Chapter Nineteen
On Wednesday afternoon, Travis left Retta in the cabin against his better judgment. She was determined that she wanted to finish up in the kitchen before she called it quits for the day. He had to run up to town to pick up a delivery that had arrived at the hardware store. He wanted to take her with him, but she shooed him off with reassurances that she’d be finished by the time he got back.
As he was pulling away from the cabin, he saw Shayna’s ranch truck approaching. He waited for her and put the window down when she pulled up alongside him.
“Hey, Travis.”
“How’s it going, honey?”
“Great thanks.”
“I hope you’re not working too hard.”
She laughed. “I’m not, I promise. Everyone keeps saying that to me, but you guys don’t get it. I’m much happier when I have lots to do. I’d be miserable otherwise.” She fiddled with her necklace and said, “I’m just a naturally busy bee.”
He chuckled. “Fair enough. You know what’s best for you. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“And I appreciate it. How are you? How’s Retta doing?” She glanced at the cabin. “Is she still in there?”
He gave her a rueful smile. “She is. I have to head up to town, and she says she’s not done so she can’t come with me.”
“Do you think she’d mind some company?”
“I think she’d love it. She loves hanging out with you.”
“Aww. I love hanging out with her – she’s awesome.”
“She is. If you want to go in and see her, I think she’d love that, and it’d make me happier knowing that she’s not by herself. I have to get going.”
“Okay. It’s good to see you. Ty said you’re coming to lunch on Sunday, so if I don’t see you before, I’ll see you then.”
“You sure will. Do you hear much from Alma and Davin?”
“I do! I talk to them all the time; I miss them. They said they’re going to come visit as soon as they can.”
“I hope they will. Give them my best when you talk to them, will you?”
“Of course.”
As he drove up East River Road, it occurred to him that Shay looked up to Retta as a kind of mother figure. She’d lost her own mom a few years back, and her dad when she was just a kid. Before she moved here to be with Ty, Alma and Davin had taken her into the family that they’d pulled together, and he was glad that she was still close with them. He also liked – for her sake, and for Retta’s – that the two of them got along so well. Newcomers to the valley sometimes found it hard to fit in. Retta and Shayna had landed on their feet; they had a whole big group of family, and friends who were as good as family.
When his phone rang and the name Ace appeared on the screen, he hit the button on the steering wheel to answer.
“What’s up, Mr. Zielinski? What can I do you for?”
Ace laughed. “Greetings, Mr. Duke. I wanted to check in with you about tonight.”
“You mean what we’re going to do with ourselves while the women are out?”
“Kind of. What we’re going to do is easy – we’re going to hang out at Deacon’s place. Have a single beer while we wait to be summoned to collect them and take them home again.”
“True. What do you mean, then?”
Ace sounded more serious. “I mean, what are we going to do about Libby?”
“Shit. You’re right. Do you know what her plans are?”
“No. I was wondering if you knew.”
“She’s still at the barn right now. I could tell her that she can stay in one of the cabins tonight. If she wants to go straight to The Riverside from my place, we could take her and then bring her back with us when I pick Retta up. I know she won’t stay at the house, but she might take a cabin.”
Ace blew out a sigh. “You can try. But I doubt she’ll do it. She’ll want to go home first to get showered and changed.”
“True. I’d say that we’ll drive her home, but she wouldn’t go for that last time. I … she’s not seeing Brent, is she?”
“Not as far as I know, and you can bet your ass the gossips would have gotten hold of it if she were. I don’t even know that he’d be the one to give her a ride home tonight. That’s the trouble – I don’t know what she’s planning.”
“You know, we could just ask her.”
Ace laughed. “You could. I’ve learned my lesson there. You have to remember that we’ve been doing this for a while. We’ve all suggested that we could drive her home or that she could stay over, and we’ve had our heads bitten off for it.”
“Right.” Travis thought about it for a few moments.
“No bright ideas?” Ace asked.
“Maybe. I’ll call you back.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Trip. If Shelly’s coming, he might be interested in playing chauffeur for her. If that’s the case, they could give Libby a ride. Shelly lives in town.”
“That might work. That’s one of the reasons that Libby gets so mad about us offering – we’d all have to go at least thirty miles out of our way to take her. Trip’s only ten miles from town, and if he’s taking Shelly anyway …”
“I don’t know that he is. He hasn’t called me back. I reckon Retta might know before I do what the deal is there – she’s talking to Shelly.”
