Jodi Thomas - Texas Rain

He reached in his pocket and handed her a set of keys. "This is yours, Rainey. All yours. The judge and I made sure that it will stay in your name even if you marry, and all the profits will be yours alone to do with as you please."

Before she could say more, he reached for a box Duck carried out and pulled out a shiny new gun. "This is yours, also. If you don't know how to shoot, I'll teach you." He brushed her cheek with his thumb and whispered, "No one will every make you feel helpless or in danger again."

Rainey stared at him, not believing what she was hearing.

"And one more thing, I found that horse you borrowed. I really don't want him back. He's become a town horse, you know, and they don't mix well with the ranch horses. So, after seeing how you ride, I figured I'd save the horse some confusion and have him hitched to a buggy. Now you can make your deliveries, and if you decide to run, you'll have a good horse and room to pack everything you value."

"What are you doing, Travis?" She could hardly believe all he'd given her.

"I'm making it where, if I ever decide to ask you to marry me again, you won't say no for all the wrong reasons. You'll never have to worry about being worthless or losing all you have to a husband. You'll be able to take care of yourself, protect yourself. You'll even be able to run if you decide to."

He lowered his voice, but he knew everyone was still listening. "The next time I ask you to marry me, say no only if you don't love me."

"Fair enough," she answered. "But I'll pay you back for the horse. A dollar a month."

"Fair enough," he answered.

Dottie had been quiet long enough. "I'd like to see what changes you plan for my old place."

They toured the small restaurant as if they hadn't spent two days in it. Mamie had spent the morning cleaning and had several ideas for where things should go.

When Rainey finally got Dottie off by herself, she whispered. "How could you do this, Dottie? What about the ghost of Henry being here?"

Dottie laughed. "He's the one who told me to get rid of it. I'd never do anything with the place and you will." She waved at the judge. "I've got other plans."

Rainey thanked everyone, even Duck, who'd sawed one of the legs off a table in his attempt to help. Dottie asked her to go to lunch, but she refused. She wanted to stay and work with Travis and Mamie.

They spent the afternoon getting everything ready to begin baking the following morning. Owen delivered supplies and helped Travis stack them on shelves he'd built across the door leading to the cellar. The saloon could have the cellar; Rainey would have her safety knowing that there was only one way to come into her store.

The last thing she did was watch Travis hold Duck high as he hung a huge bell over the front door.

As she locked up, she handed Mamie the spare key. "I'll meet you here at eight tomorrow, but you'll need this in case you make it here first."

Mamie stared at the key. "What do I do if I'm first?"

Rainey shrugged. "Let yourself in and make the coffee."

"But you don't drink coffee."

"I know, it'd be for you. Unless, you'd rather have tea."

Mamie slipped the key into her apron pocket. "I'll make me a pot of coffee if I'm here before you. Then I'll have me a seat and think about what needs doing until you get here."

Rainey nodded. "That sounds good. If I'm first, I'll do the same."

Mamie turned toward the blacksmith's shop and walked away with her head high.

Rainey took Duck's hand and walked to where her horse and little buggy were tied. When she glanced back, she noticed Travis standing watching her. "Would you like a ride, Mr. McMurray? We've not much time to get ready for your ceremony tonight."

Travis hurried toward her. "I forgot about it." He laughed. "And I'd love a ride. You can drive this cart?"

She said yes, but he gave her instructions all the way home anyway.

Rainey watched with pride as Travis took the oath to practice law. He looked like a fine gentleman in his black coat. The lawyers sat on the first row behind him as if backing him up. All their friends were watching-the Rangers, the Langlands, the Baileys. Even Roy had brought his wife and six children.

Duck sat beside her on the second row, looking around and wiggling. He seemed to enjoy watching the candles along the walls and the way the dark blue drapes shifted gently in the breeze from the open windows.

She'd tried to understand all Travis had done for her today. He still hadn't said he loved her out loud, but he'd proved it. He'd given Rainey her dream of freedom. He'd known her well enough to understand her. He'd shown his love without asking for anything in return.

Rainey closed her eyes and realized she loved him so much her insides hurt. She must love him now the way he'd loved her from the first, and he'd been right, just sleeping together would never have been enough.

The bailiff stood and held out a Bible for Travis to swear on.

Travis glanced at her. He looked as nervous as if he'd been asked to dance.

Duck suddenly darted beneath the bench, disappearing just as Travis was about to be sworn in.

Rainey reached for him, but couldn't find him without getting to her knees and she didn't want to make a scene.

When she looked back at Travis, he also began to move. In one fluid movement, he shifted his stance, grabbed the Bible, opened it and pulled out a gun.

Everyone in the courtroom seemed to suck in air at the same time he held the weapon with both hands and fired directly over their heads.

A second later the Bible hit the polished wood floor of the courtroom.

Dottie screamed as a wiry old man tumbled from the curtain near where she sat. His hand held a gun.

Suddenly the courtroom was chaos. The Rangers moved to cover the doors. The doctor rushed to the man who'd been shot. Mothers hurried their children together.

Rainey looked back at Travis. He stood frozen, the gun still in his hand. One of the Rangers yelled that the shooter was Old Man Norman.

She ran toward Travis, knowing that if he hadn't fired, he would be the one dead on the floor now. The Rangers had told her the old man hated them all, but no one thought he'd do more than cuss them out.

The bailiff mumbled, "How'd you know I keep a gun there, son? I've never told anyone, not even the judge."

"I dreamed it," Travis said. Then he knelt, lifted the Bible, and handed it and the gun back to the bailiff. "Thanks for keeping it there."

Travis turned back to Rainey and opened his arms. "Don't cry, fairy. Everything's all right."

She hadn't even been aware she was crying. Wrapping her arms around him, she held on as tight as she could, thinking of how she'd almost lost the only man she'd ever love.

As he held her, the tears wouldn't stop.

He kissed her cheek and smiled. "It's all right, Rainey. It's all over."

She shook her head, feeling like a fool. "No. It's not all right. You almost died before I told you I love you."

He grinned. "About time you realized it. I've known it since we danced." He kissed her on the mouth in front of everyone.

"Travis McMurray," the judge interrupted finally. "Travis, if you had a ring I'd be marrying you two for acting like that in my court."

Rainey pulled away and reached for the bag around her throat. "I have a ring," she whispered as she pulled out her grandmother's only valuable. "But he'll have to ask me first."

Everyone in the room grew silent waiting, and Travis knew he'd have to do the asking in front of them all.

"Will you marry me?" he said without a smile.

"I will," she answered and was surprised he kissed her full on the mouth again.

Everyone shouted, except the judge, who hammered his desk and demanded they get on with the swearing in of Travis. "Soon as that's done, we got a wedding to have," he said and everyone broke into another round of shouts.