With the breath knocked out of him, all he could do was lie in the arena dust and wait for air to find its way back into his lungs. Before that happened, he sensed Tess next to him, could smell her wonderful citrusy scent, felt her hand soft and gentle on his cheek.
“Trav, can you hear me? Travis? Where’s it hurt? Can you move?” Tess asked, her voice heavy with fear and concern.
Brice knelt next to her, holding Travis’ hat that had flown off his head when the bull knocked him down.
Now that he could breathe, Travis took a moment to assess the damage. He had feeling in his hands and he could wiggle his toes in his boots, although his right leg was killing him. His chest was a little tender where the bull hit him, but nothing felt broken. Opening his eyes, he looked into Tess’s face and watched tears fill her eyes and run down her cheeks.
“I told you to be careful,” she whispered. “Can’t you ever listen to me?”
“Nope,” he said, forcing a smile through the pain searing up from his leg. Afraid to look down and see if bone was sticking out, he made himself glance. His jeans weren’t even torn and a hand to his thigh confirmed that no blood was pouring from a gaping wound.
By this time, the medics arrived and asked Travis a few questions. Deciding to see if he could walk, they helped him to his feet and the crowd clapped and cheered. Leaning his weight on Brice and another guy, they helped him shuffle out of the arena to the medical tent. Tess followed along behind, carrying Travis’ hat.
“Let’s take a look at that leg,” the medic said, motioning Travis to sit on a table. “Take off your chinks, pull down your jeans and let’s see what you’ve got.”
Travis took a look at Tess and glanced back at the medic, shaking his head. Brice watched Travis and turned Tess around. As she stood staring out into the darkness, she was surprised that Travis would be that modest around her and appreciated the fact. After the number of patients she’d seen in their skivvies, Tess didn’t think a whole lot about it, but realized seeing Travis without his pants would be something else entirely.
“Looks to me like you’re gonna have a bruise the size of a small watermelon, but I don’t think anything is broken. You might want to do a little therapy on that leg to keep it from tightening up on you. Put some ice on it to keep the swelling down. You should be fine in no time,” the medic said, noticing for the first time that Tess was wearing scrubs.
“Are you a nurse, ma’am?” the medic asked Tess.
“No,” she said, continuing to keep her back to Travis. “Physical therapist.”
“Oh, that’s great. You want to take a look at this and see what you think?”
Tess took a deep breath and turned to find Travis sitting on the table with a very red face, his pants down to his knees and his hands holding the tails of his shirt as far down in front of him as they would go. Forcing herself to stay in professional mode, she surveyed his thigh which was red, hot and swollen. Touching it gently, she worked her fingers around the area. She could make out the distinctive imprint of a hoof and thought Travis was quite fortunate to not have anything broken. The muscles in his leg had probably helped protect the bone. The medic was correct in that ice and rest would be the best thing for the injury. Travis might feel the muscle knot up and get tight so some stretching exercises would help with that. He was going to have one impressive bruise when it reached full color.
She felt her professionalism fly right out the tent as she admired the muscles in his thighs and the firmness of his skin. Travis was one fine specimen of the male species. Glancing up at him, she saw the misery in his eyes along with something else she couldn’t quite define.
“I believe your diagnosis is quite accurate. He will probably need to do a little stretching to keep from getting muscle cramps, but he should heal up just fine. Do you have anything you can give him for the pain, though, to get him home? It’s a good two-hour drive from here and I don’t even have any ibuprofen on me.”
A couple of pain pills were produced along with a cup of water which Travis took reluctantly. Brice went to gather up Travis’ gear while Tess took his pickup keys and found his truck, driving it close to the medic tent. Brice returned with the gear and a bag full of ice.
Travis had his jeans back on by the time Tess and Brice came to help him to the pickup. Expecting to drive himself home, Brice helped him slide in the passenger side and handed him the ice.
“Thought you’d like to know, you won the bull-riding event,” Brice said, helping Travis wrap the ice in an old T-shirt he found on the backseat.
“That’s awesome,” Travis said through clenched teeth. The painkillers hadn’t quite kicked into full effect yet and his thigh was throbbing. “Good to know this wasn’t in vain, then.”
Travis heard Tess release an exasperated sigh as she climbed behind the steering wheel.
“You’re such an idiot,” she said, starting the truck and buckling her seat belt.
“What are you doing?” Travis asked, trying to swallow down the pain.
“Driving you home, what does it look like?” Tess said, waving at Brice as he closed Travis’ door and walked back to his pickup.
“Oh,” Travis said, leaning his head against the seat and fighting a wave of nausea. It was going to be a very long ride back to the Triple T.
Tess watched Travis turned from pale white to green. Sweat broke out on his upper lip and his skin looked clammy while he locked the muscles in his jaw. She knew injuries often caused nausea and quickly took the bag of ice from Travis, pulling a few pieces out and ordering him to suck on them. Unfastening her seat belt, she leaned across the seat, repositioning the ice before snagging her purse and running back toward the arena.
Tess soon returned with two big cups, one of Dr. Pepper to keep her awake and the other with Sprite to help settle Travis’ stomach.
