little his leg hurt when he shifted a slight amount of weight on it. Dr. Bailey knew what he was doing. Travis had been lucky to make it to his door.
With Mike's help, Travis managed to get dressed just as Dottie Davis tapped on his door. He insisted on moving to the little drawing room between the bedrooms. It didn't seem right talking to the widow in his bedchamber.
After Mike got them settled and the housekeeper brought more coffee, the young Ranger left, saying he had to check in at headquarters.
As soon as Travis was alone with Dottie, he began to ask questions about all she'd seen and heard the day of the kidnapping. He couldn't help but smile as her part in the raid grew with the telling.
Dottie was more than happy to talk between bites of rolls, but her conversation galloped from one topic to another without pausing long enough for Travis to ask more questions. She was a woman who liked to take her time with both eating and telling a story.
About the time Travis thought he might need a gag for the little widow, she stumbled into the topic of Rainey.
'Sweet girl,' Dottie said. 'Loving and giving as I've ever seen.' She frowned and stared at Travis. 'But if you don't mind me saying so, Ranger, you're about as bright as rained-on ashes. Even considering the fact that you're a good-looking man, I can't see why she even cares for you.'
Travis frowned. He'd thought he measured a little higher in the widow's opinion. After all, he had brought Rainey back after she'd been kidnapped. He'd made sure the widow got to the doctor after she'd been shot. He'd even had the widows' things moved to the Baileys' so she'd feel more comfortable.
He knew he'd regret it, but he had to ask, 'And why is that, Mrs. Davis?'
Dottie leaned back, her smile saying she knew she had his attention. 'A man shouldn't propose after the first kiss. You scared that poor child to death. She told me she'd spent her life at a girls' school and you were the first man to even try to kiss her.' The widow shook her head in disgust. 'And what do you do, you ask her right off to marry you.'
'She told you?' He wasn't surprised. What little he knew of women, they seemed creatures who shared everything. He'd often thought the need for newspapers would be lost if Western towns had more women to spread the word.
Dottie wiggled in the chair as if fluffing herself, took another roll, and continued. 'I shouldn't be saying anything, Rainey being my friend and all, but the judge and I were talking and we agreed you could benefit from a little motherly advice.'
Great, Travis thought. The judge was involved in this.
'Women like Rainey need a bit of a challenge. She's a survivor, a fighter. Did you ever think that maybe she should have to fight a little for you? Fish that hop up on the bank ain't near as fun to catch.'
Travis stared at the little lady, having no idea what to say to her. She was right about him having little experience with women, but it seemed to him a woman would much rather have an offer on the table and then make up her mind than be wondering how a man felt about her.
'Would you like some more coffee?' was all he could think of to say.
Dottie seemed to understand. 'No, I think I'll go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea. Will you be needing anything? I could have someone bring it to you.'
Travis shook his head.
Ten minutes later he was still staring at the fire when Rainey walked in.
'Morning,' she said. 'Dottie said you wanted another cup of coffee.'
'Thanks.' He didn't look up as she handed him the cup. One good thing about this place, he'd never finish all the coffee.
Rainey stood in front of him as if waiting for him to do or say something. Her hand was so close he could have reached out and held it, but he didn't. He wasn't sure how she felt about what they'd done last night. He thought she enjoyed it, but he wished she'd had time to say something before she vanished.
'How are you feeling?' She finally broke the silence as she leaned toward him.
'I'm feeling tired of people worrying about the way I feel,' he answered, his words sounding colder than he'd intended.
Rainey took a step backward.
Travis swore he could feel the coldness between them. She sure wasn't acting like she wanted him to play hard to get. He glanced up and saw her green eyes staring at him. She looked like she wanted to be kissed, he thought. Or maybe that was just what he wished she was hoping for.
'I was just about to leave to go bake today. I have orders for pies that are late. No one seems to need me around here.' She waited as if expecting him to say something. 'I'd also like to go back and get my shoes. Sage loaned me a pair of hers, but I keep walking out of them.'
He wanted to tell her to forget about work, he needed her. But Dottie's comments lingered in his thoughts. He didn't want to say anything that got repeated to Dottie, who'd repeat it to the judge. Hell, he thought, I might as well just shout everything I say so that everyone can hear the first account.
'Travis?' She stepped back in front of him.
He thought he knew what she wanted. They were alone. She was close. In one step she could be in his arms. But he didn't reach for her.
To his surprise, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. 'I'll be back before dark.'
He watched her go.
If black moods could darken, his did. He sat, staring at the fire trying to figure out where he stood with his fairy. He'd told Mike she was his, but he wasn't so sure. She'd slept beside him part of the last three nights, but he hadn't touched her until last night. She'd swore she'd never marry him, but she worried about him worse than both Roy's wives put together worried about Roy. Every time he mentioned marriage she said she never wanted to see him again and every time she thought he was in trouble she risked her life to let him know.
He leaned his head back against the leather of the wing-back chair. The worn leather conformed and he closed his eyes, drifting back into the dream he'd had on Whispering Mountain.
He heard Mike's boots stomping in from the side door. The Ranger ran through the hall as if on full alert pulling Travis from his dream.
Travis glanced up just as Mike Saddler rounded the corner, his face red from the cold. 'McMurray!' Mike took a quick breath. 'Where's Miss Adams and Widow Davis?'
'Rainey left to go make pies. I think the widow said something about going with her, but I could be wrong. I don't know women all that well.' Travis straightened, sensing something was wrong. 'What is it, Saddler?'
Mike's tanned face paled. 'Eldon Norman has been spotted in town. We've got men looking for him everywhere. The undertaker said he came by to pay his respects to his brother and left swearing that he'd pay back the witch who stabbed Seth.'
Travis braced himself on the arms of his chair and slowly stood. 'Is he in custody?'
Mike shook his head.
Travis reached for his cane. Carefully, so he didn't pull stitches, he made it to his guns. 'Get the wagon from the barn out back and pull around to the side door. I'll inform Sage and meet you out there. We're going after Rainey.'
Mike nodded. 'You're thinking the same thing I am. I heard Dillon tell two men to go check on the three old maids just in case Rainey or the widow goes there, and a pair of Rangers were knocking on the front door when I came around back. They'll be here with Sage until we find Rainey and make it back.'
Travis strapped his guns on and reached for his coat. His left leg took the weight when he shifted with only a bit of pain. He was healing; now it was time to concentrate on keeping Rainey alive.
By the time they made it to the Langland Mercantile, Rainey already had pies in the oven and refused to leave until they were done.
Pearl kept calling Travis 'Rainey's Ranger,' which left no doubt that he'd been discussed, as she showed him to the extra chair.
The widow had taken up residence at the kitchen table, her arm resting beside two freshly made pies. Mike stood near the back door, looking very much like he was on guard. Travis pulled his chair to the opening into the store after he gave up trying to get Rainey to abandon her baking. He might not be able to tell Rainey what to do, but he didn't plan to leave her alone.
