Page 16 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“As a matter of fact, I do. Come here.” She held her arms up and when Callie leaned in, she hugged her tightly. “There, that’ll keep me going. I just needed a hug from my baby girl; I don’t get nearly enough of those.”

Callie squeezed her and kissed her cheek before she straightened up.

“You could have all the hugs you wanted, whenever you wanted if you stayed, you know.”

She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She didn’t know what to say. It was hard to keep putting her daughter off, and she could feel Travis’s gaze on her, even though she refused to look at him.

Callie gave her a wry smile. “Okay, I’ll button it – for now. But I’m going to keep bugging you. I want you here.”

“I have my job, Callie, you know that.”

“But you don’t need it, you don’t even like it that much anymore, and …” Her eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips together in an expression that Retta hadn’t seen on her face in a long time – she was pissed. “… They haven’t even been in touch to see how you’re doing, have they?”

Retta shrugged. “Everyone’s on break for the summer. I …”

“I’m not going to get into it, but you know how I feel. They didn’t do right by you. They left you in the hospital in San Diego all by yourself. If we hadn’t come to get you, you’d still be there now. It’d be fine by me if you sent in your notice and never went back.”

She was picking up steam, and Retta wished that she’d stop, especially since Travis was listening. She knew there was no point in interrupting, though. Callie didn’t get mad very often, but when she did, it was better to let her blow off steam in one go. She’d get over it that way rather than let it simmer.

“And we still need to talk about what exactly happened.”

Retta held her breath. She’d been hoping that the time for discussing the details of her accident had passed. What matteredwas her condition, and how to get better; she’d kept everyone’s focus on that from the moment they came to collect her from the hospital in San Diego.

Callie’s eyes narrowed as she leaned in closer.

“No, I haven’t forgotten. I’m not going to let it drop. I’ve just been waiting for the right time.”

“Well, this isn’t it.”

Her words seemed to snap Callie out of it. She glanced at Travis, then nodded slowly.

“Maybe not, but don’t think I’m going to drop it.” She came back and hugged Retta again. “Sorry, Mama. I’m not mad at you. I’m not trying to be mean, I just …”

Retta closed her eyes as she hugged her daughter to her. “I know. It’s alright. You’re not being mean, I get it. But you’re not going to get anywhere with it, so you might as well drop it. It’s all water under the bridge now.”

Callie kissed her cheek before she stood up again. “I’m not going to argue you with you.” She shot Travis a tight smile. “I’m going to wish you both a fun day and leave you to it.”

“Thanks, sweetie. You have a good day yourself.”

“I will. Call me if you need me, and text me when you have an idea of what time you’ll be home – if you’ll want dinner.”

Retta looked up at Travis, and he smiled. “I’d like to keep you for dinner, but you may want to be rid of me before then.”

“I’ll be home after dinner,” she told Callie with a smile.

~ ~ ~

Once he’d made sure that Retta was comfortable in the passenger seat and had her wheelchair stowed in the back,Travis glanced over at her as he backed away from the house.

“What exactly did happen?” It was obvious that there was something about the accident that had broken her leg that was a point of contention between Retta and Callie.

“Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “Don’t give me that shit, darlin’. You know exactly what I mean. How did you break your leg?”

She blew out a sigh. “It was an accident.”

Something about the way she said it made him uneasy – it sounded as though she was trying to defend someone.

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