The Rancher Takes A Bride (27 page)

Isaiah shook his head. "I never understood how he could abandon us that way either."

"I guess he felt he'd found something better," she said, glancing out at the spacious land surrounding her. "Still, I can't imagine growing up in such wide- open spaces."

Isaiah shrugged. "It's a lot quieter than those northern cities you were accustomed to."

Rose couldn't help but think of Travis as a young boy, riding the range with his father. "I bet growing up at the Bar None was nothing like my childhood either."

"Uh-huh. Different as milk and rum." Isaiah turned the wagon in a more southerly direction. "As different as fire and rain. You were taught how to make a living as best you could. Mr. Burnett was taught how to take care of himself and his family."

"True." She laughed. "If Travis only knew I could have picked their pockets clean anytime I'd wanted to, he would be more understanding concerning his mother's ring."

"Oh, Lord, Miss Rose, please don't say that to Mr. Burnett. He'll lock you up in that jail for sure."

"You're right, Isaiah." She sighed, the sound heavy in the lengthening twilight. "It probably would be better not to tell Travis the truth about my father and how I spent my childhood, learning the art of the con. Travis certainly could not trust me at all if he knew the truth."

Rose glanced around at the family mingling in the yard of the big house and felt completely overwhelmed. Never in her entire life had she been in one place with so many people who were related to one another. Of course, she knew very little regarding her own family and had very limited contact with people who were related to her, besides her parents. Her father had mentioned a brother once, but she'd never met him and didn't even know his name.

The whole concept of a family reunion was foreign to Rose.

A warm summer breeze stirred the curls that lay against her nape as she watched small children chase one another among the tall oak trees that graced the yard. She glanced at the crowd of fifty or more people and was awed by the fact that all of these people shared a common bond. They were a family, and she'd never experienced that tradition, never really thought much about it until now.

As a child she had often wondered what it would be like to have siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles gather together at the holidays, but it had never been a reality. And now she doubted she would ever experience the connection these people seemed to have, and that saddened her. A family didn't have a place in a successful actress's life.

Eugenia came up behind Rose, startling her as she lightly touched Rose's arm.

"Come along, dear, I want to introduce you to everyone," she said excitedly, tugging Rose along.

"But . . . I'm busy," Rose said in protest.

"Oh, come on, it will be fun and stir up all sorts of speculation about who you are." Eugenia's dark eyes sparkled.

"Don't you mean it will start rumors regarding my association with Travis?" Rose asked, not needing any more complications with that stubborn cowboy.

Eugenia smiled and began walking toward a group of women. "I have no control over what people are talking about. And besides, I do want to show you off. You're the closest thing to a daughter I have."

Rose swallowed to keep the tears at bay. How could she turn the woman down, when she made her feel so special? "Thanks—Eugenia." Her voice almost broke. "That's quite a compliment."

"You're welcome. Now come along, dear."

"Why do you think everyone will assume that Travis and I are together? You know he won't like it."

"I've waited years for my sons to get their lives in order, find wives, settle down, and give me grandchildren, and not one of them has managed to even have a steady girl that I know of. So they can indulge me in this brief moment when the family wonders if one of them is finally settling down. They can indulge me by letting me pretend."

Rose shook her head at the older woman. "Let's get started."

For a moment Rose felt uncomfortable; then she shrugged. Eugenia was right. People would believe what they wanted about her relationship with Travis, whether or not Eugenia introduced her. And there was definitely something between them; it just wasn't what Rose had expected.

But then, what had she expected from a man who had taken her from that roadhouse in Waco against her will?

At first she had not wanted to acknowledge the attraction she felt to the handsome rancher, but then she'd been drawn to his honor, his fierce protectiveness, his loyalty to his family. But after the morning at the pond, when they had made love, she didn't know what to expect or what she wanted from the rugged man who held her captive.

They had barely acknowledged one another since that morning by the pond. For over two long weeks, she had wondered why he suddenly acted as though she was invisible. Why, he had all but refused to talk with her.

His disregard hurt more than she'd ever expected. But as soon as she was able, she was going to leave the Bar None. When the play moved on, she was hoping there would be a permanent need for her to play the part of Bianca.

Rose sighed. Until that time, there was nothing she could do to change the situation with Travis. She'd be damned if she was going to go to him begging for his attention, and she was not going to mope after him like some starry-eyed, helpless female either.

People were standing around in small groups talking, laughing, and even occasionally giving each other hugs. They seemed genuinely happy to see one another, and Rose was infected with their enthusiasm.

The rehearsals for the play were going better, it was a beautiful summer day, and she was outside enjoying the warm sunshine and what appeared to be a cheerful group of people. And Travis stood apart watching as Eugenia took her through the crowd introducing her. She was determined to be joyful, even if inside she felt like crying.

Her father had warned her about giving herself to a man, and she had disregarded his warnings. But she had no regrets. She'd wanted Travis. She'd longed for him.

She glanced over at the fierce man who stood beneath the shade of an oak tree watching her. Their eyes locked, and for a moment she felt transported back into his embrace. Her heart fluttered, and she almost sighed. No, she had no regrets. She'd enjoyed every moment—until Travis had left her alone and naked on the bank of the pond.

Eugenia stopped beside an older woman who was setting a bowl of sliced peaches on one of the long tables the men had set up for lunch. The smell was fresh and sweet, and Rose ran her tongue along her lip, savoring the aroma, eager for a bite of the tangy fruit.

"Martha, dear. I want you to meet Rose Severin. She's a good friend of Travis's and is staying with us for a while."

