Rainey's fear shifted quickly to bother that she had to work around so many people in such a small space. She kept having to swing Mike out of the way as if he were a door to her supply cabinet. When she stepped around Travis and into the store, he heard her say she was sorry about the bother. He smiled when Pearl answered back that she thought this was all so exciting.
'Oh,' Pearl added just before Rainey passed through the curtain and back into the kitchen. 'I think your paper Ranger is handsome. His frown is a little frightening, though. Aren't you scared?'
Rainey laughed. 'Not in the least.'
The others heard their comments through the thin curtain. Travis's frown deepened, realizing Rainey had told Pearl about their letters.
Widow Davis must have decided she was queen of the hive, for she divided her time between talking to Mike, telling Rainey how to cook, and bothering Travis with questions about what the Rangers were doing to keep her safe. He was glad when Pearl let her son join them, for Dottie took up a game of teaching the boy, who could only babble his ABCs.
By the time Rainey put another set of pies in, Judge Gates showed up with Roy Dumont at his side. Pearl pulled the stools in from the store, and they all consumed one of the pies.
Almost growling aloud Travis decided that if anyone else wanted to come into the small room, they'd have to get on the waiting list. Pearl came in several times to pick up pies. 'Folks are coming to the store wanting them. I'm selling them as fast as you can make them.'
Travis watched Rainey as she worked silently. The warmth of the stove had made her cheeks glow. The room was full of people and all he saw was her.
After eating, Judge asked Dottie if she'd like to join him for dinner that night at one of the restaurants in town. Roy mentioned it might be better not to make her a target. The judge suggested his house and waved his arm to include everyone in the invitation.
'A dinner party-how wonderful.' The widow lifted her bandaged arm. 'If I could, I'd love to cook for it.'
The judge smiled looking younger than he had in years. 'If you'll tell me what to do, I'll be your hands, madam. I have a housekeeper who'll clean up the mess, so you won't have to do a thing but talk.'
Travis almost lost his battle not to laugh.
Dottie giggled. 'I'll tell you how. You cook and we'll have a great meal.' She glanced from Roy to Ranger Saddler. 'Would it be all right to send the young Ranger to ask Miss McMurray and the Baileys if they'd like to come, also?'
'Of course, I haven't had a proper party since my wife died.' Judge Gates stood and offered his arm. 'Shall we go shopping for what we need?'
They moved into the mercantile. From the sound of it, the Langland would be stocking tonight after they got home from the dinner party, of course, for the judge insisted they come as well.
Travis looked at Mike. 'Sounds like you'll need the wagon to get all the supplies to the judge's. If Roy stays with the widow, see if you can't talk Sage and Duck into coming over to help. I'm sure the judge can use the help.' He met the young Ranger's eyes. 'Stay beside Sage all evening.'
Mike nodded once. 'I promise. Anyone getting to her will have to go through me first.'
Travis knew Mike meant every word.
CHAPTER 30
When everyone but Rainey and Travis finally left the Langlands' home, the one-room apartment seemed roomy. She'd been surprised when he hadn't argued about her insisting on making more pies before leaving. In fact, he'd simply nodded and resumed his place on guard after the others left.
Surrounded in the aroma of apple pies, the silence weighed heavy between them. Even Pearl raised an eyebrow in question when she'd passed Rainey to put little Jason down for a nap. But Rainey didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. Travis didn't seem angry, or bothered. If anything, he seemed bored.
She felt like they'd been on a runaway train since the kidnapping. He'd risked his life to save her. All the other Rangers thought she was his, but he'd never once mentioned love, or even liking her. In fact, except when she visited him late at night, he barely acted as if he noticed her around.
'Want a piece of pie?' Rainey tried to shatter the ice between them.
He shook his head.
'Want some soup?'
He didn't answer. He simply folded his arms and leaned back in the chair.
'Want me?' she whispered as she turned back to work. They'd been alone for an hour, and he'd made no move to touch her, or even talk to her. She frowned, thinking of how quickly she'd become addicted to his touch and wondered if he'd mind if she curled into his bed every night to sleep. Somehow the rhythm of his breathing matched her heart's beat. When he held her at the ruins of the mission, it had been the first time she hadn't feared the night.
Rainey considered if feeling safe could equal love. She decided it didn't. Maybe she should look at the reasons why he'd asked her that first night to marry him. He could just want a wife to come home to, but she'd be the last one he'd pick for that. He'd have to find her every time. Maybe he felt sorry for her. After all
Rainey continued to work until the table was filled with pies cooling, but Travis never made any attempt to talk to her. Once, when he'd stood and walked to the water bucket, he'd been careful to get a dipper of water without touching her. He'd hung the dipper back on its nail a few inches from her head and hadn't touched her hair.
She wanted to ask how he was feeling, but didn't dare. He'd rubbed his left leg several times, but she didn't miss that he'd left his cane by his chair when he'd walked across the room to get a drink.
When she finished the dishes and pulled off her apron, he stood… waiting.
Pearl crossed through from the store and glanced at both of them. 'Owen just pulled up. He says he'll make your deliveries today.'
'Thanks.' Rainey didn't try to protest. She looked at Travis. 'I'd like to go by the boardinghouse and change into my other dress.'
Travis nodded once as if she were no more than an assignment he'd been given to keep up with. 'I'll put the wagon around back. Don't come out until I'm at the porch.'
She slipped into Sage's too-big shoes and watched him go.
When he'd disappeared, Pearl moved to her side and put her arm around Rainey's shoulders.
Rainey blinked back tears. 'I don't know what's wrong. It's like I don't know him at all. He held me last night, but we had little chance to talk. Now we have nothing to say.'
'What do you want him to say?'
Shaking her head, Rainey whispered, 'I don't know. I wish he'd talk to me like he did in his letters. I liked hearing about what he was thinking and feeling and worrying about.'
Pearl shrugged. 'I don't know what to tell you except your paper Ranger is there somewhere in that hard man. All you've got to do is look for him.'
A few moments later they heard the wagon. Rainey ran out. Travis made no effort to get down and help her up so she climbed in beside him. When she accidentally brushed his arm, he moved a few inches away.
They rode in silence to Askew House. The roads were muddy and each time the wagon rocked, she'd touch him, and each time he moved away.
When they reached the steps of Askew House, Rainey jumped out as soon as he slowed the horses. 'I'll only be a minute.'
He shoved the brake stick forward, tied the reins around it, and said without looking at her, 'I'm going with you.'
The front door was unlocked. Their steps echoed in the foyer across air as still as a tomb. Rainey called for Mrs. Vivian and then Mamie, but no one answered. All the weeks she'd lived there she could never remember the
