Page 39 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“I do. For me …” She met his gaze. “I don’t know how this will sound but for me, it’s felt kind of hollow ever since Callie was born. I know that’s a long time but … It’s just how it is for me. I was so young when I had her. I had a few relationships when she was small, but I ended up feeling like I was supposed to be alone.”

He smiled. “I thought the same thing for most of my life. Some of the guys met women and settled down – and even after they got divorced or whatever, I still thought of them as people who were supposed to have a woman by their side. Like Trip – he’s been divorced for years, and to say that it ended badly would be an understatement. He’s happy enough by himself, but he’s not the kind of guy who’s meant to be alone.”

“I can see what you mean about him. He doesn’t seem like a lifelong bachelor – more like someone who doesn’t have a lady in his life at the moment.”

“Yeah. I’ve tended to think of myself as the lifelong bachelor type.” He smiled. “But I wouldn’t be upset if you wanted to prove me wrong.”

She took hold of his hand. “I wouldn’t be upset about it, either. I … We’ll just have to see how it goes, won’t we?”

“Yeah.”

“Can we keep talking to each other like this, Travis? Keep being this honest with each other?”

“We can, and I hope we will. It gives me hope.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“I like this. I guess I’ve always felt like I couldn’t be this honest with a woman.”

“Me too – with a man, I mean.” She frowned. “I don’t think I’m usually this honest with anyone.”

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I can see that.”

She gave him a questioning look.

“You’re not usually this honest with yourself, are you?”

She swallowed. He had a point. “No. I tend to just do whatever it takes to get through the day, the week, the season at school, and beyond that … well, beyond that I try not to think too much about anything.”

He nodded. “I won’t say that I’m glad you broke your leg, but I am glad that it’s given you the chance to pause and take a look at your life and be honest with yourself. What do you think, is it time to take you back to Callie’s so you can be honest with her that you want to move in with me?”

She let out a short laugh. “I suppose it is – but now I’m nervous.”

“Why? You don’t think she’ll approve?”

She relaxed. “Actually, I imagine that she’ll more than approve – she’ll be happy. I need to stop immediately expecting the worst, don’t I?”

“That might not be a bad idea. Do you want me to come in with you and we can talk to her and Kolby about moving you in here with me?”

She checked her watch. “It’s getting late. How about you drop me off, and I’ll talk to them tonight? Then if you want to, we can both talk to them in the morning when you come to pick me up.”

“Okay, but if you want me with you …”

“I do, I will, but … I’d like to talk to Callie by myself first.”

Rather than being upset that she was leaving him out, as she’d feared he might, he smiled.

“Makes sense to me; mama bear’s gotta make sure her cub’s going to be alright with it.”

She laughed. “Exactly.”

Chapter Nine

When Travis pulled up in front of the Valley Lodge on Tuesday evening, he turned to Retta with a smile.

“Are you looking forward to this?”

She glanced over her shoulder as if checking to see if someone might be listening before she answered. “I’m a bit nervous.”

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