Page 119 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

She nodded happily. “Exactly.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

On Saturday evening, Retta stood in front of the full-length mirror in the downstairs bedroom where she’d slept when she first came to stay with Travis. She’d insisted that she should get ready down here because she wanted to look good – if she were honest, she wanted to make an entrance. She wanted to be able to step out into the hallway for Travis to see her all done up. As much as she loved the way that he carried her around, she didn’t want this evening to start with him carrying her down the stairs. She’d made a lot of progress since the cast came off on Tuesday. She still had to use the crutches, of course, but she was starting to feel more like herself again. She could get around on crutches no problem, and with the boot on, she’d even started taking a step or two without the crutches. That was what she planned to do tonight when Travis called to ask if she was ready. He’d probably have something to say about her walking without them, but she wasn’t going to go far. She just wanted to step out for him to see her. She wished that the sight of her all dressed up might be enough to make him forget, if only for a moment.

The woman smiling back at her from the mirror made her hope that she might get her wish. That woman looked nothing like the washed-out woman she’d been used to seeing in the wheelchair for the last several weeks. Tonight, her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders, looking so much better than the ponytail she’d mostly been wearing recently. She’d taken her time with her makeup and was more than pleased with the result. And the dress… The dress was absolutely perfect. She’d lost some weight, and she was on the slender side to start with, but the dress accentuated the curves she had.

She smiled when she remembered her conversation with Laney, Frankie, and Janey. She had to admit that she knew a thing or two about how to make the most of her looks. It wasn’t that she considered looks to be particularly important, but the girls were right – looks had been important in the life that she’d been living. She’d be happy to share what knowledge she could with them. Although, if they were going to teach her to ride in return, it seemed to her that she was getting the better end of the deal.

She sat on the bed to wait for Travis. He’d received a call from an old friend who might be coming to stay in one of the cabins soon. That had held him up from getting ready, but that was fine with her – she needed more time than he did, anyway. She’d told him to call her from the hallway – but not to open her door when he was ready.

As she sat there, she pointed and flexed her foot and drew circles with her toes. She’d had to promise Travis and Callie that she wouldn’t overdo it with her physical therapy, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t doing her exercises at every opportunity that she got.

She frowned and reached for her phone from the nightstand when it rang. She wasn’t expecting any calls. Most of the people she talked to would be busy getting ready for the fundraiser dinner just like she was. She doubted it would be Callie – she’d spoken to her daughter earlier, and there was still no sign of Tandy going into labor.

When she saw a 478 number on the screen, she pursed her lips. After she spoke to Marty last Friday, she’d put him out of her mind again and completely forgotten that she was supposed to call him back.

“Hello, Marty. I don’t have much time right now…”

“I knew it!”

Retta sat back in surprise. It wasn’t Marty; it was a woman’s voice that screamed out of the phone at her.

“You bitch! I knew there was something going on! He swore up and down to me that he wasn’t interested in you and yet, there you are, answering the phone as if you were waiting on his call.”

“Jamie?”

“Yes! It’s me. I’m onto you. What the hell do you think you’re doing with my husband?”

Retta sucked in a deep breath as she tried to catch up. “I’m not doing a damn thing.”

“Don’t lie to me, bitch! I know there’s something going on. You answered the phone thinking I was him. I know he’s been calling you. How long has this been going on? I was right, wasn’t I? You were seeing each other before the meet in San Diego.”

“No! There’s nothing going on. You have to believe me. I don’t know how you got this idea into your head, but you couldn’t be more wrong.”

“As if I’m going to believe you. I know he’s been calling you. I can still see the call records on our phone bill.”

Retta blew out a sigh. “I’m not denying that. He’s called me a couple of times in the last few weeks because apparently, the girls have a gift for me. That’s all. There’s nothing more to it than that.”

“You’re a liar!”

“I am not! I don’t know what your problem with me is, but I don’t appreciate you calling me like this. You should talk to Marty – he’ll tell you. He called me once for an address becausethey were going to mail this gift to me. Then, he said that the girls would like to see me while they’re here in Montana.”

“You’re the reason he’s going to Montana!”

Retta had to laugh. “Oh, honey! Don’t be ridiculous! There’s nothing whatsoever going on. You need to get that into your head.”

“Retta, you ready, darlin’?” Travis called.

Jamie was still ranting on about something, but Retta was no longer paying attention. She was done. There was no way she was going to let that vicious woman ruin her plan to surprise Travis.

“Wait there, I’ll be right out.”

“What?” Jamie asked.

“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to my man. That’s right, the man I live with, the man I love. I have no interest in your husband. You need to leave me alone. Goodbye.” With that, she ended the call.

“You okay?” Travis called.