Free Whispers of Moonlight by Lori Wick Page B

here."
    Travis nodded and went in. "You don't have to do this," he heard Lavena quietly saying to the ranch owner as he opened the door, but the older woman's mouth shut with a snap as soon as she saw him. She moved from the room. After he shut the door, Travis approached the huge bed. Andrew's eyes were open, his face ashen.
    "How are you, sir?" Travis whispered.
    "Foolish," came the equally soft reply. "I thought I could bargain with God."
    Travis stood still. What could he say to this?
    "I want you to marry Reba."
    Travis blinked stupidly at the man.
    "You heard me," Andrew said softly, his eyes on Travis' face. "I want you to marry
Reba. I thought I would be around forever. I've been so happy with her here, but my heart is failing me. I have to know she's going to be taken care of. Men like Lucky . . ." He had to pause for breath. "She's too innocent. She doesn't understand that they only want one thing."
    "Mr. Wagner," Travis cut in gently, "you don't know what you're asking."
    "You don't care for her?"
    "I do care," he assured him honestly. "More than I can say, but we haven't been close lately. She would never agree."
    "But if she did, would you marry her, Travis? Would you take care of my girl? Would you make her your wife?"
    "She'll never—"
    "Would you?" Andrew cut him off, and Travis' heart slammed with alarm to see the man's face flush.
    "Yes," he told him swiftly, feeling breathless himself and wondering if he really meant it. "But I can tell you she'll never agree."
    Andrew's sigh was huge. It was as if he hadn't heard a word. "She'll agree," he said very softly. "She's a good girl, and she knows I'm taking care of her. I still plan to beat this, but just in case I don't, she'll have you. You understand ranching—even more than Grady did. You'll run things, and she'll be safe from Hannah."
    He saw the question in Travis* eyes but said only, "Reba will tell you about Hannah
someday. You'll have lots of time to get to know each other." With that, Andrew appeared to go to sleep. Travis stood for a moment in indecision, but as he was softly crossing the carpet, his employer said, "Send Reba in, Travis. I need to see her now."
    Travis did as he was told and looked down at Rebecca as she went into the room. The eyes she turned to him were wide with appeal, and Travis realized that she had forgiven him his reprehensible behavior the morning before.
    As soon as the door closed on Rebecca, Travis moved to his room. Once inside, he shut the door and leaned against it. Reba. Reba as his wife. It was almost more than he could take in. Before Denver he wouldn't have even argued with Andrew; he'd have dragged Rebecca to the alter in the blink of an eye. But they had become distant. He knew some of it was his fault. She had wanted to talk to him, but he would have none of it.
    And the marriage would save Andrew—Travis was certain of it. His heart could rest and find peace that his daughter was well taken care of. Travis pushed away from the door and moved to one of the windows.
    Who are you kidding, Buchanan? You're not marrying that girl to save her father. You're marrying that girl because you can't live
without her. In that instant Travis heard himself. He was talking like it was a done deal, because in his mind it was. He turned from the window and stepped back out into the hall. The doctor stood there alone. Travis found his heart talking to the owner of the Double Star Ranch.
    You've got to make her see, sir. I'll take care of her, rest assured of that. Make her see that I'm worthy of another chance because I'll cherish her forever.

    Rebecca sat very still and watched her father's chest as it rhythmically lifted the sheet. She couldn't have moved if she wanted to. How in the world had he talked her into such a thing? What girl doesn't dream of being courted, told she's loved, and then asked that wonderful question? Rebecca had been no different, but her father said this way was best. Indeed, he looked as if he