CHAPTER 31
Travis looked around his crowded living room with a sense of satisfaction. The last time it had been this full was at his dad’s wake. Tonight, instead of casseroles and jello molds, Jamey Sinclaire and Dottie had driven the food truck over and set out platters of sliders, French fry cups, and a fancy kind of coleslaw. In the spirit of election night, they’d invited everyone to cast votes for their favorite slider. The winner would be featured on their menu and called The Sheriff.
A small group was gathered around the television he’d brought downstairs, others were checking their phones as the results trickled in. Dax stirred in his lap and burrowed deeper into his shoulder, lightly snoring. He eyed Elaine. “What do you think? Should I take him upstairs?”
She nodded. “His teeth are brushed and it’s a school night. I know he didn’t want to miss anything, but let’s tuck him in.”
“I’ve got it. You stay right here.” Before she could object, he’d stood, draping the boy over his shoulder. Bedtimes were fast becoming a favorite part of his day. Tucking in Dax, reading him a story, and receiving goodnight hugs and kisses hit a place deep within him. A place where everything was right with the world. After pulling up the covers around his chin, he brushed a kiss on Dax’s temple, and quietly shut the door, tamping down the pang of regret as he caught sight of Colton’s posters on the wall. It had only been twenty-four hours. He was silly to hope Colton would call back right away. He slipped back into his chair and caught Elaine’s hand, twining their fingers and bringing the back of her hand to his lips.
Elaine’s eyes lit up. “No matter what happens, I’m proud of you. You ran a good campaign.”
“Even if I lose?”
“Even if you lose.”
“I still think you should have hit Lawson with mail.” Weston flopped into a chair next to them, and shoved two bottles of Mike’s root beer their way.
“My fist was so much nicer,” said Travis flexing his hand with the bruised knuckles.
“Speaking of.” Weston leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Have you given any thought to what’s next?”
Travis scoffed. “No. I spent the day playing with Dax and Elaine. Time enough to think about it when the results are finalized.”
Weston pulled a pen from his breast pocket and grabbed a paper towel lying in the middle of the table. He started to sketch. “So I’ve had this idea rolling around my head for a few weeks. And now that you’re done with law enforcement…”
Travis groaned. “Oh no. Not another one of your crazy ideas.”
“Hear me out.”
Travis eyed Elaine. “This is how I ended up running for sheriff.”
“That turned out okay, didn’t it?” Elaine teased with a wink.
“Fine. Lay it on me.”
Weston kept drawing. “You’ve always said you can’t be a ranch of one.”
“Right.”
“How many would you need? To run your ideal operation?”
“Depends on what you’re looking to do. Minimum five, but maybe more.”
“Who’s your family?”
He didn’t have the patience for this tonight. “Are you going to explain or put me through twenty questions?”
“Go with me. Who’s your family?”
“Colt. But he’s a lost cause.”
“Give him time.” Elaine squeezed his hand. “He hasn’t heard from you in years.”
Weston nodded. “It’s not like he’s going to come running back and sing kumbaya the first time you call. Hell, maybe never.”
Hearing Weston put it like that, stung. But it was a truth he’d have to live with. Colt might never come back. He stowed his regret. Plenty more time for self-examination after tonight.
Weston continued, an enthusiastic light in his eye. “Who else is your family?”
“You. Cash. Braden.”
“Count me out because I have a new job that suddenly taking up a lot of my time. That gives you three.”
“I’m four,” Elaine offered shyly.
Hearing her say that warmed him to his toes. “You’re going to start community college soon though.”
“I can still help.”
“Fair enough. So we have four.”
Weston pushed the drawing in front of him. “Resolution Ranch. Where healing and husbandry come together.”
Travis made a face. “I don’t get it.”
“That’s because you’re not thinking. What do we have right here in Prairie? Land. Hope Sinclaire helping people like you and Cassie train wild mustangs. We’ve got buildings, and people who can build more. You’ve got a fixed-up barn, and space for bunkhouses.” Weston’s face grew more animated as he spoke. “You think we’re the only ones who’ve struggled returning to civilian life? Why not create a safe landing space for our brothers in arms? A place to get physical and emotional help? We could ask Dr. Munger if he’d consult with us. I’ll admit, he has some harebrained ideas about physical labor and sensitizing our triggers, but I think we can both agree he’s helped us. Why not help others?”
Travis rocked back in his chair, chewing on the idea. He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll hand it to you, Wes, you never think small, do you?”
Weston’s face lit up. “Go big or go home.”
Elaine squeezed his hand, eyes bright. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Travis.”
Travis’s thoughts raced. Would they come? It had been months since he’d talked to either Cash or Braden. He still had some of his nest-egg left. “It might be worth a few calls to gauge their interest.”
A collective groan came up from the group gathered in front of the TV. Someone cursed, and it grew unnaturally quiet. He brought the chair down with a thunk and Elaine shot him a worried look.
