Whispers of Moonlight (12 page)

Rebecca stared at her father in horror. She hadn't even made it past his bedroom to go to her own room. His door had been wide open, and although back in bed, he had been waiting for her.

"You can't mean it," she barely managed.

"I do mean it. I never meant for you to have a marriage of convenience."

Rebecca couldn't breathe. Hadn't he already asked enough? Hadn't she already married a near stranger so his heart would stay calm? And now he expected this. Rebecca took a deep breath and tried to collect herself. She tried to explain.

"I think that given time, Travis and I might—"

"No, Rebecca." Andrew's voice was soft, but she heard the determination. "Tonight. It can't wait."

"Papa," she began, but stopped when his face began to flush. For an instant her eyes slid shut as she tried to gain strength to do this.
Do
what?
she asked herself.
Fight my father or go down the hall to my husband's room?
When she opened her eyes, Andrew was looking at her, and she knew there would be no reprieve. Seeing his heaving chest, she swiftly made her decision, wishing for the first time that she'd remained in Philadelphia.

Rebecca turned to the door but stopped. She looked back at him for an instant longer and then shut the portal firmly. Not until she stood in the hallway did she realize how violently she was trembling. She looked down the hall to Travis' door; hers was to the right, and his room was exactly opposite the long hallway on the left.

Maybe he would send her away.
Yes,
she reasoned to herself.
He won't want this either.
Feeling somewhat calmer, Rebecca moved to his door.

Travis heard the footsteps just before the soft knock. He had hung his coat up, pulled his shirt free of his waistband, and removed his tie, but that was as far as he'd progressed. Wondering what
Lavena could want, he opened the door. He stared down for a long moment at his wife, his expressionless face masking the rage of emotions within. When Rebecca didn't speak or move, but stood looking at him with uncertain eyes, he stepped back, opening the door wide. To his amazement she slowly entered, and Travis, without thinking, shut the door.

Rebecca heard the click of the latch and turned to look at him, her eyes now showing her fear. Travis found himself mentally asking Andrew Wagner what in the world he'd said to this girl. However, he also saw this for the opportunity it was. How many men had a chance to redeem themselves this swiftly? At least part of Rebecca's mind must see him as a monster. Tonight he could show her otherwise.

"Does your mouth still hurt?" His voice was deep and gentle, but Rebecca, who had gone into something of a trance, started.

"I don't know," she admitted and shrugged. "I don't know."

"Shall we find out?" he asked, and quickly saw that she looked ready to bolt.

With movements slow and measured, his eyes never leaving hers, Travis took the four steps that put him in front of Rebecca. She watched him in near terror as his head lowered, but her fear turned to confusion when he pressed a kiss only to her brow.

"You look beautiful in that dress," he whispered, his breath falling on her temple.

"Thank you," she whispered automatically.

"Is it new?"

"No, there wasn't time."

"I'm glad you wore it."

Her eyes slid shut when his mouth brushed down her cheek. The next place he kissed was her chin, and Rebecca's fear was fast beginning to fade. By the time he did kiss her mouth she wanted him to. Her mouth was still a bit tender, but his touch was so light that she knew nothing but pleasure. She didn't remember his taking her hand or leading her to the bedside, but he was seated on the edge now, and she stood in front of him, lessening the differences in their heights. The arms that held her were warm and strong, but she was not crushed.

I'm a wife now,
she naively thought some time later.
I
hadn't really understood what that would mean, but I'm a wife now. Travis' wife.

However, when Travis suddenly moved away from her and turned the lantern high, Rebecca, still feeling shy around him, tugged the covers over her shoulders.

"You're mine now, Reba, and I'm yours," he said as he raised up on one elbow above her and stared down into her eyes. "There's no one else for me, and there's no one else for you."

"There never was anyone else, Travis," she told him, and he saw the truth in her eyes.

He kissed her gently.

"You're not sorry I came in here?" she asked quietly.

Travis couldn't keep himself from smiling.

