This Loving Land - Dorothy Garlock [52]
“You don’t know that, Sadie. Maybe he’s bringing a message from Ellen.”
“He’s bringin’ trouble, if’n he’s bringin’ anything.” Sadie grumbled and picked up the empty wash tub and dropped it with a bang beside the black iron pot. With a long stick, she punched the clothes down into the boiling water again and again.
Travis rode into the yard and sat his horse. He removed his hat and wiped his forehead with his shirt sleeve. His light hair glistened in the sun, and Summer noticed he had grown a mustache since she’d seen him last. He was a handsome man, and now he smiled, showing rows of even white teeth. It was a friendly, boyish smile, and Summer couldn’t help but respond to it.
“You’re just as pretty as I remembered, Miss Summer. It was worth every mile of that hot, dusty ride to see that sweet smile.”
Summer smiled again at his brashness. There was no doubt in her mind that he was putting his best foot forward.
“Get down and have a cool drink, Mr. McLean.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He urged his horse over to the rail.
Summer walked with him to the washstand beside the back door. His gaze made her uncomfortable. She wished Slater would come riding in.
“What’s keeping you from calling me Travis . . . Summer?”
It was so unexpected that she couldn’t think of anything to say.
“Nothing. Nothing . . . at all . . . Travis.”
“That’s better. Much better.” He looked amused.
“The water should be cool. It’s a fresh bucket.”
He smiled and offered her the dipper. She shook her head.
“My mother asked me to stop by and give you her regards. We’re having a party at the end of the month, and she would be proud if you came. And she’s not the only one that wishes you would honor us with a visit.” The last words were lowered in an intimate whisper.
“I’ll think about it, but I’m almost sure I won’t be able to come. But tell your mother I’d be pleased to have her visit me again.”
Summer was at a loss now what to say or do. She knew if she asked him in Slater would be furious, yet good manners demanded she invite him to eat.
“I trust your mother is well,” she said, stalling for time.
“Yes, she’s fine. Planning this blow-out is keeping her busy.” He stood looking at her, smiling, waiting to see what she was going to do.
Finally, she decided she was making a dilemma where there was none.
“We’ll have a meal ready shortly, Travis. You’re welcome to stay and eat.”
“I’d like nothing better, if you’re sure its no bother. Excuse me, and I’ll water my horse.”
Summer nodded and slipped into the house.
Sadie watched her leave with dread, realizing she was alone in the yard with Travis and would have to pass him to get to the house. Fighting her terror, she punched and probed at the boiling clothes with the stick, desperately wanting to break and run as she watched him approach. He wouldn’t do anything here in plain sight of the house, she reasoned, but even those thoughts didn’t stop the lump of fear that came up in her throat. He stopped scarcely two feet from her. With his hat under his arm, he bowed his head as if in respectful greeting.
“Hello, split-tail.” He smiled with his lips, but his eyes remained steely cold. “You didn’t think I’d forget what happened that morning and whose fault it was, did you?”
Sadie moved around to the other side of the boiling pot, her eyes never leaving his face. He stood with his back to the house.
“Stay away from me.” Her brain hummed. She would wrap the boiling shirt around the stick and hit him with it if he came any closer.
“What makes you think I want to touch you?” His tone was conversational, but behind each nostril showed white, and his eyes shone a brilliant blue. “Touch you? I could have you begging for it in no time a’tall; that is, if I’d put myself out to please a whore.”
She managed a breathless laugh. “I’d die first.”
“I can arrange that, too. Better yet, I can arrange it for that little bastard of yours.” He smiled pleasantly.
“You touch a hair on her head and I’ll spill your