She gasped as she started to speak but instead filled her mouth with champagne, working at not choking. “No, I think I’ve been courted enough,” she said in all seriousness. “In fact, no one in town may ever need any more courting,” she added.
“Don’t press the issue,” he said in warning, easing his back to a better position, grimacing at the ache. “Fix me something to eat, would you?”
Orders, Regan thought, but smiled as she heaped a plate full of hot chicken, cold roast beef, chutney, and a mixture of rice and carrots. “Was it difficult to learn to walk that rope?”
“In three days it was. Another couple of days, and I could have done it without the pole.”
“You could have taken another day,” she said sweetly.
“And give you time with that snob of an Englishman, Batsford? What’s he been doing lately, anyway?”
“I’m afraid I’ve been a little too busy to notice, actually.”
At that Travis smiled smugly and leaned back against the cushions, giving his attention to his food. “I’ll be glad when you get home with me and I can get regular meals. Lately I’ve been eating with one hand, writing with the other.”
“Writing? Oh yes, I wondered if the notes had been written by you. Personally, I mean.”
“Who the hell else would ask you to marry him? Oh well,” he smiled at her look. “I didn’t mean that, and you know it. You think Jennifer liked the circus?”
“She adored it. Between the pony and the roses, I think you made her the happiest little girl alive.”
The look on Travis’s face was angelic. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get that damn elephant here on time or not. That’s some animal! I’ll wager it left enough manure behind for six acres of corn. I was thinking about taking a wagonload home with me to see how good it is. Chicken manure is, of course, the best, but you can’t get much of that. Maybe this elephant—.”
He stopped because of an explosion of laughter from Regan. Narrowing his eyes at her once, he looked away, ignoring her totally.
“Oh Travis, has there ever been anyone else like you on earth?”
With a wink, he grinned at her. “I did do well on that little rope, didn’t I? Now give me some of that pie. You think Brandy’d like to come back and cook for us?”
Regan paused for a moment as she cut the pie. He’d asked her to marry him a few thousand times in the last few days, but never once face to face, and he’d never bothered to wait for an answer. And never had he said he loved her.
Handing him the pie, she spoke. “I think Brandy has other things she wants to do, but I am sure I can find a better cook than your Malvina.”
Chuckling, Travis took a bite of the pie. “She gave you a hard time, didn’t she? Our old family cook died six years ago, and Margo found Malvina for us. She never gave me any trouble, but she and Wes have had a few spats. You could have gotten rid of her, you know.”
“I shall,” she said, eyes glittering. “I look forward to doing it.”
Travis was so quiet for so long that she glanced at him. In the moonlight, surely it was a trick, but his soft eyes looked almost wet. It couldn’t be, because in essence she’d just said she was returning with him, could it?
“I am glad to hear that,” he said quietly, then smiled to himself and returned to his pie. “Wes can help you with whatever you need while I’m in the fields.”
“I think I’ll be able to manage. What’s Wes like? Does he spend most of his time in the house?”
“He’s a good sort, sometimes a little headstrong, and I have to take him down a peg or two, but in general he helps me.”
Regan tried not to smile. “You mean he voices his opinion and dares to differ with you, and you…do you come to fisticuffs?”
“See that?” Travis said defensively, pointing to a tiny scar on his chin. “My little brother gave me that, so there’s no need for you to act like he’s the injured party.”
“And will you raise your fist to me when I dare to disagree with you?” she taunted.
“You’ve disagreed with me on every word I’ve ever said, and I’ve not hit you yet. You keep giving me children like Jennifer, and you’ll always please me. Now let’s go back. I need some sleep.”
“Are you only interested in the children I give you?” she asked seriously.
Travis’s groan, from her question or his sore muscles, was his only answer. “Leave it,” he said as she started to clear away the food. “Someone will come later and pack it all.” He propelled her toward the buggy.
“How many people have you hired in the la