JENNY WAS STARVING when she left the ranch with Travis. She hadn’t had anything to eat since those two cinnamon rolls at 6:00 a.m.
It was her fault. She stayed much too long talking to Dr. Lisa Redding. The conversation had revolved around moving from a big city and major hospital to a one-stop-sign town and a small clinic. She made mental notes she would transfer to her tablet. She hadn’t wanted to interrupt the conversation by taking out her phone and asking to record it. That could come later.
Travis wandered away and was talking to Jubal when she finished. “Thanks for waiting for me,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he said solemnly, but there was a tease in his eyes.
“They’re all great. Josh, Jubal, Danny.”
“Yeah, they are, but it wasn’t easy to get to where they are now.”
“What about you?”
He shrugged. “I suppose I have a few demons. I try not to pay any attention to them. I got off easy compared to so many others.”
“Is that why you adopted Danny?”
“He’s a soldier. He deserved help,” he said as they walked to his car. “Hungry?”
“Starved. Maybe some takeout at Maude’s?”
“I was thinking more like a steak at the Rusty Nail. They’re not as good as Josh’s, but they’re good. The owner is a veteran.”
She sighed happily. “That sounds perfect.” She hesitated before she ventured, “I’m going with you, then?”
“If you follow up on your promise,” he said, wondering if he was making a very big mistake. “Can you go on short notice?”
“I’ve been doing that all my adult life. Keeping promises and moving with short notice.”
“It’s a very long drive,” he warned.
“I like road trips,” she said. “I usually fly, but I’ve always thought that when I had time...an open road was appealing. And after today, I really want to visit the other ranches.”
“Do you ever slow down?” he asked.
“I try not to.”
The Rusty Nail was the typical small-town tavern with an unpaved parking lot and worn cedar exterior. They walked inside to a large room with sawdust on the floor and peanuts on the table.
They were immediately greeted by a young woman. “Hi, Major Hammond. Good to see you again.”
“You have two hungry people,” Travis said. “This is Jenny Talbot. She’s a reporter.”
“I heard. I was hoping you’d come by.”
“Of course you heard,” Jenny said with a smile. “I’m quickly learning that Covenant Falls works like a game of telephone.”
Travis smiled and changed the subject. “I’ll have your strip steak rare, with a baked potato and a side of mushrooms.”
“I’ll have the same, but make mine medium rare,” Jenny said. “And a beer. Anything cold. You pick.”
“Make it two,” Travis said.
The waitress grinned. “I like trust.”
“I like her,” Jenny said after she left.
“Everyone does. She’s one reason this place thrives. That and the food.”
Jenny cracked a peanut shell and popped the nuts into her mouth. “That’s good. I could almost have eaten one of those horses, but Jubal and Josh wouldn’t approve. They’re a lot alike, aren’t they?”
“Josh is more pragmatic. He’s really good with business, but then he was always great with details. It was what made him a fine staff sergeant. He’s a lot more relaxed now. Eve and her son have really mellowed him.” There he went confiding in her again. “How’s your arm?”
“Fine. I hope you don’t feel guilty. I have a habit of forgetting about it. Maybe because I hate any limitations. But I noticed how good you were with Nick.”
“He’s got a good arm. I started pitching at that age.”
“Eve said you played baseball in college. Ever think about going pro?”
“Baseball provided my education, but I knew I wasn’t major-league good.”
“So where do you live these days?” she asked.
“Right now, I have a small apartment near Walter Reed. What about you?” It was just so damn natural talking to her. Conversation flowed between them. No wonder she was a good reporter. He warned himself to be careful.
“I don’t really have one,” she said. “I’ve been living overseas out of a duffel bag for nearly ten years. Didn’t make any sense to buy or rent.”
“What do the doctors say about your shoulder?”
She shrugged. “I might get full function, then again I might not. I’m doing exercises, but it’s slow. I can’t complain because there’s a lot of people who are dead or with worse wounds for a better reason.”
The beers came in frosted mugs. She touched hers to his, and they took a long draft.
She was not dainty in drinking. She chugged it down like any soldier. But then she’d been in the sun most of the day. Her cheeks were flushed, and her green eyes gleamed. She was so full of life, it seemed to radiate from her. He had already noticed how people were drawn to her. She was genuinely interested in everyone she met, ready for any adventure and obviously fearless...
He doubted if anything—or anyone—could hold her for very long.
Particularly a war-worn soldier with a bum leg and a questionable future. Why even worry about it? She wouldn’t be here long, and neither would he. They would go back to their separate worlds in several weeks.
“You look lost in thought,” she said.
“Just enjoying the beer. How did you like your first horseback ride?”
“I loved it. I just want to saddle a horse on my own.”
“It’ll come.”
“Do you ride?” she asked.