"So, you're Travis's lady," the woman said, smiling at Rose as she winked at Eugenia. "Is she the girl you wrote me about?"

Eugenia smiled. "Yes, Rose has been with us now for over a month."

Martha reached out and patted Rose on the arm. "You're very lovely, dear. I'm sure Travis must be so pleased to have made your acquaintance."

Rose shrugged. "I don't know if pleased is the correct term, probably more like vexed."

Martha giggled. "Good. That boy has always been way too serious. He needs someone to lighten him up a bit, put a smile on his face."

"Rose is an actress, Martha. She's going to be in that new play that is opening up in town,
The Taming of the Shrew
," Eugenia said, obviously bursting with pride.

'' Congratulations.''

"Thank you." Rose smiled at the older lady. "It's my first play, actually. My mother was Rosalyn Severin, and I've always dreamed of becoming an actress just like her."

"Well, good luck to you, dear. I daresay we'll be waiting to hear of any announcements the two of you might wish to make."

Eugenia hurried Rose away.

"Did you hear her? She thinks we're close to announcing our engagement," Rose said, stunned.

The older woman just laughed. "Oh, well."

Eugenia fairly beamed as she took Rose around, introducing her to the various family members. Rose felt honored that Eugenia and her family treated her as special, but she couldn't help but wonder about Travis. What was his reaction to the way his mother was including her? How did he feel about his family accepting her with open arms, while he stood on the outskirts, watching?

She glanced around, looking for him, and saw Travis sitting in the shade of an elm tree, talking with an older gentleman.

Tucker sauntered up beside Eugenia, smiling, and gave his mother a hug. "I see you're showing Rose off to the family."

"Yes, and everyone has been happy to meet her."

"I've heard. People are asking me when's the wedding."

Rose started to laugh. "That's ridiculous. The man can barely tolerate me and would just as soon see me hanged as marry me."

But the thought of marriage to Travis put little flutters in her stomach, and she glanced over to the tree where Travis stood, tall and handsome. Like the elm tree Travis stood beneath, he was sturdy, tough, and as shielding as the limbs that shaded the earth beneath. Everything a woman would want in a man.

Marriage was not a part of her plans. She had an acting career to think about, and adding a husband to her life would not be practical. But still, the thought of her and Travis was enticing.

Tucker smiled. "I don't think it's quite that bad, but I have to admit, Travis isn't quite ready to take the plunge with you or anyone else, for that matter. But it shouldn't be long now."

"Travis could never accept me as his wife. He's looking for that perfect lady and that's not me."

Tucker smiled. "He'd soon be bored."

Eugenia glanced at her youngest son. "I'm going to finish introducing Rose to everyone. Rumors and people playing at matchmaking are just part of the problems of being unmarried. Travis is certainly not immune." She paused, peering at her youngest son. "And neither are you."

Tucker gave her his best smile. "Forget it, Mother."

As they walked away, Rose glanced back to see Travis still talking to the older gentleman. Their eyes met and held for a moment. The urge to run her fingers along his rough cheek and over his full lips made her breathing quicken. For several seconds, they stared at one another, until Eugenia brought her attention to yet another relative.

***

Travis stood underneath the large elm tree, talking to his uncle, watching Rose. Rose was the talk of the reunion. All day he had observed his family accept Rose with open arms. All day he had overheard the whispers regarding weddings, engagements, and that Eugenia would finally have a daughter.

All day he'd wondered how they could so easily accept Rose, a con artist and a thief, into their midst. But she had smiled and laughed away their inhibitions. She'd listened and cajoled away their fears. She'd charmed and bewitched her way into their hearts. Just as she was trying to inveigle her way into his heart. But he wouldn't let her.

He had never felt at ease around his kin the way Rose was being embraced. In fact, he could almost feel their displeasure and wondered how he had gotten to be the bad boy. He'd done nothing wrong.

Except taken her virginity and not offered her marriage. Though his family had no way to know that, it still stung him.

"Boy, if you keep staring at that woman like that, her clothes are going to fell clean off her," his uncle said, bringing him back from his daze.

He glanced at the elderly man who was his father's brother. "Sorry, I just like to keep an eye on her. Make sure she's staying out of trouble."

"That's a good thing to do for a woman like that one. So when are you going to marry her?"

Travis glanced at his uncle in disbelief. "Marry her?" He paused, trying to overcome the surge of anger. "Why does everyone assume I'm going to marry her?"

"It's in your eyes, boy." The old man leaned close.

"You're gazing at her like she's naked. That's what most folks do when they're as love-struck as you are."

"No. I don't love her."

The old man smiled a wizened grin. "Okay, you just want her real bad."

Travis smiled, unable to deny the truth.

"Marry her, then. You're needing a wife, she needs a husband."

"No. She's not .. ."

"She's not what?"

Travis glanced at Rose, his heart pounding in his chest. God, he'd taken her virginity. They'd had the best sex of his life and yet he couldn't marry her. At the snap of her fingers, he would be willing to have sex with her again, but he could not marry Rose. She wasn't a lady and she wasn't who he planned on taking for a wife. Or was she?

"It's just not possible, Uncle."

The old man glanced at Rose again. "Son, that girl is a jewel. She's kind of rough around the edges, but a bit of polishing and she'll be a diamond."

"I think you're wrong. I think she's more like fool's gold. All flash and glitter, but no real worth."

His uncle tilted his head. "I could be mistaken, but I don't think so. Sometimes the glitter blinds the buyer from the real value."