Heading out on the road toward home, Tess tried to keep Travis’ mind off his throbbing leg and told him stories about some of the funny things that happened to her when she was in college and living in Portland. At one point she thought he’d fallen asleep but when she stopped talking, he reached out a hand and squeezed hers.
“Keep talking, please. It helps,” he said quietly. Tess turned to look at him, seeing him not as daredevil Travis, not as a cowboy or a race car driver or even an annoying pest from her past. She simply saw him as a friend who needed her very much right at that moment in time.
“Sure, Trav, no problem,” Tess said, placing her hand on his arm.
Travis thought he would die of embarrassment when the medic told him to drop his pants in front of Tess. When she actually turned around and examined his leg, he simultaneously wished he could crawl in a hole and that the moment would never end. The feel of her fingers on his thigh was something he’d never forget. Smooth and soft, each touch seared his already hot skin. If he hadn’t been in such excruciating pain, goodness only knows what he might have done.
When he almost threw up, he knew he’d never live that down, but thankfully she came to the rescue with the ice and pop, helping him keep what little was left of his dignity intact.
Although she didn’t complain, Travis felt guilty about the fact it was close to midnight and Tess was driving him home instead of being in her own bed asleep. She worked hard all day and needed her rest.
Not quite ready to face the demons that were driving him to the brink of disaster, Travis knew he needed to deal with them instead of choosing to keep them at bay by doing things that were risky and dangerous. Now he was dragging his friends into the fracas and that didn’t set well with him.
If he hadn’t turned his back on the bull to look at Tess, he probably would have walked out of the arena without incident. As it was, it was his fault for not keeping focused on the bull and letting his thoughts go to the pretty girl beaming at him from the bleachers.
Travis sighed and closed his eyes. He had to keep better control.
Pulling up at the back door of the Triple T just a few minutes past midni
ght, Brice was right behind Tess. Between the two of them, they helped Travis up the steps and in the back door. By the time they were in the kitchen, Trent was awake with the lights on.
Shaking his head, he and Brice helped Travis to his room. Brice soon returned and Tess left Travis’ keys on the counter. Quietly shutting the door behind them, Tess knew she and Brice would stop to check in on their friend tomorrow. Hopefully, he’d still be alive after his two brothers finished verbally working him over.
Chapter Three
Love is shown in your deeds, not in your words.
Fr. Jerome Cummings
Travis needed to get out of bed and face the music. Although Trent said very little when Tess and Brice helped drag him in last night, he knew both his brothers would let him have it this morning.
Trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible, he instead kept his eyes closed and remembered the scent of Tess as she leaned near him, the way her fingers gently kneaded his leg, how right it felt to have his arm around her shoulders. Lying there in bed, he wished for the millionth time that Tess would see him as a man who loved her instead of another brother.
Stretching, he could feel a hot tightness in his thigh. While it still throbbed and ached, it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as it had the night before. His chest and ribs were tender from the bull ramming into him, but other than that, he felt pretty good.
He was just giving himself a mental pep talk to get out of bed when he felt the mattress dip and heard rustling. Opening his eyes, he looked into Cass’ little face just inches from his own. She put her tiny hands on his cheeks and patted them.
“Hi, Uncle Travis! Mama said not to wake you up, but I saw you stretching and stretching, so I decided you were awaked. Uncle Trent said you got hurt. Are you okay? Can I get you a Band-Aid?”
Travis put his arms around the little girl and gave her a hug before kissing her rosy cheek.
“I’m fine, kiddo, but thank you for checking on me. Why don’t you go tell your mom that I’ll be out for breakfast in just a minute?”
“Okay,” Cass said, jumping off the bed and racing out the door.
Travis forced himself to get up and take a shower. The water hitting his thigh made him wince, so he hurried through his morning routine, not bothering to shave. Getting out, he dressed in a T-shirt and pair of shorts, limping down the hall of the big ranch house toward the combination kitchen and dining area.
Trey and Trent were still sitting at the table even though the five ranch hands were already fed and out the door. Cady was sipping a cup of tea and Cass had disappeared.
Since it was a school day, Travis knew Cass would be in her room brushing her teeth and getting ready for school.
As he shuffled toward the table, Cady got up and retrieved a glass of orange juice along with a plate of waffles, sausages and eggs fried just the way he liked them. He gave her an appreciative nod and mouthed “thank you” as she set the glass and plate in front of him.
Bowing his head he offered a quick prayer of thanks for the meal then turned to face his two brothers, making note of their matching scowls.
“Morning,” he said, taking a bite of sausage.
“Morning? That’s all you’ve got to say for yourself is ‘morning?’” Trey asked as the vein in his neck started to throb. “The Morgans have to drag your sorry backside home in the middle of the night and all you can say is ‘morning?’”
Before Travis could answer Cass ran back in the room.
“Let’s get you to school, sweetie-pie,” Cady said, taking Cass’ hand and leading her out the back door. As much as she wanted to stay and referee the fight that would surely take place in the next few minutes, she decided whatever was going on between the three brothers needed to be settled without anyone else interfering.
