Road to Glory (21 page)

“Sure, Travis.” She walked around the two, giving them a wide berth, and made her way over to the bar where the rest of the kids were waiting.

“So he showed back up,” Connie hissed.

“Yep,” Glory replied. “Okay, cowboys, Travis says time’s up.”

With groans, the young men walked past her, their batwing chaps slapping against their jeans. She waited for them to leave, not really wanting to go back over to the bull. Looking past Connie, she caught sight of Angel’s pale face. The girl quickly turned away and hurried off with a tray of drinks.

“I heard rumors he was back in town,” Connie whispered. “You gonna be all right with this?”

“It’s a free country.” Glory shrugged. “He can do what he wants. I don’t have to be a part of it.”

With a thin smile, she pushed away from the bar, heading back to the table and the controls. Deep down inside, Glory wished she could believe the words she’d just spoken.

****

Travis watched Jax turn his head. His gut feeling was that the cowboy’s eyes zeroed in on the sweet sway of Glory. No matter how it infuriated him, she was something to behold. He glanced in her direction and saw her back rigid, her head held high. Bless her. She refused to give the man the benefit of showing how much she dreaded his presence, even though the clenched hand at her side said differently than the rest of her. Good. Let him dwell on that.

Looking back to Jax, Travis wondered what type of history he and Glory could possibly have shared. In his two meetings so far, in both of which they’d exchanged words, the cowboy had come off as a braggart and a troublemaker. Even his swagger as he bent to pick up the rosin bag spoke of a chip on his shoulder. His eyes narrowing, Travis tried to recall any confrontation they might have had in the rodeo circuit, but he couldn’t remember that they’d ever crossed paths. He watched Jax dust the inside of his legs with the white chalky powder. He just didn’t seem to be the type of man Glory deserved.

Travis leaned his hip against the table and twisted the top of the water bottle off to take a sip. What type of man did she deserve? He stilled at the thought, then glanced to the table where she sat. She must have sensed his gaze, because she turned to look at him. Something intense flared within him, and he knew. She needed the type of man who’d come home to her at night, one who’d work alongside her, drawing from her dream and making it his. One who’d love her as the treasure she was.

Travis felt a fist slam into his gut, and a swirl of self-doubt rose to tap him on his shoulder. How could he even become her champion? He was a busted-up cowboy, one step from falling into oblivion. He looked down at the bottle in his hand. What if he couldn’t give up his dream? Would he become like his father? He wasn’t even sure he knew how to be a family man, the dependable kind. Stretching his fingers one by one, it surprised him to see the faint tremor. The mat squeaked. He glanced up to see her walking toward him.

His knees grew weak. That blonde hair flowing down her back, the sureness of her step—if only he had half her confidence. He watched a growing look of concern mar the beauty of her face. “Travis?”

She stepped closer, and he could see the curiosity in the deep blue of her eyes. Relax, he told himself. Closing up the water bottle, he reached for her hand and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “How about I run the machine this time?”

Her eyes searched his face. “Sure,” she answered. “Is this because of Jax?”

Travis let out a breath. “In a sense. I’m curious to see how much he can take.”

Her gaze moved over him and he waited. No questions, just a curt nod of her head as she agreed and moved back behind the table. Travis glanced over and waited for Jax to finish with the rosin. One by one the other riders took their perches along the fence or leaned against the rail to watch. The atmosphere in the ring changed. The silence around them seemed almost deafening, as if they all knew, as if they all expected some sort of confrontation.

Jax lifted his head. Travis met his stare head on. Whatever the goal of the seminar had been, it was lost. Now it was a competition between the two. Jax knew it, and so did Travis. It was up to him to decide if he should accept the challenge.

“You ready?” he asked.

Jax glared. “Born ready.” With that he sauntered over to the bull in the center of the mats. Grabbing the horn, he vaulted into the saddle with one fluid motion and took a deep seat. Back straight, hand up, he called out, “Let ’er go.”

Without breaking eye contact on the man’s back, Travis reached back and pulled the control box into his hands. The air crackled with antagonism and expectation. His thumb twitched and moved toward the switch. A small click, and the light turned red.

