Travis stared aimlessly down the dark Mojave Freeway. Ahead, a semi’s taillights led the way, and darkness pressed in from every side. His grip was loose on the steering wheel. It was late and had been a long day of traveling, but he wasn’t so much tired as bone-weary.
Weary and empty. The emptiness started three days earlier, when Shay drove off with a tearful Olivia. He’d gone to the Barr M, hoping Shay would see reason once the dust settled. But her phone had gone to voice mail each time he’d called, and she hadn’t been at church. He’d come around Sunday evening, hoping for one last chance to talk, but she and Olivia were gone.
They’d been the slowest three days of his life. But then Monday came calling, and the farther he got from Moose Creek, the more riled he became. Didn’t she know he planned to return? He’d left messages saying as much, but she either didn’t buy in or didn’t give a hoot.
It was only three measly weeks. One lousy rodeo—and not even for him, but for his friend. But the longer he drove, the more time passed with no word from Shay, he wondered if there were any point in returning.
All day he’d had nothing but time to think, remember, and regret. It seemed cruel that he’d finally won Shay’s heart back only to lose her again. Why couldn’t she trust him? Why couldn’t she give him a chance? Didn’t she know he’d changed?
God, I was patient, wasn’t I? What happened? Why have I lost her all over again?
His cell phone pealed and vibrated in his pocket. Hope flooded through him, kicking his heart into high gear.
He checked the lit screen and saw his parents’ cell number. He let out a deep breath and answered.
“Howdy, son,” Wyatt McCoy said. “Hope we didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
“Not at all, Dad. Just heading down to Vegas for the finals.”
“Everything okay at the Barr M?”
“Fine, just fine. Jacob keeps it running like a well-oiled machine. How’re things in Guatemala?”
“Good, good. Fact is . . . that’s why your mom and I are calling.”
“Hi, honey,” Mom said. “We’re sharing the phone. We wanted to tell you about something that happened yesterday.”
Travis got the feeling something big was coming. “Okay, shoot.”
“During the service, Pastor Gomez preached on knowing God’s will for your life. And during the invitation, well, your dad and I just looked at each other, and we both knew what that was for us.”
“Let’s just tell him, Doreen,” Dad said.
“Okay, well, the bottom line is, we feel God calling us to stay here, honey.”
“Permanently,” Dad said.
“I’ll be darned.” It was all Travis could think to say. His folks had ranched all his life. But they were nothing if not obedient to God.
“We’ve both been feeling it,” his mom said. “But we didn’t mention it to each other until last night during the service. It’s been weighing heavily on me our whole time here.”
“On me too,” Dad said. “We want to serve the people of Guatemala.”
“We’ve come to love them very much,” Mom said.
“That’s something else. I’m happy for you, that you both agree and want to go where God’s leading you. Are you still coming home for a while? What about the Barr M?”
“We’re returning just long enough to pack our things,” Mom said.
“We’re wondering if you’d be interested in running the Barr M now that you’re back in Moose Creek,” Dad said. “Maybe even owning it.”
Travis squeezed the wheel, regret rising in him so fast it threatened to suck him under. If they’d asked a week ago, how different things would’ve been. But now . . .
“That means a lot to me, Dad. Mom.” How could he commit to living the rest of his life next door to the woman he loved? He wasn’t into torture.
“I hear a but coming,” Mom said.
He hoped this wouldn’t ruin their plans. “Thing is, it didn’t work out between me and Shay. I don’t know if I’m going back after the finals.”
“I see,” Dad said.
Travis heard the disappointment in his voice.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mom said. “Are you okay, honey?”
“I’ll be fine.” Eventually. He’d lost her before and survived it. If you could call the life he had before surviving.
“You and Shay,” his mom said. “I thought for sure . . . Are you certain it’s over?”
“It didn’t work out like I thought. I—I wish it had.”
“Have you prayed about it, honey?”
“Yeah, of course, I—” He had prayed before he returned to Moose Creek. Had felt peace about returning with hopes of reuniting with his soul mate.
He frowned at the windshield. But when the wedding certificate had come, when the crazy arrangement idea had occurred, had he even stopped to get God’s take on it?
He didn’t think so. He’d known Miss Lucy was praying for them, but what kind of Christian was he, letting the elderly woman pull his spiritual weight?
“Maybe I didn’t,” he said. “Not like I should’ve.” Regret settled into a spot in his heart, just below the empty space Shay had left.
“Maybe you can work it out with her yet. She’s your wife, whether either of you intended it or not.”
“I don’t think so, Mom. Right now I’m just going to focus on getting through the finals. After that I may end up back in Texas.”
“You sure about that, son? I know how much you love the ranch. And you’ve always wanted a spread of your own.”
“Don’t press him, Wyatt. Honey, you take some time and think it over. At least a couple weeks, okay?”
He promised he would, though his hopes weren’t high. They talked for a few more minutes, then wrapped up the call.
For the remainder of the drive, he found himself dreaming of owning the Barr M. Of Shay and him running the whole spread and raising a family. Then he’d wake from his daydream and scold himself for letting his thoughts get away.
By the time he reached the hotel, it was nearly midnight. He checked in and took the gilded elevator to his room. Once there, he tossed his suitcase on the hotel bed and went to look out the window. Twenty floors down, the streets teemed with cars and people. The glitter of Las Vegas stared back, mocking him with its promise of pleasure and thrills.
There would be no pleasure or thrills for him in this city. He glanced at the lump in his duffel bag where Shay’s new wedding band nested in a bed of velvet. He felt like all kinds of fool now for having hoped. For having thought it could last forever.
A knock sounded on the hotel door, interrupting his thoughts.
There was only one person who’d visit him at this hour. Seth was probably bursting at the seams to get started. He forced a smile and opened the door.
But it wasn’t Seth standing in the hall. Ella wore her trademark red cowboy hat and Crest smile. Her perfume was sweet and cloying.
“Travis!” She drew him into a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
He’d ignored the flirtatious text she’d sent three days ago, and now he was paying for that. But he’d already told her he was married, told her he loved his wife. He hated to be rude, but she was leaving him no choice.
Ella stepped back, her smile unwavering. “You look the same.” She grabbed his left hand and looked at it. “No wedding band . . . Were you just puttin’ me on, Travis McCoy?”
He pulled his hand away and stuffed it in his pocket. He’d removed the band somewhere between Ogden and Salt Lake City.
“ ’Fraid not,” he said.
The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, more at his action than his words, he suspected.
She propped her smile back up. “Well, we have a long three weeks ahead of us and plenty of time to . . . catch up.” She winked. “You look tired as a Thanksgiving turkey. If you get bored, I’m in 1620, and Seth’s across the hall from me.”
She’d never been subtle. “See you tomorrow.” He pushed the door shut.
“ ’Night, Travis.”
He locked the door and fell into bed, weariness creeping over every muscle in his body.