Gunnar Hansen spoke up, disappointment clear in his voice. “Final count has you down by thirty-six votes. Sorry man.”
Even though he’d prepared for it, disappointment stabbed through him. Not because he lost, but because Lawson won. “Damn.”
Elaine wrung her hands, face scrunched. “Oh, this is all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
“Shh.” He draped an arm around her pulling her close. “We’re not going to kick that dead horse. Yesterday’s mail didn’t help, but it was already close. And I didn’t play the endgame right. I could have hit Lawson and I didn’t. But I have to look my friends and neighbors in the eye when this is all over, and I couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it.”
“My new boss is going to have it in for me,” Weston smiled grimly shooting him a heavy look. “I hope the AG goes after him. I may have encouraged my friend to share his information.”
Whatever it took. Maybe the attorney general could get something to stick.
Elaine’s brow creased with worry. “Do I need to worry?”
Travis shook his head. “I’m quite sure Lawson will be avoiding this part of the county unless absolutely necessary. He knows we’re onto him, and eventually he’ll slip up, if he hasn’t already.”
Weston’s face grew tight and a muscle twitched high on his cheek. “Good news is, we only get his sorry ass for eighteen months, and I will file to run against him tomorrow. I won’t be such a nice opponent,” he said with a hard glint in his eye.
Travis stood. “Thank you all for coming, and most importantly, for your support.” He gestured to Weston. “I have no doubt Prairie’s newest police chief will do an excellent job, and I’m committed to helping Prairie make a full comeback. Together we can make Prairie the most vibrant town in the Flint Hills.”
A cheer went up from the small gathering.
“Thank you, Travis, for all you’ve done for us,” Jamey Sinclaire added sincerely. Echoes of her words rippled through the group. Six months ago, he couldn’t see himself doing anything but law enforcement, but so much had changed. In spite of the loss, he felt more hopeful than ever. Complete.
Dottie clapped her hands. “Listen up. You’ll hear it at the food truck tomorrow, but we might as well end this evening on a high note. Cass and Park have set a date. Clear your calendar three weeks from Saturday.”
More clapping and cheers went up. Travis wrapped Elaine in his arms. “Maybe we’ll have an announcement of our own soon?” he whispered in her ear, heating at the pretty pink that tinged her cheeks when she nodded.
Weston clapped him on the shoulders. “Think about what I said? I think it could work.”
Travis nodded, a flicker of excitement rippling through him. “Wes?” his voice grew thick. “Thanks for everything, man.” He hugged his best friend.
When they were finally alone, Travis shut the door and locked it behind him. Then pinning Elaine with a look, began working the buttons on his shirt as he stalked toward her. “We need to talk.”
“Oh?” Her eyes lit with anticipation, and she licked her lips.
He tossed his shirt to the floor and pulled her close so he could slip his hands underneath her shirt. She gave a little sigh when his fingers skated across bare skin. He buried his face in the satin skin of her neck, breathing her in. “But we can’t have this conversation with our clothes on.”
“Oh.” Her hands came to his belt, working the buckle free.
“How do you feel about being a ranch wife? Hypothetically?” Her shirt floated to the floor.
She dropped her head, exposing the creamy column of her neck. He followed, tasting a trail from the hollow of her throat to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. The noise she made in the back of her throat went straight to his cock. As did her words. “I’d be open to that,” she ended on a gasp when he nipped her.
Pants jingled to the floor joining shirts.
He traced the swell of her breasts with his thumbs, finding her nipples through the thin fabric and driving them to hard peaks. “And hypothetically, how do you feel about ranch babies?”
“Babies?” She moaned as he rolled her nipples between his fingers, arching into him. Her hand slipped between his legs, skating up to stroke his balls through his shorts.
“Lots of them,” he grunted as he thrust his hips, need spiraling through him.
Her throaty laugh made his cock jerk, and he groaned as she slipped her hands inside his shorts to firmly clasp his length. “You have ideas, cowboy?”
“Yes,” he hissed out as she gave a little tug, thumb circling the sensitive head. “Sooner the better,” he grunted, hooking a finger inside her panties and giving a tug. A second later his shorts joined hers. He slid a finger back and forth through her wet folds, drawing a needy whine from her.
“Oh, yes,” she panted.
“Yes to babies? To ranching?”
She lifted her head, eyes dark and glazed with desire. “Yes. All of it.”
His heart filled to bursting as he lowered them to the rug and settled himself between her legs. “Tell me again.”
“Yes,” she cried out as he drove into her slick tight heat, filling her up. She clasped his cheeks, gazing straight into his eyes as he began to thrust slowly, “I want your babies, Travis.”
That was the hottest thing she’d ever said. Heat pulsed through him, building with each slow thrust. Her hips rocked against him and he kissed her deeply, thrusting into her mouth. Tongues tangling and moving together in time with their hips until she cried into him, shaking with release, pussy clenching in waves and pulling him along with her over the edge into sweet ecstasy.