Roughneck Cowboy (12 page)

Travis couldn't imagine the hurt and anger his father must have felt at his wife's betrayal.

“Charlotte taught your father a valuable lesson.”

“What's that?”

“Money and power will never win over true love.”

“I'm grateful to you for telling me this, Juanita.”

“Your father's a good man.”

His father had been wronged by his wife and neighbor, but until Dominick let go of the past, there would be no happiness for the Cartwrights and the Sanderses.

 

“'M
ORNING
, C
OLE
.” Sara entered the tack room in the barn early Monday morning.

Her brother perused her up and down. “A buddy of mine spotted a truck pulling away from your house at three-thirty in the morning yesterday.”

Sara's face flushed and she cursed her embarrassment. She was a grown woman who had a right to her privacy—not that anyone in and around Tulapoint knew the definition of the word
privacy
. By now, the locals were buzzing with the news of Travis's late-night visit. “Did you send your friend to spy on me?”

“Hardly. Kenny's been dating the widow who lives down the block from you.” Cole grinned. “He must have
been sneaking out of her house the same time Travis was sneaking out of yours.”

Sara swatted her brother's shoulder. “I didn't know Kenny was seeing Susie Cummings.” Sara minded her own business, which meant she was the last one to find out the latest gossip.

“How was the Oilmen's Ball?”

“Lots of stuffed shirts and fancy food.” She smiled at the memory of her dance partners. “Mostly old people.”

“So, did you and Travis…” Cole waggled his eyebrows.

Her brother appeared insistent on sticking his nose where it didn't belong. “Mind your own business.”

He grabbed a can of linseed oil from a shelf, unscrewed the cap, soaked a rag and went to work polishing a saddle. “You've got that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The look that says you did it.”

She played dumb. “Did what?”

“The down'n'dirty with Cartwright.”

She and Travis had
made love
, but she wasn't about to argue terminology with her brother. “I didn't drive all the way out here to discuss my sex life.”

“So the schoolteacher got herself a little nookie, eh?”

“Knock it off. There's something serious I need to discuss with you.”

His face sobered. “I'm listening.”

There was no easy way to broach the subject, so she got right to the point. “What would you think if Travis and I began dating seriously?”

Her brother set aside the rag. “How seriously?”

“Very.”

“Ah, you have
serious
feelings for Travis.”

“Yes.” She rubbed at an imaginary spot on her pants. “I'm scared and I don't want to get hurt again.” What she felt for Travis didn't compare to what she'd felt for Josh.

“What makes you believe Travis will hurt you?”

Be honest
. Cole had been the one to wipe her tears after Josh had trampled her heart. “I don't know what Travis sees in me. He could do a lot better than plain-looking me.”

Several seconds passed before Cole spoke. “You have a lot to interest a man, Sara. Don't sell yourself short. You have a college degree. A steady job. You're independent and you own a home. And you've never shied away from hard work.”

“Sounds like you're describing a man, not a woman.” She shoved a hand through her hair. “Travis doesn't need a woman with a steady job. Or an education. Or one willing to work hard.”

“What are you getting at?” Cole asked.

“Travis could get any woman he wanted. Why me?” Cole opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand. “And don't tell me I'm attractive—I hate that word. People use that word to describe someone who…who…looks like me. Plain.”

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, sis. If Travis likes what he sees, who are you to argue with him?”

She worried that Travis might view her in a different light once the excitement of a new relationship wore off. Tears welled in her eyes and Cole pulled her close for a hug. “I know Josh hurt you real bad. But don't let what he did ruin the rest of your life. You're older.
Wiser. Trust your heart. Don't let Josh's betrayal keep you from finding happiness with another man.”

“Thanks.” Sara squeezed her brother's ribs.

“What about Travis's daughter? How will she react when she learns her teacher likes her father?”

“Charlie and I get along great. I don't think she'll mind in the least if Travis and I date.”

“Does Dominick know Travis has feelings for you?”

“I doubt he'll approve, but Travis doesn't seem worried.” She sniffed. “You never answered my question—how do
you
feel about me dating a Cartwright?”

“If Travis makes you happy, then see him all you want.”

“Travis promised he'd make Dominick treat us fairly if we decide to do business with him.”