“Let me know when you figure it out, would you? If Trip isn’t the answer, I’m going to offer again. She’ll only get mad at me, but I have to try.”
“Is Mav giving you a hard time?”
Ace laughed. “Mav’s just being Mav. I don’t think he knows that Libb gets rides home from different guys when the girls go out, but there’s something different about him lately. Have you noticed it?”
“Nope. It’s hard to notice anything when the fucker won’t return my calls.”
“Shit. Still?”
“Yup. I’m going to have to try him again soon. If he wants to be mad at me about Libby moving, fair enough. But I think I want to give him a hard time.”
“About?”
“About the fact that he hasn’t shown any interest in me and Retta being together. It’s a big deal in my life. I don’t care if he’s mad at me about Libb. I want to share my news with him.”
Ace laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“I know, but I am who I am. It’s important to me and I like to share the important things in my life with the important people.”
“Are you going to call him now?”
Trav checked his watch. “I might give him a try. But rewind a bit – what do you think’s different about him?”
“Call me crazy but I think he’s thinking about coming home.”
Travis grinned. He couldn’t share with Ace what Bear had told him – he’d given his word that he’d keep his mouth shut, but if Ace was picking up on something, too …
“What makes you say that?”
“Nothing I can put my finger on, just a feeling. The way he talks about things being different on his ranch if Libby isn’t there anymore.”
“You think he’d retire and come home?”
“No. I don’t. I think he might be considering moving the whole operation back here.”
“Have you talked to Cash?”
“Nope. I left him a couple of messages, but he’s been gone on a job.”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see then, won’t we?”
Ace laughed. “Or you could give him a call, tell him that Libby moving off his ranch isn’t your fault, and while you’re at it, ask if he’s coming home.”
Travis grinned. “You know what? I might just do that.”
~ ~ ~
When they got to The Riverside, Retta immediately fell in love with the place. It was welcoming and down to earth. The restaurant they went to last time was wonderful, but to her, it was somewhere to go for a special occasion, not just a fun catch up evening with her friends.
All her breath caught in her chest at that thought – her friends . She had friends! Women she hadn’t even known before she came to Montana. She was now far closer with them than she’d been with the women at school, some of whom she’d known for years and years.
Travis stopped her wheelchair and leaned down to speak in her ear. “What’s wrong, darlin’?”
She smiled up at him over her shoulder. “Not a damn thing.”
He gave her a puzzled smile. “Are you sure? You just froze like you saw something, or remembered something, or …”
“Or realized something,” she told him. “It just hit me that I have friends here. I have a life here.”
He grinned. “You have me here.”
“I know – and everything else is because of you. Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be saying thank you. I …”
“Hey, Retta! Over here.”
Travis rolled his eyes at her before waving back at Ari, who was beckoning them over to a table where she and Candy were already sitting.
Retta chuckled. “I think you’re about to be dismissed.”
“I know it. You call me if you need me, okay?”
“I will.” She looked around. “Do you think Trip will come in with Libby and Shelly?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. He told me to wait for him outside.”
“Uh-oh. Is he mad that I invited Shelly, and that you roped him into driving her and Libby?”
“I don’t think so, but he wants a word with me, so maybe.”
“Tell him I said he can’t be mad at you – it’s all on me.”
He ran his hand over her hair. “It’s fine, darlin’. He’s not going to have too much of a problem. Don’t worry about it.”
He wheeled her over to the table, and Candy moved chairs out of the way so that he could maneuver her wheelchair into place. Once she was comfortable, he leaned in for a quick kiss.
“I’ll see ya later.”
“Thanks.”
Ari grinned at him. “You’re like the world’s biggest lovesick puppy. I almost feel bad for running you off, but you get to spend most of your time with her, we only get to catch up once every couple of weeks. We have a lot to catch up on – we need all the time we can get.”
“I’m going – but don’t forget that it won’t be too long until you all see each other again.”
Candy nodded happily. “Deacon’s fundraiser dinner is next weekend.”
“Oh! That’s right,” said Ari. “I feel like this calls for a shopping expedition; I want a new dress. Are you ladies up for that?” she asked.
“I am,” said Candy and turned to Retta.
“I …” she looked from them to Travis and back again. “I don’t …”
“We can manage your wheelchair, you don’t need him,” said Ari.
Travis laughed. “I didn’t imagine for a second that you’d let me come along.”
