Chapter Nine
When Travis pulled up in front of the Valley Lodge on Tuesday evening, he turned to Retta with a smile.
“Are you looking forward to this?”
She glanced over her shoulder as if checking to see if someone might be listening before she answered. “I’m a bit nervous.”
“I thought as much. I want to reassure you – tell you that you’re going to feel at home with these girls inside the first five minutes but …”
She laughed. “But you can’t give me that reassurance?”
“Nah, I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was that it doesn’t matter what I say, you’re still going to be nervous until you see for yourself. You know Libby. You’ve met Candy a couple of times – she’s a sweetheart. And you saw what Ari’s like on Friday.”
“I was a little worried about her at first.”
“I can see why. She’s … I don’t know the right word. Assertive, maybe? She’s a strong woman. But she’s good people.”
“Yeah, I’m not nervous about her anymore; she was warm and welcoming.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “So, what are you nervous about?”
She looked around again. “I think it’s just being with a group of women. I know that individually, they’re all nice. But …” She sighed. “In my experience, groups of women can be … bitchy.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with these three. Trust me?”
A rush of warmth filled his chest when she met his gaze and said, “I do.”
“Thank you. You can trust me to get you out of here if you feel uncomfortable, too.”
“No, I’m going to be brave. I didn’t let you bring me all this way just to turn around and take me back again.”
“I didn’t mean that. I’m not offering to take you home again before you even give them a chance. I’m saying that if you’re not enjoying yourself, you can give me a call or shoot me a text and I’ll come get you. You can tell ‘em that your leg’s giving you grief or …” He winked. “I’ll cover for you if you want me to.”
“Aww.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “You know, when I first saw you, I thought you must be a bit of a tough guy.” She looked at his forearm that was resting on the console. “You look tough, and all your tattoos …” She shrugged. “I would never have guessed that you’re such a softy.”
He chuckled. “You might not have guessed it, but all you’d have to do is ask anyone who knows me. They’ll all tell you that I’m a big old teddy bear.”
She laughed. “That’s the perfect description.”
He shrugged happily. “Promise you’ll call your teddy bear if you want out?”
“I will, thank you. I’ll try not to. I want to make friends with them, but it’s nice knowing I have an option if I need it.”
He leaned across and kissed her forehead. “As long as I’m around, you’ll always have an option.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but they both jumped at the sound of a horn honking. Travis turned in his seat and laughed when he saw Deacon’s truck behind them, and Ace pulling in off the road.
“Looks like this party’s about to get started. I’ll get your chair set up.”
He greeted Deacon and Candy as he got the wheelchair out and positioned it near the passenger door.
Deacon gave him a knowing smirk. “Are you coming for a beer while we wait?”
“Sure am. I just want to get Retta set up inside first.”
Candy stepped forward. “We can manage her chair. She’ll be just fine with us.”
Deacon chuckled. “Believe me, bud. You might as well admit defeat and let the girls take over.”
Ace and Ari came to join them, and Libby’s truck pulled in.
“I’ll see what she says.” He was thinking that he could wheel her inside the restaurant and make sure that she was comfortable before he left. If it were up to him, he would have sat at the bar for the evening, so that he was on hand if she needed him. The guys had assured him that there was no way the girls would allow him to do so – that was why they hung out at Deacon’s place whenever the girls went out for dinner.
He opened the passenger door and leaned inside.
“You ready for this?” he asked in a low voice so that the others wouldn’t hear him.
“I am. I’ll be fine, honestly. The last thing I want is you worrying about me. You should enjoy your evening with your friends.”
“I will – if I know that you’re going to be okay and that you’ll call me to come get you if you’re not.”
“I promise.”
He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her out, loving the way she clung to him until he placed her in the wheelchair.
As soon as he straightened up, Ari grabbed the handles and grinned at him.
“We can take it from here. Go on – on your way.”
He made a face at her. “I just want to …”
Candy laughed and folded her arms. “Whatever you want to do, you’ll have to do it later.” She looked at her watch. “We’re officially on girl time now so go on – scoot.”
Deacon nodded. “There’s no point in arguing.”
