for a year and back into living. Nothing like worrying about getting killed to make you wanta live.'
The Baileys treated them as family when they came in. Mrs. Bailey ordered them both a bath, and Dr. Bailey wanted to take a look at Dottie's arm as soon as possible. The housekeeper and Dottie kept Duck busy in the kitchen while Rainey took a quick bath and changed into a clean nightgown and robe.
When Rainey joined them in the kitchen, she heard Duck laugh and it warmed her heart. An hour later when she rocked him by the fire in the tiny sitting room between Travis's and Sage's rooms, she hummed softly. 'You're too big to rock,' she whispered, 'but thanks for letting me. It's nice to relax.'
He looked up and smiled, not at her, but at the man standing in the doorway watching.
Travis crossed the room without a word and took Duck from her. He knelt and laid the boy in his covers by the fire. 'Sleep well,' Travis said as he covered Duck. 'You did a great job of doing just like I told you.'
Duck closed his eyes and Rainey knew that he felt safe for the first time in days.
They moved away from the boy and into Travis's bedroom, but he didn't close the door. 'What did you learn?' she whispered.
'Eldon confessed to killing the barmaid. She drove him to it, he claimed. Seems he'd always been jealous of Seth and her. He couldn't understand why she'd be upset about his brother's death when he was standing right in front of her alive.' Travis shook his head. 'He wasn't too bright. It took Dillon less then an hour to have him confessing everything. He told Dillon about jobs his brothers did that the Rangers hadn't even connected them to yet.'
Travis leaned against the doorframe and pulled her gently against him. He played with her hair as he talked.
'When I left he was claiming he didn't have anything to do with Mrs. Vivian's death.'
'Do you think he's telling the truth? I could swear I saw a shadow, but I was so tired. Is it possible that Mrs. Vivian really did kill herself.'
'Looks that way.'
'And there was no rider for the fourth horse I thought I saw?'
Travis rubbed his big hands over her shoulders. 'Forget about it. Maybe they'd thought Sage would ride without fighting.' He combed his fingers through her curls as if touching her were the most important thing he had to do in the world. 'It's over. You're safe and we're finally alone.'
Rainey glanced to where Duck was sleeping. 'Almost alone.'
Travis smiled. 'Almost alone is about as good as it'll get for the next fifteen years or so.'
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. 'You'll be a great father for the boy.'
He returned her kiss with long slow caresses as he molded against her, letting her know of his need for her.
She didn't pull away. The feel of him so near seemed right somehow. The warmth of him spread through her, making her feel alive. She felt wanted. For the first time in her life, she felt loved.
Leaning against him made her smile.
He kissed the corners of her mouth as his chest pressed lightly into her breasts. When she moaned softly against his ear, his hand moved over her until her breast filled his fingers and he made her moan again in pleasure.
She circled her arms about his neck and melted against him as he caught her next moan of pleasure in his mouth. His kiss was deep and tender, as his hands slowly moved over her body. The gown and robe did nothing to mask his touch as his hands warmed her and surprised her with their boldness.
He shifted and she felt his desire for her press against her abdomen. All the world slipped away as the need for him consumed her. Pulling his mouth down a few inches, she kissed him hard.
Finally he straightened as if fighting for control. His hands moved over her once more in need, then he shoved her gently away. 'Good night, Rainey.'
She saw it then, a sadness in his brown eyes. 'But we're alone.' She'd slept in his arms through all the danger and fear. Now, finally, when they could relax, he was turning her away.
Something in the back of her mind said she should be the one walking away, but she couldn't. She wanted him, all of him.
'Good night,' he said again and walked her to the door.
'But…' All the old fears came back. The panic that he didn't care for her, that no one cared for her.
How could he kiss her like that, hold her so close, and then turn her out of his room?
'I'll see you in the morning,' he whispered as he held her tight one last time in a hug that was little more than friendly, then let her go.
Rainey didn't know what to say. She couldn't run back and beg to sleep in his bed. It didn't seem fair to ask him to say he loved her when she knew she wouldn't be saying it back. They might not marry, but he could still hold her, touch her, make love to her.
She wanted to bang on his door and make a bargain. She'd sleep with him. She'd be his lover.
She'd settle for that, she realized. But, deep down, she knew he wouldn't.
She climbed the stairs to her room next to Dottie's and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning her eyes were puffy and red when she came down late to breakfast. Dottie and the judge were having coffee. When she asked, they told her they'd had breakfast with Travis and Duck before they left.
Rainey knew she should be happy. Her life would get back to normal now. The Baileys had told her she and Dottie could stay at their home until they found other lodging. Pearl would be waiting to visit tomorrow when Rainey went back to making pies. And Travis… where would Travis be in her life? He'd made it plain he didn't want to be just a lover last night.
Dottie broke into her thoughts. 'The judge and I are going over to the restaurant to collect all the things we left there. Would you like to ride along with us in a few hours? Henry'-she said his name slowly as if using it for the first time-'said he'll take us out to eat lunch then we might go shopping for something new to wear at Travis's swearing-in tonight.'
Rainey looked up. 'Travis is accepting the internship?'
'He told the judge he'd do it for three months, not six, because that's how long he needs to let his leg completely heal. Travis said after that, he'll decide between the law and being a Ranger. Henry agreed. Travis will become a lawyer tonight, but the judge won't sign the license until he's served his time in court.'
She had the feeling that Travis was moving on with his life. He'd done his job. He'd kept her safe and now he planned to step out of her life. She knew little about men. Maybe he only said that he loved her to calm her when they were in danger. Maybe he hadn't wanted her last night no matter how much it seemed like he had.
Two hours later she sat beside Dottie as they rode in the judge's buggy toward the restaurant. Rainey didn't really have anything she cared about collecting from the place, but she wanted to see if any part of the words Travis had written in the dust still remained. They would be proof that somehow, if only for a moment, his love had been real.
When they pulled up to Dottie's place, Rainey noticed someone had pulled the boards from the windows.
'Oh,' Dottie patted Rainey's hand. 'I forgot to tell you. I lost this place in a poker game last night.'
Rainey remembered hearing Dottie go downstairs late last night, but because she was crying, Rainey didn't join her for one of their midnight meetings.
Dottie shook her head. 'The winner played a grand game, but when he won the place, he asked that I deed the restaurant over to you.'
'What?'
'You need some place to make your pies and this will work perfect. You can even close off most of the front room for a little apartment if you wish.'
'But I can't afford-'
'There is no afford to it. It's all yours, paid and clear. The judge as my witness, I swear I always pay off on a bet, and I lost the place fair and square.'
Before Rainey could believe all Dottie was saying, she saw Mamie step out with a broom in her hand and begin sweeping the entry.
Rainey was out of the buggy and hugging Mamie a moment later.
Mrs. Vivian's slave backed away, hiding her smile. 'I ain't no slave anymore. I'm a free woman. A married woman. And if you need me I'll work for a fair wage for you, but come suppertime, I'm going home to my
