Coralee's brothers had gone over the truck and trailer with a fine tooth comb. Anything that could be fixed or replaced had been, their family was taking no chances when it came to the safety of her, her sister, and their horses. She and Katie would spend a lot of time on the road and her family wanted to make sure they weren't stranded by a breakdown. Why else were brothers invented?
She hadn't heard from Travis and she didn't want to, not yet. All this talk about marriage was making her nervous, she wasn't sure she was ready but it was starting to feel inevitable. Something told her she was going to marry him.
For the first time she and Katie would be on the road alone. Their parents had always taken them to their shows and rodeos, but she was twenty-four and Katie was twenty-six and it was time they took responsibility for themselves. Their parents had prepared them to be adults and now it was time to prove that they had learned what they had been taught.
They were sitting on the bed, going over a list of shows Travis had sent. Ever the control freak he had marked competitions he thought they should participate in. One list was for her, one list was for Katie. Her list, however, had something Katie didn't—he had listed the shows he would be at, specifically ones where she would be participating.
"Okay, sis," said Katie, "Fess up, you have an admirer. Travis Wheatley, horse trainer extraordinaire, not to mention champion womanizer. What's going on, hmm? You can't fool me, you know, tell big sister what is going on."
"Okay," Coralee took a deep breath, "but you can't tell anyone, and I mean anyone. I especially don't want it getting back to Beth-the-bitch," she used their old childhood name for her, the one they would never use in front of their parents or Uncle John.
"Okay, pinky-swear," Katie held out her little finger and Coralee took it, "This must be a big one, little sister."
"It is, Kayze. You know Uncle John bought Coronado from him to give to me? Well, guess what, he didn't buy him, Travis gave him the horse to give to me."
"No," breathed Katie, "he couldn't have, he didn't. That horse was a hundred grand. Dad went all out when he paid thirty thousand for Best Boy. Travis gave you…oh my god. Okay, what else, I know there's something else, so tell, tell."
"Travis wants to marry me." She looked at the disbelief on Katie's face, she still couldn't believe it herself.
"Shut up," said Katie, "You can't be serious, you know his reputation, marry you? Tell me, you didn't sleep with him, did you?"
"Well, yes, a few times. You know he gave me a very expensive horse and he's going out of his way to be helpful Henry. Look, he didn't have to propose but he slept with me before he did. Look, he's known us since we were kids, he gave us lessons when he came to see Uncle John.
"Look, I don't know if he's serious or not, but why did he give me that horse? Katie, I don't get this, what does he see in me, especially since he has women following him around?"
"Well, he might be smitten with you, you know. You're a lot younger than him and face it, you are the beauty of the family. I think bitchy Beth has always been jealous of you. Maybe Travis is ready to settle down, maybe he wants to start a family. Face it, there are six of us, so it's obvious we're good breeding stock." She laughed, trying to show Coralee that she was joking. "Even the Travis's of this world settle down eventually. Just try and decide what you want, and don't let him push you. He can be a nice guy, but he's opinionated."
Yeah, that described Travis exactly, Coralee thought, I've got to give this some serious thought, but he seems more appealing than he used to. I never even thought he'd be interested in me but now I may be the one he's hooked.
"Hey," said Katie, she was trying to lighten the mood, "I heard that Beth and Rip got married, can you believe it? He might be Uncle John's heavy, but I think he's too nice for her."
"Remember when you used to have a crush on him? He never gave you the time of day but he was nice about it. I'm surprised that Jamie never got married—maybe he was afraid to. Kayce and Monica have been married forever, I think we could find husbands if we could find the right ones."
"Have you found the right one, little sis?" Katie was being deliberately coy, "Face it, neither one of us has ever had serious boyfriends. When we were barrel racers we fooled around because, well, people expected us to. Now someone has gotten serious about you, and it could be a good thing. You could do worse than Travis, you know."
"Yeah," Coralee sighed, "I could, but do I love him? Well, no, but there is something about him. And he's the best sex I've ever had and that doesn't hurt."
They decided on four shows, even though it would involve more traveling than they'd planned on. The shows they chose were in Cheyenne, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque, then they'd return to Montana and participate in a show in Missoula.
It was ambitious but doable. They were looking forward to traveling on their own. They had been sheltered but it hadn't affected them. Even though there had been six children in their family their parents had kept a close eye on them. It had not seemed to affect the siblings, they had done well in school, and each did well in the career they had chosen.
The oldest son was a cowboy on the Four Sixes in Texas. There was one doctor, one accountant, and one sister who had chosen nursing. Katie and Coralee had been doing rodeo since they were young, had graduated from college, and competed on the rodeo circuit, which suited them.
They'd been packing when their mother came to their room and told them their uncle wanted them to spend the night before they left for the show in Wyoming.
They looked at each other and shrugged. Coralee was tempted to ask "Will Beth be there?" but she held her tongue. Uncle John was proud of them and if he wanted to see them off there was no reason to refuse. They'd say their goodbyes to the family and then spend the night at the Yellowstone.