In a flash, the mechanical bull roared to life. The back of the machine swung back and forth with enough force to make Jax’s boots slam against the metal sides. Shifting the control, Travis made the bull circle to the right, then pitch forward before slamming back. He tilted the bull up, made a twist, and swung the other way. Jax clung on even though his arm drooped and he had the appearance of a scarecrow in the midst of a violent thunderstorm.

Catcalls from the riders on the rail brought the other patrons of the Hitching Post over to watch. Travis did his best to unseat Jax, but somehow he remained on board. As the buzzer sounded, Travis gave the bull one more shudder, side to side, and flipped the switch off. In disgust, he shoved the box onto the table.

Chest heaving, Jax climbed down to the chorus of cheers from the young cowboys gathered around him. Travis watched as he pulled off his gloves. Eyes glittering with contempt, Jax elbowed his way through the crowd and strode toward him. Rising to meet him, Travis folded his arms over his chest and waited.

A sneer curled the cowboy’s lips as he spoke. “That the best you can do, old man?”

Somehow Travis kept his face passive. “For now.”

He watched Jax glance over his shoulder to where Glory sat. “Maybe you better look at getting a man, honey, not some cripple.”

Travis felt his composure break. His hand shot out. He heard Glory gasp as he grabbed a fistful of Jax’s shirt. “Don’t you ever speak to her in that manner, in my presence, ever again.”

“Travis,” Glory called out.

His eyes bored into Jax’s, determined he should know Glory was hands-off territory.

“Travis.” Her voice was softer, and he felt her gentle touch upon his arm. “Travis, please. Let him go.”

He waited a second, to prove his point, halfway expecting or hoping for Jax to do something, but he didn’t. Filled with disgust, he let him go with a small shove that sent the cowboy back a step. Jax took a moment to adjust his clothing before he glanced back. Travis heard him whisper, “I’ll get you for that, old man.” Then he walked away.

****

They said nothing, both ignoring the elephant in the cab of the truck as they rode home. Glory glanced over and noted the lack of emotion reflected in Travis’ face. His eyes focused on the long dark ribbon of highway, while his hands gripped the wheel at ten and two. She wasn’t a student of psychology, but she knew an angry male when she saw one.

Leaning her head against the rest on the back of the seat, she stared out the windshield into the darkness and went over the evening’s events, one memory at a time. She’d followed his directions. Each rider had a safe landing. The only thing that stood out was the untimely arrival of Jax Martin. Glory wanted to kick herself for getting tangled up with him in the first place. What in the devil’s name had she been thinking? A sad twinge of disappointment nicked her heart. That was it; she hadn’t been thinking, not at all.

Blinded by the desire to find love, she’d turned a deaf ear and been played for a fool. Not only had she lost her virginity to a man who couldn’t have cared less. Worse, she’d lost the approval of her father. The corners of her mouth drew downward. He’d never said a word after the quick affair ended, but she could see it in the way her father looked at her, the expression of remorse in his eyes, as if he had failed her, not the other way around. That look was something she’d never forget. But she was focused on their dream now, and to earn back a little of the faith he’d put in her, she was going to win.

Her heart lifted as she thought about the man beside her. If only he could see her with Travis. See what a fine couple they made working together. Then he’d know she’d found the real thing. She gave a shy glance in Travis’ direction again. Yet the distance between them seemed larger than the Grand Canyon. What had she done?

Her heart pitched and rolled to a stop. What if someone had told Travis about her and Jax? Would that account for his silence? He’d said something about knowing. Knowing what? When he took such good care of her the other night, she’d told him there had been another. Just not exactly that it was Jax. Glory bit her bottom lip. How did someone bring up the subject of past lovers? She suspected men didn’t want to hear about other liaisons. It might draw comparisons. Not that Jax would be any comparison to Travis.

Travis made her heart sing. The slightest thought about his lips meeting hers or the gentle way he’d held her made her tingle all over and bring her knees sharply against each other. Her brow knitted as she questioned how she would get him to see that, for her, there would be no other.

