She didn’t know what he needed to do and didn’t ask.She wanted that time with him, too.In fact, she wanted a lifetime with him.Her bottom lip trembled.She hid it from him.
Dressing for the day, she discovered her mood hadn’t lightened after the night’s sleep.She felt worse, and all morning she hovered on the brink of tears.
Ben assumed she was still upset about Colin Korhonen, and she was, but she let him think Colin was the only reason she was so distressed.
Within two hours, Ben had driven his team to the airport and returned alone.
While he was gone, Travis Butler made a visit.He tied his gelding to the corral railing, and she chatted with him in the yard.He stood close, his head angled toward her, his hat shading his face, aviator glasses reflecting the sun.
Ben exited his truck and very deliberately slung an arm around her shoulder.“Butler,” he said.
Travis eyed him impassively, but she saw him take in Ben’s possessive arm and her acceptance of the embrace.For many years, she’d known Travis Butler was interested in her.While he hadn’t been pushy, perhaps because she’d never encouraged him, she wondered why Ben felt the need to stake a claim.After all, he was leaving.
“Paxton,” Travis said in return.“Heard you got the guy bothering Sarah.”
She felt Ben glance at her profile.“We both got him.”
“Either way, a guy like that’s better off dead,” Travis said.
“Agreed,” Ben returned.
The two men fell silent, taking each other’s measure.Sarah felt tension arc between them.
Finally, Travis added, “Glad you got him.”
Ben said, “Glad you kept watch over Sarah here at the ranch.”
Travis dipped his head toward his mount.“You were right.The vet says my horse has a touch of navicular.Got him some new shoes and a dose of Isoxsuprine tablets.”
“Good.”Ben studied the gelding.
Sarah looked from one man to the other and felt their temperatures lower, the strain dissipating.She wondered if one day these two could become friends.
Then she realized there’d be no chance of that.If possible, her frame of mind plummeted to new lows.
Travis Butler made his goodbyes, mounted up, and ambled down the driveway.
In her jean’s pocket, her phone rang, and she said to Ben, “It’s my agent.I’ll just take a little walk.”He nodded and she took the phone to speak privately in the yard.
Within an hour, she had made plans.Different plans than she’d first imagined.She would return to New York, and she would model again.This time it would be totally and completely on her terms.Although her agent argued, she stood firm.Satisfied with her decision, she headed back to the house.
Big Jim drove his dusty pickup into the yard, returning from his morning breakfast at the diner.Climbing out, he slammed the door.
Despite her own troubles, she noticed he was scowling.“What’s wrong, Dad?”
“Nuthin.”His clomping boots made angry dust puffs fly into the air.
She caught up to him and touched his arm.“Dad.”
Her father swung to face her.“Just don’t know why people have got to be so gol-danged difficult.”
“People?”she prompted, but she already had an inkling.
“Well, women.”
She folded her arms together.“We’re talking about Milly, aren’t we?”
“She’s a woman, isn’t she?”He frowned at her as though she were the one arguing, not him.
