Chapter Twenty-Seven
“How about going for a picnic?”
Travis looked up from the writing desk to see Anna in the doorway. Had he heard her correctly?
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s midday now, and I’m starving. How about you and I take some food and go outside for a picnic? Do something different.” She twisted her fingers together. “I mean, you and I should have a break, and it’s something we could do…”
She was nervous about suggesting something. Smiling, he put his pen down.
“I think that’s a good idea. Where are we going?”
“Perfect!” Anna beamed. “There’s a spot that I know of. It’ll be wonderful. I’ll tell Mrs. Mason to finish packing the basket.”
“Finish? You mean she started before you asked me?”
“Maybe.”
Then she was gone before Travis could respond.
Shaking his head with a smile, he put the blotting paper on top of his letter and pressed down.
This could wait until later. Travis hadn’t even gotten far with describing what was happening with him and his wife, and he’d already finished two pages. How was that possible?
That was showing that things were going well.
Anna was making just as much effort as he was to their marriage, and now it was beginning to feel like a partnership.
Travis was more than happy to let Anna take the lead, and he wasn’t afraid to say if something needed to change or simply back her up when needed.
He didn’t overrule her or do anything to embarrass her.
Their conversations were more productive, and Anna seemed to be taking it all on board. It was better, and Travis liked it.
His future was feeling a lot better than he thought. Now he was getting into the ranch life, enjoying the hard work, with a wife who was not a fading wildflower and showed a strength that exceeded his. He couldn’t help but admire her for that.
He wasn’t going to admit that to Peggy in the letter, though. Then again, Peggy wouldn’t need him to do that; she could take one look at his letter and know that there was something going on.
Locking up the desk, he headed through the house and into the kitchen. Anna and Mrs. Mason were packing a basket, a blanket rolled up on the table beside it. Mrs. Mason gestured at the window.
“Make the most of this weather. It’s beautiful today, and it’s going to get warmer, so make sure you’re under a tree in some shade.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mrs. Mason,” Anna replied, picking up the basket. Travis could hear it creaking, indicating that it was very heavy, but she barely flinched as she held it in one hand. “Shall we?”
“Do you want me to carry that?”
She looked as if she was going to turn him down, but then decided against it. She nodded and passed the basket to him. Travis was surprised she could lift it off the ground. Anna was far stronger than he realized, and he kept forgetting that.
“Have a good time,” Mrs. Mason said, handing the blanket to Anna. “And take your time. We’ve got things covered here, so enjoy yourselves.”
“We will,” Anna remarked. But she looked grateful as she turned away. “We’ll be back soon.”
Travis followed her outside and into the backyard. Anna pointed toward the orchard.
“There’s a lovely place on the other side of the orchard. It’s quiet and cool, which is ideal on a day like this.”
“All right.” Travis adjusted his hold on the basket as they walked. “We should’ve gotten Emily and Connor to join us as well.”
“Why?”
“Well, you saw them last night. During dinner, they were talking to each other so much we might as well have not been there.”
Anna giggled.
“I know. It’s not something I’ve seen from Emily before. It’s only around Connor that she behaves that way.”
“How long has she liked him?” Travis asked.
“I have no idea, but I can tell the feeling is mutual. And that’s sweet. Emily needs a good man in her life.”
“You mean after she tried to find one for you?” Travis chuckled.
Anna shrugged, carrying on without saying anything.
Travis followed her, trying to keep his feet on sturdy ground instead of on apples.
He’d picked apples from the trees before, and he’d twisted his ankle standing on fallen fruit that he hadn’t noticed.
They were very deceptive and were hidden well by the grass.
It was cooler going through the orchard, and the breeze was pleasant.
Travis was tempted to suggest they stay under the trees instead of going to Anna’s special place, but she was walking ahead without looking back.
She was determined to get to her specific spot.
She seemed to be eager to show him her place.
When she got there, Travis had to adjust his hold on the basket before it slipped from his hand.
It was a small clearing with a creek twisting through the grass, surrounded by trees.
He could smell the flowers nearby, wafting gently in the breeze.
