Texas Rain

CHAPTER 23

Travis walked slowly back toward his rooms at the Baileys'. He needed time to cool down. He'd never felt such a need for a woman-no, not a woman-Rainey. If he'd stayed any longer, he would have made love to her right there in the alley.

He laughed. Maybe he had it backward. Maybe she would have taken him, for she was definitely doing her part. What they did couldn't be called a good-night kiss. What he'd felt was a mating. A mating that would leave a hunger in him for the rest of his life.

He knew now for a fact what he'd sensed from the first. She belonged to him, just as he belonged to her. It didn't matter if they were together or not, she was and would always be his match.

Judging by what she said, she'd made it plain she didn't want to see him again. But that last kiss had made all her talk a lie. She wanted him, needed him the same way he needed her, but she didn't want to love him. She didn't want marriage and forever, and he knew he'd never settle for something less with her.

He looked around. The saloons were closed, the cafes hadn't opened yet. It was sometime after two. The only place he knew of where people would be awake was the Ranger office. If any bad guys slept in jail tonight, some Ranger would be keeping an eye on them, and there he'd find company.

Ten minutes later when he opened the door, Mike looked up at him from the desk and smiled.

"Come in," Mike almost shouted. "It's so quite around here I was starting to get spooked. All we got are drunks tonight, and they're no fun when they start to sober up."

"You here again?" Travis raised an eyebrow. "Don't they let you go home anymore, kid?"

Mike shrugged. "I played poker with Roy yesterday and he won the night off. Come to think of it, every time I play cards with Roy, I end up pulling his night duty."

Travis laughed. "He has to win, kid. He's got two wives to keep happy."

Mike leaned closer as Travis took the seat across the desk. "You really think that's true? About the two wives and all those children."

"I know it's true. I'm met them both."

Mike shook his head. "Why do you think a man would do that, saddle himself with two women? I'm not even sure I could handle one."

Travis poured a cup of coffee, then stared at it. "Maybe it's true love. If it can happen once, maybe it can happen twice." He sloshed his coffee around in the cup. "How many days has this pot been warming on the stove?"

"Not long. I just forgot to dump out the grounds from the last pot. It's all right if you drink it through your teeth."

Travis frowned before he realized Mike was kidding.

A prisoner from just beyond the open door leading to the cells yelled for them to call it a night. "I need my beauty sleep before my hanging tomorrow." The man sounded like he'd had far too much to drink.

Travis pointed toward the cell and lowered his voice. "We got a hanging tomorrow?"

Mike shook his head. "No, I just told him that if he threw up in that cell, I'd see him hang." The kid shrugged. "I may have gone a little overboard with the threats, since he believed me, but I sure do hate cleaning that place up after Dillon lets the drunks go come morning."

Travis laughed, remembering his early years when he'd been the lowest-ranked Ranger and had to do the jobs no one else wanted. "What you got planned for your life after you've served your time as a Ranger?" He leaned back in his chair, knowing the one question would help pass the night.

Mike stood and made a new pot of coffee as he talked. "I've never given it much thought. I guess I always figured I'd die in the line of duty. My family's all gone. There'll be no one crying over my grave." He smiled. "I guess if I had one wish, it'd be to have some pretty girl miss me when I'm dead, but that ain't likely. Roy has time to find two wives, and I don't even know an unmarried girl that don't charge by the hour."

"You're better off," Travis answered, thinking of Rainey. "The more I'm around them, the more I think I'll never understand them. Take my sister, she's got this crazy idea that one day she'll just bump into a man and fall in love."

"Is that how it works?"

"Hell if I know. The last one I bumped into stole my horse."

Both men laughed. The drunk yelled again. They lowered their voices and decided to play cards for who would buy breakfast. The night passed with good company and bad coffee.

At dawn Travis silently slipped back into the drawing room. Duck was still sound asleep by the fire. He sat down on his bunk and pulled one boot off when the door to Sage's room opened.

"Oh, good," she whispered. "You're up."

He slowly put the one boot back on and stood, trying to look like he'd just woke. "I couldn't sleep," he answered honestly.

"Me, either. I'm picking up my new dresses from the sisters this morning."

Travis thought if such a thing ever kept him awake, he'd shoot himself, but he tried to focus as he gave up the hope he'd had of sleeping a few minutes before he had to meet Mike and buy breakfast.

Sage tidied up the room, something she always did when she couldn't sit still. Her long braid swished back and forth as she circled. "Mrs. Bailey won't be up for another hour to cook breakfast. I feel trapped in here. If we were home we'd all be having coffee by now. What is it about these people in town who start their day by the clock and not the sun?"

Duck sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked so tiny in his big white nightshirt. Thank goodness he no longer woke frightened and crying.

Sage tossed Travis the boy's clothes. "Your turn."

Duck saw the clothes and came fully awake and ready to run.

Travis laughed. "I'll buy you a cup of coffee at the bakery if you'll help me catch him."

