Page 74 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“I didn’t know if I’d see you again before you left. Come on in.”

“We can’t stop,” said Retta. “We need to get going. I just wanted to come by and thank you again and get another hug.”

The older woman leaned down and hugged her. “You’re more than welcome, my dear.” She straightened up and held her arms out to Travis. “And so are you.”

Travis made big eyes at her over Mrs. Simmons’ shoulder as she hugged him, and Retta did her best not to laugh.

“Oh, and I meant to ask you, did that Jamie catch up with you?”

Retta frowned. “I saw her at school yesterday, but … what do you mean? What makes you ask?”

“She came around a couple of times while you were gone. I told her that you were recovering from your broken leg. I didn’t like to say too much. Never did like that woman – she’s a bossy britches, just like her mother.”

“Did she say what she wanted?”

“She didn’t. She acted like talking to me was beneath her. I thought it was strange that she didn’t know you were gone – her being so involved with the school and everything.”

Retta exchanged a look with Travis. It was strange.

“Anyway, I’m glad I remembered. It slipped my mind yesterday.”

“Yeah, thanks for letting me know.”

Travis stepped closer to Mrs. Simmons, and she smiled up at him.

“Would you do me a favor, darlin’?”

Her hand came up to cover her heart and she beamed. “You keep calling me darlin’, darlin’, and I reckon I’ll do just about anything you want.”

Retta couldn’t help chuckling – he hadn’t lied when he told her that he’d be his charming self.

“Would you give Retta a call and let her know if Jamie – or anyone else – shows up around here looking for her again?”

“You give me your number, and I’ll call you direct.”

Mrs. Simmons turned and winked at Retta. “I’m not moving in on your man, girl. But my lord! If I were twenty years younger, and he wasn’t already yours!”

Travis took his wallet out and handed Mrs. Simmons a card. “You ever get the notion to call me, I’ll be happy to hear from you.”

She read the card and then looked up at him. “You’re in the security business?” Her smile faded and she turned back to Retta. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“No,” she reassured her quickly.

“I’m not in that line of work anymore,” said Travis. “Retta and I are building a new business of our own. The cards are old, but my number hasn’t changed.”

“Okay, then. Well, if anyone comes around looking for Retta, I’ll give you a call. I’ll call you, too, missy, but I’m not going to pass up the chance to hear this fella’s deep voice on the phone. You remind me of my Bill, he had a good, deep voice – sent shivers down my spine, it did. He’s been gone for eight years, but we had a good run, we made it to half a century together.”

Retta’s heart melted a little bit when Travis hugged Mrs. Simmons again and said, “He was a lucky man.”

She laughed and pushed at his arm. “And you’re a charmer! Go on. The pair of you don’t need to be standing around here, humoring an old woman. Get going. Go make a start on your new life.”

Retta caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks again – for everything. I’ll keep in touch.”

“You do that, girl. And I want to see wedding photos when the day comes.”

Retta’s heart leaped into her mouth. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet Travis’s. She needn’t have worried about how he’d react to wedding talk, though.

He winked at her and said, “If you’re up to the trip, you’ll get more than photos; you’ll get an invite.”

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