Page 75 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

Mrs. Simmons laughed. “If I’m invited to Montana, I’ll bring me a rope, see if I can’t lasso a cowboy of my own!”

~ ~ ~

It was late afternoon by the time they landed back at the airfield in Livingston. Travis shook Bear’s hand and thanked him before he carried Retta down the steps to where he’d already set up her wheelchair.

Once she was seated, she thanked Bear, too.

“Are you going straight home, or will you stay the night before you fly back?” she asked him.

“I’m going to stay here tonight.”

Travis gave him a puzzled look; he’d assumed that he’d go straight back to home base.

Bear shrugged. “There were no flights on the schedule for tomorrow, so Cash told me to take my time.”

Travis glanced at Retta; he should probably check with her before he offered but he thought she’d be okay with it. When she gave him an inquiring look, he figured she was thinking the same way he was.

“Do you want to come with us?”

“No. I wouldn’t want to impose. I have a room booked in town I can …”

“You wouldn’t be imposing. It’d be good to catch up with you.”

“And to get to know you,” Retta added.

“I mean, don’t let us impose on you if you have plans. If you want a peaceful evening or if you want to hit the bar.”

Bear chuckled. “You know I don’t drink when I’m flying.” He smiled at Retta and added, “Which pretty much means I don’t drink.”

“Then why don’t you come back with us?” she asked. “I’m sure I can fix us …”

“Nope.” Travis interrupted her. “You’re not cooking. I was thinking that we could stop at The Riverside and eat there – or get something to go. If we do that we can eat at home and show Bear around the place. We can bring you back up here later – you’re welcome to stay the night if you want to but if I know you, you’d rather be at the hotel by the airport so you can take off early.”

Bear looked from him to Retta and back again. “You’re sure?”

Retta nodded enthusiastically, and Travis grasped his shoulder. “I’d enjoy it. It’s been a while since we had the chance to catch up.”

“Okay, then.”

Bear climbed into the back of the truck, and Retta chatted with him as they headed home. As he approached the turnoff to Trip’s place, Travis caught his friend’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

“What do you say, want to swing by and see if Trip’s home?”

Bear grinned. “I’d love to – if it works for you guys.”

Retta smiled at him. “You know I don’t mind.”

“Let’s do it, then.” As he turned into the driveway, he considered calling, but Trip wouldn’t have a problem with them descending on him unannounced. They might even be able to talk him into coming to have dinner with them.

He frowned when he pulled around the back of the house and saw a car he didn’t recognize. The possibility that Trip might have company hadn’t occurred to him.

“Does he have a woman in his life now, too?” asked Bear.

“No, I … I don’t think so.” It struck Travis again that he wasn’t keeping up with Trip as closely as he thought he would now that he was home. What if that car did belong to some woman, what if …”

“Oh! It’s Shelly!”

He looked over at Retta. “Who’s …?” He didn’t need to finish the question. Trip had come out the kitchen door onto the patio, and he was accompanied by the woman who’d been working at the reception desk in the clinic.

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