Page 9 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

She looked up into his eyes. “Thanks. It does feel good to be on my own two feet.”

He nodded. “I figured. But just because you can stand on ‘em, doesn’t mean you have to. Doesn’t mean that I’m not here to help you, either.”

She met his gaze. It might just be her imagination, but it seemed like he was talking about more than her ability to stay on her feet while wearing a cast.

“Hey, Trav. Retta.”

They both turned when Tyler came outside.

“Hey, squirt. How’s it going in there?”

Tyler grinned. “Great. I cannot wait until the day we open the doors.”

“Me neither.”

Tyler smiled at Retta. “It’s good to see you out and about. How’re you feeling?”

“I’m doing better, thanks. And I have to tell you, I’m glad to be out and about.”

Tyler was Kolby’s twin brother. Retta hated to think that Kolby might have been bitching to him about having his mother-in-law staying with them. Kolby was a sweetheart, and he hadn’t given any indication that he was unhappy with her presence, but …

Tyler gave her a warm smile. “I’ll bet you are. Kolby says that Callie’s hovering over you all the time.”

“She doesn’t have to. I’ll only be there until I can …”

Travis tightened his arm around her waist. “They love having you. They’re both hoping that you’ll stay.”

Tyler nodded. “Kolby’s been talking for ages about trying to persuade you to move up here. I know this wasn’t the ideal way to get you here …” He jerked his chin toward the cast on her leg “…but at least you’re here now.”

Retta held his gaze, and he chuckled.

“He also told me that you feel like you’re in the way. And I’ll bet that now, you’re wondering if I’m bullshitting you to make you feel better, right?”

She had to laugh. “Yes, to be honest, I am. Who wants their mother-in-law staying with them?”

“Ah, see – I didn’t say anything about you staying with them. Although he hasn’t bitched about it. He’s glad you’re here. But I don’t think he’s hoping that you’ll move in with them – just that you’ll move to the valley.”

She nodded slowly. That possibility hadn’t even occurred to her. When Callie had talked about her moving here before, she hadn’t given it any serious consideration. Now, she was only here because she couldn’t be by herself. She looked up at the mountains. Would she want to build a life here?

As if he were reading her thoughts, Travis said, “You’ve got a ready-made set of friends and family waiting to welcome you if you do.”

She looked up at him, and he smiled.

“It’s true,” Tyler added. “Are you coming to the big house for lunch on Sunday?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Ty smiled. “I hope you will. I know you don’t know me yet, but you’re my twin’s mother-in-law, so I reckon that makes us close.”

She had to smile. He reminded her of Travis in a way. He looked all tough, but he was a sweetheart.

“I suppose it does.”

“I need to get going, Shay and Libby should be done at the barn by now, but I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you in the morning, squirt.”

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