Chapter 9

9

T ravis knew his serious tone took the conversation in a completely different direction. He felt a little bad about that since he always enjoyed their banter and the easy relationship they had. He should just be happy getting that back, but he couldn't seem to stop being serious.

He should have known she wouldn't let him.

"Why? So you don't have to start watching movies with your eyes closed?" She bumped her arm against his shoulder and then said, "Hold still, I don't think this is going to need stitches, but I'll know for sure once I get this dried blood."

"It's not bleeding; it won't need to be stitched."

"So I say hold still, and the man starts talking."

"I haven't seen you in five years. Of course I'm going to be talking."

"Just wait another five minutes, and then you could talk all night if you want to." She glanced over at the swing where Shanna's youngest child was throwing a fit because his brother was being pushed higher than he was. "Except, you probably ought to be paying some attention to your date."

One side of his lips pulled back, and he refrained from saying that he really didn't give a flip what happened to Shanna, he just wanted to be with Ellen, but that wasn't what he was supposed to do. He had bought her bucket, as much as he felt like he was forced into it, so that wasn't the way he should be. He should be a little more charming than what he had managed to be so far. He almost snorted at the idea. Getting into a fistfight was not exactly being charming.

Although, he did feel like the fistfight wasn't exactly his fault.

"You're right. You're always right." He didn't have to be happy about it though.

She didn't look very happy about it either. The laughter had drained from her eyes, and she had a look of concentration on her face. Rightfully so, since she was probing at the sore spot on his face, but he liked it better when her eyes shone with humor and happiness. That was the way he thought of Ellen. That, and how adorable she was with her cows and dogs.

"We're going to eat. I guess you guys can stand there all day and fiddle around with that if you want to." Shanna came over carrying one child that was crying on her hip as the other small child grabbed her legs.

"I have to pee!" the little guy said.

"You're wearing a diaper. Just pee in it," Shanna said, and the irritation in her voice was unmistakable.

"We're almost done. I just want to make sure he doesn't need stitches."

"He's not a baby," Shanna said. "And he bought my lunch. We're supposed to be eating together. Not sitting around while you fiddle with his face."

"I'm sorry," Ellen said, and Travis had to resist the urge to grab hold of her and tell her that she didn't have to apologize. He appreciated the fact that she was humble and that she hadn't bought into the world's idea of standing up for herself. Or whatever other such nonsense they talked about that wasn't biblical.

"We'll be over in a minute," Travis said, trying not to move his mouth as he spoke. Ellen wouldn't get angry at him, but it would make what she was doing harder.

"This has to hurt," she murmured.

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I like how things turned out." His words came out a little slurred as he spoke again without moving his mouth. He tried not to smile either, but his words made him want to. After all, they were true. He would much rather have Ellen here fussing over him than off with Chalmer somewhere. Regardless of the fact that he was trying to drag her despite her protests. That alone would make him happy that he'd stoop to the level of teenage boy again. A position he thought he'd outgrown years ago. Apparently, when it came to Ellen, he hadn't grown up at all.

"Well, I do too, but I guess I would rather be with Chalmer right now than have you sitting here in pain. Especially knowing that it is my fault. This is going to look terrible tomorrow."

"So you're saying tomorrow I'm not going to be handsome anymore?" He said that not being serious at all, but Ellen nodded, not even cracking a smile.

"This pretty face will be all marked up."

"Pretty was not what I was going for."

She smirked. "You know I think you're handsome. And this is just going to make you look a little rugged. So, ruggedly handsome. You can pull that off for the next week or so."

"She thinks I'm ruggedly handsome. I'll take it."

"Now, you probably better get over there and keep Shanna happy."

"You're coming too."

"I'm pretty sure Shanna doesn't want me. And I don't want to get between you two."

"There is no getting between us. We're not standing that close."

Her brows drew down, and her hand paused as she adjusted the ice on his cheekbone.

"You bought her lunch. You must be rather close." And then, almost as though the words were dragged out of her, she said, "You didn't bid on me at all."

His eyes widened. He hadn't thought that Ellen might for one second think that he wouldn't have bought her if he had been there when she was for sale.

He shifted, not caring if the ice fell off his face, and he took her hand in his, looking up at her. "You were already gone when I walked in. I didn't even know where you were. I got bombarded as soon as I walked in that I needed to buy something, and Shanna's bucket was the only one left. Trust me, if there was anyone else in town available for sale, I would have bid on them in a heartbeat. I don't exactly have great memories of Shanna."

Ellen pulled both of her lips between her front teeth, and he could see the hurt that had been in her heart on her face.

"Sorry. I didn't mean for you to think that for one second." He kind of liked the idea that it had bothered Ellen, but hated that he'd hurt her. Even though it had been unintentionally.

He tried for a smile. "Plus, I get here, and you're running around with Chalmer in the dark outside alone. What was I supposed to think?"

"That you hadn't gotten there in time to buy me?"

"I thought you were married." He almost told her how scared that had made him, but he thought that maybe they should get their friendship reestablished before he worked for more, as much as he wanted to.

"Please, give me a little more credit than that," Ellen said, giving him a ghost of a smile, and the last of the pain faded from her face, which had been his goal.

"I'm sorry. I should have given you more credit, but you thought I would actually buy Shanna's meal on purpose."

"You did!" she said, but there was a smile on her face.

"I mean without being forced into it."

"Well, let me get this stuff gathered up, and then we better go over and sit down with her. Although, I know she'd be happy if I went somewhere else."

"But I wouldn't be." He pursed his lips, ready to tease her. "And plus, I bought you, so I get tonight and five days this week for eight hours. You're at my beck and call."

"Oh boy. I was wondering when you were going to figure that out."

"Oh, trust me, I knew it when I paid the bill." He winked at her, or tried to anyway with the swelling that seemed to be around his eye. "You're an expensive girl, Ellen O'Reily."

"Nobody made you buy me. I could be really cheap."

"No. You're worth every penny and more." Then, to keep everything light, he said, "And I'm going to get every penny out of you this week. So be prepared to work hard."

He squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back, and there seemed to be something that passed between them at that time. He wasn't sure exactly what it was, but he hoped it was the start of something beautiful.