Page 113 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

Travis nodded. “Thanks, Janey. I might take you up on that – and I might have to ask you to keep an eye out for a draft horse for me.” He turned to Retta. “We’ll want something smaller for you. Small, and docile, and …”

Frankie laughed. “I’m impressed, Trav. I thought you were going to say that she shouldn’t be riding at all – I thought you might suggest a buggy instead.”

“A buggy?” Retta asked.

“A cart – you know, something that you sit on and the horse pulls, they’re harder to fall off of.”

Travis nodded enthusiastically. “They are. Maybe I should be thinking about a pair of draft horses that can pull the kind of buggy we can ride on together.”

Retta laughed. “That sounds like fun, but you’re not going to put me off learning to ride.” She looked around at the girls. “Can one of you change the subject and come up with something to distract him”

Frankie grinned. “I know. Tell us what you think about Retta’s dress for the fundraiser dinner, Trav.”

Retta laughed, and he rolled his eyes. “I would if I’d seen it. She won’t show me.”

“I want it to be a surprise.”

Laney raised her eyebrows. “Kind of like a wedding dress?”

Retta’s heart thudded to a halt. She hadn’t thought of it that way. It wasn’t that she thought Travis seeing the dress before she wore it would be bad luck, just that she wanted to surprise him when he saw it for the first time. Showing it to him on the hanger, or even if she tried it on for him, wouldn’t have the same effect as letting him see her wear it out. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, hoping that the mention of a wedding dress hadn’tfreaked him out. They might have talked about spending the rest of their lives together, but they hadn’t mentioned marriage, and she knew that the very idea of it spooked some people.

Not Travis, apparently. He was wearing a big smile, and his eyes twinkled as he said, “Yeah, like a wedding dress.”

“Oh, wow! Are you guys …?” Frankie asked.

Travis grinned. “Button it, Shorty. I’m working my way up to it.” He held Retta’s gaze as he said, “I don’t know if Retta would even consider marrying my ass.”

She had to laugh at the way he put it, and she had to let him know how she felt. “I’d do more than just consider marrying your ass – and the rest of you, too.” She grinned at the girls. “It is a nice ass, though.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

When they left Trip’s office on Tuesday morning, Travis hovered next to Retta as she made her way back to his truck under her own steam. She smiled at him as he hurried past her to open the passenger door.

“Don’t look so worried! I do okay with the crutches, and this boot is all the protection I need.”

“I know. I’m doing my best, but I’ve already told you, you’re not going to be able to stop me from worrying.” He smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Want me to lift you in there?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Please.”

Once she was in the passenger seat, he put her crutches in the back. “I’ll run back and get the wheelchair.”

He smiled when he met Shelly, who was just coming out of the office pushing the wheelchair.

“Thanks, honey.”

“You’re welcome. She’s going to be fine, you know.”

He chuckled. “I do know – I’m going to make damn sure of it.”

“Just don’t forget that she needs to start getting around by herself, will you?”

“I’ll be good. I’ll probably annoy her by shadowing her every step, but I know I have to let her do things for herself. You’re coming out with us all on Saturday night, aren’t you?”

“I am. I’m looking forward to it.”

“It’ll be a good time. We’ll see you then.”

He loaded the wheelchair in the back of his truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. Retta waved at Shelly as they drove away.

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