"Would you like some more coffee?" was all he could think of to say.
Dottie seemed to understand. "No, I think I'll go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea. Will you be needing anything? I could have someone bring it to you."
Travis shook his head.
Ten minutes later he was still staring at the fire when Rainey walked in.
"Morning," she said. "Dottie said you wanted another cup of coffee."
"Thanks." He didn't look up as she handed him the cup. One good thing about this place, he'd never finish all the coffee.
Rainey stood in front of him as if waiting for him to do or say something. Her hand was so close he could have reached out and held it, but he didn't. He wasn't sure how she felt about what they'd done last night. He thought she enjoyed it, but he wished she'd had time to say something before she vanished.
"How are you feeling?" She finally broke the silence as she leaned toward him.
"I'm feeling tired of people worrying about the way I feel," he answered, his words sounding colder than he'd intended.
Rainey took a step backward.
Travis swore he could feel the coldness between them. She sure wasn't acting like she wanted him to play hard to get. He glanced up and saw her green eyes staring at him. She looked like she wanted to be kissed, he thought. Or maybe that was just what he wished she was hoping for.
"I was just about to leave to go bake today. I have orders for pies that are late. No one seems to need me around here." She waited as if expecting him to say something. "I'd also like to go back and get my shoes. Sage loaned me a pair of hers, but I keep walking out of them."
He wanted to tell her to forget about work, he needed her. But Dottie's comments lingered in his thoughts. He didn't want to say anything that got repeated to Dottie, who'd repeat it to the judge. Hell, he thought, I might as well just shout everything I say so that everyone can hear the first account.
"Travis?" She stepped back in front of him.
He thought he knew what she wanted. They were alone. She was close. In one step she could be in his arms. But he didn't reach for her.
To his surprise, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back before dark."
He watched her go.
If black moods could darken, his did. He sat, staring at the fire trying to figure out where he stood with his fairy. He'd told Mike she was his, but he wasn't so sure. She'd slept beside him part of the last three nights, but he hadn't touched her until last night. She'd swore she'd never marry him, but she worried about him worse than both Roy's wives put together worried about Roy. Every time he mentioned marriage she said she never wanted to see him again and every time she thought he was in trouble she risked her life to let him know.
He leaned his head back against the leather of the wing-back chair. The worn leather conformed and he closed his eyes, drifting back into the dream he'd had on Whispering Mountain.
He heard Mike's boots stomping in from the side door. The Ranger ran through the hall as if on full alert pulling Travis from his dream.
Travis glanced up just as Mike Saddler rounded the corner, his face red from the cold. "McMurray!" Mike took a quick breath. "Where's Miss Adams and Widow Davis?"
"Rainey left to go make pies. I think the widow said something about going with her, but I could be wrong. I don't know women all that well." Travis straightened, sensing something was wrong. "What is it, Saddler?"
Mike's tanned face paled. "Eldon Norman has been spotted in town. We've got men looking for him everywhere. The undertaker said he came by to pay his respects to his brother and left swearing that he'd pay back the witch who stabbed Seth."
Travis braced himself on the arms of his chair and slowly stood. "Is he in custody?"
Mike shook his head.
Travis reached for his cane. Carefully, so he didn't pull stitches, he made it to his guns. "Get the wagon from the barn out back and pull around to the side door. I'll inform Sage and meet you out there. We're going after Rainey."
Mike nodded. "You're thinking the same thing I am. I heard Dillon tell two men to go check on the three old maids just in case Rainey or the widow goes there, and a pair of Rangers were knocking on the front door when I came around back. They'll be here with Sage until we find Rainey and make it back."
Travis strapped his guns on and reached for his coat. His left leg took the weight when he shifted with only a bit of pain. He was healing; now it was time to concentrate on keeping Rainey alive.
By the time they made it to the Langland Mercantile, Rainey already had pies in the oven and refused to leave until they were done.
Pearl kept calling Travis "Rainey's Ranger," which left no doubt that he'd been discussed, as she showed him to the extra chair.
The widow had taken up residence at the kitchen table, her arm resting beside two freshly made pies. Mike stood near the back door, looking very much like he was on guard. Travis pulled his chair to the opening into the store after he gave up trying to get Rainey to abandon her baking. He might not be able to tell Rainey what to do, but he didn't plan to leave her alone.
Rainey's fear shifted quickly to bother that she had to work around so many people in such a small space. She kept having to swing Mike out of the way as if he were a door to her supply cabinet. When she stepped around Travis and into the store, he heard her say she was sorry about the bother. He smiled when Pearl answered back that she thought this was all so exciting.
"Oh," Pearl added just before Rainey passed through the curtain and back into the kitchen. "I think your paper Ranger is handsome. His frown is a little frightening, though. Aren't you scared?"
Rainey laughed. "Not in the least."
The others heard their comments through the thin curtain. Travis's frown deepened, realizing Rainey had told Pearl about their letters.
Widow Davis must have decided she was queen of the hive, for she divided her time between talking to Mike, telling Rainey how to cook, and bothering Travis with questions about what the Rangers were doing to keep her safe. He was glad when Pearl let her son join them, for Dottie took up a game of teaching the boy, who could only babble his ABCs.
By the time Rainey put another set of pies in, Judge Gates showed up with Roy Dumont at his side. Pearl pulled the stools in from the store, and they all consumed one of the pies.
Almost growling aloud Travis decided that if anyone else wanted to come into the small room, they'd have to get on the waiting list. Pearl came in several times to pick up pies. "Folks are coming to the store wanting them. I'm selling them as fast as you can make them."
Travis watched Rainey as she worked silently. The warmth of the stove had made her cheeks glow. The room was full of people and all he saw was her.
After eating, Judge asked Dottie if she'd like to join him for dinner that night at one of the restaurants in town. Roy mentioned it might be better not to make her a target. The judge suggested his house and waved his arm to include everyone in the invitation.
"A dinner party-how wonderful." The widow lifted her bandaged arm. "If I could, I'd love to cook for it."
The judge smiled looking younger than he had in years. "If you'll tell me what to do, I'll be your hands, madam. I have a housekeeper who'll clean up the mess, so you won't have to do a thing but talk."
Travis almost lost his battle not to laugh.
Dottie giggled. "I'll tell you how. You cook and we'll have a great meal." She glanced from Roy to Ranger Saddler. "Would it be all right to send the young Ranger to ask Miss McMurray and the Baileys if they'd like to come, also?"
"Of course, I haven't had a proper party since my wife died." Judge Gates stood and offered his arm. "Shall we go shopping for what we need?"
They moved into the mercantile. From the sound of it, the Langland would be stocking tonight after they got home from the dinner party, of course, for the judge insisted they come as well.