Page 130 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

He rolled his eyes at her. “They’re excited to see you. Do you want to get out?”

“I do. The girls will want hugs, and I won’t be able to do that from here.”

“Do you want your wheelchair?”

“No, I can manage.”

He lifted her out in the same way that he had so many times while she was wearing her cast. Lately, she’d been insisting that she should get in and out herself and he mostly let her. He knew damn well that picking her up like this was about him making sure that everyone knew what the deal was – that she was his. He wasn’t proud of himself, but it was just how it was.

She smiled at him through pursed lips. “Are you going to let me put my feet on the ground or are you going to hold me like this the whole time?”

He gently lowered her feet to the ground but kept one arm firmly around her waist.

“Ms. Rayne! Ms. Rayne! It’s so good to see you!” The three girls bounded over to her with the one Travis guessed was Adriana – since she’d been riding in the passenger seat – in the lead.

When she reached Retta, she stopped dead. “Are you alright? Is your leg still not better? Can I give you a hug?”

Retta laughed and held one arm out. Travis reluctantly let go of her but stayed close to her side. He watched all three girls hug her and chatter away about how they missed her and how glad they were to be able to see her, and how things wouldn’t be the same at school without her. He started to feel bad – he’d been assuspicious of them as he had of Marty, but they obviously adored Retta – he should have known that they would.

Marty approached more slowly and hung back as he watched Retta and the girls talk. He gave Travis a rueful smile and held his hand out.

“You must be Travis. I’m Marty Hoffman. Thanks for meeting us like this. The girls pleaded with me to make it happen since we were going to be so close to where Retta now lives.”

Travis shook hands with him and nodded.

“I want to apologize about …” He glanced at the girls and lowered his voice. “Jamie. She’s not taking the separation very well. She’s gone off the deep end, if I’m honest. She got this crazy notion in her head about … well, you know.”

When Marty met his gaze and held it as he said, “It’s just not true. I give you my word.” Travis was inclined to believe him. “Retta was kind to me when I started coming to watch Adriana at practices, that’s all,” Marty continued. He made a face. “Kindness is such an alien concept to Jamie that she got it into her head that there was something going on.”

Travis nodded again.

Marty blew out a sigh. “I …” He looked over at the girls. “Are we going to eat here, ladies? Or are we going to carry on to the park?”

The girls looked at each other, then at Marty. “How much farther is it?” one of them asked.

Marty looked at Travis. “I’m guessing another half an hour from here. Would that be right?”

“Yeah. It’s half an hour from here to Gardiner – and the entrance to the park.” He smiled. “There’s a whole bunch of souvenir stores down there and a couple of restaurants.”

“Can we go see the souvenir stores, Dad?”

“Yeah, can we? I want to get a hoodie.”

Marty gave Travis a rueful smile. “That sounds like a plan. Did you give Ms. Rayne her gift?”

“We did! She loves it, don’t you?”

Retta smiled and clutched a photo frame to her chest. “I do. I’ll treasure it. Thank you, girls.”

They all crowded around her once again, hugging her and promising to keep in touch and to let her know how the cheer squad was doing.

Travis watched with interest as Marty shook Retta’s hand. He didn’t look like he was hoping that he’d get a hug. He seemed a little embarrassed, but that was all.

She gave him a kind smile. “Thank you for bringing them to see me like this.”

“Thanks for agreeing to meet us – after … everything.”

Retta shrugged. “That’s not your fault.”

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