“Are you considering a drilling lease with Cartwright Oil?”

If she and Travis were determined to give their relationship their all, then she had to mend fences with her neighbor. “Dominick phoned this morning with an offer.”

“And…?”

“Ten thousand dollars per acre. He wants access to two hundred acres.”

Cole whistled low. “That's two million a year in revenue.”

And five times the amount of other bids. “We're running out of options,” she said.

“Yeah, we are.”

Sara kissed her brother's cheek. “Thanks for listening.”

“Let me know what you decide about the bid.”

“I'll keep you posted.” She headed to the car, where she found a text message waiting on her cell phone. Travis had invited her out for dinner. She texted back, suggesting they eat at her house. Travis agreed, offering to bring a pizza. Thoughts of Dominick and oil leases fell by the wayside as she drove into town. The only thing on her mind right now was dolling herself up. She might not be as glamorous as the women Travis normally dated, but with a little help from Maybelline, this country girl intended to transform herself into a double-take.

“M
mm…heavenly.” The aroma of pizza greeted Sara when she opened the front door.

Travis's dark eyes swept over her before he stepped inside and sniffed her neck. “Mmm…heavenly.”

Rogue.
There he went again—his words, his smoldering stares and heated touches coaxing her heart to trust him.

“Hey, Walt.” At the sound of Travis's deep voice, her one-eyed boarder bolted from the foyer. “What's up with him?”

She rescued the pizza box from Travis's grip and led the way into the kitchen. “I put catnip in Walter's stocking and he's miffed he has to wait until Christmas morning to play with it.” She put the pizza onto a baking sheet and placed it into the oven to keep warm. “How about a drink before we eat?”

Travis rummaged through the fridge and helped himself to a beer. He unscrewed the bottle top and tossed it into her garbage can beneath the sink. Sara poured herself a glass of wine, grabbed Travis by the hand and led him into the living room. They sat on the couch in front of the Christmas tree.

“Where are all the presents?” he asked.

“My brothers and I aren't exchanging.” Once the ranch had hit upon hard times, holiday gifts had fallen by the wayside. She motioned to the two boxes beneath the tree branches. “The box wrapped in silver and red is yours and the other one is for Charlie.” She'd purchased a handsome wool sweater for Travis and a china tea set for Charlie.

“Did you buy me a gift?” Sara teased.

“Of course.” He surprised her when he removed a small box—the size a ring would fit in—from his jeans pocket and placed it beneath the tree.” He returned to the couch, snuggling close. “I wasn't sure where we'd be celebrating Christmas morning.”

Sara's heart kicked into overdrive as she stared at the gift. Did she dare hope there was a ring inside? “Where would you like to celebrate the holiday?” Her voice sounded breathless.

“In bed with you.”

His head dipped and Sara caught the faint scent of beer as his mouth grazed hers.

Sara melted into Travis, her senses soaking him in—his taste, the smell of his aftershave, the low rumble in his chest when he moaned. There was no other place she'd rather be than in his arms. She curled her fingers around his neck, urging him closer.

His hand found her breast, caressing, squeezing, coaxing a soft moan from her. “I'm not hungry,” he growled in her ear.

“There's something I need to tell you.” She clasped his wrist, then moved his hand to her hip.

“Can it wait until you've been properly kissed?” He nuzzled her neck.

She loved Travis's gentle teasing. “How long does a proper kiss take?”

“A very long time,” he whispered.

“Suddenly I can't remember what I needed to tell you.”

“Good.” His mouth settled over hers and Sara basked in the knowledge that Travis desired her as much as she desired him.

A few minutes later, after his lips blazed a path down her neck, leaving her skin on fire, he murmured, “You have now been properly kissed.” He handed Sara her wineglass. “Okay, what's this important something you need to tell me.”

“I've thought about what you said the night of the Oilmen's Ball and—” she sucked in a quiet breath “—I want you to know that I have serious feelings for you, too, Travis.”

The corner of his mouth curved upward. “I'm glad.”

She fought to keep a straight face. “You don't have to act so cocky.”

“You make me feel…cocky.”

Sara's face warmed. “You're a handsome man.” She brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. “All your sexiness makes me nervous and—”
tell him the truth
“—makes me want you.”

