Page 63 of Short-Straw Bride

“Yes.” She couldn’t believe she’d just admitted it aloud. Although, truth be told, it was possible Cassie hadn’t even heard her, so tiny was her whisper.

But Cassie had heard, for she sought out Meredith’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “On Tuesday, when Jim takes me back to Palestine, I think you should find Travis and tell him that you’re ready to be a wife to him.”

“Just tell him straight out?” Meredith pulled her hand from Cassie’s grasp and clutched at the neck of her nightdress as if trying to protect her modesty. “I couldn’t do that. I’d die of embarrassment. It’s highly improper for a lady to speak of such things. Why, there’s no telling what Travis would think of me.”

“Seems to me he’d be glad to know you’d welcome him in the marriage bed.” Cassie’s dry answer made Meredith cringe.

It sounded so simple. But what if she made her feelings clear and Travis still didn’t come? She couldn’t bear that. The rejection would be real then, and no clever argument could dismiss it.

The sheets rustled as Cassie settled back down on the mattress. “Do you have any married friends you trust enough to ask for advice? Seeing as how I have no actual experience in this area, it might be wise to seek another opinion.”

Myra immediately came to mind. “There is one lady,” Meredith admitted, her mind already spinning with ideas about how to convince her husband to let her leave the ranch on a Tuesday. “She’s the wife of one of the men Travis hired to help rebuild the barn. They’ve been married for probably twenty-five years, and she and Moses seem devoted to one another even after all that time. I could ask her.”

“Good,” Cassie said, a yawn distorting the word. “That’s what you should do.”

As Cassie’s breathing deepened, Meredith’s mind continued to turn circles. Her heart told her it was time to take action. But which action was the right one?

28

Tuesday dawned gloomy and gray. Meredith shivered beneath her cloak as she stepped away from the house and received the full brunt of the northern wind against her side. Crockett led a pair of saddled mounts out of the barn while Jim bundled Cassie into one of his old coats. The thing nearly swallowed her, but the added warmth would be a blessing on the long ride to town.

When Jim turned to fasten a pair of saddlebags behind the cantle of his mount, Cassie buried her nose in the collar, and Meredith imagined her inhaling his scent.

Meredith came alongside Travis and slid her hand down the length of his sleeve to let him know she was there without interrupting him while he instructed Neill on where to check for strays. When her fingers reached the back of his hand, she thought to taper away, but he twisted his wrist and captured her palm against his. Then he laced his fingers through hers and tugged her into his side in a motion so natural, it felt like a well-rehearsed dance instead of a spontaneous improvisation.

Meredith leaned her head against the side of Travis’s shoulder and looked toward the ground, not wanting to witness Neill’s reaction to his brother’s show of possessiveness.

Possessiveness. The thought struck Meredith hard, and a delightful little shiver worked its way up from her stomach to her heart. Travis was acting possessive, wasn’t he? But did his behavior stem from a growing affection for her or was it simply an expression of his protective nature?

What she wouldn’t give to have something more substantial than intuition to guide her. She was afraid to trust hers. Roy might have stepped out with her a time or two, but she’d never had a true beau. How could she possibly comprehend the workings of a man’s mind? And now her only confidante was leaving. She had to see Myra today. She couldn’t wait for Saturday. The uncertainty was driving her mad.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Travis said close to her ear. “Are you worried about Cassie?”

Meredith drew her head back, surprised to see Neill had already mounted and was heading out to check on the stock. She hadn’t even noticed him leave. Giving herself a mental shake, she turned her attention to her husband.

“Jim knows to set a slow pace, right? Cassie’s not too comfortable atop a horse.”

“He’ll watch out for her.” Travis rubbed the pad of his thumb over the top of her hand, but she sensed a strange tension coiling beneath the surface.

Meredith searched her husband’s face as he turned to watch his brother make final preparations for the journey. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and all at once insight dawned. “You’re worried about Jim.”

Travis tightened his grip on her hand. He said nothing for a long moment, then dipped his head and spoke in a low voice. “None of us has left since Pa died.”

“Except for you,” Meredith gently reminded him.

He finally met her gaze. A small smile curved his lips. “Only because of a pretty little trespasser.”

Warmth spread through Meredith’s chest. She reached across her body, clasped his arm, and hugged it close to her side. She’d been so consumed with her own worries, she’d never even considered what this day would mean for her husband.

“I’m proud of you, Travis.”

His eyes widened a bit at her words.

“I am,” she confirmed. “Letting Jim go can’t be easy for you, yet you never once tried to talk him out of it.” A gust of icy wind blew across her face, whipping tendrils of hair into her eyes.

He dragged his finger along the edge of her cheek, collecting stray hairs and tucking them behind her ear. “You’re the one who gave me the courage, Meri.” He grew silent again, and Meredith simply leaned into his side, enjoying his closeness. Yet instead of relaxing as she expected him to, Travis stiffened. Meredith lifted her head.

“Pa died because I left the ranch.” The stark statement hung in the air between them like the fog of their breath. “I was supposed to be at home watching out for my brothers, but I left. Snuck out to meet a group of boys down at the swimming hole. I don’t even remember why now. All I know is a fierce storm blew in, and Pa came looking for me. A clap of thunder spooked his horse and he fell. He died later that night.”