“When I was a kid. We had an old plow horse I rode bareback. I did ride at Jubal’s ranch when I was here several weeks ago.”
“So...can I go with you, then?” she asked directly.
“You don’t have any other obligations, no one to check in with?” he asked. It was a question he’d wanted to ask since he first dropped her off at the Camel Trail Inn.
“No,” she said. “I’ve been on my own for a long time.”
“No questions?”
“No. I’m just tailing along. And I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”
“It was Jubal’s decision.”
“You could have said no.”
He was saved from answering by the arrival of the steaks. Outside of the military, his relationships had been few and far between. He’d had little time for romance. When he wasn’t deployed, he was busy stateside, overseeing training and preparing for the next deployment.
It wasn’t for lack of opportunities, but he knew the pressures of a military marriage, and he knew from personal experience that other marriages had difficulties, too. Until Dinah, he’d never found anyone who’d even made him think about anything permanent...
He watched as Jenny tasted the strip steak. She ate as if she hadn’t seen food in a week. He wondered where she put it. At midmeal, a band gathered in a corner of the room.
He tried to focus on the band playing good pop country. After one song, he turned, and their gazes met. It was as if lightning darted between them. He knew from the stunned expression in her eyes that she felt it, too.
Couples were dancing, and Travis felt a rare envy. He could barely walk straight, much less dance. Ordinarily that wouldn’t have bothered him, but he had the damnedest need to ask her to dance. He wanted to hold her, move with her.
Could he back out of the trip now before those feelings grew? Did he want to?
“We’d better go,” he said. “I have some things to get together, and I imagine you do, too.”
“I want to pay my share of dinner for tonight,” she said when the bill came.
He saw the stubborn look on her face. It went against all his instincts to let her pay her bill. They weren’t on the trip yet, but he understood. Independence was obviously very important to her.
They paid their bills and left the noisy room.
The inn was just a few miles away, but Travis wasn’t quite ready to let her go yet. He drove past the packed lot and around to the side of the inn.
“There’s a 50th wedding anniversary party here,” Jenny explained. “Lots of friends and family. Susan warned me it might be noisy, but hopefully it will end early,” Jenny continued, and he wondered if she was feeling the growing warmth in the car. “The dining room was closed for the party, so you saved me from starvation.” She paused. “Thanks for all the help and especially for agreeing to take me with you tomorrow.”
He nodded, and she reached for the door. But then she turned back, and the air in the car went from warm to electric. Their hands touched. He wanted to reach over and touch her face, draw her to him.
Her eyes were so intense, so damned green. The energy in her seemed too strong to contain in the car. His heartbeat quickened. Other parts of his anatomy did, as well.
“I should go inside,” Jenny said reluctantly.
He nodded. “I’ll be here at oh-eight hundred.”
“I’ll be ready,” she said, without making a move to exit the car.
“Don’t forget about that bath. You’ll be sore tomorrow,” he said in an effort to shatter the sexual tension radiating between them. “I rode on my last visit and paid for it the next day.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
He got out and limped over to the passenger side as she stepped out.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“You forget I have papers saying I’m an officer and a gentleman. That means accompanying you to the door.”
She gave him that spontaneous grin that had enchanted him from day one. He put his hands on her shoulders, leaned down and touched his lips to hers. Gently. Tentatively.
She lifted up on her toes and returned the kiss. He felt the earth rumble under him, and the bright, vivid attraction between them exploded.
He hadn’t intended it. He’d meant only to walk her to the door, but he couldn’t resist the smile that lit him up inside, and once their lips met, the kiss became scorching. His arms went around her and tightened.
The electricity that darted between them almost from the first moment they met was turning into a tempest, one Travis knew he had to stop for both their sakes. Neither of them was ready for anything more than a temporary partnership. He knew that much from the conversations they’d had.
She wanted her career back. She was a wanderer, and he didn’t know what in hell he wanted. He stepped back, his hands falling from her shoulders. “I’m sorry,” he said. “That shouldn’t have happened...”
* * *
FOR ONCE IN her life, Jenny was speechless. Her heart pounded. She was trembling, wanting—no, needing—to explore the flames that licked between them.
But he was right. The trip was too important to them both. She didn’t want to do anything that might cause him to have second thoughts. She searched his face. “I’d better go in,” she said. “I’ll be at the door at eight.”
She waited anxiously for his answer. Was the trip still viable? There had been vibes between them from the moment they met, but tonight it had changed into something more...intimate.
“Good night,” he said in an unsteady voice.
She didn’t wait. She nodded, not wanting to give him a chance to change his mind about the trip. She hoped no one was in the inn’s lobby because she knew her face might give away what just happened. She’d long ago discounted tales of romantic fireworks. Never happened to her. Until now.