Ace laughed as he backed away toward his truck. “None whatsoever. You’ll soon learn. I’ll see you guys at Deacon’s place. Have fun, honey,” he called to Ari.
“We will. See you later.”
Travis gripped the arms of the wheelchair and squatted down in front of it. “You good?”
She rested her hand on top of his. “I am. Thanks, Travis. I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll be here as soon as you want me.”
Libby patted his shoulder. “Go on. Get out of here.”
He gave Retta a rueful smile. “I’d better leave – I know where I’m not wanted.”
He felt a hell of a lot better as he got to his feet. She didn’t say a word, but the look she gave him told him that he was wanted.
~ ~ ~
Retta set her glass down so that she didn’t spill her wine as she laughed. She was having the best time. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like this – her cheeks were aching from smiling so much.
The food was wonderful; the company was even better. Libby, Ari, and Candy couldn’t be more different. Libby had grown up here in the valley. She was a horsewoman through and through. She struck Retta as being capable – of anything. Ari used to be a lawyer. She’d only met Ace last winter, and it sounded as though she and her daughter had been through quite an ordeal. But she’d moved on with her life and had settled here in the valley with Ace. She was confident, but not bitchy. Retta liked her a lot. Candy was a surprise. She seemed like the motherly type, but she had a dry sense of humor that was the cause of much of their laughter.
Ari raised her glass, and the others picked up theirs while giving her puzzled looks.
“What are we drinking to?” Libby asked.
“To welcome our new friend, Retta.”
She smiled around at them. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to stay?” asked Candy.
“I am.”
“With Travis?” Ari waggled her eyebrows.
“I … yes.”
Libby grinned. “You guys didn’t waste any time – you’re moving in with him?”
“Sort of. He’s just letting me stay at his place for now, while I figure things out.”
“Yeah, right,” said Candy. “You mean, he’s only calling it staying at his place until he figures out how to persuade you to make it permanent.”
“I don’t know yet. I … I’d like to think it might work out that way.”
Ari nodded. “I believe it will. You’re smart to take it one step at a time.”
She nodded. “This feels smart. We’re being honest with each other. There’s something there between us …”
Candy laughed. “Yeah – something like fireworks! Trav’s sexy …” She looked around at the others. “What?” She looked down at her now empty glass. “It’s not just the wine talking. He is! I mean, he’s not my type but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate sexy when I see it.”
Ari laughed. “I’ll admit it – I think he’s sexy too.”
Libby sat back in her seat. “Don’t look at me! I see all of those guys as brothers. For one thing, I’ve known them since we were all kids, and for another …” She shuddered. “It’d feel almost incestuous to think about any of them that way.” She smiled at Retta. “I can tell you that he has the biggest heart of any of them.”
“I …” Retta looked around at them. “I haven’t dated anyone in the longest time. I’ve never dated anyone like him. And … it doesn’t even feel like dating.” She looked at Ari. “Like you said, it feels smart to take things one step at a time, and more than that it feels … I don’t know … real … that we’re talking about everything as we go. I’ve never had a relationship like that.” She shrugged. “I suppose it’s just a grown-up relationship – and that’s not something I’m used to. It’s been so long since I was in a relationship, I wasn’t even really a grown up back then.”
The other three women smiled at her.
“What?” she asked. “Now I feel stupid for having admitted that.”
“Don’t!” said Candy. “It’s far from stupid. I don’t think a lot of people ever get to experience a relationship like that. You might call it grown up, but I think it has less to do with age and more to do with … maturity?”
“And personality,” added Ari.
Retta felt bad that Libby had dropped her gaze and was fiddling with her napkin. She didn’t know much about her story with her ex-husband, but she knew that there was a lot of hurt there.
“Anyway, enough about me.” She raised her glass. “I want to drink to you guys. I always wanted to have a group of girlfriends, and now I do.”
They all clinked their glasses together, and Libby held her gaze.
She laughed, feeling a little self-conscious. “Why are you looking at me like that? Was I too presumptuous – including myself in your group of friends?”
“Hell no!” Libby smiled. “If I had a funny look on my face, it was because you surprised me.”
“In what way?”