“Glory, you all right?”

Travis’ voice startled her. “Yes, I’m fine,” she replied. However, her answer left a gap wanting to be filled. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his glance. Knowing it was impossible to ignore, Glory met it head on.

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “You can ask.”

“Ask what?”

Her lips pulled into a knowing smile. “You want to know how Jax and I hooked up.” She turned her head and watched him swallow. His glance darted to her, then back to the road. He must have been surprised at her frankness, yet he made no comment.

“Well, I guess I’ll tell you, anyway.” She stared for a moment at her hands. “I hear confession is good for the soul.”

“That sounds like an Alma-ism.” Travis chuckled.

Glory smiled. “It is.”

She turned toward the windshield and stared out into the darkness. A sense of calm enveloped her as she spoke. “I guess you can say I was green, still wet behind the ears. At twenty, I hadn’t really had many love interests.”

“You mean men weren’t lined up down the drive?”

“No. Oh, I had a few crushes in high school.”

“Quarterback on the football team?” he asked.

“First baseman,” she replied and then grew sober. “But Jax was the first adult infatuation. He had all the right moves, the right words. He made it all sound so noble, so wonderful.” Glory couldn’t hide the tiny pain in her words. “He was going to go on the circuit, get John Parker to notice my dad’s stock, then come back for me. And all he wanted in return was for me to love him.”

“What ended it?”

Glory’s brow pulled together in pain. “My dad got sick. Jax went off because I didn’t have time for both him and the cows. I had to make some sort of sacrifice.”

“So the dream came first?”

She nodded. “Yes, Dad depended on me after his heart attack. I had to be there or give it up. I couldn’t do that. My father gave up everything for me. He needed my respect more than Jax did.”

She felt Travis reach for her hand and bring it to his lips. “You did the right thing,” he said and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You know, Glory, sometimes it’s not how young or how old you are. Everyone gets taken in by a smooth talker.”

“Even you?” Her eyebrows shot up.

“Even me,” he said and swung the truck into the drive.

“I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be,” Travis answered. “I was a slow learner. I went back several times for a good kick in the seat. The last time, right before the accident.”

“I’m sorry,” Glory replied as he pulled the truck to a stop outside the ranch house.

“It’s okay. Besides, if she hadn’t left, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Alma would say that’s God opening a door.” In the darkness, his warm chuckle surrounded her, melting away her fears. “Would you think I was crazy if I said I didn’t want to go in?” she asked.

Her heart hammered as she waited for him to answer. Just when she thought her nerves might have reached the breaking point, she heard him say, “No. I don’t want you to go in either.”

Her spirits soared. She wanted nothing more than to spend another night wrapped in his arms, but she wouldn’t ask. This time the invitation would have to come from Travis.

“Come back to the little house with me. Let me make all this up to you, Glory. Let me show you what an amazing woman you are.”

She waited for the old sinking feeling to wash over her. But it didn’t. Travis had all the right words, the right moves, even if there was no hint of tomorrow.

His hand found her cheek. “Please allow me the honor of making love to a beautiful woman,” he said and brushed his thumb against her cheek.

“Oh, Travis,” she whispered and felt his hand slide to the back of her head as their lips met.

Chapter Sixteen

She heard the click of his seatbelt and the swish of fabric as he shifted closer. The only thing that kept them apart was the console between the bucket seats. Glory pulled one arm through the shoulder harness to wrap both around his neck. She sighed in contentment. Kissing Travis was like eating chocolate. So good, yet it left you feeling sinful. His hands brushed her hip and she realized he was going for her seatbelt. His breathing increased as he tried to trigger the release. She felt him pull in frustration. The belt snapped and the strap curled over both their heads. Unable to help herself, Glory laughed.

Their kiss broken, Travis disentangled himself from the webbing and helped her do the same. “Between the console and the seat belt…” He shook his head. “Who would have thought they’d be the link to ‘just say no.’ ”

Glory grew sober. “Who said no, cowboy? Not me.”

She heard Travis’ breath hitch.

“I think we need to continue this inside.” She was waiting, hoping he’d say yes.