Sage nodded and circled behind the boy. Together they fought their way through dressing him in no time. When they finished, Travis brushed down Duck's hair with his hand.

Duck smiled up at him and Travis wondered if all this battle over clothes wasn't a game to the boy. He offered his hand. "Want to go have a cookie?"

Duck climbed into Travis's arms.

"He can't have a cookie."

"I'm sure the bakery has one," Travis answered. "We can't feed him breakfast or Mrs. Bailey will get mad at us."

"You spoil him."

Travis laughed as he opened the private exit from their wing of the house. "And you don't? You're the one who taught him that his pockets were for carrying cookies. Half the time when I pick up his clothes at night, crumbs tumble out."

Sage followed. "I'm not the one who bought him a knife. A knife, Travis, for a three-year-old."

"It'll be another year before he's got the grip to open it."

She lifted her skirts an inch as they walked through the tiny garden with its beds covered in straw. "Oh, then he'll be four and I guess it will be fine."

Travis didn't understand her problem about the knife. It was better than a rifle. "We all had knives by the time we were his age, and none of us cut off our fingers."

Sage didn't look relieved. She pulled the fur-lined hood to her new velvet blue coat high and smiled up at the gray sky. "Do you think it will warm up enough today for me to go riding?"

He knew his sister missed riding every day, but he couldn't let her go alone, and he didn't think his leg was strong enough yet. He'd thought of trying it, but wasn't sure he wouldn't make a fool of himself. He'd wait until he got back to the ranch and then test his leg. "I tell you what, you find someone who can keep up with you on a horse, and I'll keep Duck while you ride."

"It's a deal. But what about your test at nine?"

He felt safe. "I'll take him with me if you find a riding partner on this cold morning." Dr. or Mrs. Bailey didn't look like they could even climb up on a horse, and the only other people Sage met were dressmakers.

The wind hit them as they reached the street, and Sage pulled deep into her coat as they hurried to the tiny bakery that opened at dawn. Travis held Duck close. He fought the wind, trying to keep up with Sage, but she was several steps in front of him when she turned the corner.

A moment later when he looked up, his sister was bundled into the arms of a man. They were both circling in the wind almost as if they were figures whirling atop a music box.

Before he could reach her, Sage laughed. "I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't watching where I was going."

The man still held her at the waist. "That's all right, miss. You can run into me anytime."

Travis was about to step in and end this conversation when the man removed his hat.

Travis frowned. "Saddler."

Mike had the nerve to smile. "Sorry, sir, I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

Travis took one step closer. "If you'll let go of her"-he frowned at Mike-"I'd like to introduce you to my little sister."

Mike kept smiling.

An hour later Travis decided that he and Duck might as well be fence posts for all they added to the conversation. Sage and the young Ranger were identical idiots. They never stopped smiling or talking. Sage asked Mike questions she already knew the answer to. Mike complimented her on just about everything she had on including her gloves, which, Travis noticed, were just plain old gloves, nothing special.

While Travis paid and bought Duck an extra cookie, he heard Sage explain to Mike that she'd love to go riding, but her brother said she had to find someone who could keep up with her.

"I'm a fair horseman," Mike offered. "I'd be honored to give it a try."

They made plans while Travis choked down his comments. He had promised Sage, and Mike was not only fair, but one of the best men on horseback he'd ever seen. The boy must have been riding by the time he walked, and he'd need all his skill if he planned to keep up with Sage.

He followed the couple out. Mike took Sage's hand in both his and asked if she'd be too cold riding in this weather.

Travis wondered what other weather there was, but didn't say anything.

His sister said she'd be ready in an hour.

Mike finally gave her hand back and saluted. "I'll have two horses outside ready and waiting in one hour, Miss McMurray."

Sage suddenly looked shy, something Travis had never seen in his sister before. She took Duck's hand and turned toward home.

Travis stopped Mike from leaving with a stare. "Aren't you tired?"

"No," the young Ranger answered. "Not at all. Thanks for the breakfast."

"You're welcome and-"

Mike raised a hand. "I know. You'll kill me if I hurt her."

"You got that right," Travis answered, smiling for the first time since he'd suggested the idea of breakfast. "And I should also warn you that I've got two brothers who aren't as friendly as I am. After I kill you, they'll ride down from Whispering Mountain, dig you up, and kill you again."

Mike laughed. "Maybe I should think about going riding with girls who don't have any brothers."

"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Travis suggested.

Mike waved. "See you in an hour."

Travis walked in the opposite direction. When he turned the corner, Sage was waiting.

"Did you threaten him?" she asked as they walked.

"Yes." Travis saw no need to lie.

"Is he still coming to pick me up?"

"Yes."

"Good."

She didn't say another word. An hour later she kissed Travis on the cheek and wished him good luck with the questions he'd be answering in front of a panel of lawyers. "I'll be back in two hours and wait for you here. When you return, we can go pick up my new dress. I can hardly wait to see what Mike thinks of it."

