Whispers of Moonlight (23 page)

Boulder

"What have you done!" Travis thundered at Lavena in a way he'd never done before, but the tiny scrap of woman stood her ground.

"It's for your own good," she snapped. "This is your home and your ranch. It's time you started living like it."

"I don't need you—"

"Do you think I don't have eyes? It's been a year. You're 24 years old tomorrow, and next week is your first wedding anniversary, and the week after that it will be a year since she left! Well, I don't know if she's ever coming back, but the way you live is wrong!"

Travis was speechless with pain and anger. He had been pushing the events of the past from his mind for so long he'd become cold. Now Lavena had spelled out his whole miserable life for him and expected him to be pleased. And that wasn't the worst of it. She had actually moved his belongings into Andrew's room. Travis was horrified. It was the largest, most beautiful bedroom in the house, but it wasn't his. He allowed her to boss him most of the time, but this time she'd gone too far. He turned to her now, his eyes so cold with fury that not even Lavena dared to speak.

"I want it changed back, and I mean
now.
I'm going into town to get drunk, and when I return, you had better have my room put back together."

He didn't say a word as he turned and left her, but he should have known it was a waste of breath. Lavena didn't speak either, but her chin jutted upward as she watched his back. It would be a hot day in January before she'd move his clothing back down the hall.

Travis' intentions were honest. He had come off the range early, cold and hungry, to find his room bare—bed stripped, dresser and closet empty. When he'd gone in search of his housekeeper and some answers, he'd found her arranging his things in the walk-in closet in Andrew's room. His hairbrush and shaving gear were on top of the dresser, and the quilt that had been on his bed now adorned Andrew's huge oak bed with the ornate footboard and headboard.

It was more than he could take. There was some liquor in the house, but Lavena would have hidden it. He wanted to run from all the pain, and getting drunk was the fastest method he could think of. But he hadn't counted on the way neat whiskey would feel on an empty stomach. Without bothering to taste, he tossed back four shot glasses before he realized he was going to be sick. Not normally a drinking man, Travis' system simply couldn't take it. He told himself not to vomit as he moved to the door, not even paying for the bottle he'd left on the table.

Once outside, the first thing he spotted was the hotel. The thought of food made him ill, but he knew he'd never make it home unless he ate. With darkness just beginning to fall, he lurched across the street, thanking his lucky stars when he found the opposite boardwalk without mishap.

"Easy there," a masculine voice spoke calmly, and Travis found himself looking straight into another man's eyes. He must have run right into him. His equal height was something of a surprise, and Travis could only manage to stare.

"Are you all right?" the cultured voice asked.

"I need food," he managed.

"Well." Again the voice was affable. "I'm headed to the hotel dining room myself. Why don't you join me?"

Five minutes later he found himself across a small table from the man. He didn't even have the
strength to protest when the stranger ordered for both of them.

"And hot coffee," the man said to the woman beside their table, just before he looked back into Travis' eyes.

"I'm Robert Langley."

"Travis," the other man began. "Travis Buchanan."

"It's good to meet you, Travis. I hope you like pork."

Travis was saved from answering when the waitress reappeared with two steaming mugs.

"Just keep them coming," Robert told her. He took a long pull while Travis carefully raised his cup.

Coffee did arrive regularly after that, but the men were halfway through their meal before Travis felt he could speak coherently. Robert had not forced him to converse, and this greatly impressed
the half-intoxicated man.

"Thanks for getting me in here," he said at last.

"You're welcome. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. I just needed some food."

Neither man mentioned the obvious drinking that had taken place to put him in such a state.

"Are you new in town?" Travis asked. "Or have I just not seen you?"

"I am new in town," Robert told him. "I'm originally from the East, but I'm here in Boulder to start a business."

"Some make it and some don't," Travis replied conversationally, feeling more like himself by
the moment.

"True, but I think everyone would agree that Boulder needs a bank."

Travis' brows rose. He again felt impressed. There was a quiet confidence to Robert Langley that he liked very much.

"Is it still in the planning stages?"

"Until next week. The building should be started on Monday or Tuesday."

Travis nodded. He liked a man who accomplished what he set out to do.

"What do you do for a living, Travis?" Robert took a moment to ask, his expression kind and open.

"I own the Double Star Ranch," he told Robert without thinking, the words coming naturally to his tongue.

"The cattle ranch," Robert nodded. "I've heard of it. It's a good-sized spread, isn't it?"

"Fifteen hundred head," Travis said with quiet pride, his mind still not registering the change in him.

"Do you have many hands?"

"Five regulars, more during roundups and cattle drives."

"You must market in Denver."

