Chapter 12
Will and Bobby had never seen so much snow in their lives.
They loved going out and trying to make a snow man.
They had no idea of how to make one. Deputy Travis Buchanan came by on his walks around town and saw their struggles.
He came to their rescue. He showed them how to roll the bottom snowball, the middle snowball, and the top snowball.
They found sticks for the arms, rocks for the eyes and mouth.
And Angie gave them a carrot for the nose.
She even had an old scarf to put around its neck.
They loved it. They were also ready to come in for some hot tea and sit in front of the fire to get warm.
“After helping my boys make their snowman, would you also like a hot drink to get warm?” Angie asked him.
“I’d love to get warm for a few minutes, but then I need to go back to clearing off the boardwalks for the town.
It’s a never-ending job with all this snow and more snow coming.
Thank you!” Travis told her and stomped his feet and boots to keep the snow from traipsing it into her house.
The boys did just like he did. She laughed and loved that they were learning from him what not to do when they came in from the snow.
She gave them all some hot tea and a sandwich too.
It really hit the spot. Travis liked how homey the house was.
Not a lot of frills on the curtains, but a nice rug by the rockers in front of the fireplace which the boys sat on and he sat in one of the rockers.
Angie sat in the other one. He could see all her ledgers on the table.
“How are you accounts doing? I hear your praises from the bank, the livery, the blacksmith, and Mavis didn’t know what she did before you took over her books.
I’m glad that you’re doing so well.” Travis told her and drank the tea and ate the sandwich.
She made good light bread. He almost inhaled the sandwich she had given him.
“Everyone had been very kind. I love taking care of their books. It’s something I understand and I’m good at.
I can take care of Hank, and my boys at home without any trouble.
Even when my Matthew was fighting in the war, I could handle taking care of books for businesses in towns.
We didn’t have any trouble with money. We always had a roof over our heads and food on the table, but I want a good man for them to look up to.
Henry has done that, and I couldn’t be happier.
” Angie told him and took his cup and refilled it for him.
She liked the way Travis looked in the rocker in her house with the boys at his feet.
She wished he felt a pull or tingle toward her but knew it was just friendship.
Unfortunately, she only felt friendship towards Cal.
He was such a good man but there was no spark between them.
They had a long talk last night when he came to dinner.
He had to admit that he would have loved to make her his wife, but without a spark they would have both been disappointed.
They would have to settle for being friends.
“I heard that you and Cal were seeing each other. He’s a good man. He’d love to get Will and Bobby as sons.” Travis told her quietly.
“Yes, he would. He told me those very words. But there’s no spark between us. Last night we decided that we’d be just friends. I can live with that, and so can he. It’s for the best.” Angie told him and blushed at talking to Travis about her love life or rather the lack of it.
Travis smiled. “I’m sorry, well, I’m really not sorry. I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better myself. But I didn’t want to get in Cal’s way. I didn’t know how you felt about me coming to call on you. Being a deputy, I’m not very good husband material…how do you feel about that Angie?”
“I’ve always liked you Travis, and I like how you treat my boys. I guess we’d have to see if there’s a spark between the two of us. You and Lydia seem to strike sparks off each other; I wondered if the two of you would get together.” Angie told him and grinned.
“Not in this lifetime. That is one self-centered woman. I could never live with someone like that, and I certainly couldn’t love someone who couldn’t love anyone more than herself.
I pity the man who falls in love with her.
I don’t think he’d ever be happy. To make matters worse, I don’t think that Lydia is capable of being happy with anyone other than a rich man who can afford to have servants waiting on her hand and foot.
I don’t want to be rich; money doesn’t mean that much to me…
never has. I don’t want to be poor. I want to be able to support a family, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want a big house, lots of empty rooms to have to worry about, servants to boss around…
that kind of thing doesn’t interest me.” Travis told her with a smile.
“Me either, Travis. I’m very happy with what I have right here.
This cabin is small but it’s warm and comfortable for me and the boys.
I have room to expand with the loft if it comes to that, but winter or summer, the boys have room to play.
We have food, wood to keep us warm, warm clothes to wear that are used but very serviceable.
We have no complaints. I’m with you, we have enough.
” Angie told him and were surprised that they had so much in common.
“I’ll come back to see you tonight when I have more time to talk.
If you need anything shoot a gun in the air, and I’ll be here as soon as I can get here.
Thanks for the tea, sandwich, and permission to court you.
” Travis told her and kissed her cheek as he left.
He was feeling really good about seeing more of Angie that very night.
So did Angie. She had felt a thrill when Travis just kissed her cheek.
The day seemed to be unending. He and Red cleared the entire boardwalk from snow and looked at the sky as if daring it to drop any more snow on the clear boards.
They both went to get some hot dinner and to meet up to begin the walks all over again tonight.
Travis was already looking forward to seeing Angie again.
He wanted to see what it would be like to kiss her on the lips instead of the cheek.
