stared at him as if trying to sort out what he’d said. When she didn’t speak, he went on. “That day you and Jamie saw me kiss Shelia across the street from The Diner, I ran into her by accident. Hadn’t seen her in a while, so I had to give her a hug. We had quite a talk. About you.”
“Me?” Kim squeaked the one word.
He winked. “Yep. She told me I’d better grab you and hang on this time.” He knelt before her and took her hands in h
is. “She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t want to do.”
“Really?” Kim seemed to be reduced to one-word sentences.
He squeezed her cold hands, warming them. “Yes, really. I love you, Kim. I have from the start when we were two kids out for a good time. Remember those days? That summer we fell in love when we weren’t supposed to? Well, guess what? This summer has been a repeat of that. I fell in love with you all over again. Will you marry me?”
“What about Jamie?”
Travis searched her eyes. What did she mean? “Jamie’s my son, Kim. I love him, too. I couldn’t be more proud to call that little guy my son. Don’t you know that?”
A tiny smile began to stretch her lips. “I do now. It’s hard to read a person’s mind, Travis.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
He pulled the box from his pocket. “I’ve asked you to marry me before, and you turned me down. Twice. That doesn’t make a man overly confident, but I’m bullheaded enough to try again. Shelia met me at the jewelry store to help me pick out rings, only I picked these out myself. They’re called ‘Now and Forever.’”
~*~
Kimberly held her breath as Travis pulled a maroon jeweler’s box from his pocket and opened it. A fog of emotions covered her mind, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Travis hadn’t been pursuing another woman. He wasn’t like Colin. But did Travis truly want her and Jamie in his life? Could he give up his past so easily?
He opened the box, revealing a beautiful set of rings. “See how the outer circle of diamonds have no beginning and no end? That signifies forever, just as our love is and has always been. You do love me, don’t you, Kim?”
He looked at her with love shining from his dark brown eyes. Love for Travis expanded her chest until she didn’t know if she could hold it. She smiled and nodded. “I’ve always loved you, Travis.”
A New Life Page 18