"Yes." Travis was surprised that he knew. Robert's pristine suit did not indicate he would know anything of ranching. "We also drive into Cheyenne, but Denver is usually more profitable."

"I've read about that. I think this area is only going to grow for ranchers. I wouldn't be surprised if the competition comes right to your door in the next few years."

"Is that why you chose to settle in Boulder?"

"Yes. I realize it's not NewYork City, but I think it's a town with great location and potential. The mountains and wildflowers alone will be a great draw. It's just the right distance from Denver, which is growing by leaps and bounds and getting a little too big for some. The railroad is swiftly heading this way, and I for one like the challenge of a new town. I know many other people who feel the same."

Travis nodded. It had obviously not been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"Where are you living?" Travis asked.

Robert smiled as his eyes went to the stairway that led to the rooms above them.

"The Hotel Boulder. Room 24."

Travis smiled as well.

"The bank will have two apartments above it. I'll take one and rent the other."

"You sound like you've done this before."

"Yes. My family has been in banking for three generations. I never lived in an apartment above a bank because my father was established before I was born, but it's the way my grandfather started out.
^"

It was on the tip of Travis' tongue to ask Robert what his wife thought of this move, but Robert might decide to return the question, and the answer was not something Travis was willing to discuss. Still, such thoughts took his mind back to the ranch and home. He reached into his front pocket and put a coin on the table.

"Thanks again," Travis said as he pushed his chair back. Robert made to rise as well.

"My pleasure. Maybe I'll see you around."

Travis liked the idea. He wouldn't have initiated it but now suggested, "You'll have to come out and
see my spread sometime. And have one of Lavena's home-cooked meals."

"Your wife?"

"No, my housekeeper." Travis was amazed at how normal he sounded, but now he wanted to get home more than ever. "Good night, Robert."

"Good night, Travis."

They parted on that note. Robert had stood but did not leave. Taking his seat again, he drank another cup of coffee and sat alone for more than an hour. His room upstairs would have been quieter, but as intently as he was praying, it wouldn't have mattered. Robert Langley was begging God to bring Travis Buchanan into his life again.

It wasn't that Travis had forgotten his conversation with Lavena, but by the time he reached the ranch house, he had resigned himself. Indeed, he didn't even turn right at the top of the stairs toward his old bedroom, but went to the left and stood in the doorway of Andrew's.
Lavena had lit a lantern, and Travis moved over the threshold to see that everything was just as it had been before he'd left in a towering rage.

The lantern still low, he let his eyes roam the room. The double doors that led to a private balcony over the front porch were shut, but Travis now walked to those doors. He opened them wide and stepped out. The crisp night air hit him as he stood and looked at the moonlight bouncing off the snow-covered mountains. A moment later he turned back to the room that held dozens of memories.

A man had died in that bed, but with sudden clarity of thought, Travis realized
that death was part of life.
I owm the Double Star Ranch.
His own words to Robert
Langley leapt back into his mind so swiftly that he felt his breath quicken. He had been given this ranch and had made a promise to care for it, as well as the woman who went with it. Travis realized for
the first time why this had been no strain. He loved this place, every square inch of it. He'd never in his life felt so at home, not even in the house in Texas. Not to mention the fact mat he'd planned to cherish Rebecca for the rest of his life.

But Rebecca had not wanted to stay. Travis didn't know exactly why, but he now saw that she was the reason he had kept on here. If she ever came back, he and the ranch would be ready. This was their home now, and he would do his best to preserve it for her no matter how long that took. However, Lavena was right. He'd been only half living. He never went anywhere near Andrew's or Rebecca's rooms, but why not? This was his home.

For just an instant he entertained the idea of having Lucky and Margo live with him, but he pushed the thought swiftly away. The only woman he wanted in the house was Rebecca. Lavena didn't count in the same way. He couldn't take the risk that Rebecca would come back someday and think that Margo had taken her place.

It felt good to have his mind made up. With sure steps he moved to the lantern, turned it high, and reached for the buttons on his shirt. He swiftly readied for bed, telling himself that if it wasn't comfortable, Lavena, with her interfering ways, would see that it was adjusted. He need not have worried. Travis slid beneath the cool sheets and lay his head on one of the pillows. He was instantly comfortable, but as good as he had felt a few minutes before, he now braced himself against the torturous thoughts that were sure to assail him. After all, he was in Andrew's bed. Strangely, no such thoughts materialized. His mind moved back to his dinner companion. There was a peace about Robert that Travis had never known. It must have come from knowing what he wanted and having the means to go after it. Travis fell asleep before he could decide whether there might be more to it than that.