When Roses Collide

Chapter Twelve

It was just his luck Ethan decided to take some time off and disappeared out into the wilds on a camping trip. He was probably catching trout out at Clooney Reservoir, the bastard. Contacting him had been a futile attempt to say the least. They can put a remote controlled rover on Mars, but they can't get a cell phone signal fourteen steps outside of city limits.

Travis didn't want to waste his time or raise the suspicions with Ethan's minions. This was a matter he wanted to keep out of the rumor mill's radar for as long as possible. With no options to his disposal left, he resorted to the only tactic available to him. Stalking. Not that he was particularly good at it. He only managed a few glimpses of the little minx who had been plaguing his thoughts. She turned out to be harder to pin down than a limp noodle to a wall. Either she was extremely elusive or she was going out of her way to lay low and stay out of his sight.

He tried to get a glimpse of her while his crew mended the fence between the two properties, but other than Odin grazing out in one of the pastures, there wasn't a soul in sight. He had taken enough grief from his men for getting caught looking for her, he wasn't about to go knocking on the front door. Besides, he liked all his body parts right where they were. He didn't need another round from her demented group of animals.

A week later, after finding out Ethan had finally returned and only having one run in with her he would rather forget, Travis found himself lightly running down the porch steps to meet Brady and Kyle as they pulled into the circular drive. The ranch run truck was hooked up to the large flatbed trailer and ready to go on the weekly feed run into town.

Brady saw his boss coming and rolled down the window. "What's up boss?"

"You guys on your way to Carson's?" Travis asked, even though he already knew today was feed pick up day at Carson Feed. The small store had been ordering and sustaining the DR's special grain needs for years and weekly trips where as routine as the rising of the sun.

"Yup, just heading out. You need something else picked up while we're there?" Brady asked with mild curiosity.

Something seemed different about his boss lately, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe it was still the after effects of meeting that hot little honey. Not that he could blame him, he knew what it was like to be obsessed with a woman. He had his own problems in that arena.

"I have some errands I need to run, so I am going with you. Move over."

Brady tipped his hat back in surprise. His boss hardly ever went to town, much less drove with the hands. Something was definitely going on.

"You're coming to town?" He narrowed his eyes and focused on his boss. "This makes three times in a row you've had a sudden inkling to go to town."

Travis decided to ignore the suspicion dripping off his words. "Don't sound so damn surprised. I am not a complete recluse," Travis muttered as he climbed up forcing Brady to scoot over on the bench seat. He wasn't about to sit pretty in the middle of two men. "Morning Kyle," Travis acknowledged the other hand with a grunt as he wedged his body behind the wheel.

"Morning, sir," Kyle stammered, working his way over until he almost melted into the passenger side door as Travis's huge frame took up the space in the cab. Despite his best efforts, Brady was still crammed up against him.

"Well this is cozy," Brady grumbled. "If you're coming along for the ride, why don't we leave Kyle here?" he suggested.

"Don't you need help with loading?"

"As enjoyable as this is, I think I would rather load a whole freaking boatload of feed myself as to sit here next to you like we were dating," Brady growled.