Along Came Love Read online

  Along Came Love

  The Travers Brothers – Book Four

  Rita Hestand

  Smashwords Edition

  Along Came Love

  Copyright © 2010-2013 Rita Hestand

  All rights reserved

  Digital ISBN:

  Cover by Sahara Kelly

  Other Books in this series:

  Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

  Courting Abby

  Hannah’s Man

  License Notes

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. Please purchase an additional copy for each person you share with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Dedication

  Since The Travers Brothers series is a family story, written for each brother, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my own family who for years put up with me not being there, not being available and for continuing to love me nevertheless.

  God Bless—Rita Hestand

  Prologue

  Before she could put her foot on the second step, she heard the creaking of the wood, she saw her foot going through it and she went crashing to the ground. "Oh…no."

  "Good grief, Al didn't fix that porch step," A man with a raspy voice from behind her startled her, as big strong arms went around her for support,

  At first she couldn't move, but the man gently freed her foot from the sagging step and he picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the porch.

  It all happened so fast, she didn't know what hit her. The man who held her was in total control though. Like someone who'd just stepped out of a shower, his fresh clean scent swamped her rattled senses. Hard muscled arms held her steady.

  Her heart lurched in her chest as her eyes locked onto the man that had rescued her. "You're the real estate agent?" the woman gasped, as she pulled her sunshades up and into her hair, then stared blatantly.

  The man's smile was broad and sexy as he gave her a full glance, "No, actually, I'm just doing this for a friend, the agent is busy and I told him I'd come over, let you in and have a look around. Let's move over here and sit in the swing, while I have a look at your ankle."

  He took her to the swing and gently deposited her there, where he joined her. Glancing at her leg, he grimaced, "Let's have a look."

  "Oh really, it's fine," Already her ankle was aching and the wood had scraped it until tiny beads of blood popped up. The skin color was definitely turning shades of blue and purple.

  "Nevertheless, I think I'd have a doctor check it out, you've already began to bruise. I'll have Al pay for it, do you have a doctor in town?" the man was asking as he picked her foot up and examined the damage. Despite the fact that his hands were large, he was ultra gentle with her foot.

  "Yes, my mother does, I'll be sure and see him." She grabbed at her ankle.

  Their hands touched ever so slightly, and she felt as though his hand was permanently burned into her skin. A silly reaction, he merely grazed her fingers. Recovering from the shock of the man, and the assault on her foot by the porch step, she sat straight and tried to put her foot down. "It will be fine, really."

  "Maybe, but nevertheless, you aren't walking on that foot, till we have it checked out." He gently picked her up in his arms again and began carrying her, this time into the house.

  Samantha squirmed in his arms for a minute until she realized how silly that was. She had not right to protest, he was right about her foot if the pain was any indication.

  He smelled divine, her mind wandered with temporary insanity, putting the pain out of her mind for a second.

  Her heart fluttered and she was sure she wasn't breathing. All feelings swamping her made her feel faint.

  "I think I can walk," she began, but he shook his head.

  "I'm sorry," he said with a boyish grin, "I think I'm doing this all wrong. The name's Jake Travers. Don't mean to appear like a cave man, but I certainly don't want you hurting yourself further."

  Recovering Samantha tried to smile, but she was sure the smile didn't quite reach her lips. "Samantha," her voice sounded shaky even to her.

  His glance slid over her again appreciatively as they entered the house.

  "Just moving to Sweetwater?"

  "Y-yes, as a matter of fact," she didn't offer any more information. But her tongue shot out to lick her lips that had suddenly gone dry.

  "Well, this house is old, but well kept, I think you'll find it plenty spacious." Jake nodded glancing around the place.

  The house was full of paint fumes, so he sat her on a kitchen counter and began opening the windows to air it.

  "Al really shouldn't close a place up that's been newly painted, but then he's in real estate, not construction, a painter wouldn’t have closed it up. He said something about you and your mother moving in here?" Jake asked, pulling his Stetson off and combing a hand through his dark hair as he returned to her side.

  "Yes, just the two of us?" she countered casting the man another glance. He doesn't recognize me. She wasn't sure if she should be happy about that, or insulted, but there wasn't a real reason for him to recognize her, she hadn't seen Jake Travers in several years, and then only at a glance. He hadn't seen her since she'd grown up. Still, nothing had changed about Jake, he was still the most gorgeous man in this part of Texas. Lethal is what he was.

  "Well, this might be a little too intimate for you, but in your condition, I insist on carrying you through the house so you can have a look."

  "Oh but," she started to protest but he'd already picked her up again and carried her like a feather in his arms. He wasn't even breathing hard. And his body heat seemed to ooze through his clothes, or was that hers?

  When she stared at him in surprise, he grinned again, making her entire body react. She never once dreamed of being this close to Jake Travers, and now that she was, she couldn't control her reactions.

  "This might sound like a line, but do I know you from somewhere? There's something familiar about you."

  Samantha cleared her throat. "That does sound like a line."

