Two in the Saddle

He was so busy that he barely had time to get himself a fresh beer. Finally he excused himself from Donna, the kindergarten teacher, and headed for the bar.

“Hey, Romeo.” Sebastian caught his arm as he was heading back into the fray, a cold long-neck in one hand. “Got a minute?” He glanced at Travis’s beer. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

Travis grinned, turned back to the bartender and lifted his bottle. “Get another one of these for the bridegroom, would you? The poor guy needs to live it up while he still has the chance.”

“Yeah, I’ve got it tough,” Sebastian said as he took the offered beer. “Not every guy could handle being married to a goddess, but fortunately I’m up to the job. Come on, let’s get some air.”

“I can see right off that my speech gave you a swelled head.” Travis followed Sebastian outside. The air was cold, but it felt good after all the exercise he’d been getting on the dance floor. “Keep it up and I’ll be obliged to round up a few guys to toss you in the horse trough.”

“You think I’ve got a swelled head?” Sebastian leaned against the fender of the caterer’s truck and unfastened the top button of his tux shirt. The string tie had been abandoned long ago. “After all the attention you’ve been getting tonight, it’ll take three men and a boy to cram your hat on in the morning.” He lifted his beer toward Travis and smiled. “Here’s to one hell of a wedding.”

Travis clinked his bottle to Sebastian’s. “A great party for a great reason.” He took a long swallow.

Sebastian sipped his beer and looked up at the night sky. “Full moon.”

“I ordered it special.”

Sebastian laughed. “Funny thing is, I believe you.”

“Hey, I can do anything I set my mind to.”

“Uh, huh. Evans, you really should work on that lack of confidence problem.”

“I know what I know.”

“Okay, you’re amazing. But listen, I’ve been going over this honeymoon trip again, and I really think I ought to hire somebody to help you with Elizabeth while Matty and I are in Denver. We don’t leave until noon, so I’m sure I could find somebody if I started calling around in the morning.”

Travis stiffened. “You don’t trust me with her.”

“Sure I do. Well, maybe I didn’t at first, but you’ve got the basics down. I’m worried about what you’ll do if something goes wrong, though. We’d be at least three hours getting home, assuming we even got the message right away, and—”

“You are such an old granny, Daniels. I swear. I can handle it. If it’s major I’ll go to Doc Harrison. If it’s minor, I’ll go to Gwen.” He’d just now thought of that, but the idea appealed to him. Not that he wanted any emergency to crop up concerning Lizzie. But the combination of him and the baby seemed to melt women’s hearts. It might have a thawing effect on Gwen, too. Yeah, he just might have to consult Gwen on some baby-care question.

“What’s up with you and Gwen, anyway?”

“What do you mean?” Travis took another swig of his beer, so he’d look cool and casual as he answered the question.

“I thought you two were like oil and water, but you were blending together pretty good during that dance earlier tonight.”

“I think she’s figured out I don’t have horns and a forked tail, after all.”

Sebastian gazed at him. “You do anything to hurt that woman, and Matty’ll be the one with the pitchfork, aiming it straight at your sorry ass.”

Travis blew out a breath. “Why does everybody think I’m out to break women’s hearts?”

“It couldn’t be on account of all the women you’ve left in tears, now could it?”

“Look, I’ve told each and every one of them I’m not in for the long haul. Is it my fault they won’t listen?”

Sebastian took a drink of his beer and glanced up at the moon. “I told Matty I couldn’t get serious, either, because of the baby and thinking I’d have to ask Jessica to marry me. That didn’t stop Matty from getting hurt.” He glanced back at Travis. “You can’t order a woman not to fall in love with you.”

Travis shifted uncomfortably under Sebastian’s scrutiny. “I don’t want Gwen to fall in love with me. I just—”

“Yeah, I know what you just. That dress she’s wearing would make a monk leave his order.”

Travis grinned. “Or revive a corpse at a wake.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Or replace Viagra.”

“I’m only human.”

“I know all about your humanity,” Sebastian said. “You’re a legend in your own time. But go easy on this, okay? Gwen’s a sweet lady and she had a rough few years with that husband of hers.”

“I promise to be careful. We won’t do anything that’s not in our mutual best interests.”

Sebastian nodded. “Good. And one other thing. If Jessica comes back while Matty and I are in Denver, you make her stay at the ranch until we can get home, okay?”

“Damn right I will. Jessica has some explaining to do, to all of us.” And telling them who was Lizzie’s father was the first thing, Travis thought. But he knew in his heart the little girl was his. Looks aside, Lizzie had his temperament. She was smart, easygoing and loved everybody.

“If I’m not convinced Jessica’s in a position to take care of Elizabeth,” Sebastian said, “I’m going to see what I can do about keeping the baby with us. I’ve checked into it, and abandoning your kid puts you on shaky legal ground.”

Travis rubbed the back of his neck. “I still can’t figure why she’d do that. It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing the Jessica we know would even think of. Hell, it was her grit that saved Nat’s life after the avalanche. Something pretty nasty must have scared the daylights out of her, to make her leave her kid like this.”

“Yeah, and I want to find out what.” Sebastian took another swig of his beer. “I’ve decided to hire a private investigator while we’re in Denver.”

“Good. I’ll go halves with you on the fee. This is dragging out way too long.”

“And it damned near made me lose Matty.” Sebastian cocked an ear toward the tent. “And speaking of Matty, we’d better get back in. I think the bouquet and garter-throwing is about to start.”

“Hey, you go ahead. I’d sooner catch a rattlesnake with my bare hands than that garter.”

Sebastian laughed and shook his head. “I don’t know what your problem is, Evans. You’re twenty-eight, for crying out loud. The carefree single life must be getting old by now.”

“Nah. It’s terrific.”

“So’s marriage. Or at least I plan on it being terrific, this time around.”

“For you, maybe. Not for this cowboy.” Travis tipped the bottle back for a deep swallow of beer.

“Well, you gotta come back in and pretend to try for the garter. You’re the best man, which means you should act like you’re part of the proceedings. It’ll look bad if you’re not there.”

“I’ll be in shortly.” Travis lifted his bottle. “And thanks for the beer.”

“It’ll come out of your paycheck. Don’t forget—now that Matty and I are combining our spreads, you’ll be working for me.”

Travis clutched his chest and staggered backward in mock horror. “Don’t tell me I have to start calling you boss?”

“Or Your Royal Highness. Whichever comes easier.”