The Rancher Takes A Bride (25 page)

So what did he do now? The thought of letting her go just wasn't appealing, and he didn't want to consider why he felt that way.

The detective had said he needed another week to finish his investigation. Soon Travis would uncover the truth regarding Rose and maybe even discover just who Rose Severin really was.

***

Rose picked up the pieces of clothing that lay strewn about the bank and heaved a heavy sigh. She would never understand Travis Burnett. Never figure out how such a complex, interesting man could be so gallant and dashing one moment and a total ass the next.

Why had he all but jumped up and run when they were finished?

Though she certainly wasn't an expert at these kinds of things, surely the man did more than complete the act and then dash away.

There were no words of endearment, nothing. Just a frightened, half-scared look in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Did he think she meant to force him to marry her? Did he think she was going to spend the rest of her life with a man who didn't want her?

Rose bent over and picked up her drawers and then angrily yanked her chemise over her head. There was tenderness between her legs, and her breasts were irritated and sensitive. So this was what having sex with a man was all about. Thirty minutes of tussling about on the ground, only to be left sore and alone. It just wasn't worth the effort.

Who was she kidding? It had been worth it. Every wonderful, touching moment in Travis's arms had been worth it. Every aching sore spot or muscle had been worth being with Travis. Making love with Travis had been absolutely breathtaking—up until the moment he'd left.

She pulled on the dress and slowly started to button the wet garment. She sighed. Maybe he hadn't enjoyed being with her. Maybe she hadn't pleased him the way other women had. Yet, he'd moaned and groaned until she'd thought he was going to die. And then she'd felt as if she
had
died right there in his arms and fallen back to earth.

Rose glanced around the area, looking for any leftover evidence. Would people know what had happened here today? Did she look different?

The cool breeze blew against her skin, and she held her arms out to the sky. Now she was a woman through and through. She was a woman, he was a man, and what they shared had been beautiful.

At least until he'd rushed off, leaving her to wonder what had chased him from her embrace. She dropped her arms and glanced at the pond.

Travis had affected her life in many ways, and for some reason she'd allowed him to take control. But no more.

He'd been the first man she'd been attracted to in a long time. He'd been the only man she'd had sex with. He'd taken her virginity, awakened her body, but she would never allow him to steal her heart!

Rose waited for Travis all day, waited to see how he would act when he came home, but it was after midnight before she heard him stomping up the stairs, and the next morning he was gone before the first light of day. For almost two days she wandered around that big old house, trying to keep busy, wondering why Travis was avoiding her. For two days she simmered and stewed, her emotions fluctuating between anger and hurt, while he ignored her completely.

He had pursued her with fierceness, and now he was avoiding her so visibly that it almost made her laugh and cry at once. But she would not be outwitted. She'd be waiting for him this evening, and he'd see that their encounter, though brief, was over.

In fact as soon as she could, she would be gone. But still his actions hurt. His avoidance was so predictable. It was the very reason she had never given herself to any man before now. Her father had warned her repeatedly that men would use a woman and then discard her for the next pretty face. And certainly she'd watched her father go through women like underwear. Soil them and discard them—that had been his objective in life and the only real thing he'd been accomplished at.

And Rose had sworn no man would ever use her the way she'd watched her father use women. It was the reason she had stayed an innocent. It was the reason there had never been one special man in her life.

The sound of a wagon pulling into the yard and the bark of the dogs alerted her that someone was coming. She glanced out the kitchen window at the wagon being pulled down the drive by two chestnut horses. Eugenia was returning. Rose let out a sigh of both relief and regret.

She'd wanted one last chance to be alone with Travis, one last chance to clear the air, before his mother came back. Before Eugenia became their chaperone once again. But that wasn't meant to be.

Tucker drove the wagon, his own horse tied to the back.

"Cookie," Rose called. "Tucker has brought Eugenia home. Set two extra places for dinner, please." Not that she had expected Travis to come home and eat with her. She'd taken her meals alone these last few days.

Rose smoothed her new skirt, opened the door, and stepped out onto the porch, watching as Eugenia and Tucker rode up. She waved a greeting, but felt nervous about seeing them again. Could they tell that she was different? Would they question where Travis was?

Rose had no idea what part of the ranch he was working on today, and when his mother asked, Rose was tempted to tell Eugenia the truth. Her son was a big louse who couldn't even say hello to the woman he had bedded. But she knew she wouldn't. She could never tell Eugenia about that morning at the pond.

The wagon rolled to a stop, and only then did Rose see Travis walking into the yard, his horse limping along behind him. Even from the house she could see the scowl on his face. His hat was pulled low, and he walked with a determined stride that she'd only seen when he was angry.

The dark bay horse limped behind him as Travis tugged at him with the reins.

The wagon pulled to a stop and Eugenia called, "Rose, dear, hello!"

She waved. "Welcome back."

Tucker smiled at Rose and nodded his head. He set the brake on the wagon and then climbed down and went around to help his mother. Once Eugenia was out of the wagon, she walked up the steps of the porch and gave Rose a hug.

"It feels so good to be home."

"I'm glad you're here. How is your friend?"

"Oh, she's going to be fine." Eugenia glanced around. "Where's Travis?"

A nervous laugh escaped Rose, and she pointed off in the direction Eugenia had just traveled. Eugenia turned and sighed.

"Oh, dear, his horse must have thrown a shoe or gotten a stone bruise. Tucker, see about helping your brother."