"I don't know how long the questions will take."

"Not long, I hope."

Travis mumbled. "I'll be back as soon as I can." As he left with Duck, he noticed Mike riding up to the house. Somewhere he'd found a sidesaddle. Travis laughed. Sage had never ridden sidesaddle in her life. It would almost be worth being late for his testing to watch her face when she saw the saddle.

He walked across the street to the courthouse and slowly climbed to the second floor. A secretary told him that Judge Gates was finishing up with a case and would be with him as soon as possible. She pointed down the hallway. "You can wait down by the courtrooms, but make sure that boy doesn't make any noise."

He thanked her, then wondered why. If Duck would say something, Travis wouldn't care if he yelled it to the roof of this fine building.

As he walked down the hall, Travis figured it might be Dottie Davis's claim on the wine that held the judge up, but decided that would have been over at least an hour ago. To his surprise, Rainey was sitting on the bench outside the judge's chambers when he got there.

"Mind if I sit down?" Travis wasn't sure where he stood with Rainey. But then, why should today be any different than others? He never knew where he stood with her.

She looked up, but didn't smile. "No. I don't mind." She moved halfway down the bench, giving him more room than he and Duck would need.

The boy sat between them and to Travis's surprise patted her hand.

"Problem with the court, or just unhappy to see me?" Travis asked as he removed his and Duck's coats.

He dug in his pocket for the top string and two other balls of yarn Duck insisted on bringing along. One of the strings was caught on a half a cookie Duck must have crammed in his pocket along with a leaf he'd picked up somewhere along the way. "I swear," Travis mumbled as he tried to straighten the mess out. "I need a pack mule to take the kid anywhere."

Rainey smiled as she watched but made no effort to help.

Travis unloaded his other pocket on the bench next to Duck. "He collects everything. Not just food and string, but leaves and nails. I gave him one of the boxes Sage brought home to keep all he collects. He sleeps next to it like he's guarding his treasures every night."

Rainey laughed. "I know how he feels. When you don't have anything, one box seems like a lot. And, in answer to your question, my problem is with the court, not you. The judge is talking to Dottie now. It seems the partner may have a right to the wine. If so, we may be charged. He asked me to wait out here."

"If I get a license to practice, you may be my first client." Travis frowned. He wanted to see her again, but not as a criminal he defended.

"I thought you were being tested to be a lawyer this morning," Rainey said. "I may be running out of time. I may be sentenced and in jail before you finish the testing."

He shrugged. "Maybe. There's been a delay."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. No one passing would ever guess that they had shared several passionate kisses the night before. In truth they looked like two strangers waiting.

Finally Rainey broke the silence. "Good luck with the panel."

"Thanks," he answered. "Would you mind if I talked to you about something?"

She looked like she might bolt.

"I could use some advice. It's about my sister," he quickly added.

Rainey met his eyes for the first time. "All right. If you think I can help."

While Duck played with his string, Travis explained everything that had happened that morning at the bakery. Rainey relaxed at his side, asking questions, offering comments. By the time he'd finished his account, she was laughing at his threats.

"She's just eighteen," Travis ended. "I don't think she knows what she's doing."

"I'm twenty-three," Rainey said. "And I'm not sure I know what I'm doing most of the time."

Travis almost forgot about his sister's problem. Rainey had just told him something personal about herself.

"What do you think I should do?" he asked.

She smiled. "I think you should back away. Trust her."

He didn't like her advice, but he didn't argue. "Thanks," he said.

"You're welcome," she answered. "You love your little sister very much."

"True. When she was a kid it was like she had three fathers. It's hard now thinking of her grown. You have any siblings?"

He waited, expecting her to change the subject, or lie, but she said simply, "No."

The chamber door opened and Dottie Davis hurried out. There was no more time to talk. Travis heard the judge promise he'd solve their problems with the partner.

The judge's secretary hurried down the hall and told Travis he could go into the courtroom. She took the time to frown at Duck, men hurried back to her desk.

He leaned close to Rainey for a moment and whispered, "I need to see you tonight."

She met his gaze. Though her head shook slightly, he didn't miss a sparkle of passion in her eyes.

Travis stood. When he collected their coats, he lightly brushed Rainey's arm as if the need to touch her just once was too strong to resist.

Her lips made a circle and he groaned under his breath. The thought crossed his mind that if she didn't plan to see him tonight, she might as well kill him now.

The doors to the courtroom opened and lawyers were already lining up behind a table to question him. He glanced back and saw Rainey start down the steps. She looked over her shoulder and whispered, "Good luck."

Travis turned and headed in, feeling less prepared than if he'd been an unarmed man in a Shootout. But this is what he'd told everyone he came to Austin to do, and now all he had to do was see it through.

By the time the introductions were over and the questions began, Duck had crawled up on top of Travis's coat and was sound asleep in the pew behind Travis.

Two hours later when Duck awoke, the lawyers were still asking questions.