Whispers of Moonlight (42 page)

The argument went out of Rebecca in a hurry. She felt utterly defeated. Travis watched her face and felt defeated himself. She thought he wanted only to belittle her, and that was the last thing on his mind. What he wanted to do was love her for the rest of their days, but he wisely kept that to himself. After a few quiet moments, Rebecca finally spoke, her voice sad.

"Everything you said is true, Travis, but because it's true, it also means that I'm a complete failure as a mother. I don't mind telling you that that doesn't sit very well with me."

"You're not a failure, Rebecca," he told her sincerely, hating the pain on her face. "I know the boys are a handful, but you and I have got to agree on what's right for them. I'm sorry this came up in front of them, but I was afraid you would promise to take them when I can see that it's
too soon."

"They want to go so badly."

"Yes, they do, and we can give them hope. We can remind them that they can't go to school unless they learn to obey and respect us. That will give them a glimpse of what will be expected of them, as well as help in their training." Travis hesitated now but went on gently. "I've noticed that you have a hard time saying no to them. Maybe this will
help. You can remind them that boys who go to school have to do what their elders tell them. Every time, not just when they feel like it."

Rebecca stared at him. "How did you learn about this, Travis? How did you learn about training little boys?"

She had stumped him. He had no idea where it came from. He knew only that he wanted better from his boys than he was getting. He said as much to Rebecca.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Well," Travis thought hard and tried to explain. "Some of the children I know from church seem pretty special. They're sweet and fun, but I don't have that much contact with them. In the past when I
have
been in contact with children who were disrespectful, I simply ignored them and went on my way. The last thing I want to do is ignore my sons. But when I walked into the kitchen that morning, Rebecca, and saw them screaming at you, I knew things had to change. I will not allow anyone to treat my wife like that, especially my own sons.

"There are going to be battles with the boys, but I'll do whatever I have to so they will grow up respecting authority and the rights of those around them. It would seem to me that they've been the ones in charge up to now, and it's time they learned otherwise."

Rebecca wanted to argue but could not. Her boys did run things where she was concerned. Angel had asked her who was in charge in their home any number of times. It all still rankled. No one enjoyed having her faults pointed out, and Rebecca simply didn't like Travis enough right now to
see that he had been very gentle and was doing it all for her and the twins.

"You're angry," Travis said quietly. "I can see it in your face."

"It's just very arrogant on your part when you think about it, Travis."

"What is?"

Rebecca was sorry she'd spoken but now refused to back down. "We were getting along fine for five years, and now you come in and say everything has to change."

Travis stared at her. "Do you hear yourself, Rebecca?"

"Of course." Her chin went into the air lo give her courage. "We were fine."

"You
left me, Rebecca," he reminded her.
"You
wrote to me."

"I had my reason for leaving, Travis, and once gone I didn't ask to be brought back from Pine Grove and have my world turned upside down."

"So you want me to believe that if I'd left you there, you would have carried on as usual? No regrets, no need for someone else to share your life and help you with the boys?"

"That's right." Her chin went up even further.

Travis stood slowly and lifted his half-eaten plate of food. His voice was low, his eyes sad.

"Not only do you lie to me, Rebecca, you lie to yourself."

He left the room before Rebecca could say a word, but her fury knew no bounds. She went to her room for the better part of the afternoon and wouldn't speak or even look at Travis for the rest of the day.

"We saw her again on Sunday," Wyatt told his mother at bedtime. It had been over a week since she and Travis had quarreled. She hadn't said more than five words to him the whole time. They each took time in the evenings with the boys, but not together. Rebecca was no longer joining him for coffee in the living room. He had tried to talk to her, but she would have none of it. For the last two nights he had been gone, having taken the train to Denver on business. Rebecca told herself that she wished he would stay away forever, but it was getting harder to keep that in mind.

"Who did you see?" Rebecca asked absently.

"That pretty lady." Wyatt's voice was dreamy, and Rebecca stared at him. She had never seen Wyatt look like that, not even with Angel, and he'd been very taken with her. She licked her lips and forced her voice to sound calm.

"Someone in town?"

"At church."

"What's her name?"

"I think she has a boy's name."

This was not what Rebecca wanted to know.

"How did you meet her?"

"She always talks to Travis."

"Yeah," Garrett chimed in. "She smiles real pretty and holds his hand. Are you going to tell us a story, Mama?"

