Saving Grace Unknown (carter reed txt) 📖

Rebecca's face melted from shock to pity and the old bench squeaked as she leaned towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I felt her hot, wet tears start to run down my cheeks as she held me close. I have to say it almost did make me cry as well, but I'd be damned if I gave those thieves that additional pleasure. No sir. I pushed her away and wiped at her cheeks with my thumbs. "Hey, I'm the one got robbed. I should be crying." She sniffled a couple times then finally managed to calm herself down.

"Well, why aren't ya'?"

"I figure there's no use doin' that. Doesn't help much, just feelin' sorry for myself. Look, I need your help."

"Well, of course! I'll see if Pa's around," she said, jumping up off the bench and bounding towards the door. I caught her just in time.

"No, no...I mean, I'd rather not bother him right now. Can't you just...lend me a horse?"

Missy's face screwed up into a question and she furrowed her dark brow, making it seem even darker. After a few moments she glanced down, stared at the wood porch and touched her neck gently with one hand. I could see a smile creeping across her face.

"Is that a yes?" I asked, trying not to sound to gruff. I knew what I could come off like sometimes. Becca could get a little touchy if you didn't talk to her just so and this was no time for that.

"Come on," she said in a hushed voice, looking around to make sure no one was watching us. She grabbed my hand and walked off the porch, heading towards the big barn behind the house.

My heart swelled with relief. It was going to happen. I was going to get a horse to borrow and be able to ride into town and talk to the Doc. Not that I was looking forward to that too much either. That ole' sonofa...well, I knew he was going to give me the same damn lecture Becca's Pa would have and I was damn tired of hearing it.

As we got closer to the barn, I started breathing a little easier that no one had seen us, happy that Becca's old man was out on the range and it looked like we were going to get away with this mischief.

I heard the spurs before I saw him step into view, just inside the barn doors. The brim of his Stetson was pulled low, so low you could barely see his eyes. The little bit of dust he kicked up swirled on the bit of wind that had picked up and scurried around the corner of the barn. Missy froze, I felt the jolt of nerves run through her body as she squeezed my hand. My heart sank a bit, knowing she wasn't the kind to just talk herself easily out of these situations. Maybe I'd have to take charge.

"Can I help you ladies?" the man drawled, his voice low. He seemed to know we weren't just there to pet the horses.

"Travis!" Missy breathed, her face breaking into another smile once the initial scare wore off. "You scared us!" she giggled. I stared at the man as her reached a hand up and tipped the hat up, revealing a less severe face than I'd thought. In fact, I might have gone so far as to call him handsome. Becca seemed to think so too. "What are you doing here?" she continued, letting go of my hand and sidling up to the man slowly, in a way I'd never seen her move before. Maybe it wasn't talking that was going to be necessary.

"What are you doing here's probably a better question, I reckon," the man purred, sizing up my friend with his dark blue eyes. There was some kind of chemistry between the two, something much more than casual acquaintance, and I found myself enticed by what Becca might have been up to and not told me about. I cleared my throat to try to break the intimate gaze between them and remind them I was there. Becca looked over at me and giggled.

"Grace, this is Travis. One of Pa's ranch hands. Travis, this is Grace."

The man looked at me, smiled with just one corner of his mouth, then tipped his hat and tilted his head. I smiled back, though somewhat stiffly, I fear. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the whole thing.

"Now what exactly can I do for you?" Travis asked again, unable to keep his eyes from making another sweep along Becca's curves. I thought I saw her blush, but she pretended not to notice the attention.

"Well, the thing is you see," Becca began, biting her lower lip and swinging her gaze along the ground from side to side, playing coy and helpless. The wind picked up even more and I looked up to see an ominous darkness in the sky, crawling towards us from the west. There had to be a way to hurry this up or I'd be drenched getting in to see the Doc.

"Come on now," Travis growled, "spit it out." His expression clouded over too, but his attraction to Rebecca was unmistakable. His whole body seemed drawn to her, though he stood fast where he was.

"Thing is, Travis, Grace's had some troubles. She needs to borrow a horse." She looked square at him as she said that last sentence, holding his eyes with her own. Even I was surprised at her forwardness. It took him a few moments to get over the shock and respond.

"Wha...Rebecca you know I can't do that. Your Pa would have me shot if he found out I was lendin' out horses to strangers, particularly women I'd just met!" It seemed that the man usually didn't get this flabbergasted. He took a step back, as if he knew what