With being cooped up inside for the last four days, the saloons were hopping with frustrated males hoping to get lucky with the whores they had working there.
Some of the men were not wanting to wait their turn.
Travis wasn’t putting up with any of their lip or their threats.
He gave them the option of waiting their turn here in the saloon or waiting their turn in jail.
They almost always chose to wait in the saloon.
He only had to lock up three men who pulled their guns to shoot the other two men in line before them.
Travis told them they were fools. They were going to have a lot longer to wait in jail than they would have had to in the saloon.
After being cursed out, they settled down to sleep it out.
Red finally told him to take off. They were officially off duty. Travis didn’t need to be told twice. He headed to Angie’s and knocked softly on the door. She opened it up to him. She even had a piece of cobbler waiting for him to eat. It was better than good.
“How was your evening walking on the boardwalks?” Angie asked him as they settled in the rockers.
“I get really tired of telling the same men to settle down and just take their turn with the whores or I’ll lock them up.
Tonight I had three men who decided it would be a whole lot quicker if they just shot the other two men in front of them.
I did lock them up to keep them from killing each other.
When they’re sober, they’re friends. The whore didn’t like me taking her customers away from her, and the men weren’t happy having to leave without getting her services.
But at least no one got killed.” Travis told her.
“You are a really good cook, Angie. I noticed the bread today with the sandwich was really light and this cobbler is just as good. My sister-in-law is an exceptional cook, but you are just as good.”
“What a nice compliment, Travis, thank you. I’ve heard that Sam excels at everything she does. Being compared to her is high praise.” Angie told him and smiled and took his plate and fork away and put it in her sink. She turned and went back to talk to him.
“Sam told us that Lydia came to the Mercantile the other day before it snowed and looked around but didn’t buy anything.
She did meet her though. She said that she thought she was nice.
She did compliment Sam on her kids. She told her they were beautiful.
Sam told us they didn’t have any mud in their hair, so that was good.
” Travis told her and they both laughed.
“Mavis told Lynn at the clinic that Lydia is painting. I actually bought a vase she had done. It’s beautiful and very well done.
Mavis is having her paint all the pottery that comes in and some wood jewelry boxes and items like that.
As long as she can keep her busy, that’s great.
She is also making her learn to cook, clean, wash clothes, and take care of herself.
I gather hearing Mavis talk it was not an altogether pleasant task.
Mavis had never thought her sister was doing Lydia any favors treating her like a princess and having servants doing it all for her instead of making her independent. ” Angie told Travis and saw him nod.
“Well, we both saw how she was when we traveled here. She had clearly never been asked to do anything for herself before in her life. How that can happen is beyond me. I don’t think she had ever brushed her hair before we started on the trip to Angel Falls.
If anyone can get her to work its Mavis!
” Travis told her and they both laughed.
“Morning comes pretty early; I need to take off and let you get some sleep. But I sure liked coming and seeing you. I hope you’ll let me come back and see you again, even if it’s just to get another piece of cobbler. ”
Angie smiled, “I’d love to have you come back and see me again.
I can’t promise to have any cobbler left.
Remember that I have two growing boys in my house, and they seem to eat everything that isn’t under lock and key.
I like talking to you, Travis. Come back anytime.
My door is always open to you.” By now, they had both stood up and walked to the front door.
Travis leaned down and lightly kissed Angie on the lips.
It was as if lightning struck them both.
Travis had never had this reaction from kissing a woman in his life…
Angie hadn’t had a reaction like this since she had fell in love with Matthew, her first husband.
They parted and looked at each other. Angie put her hands to her lips.
“Oh, my!” She told him and looked at him with wonder!
“Hell, woman! You should have a sign on you that says lethal!” Travis told her and then pulled her to him for another kiss. This one was much longer and more passionate. Angie put her arms around him this time and the kiss sent both of them spinning.
Travis knew that when they made love, not if, the ground would leave them, and they would spiral out of control.
He couldn’t wait for that to happen. “Sleep well, Angie. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
” He kissed her quickly and then slipped out the door and closed it behind him so she wouldn’t lose any of the heat in the house.
Angie put the bar down and leaned against it.
Good Lord! The man just kissed her, and she totally forgot everything else!
Her mind became mush, her knees threatened to buckle on her…
it was a good thing that Travis was so strong, and she was holding onto his shoulders.
One kiss and she knew that they had that connection that was missing between Cal and herself.
She smiled…already thinking about the dreams she would have tonight about Travis.
Travis whistled all the way to his little room in the storeroom.
He couldn’t wait to see Angie again. He also couldn’t believe the way he felt from just kissing her.
Hell, he was almost thirty years old, and he felt like a young kid kissing his first girl!
He sat on his bed and just thought about Angie.
She wasn’t a young girl; she had been married and had two small boys that Travis loved being around.
He loved building that snowman today with them.
Imagine already having two little boys to love and show how to do things…
like Tate and Sam do with their children.
Travis couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come, so that he could see them again.