“I would have thought that you had a whole bunch of girlfriends at home.”
Candy nodded. “I don’t mind telling you that I was a little intimidated.”
“By me?” Retta asked incredulously.
Candy nodded.
“Me too,” said Ari.
She shook her head in disbelief. “What on earth is there about me that would intimidate anyone?”
Libby laughed. “Well, for starters, you’re so damn attractive.”
“And you’re so sweet,” said Ari.
“And I thought that you’d be the kind of woman who has loads of friends. You know – that you might be the cliquey type,” said Candy.
Retta couldn’t help laughing. “That’s so not me – any of it!”
Candy met her gaze. “You can’t deny that you’re beautiful, and you’re a real sweetheart. It looks like I’m the only one who had it wrong – and I’m glad I did. I’m glad you’re just as down to earth as the rest of us.”
She nodded. “If it makes you feel any better, I had it just as wrong about you guys. I was nervous that you all might be a bit cliquey, and I’d be the odd one out.”
Libby grinned at her. “You’ve got no worries about that with us. I think we’re all used to being the odd one out, and so we’ve joined up to be a whole bunch of odd ones together.”
They all laughed and raised their glasses again.
Their server came over to see if they wanted another bottle of wine. Retta was glad when they all shook their heads. She’d had a great time, but she didn’t need any more to drink and she was hoping that they were going to wrap things up soon. She was a little concerned about how much this evening was going to cost. She’d be able to cover her part of the check, but the prices on the menu and the wine list had made her hope that this place wasn’t their regular spot for a night out. As much as she’d enjoyed it, she wouldn’t be able to come here often.
Ari looked around the table at them. “What do you think, is it time to get the check and call the guys?”
“Yeah. This has been great, but it’s time to call it a night,” said Libby.
“Can we get the check?” Candy asked the server.
He smiled and shook his head. “Sorry ladies, I don’t have one for you.”
Retta frowned, not understanding.
Ari just laughed. “Who got it this time – the sheriff?”
“Not this time.”
“Who then?” Libby asked. “I doubt Ace took care of it again – he paid last time.”
Retta’s heart started to pound; she had a feeling she knew what the server was going to say – and she was right.
“Mr. Duke paid for your evening.” He grinned at them. “And a left very generous tip on top.”
They all smiled at Retta, and she shrugged. “What are you looking at me for?”
Ari laughed. “Because it’s like he … claimed you.”
Libby nodded. “I hope you’re …”
She nodded rapidly. “I am. I …” She couldn’t hide her smile. “Part of me feels a little embarrassed, part of me is uncomfortable, but mostly …”
The three of them were watching her expectantly. She hugged herself and grinned at them. “I’m excited!”
Candy nodded. “You should be. You’ve got yourself a good man there.”
~ ~ ~
Ace laughed when he caught Travis checking the time again. “They’ll be done when they’re done. You might as well relax.”
Travis rolled his eyes. “She was a bit nervous, that’s all.”
“She was? What about?” Deacon asked.
“She likes the girls, but she’s not good with groups of women.”
Ace cocked an eyebrow. “You surprise me. I would have thought that she was used to being part of groups like that – that she enjoyed it. I mean, she works with a cheerleading squad, right? That seems to me as though it’d be nothing but groups of women. The kids, their parents … I dunno, I just imagined that she’d be the sociable type.”
“She is – sociable. It’s just that … it sounds like she’s had to deal with some bitchy types, so she’s a bit gun shy.”
Deacon nodded. “I remember when Cady was younger. Her mom was real good at causing trouble.” He shuddered. “Groups of women can be scarier than anything.”
Travis laughed at the look on his face, but Deacon shook his head.
“I’m not joking. Some women can be vicious.”
Travis’s smile faded as he remembered what Retta had told him about her accident – about Jamie, the mom from school who had it in for her.
“What’s up, bud?” Ace asked.
“Just that I think Retta had a run in with one of those vicious women.”
Deacon frowned. “Anything we need to know about?”
He opened his mouth but then closed it again. “Maybe at some point. Although, if she’s going to stay here, then it won’t be an issue.”
