Travis Comes Home. Patricia Thayer

He headed toward the house where Ms. Gutierrez waited on the small back porch. Hank came out just before Travis hit the step and escorted her inside.

      Travis walked through the door to the mudroom, then into the kitchen just as Hank was introducing Josie to Ella. The Circle B’s housekeeper had a big grin on her face. Travis didn’t like it.

      “Well, well, it sure is nice to meet you Josie. And welcome to the Circle B. I hope you’re going to be staying around awhile.”

      Travis took his place at the table. “After the pictures are developed I doubt she’ll be here very long,” he announced.

      Hank ignored him and offered their guest a seat next to him. “Our breakfasts here are pretty basic, Josie. I hope you like bacon and eggs.”

      “That will be fine. You’re very kind to invite me,” she said.

      “Just being neighborly,” he said. “What do you do when you aren’t taking pictures?”

      “My mom and I used to run a small diner. I’ve done everything from waitressing to filling in as a short-order cook.”

      Hank’s eyes lit up. “Is that so? Do you have any specialties?”

      “Well, let’s see.” She looked thoughtful. “Our corned beef hash and biscuits and gravy were pretty popular with the regulars.”

      Hearing Hank’s envious groan, Travis had to bite back a grin. For more than twenty years, the Circle B men had been subject to Ella’s limited cooking skills. Instead Ella had perfected her ability at being the best substitute mom for three teenage boys.

      They all loved the no-nonsense woman in jeans and a plaid shirt. She wore her gray-streaked hair short, and her kind eyes glowed with love. It didn’t matter if she could cook or not.

      The food was set on the table. “Thanks, Ella,” Travis said.

      “Thank you,” she answered with a smile. “I guess I should have thrown you out sooner. You always did bring back the most interesting things.”

      Before Travis could explain, the housekeeper moved on.

      Hank started the conversation. “Josie, where you from?”

      “El Paso.”

      Hank nodded, then got a faraway look. “I used to travel there years ago…cattle business. So you came to San Angelo to look for a job?”

      Josie had trouble swallowing her food past the lump in her throat. “I don’t think I’ll be going back,” she said. “My mother passed away recently, and she was my only family there.”

      “I’m sorry,” Hank said. He set his fork down and reached for her hand; immediately she felt the warmth in his touch. “That’s rough. You have any other family?”

      “Not that I’m that close to,” she said, catching his curious look. “I was thinking about starting over somewhere else. I want see if I can make a go of it as a photographer.”

      Travis knew he didn’t want Josie hanging around the ranch. Since the news of his business’s crumbling became public, the media had been having a field day over his misery. He’d already been humiliated enough when the police had questioned him over the security leak traced to Private Access. He also recalled how the Houston papers had used him as their whipping boy. So he wouldn’t put it past them to have sent someone here to the ranch. Hadn’t he been humiliated enough? Did they have to continue to hound him, too?

      No, he didn’t trust anyone with a camera. And definitely not a woman. He knew firsthand how devious women could be. They worked their way into your confidence, only to use you to get what they wanted.

      He looked across the table at the beautiful Ms. Gutierrez. Something told him she was harboring her own secrets. And he was going to make sure he found out what they were before anyone got hurt.

      Two hours later, Josie knew she should leave, but Ella seemed eager to get her corned beef hash recipe. She also knew that the housekeeper was playing matchmaker. Travis’s name had been mentioned more times than she could keep count. Somehow the woman missed seeing that Travis had loathed Josie on the spot.

      Seated at the kitchen table, Josie looked up when another man came through the back door. He had to be a Randell. He looked a lot like both Travis and Chance, but his hair was darker, and he was a little taller than his brothers. He smiled at her as he removed his hat.

      “Hi, I’m Cade Randell,” he said.

      “I’m Josie Gutierrez.”

      “I hear my little brother tried to evict you today.”

      She blushed. “I shouldn’t have been in the valley. It’s just that I wanted to see it, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to stay the night. I’m sorry.”

      “I’m sure whatever Trav put you through was enough punishment.”

      “He was just being protective.”

      “He’s being ornery, but that’s another story,” Cade said with a wave. “I hear you want a chance to take the pictures for the guest ranch brochure.”

      “Yes, but I haven’t had a lot of experience.”

      “My wife, Abby, and I aren’t hung up on experience. We want to catch what Mustang Valley is really about. Do you have any samples of your work?”

      Her heart raced with excitement. “I have a few photographs in my car. I’ll go and get them.” She stood and hurried outside. Maybe this could be the break she needed. If not, she definitely had to find a job. She had less than three hundred dollars, her mother’s small insurance check to her name, and in her condition, she would need more than that. She had to find work, fast.

      She lifted a small album off the seat and was closing the car door when she came face-to-face with Travis.

      “Oh, sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t see you.”

      He glared at her, as if trying to intimidate her. “Just so you know, I’ll be watching you. So you’d better be careful. You could take potshots at me all you wanted in Houston, but I’m not going to let you hurt my family. Do you understand?”

      Josie caught the flicker of pain in his dark eyes. She recognized the look. Someone had hurt Travis Randell and hurt him badly.

      “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said. “I’m not here to hurt anyone, Mr. Randell. I swear.” Just herself, if Hank found out her real reason for being here.

      “Make sure you keep that promise, or you’ll answer to me.”

      He stepped out of her way and allowed her to pass. Josie drew a long breath as she increased her pace, but suddenly felt light-headed. She grabbed hold of the porch railing, and waited for the queasiness to pass. She swayed and closed her eyes as her legs weakened. Suddenly she felt hands against her back, Travis’s. Then he gripped her by the arm and guided her to a chair on the porch.

      “Put your head down,” he ordered. With a gentle nudge, he pushed her head down between her knees.

      “Give it a minute and you should be feeling better.” His voice was gentle, soothing.

      Josie felt scared. This had never happened to her before. After a few minutes, she raised her head slowly. “I’m okay.”

      “Well, at least, your color is back.” His dark gaze locked with hers. “You shouldn’t be running around in this heat, especially if you’re not used to it.”

      She was used to the heat. What she hadn’t expected was this man’s kindness. She studied his face and saw his honest concern for a stranger, a side of Travis Randell that surprised her.

      But she couldn’t depend on it. If he discovered her real reason for being here, there’s no telling what he’d do. “I’m much better, thank you.” She stood and once again his expression turned hard. Turning away,