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“Hey, Tan!” Travis called as he climbed out.

“Hey, Trav. How’s it going?”

“Be right with you.” Travis jogged around the hood of his truck to the passenger door. He opened it and lifted a laughing Retta out.

Tanner had to laugh at the way Travis came striding over to him, carrying Retta as if he were carrying his bride across the threshold, and as if she weighed no more than a small child.

“I hope your leg’s okay?” Tanner asked her. “This is just Trav being Trav, right? You’ve not injured it again, have you?”

“My leg’s fine, thanks. I’m fine. It is just that this guy forgets sometimes that I’m perfectly capable of standing – and walking – on my own two feet.” She looked up at Travis. “And you can put me down anytime you like.”

Instead of setting her down, Travis hugged her tighter against his chest. “I don’t forget, Retta, darlin’. I just like to make the most of every chance I get.”

Retta smiled at Tanner. “It looks like we’ll just have to have our conversation like this. How are you, anyway? I haven’t seen you for a while.”

Tanner grinned. “I’m doing great, thanks. Better than I’ve been in a long time. In fact, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Travis cocked an eyebrow at him. “You mean, tell me? Or …?”

Tanner winked at Retta. “As a matter of fact, it’s something that I need to tell Retta – since I promised her that I would. But since you’re here, I don’t mind telling you too.”

“What kind of promise have you made my lady that I don’t know about?” Travis pretended to scowl, but there was no hiding his smile. The man didn’t have a jealous bone in his body, and he loved anything and anyone who made Retta feel included, like she was one of the family.

Retta’s eyes were wide as she looked at Tanner. “I think I know. I didn’t expect it’d come around this soon, though.”

“Neither did I,” said Tanner. “It came out of the blue. Took me by surprise.” He grinned. “And I couldn’t be happier.”

Travis gave him a puzzled smile. “Come on, fill me in. What’s going on?”

“What you don’t remember,” Retta told him, “is that Tanner promised me that I would be the first to know when he met his girl.”

Travis grinned. “Well, damn! I do remember. Are you saying…?” He looked up at the house. “Is she here?”

Tanner checked his watch. “Not yet, but I’m hoping that she will be soon.”

Retta reached out and touched his arm. “I’m so happy for you, Tanner. I want to hear all about her. What’s she like? How did you meet her?”

He glanced at Travis. “She came into the bar on Friday night while I was working, and before you say anything, I know you’ve heard that before, but this is different.”

Travis raised his eyebrows. “Far too many times, but go on, tell us more.”

Tanner shrugged. “She’s just… She’s awesome. She’s not like the girls I usually go out with.”

Travis turned away and pretended to cough as he said, “Go home with.”

Retta slapped his shoulder. “Stop it. Let him explain.”

Tanner grinned at her. “Thanks. I can’t blame him, but it really is different this time. Everly’s different, she’s like one of us – she could be one of us.” He looked from Retta to Travis andadded, “I’m hoping like hell that she’s going to become one of us.”

Their reaction wasn’t what he’d hoped for. Far from it. Retta looked concerned, and Travis looked out right stunned. “Run that by me again, Tanner. What did you just say her name is?”

“Everly. I…” The sound of his phone ringing interrupted him. “Shit, sorry. This is her. I’ve been waiting for her to call me back. I’ll catch up with you guys in a little while, okay?”

He dug his phone out of his pocket as he spoke, then swiped to answer. “Hey, darlin’. Did you get my message? Do you want me to come pick you up?”

He walked away from Travis and Retta, heading for the front of the house when Everly told him that she was already on her way. One of the reasons that he’d wanted to go and pick her up was that he wanted her to himself for a while. He loved that his family liked her so much, but he wasn’t as keen on sharing her with them.

After he ended the call, he went to sit on the front porch to watch for her car. He’d hoped that when she finally heard back from her dad, she might be able to work things out with him. Of course, he wanted that for her sake, but it might also help him. While he, Janey, and Brooks had worked with the sick mare this morning, he’d allowed himself to dare to imagine what life might look like if he could persuade her to move here. It wasn’t such a crazy notion. She’d been thinking about moving here anyway – she’d come for a job interview.