Travis continued eating his breakfast while Cass and Cady left. When they were gone, he set down his fork and looked at Trey.
“What do you want me to say? That I did something foolish and got hurt? That I should listen to you? That you, Trey Thompson, are the knower of all things and never do anything you shouldn’t? You’re not my father, Trey. You aren’t quite big enough to fill those boots, so just back off.”
Travis watched his words cut into his brother like knife wounds. Instead of yelling at him, which is what Travis wanted him to do, Trey sat looking at him with pain and regret in his eyes. Finally, Trey scrubbed a hand over his face and let out the breath he was holding.
“I never tried to be a father to you, Travis. No one could take Dad’s place, ever. I tried to be a good brother to you, though, and set a good example. To be your friend. I guess I didn’t try hard enough,” Trey said, looking like he had truly failed his little brother.
Travis sat back, surprised at Trey’s words. The reason he resented Trey when their dad died was because he had set a good example, he had been a good brother and friend to him.
He wanted Trey and Trent to fall apart as much as he had when their father passed away. Instead, they seemed to gain an inner strength that helped them do what needed to be done and carry on. They left behind their professional dreams, returned to the ranch, and never looked back.
“It isn’t you, Trey. I’m sorry,” Travis said, quietly, filled with remorse for his outburst. Looking down at his half-eaten breakfast he knew he was behaving like a spoiled child, not a grown man. “I don’t know what it is, exactly, and I don’t think I can even explain it right now, but I am sorry. You’ve always been a good brother and a good friend.”
“Trav, let us get you some help. You don’t have to keep trying to get through whatever is bugging you alone,” Trent said, leaning across the table. “We want to understand and help you, but if you keep going down this road you’re traveling, the day will come when it’s too late.”
“I know,” Travis said with a sigh. “I’m not quite ready yet. Can you please give me a little more time?”
“But Trav…” Trent started to say, until he was interrupted by Trey.
“Sure, bro. We can give you all the time you need, but could you please try to let us in a little. We’ve all been worried about you and when you disappear without telling anyone where you’re going or what you’re doing, we worry even more. It helps to at least know where to come collect the broken pieces if it comes to that. I hope you realize you’re going to give my wife worry lines and gray hair way before her time.”
Travis looked up to see a faint smile teasing the corners of Trey’s mouth.
“Thanks,” Travis said, looking at his brothers with gratitude for their understanding and patience with him. “I’ll try to keep you more informed.”
“Good,” Trey said, standing up from the table. “Now, let’s see this bruise you got. Trent said it was a doozy.”
Travis showed his brothers the bruise, already gaining dark mottled color, that looked to be the size of a cantaloupe. Trey whistled and Trent looked at it intently, recognizing the imprint of a hoof in the middle of the discolored skin.
“Was it worth it?” Trent asked.
“I don’t know,” Travis said, rubbing his chest where it felt tender. “But I did place first.”
“Of course you did,” Trey said, giving him a playful slap on the back. “You always did like to win.”
Finishing his breakfast, Trey and Trent sat with Travis and they discussed what needed to be done that day. It was agreed that Travis would stay inside and let his leg rest, so Trey asked him to work on their ranch records and do some of the paperwork he generally took care of in the evenings. Travis didn’t know how well he’d like sitting inside behind a desk all day, but decided to be accommodating since Trey and Trent went easy on him this morning.
Travis caught up all the paperwork, took a nap and iced his leg until he thought he might have frostbite. Cady brought him several treats throughout the day and pampered him as much as he’d let her. He could see why Trey had fallen fast and hard for the dark-haired beauty.
As she started dinner preparations, T
ravis sat at the counter cutting up vegetables for a green salad while she made manicotti.
From what he knew, Cady was engaged to a jerk that ran off with his secretary a week before the wedding. They worked at the same law office in Seattle, so Cady packed her bags and came to Grass Valley to live with her Aunt Vivian, owner of the local café, until she decided what to do with her life. With some training as a chef, Viv thought Cady would be a great fit at the diner until she discovered the one skill Cady lacked was waitressing.
When she accidentally dumped a glass of ice water on Trey, it was love at first sight. Trey hired Cady to be the housekeeper and cook at the Triple T. Four months later they were married and adopted Cass.
Travis, for one, was glad his brother had sense enough to marry the sweet woman. She was big-hearted, soft-spoken and the best cook he’d ever had the pleasure of knowing. When he first returned home from the service, Cady had gone out of her way to make him treats he missed. The first night he was back, he accidentally crawled into her bed, giving her quite a scare. Instead of getting mad, she got up and made him a snack. He knew right then Trey had found a keeper.
“So, Cady, Trent said you and Trey are going to join us for the whitewater rafting trip. Are you excited?” Travis asked, slicing tomatoes.
“Excited as in scared, frightened, and hoping I don’t die?” Cady asked with a teasing smile. “Then yes.”
Travis laughed. “I meant excited as in looking forward to it and planning to have fun.”
“Oh, then not so much,” Cady said, rolling bread dough into sticks.
“You know we won’t let anything happen to you, so why the worry?” Travis stopped his slicing and looked at her.
The Cowboy's Summer Love Page 4