He clasped her face in his hands, his expression earnest. “I won't abuse your trust, Sara. I know you're not the kind of woman who jumps into bed with just any man.”

Okay, so he'd guessed her M.O. Rather than make her feel vulnerable, Travis's understanding of where
she was coming from reassured her that she'd made the right decision to give their relationship a chance.

“You're the kind of woman who needs feelings.” He flattened her palm against his chest. “There are plenty of feelings in here just for you.”

He kissed her again—soft and slow. “I've never felt this way about another woman, Sara. You're a first for me.”

His words freed her fears.

“Say you feel the same way about me.” He brushed his knuckled across her cheek.

“I want this…us to work out.” Sara wasn't sure of the exact moment Travis had slipped past her defenses, but from here on out there was no turning back.

“I'm glad I found you, Sara Sanders.” Travis kissed the tip of her nose, then relaxed against the couch cushions and held her close.

“What are you going to tell Charlie?” she asked.

“That there are now two very special women in my life.”

“Your first Christmas without your mother will be difficult for you and Charlie.”

The mention of his mother reminded Travis that he needed to ask Sara if she knew about her father and his mother having an affair. But as he stared into Sara's luminous brown eyes, all he could think about was her.

He was certain that what he felt for her was love—the real and forever kind. He didn't have to try to envision the two of them sharing breakfast at the kitchen table. Arguing over who got to use the shower first in the morning. Sitting on the sofa, watching a TV program. Sara was an easy woman to be with. Heck, Sara was
just plain easy on his soul. “I wanted to talk about our parents. I found out—”

“The pizza's burning.” Sara got up suddenly and rushed toward the kitchen.

Thoughts of discussing their parents' affair faded to the back of Travis's mind as he watched Sara bustle about the kitchen. His musings turned selfish and he wondered if he could persuade her to postpone dinner while he took her up to the bedroom to…

“The cheese is brown around the edges—” she placed the pizza on a cutting board “—but edible.”

He held out a chair for her. After she sat down, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her sigh reached his ears, and arousal shot through his gut. “Thanks for having me over for dinner tonight,” he whispered before retreating to his side of the table.

“As soon as we're finished eating, I'll thank you
properly
for bringing the pizza over.”

“Does this proper thank-you take place upstairs in your bedroom?” he asked.

“As a matter of fact, it does.” Sara's cheeks burned bright pink, and her sexy smile promised Travis a
thank-you
he'd remember for a very long time.

 

2:00
A.M
.

Travis had crawled from her bed a half hour ago and returned to the Lazy River, but Sara remained wide-awake, listening to the wind howl outside the window. She stretched beneath the warm covers—little twinges and aches a testament to Travis's enthusiastic lovemaking. He hadn't left an inch of her body unloved.

His tender touches and whispered words convinced Sara that he truly cared for her. And she decided the
only way for her and Travis to have a chance at their own happy-ever-after was to wipe the slate clean between the Sanderses and the Cartwrights. She and Dominick would have to come to a business agreement about the Bar T or Travis would become caught in the middle. Sara didn't want him to have to choose between his newfound family and her. And there was Charlie to consider. The little girl had worked her way into Sara's heart. After losing her grandmother, Charlie needed her grandfather and Sara did not want to jeopardize the child's relationship with Dominick.

Tomorrow she'd phone Cartwright offices in Tulsa and schedule a meeting with Dominick. After visiting Cole earlier in the day, she was confident that her brother wanted to do what was necessary to save their ranch. The money from a drilling lease would pay off the second mortgage and the outstanding medical bills, as well as invest in repairs to the property, preserving her father's most treasured possession.

A steady income would also provide long-term security when hard times fell upon the ranch—disease, drought and crop failure. Still, breaking her promise to her father weighed heavy on her heart.

Daddy, please forgive me. I tried to do as you asked, but if I don't work out a deal with Dominick, we'll lose the ranch and I know you don't want that to happen.

The phone rang, startling Sara. Thinking Travis was calling to tell her he'd made it home safely, she snatch up the receiver. “Travis?”

“Sorry, sis, it's your brother, Gabe.”

“Gabe?” She sat up in bed, tugging the covers over her naked body. “Where are you? What have you
been doing? Please tell me you're coming home for Christmas?”