Her worst fear was that Travis would show up, but he would be busy too. He liked to see as many horses as he could, the object was to return home with an empty trailer and a wallet full of cash.
Their parents celebrated with a small, farewell dinner. Two brothers and one sister attended, ready to celebrate their younger siblings setting out on their own. Coralee and Katie were warned not to do too much celebrating on the road, but to have fun and maybe meet lots of boys. They didn't know about Travis yet, and Coralee intended to keep it that way. She wasn't sure of how she felt about marrying Travis, or if she intended to. Twenty-four seemed too soon for her to think of settling down. Travis was forty, and he had told her he was ready.
The feed was loaded, the tack was loaded and their suitcases soon joined the bales of straw. She was not sure how Coronado would load, but he walked into the trailer as if he had done it all his life, which he had, she told herself. Best Boy let Katie load him without a fuss. She was a little jealous that her old horse had shifted his loyalties so quickly. He was affectionate while Coronado was all business and she wished he had a little of Best Boy's personality.
"Who drives?" asked Katie and she answered, "Rock, paper, scissors." She won, so she got behind the wheel while Katie climbed in on the passenger side.
"Go, little sister," she told her, so Coralee turned the key in the ignition and put her foot down on the accelerator. "We're off," she told Katie and soon the sight of the ranch was fading away.
"Need help girls?" Rip was always cheerful when they encountered him. They knew about his dark side, knew he was their uncle's "heavy" but that was not the Rip they knew. He was always helpful and polite, and not above kidding them about one thing or another. They'd spent much of their life on the Yellowstone and he was a constant. Rip was someone you'd want to have on your side, and he'd always been there when they needed him.
"Nope, we got it but thanks anyway," Coralee was glad it was Rip who was offering to help out, one of the other hands might have gotten flirtatious and she wasn't in the mood. "Our horses are pretty good about loading and unloading. Can we use the stalls at the end of the row?"
"No problem, there's plenty of hay and two buckets of water. I'll tell John you're here." They watched as he walked out of the barn.
"Still wonder how Beth managed to sink her claws in him," Katie opened the trailer door, "I know his reputation but he's a decent man—doesn't seem like Beth's type."
"I think anything male would be Beth's type, but once she settled on Rip she kind of calmed down. I've heard talk I won't repeat, not even to you. I don't envy him." Coralee shook her head, she still thought Rip was too good for Beth.
They walked into the lodge without knocking, they considered Yellowstone their second home. Kayce saw them and smiled, "I'll tell Dad that the twins are here." It was his nickname for them, they vaguely resembled each other in their height and coloring but that was where the resemblance ended.
They hugged him, and then Coralee said, "Where's Uncle John?"
"Right here sweetheart," he answered in his gruff voice, "Glad to see you two made it. Wash up then have a seat in the dining room, Gator's putting supper on the table." He kissed each girl.
John was already seated at the head of the table, the rest of the family drifted in to join him. Beth and Rip were seated and Beth had already killed half a glass of burgundy. Don't drink too much, Beth, Coralee thought, not tonight. I want a happy dinner then hit the road tomorrow in a good mood. I don't want a fight.
Gator came in and started setting food on the table. There were thick steaks, cooked on the grill, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and broccoli flowerets dripping with butter. "Be sure to save room for dessert," the big man said, "I made your favorite, red velvet cake."
"Well girls," said John, "Are you excited to be out on your own?"
"Yes," answered Coralee, "It's so strange, we have friends who've been traveling on their own since they were eighteen, but Mom and Dad always drove us. I'm not complaining, I loved having them there to support us but I'm ready to be on my own."
"Time to grow up," said Beth.
"Yes, something like that," said Coralee. If Beth's remark had a motive she chose to ignore it.
She and Katie were drowsy from the wine and the steak, but the family sat in the living room ate the red velvet cake, and drank coffee in front of the fire.
"I'm not going to eat for another three days," groaned Katie, "I think you get to drive first, Coralee."
"Well, come on then, let's go to bed if that wouldn't be rude. Good night Uncle John, and everyone, we'll be up early tomorrow and hit the road."
"Good night girls," said John, "Gator will have breakfast ready for you."
"Like I'll be able to eat it," muttered Katie."
"Oh, shut up," Coralee replied though she wasn't so sure she would be up to breakfast, either.
"Do you think we're going to see Travis?" Katie asked and Coralee shrugged.
"I don't know, it would be nice if we didn't, when he's around me I feel smothered. I'm not sure I'm ready for all this marriage talk."
"Well," Katie narrowed her eyes at her sister, "Why don't you tell him to get lost, tell him you don't want to marry him unless you do, that is."
Coralee threw a pillow at her, "Don't say that, don't even think it. I'm not ready to get married."
"Unless you're leading him on, I'd say you are interested. Travis has his faults but he's a catch and he's aiming to catch you."
"Nobody's catching anybody," Coralee said and turned off the light.