Page 1 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

Chapter One

Retta set her book down on her lap and stared up at the mountains. She couldn’t focus on the story she was trying to read. She couldn’t focus on anything except what in heaven’s name she was going to do.

Callie popped her head out the kitchen door to the porch where Retta was sitting and called, “Are you okay? Can I get you anything?”

“I’m fine, baby girl.”

Callie came outside. “You never were a good liar, Mama.”

Retta shrugged. “It’s a not a lie.”

“If you were fine, you wouldn’t look so miserable.”

“I’m not miserable. How could I be miserable while I’m here visiting with you? While I get to sit outside your beautiful home with this amazing view to look at?”

Callie came and sat in one of the big log chairs across the table from her. “You’re allowed to be miserable.” She jerked her chin toward Retta’s leg that was propped up in front of her. “Just because you’re here with me and the view’s beautiful, that doesn’t change the fact that your leg’s broken and you’re stuck in that cast. You have to be in pain, you can’t go anywhere or do much of anything and …” Callie met her gaze. “I know you’d rather be at home anyway.”

Retta reached for her daughter’s hand. “Don’t say it like that. It’s not that I don’t want to be around you – I do! I just … I don’t like to …”

Callie shook her head. “I wish you’d get over that. You couldn’t hold me back or let me down if you tried.”

Retta shrugged again. “You know how I feel.”

“I do, and while you’re here, I’m going to do everything I can to make you feel different. I kept quiet for the longest time, but I’m not going to do it anymore, Mama. I know you feel like you let me down, but you didn’t. You did the best you could – and I think I turned out okay.”

“You turned out amazing, but we both know that was in spite of me – not because of me.”

Callie scowled at her. “Not true. But I don’t want to waste a beautiful afternoon like this arguing with you.”

Retta smiled. “Good, that’s not what I want either. You get on with your day, and I’ll read.”

“Oh, no! That’s not going to fly. You said that this morning, and you’re not reading, you’re sitting out here feeling bad, and if I know you, you’re scheming up ways to go home.”

Retta didn’t deny it. She loved that Callie wanted her here while she was healing – the doctors had said there was no way that she could go home alone for at least a few weeks. It’d be hard to cope in the house by herself, and she knew it, but she still intended to get herself back to Georgia just as soon as she could.

Callie looked up and smiled at the sound of a vehicle approaching. Retta followed her gaze, and her heart started to pound when she saw the big, white pickup truck.

“Travis called a little while ago,” Callie told her. “And since you’re not reading, and I have work to do, I asked him if he could entertain you for the afternoon.”

“Callie!”

“What?” Callie feigned innocence.

“You know full well what I mean, young lady!”

Callie laughed. “You can’t scare me with youryoung ladytalk. At least, not about this. He calls every day to ask how you’re doing. If I left you to your own devices, you’d never invite him over.”

Retta shot a glance at the truck that had now almost reached the house. Travis Duke was … she didn’t even know how to describe him. Yeah, she did; he was a big, sexy cowboy. He stood well over six feet tall, with a full gray beard. His arms were covered in tattoos. He was always joking around. He made no secret of the fact that he found her attractive and … She watched him climb out of his truck and tip his hat as he jogged up the porch steps.

He grinned at her and said, “Afternoon, ladies.”

“Hey, Trav.” Callie got to her feet, and Travis leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Retta couldn’t stand up if she wanted to – not without help. The cast on her leg made her feel like she was trapped. She couldn’t get up to greet him, or to run away. All she could do was hold her breath as he bent down to kiss her cheek.

“Retta.”

She closed her eyes and allowed herself to breathe him in – he smelled so good. And there was something about him – it was as though he had his own magnetic field, and the closer he got, the stronger the pull, until she felt like she was enveloped by his presence. Instead of making her want to retreat into her own space, he made her want to settle in and relax.

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