  "I'm sorry. I'm not good at flirting. But you are about the prettiest thing I've held in my arms in a long time." His smile oozed a southern charm all its own.

  Flustered she blushed to her toes.

  "And even prettier when you blush."

  "I'm not blushing…" she rushed to say.

  "Oh yes you are, and it's beautiful on you."

  Knowing he had embarrassed her he shook his head, and adjusted her so he could look right into her perplexed face.

  "Relax, actually, I'm just a country sheriff, doing a friend a favor, and a nice favor I might add. So…let's start over, I'm Jake Travers ma'am."

  "Samantha."

  "Hmm, it fits you. But why do I have the notion to call you Sam….?"

  Another blush dotted her cheeks and he chuckled softly in her ear. He made the name Sam sound so appealing. Something about the way he drawled it over his tongue. Or was she romanticizing everything he said and did.

  He was doing it again, making a complete idiot out of her. How could one man affect her so with nothing more than a grin, and a sexy drawl when he called her name. How could a man make a woman's name sound so…warm and comfortable?

  She cleared her throat and her thoughts.

  After staring long and hard at her, he began drifting through the house. It was well
taken care of, and Samantha knew instantly she wanted it, if it was the right price. She loved the bathroom with its claw foot bathtub, and spaciousness. Her mother would love the view from the kitchen window, where a beautiful meadow dotted the countryside.

  "How much would this run, monthly."

  "Al said he'd rent it for $800 a month, or sell it for $32,000. It's only a one car garage and two bedrooms with one bath, so he can't price it very high." Jake answered.

  "Are you planning on staying here?"

  "Well yes, as far as I know. I'd like to speak to Al about the details though. Did he leave his card so I can call him?" she asked not daring to look at the man directly.

  "Yeah sure, I've got one in my billfold. So you are interested in it?" Jake asked reshuffling her in his arms, so he could open the bedroom door.

  The master bedroom had glass doors and a huge patio door where she could stare out onto the town of Sweetwater. She fell in love with it.

  This would be her mother's room. Yes, she loved the house. Her mother would love it too. This was exactly what they needed.

  The smaller bedroom had a bay widow which she appreciated, which looked out over the small but manicured back yard.

  "I really like it, so would you mind telling Al, I'd love to talk to him about the details."

  "Sure, be glad to. He'll be glad to know he's got a client. Now, let's go back to the kitchen and I'll give you all the information." Jake said, not even out of breath from hauling her around the house and garage.

  After he'd given her all the information he glanced at her face which was very close to his, "So will your husband be negotiating the deal or yourself?"

  "Oh, I'm divorced, just recently as a matter of fact. No, I'll make the arrangements myself." She said writing down the information and putting the card in her purse which she dangled from her arm. "It's exactly what we need, and being the last house on the block and overlooking the meadow from the kitchen window, I know my mother will appreciate the feel of the country too."

  "That's great. I'm sure Al will be anxious to talk to you. So, do you have a job here?" he asked.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact I do, at the Junior High School." She said still trying not to look at him.

  "Great. Well, under the circumstances, I think it best if I run you by Dr. Adams place, and let him look at that ankle."

  She opened her mouth to protest but he held a hand up, "I know you think it's all too much, but I'd feel better about it myself. Your foot is already bruising. Besides, I insist Sam. Al wouldn't like knowing you hurt yourself on the property, and we take care of our own around here, you'll get used to that. So, just endure my company a little longer. And don't worry your pretty little head about the step either. Al will have that fixed and the others too."

  "Endure?" she raised a brow and her chin arrogantly.

  He stared down at her with a slight smile to his all-male lips. "I sense a tension in you, as though you don't trust me or something. I really can't put my finger on it. Most everyone trusts me from the moment they meet me. And you'll have to excuse the curiosity, I'm a lawman and it comes natural after a while. I'd be just as nosey if it was your mother I was talking to."

  "Are you Sheriff here?" she shrieked.

  He smiled again, making his face more boyish again, "No, I'm just home on vacation right now. I'm Sheriff over at Peaceful. It's a few miles down the road."

  "Oh…" her answer was a very pronounced relief.

  "That sounds like relief in your voice," he frowned. "And here I thought I'd been as charming as I could be."

  "I'm sorry. I just don't happen to run into Sheriff's very often." She tried to chuckle but it came out strangled.

  "Come on, let's get you over to the docs, and then I'd say I owe you a big steak dinner," he said matter-of-factly.

  "Oh…you don't owe me a thing…" she began, but he cut her off again.

  "Okay, then have dinner with me, and I'll feel better about this ankle thing." He smiled encouragingly.

  "Is that why you're asking me to dinner? My…ankle?" she didn't know where she got the brass to say such a thing, and wished she could have put a stopper on her mouth, but his grin was so infectious.

  "Not at all," he returned huskily.

  She smiled, despite herself.

  He carried her to his pickup and drove her around town to a doctor's office. He sat with her in the waiting room and Samantha couldn't help but gawk. It didn't matter where she went with him, he knew everyone. He was totally at ease. She only wished she was.