She tried to compose herself as she crossed the lobby. Susan stepped out of the dining room, which appeared packed. “Hi,” she said. “Have a good day?”
Still shaken, she nodded. “I rode my first grown-up horse, and I’ll be leaving in the morning. I should be back next Saturday or Sunday. I’ll let you know when.”
“I should have plenty of rooms then. In any event, I’ll have one for you.”
“Thanks.”
“I see you found some boots.”
Jenny needed to get back to her room. She was still trembling inside, but she fought to keep her tone normal. “You were right about the General Store. It did have a good selection.”
Susan nodded. “If that’s your first ride, you might want to soak in a hot bath.”
“So people keep telling me. I’m beginning to understand why. I’m already stiff. Do you ride?”
“Since I was a kid. Most of us around here do.”
“You’re from Covenant Falls?”
“Born and raised. That’s why I want to make the inn a success. Make it a destination. That was a good idea about concentrating advertising on veterans.”
“Good,” Jenny said, trying desperately to keep her voice even. Calm. “Glad I can help. I would like to do a story on the inn when I get back. I have some contacts with travel magazines.”
“That would be great.”
She turned toward the dining room. “It sounds like the party is going well.”
“Come on in,” Susan said. She didn’t wait for a reply, but went to the double doors and opened one. Curious, Jenny followed.
A band was playing “Tennessee Waltz,” and an elderly couple was dancing, dipping and whirling. Both had white hair, but their age didn’t dim the broad smiles on their faces. A boy and girl of three or four years were doing their version of the waltz, too, while others applauded.
More couples started dancing, and Jenny backed away. Her heart lightened at watching such a celebration and recognizing the love in the room. There was also an ache for never having known this kind of family...or joy.
She was an observer. Had been one all her life. Now she wondered whether if, by being an observer, she had missed being a participant in living. “Thank you,” she said to Susan.
“Have a good night,” Susan said as she closed the door.
Back in her room, she took an anti-inflammatory and sank into the tub. Only then did she allow herself to think of the kiss, of its impact. She’d been kissed many times before, but she couldn’t remember one that affected her in so many ways. It had the potent combination of passion and gentleness. Travis Hammond had many qualities she admired: intelligence, humor, a rapport with people ranging from little boys to navy SEALs. That a group of warriors entrusted him with a project obviously important to them said even more.
But he was also private. He answered questions, but she always had the feeling that he was leaving the most important facts out. He’d said very little about his family, where he was from, his feelings about the military. Had he ever been married, or had there been other relationships? She wanted to know everything about him.
Could she really claim it was just journalistic curiosity?
One thing she did know: she didn’t need complications now. She wanted to get back to Syria. Not wanted. Had to.
The child from her nightmares haunted her. She’d previously built an emotional shield between her and the horrors she’d seen during her years as a war correspondent, but the child had broken through it and wouldn’t go away. Maybe that was why she had the nightmares. She needed to tell the child’s story. Not just what she saw, but what happened after.
She’d tried to find out. She’d contacted Rick who was now in Iraq, but he didn’t know more than her. He’d promised, though, to try to find out.
The water had cooled, and she ran the hot water again, until she was nearly boiled. Some of the aches and soreness from riding began to fade.
She had a tablet full of books she wanted to read, but tonight she just wanted to think about the day. About the people she’d met. Jubal. Danny. Josh. Andy. Eve. They’d all faced physical and emotional challenges, and now their main focus was helping others with theirs.
She wrote the first page of a story in her head, and then she leaned back in the tub and considered her future.
Afterwards, she packed and began writing her impressions of the people she’d met in Covenant Falls. It was past midnight when she crawled into bed. Her body was tired, but her mind was too busy to sleep. She turned on the television news, but the screen blurred. Travis’s face kept appearing, instead. The thin scar that gave him a crooked smile added interest to a face that might otherwise be too handsome. His wry humor attracted her, but she kept going back to his relationships with Nick and Danny. Eve had told her that a job for Danny was the one condition Travis had made to make his first visit.
Rangers were a clannish group. They looked after each other, but Danny hadn’t been a Ranger. He hadn’t been anything to anybody, apparently, except to a major with no previous connection to him.
That placed Travis very high in her estimation.
She could care less about his wounds. He’d learned how to manipulate his right hand to do what needed to be done with three fingers. Although he’d obviously had surgery on his leg and it must give him pain, he didn’t let it stop him.
The simple fact was she liked him. She liked him more every time she was with him. He was gentle, despite being a warrior. She thought of the way he’d lifted the saddle for her. Challenged her on the day he’d picked her up. Played baseball with Eve’s son. Allowed her to make her case with Jubal. He was a rare man.
That frightened her as few other things had. She didn’t want ties. She wanted the freedom to go where stories took her. And right now the story was still in Syria.