Page 102 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“Oh please. Call me Adelaide. You make me sound like an old woman when you say Mrs. Simmons. I’m not claiming that I’m not one, but I don’t need reminding of it.”

“Alright then, Adelaide. It’s a pleasure to hear your voice. Are you calling to say hello, or is there anything I can do for you?”

Her laugh sounded so girlish that it made Travis smile. If he could brighten her day, he was all about it.

“As a matter of fact, sugar, I’m calling because there’s something I can do for you. But I realize how that sounds. Don’t worry, I don’t mean it that way. I’m calling because I saw that Jamie driving down the street last night. It was late, or I would have called you then. I was drawing my curtains – that’s how I noticed her. She was driving real slow, and she went even slower past Retta’s place. She was looking real close, too. If I saw someone else doing what she did, I would have thought they were planning a robbery. I do not like that woman, but I don’t see her as a burglar.”

Travis rubbed his hand over his beard. “Thanks for letting me know.” He had no idea what Jamie’s deal was. He could see her having a problem with Retta while she was still there, but there was no reason for her to keep it up now that Retta had left town.

“You’re more than welcome. I’ll give Retta a call for a chat and tell her, too, but I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to hear your voice.”

“Well, I appreciate it. I meant it when I said that you can give me a call anytime.”

She sounded more serious when she said, “That’s kind of you, but for all I like to joke around, I wouldn’t impose without a reason.”

Travis frowned as he wondered if she had any people of her own. He’d have to ask Retta if she had family close by or people who looked out for her. He hated the idea of her being lonely and having lost Retta as her friend and neighbor.

“It’s not an imposition.” He smiled as he added, “It’s what friends do.”

“Go on with you – I told you before, you don’t need to go humoring an old woman. I’m going to hang up now. You tell Retta I’ll give her a call, and don’t either of you forget that I’m here if I can help with anything.”

“Thanks, Adelaide. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Bye now.”

Travis checked his watch. He wanted to talk to Retta about why Jamie might be driving by her house, but he had to try Mav while he had a chance of getting ahold of him. He dialed his number and waited.

“Travis.”

“Hey, Mav. Thanks for picking up.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to talk about my shit, but I want to hear about you and Retta – and whatever else you want to tell me.”

Travis chuckled. “Has Ace told you that I’ve been whining?”

“No. For one thing, he wouldn’t and for another, you don’t whine. It hit me after we texted last night – you like to share your good news, and I haven’t exactly been available to listen, have I?”

“No. I know why but …”

“Yeah. Like I said, I don’t want to talk about that. I’m not mad at you. I was for a while, but it’s not your fault that Libb wanted off the ranch. Instead of being mad at you, I should be thankingyou that she’s going to be at your place and not somewhere else. So, we’re done with that subject. Tell me about you.”

Travis smiled to himself. That was the most he’d get out of Mav, and he knew it. “I know you’ve met Retta, but I hope you’ll be home sometime soon and get to know her. She’s it for me, Mav.”

Mav chuckled. “You guys are dropping like flies. First Deacon, then Ace, now you. Who’s going to be next, do you reckon? Trip’s been dead set against having another woman in his life since his divorce, but I’d still put my money on him before Emmett. I’m not sure Emmett will ever be open to another relationship after Emily died. Maybe Blane, but he’s so damn grumpy; I’m not sure that there’s a woman who’d put up with him.”

Travis laughed. “I’m never sure when Cash calls you guys Grumpy and Grumpier which way around he means it.”

“It’s a close call, but I think I take the crown.”

“Only because you don’t like to be beaten at anything.”

“Yeah. Maybe so.”

“I notice you didn’t include yourself and Cash in the list of who might be next.”

Mav let out a short laugh. “Because neither of us are in the running. And if you think about it, you all give me a hard time about the way things ended up with Libb, but he screwed up worse than I did, and he’s still fucked up over it all these years later.”

Travis frowned. “There’s no point in us giving him a hard time. He’s never going back. And we don’t exactly give you a hard time – no one dares do that – but we still hold out hope for you and Libby. That’s the difference.”

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