"No," he told her, laughter filling his voice. "I'm not sorry." He kissed her and held her again, and it wasn't long before the events of the day began to exhaust her. She wondered if she was supposed to move back to her own room, but the bed was so soft, and her husband's shoulder was so warm. Sleep came to claim her before she could decide. When she woke the next morning, Travis was already gone.

Rebecca took a sip of her coffee, her eyes on the snow-covered hills- She'd just spent some time with her father, but now she was alone in the kitchen, trying to sort through the events of the last 24 hours. Rebecca sighed and took another drink. She wanted more than anything to tell Travis that she loved him, but something was stopping her. Was it normal for husbands and wives to share that sentiment, or was she to continue keeping her feelings to herself?

Maybe if I told Travis I loved him, he would say it to me.
But the moment the thought formed, she dashed it away. She had to say it because she felt it with all her heart, not because she wanted him to say the words back to her. The longer she thought on it, the more convinced she was to keep still. She believed she loved Travis, but they both needed more time. Rebecca picked up her coffee again, her heart already feeling lighter. She couldn't expect to know exactly how to act at this stage, and neither could Travis. /
do love Travis,
Rebecca decided with sudden conviction.

"The coffee still hot?" Lavena asked as she came into the room.

"Yes. You make it nice and strong, Lavena. Just the way I like it."

"How did your aunt make it?"

"She didn't. We always had tea."

Lavena snorted. "And I suppose it was having tea in the parlor that always has
me carrying a heavy tray of coffee all the way to the living room."

Rebecca smiled. "Your life is so hard, Lavena."

The old woman's mouth swung open as she stared at Rebecca, who was still smiling. "I never said that. What foolishness!"

Rebecca had to laugh. It seemed as if Lavena didn't even listen to herself. No wonder her father hadn't been hurting for company over the years. The sudden thought of him sobered her very swiftly.

I've been a good daughter,
she told God.
I've obeyed my Papa. Please let him live. Please let him be all right.
Rebecca prayed on with only a small measure of guilt. She rarely had time for God when
things were going well.
But He's God,
she thought with a touch of anger.
He's supposed to heal and comfort.
The
thought calmed as swiftly as it had flared, but she continued to pray for some minutes. She'd have been very surprised to learn that her father was awake upstairs trying to have conversation in the same way.

I
know why this happened. I promised You I'd go to church if You brought Reba to me and I haven't gone, but this time I mean it. Just let me get out of this bed and back on my feet and I'll go. I'll put a new roof on the building or whatever they need, if You let me get up again. I'll even read the Bible. I don't know where mine is right now, but I'll find it. And I'll see that Travis and Reba go to church too. Lavena too, if You want her. We'll all go, God —just let me make it this time.

In a matter of sentences Andrew managed to exhaust himself. He wanted to sob like a baby. His eyes were closed, but a single tear slipped out the corner of his eye. A few minutes later he was once again asleep. When Rebecca checked on him some 30 minutes later, the tear had dried and she took no notice.

That night Travis and Rebecca ate dinner in Andrew's room. His color was good and his face was animated as he questioned Travis about the stock and hands.

"Biscuit impaled his hand," Travis told him at one point, careful to omit the details.

"Lavena mentioned it. Was he able to cook tonight?"

"I think he was, but he still talked Woody into helping out."

"Woody? Can Woody cook?"

Travis grinned. "He can but says he hates it."

"You could ask Lavena to help out," Andrew said with a small smile.

"Shall I also tell her it was your idea?"

Andrew's smile turned into a full-blown grin. "If you wait until I'm out of the territory"

"Oh, come now," Rebecca put in. "She'd help if you asked her."

"True," her husband told her, "but none of us would ever hear the end of it."

When Lavena had cleared the dishes away and they had their coffee, Rebecca and Travis sat on the small settee so that Andrew could ask more questions.

Rebecca knew that Travis, who seemed to love ranching, was interested in sharing his day, but more than one time she felt his eyes on her. At one point she looked up and smiled at him, and her heart melted a little when he reached for her hand. The coffee perked her up for a time, but she had spent the day dealing with her emotions, and it wasn't long before she told the men good night.

Andrew had additional questions for Travis, who was more than happy to answer, but he also had news for Travis.