Two in the Saddle. Vicki Lewis Thompson
tent’s white canvas walls. Tiny clear lights strung from the tent poles sparkled in celebration and centerpieces of spring flowers bloomed on each linen-covered table. The bar was open and the buffet table was crowded with food.
Sensual pleasures teased Gwen from all sides—succulent barbecued beef and rich red wine, the seductive beat of a country tune, the scent of juniper every time the breeze lifted a tent flap a few inches. And then there was Travis in his rumpled tux, an attraction more compelling than the bride and groom, apparently.
Women surrounded him constantly, whether he happened to be holding Elizabeth or not. He was a very busy man as he tended to his many admirers, and yet every few minutes he’d pause, find Gwen in the throng, and send her a smile or a wink.
She tried to be unaffected…and failed. It was heady stuff to be singled out by the man who was clearly adored by every woman in the room. But the dinner part of the reception had nearly ended, and soon the dancing would begin, which meant she’d be expected to dance with Travis. And no matter how seductive the atmosphere, no matter how appealing the man, she must not give in to his considerable charms.
She’d known Travis would be trouble the first day she’d laid eyes on him while paying a visit to Matty’s ranch. About four years earlier, she and Matty had met over the yarn counter at Coogan’s Department Store and discovered they both had a passion for weaving. Their friendship had blossomed.
Gwen had taken up the craft as a way to heal after her divorce from Derek. Eventually she discovered that Matty used her floor loom as therapy while she dealt with an unhappy marriage, which gave the two women even more in common.
They enjoyed each other’s company tremendously, and the only fly in the ointment had been Gwen’s occasional forced interaction with Matty’s head wrangler. Travis reminded her way too much of Derek. He pushed all the same buttons Derek had, making her pulse race with a look, her breath catch with a devilish grin. But Gwen had no intention of losing her heart to another rascal too handsome for his own good.
Fortunately Travis spent winters at his place in Utah, which meant Gwen only had to deal with him during the summer. Because summer was high season at Hawthorne House, she was usually too busy to socialize much. She’d been so subtle about avoiding Travis that even Matty hadn’t known of her vulnerability until recently…until Elizabeth had turned all their lives topsy-turvy.
The baby was presently sitting on Sebastian’s lap while Matty played patty-cake with her. Gwen smiled at the picture they made. No doubt about it, Elizabeth had totally changed Matty and Sebastian’s life, fortunately for the better. But Matty and Sebastian belonged together. Gwen and Travis did not, and she’d be wise to keep that firmly in mind.
Travis returned to his place at the head table just as the band finished a tune. He signaled to the band, picked up his wineglass and raised it. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?”
That would be no problem for the ladies, Gwen thought. At the sound of Travis’s rich baritone, they’d all turned toward him like daisies to sunlight.
“I’d like to propose a toast to the bride and groom.” He grinned. “You know, this is gonna be like shooting fish in a barrel, Sebastian.”
“Roast him, Travis!” called one of the ranchers from a table in the back of the room.
Gwen rolled her eyes. Travis would make a joke of this, the way he made a joke of everything.
“Well, you folks ain’t heard nothin’ until you’ve heard Sebastian Daniels croon Ghost Riders in the Sky,” Travis said. “If I’d been writing your vows, buddy, I would’ve made Matty promise to love, cherish, and put up with a round of Ghost Riders every blessed morning in the shower. Oh, and I don’t want to forget the yodeling. Did you tell her about that, yet?”
Gwen laughed along with everyone else, including Matty and Sebastian.
Travis cleared his throat and Gwen prepared herself for more jokes.
But Travis was no longer smiling, and his tone had changed. “Yodeling aside, I’ve known Sebastian Daniels for a lot of years, and he’s one hell of a friend. If you’re in trouble, this is the man to call. His heart’s bigger than the whole Sangre de Cristo range.”
Gwen stared at Travis. Just when she thought she knew what to expect from him, he did the exact opposite.
“Sebastian loves this land,” Travis said. “Until recently, I didn’t think he could love anything, or anyone, more than this paradise he calls the Rocking D. But I was wrong. His fondness for this ranch is a drop in the bucket compared to the way he feels about the woman sitting next to him.”
Emotion clogged Gwen’s throat. She could take anything from Travis except heartfelt sincerity.
“And he’s found his soul mate in Matty,” Travis continued. “Matty is true-blue, the straightest shooter I’ve ever known. If there is such a thing as a match made in heaven, you’re looking at it. God bless, Matty and Sebastian. I’m proud to be here.”
Gwen was destroyed. She clapped furiously and blinked back tears. Then she took a quick sip of wine to toast the newlyweds and grabbed a napkin to dab at her eyes.
The band started playing a waltz, and Sebastian handed Elizabeth to Travis. “Thanks,” he said, his voice suspiciously hoarse. “That was…damned nice.”
“Outstanding,” Matty said, sniffing.
“I meant every word,” Travis said. “Now go have that first dance, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. You deserve it.” He sat down next to Gwen and propped Elizabeth on his lap. “What’d you think?” He sounded as if he actually cared.
“Great.” Gwen took another gulp of her wine and choked on it. She snatched up her napkin again and held it over her mouth while she coughed.
“Easy, now.” With one arm wrapped around Elizabeth, he leaned over and patted Gwen on the back. “Didn’t mean to make you nervous.”
She glanced at him. The hell he didn’t. At least she had an excuse for the tears in her eyes as she continued to cough and gasp for breath.
“And now let’s have the best man and the maid of honor on the floor,” announced the band leader.
Travis leaned closer. “Are you up to it?”
She coughed once more. “Sure,” she said hoarsely. “But what about Elizabeth?”
“We’ll take her along.” He stood and pulled back Gwen’s chair.
Stupid her, she was disappointed that they were taking Elizabeth. What a dope she was, feeling sorry because she wouldn’t have Travis all to herself. She was twenty times safer if they danced with Elizabeth cradled between them, and safety was important. Self-preservation was imperative.
Unfortunately Travis’s speech had derailed her protective instincts and stirred up needs she would do well to bury, especially when she was around this man.
Travis guided her with a hand at her elbow as they wound through the tables to the dance floor. Once again Gwen became aware of the envy coming at her in waves. She and Travis would dance this one, obligatory number. After that, he’d be mobbed and she wouldn’t have to worry about protecting herself from his advances. She should be happy about that, not depressed.
“How about if you hold Lizzie?” Travis asked as they stepped onto the temporary dance floor that had been erected in one corner of the tent. “Then I can hold both of you.” Without waiting for an answer, he transferred the baby neatly into Gwen’s arms.
Elizabeth was growing limp and her eyes drooped with fatigue.
Gwen cradled the little girl in her arms, and with a yawn Elizabeth laid her head trustingly on Gwen’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Gwen’s heart swelled with pleasure as she turned her head and brushed a kiss against the baby’s velvet cheek.
In the past few weeks, Gwen had tried to keep some distance from this cherub, but she