Retta smiled at him. “I’d like to go, but I think I’d have to get this shopping trip done before the cast comes off. I wouldn’t be comfortable enough to go on crutches until I’ve had a while to get used to them.”
“Oh! When does it come off?” asked Candy.
“I have an appointment with Trip later in the week; I’m hoping he’ll tell me then.”
“We’ll figure it out,” said Ari. “Even after you get the cast off, there’s no reason that you can’t still use the wheelchair, is there?”
Retta had to laugh. “You’re right. There isn’t. I need to stop thinking that it has to be one or the other.”
Travis grinned at her. “I think you do. Even when the cast’s off, I’ll keep reminding you that you can and should use the wheelchair when you need it.”
Ari grinned at him. “You make a good mother hen, Travis, but you can cluck off for now. Retta’s fine.”
Travis leaned in and kissed Retta’s cheek. “Have fun, darlin’. I know where I’m not wanted.”
She caught his hand and gave it a squeeze. He was only joking, but she needed him to know that as far as she was concerned, he was always wanted.
She watched him make his way across the restaurant and smiled when he stopped to greet Libby and Shelly as they came in.
“What do you know about her?” asked Ari.
“She’s really nice,” said Retta.
Candy laughed. “I think what Ari means is – do you know what’s going on between her and Trip?”
Retta shook her head. She had a little bit of insight from what Shelly had told her, but she didn’t know anything for sure, and even if she did, it wasn’t her place to share.
Ari gave her a knowing smile. “You’re right, it’ll be up to Shelly how much she wants to tell us.”
When Shelly and Libby arrived at the table, the others greeted them with hugs. Retta had to make do with a smile and wave. She couldn’t wait to be out of the wheelchair and back on her feet – for so many reasons.
When everyone was seated, Ari smiled around at them. “I love that our little group is growing.”
Retta exchanged a smile with Shelly. They were the two newcomers.
Libby laughed. “I can see what you’re thinking, Retta. You don’t need to put yourself on the outside as a newbie. Ari’s only lived in the valley a little while longer than you have, and Candy hasn’t been here much longer than Ari.”
The others nodded.
“And besides,” said Ari. “It’s not about how long anyone’s been here. It’s about us making new friends. Or in my case, making any friends at all.”
Retta gave her a puzzled look. Ari seemed to her like the kind of woman who would have lots of friends.
“We talked about this last time a little bit, but I don’t mind admitting that I didn’t really have friends in my old life. I knew a lot of people, I had coworkers and acquaintances, but I didn’t have close friends.” Ari smiled around at them. “Nothing like you ladies.” She smiled at Shelly. “And even though we don’t know each other yet, I’m including you in that. Especially if you want to fill us in on what’s going on between you and Trip,” she added with a laugh.
Retta tensed, hoping that Shelly wouldn’t mind Ari being so forthright – and that she wouldn’t think that Retta had told them that there was something going on.
She relaxed when Shelly laughed. “First of all, thanks for including me. I don’t have many friends either, so it’s nice to feel so welcome. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you about me and Trip.”
“There’s nothing going on between you?” Candy asked.
Shelly laughed again. “I didn’t say that – I’m not saying that there is, either. I’m just saying that no matter what happens, I don’t plan to stick around too long. From what I’ve seen, and from the way Trip talks about his friends, you ladies are here for the long haul. You’ve found your men and intend to settle here with them, right?”
“And you don’t see Trip that way?” asked Ari.
Shelly shrugged. “I don’t know yet how I see him, but it doesn’t matter. What I’m saying is that I don’t intend to settle here.”
“Do you know when you’ll move on again?” asked Retta. It was silly, Shelly had already told her that she didn’t plan to stay in the valley for long, but she was disappointed at the thought of her leaving.
“I don’t know yet. I’ll play it by ear. I thought I’d just be here for a few weeks, but then I sort of fell into the job working for Trip, and that suits us both for the time being. He’s still searching for someone permanent to fill the position, though.”
~ ~ ~
Travis leaned against his truck and tapped out a text while he waited for Trip to come back out of the restaurant after he walked Libby and Shelly inside.
Travis: Are you going to call me back or do I need to come out there to see you?
He stared at the screen. He wasn’t expecting an answer, so it was a pleasant surprise when he saw the little dots bouncing, indicating that Mav was typing a reply.
Mav: You don’t need to do that.
Travis: I do if you won’t talk to me.
Mav: I’m talking to you now.
