Page 49 of Travis

“I’ll say.” Daddy agrees.

“Oh yeah, and something else happened that was very strange.” Mama adds.

I feel relief washing over me as I ask. “What’s that, mama?”

“Well, something we haven’t seen in years, is a pamphlet and business card from a realtor. And the note about Cher was stuck to one from some realtor named Sara...something.”

Travis

“How are them new boots working out for ya?” Buck asks me, as I walk into his shop, with Clint, Laura’s other brother.

“Just great, man. Clint’s looking for a pair, too, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh, hey, man.” Buck says. “Fancy a doctor needing a good pair of riding boots.”

“They’re not for me, they’re for my wife, Cassie.” Clint states. “Actually, I'm looking for a matching pair, to give her for Christmas.” He adds. “She’s one of those types that is hard to buy for. Always saying that she doesn’t want anything. She loves these boots, so I figure I’ll be cute and get us a matching pair.”

“Do you want them dyed or left natural?” Buck asks.

“I like these ones, actually.” Clint points to my boots. “Y’all think you can get me one like those, and pretty another pair up to suit a beautiful lady like my Cassie?”

“I sure can. Here, let me pull up the webpage, and you can take a look at some of the designs. If y’all don’t like any, I can do custom, too.” Buck gestures for Clint to come around the desk, and he clicks on the page for the different styles of boots that he offers.

Then he addresses me. “So, what’s your pleasure this year, my man? Y’all want a clown at your birthday party, or just the usual dancing girls coming out of a cake?” he teases.

“Y’all having a birthday, Travis?” Clint asks. “Geez, Will’s birthday is coming up, too. I’d almost forgotten.”

“Buck’s your man, then.” I pat Buck on the back. “He’s been throwing birthday parties for the whole family for years.”

“Yeah? You into that stuff?”

“I like entertaining.” Buck explains. “Ain’t many reasons to entertain in this field, I'm afraid. So, I’ve done these things for years.”

Clint looks around and sees the garland taped to the desk, the holly all draped throughout the drop ceiling, and the Christmas tree off to the side, with wrapped presents under it. “I see y’all are into Christmas, too, man.”

“Love it.” he says, grabbing his cell phone, which beeped, indicating that he’s receiving a text message. “So, are y’all coming to Travis’s birthday party?” he says when it is.

“Sure. What should I bring?”

“Just that beautiful wife of yours.” Buck says.

“And a gift.” I add cheekily.

“You ain’t even getting a gift from, me, partner.” Buck scoffs. “The party’s the gift.”

“I’m just teasing.” I scratch my nose. “Hey, I spoke to Becky already, and she’s coming, so make sure y’all include her, okay?”

“Already taken care of, my man.” Buck states.

I lift a hand. “Perfect. Thanks.”

Clint shows Buck a design he likes. “That’ll work.” Buck says. “I’ll show you some cool stuff I can do to make Cassie’s pair prettier.”

Clint’s phone beeps for a text message and he looks at it quickly. “I trust you, man. I gotta go. Work calls.”

I look at him. “Emergency at the clinic?”

“Yeah, just one of my patients is asking for me. He doesn’t like Grayson. Used to have a crush on Laura.” he smirks.

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