Page 33 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

He smiled to himself when the truck emerged from the trees, rounding the bend so that the house came into sight. He understood how people tended to see things now – that his family had been poor, and so most looked down on them, while Trip’s family was rich. He was grateful that what seemed like a difference between them had never made any difference between the two of them, or to their friendship.

Trip came outside to greet him when he stopped the truck.

“Hey, bud. I hope you’re hungry. Maisy’s been cooking up a storm. I told her we could invite the whole valley over for a brunch buffet with the amount of food she’s prepared.”

Travis grinned. “You know me – always hungry. And I’ll eat as much as I can, just to show my appreciation.”

“Come on in.”

Travis followed him inside, and Trip led him to the kitchen. He went straight to Maisy and wrapped her in a hug before stepping back.

“How you doing, Miss Maisy?”

The older woman reached up and pinched his cheek as if he were still a small boy.

“All the better for seeing you, my little duke.”

He laughed. She used to call Trip her little prince when they were kids, and he didn’t think she’d ever called him Travis since she found out that his last name was Duke.

“It makes my heart happy to know that you’re finally home to stay. I’ve been hoping and praying that you’d retire from that dangerous business and come back here where you belong.”

“It was time,” he told her. “What about you? When are you going to retire and make this guy learn to fend for himself?”

She chuckled. “I am retired. I just get bored. Sometimes, I come on over and cook – and he doesn’t seem to mind.”

“I don’t mind you coming over; you know I enjoy your company, but you don’t need to cook for me.”

Maisy arched an eyebrow. “Are you turning down my breakfast? Because if you are, I can pack it all up and give it to Dukie here, to take with him.”

“No way! You know I’m going to enjoy every last scrap.”

“And so you should. I enjoy your company too but not so much that I could just sit around on my ass and talk to you.” She smiled at Travis. “If I sit for too long these days, I struggle to get going again. I’m better to keep moving – and what better way than to be cooking?”

“I can’t think of a better way. You were born to cook – it’s your gift to the world.”

Maisy beamed at him before turning back to Trip. “You hear that? You should take lessons from him. He always was the charmer.” She checked her watch. “You boys grab yourselves a plate. I need to be on my way, or I’ll be late for church.”

They walked her out the back to her car, a little Chevy SUV that Travis didn’t remember seeing before. She kissed each of them on the cheek before she climbed in and drove away with a cheery wave.

“I didn’t think she still worked for you.”

Trip laughed. “She doesn’t – she hasn’t for a while now, but she misses it. She wasn’t joking that she just comes over to visit and the next thing I know she’s busy in the kitchen.”

Travis cocked an eyebrow. “Does that mean you really are fending for yourself?”

“No. Between the clinic and the hospital, I don’t have the time to cook and clean. Maisy’s niece took over from her. She comes three days a week and leaves me food prepped for the days she isn’t here.”

Travis shook his head. “It’s weird; I feel like I should know details like that about your life.”

Trip grasped his shoulder. “And now that you’re home again, you will. Want to load yourself a plate and we can eat out back?”

Once they were seated on the back deck, Travis tucked in to the wonderful breakfast. “I don’t know about the niece leaving you prepped meals, I bet you could live on leftovers from this breakfast for the rest of the week.”

Trip laughed. “I might have to load you up with the leftovers and send them home with you. Anita gets mad when she knows that Maisy’s been over here cooking for me.”

“So, you have women fighting over you, wanting to take care of you?”

“In a way.”

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