“Whoa. One question at a time.”

“Are you okay?” She hoped he wasn't calling because his wild ways with women had gotten him into trouble.

“I'm fine.”

She waited for details, but only silence met her ears. “Where are you?”

“Colorado. I'm roping cattle for the Ace of Spades near Durango.”

Fighting a smile, she said, “I guess rodeo didn't work out for you.”

Gabe chuckled. “I stink at bull riding. I'm better suited to chase after bulls than ride the ornery beasts.”

If she hadn't already made up her mind, Gabe's call would have swayed her. She didn't want to see her family split up because her brothers had been forced to leave the area to find jobs. Not even her father would have wanted her to put the ranch before family.

“We're not going to lose the Bar T,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“I'm scheduling a meeting with Dominick to negotiate a drilling lease with Cartwright Oil.”

“It's about time you came to your senses.”

“Let's not debate who has more sense in the family.” Gabe liked to provoke her, but Travis's lovemaking had left her too mellow to care. “Since we won't be losing the ranch, you can quit your job and come home for Christmas.”

“That's why I called. I met someone and I think she's the one, Sara.”

Oh, no. Gabe had met
the one
three times before and it had never worked out. When push came to shove, her brother couldn't commit. “What's her name?”

“Letty.”

“What does she do?”

“She's a waitress at Bud's Bar.”

Another barfly.

“If it's serious, bring her home with you.”

“Ahh…”

“Please, Gabe. I want all of us to be together for Christmas.”

“I'll see what I can do.”

“Good. Cole's got several ideas on how to improve the ranch and I'm sure he'd appreciate your input.” Sara cringed inside at the lie. Cole and Gabe knocked heads on a regular basis. Cole never cut corners and Gabe opted for taking shortcuts wherever he could find them.

“You think Cole would be open to starting up a horse-breeding business?” Before now Sara had never heard her brother talk about the ranch with excitement in his voice.

“I don't see why not.” Lots of ranches managed both cattle and horse operations. Raising horses would allow Gabe to escape his brother's shadow. “Try to make it home for Christmas.”

“I'll give it my best shot. Tell Cole I called.”

“I will.”

“Merry Christmas, sis.”

“Merry Christmas.” Sara hung up the phone, then dialed Cole's number.

“What?” he grumbled into the phone.

“Gabe just called.”

“Is he okay?”

“Yes. He's working as a ranch hand in Colorado, but when I told him I intended to negotiate a drilling lease with Dominick he said he'd be interested in starting up a horse-breeding operation on the Bar T.”

“He's nuts. We've got all we can handle with cattle.”

“Our brother needs something of his own to manage.”

“What do you mean?”

“You've always called the shots and—”

“That's because I'm the only one who does the work.”

“If we cut a deal with Dominick, there'll be enough money for each of you to run your own business.” Sara intended to use her share of the extra income to renovate her Victorian.

“Do you want me to be there when you talk to Dominick?”

“No, thanks. I won't sign any papers until I discuss the terms with you and Gabe.”

“Any more news for me tonight or can I go back to bed?”

“Go back to bed. 'Night.” After Cole hung up, Sara stared at the ceiling. How ironic that the one man her father had detested most of his adult life was the very person who would save the Bar T and keep the Sanders offspring together.

 

“C
HARLIE, YOU HAVE A
visitor,” Juanita called down the hallway after ushering Sara into the kitchen.

Instead of Charlie answering the housekeeper's summons, Travis appeared in the doorway. Hair rumpled
and a pillow crease across his cheek, he studied Sara through groggy eyes. “Hi.” The greeting rumbled in his chest—the sound triggering a flashback of the intimate words he'd whispered after their lovemaking two days ago.

She motioned to his faded T-shirt and pj bottoms. “It's almost noon and you were in bed?”

A lazy grin spread across his face. “Had an emergency at one of the wells yesterday and I didn't get home until six this morning.”

“Coffee?” Juanita held up the coffee pot.

“Yes,” Travis answered.

“No,” Sara replied at the same time.

Juanita frowned. “Which is it?”

“None for me, thanks.” While the housekeeper poured coffee for Travis, Sara asked, “Is everything okay at the well?”

“A break in one of the pipes, but no one was injured, that's the important thing.”