The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

been the first man she'd been attracted to in a long time. He'd been the only man she'd had sex with. He'd taken her virginity, awakened her body, but she would never allow him to steal her heart!

Chapter Thirteen

    Rose waited for Travis all day, waited to see how he would act when he came home, but it was after midnight before she heard him stomping up the stairs, and the next morning he was gone before the first light of day. For almost two days she wandered around that big old house, trying to keep busy, wondering why Travis was avoiding her. For two days she simmered and stewed, her emotions fluctuating between anger and hurt, while he ignored her completely.
    He had pursued her with fierceness, and now he was avoiding her so visibly that it almost made her laugh and cry at once. But she would not be outwitted. She'd be waiting for him this evening, and he'd see that their encounter, though brief, was over.
    In fact as soon as she could, she would be gone. But still his actions hurt. His avoidance was so predictable. It was the very reason she had never given herself to any man before now. Her father had warned her repeatedly that men would use a woman and then discard her for the next pretty face. And certainly she'd watched her father go through women like underwear. Soil them and discard them—that had been his objective in life and the only real thing he'd been accomplished at.
    And Rose had sworn no man would ever use her the way she'd watched her father use women. It was the reason she had stayed an innocent. It was the reason there had never been one special man in her life.
    The sound of a wagon pulling into the yard and the bark of the dogs alerted her that someone was coming. She glanced out the kitchen window at the wagon being pulled down the drive by two chestnut horses. Eugenia was returning. Rose let out a sigh of both relief and regret.
    She'd wanted one last chance to be alone with Travis, one last chance to clear the air, before his mother came back. Before Eugenia became their chaperone once again. But that wasn't meant to be.
    Tucker drove the wagon, his own horse tied to the back.
    "Cookie," Rose called. "Tucker has brought Eugenia home. Set two extra places for dinner, please." Not that she had expected Travis to come home and eat with her. She'd taken her meals alone these last few days.
    Rose smoothed her new skirt, opened the door, and stepped out onto the porch, watching as Eugenia and Tucker rode up. She waved a greeting, but felt nervous about seeing them again. Could they tell that she was different? Would they question where Travis was?
    Rose had no idea what part of the ranch he was working on today, and when his mother asked, Rose was tempted to tell Eugenia the truth. Her son was a big louse who couldn't even say hello to the woman he had bedded. But she knew she wouldn't. She could never tell Eugenia about that morning at the pond.
    The wagon rolled to a stop, and only then did Rose see Travis walking into the yard, his horse limping along behind him. Even from the house she could see the scowl on his face. His hat was pulled low, and he walked with a determined stride that she'd only seen when he was angry.
    The dark bay horse limped behind him as Travis tugged at him with the reins.
    The wagon pulled to a stop and Eugenia called, "Rose, dear, hello!"
    She waved. "Welcome back."
    Tucker smiled at Rose and nodded his head. He set the brake on the wagon and then climbed down and went around to help his mother. Once Eugenia was out of the wagon, she walked up the steps of the porch and gave Rose a hug.
    "It feels so good to be home."
    "I'm glad you're here. How is your friend?"
    "Oh, she's going to be fine." Eugenia glanced around. "Where's Travis?"
    A nervous laugh escaped Rose, and she pointed off in the direction Eugenia had just traveled. Eugenia turned and sighed.
    "Oh, dear, his horse must have thrown a shoe or gotten a stone bruise. Tucker, see about helping your brother."
    Tucker glanced up from unloading the wagon and, seeing his brother, laughed. "Looks like he's got troubles. As soon as I unload this stuff, I'll help him."
    Eugenia patted Rose on the arm and then turned her toward the house. "So tell me, how are things here? Any problems? Did Travis treat you right while I was gone?"
    Rose almost choked, but managed to control herself at the last second. "I . . . Travis treated me fine. Cook was sick one day, though."
    "Oh, dear, he had too much to drink the night