“Whatever she told you, she told you in confidence?” asked Ace.
He nodded.
“Well, if it’s history from her life in Georgia, then it’s behind her,” Deacon said with a smile. “But if it comes back around, we’ve got you. Okay?”
Travis grinned at him. “Thanks, Chief.” He leaned back on the sofa, and Deacon’s cat Clawson jumped up beside him.
“What’s up, furball?” he asked as he scratched Clawson’s ears.
The cat met his gaze and meowed loudly.
“He always did like you,” said Deacon.
“It’s mutual, isn’t it?” Travis asked the cat.
Clawson circled around on his lap before settling down.
Ace laughed. “You’re just a pair of pussy cats together.”
Travis grinned at him. “I’m more of a teddy bear than a pussy cat.”
Deacon shook his head. “You are – just don’t go being too soft, too soon.”
“What do you mean?”
Deacon shrugged. “Retta seems nice enough, but did you need to move her in with you already?”
He had to laugh. “Aww, look at you, looking out for me.”
Deacon made a face. “Always have, always will. We all look out for each other – it’s just that some of us do it more quietly.”
Travis grinned at Ace. “Do you think he’d run if I tried to hug him right now?”
Ace laughed. “Probably.”
“You’d disturb Clawson if you got up,” said Deacon. “But are you going to answer the question?”
“Yeah. I haven’t actually moved her in. She needs a place to stay. She’s helping me get the cabins ready. I have way more house than I need so …” He shrugged “It makes sense for her to stay with me.”
“So, you’re saying that she hasn’t moved in with you?” Ace asked. “That this isn’t going where I think it is?”
He grinned. “I’m trying to put Deacon’s mind at ease. Just saying that technically, I haven’t moved her in. I hope that it will go where you think, but we’re trying to be smart about it and take our time. Making no promises but being honest about our hopes.”
Ace grinned back at him. “I like the sound of that.”
Travis looked at Deacon.
He still looked grouchy for a moment or two but then he smiled. “Alright! I like the sound of it, too. And I’m hopeful. Don’t know if I’ve told you yet, but I’m glad you’re home. And if you’ve found your woman, I guess that makes it even better.”
“Aww, thank you, buddy.” He petted Clawson. “You tell him that you’ve earned yourself a tin of tuna or something special – if you weren’t on my lap, I’d have to hug him right now.”
Deacon’s phone beeped, and he picked it up off the table with a smile.
Ace grinned at Travis when their phones both beeped too. Travis dug his out of his pocket.
Retta: We’re all done. And THANK YOU for dinner. You didn’t have to do that!
Travis: I was happy to. Did you have a good time?
Retta: The best! I LOVE these ladies!
He chuckled. He didn’t know if she was so enthusiastic because she’d had a great time or because she’d had a few drinks. Either way, he was happy for her.
Deacon and Ace both put their phones away and Clawson jumped down and stalked away into the kitchen.
“We all good to go?” Deacon asked.
“Yep,” said Ace.
“Do you do it this way every time?” Travis asked. “I mean, go in separate vehicles?”
The other guys laughed.
“We do,” said Deacon.
“And when you pick Retta up, I reckon you’ll understand why,” said Ace.
“Give me a clue?”
Deacon laughed. “They like to have a glass of wine or three. And on the drive back home, you’ll have as much as you can handle. No one man should ever have to drive two or three of them together.”
He had to laugh. “Well, alrighty then. I’m glad you told me. And thanks for letting me pay for them.”
Deacon grinned at him. “Not a problem. I reckon it’ll have earned you some brownie points.”
Before they climbed in their vehicles, Ace asked, “Are you taking Retta home with you tonight? Did you move her in already?”
“I am. We talked to Callie and Kolby about moving her this morning, and we’ll go back and collect her stuff over the next few days, but I made the most of the fact that we didn’t know how late she’d be out tonight to say that she might as well just come back with me.”
“Good for you,” said Ace.
“It is,” Deacon agreed as he climbed into his truck. “But it won’t be good for any of us if we take too long getting up there to collect them.”
“Are you saying that Candy would get mad at you?” Travis asked. “I can’t imagine that.”