Tucker glanced up from unloading the wagon and, seeing his brother, laughed. "Looks like he's got troubles. As soon as I unload this stuff, I'll help him."

Eugenia patted Rose on the arm and then turned her toward the house. "So tell me, how are things here? Any problems? Did Travis treat you right while I was gone?"

Rose almost choked, but managed to control herself at the last second. "I . . . Travis treated me fine. Cook was sick one day, though."

"Oh, dear, he had too much to drink the night before, didn't he?"

"He was sick. I didn't question him."

Rose felt so awkward. Somewhere on her face must be written that she'd given Travis her virginity while Eugenia was away. The woman's staring only increased Rose's own discomfort.

"I ... I watered your flowers while you were gone and dusted the main room."

"Why, thank you, dear."

Eugenia stepped back and stared at Rose.

Oh, my God, she could tell. Rose had checked herself repeatedly in the mirror, and nowhere could she find anything on the outside that showed the changes that one morning with Travis had wrought. But on the inside, she knew she was different. She felt older, sad, and disheartened by the way Travis ignored her. That he had treated their time together so lightly angered her beyond comprehension.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked, afraid of the answer.

Eugenia glanced at her, a quizzical look on her face. "Nothing. I was just noticing how nice that dress looks on you."

"Oh."

Rose inwardly cringed. The dress that Eugenia had lent her would never be the same. She could never return that dress spotted with mud, stained with her virgin's blood.

The sound of boots striking against wood had her glancing up into Travis's brown eyes. Her heart lurched at the sight of him, hot and scowling from beneath his hat.

"Hello, Mother," he said, hugging the older woman to his side as he stepped onto the porch.

"What happened to your horse?"

"Stone bruise, nothing serious. She needs some rest." He took off his hat. "How was your stay in town?"

"Nice." Eugenia glanced between the two of them. "How about the two of you? Everything all right while I was gone?"

Rose felt blood rush into her face. She gave a quick glance at Travis, feeling that anyone could tell from the expression on her face what had transpired between them. Eugenia must know.

"Fine." Travis's voice was gruff and to the point. "Everything went fine."

Tucker stepped from inside the house. He reached out and shook Travis hand. "I brought Mother back to you. I thought by now you'd be ready for her return."

Travis nodded his head, but didn't say anything.

Tucker glanced over at Rose, a grin on his face, and she twisted her hands nervously. "So you two didn't kill each other while Mother was away. Well that's a start. I really wasn't looking forward to arresting my own brother."

Travis cleared his throat and glared at Tucker.

"But then again, maybe this was a good time for the two of you to sort of clear the air. Settle your differences and—"

"We did fine," Travis interrupted.

Eugenia grabbed Rose by the hand. "Oh my, I almost forgot." She took Rose by the hand and led her to a swing on the front porch and sat down beside Rose. "You got the part, dear. They want you to play Bianca in
The Taming of the Shrew
."

Rose looked at her stunned. "What? I got the part?" She stared at Eugenia, who nodded yes. "Oh, my God. I got the part."

She squealed with delight. "My first acting job!"

"What part?" Travis asked. "How could you get that part? You never auditioned."

Eugenia scowled at her oldest son. "Rose is going to be in
The Taming of the Shrew
."

"I told her she couldn't audition for that part. I specifically said I didn't want her around those people."

Rose glanced at Travis. "You're not stopping me."

Cookie stepped out onto the porch. "If anyone's interested, dinner's ready."

They stared at one another, and Rose felt as though an invisible line had been drawn on the porch. They were facing off like gunfighters. The first one who said anything would fire the first shot. She waited, patient, expectant. After the last few days, she was ready to do battle. She was more than ready to put Travis in his place.

Eugenia glanced between them, then patted Rose on the knee. "Dinner's ready. We can discuss this later."

"We'll certainly discuss it later," Travis snapped.

With a scowl on his face, he walked over to the door and yanked the wooden portal open. He motioned with his hand and said, "After you."

Eugenia stood and Rose followed as they strode into the house. As she passed Travis, she glanced into his eyes. A glint of anger and something else shone from his brown eyes, and she couldn't help but give him a little half smile, along with a mocking glance that she hoped relayed to him that she would not back down. She would take this part.

Eugenia sat down at the table, and Tucker took the seat across from his mother, leaving Travis little choice but to sit across from Rose. She glanced at Tucker and met his smiling gaze. The man knew exactly what he'd done.

Travis pulled out the chair across from Rose, but refused to look at her. There was nothing worse than a tense meal.

Rose sighed. She refused to let Travis get the upper hand. So she had given him her virginity, and since that time he had avoided her. She was not going to let him make her miserable. She had more pride than to let him think that she would mope and pout because of his lack of attention. She would take this part, earn enough money to leave, and find her own place in town once again. She and Isaiah would soon be gone, wedding band or not; she was not going to be confined any longer for something she had not taken.

"Tucker, how are things at the jail?" Rose asked, a pleasant lilt to her voice. She was determined to show Travis she was okay.

"Other than arresting a few drunks and settling a barroom fight, things have been rather quiet. Nothing like when I first took this job," he replied, smiling at her.

Cook brought the food in and set it on the table. The smell of steaks wafted through the air.

"Anything happen while I was away?" Eugenia asked, glancing between Travis and Rose.

Rose thought she would choke on the greens she had just spooned into her mouth. She glanced at Travis, and his eyes met hers. For a moment the memory of his hands caressing her body made her heart somersault, but then the reality of the situation hit her like a bucket of cold water.