Page 84 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

Ty leaned over and grinned at Retta. “We think he’s starting to feel left out. Since Kolby met Callie, and I found Shay, he’s wondering if there might be something to this settling down business after all.”

Tanner shrugged. “Maybe so.”

Retta patted his hand again. “You’ll know when it’s the right time for you. In fact, I take that back. It’s not so much about the right time as when the right person comes along – and she will, don’t you doubt it.”

“Thanks, Retta.” Tanner laughed. “These guys give me a hard time; they reckon I might not be able to find someone who’s right for me. I’m glad you have some faith in me even if no one else does. In fact, when I find her, I’ll tell you before I tell any of these guys.”

Laney and Ty just laughed, but Travis could tell that Retta was touched. He made a mental note to remind Tanner of what he’d said. It’d mean to the world to her if Tanner remembered to tell her when he found his girl.

~ ~ ~

Retta was still thinking about Tanner the following afternoon. They were on their way to see Callie and Kolby, and as they passed the big house at the MacFarland Ranch, Tanner came out and waved. She waved back, and Travis lifted his hand but didn’t stop.

“Does he get left out?” she asked.

Travis gave her a puzzled look. “Tanner? No, not really. They … I dunno, maybe he does these days. Like they were saying yesterday, the rest of them have settled down now. Well, there’s Ford – he’s still single. He lives in the big house with Tan, but there’s only the two of them left there.”

“Aww, I didn’t even think about him. He’s not as sociable as the rest of them, is he?”

“Yeah. He keeps to himself more. But he’s not stand-offish or anything.”

“No, I like him. He’s been warm and welcoming whenever I’ve seen him. Are they two loners left in the main house together?”

Travis chuckled. “Maybe, but I don’t see it that way. Ford and Wade used to hang out together all the time – right from when they were kids. There’s only a year difference between them. Since Wade and Sierra got together and adopted the kids, things are different obviously.”

“Of course. And the rest of them are two sets of twins, so they’re naturally paired up. I just wondered if Tanner was left by himself. Not that he seems the type who’d be lonely for long.”

“You got that right. He might not have a girlfriend, but he’s never short of female company.”

“I gathered that much, I just wondered about male company – you know, siblings or friends.”

Travis shot a smile at her. “You don’t need to worry about him.”

“I know. I’m not worried so much as curious. I don’t like to think of him being left out, but I know that’s just me, so I’m trying to fill in the blanks.”

“Right. Well, when they were kids, Luke – the one who’s engaged to Laney – was always around. He and Tan were best friends – they still are. You would have thought that the two of them were another pair of twins; they were inseparable.”

“And he’s Deacon’s younger brother?”

“That’s right.”

She shook her head. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to have known the same people all your life.”

He looked over at her. “You told me what happened with your family, but you don’t keep in touch with anyone you grew up with?”

“No.” She shrugged. “It’s a small town. I got pregnant so young, and my family disowned me when I married Callie’s father. When he walked out, his family turned their backs on me as well. I had no one, and no reason to stay there so I moved to a bigger town where I wouldn’t have to face people, and it was easier to get work. I’ve never been back.”

Travis blew out a sigh. “I hate that for you, darlin’. I’ll never understand how family can turn their backs on a kid.”

“They did me a favor. If they’d been willing to take me in, I might still be there now. And if I’d stayed, Callie wouldn’t be where she is. I’m not saying that I’m in any way responsible for even a drop of her success, but even though I couldn’t give hermuch of anything, I gave her the freedom to become herself. She wouldn’t have had that around my family.”

“I don’t know why you can’t see it the way she does – the way I do – you gave that girl the foundation that she built her life on.”

Retta had to swallow around the lump in her throat. “I should have been able to do more. She succeeded in spite of me, not because of me.”

Travis parked the truck in front of Callie and Kolby’s place. “You know I don’t agree with you about that, but I’m not going to argue about it right now.”

She smiled when the front door opened, and Callie came out. “Good. Let’s go and see them instead.”

---