There were a few flat rocks near the creek, and that was where Anna went.
She opened the blanket and laid it on one of the rocks.
Then she sat down and began to take off her shoes.
Travis frowned. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to dip my feet in the water.” Anna swiveled around so her back was to him, and then her stockings were on top of her shoes.
“Now I know why you chose this place,” Travis remarked, placing the basket on the rock next to her before settling down.
He could see Anna slowly swinging her legs in the water, her toes touching the stones beneath the surface, the water going up to just above her ankles.
She sat back on her hands and let out a sigh of relief.
“Now that feels better. You should try it.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Travis divested himself of his boots and socks. The shock of the cold water made him gasp, but it eventually started to feel soothing. He could feel the gentle current press against his ankles, the water lapping around him.
“It’s remarkable. This place feels like it could be in another world.”
“It’s been untouched for years. Pa called it a little paradise.” A slight smile passed over Anna’s mouth. “He and Ma used to come here when they first married, just to feel like they were escaping from life on the ranch. After I was born, they used to bring me here and let me play in the creek.”
“I can see why. It’s beautiful here.” Travis lifted his head and sniffed. “And you can’t even smell the animals and the manure from here.”
Anna laughed, and Travis felt it ripple over him.
Anna didn’t laugh often, but when she did, it was a beautiful sound.
He could hear it all day happily. He reached into the basket and brought out a plate of sandwiches, which had somehow not been squished.
He selected one with ham and held out the plate to Anna, who picked out a sandwich with cheese.
“What was your mother like?” he asked.
Anna’s smile faded a little, and she shrugged, taking a tiny bite of her sandwich.
“I was very young when she died, so my memories of her are far and few between. She was gentle, loving, caring, and compassionate. An absolute sweetheart, Pa used to say. And those in town who knew her always said I looked just like her spitting image.”
“And are you?”
“Pa has a grainy photograph of her, and she does look a lot like me.” Anna sighed. “I wish she were here. She would know what to do. Apparently, she was better at business than Pa. She was someone who kept going and going until she got what she wanted. ”
Travis couldn’t help but smile at that. “Why does that sound vaguely familiar?”
“You think I’m like that?”
Travis chuckled. “Just a little bit. You’re certainly tenacious. I’m sure your mother would be proud of you.”
A slight blush spread across Anna’s cheeks. She continued eating her sandwich in silence, staring into the water. Travis watched her, observing the high cheekbones, the straight nose, and the smooth jawline. Her profile was lovely.
It made him want to lean over and kiss her. He stopped himself, though. Anna was lost in thought, and he wasn’t about to spring it on her.
“I miss it,” she said quietly.
“What?”
“Being carefree. I had some of it when Pa was alive, when I was merely working the ranch. I felt like myself, and I enjoyed life. But then he died, and I… I became the owner. It’s what I want to do, and I know I can do it well, but there are days when I feel overwhelmed.
” She lowered her hands into her lap. “I feel like I’m going to lose everything, and it makes me on edge.
I find it hard to hand anything over to anyone else.
Even Connor, and I trust him implicitly. ”
Travis listened in silence. He’d suspected that Anna was carrying a lot more than she admitted on her shoulders, and she was starting to lower her guard around him. This admission was the most honest thing he’d ever heard from her.
“What will help you be carefree and happy again?” he asked.
She shrugged.
“I don’t know. I’m not entirely sure if I can get back to it.” She bit her lip and glanced at him, suddenly looking shy. “I feel it again. Right now.”
“You do?”
“When I’m around you, I feel like I’m more like myself. That I’m getting back to normal, and I can forget everything else.” Now her face was going very red, and she looked away. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
Travis was touched. He hadn’t thought he was making an impact on the ranch, and now she’d shown that it was working. He touched her back.
“Then it’s a good thing that you’re stuck with me, isn’t it?” he jested. “Because you can’t exactly get rid of me now.”
Anna glanced at him, and then she huffed, a smile spreading across her face. She didn’t pull away as Travis tugged her over to lean on his shoulder. They fell into silence, the only sound coming from the creek.
Contentment spilled through him as he breathed her in.