Rebecca said yes, but then her mind went blank. She ended up telling them about something silly she did as a child, and the boys ended up giggling and wrestling so fiercely that she threatened to spank them. She never had in the past, so the warning had no effect. Not until one of the boys got hurt and there were many tears did they calm down. Still telling herself that Travis was wrong about what the boys needed, Rebecca was only too glad to leave her sons for the night and find her own bed.

Travis slowly climbed the stairs, his bare feet making little sound on the wood. It was well after midnight. The train had been held up with track problems for hours. He was cold and tired, but the bath Lavena had prepared for him had been worth the effort of coming home tonight and not waiting an extra day. Knowing he could wake up in his own bed was the other attraction. Discarding his jeans, he fell into bed and was asleep within a minute.

The lateness of getting to bed didn't help his difficulty waking, but it was more than that. Travis struggled up from the haven of slumber and listened again to the odd noise. Not until he heard the boys cry out was he able to gather his wits in the darkness. But then it wasn't dark, at least not all the time.
Thunder and lightning in November?

Rising to the accompaniment of another crash and flash of light, Travis moved swiftly down the hall. Another blaze told him the boys were cowering in terror at the head of their bed. Without words, Travis went to them, taking one in each arm and carrying his sons to his own bed.

"I don't like the noise." Wyatt's voice quivered.

"It's all right. God sends the thunder and the rain and the snow. He'll watch over us."

Travis' words were punctuated by another flash and bang, and his sons nearly choked him before they reached the bed. In an instant they scrambled under the covers. Travis edged them over and lay beside them.

"Come on up here on the pillow," he urged. "Come up here and try to go back to sleep."

"Where's Mama?"

"She's asleep just like you should be."

"She doesn't like storms. Do you think she's scared?"

"No," Travis assured them. "She's sleeping soundly."

There was a slight rustle and tussle, and Travis heard someone say, "I want to be by Travis." There was more rustling, and finally a little body lodged itself next to Travis and lay still.

"Are you settled?" "Yes."

"Who's next to me?"

"Me. Wyatt."

"Are you all right, Garrett?"

"Yes."

They fell silent for a time. Travis prayed that they would all fall asleep; he was certainly ready to, but someone had a question.

"Where did you go, Travis?" It was Garrett.

"I had to be in Denver for a few days. I needed to see a man about buying some of our cattle."

"I haven't seen lots of cows," Wyatt told him, his voice starting to fade.

"You will. Come spring, you'll see plenty of them."

"Will we get to ride horses?"

"Go to sleep, boys. We can talk about it in the morning."

Travis made himself stay awake until he was certain they were sound asleep, and then he finally let his body relax. The storm had calmed some but was starting up again. The days of travel, however, were getting to him. He was just about asleep when he heard Rebecca's voice.

"Travis?" she said softly.

"Right here," he called just as quietly toward the doorway.

"Are the boys with you?"

"Yes. They were afraid of the storm."

The room lit momentarily, long enough for Travis to see that Rebecca wasn't comfortable with the storm either. Her arms were wrapped around her waistline, and she was hugging herself as though terrified. He thought the boys had just been talking when they said she was afraid of storms.

"Come on in," he urged her. "We have room. Go to the other side and crawl in beside Garrett."

He could feel her hesitation in the darkness and thought for certain she would decline, but a moment later he heard her feet on the floor. The bed moved ever so slightly as she slipped under the covers.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," came her soft reply.

"Good night," Travis told her, and Rebecca returned his comment.

As tired as Travis was, he suddenly felt every nerve in his body. It was late and he was exhausted, but his wife was across the bed from him. It didn't help that his bed was a perfect fit for two but a little cramped with four. Assuming he would never sleep, the weary cowboy was completely surprised to open his eyes sometime later and see that it was morning.

Travis woke slowly. The room was just beginning to lighten, and he felt warm and comfortable. He was on his side, and Wyatt was still cuddled up against him. He felt better than he had the night before but thought he could still sleep more. However, it was a workday, and he knew Lavena would be preparing breakfast. He also needed to meet with Lucky to talk about what he'd learned in Denver. He peeked one eye open before both eyes opened wide. The person snuggled against him was his wife. Travis couldn't stop his smile. It had been too long since he'd held her to identify her in his sleep, but now with his eyes open he wondered how he couldn't have known. The boys were no longer between them. He didn't know why, nor did he care.