“Will you wave big when I drive by?” Travis asked, as Cass leaned her head against his cheek. He inhaled the sweet scent of little girl that was a mixture of bubble gum, strawberry shampoo and a lingering hint of babyhood. The scent reminded him of another little girl he once knew. She had grown up quite beautifully, even if she was currently staring at him like he’d sprouted horns.
“Sure. I’ll wave like this,” Cass said, wildly flailing her arms over her head as she leaned back in his arms. “How’s that?”
“Perfect,” Travis said, knowing if Cass did that while sitting on Trey’s shoulders, she’d knock his cowboy hat off and possibly maim anyone standing too close.
“We better get going, dude,” Brice said, glancing at his watch. The race would soon be starting.
Travis set Cass down and rumpled her head of uncontrollable curls before walking off with Brice. Tess watched him walk away, enjoying the view more than she wanted to admit. Even dressed in his fireproof coveralls and shoes, Travis cut a fine figure. Too fine.
Trying to hide her interest, Tess turned to Denni and started asking her all about life in The Dalles, promising to have lunch with her one day in the coming week.
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A few months ago, Brice talked Travis into fixing up a car so they could both participate in races. Finding a wrecked car in Portland, Travis towed it home and with the help of Brice, his brothers and a few of their ranch hands, the vehicle was ready to roll in no time. Although he and Brice had been out to the raceway before, today was the first time they were going to race with their family watching.
Now, parked side by side, they looked over the vehicles one last time before putting on the rest of their gear. Climbing in the cars, they waited for the signal for the event to begin.
Travis knew he needed to get his focus centered on the race ahead, but he found his thoughts drifting to Tess.
Growing up, she was the lone girl in the group of five rowdy boys. More than once, she proved she could hold her own against them. While his brothers regarded her as an honorary sister, Travis didn’t. Somewhere along the way, she became much more to him.
When they were in high school, he was so in love with her, he had a hard time thinking straight, but she always looked at him like he was just one more obnoxious brother she had to tolerate. Part of the reason he acted out so much then was due to his frustration with Tess and not knowing how to handle his feelings for the sweet, sassy girl.
Six years in the military might have straightened him up and helped him become a responsible man with a hard edge, but those same years had softened Tess. He remembered the last time he saw her was a late summer morning. She’d been out riding and he borrowed Ben’s horse to find her. She was a skilled rider and for a while he sat at the top of a hill watching her graceful movements on her horse, Lila, before riding down to see her. Her dark hair was loose and tumbling in thick curls down her back, her cheeks were flushed from the wind and the sun, and her eyes were like molten pools of sweet milky chocolate. Travis thought she looked so beautiful.
Seeing him approach, she reined in her horse and waited. He wanted so badly to tell her how he felt about her, but was afraid she’d either laugh at him or think he was perverted, since she treated him like another brother.
Instead of speaking about what weighed so heavily on his heart, he instead memorized every detail of how she looked at that moment and kept that vision with him. From the pain and struggle of boot camp to the unspeakable horrors of his time in Iraq, Travis carried the picture of Tess in his heart and focused on it when he thought he couldn’t get through one more day, one more moment of his life.
He thought there was something she was holding back that day they said goodbye. Her eyes were moist with tears and he remembered Tess leaning from the saddle to place a hand on his leg, looking at him intently, making him promise to come home safely.
Gathering his courage, he put a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her close in a kiss that should have let her know beyond any doubt what he felt in his heart. Before she could say anything, he turned the horse and raced back to the house, telling the rest of the Morgan family goodbye before leaving.
Tugging his thoughts back to the present, Travis recalled how sweet her lips tasted. He wondered if they would still be as sweet. She was even more beautiful than he let himself remember. Her rosy cheeks, pert nose and heart-shaped face complemented big, warm brown eyes and thick brown hair. Standing somewhere around five-six, she wasn’t tall or short, but she was definitely all woman. Unlike so many of the girls who looked like walking skeletons, Tess was full-figured and well curved.