Travis: You know what I mean. If I call you, will you pick up?
Mav: If I’m not busy.
Travis: Want to give me a clue when might be a good time?
Mav: Tomorrow. 3pm.
Travis: Ok. I’ll call you then. You still mad at me?
He sighed when the screen went dark before a reply came in. “I guess I should take that as a yes, you are,” he muttered to himself.
“Or maybe not,” he added when another message came in.
Mav: I’m not mad at you. I never was. I’m mad at myself, mad at the world, but I’m not mad at you.
Travis grinned and heaved a big sigh of relief. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but Mav’s silence since Libby had moved her horses to Travis’s place had been weighing heavy on him.
Travis: I’m glad you’re not mad at me. Don’t like the sound of the rest of it though – what’s going on?
Mav: As if you don’t know what I mean.
Travis: Libby?
Mav: Yup.
Travis: You know the only way to fix it is to come home.
Mav: Tried that last time. It didn’t work then – made things worse.
Travis: But has staying away made things any better?
Mav: No, but we can’t antagonize each other from this distance.
Travis: You can’t fix anything either.
Mav: There’s no saying that it can be fixed.
Travis: I know two things for sure – it’ll never get fixed if you don’t try, and you can’t try until you come home.
Mav: Gotta go.
Travis: I’ll call tomorrow at three.
He waited but Mav didn’t reply.
Travis: And you’re going to pick up and talk to me when I do, right? I want to tell you about Retta and me.
Mav: Right. I like her. I reckon she’s a good match for you.
Travis: She is.
Mav: You can tell me all about it tomorrow.
Travis grinned as he put his phone back in his pocket. Talking to Mav could be like pulling teeth, but he usually managed to win him over. He looked up as Trip approached.
“What are you smiling to yourself about?”
“I just talked to Mav.”
“And you’re smiling? Wow! Is that the first time you’ve managed to get through to him since the deal with Libby moving the horses?”
“Yeah. I guess I just caught him at the right moment with a text. I’m going to call him tomorrow. But enough about him, what about you? Are you mad at me, too?”
Trip laughed. “When have I ever been mad at you? And what have you done, anyway?”
“I mean about Shelly. First, we barged in on you guys the other weekend with Bear, and kind of set you guys up so that her only choice was to stay at your place. And now …” He jerked his chin toward the restaurant. “… We left you with no choice again about bringing her out tonight – and landed you with chauffeuring Libby as well.”
Trip shrugged. “I’m not mad about it – any of it.”
Travis waggled his eyebrows. “Want to tell me what’s going on, then?”
“I would if there was anything to tell.”
“You mean you’re not …?”
“Nope. She works for me.”
“Yeah, but …”
“But nothing. I can’t afford to let the personal get in the way of the professional. Of course, I find her attractive, but I’m not looking for a girlfriend. I am, on the other hand, in desperate need of an office manager, and Shelly’s amazing in that respect. You know how long I’ve been struggling to get someone. I’ve gone through so many temps and false starts. Shelly walked in and took over. Now, it’s like she’s been there for years already. She has the office – and if I’m honest, me – running like clockwork. She’s made my life easier. I don’t want to put that at risk just because I find her attractive. It’s not as though it would go anywhere. Given my track record and …”
Travis made a face. “You don’t have a track record anymore. Have you even dated a woman more than a handful of times since the divorce?”
Trip chuckled. “No. Nor do I want to. I’m fine with keeping any relationships I have short and sweet.”
“But …”
“But nothing, bud. Yes, I enjoy spending time with Shelly, but no, I don’t intend to cross that line with her. I value her too much.”
“Okay. I’ll butt out – for now. What do you think, do you want to leave your SUV here and ride over to Deacon’s place with me? I’ll bring you back when we’re summoned to collect the girls.”
“Okay. Is that how you see it – being summoned?”
Travis laughed. “Yeah, but in the best possible way. Last time they all went out like this, Retta was more than a little tipsy when I picked her up. She chattered all the way home.”
Trip grinned at him. “It doesn’t seem like you had a problem with that.”
“Far from it, it was the beginning of her really opening up. You never know, maybe Shelly will be all chatty on the way home later.”
“Even if she is, she’ll have Libby to chat with, won’t she?”
“Yeah. I’m not giving up, though. I like the idea of you and Shelly.”
“You know I hate to disappoint you, but I told you how it is. Come on, let’s get to Deacon’s before it’s time to turn around and come back again.”