Ace laughed. “No. He’s worried about them ordering another bottle of wine if they have to wait too long.”
Travis laughed as he climbed into his own truck. He was loving this. He loved hanging out with his friends, loved seeing them in their new roles as partners to some amazing women – and loved even more that he was hopefully on the verge of joining them in that role.
When they reached the restaurant and went inside, he could see what the guys meant about no one man having to drive all the women home. Ari was chattering away with the girl behind the bar, Candy threw her arms around Deacon as though she hadn’t seen him for months, and Libby and Retta were giggling together as though they were sharing the funniest secret.
Travis frowned as he approached them. “Tell me you’re not thinking about driving home, Libb?”
“Pft!” She waved a hand at him. “You know better than that, Trav.”
“How are you getting home then?”
She pointed to the end of the bar. “Brent’s going to give me a ride.”
Travis narrowed his eyes. Brent was someone they’d grown up with, but he’d never been one of their close friends. He was a decent enough guy from what Travis knew of him, but it just sat wrong. It was the starkest reminder he’d had yet that Libby and Mav really weren’t together anymore.
“We can take you.”
She scowled at him. “Why would I let you ride all the way up to town for me, and then all the way back home? Retta here needs to get to bed.” She waggled her eyebrows, and Retta’s cheeks turned pink.
“I’m fine. I don’t mind.” She gave Travis a questioning look.
“Well, I do,” Libby said adamantly. “You’re going to have to get used to how things are around here these days, Trav. Mav’s gone – long gone. And I have my own life, and I’m living it. Brent’s a friend, and a neighbor. He gives me a ride sometimes.”
He sucked in a deep breath. He could just imagine how Mav would react if he heard her say that.
Ace put a hand on his shoulder. “You might as well drop it, Trav. I know how you feel, but …”
Travis met his gaze. Ace had been here for the last several years – he managed the ranch for Mav. He’d been there with Libby through it all. He’d know how things stood better than any of them.
Deacon wrangled Candy over to join them. “We’re going to head home.” He frowned at Libby before glancing over at Brent. “You good, Libb?”
She scowled back at him. “I am perfectly fine, thank you.” She turned back to Retta. “You call me tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.” She looked up at Travis before glancing over at Brent. “Is everything really alright?”
Libby let out a short, bitter laugh. “Everything is just fine and dandy. These guys are just being … guys.”
With that, she got up and nodded at them before sauntering over to the end of the bar where Brent was sitting.
Travis didn’t know what to do with that. Instead of even trying to wrap his head around it, he squatted down in front of Retta.
“Did you have a good time?”
“The best!”
He chuckled. “You ready to go home?”
She nodded happily.
Once they were outside, he waited, and they waved the others off before he scooped her up out of her chair.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. She laughed. “You really are a teddy bear – you even have a furry face.”
He laughed and held her a little closer. “Glad you like it, darlin’.”
“I do. It’s much softer than I thought it’d be.”
He sat her in the passenger seat and then brushed his lips over hers. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer, surprising him when she landed a kiss on his lips.
“I’m glad I did, too. You’re awesome!”
He chuckled. “Thanks. You want to go home?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I may have had too much wine.”
“You reckon?”
She shrugged. “Everything is relative. But I can tell you that I’ve had just the right amount to make me wish my leg was healed.”
He didn’t understand.
She waggled her eyebrows. “Like you said, this cast is slowing us down.”
He swallowed. “It is, but if it’s any consolation, even without your cast, I wouldn’t be making a move on you tonight, darlin’.”
“Oh.”
He had to laugh at her crestfallen expression. “Because I won’t take advantage of you when you’ve had one too many.”
She gave him a guilty little smile. “I believe I may have had a few too many.”
“I believe you may be right. Let’s get you home.”
Once they were out on the highway, he glanced over at her. She was resting her elbows on the console as she stared at him.
“What?” he asked with a smile.
“Just thinking.”
“Thinking what?”
“That when I get this cast off, I’m going to be much more sensible about how much I drink.”
He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Any idea how long it’ll be?”
She giggled. “Not soon enough. I have an appointment with Trip next week, so I guess we’ll see.”