  "I'm sure you don't want to sit here and wait for me to be seen," she insisted.

  "Why not? I love your company, actually." He said his expression quite serious.

  Samantha eyed him out of the corner of her eye. It seemed impossible, but here she was sitting at the doctors' office with Jake Travers. The very man she had carried a crush for most of her life. This didn't seem real. She had to pinch herself to make sure it was.

  After the doctor set her sprained ankle, Jake drove her to a nice out of the way restaurant out on the highway.

  How was she going to do little talk with a man she'd known all her life. But then, she didn't really know Jake Travers? She'd never been on a date with him, never visited his home. No, virtual strangers would know more about each other.

  "So, tell me about the real Sam…" he chuckled as he eyed her over a tea glass.

  She smiled despite herself, Jake Travers had a charisma all his own, and always had. The boyish grin alone could curl her toes, especially when he aimed it right at her. "Not much to tell, I grew up here, went to college at University of Texas. Got married, started teaching, then my marriage began falling apart and my mother got sick, and so here I am, back home again. End of story."

  "Sounds like a fast forward to me. There's got to me more to it than that. You don't strike me as a dizzy dame type."

  "You're very persistent aren't you?"

  "I try. Okay, fair enough, let me see if I can sum up my life. I grew up in Devils Corner, have three brothers that are better cowboys than me, and a dad who is getting married soon. I like motorcycles better than pickup trucks, and I haven't been to dinner with a lady in a long time."

  "Oh, how come?" she queried as the waitress brought the menus.

  "Hi Jake, haven't seen you in here since last year," the waitress smiled then glanced at Samantha.

  "We'll need a few minutes, Connie," he said and checked the menu quickly.

  Samantha smiled, "You know the waitresses by name?"

  "I went to college with her sister, but I know most of the folks around town. Partly because I'm a Sheriff and partly because I went to school here." He smiled.

  "So, how come you haven't been out, much?" she continued to ask, pretending to be interested in her tea, more than him. Years ago this kind of conversation would never have happened, but now…here she sat with Jake Travers talking small talk.

  Jake seemed to know what he wanted and put his menu away, "I've been a little busy lately. I just took the bar exam and that has taken me a while to prepare for."

  "Really, are you going into practice, then?" Samantha asked, putting the menu aside and looking at him with interest, silently glad they had gotten off the personal side of themselves.

  "Uh…I don't know." His brow furrowed and his smile faded as though she had brought up the wrong subject. She felt it instantly, as though something told her she'd hit a raw spot.

  "I'm sorry, did I ask the wrong question?" she asked noting his ill ease. She couldn't imagine Jake Travers ill at ease over anything. He had always seemed like a man in total control.

  "It's a long story," he began, shuffling his feet. "But…I guess it won't hurt to tell you. You see, it all started years ago." He grabbed his ice tea and took a sip as he studied her quietly over the rim. "I graduated from high school, with honors, and won a scholarship. It wasn't in law, but that didn't matter at the time, law was became my minor. Anyway, because my brothers seemed to always need me t
o help out at the ranch, well, my schooling took a backseat. I really didn't mind, I've got to admit. Nothing I like better than being home with the family. My family, who by the way loves me to no end, decided I should be a lawyer. So basically to please them, or not disappoint them, I aimed myself in that direction, but along the way I took a Sheriff's job. Another way to learn about law, I soon learned. Now I've at least completed the education my family says I deserve. "

  Samantha's mouth was hanging open, her eyes widened, "I'm sorry, I don't see the problem. Sounds like you have it more together than most people I know."

  His smile was indulgent. "I'm just not sure I want to go into law." He finished his words with an obvious irritation in his voice.

  "Oh! Well, I guess that is a problem." Samantha sighed. "Especially if your folks think that's what you want."

  "You don't know the half of it," he said in a sigh. They ordered steaks, he leaned back in his chair and studied her again. "Now let's talk about you."

  It was Samantha's turn to be unnerved. "Not much to talk about I'm afraid."

  "You said you and your mother will be living here?" he asked to obviously get her to loosen up a little.

  "Yes, my mother's been ill, and I'm taking care of her," she explained. . "Well, not really taking care of her, but she's a widow and she's been all alone…I just want to be around close…"

  "Nothing serious I hope?"

  "Actually, it is. She has breast cancer. She's been through a mastectomy and chemo and radiation, the works. She's been so brave through it all. But…she's terribly weak, and I want to make sure she doesn't over do. My father died long ago, and she's been alone ever since. She always loved it here so I decided we'd try to find somewhere close to her home. She used to have a bunch of friends here, and I'm hoping she can get reacquainted with some of them at least."

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried…" he began.

  "Don't be, it isn't a secret. She isn't an invalid or anything. It's just, well…I think we both need each other right now." Samantha explained stirring artificial sugar into her tea. "Cancer patients need a lot of family support. Because of their weakened condition, it's important to keep their spirits up, keep them as active as possible. I thought I would get her involved in something here."