During their teen years, she was constantly on some sort of diet, trying to lose weight and often called herself fat. He’d never once thought that about her. In his eyes, she was the epitome of how a woman should look – soft and voluptuous. Now, he could see a new confidence in her, like she’d finally accepted herself.
When she accidentally backed into him, Travis felt a familiar jolt shoot through him. He couldn’t keep from pulling her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her. He’d dreamed of doing it nearly every day he was in the Army and now that the opportunity presented itself, he didn’t plan to miss out. Dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and a flowing blouse, she felt so soft and wonderful in his arms. Even her scent was soft and delicate, with a hint of something citrusy. He could smell it now, though their contact had been brief.
Seeing Brice wave to him from the corner of his eye, Travis realized it was time to get his head back into the race and off Tess Morgan.
Moving into the line of cars, the race soon started. Travis used his military training to keep focused and it wasn’t long until he found himself at the front with Brice right behind him. Racing through the course, Travis marveled once again that such a great raceway had been installed in Grass Valley. Although relatively new, Oregon Raceway Park was gaining notoriety among both car and motorcycle racers. The road course of just more than two miles offered sixteen turns and a few of them were quite a challenge.
Travis roared right through the Half Pipe and North Bowl, holding his breath as he came through the turn known as the Pucker Factor before speeding ahead.
Racing past the group gathered to watch, Travis was gaining speed when he looked back to see a car burst into flames. Realizing it was Brice, Travis whipped his car off the track, hurrying back to where Brice crashed. It looked like he lost control and bounced the car off the concrete divider lining the track near the starting line. Flipped on its side against a divider, flames licked greedily at the hood. While a couple of guys attempted to extinguish the flames, another tried without success to get Brice out of the car. The flames were getting bigger and Travis was concerned about getting Brice to safety.
Jumping out of his own car, he assessed the situation as he ran. Climbing up on the divider so he could reach into the car, he felt a rush of adrenalin pump through his veins. Working quickly to undo Brice’s harness, Travis could see him breathing even though he was unconscious.
Grabbing Brice around the chest, Travis hauled him out of the car and lowered him down to waiting hands. By the time he jumped off the concrete divider, Trey and Trent, along with Mike, Michele and Tess gathered around the still form of Brice. Travis helped remove his helmet while Tess checked him over. Brice’s eyes fluttered open and a collective sigh of relief was exhaled.
“Brice, do you hurt anywhere? Can you move your hands and feet? Does it hurt to breathe?” Tess peppered him with questions, scared half-witless. The scene that just unfolded seemed like it happened in slow motion. She couldn’t believe she was watching Brice crash and then Travis run to his rescue.
“I’m fine, just got the wind knocked out of me,” Brice said, trying to sit up. He took Tess’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Calm down, drill sergeant, I’m just fine.”
Tess let out a relieved sigh and turned to see Travis take one step away from them, then two before falling to his knees. He slumped over with
his head hanging down. Rushing over to him, she put a hand on his back and was surprised to see a haunted look on his face.
“Travis? Are you okay?” Tess was more worried about Travis than her brother at this point. There was raw pain in Travis’ glazed eyes and his breath came in short, tight gasps.
As soon as Brice was safe and he knew he was fine, Travis flashed back to another vehicle on fire, to another friend in danger. Only that time the fire spread to the fuel tank and the truck exploded before Travis could do anything about it, killing his friend and two others from his squad.
Shaking his head to clear away the memories, Travis closed his eyes and tried to regain his mental balance. He could feel warm sunshine on his face as he tipped it up and solid earth beneath his knees. He could hear the sounds of voices he recognized talking behind him. He could smell something soft and inviting. Tess. He could smell her perfume.
Opening his eyes, he found her face close to his, looking at him in concern.
