shook her head. “Not yet.” There was a moment of pause while Tierra contemplated what she should do. Finally, she answered, “Well, if you’re sure it won’t be a problem.”
Eden wrapped her arms around Tierra’s shoulders. “We are. Come on. I’ll show you where your room will be.”
Following behind her friend, Tierra swiped at the tears that had begun to fall from her eyes for the umpteenth time. She hated that she couldn’t stop crying, but it hurt to admit that she had been wrong. It hurt even more to think that after all this time Damien hadn’t really cared about her at all.
At the top of the stairwell, Tierra turned to her friend and gave a sincere smile. “Eden, I really appreciate this.”
Eden grinned. “Everything’s going to be all right, Tea. Just keep believing that.”
As Tierra turned back toward the hallway, she wasn’t prepared for the large man who suddenly bounded from behind a closed door, stepping directly in front of her path. The duo slammed harshly into each other.
Instinctively, Travis reached out to grab the woman he’d just bowled over, intent on keeping her from falling to the floor. “I am so sorry,” the man exclaimed, his voice echoing loudly around them.
“Ouch,” Tierra muttered at the same time, gripping tight to the large arms that held her firmly by the shoulders. “Excuse me.” She looked up into the man’s face, recognition washing over her. “You!”
Travis’s eyes widened with surprise. “Ms. Braddy!”
The couple stood staring for just a brief moment, then before she could stop herself, Tierra balled up a tight fist and slammed it hard into Travis Stallion’s abdomen.
Chapter 4
Travis was still rubbing at his sore stomach muscles. Had he been expecting the slam into his solar plexus, it probably wouldn’t have bothered him at all. But Tierra’s punch had caught him completely off guard, and truth be told, for a little woman she packed one heck of a punch.
He still didn’t have a clue what he had done to deserve being punched but figured by the way Tierra had run back down the length of stairs and out the front door that it had to have something to do with the letter he delivered.
Eden had only shrugged her shoulders before turning an about-face to go after the woman. The expression on her face was as shocked as his.
Making his way downstairs, Travis’s curiosity was piqued. He was even more interested in knowing how Tierra had even known to find him there. Question after question raced through his thoughts as he stepped out onto the large porch.
The two women stood in front of the porch swing, Tierra sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears unnerved Travis and his usual steady and calm demeanor was suddenly anxious. Pushing both hands into the deep pockets of his jeans, Travis’s steps forward were tentative, the man not wanting to intrude where he might not be wanted.
Eden acknowledged him first, her head shaking with concern. She patted Tierra gently on the shoulder, leaning to give her friend a quick hug before making a polite exit. As Eden moved past Travis, she leaned up to whisper into his ear.
“Go easy on her. She just had her heart broken.”
Travis nodded ever so slightly. He took a quick glance over his shoulder as Eden stepped through the home’s front door. The woman’s stare back was equally curious as she looked from him to Tierra and back. She tossed him a quick smile of encouragement before disappearing inside. Turning his gaze toward Tierra, Travis didn’t have a clue what to say or do. The woman’s distress had knocked him completely off center.
Consumed with grief, Tierra didn’t bother to acknowledge him. Dropping down onto the swing’s cushioned seat, she dropped her head into her hands, swiping at the tears that didn’t look like they’d be stopping anytime soon.
Travis took a deep breath, blowing warm air back out slowly. He moved to Tierra’s side and took the seat beside her. Neither one said a word as they settled shoulder to shoulder against each other. Travis fought the urge to wrap his arms around her torso, sensing the gesture wouldn’t be appreciated. He heaved another deep sigh.
Staring out over the landscape, Travis watched the comings and goings of the ranch hands as they went about their morning chores. Having forgotten his wristwatch in his room, he had no idea how long they’d been sitting there, but when the horses were being corralled to another pasture and his stomach was rumbling loudly for a morning meal, he figured it was as good a time as any to initiate a conversation. Tierra’s sobs had finally slowed to a low sniffle, then suddenly she had a bad case of the hiccups.
Travis smiled sweetly. “Hold your breath. That might help.”
Tierra cut a quick glance in his direction. “That never—” hic “—works,” she muttered harshly.
There was a moment of pause before Travis said anything else. “Would you like me to get you a large glass of water?” he asked.
“I just want—” hic “—you to—” hic “—leave me alone,” Tierra answered.
Travis moved to get up from his seat, but Tierra’s next comment stopped him cold.
“I thought you—” hic “—were nice. Why—” hic “—would you do that—” hic “—to me? How—” hic “—could you?”
A look of confusion dropped over the man. Gripping her by her shoulders, Travis moved Tierra to face him. “How could I do what? I don’t know what it is you’re talking about, Tierra.”
He felt her tense beneath his touch, her hands balling once again into tight fists, as she rose from the swing.
“At least tell me what it is you’re mad about before you throw another punch,” Travis said, “and don’t take it personally if I punch back,” he added, an amused smile pulling at his mouth.
Tierra met his deep gaze evenly, unsure if she wanted to laugh or start crying all over again. Feeling completely defeated, she collapsed back against the swing’s cushions.
Travis was still eyeing her intensely. Tierra liked his eyes. She imagined a woman could easily lose herself in his eyes, if she were so inclined. Lost in his eyes a woman might imagine herself wrapped in his arms. In his arms, the possibilities that could be fathomed were endless. Tierra felt her breath catch deep in her chest as a flutter of something she didn’t recognize flitted through the pit of her stomach. She shook the sensation away as quickly as it had risen.
Reaching into the pocket of her khaki slacks, Tierra pulled the dreaded letter from inside. Unfolding the tear-stained paper, she barely glanced down at it as she passed it over to Travis.
“Read it out loud,” she said, her tone commanding.
Travis’s gaze moved from her face to the notepaper in his hand. The soiled paper had begun to weather from handling, and the damp moisture of saline had begun to fade away the neatly printed writing. He pulled the document closer and began to read. As he did, moisture puddled in Tierra’s dark gaze, threatening to spill over her cheeks again.
“Dear, Tierra. I hate to do this, but I know it’s the best thing for us both. I won’t be coming back to Dallas. I can’t marry you. I’ve met someone here who makes me very happy. I wish I could be the man you want me to be, Tierra, but I can’t. I hope we can still be friends. I wish you all the best in the world. Damien Porter.”
When he finished reading, Travis let the paper drop into his lap. Beside him, Tierra forced herself not to start crying all over again. She choked back a deep sob as she picked the letter up from where it had fallen and slowly tore it into shreds.
You could have warned me,” she whispered softly. “What? Did you and Damien have a good laugh planning how you’d do it? I bet you can’t wait to rush back and tell him how torn up I was so you two can bust a gut making a joke out of it all.”
Travis