“You okay?” she asked quietly, her hand still on his shoulder as she leaned over him.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” he said, struggling to get to his feet. His knees still felt weak and he would have fallen if Trey hadn’t stepped beside him, putting an arm around him.
“Trav? Need some help?” Trey asked, considering what had brought Travis to his knees. He knew his baby brother was turning into an adrenaline junkie, but wondered if he always crashed like this when the thrill was over.
“I’m good, thanks,” Travis said, gaining his equilibrium and stepping away from Trey. “Brice scared me for a minute, is all.”
“Hmm,” Trey said, still keeping a steadying hand on Travis’ shoulder.
Trying to lighten the mood, Travis gave Trey a playful slug on the arm and winked at Tess.
“No need to fuss. Brice has earned all the attention today,” he said then walked back to Brice and slapped him on the back, joining in the conversation of those who gathered around them.
Tess and Trey both stood watching and wondering what was going on with Travis. It was obviously something more than just helping Brice out of the wrecked car.
The Cowboy’s Summer Love
Available now on Amazon!
If you enjoyed the Grass Valley Cowboys series,
check out The Women of Tenacity!
The Women of Tenacity Series
Welcome to Tenacity!
Tenacious, sassy women tangle with the wild, rugged men who love them in this contemporary western romance series.
The paperback version offers a short story introduction, A Prelude, followed by the three full-length novels set in the fictional town of Tenacity, Oregon.
Book 1 – Heart of Clay (download it FREE!)
Book 2 – Country Boy vs. City Girl
Book 3 – Not His Type
The Christmas Cowboy (Rodeo Romance, Book 1) — Flying from city to city in her job as a busy corporate trainer for a successful direct sales company, Kenzie Beckett doesn’t have time for a man. And most certainly not for the handsome cowboy she keeps running into at the airport. Burned twice, she doesn’t trust anyone wearing boots and Wranglers, especially someone as charming and handsome as Tate Morgan.
Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can handle the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle the beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story. As the holiday season approaches, this Christmas Cowboy is going to need more than a little mistletoe to win her heart.
Wrestlin’ Christmas (Rodeo Romance, Book 2) — Sidelined with a major injury, steer wrestler Cort McGraw struggles to come to terms with the end of his career. Shanghaied by his sister and best friend, he finds himself on a run-down ranch with a worrisome, albeit gorgeous widow, and her silent, solemn son.
Five minutes after Cort McGraw lands on her doorstep, K.C. Peters fights to keep a promise she made to herself to stay away from single, eligible men. When her neighbor said he knew just the person to help work her ranch for the winter, she never expected the handsome, brawny former rodeo star to fill the position.
Ready to send him packing, her little boy has other plans...
Capturing Christmas (Rodeo Romance, Book 3) — Life is hectic on a good day for rodeo stock contractor Kash Kressley. Between dodging flying hooves and babying cranky bulls, he barely has time to sleep. The last thing Kash needs is the entanglement of a sweet romance, especially with a woman as full of fire and sass as the redheaded photographer he meets at a rodeo.
Confident and spirited rodeo photographer Celia McGraw is determined to capture the best images possible. Fearless and feisty, she’s the last person to back down from a challenge, even when it puts her in danger. However, her biggest risk isn’t in the rodeo arena, but the way her heart responds to one incredibly handsome stock contractor.
Learnin’ The Ropes — Mechanic Ty Lewis is out of options. Homeless and desperate to find work, he accepts a job in the tiny community of Riley, Oregon. Resolved to embrace a new adventure with an elusive boss, he leaves behind everything he’s ever known in Portland to live in the middle of nowhere.
Lexi Ryan, known to her ranch hands and neighbors as Lex Jr., abandons her corporate career to keep the Rockin’ R Ranch running smoothly after the untimely death of her father. It doesn’t take long to discover her father did many crazy things during the last few months before he died, like hiding half a million dollars that Lexi can’t find.
Ty and Lexi are both in for a few surprises as he arrives at the ranch and begins learnin’ the ropes.
A conniving mother, a reluctant groom and a desperate bride
make for a lively adventure full of sweet romance.
Dacey: Bride of North Carolina (Book 12 in the American Mail-Order Brides series) — Braxton Douglas spends his days managing the family’s plantation and blissfully avoiding the state of matrimony. Unbeknownst to him, his mother tires of waiting for him to choose a wife and sends for a mail-order bride. When the woman arrives, ready to wed, Braxton has his work cut out for him if he plans to remain unaffected by the lively, lovely Dacey.
Dacey Butler has nothing to lose when she agrees to travel to North Carolina to marry a stranger. Eager for an opportunity to put her past behind her and enjoy a new beginning, she embraces the adventure of traveling south to marry a man she thinks is a simple farmer. Upon her arrival in Asheville, she immediately decides Braxton Douglas has no idea of her existence, and there is nothing simple about the man.
Pendleton Petticoats Series
Set in the western town of Pendleton, Oregon, right at the turn of the 20th century, each book in this series bears the name of the heroine, all brave yet very different.
Aundy (Book 1) Aundy Thorsen, a stubborn mail-order bride, finds the courage to carry on when she's widowed before ever truly becoming a wife, but opening her heart to love again may be more than she can bear.
Caterina (Book 2) — Running from a man intent on marrying her, Caterina Campanelli starts a new life in Pendleton, completely unprepared for the passionate feelings stirred in her by the town's incredibly handsome deputy sheriff.
Ilsa (Book 3) — Desperate to escape her wicked aunt and an unthinkable future, Ilsa Thorsen finds herself on her sister's ranch in Pendleton. Not only are the dust and smells more than she can bear, but Tony Campanelli seems bent on making her his special project.
Marnie (Book 4) — Beyond all hope for a happy future, Marnie Jones struggles to deal with her roiling emotions when U.S. Marshal Lars Thorsen rides into town, tearing down the walls she’s erected around her heart.
Lacy (Book 5) — Bound by tradition and responsibilities, Lacy has to choose between the ties that bind her to the past and the unexpected love that will carry her into the future.
Bertie (Book 6) — The next adventure in the Pendleton Petticoat Series — coming in 2016!
Crumpets and Cowpies (Baker City Brides, Book 1) — Rancher Thane Jordan reluctantly travels to England to settle his brother
’s estate only to find he’s inherited much more than he could possibly have imagined.
Lady Jemma Bryan has no desire to spend a single minute in Thane Jordan’s insufferable presence much less live under the same roof with the handsome, arrogant American. Forced to choose between poverty or marriage to the man, she finds herself traveling across an ocean and America to reach his ranch in Oregon.
Recipient of a Readers’ Favorite Silver Award!
"Thane and Jemma are a perfectly snarky fit for each other, able to fling era-appropriate zingers with a passion and precision seldom done so well in a historical. Rare for a book of any kind, the children and animals have just as large a part of the story as Thane and Jemma themselves, and that just makes the world in Eastern Oregon come more to life... The setting of the small up-and-coming town, and the surrounding cast of characters have created a rich and vivid world, with more than enough to spin tales about this family and town for years to come."
Julie York — InD'tale Magazine
Thimbles and Thistles (Baker City Brides, Book 2) — Maggie Dalton has no need for a man in her life. Widowed more than ten years, she’s built a successful business and managed quite well on her own in the bustling town of Baker City, Oregon.
Aggravated by her inability to block thoughts of the handsome lumber mill owner from her mind, she renews her determination to resist his attempts at friendship.
Full of Scottish charm and mischief, Ian MacGregor could claim any single woman in Baker City as his own, except the enchanting dress shop owner who continues to ignore him. Not one to give up on what he wants, Ian vows to win Maggie’s heart or leave the town he’s come to love.
Corsets and Cuffs (Baker City Brides, Book 3) — Coming Spring 2016!
The Cowboy's Spring Romance Page 27