The Stallion Brothers

Travis nodded, the memory of his encounter with Tierra Braddy suddenly intruding on his thoughts. He could fully understand how a woman might take a man’s breath away, because Tierra had clearly left him gasping for air. He turned his focus back to the conversation and his cousins, who were regaling him with info about Mark’s mechanic wife and their whirlwind romance.

“My girl tamed this Stallion man big-time,” Mark said, his laugh a deep rumble that flowed from his midsection.

Matthew shook his head in agreement. “Brother finally had to turn in his little black book. But you know how Mark is,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Once John does something, he has to go and do it, too. Just like when we were kids.”

Travis locked eyes with John. “Your wife’s not pregnant, too, is she?”

John shook his head vehemently. “Oh, heck no!”

A soft voice called down from the top of the steps. “Why do you say it like that, John Stallion?” Marah Stallion asked, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared down at her husband and his brothers.

John’s wide smile gleamed back at her. “I was just saying that we weren’t pregnant, baby! I didn’t say it like it was anything bad!”

Marah laughed, a wry smirk filling her face. “I bet you didn’t! You better watch yourself, John Stallion. You know I don’t play like that!” She turned her attention to their arriving guest. “Hey, Travis! Just leave those jokesters standing right there and come on inside here. We’ve been cooking all afternoon. I hope you’re hungry.”

Travis laughed as he tossed his duffle bag into Luke’s arms. “I’m starved. How are you doing, Marah?” he queried as he made his way to the top of the steps, leaning to kiss the woman’s cheek.

“I’m doing just fine. I know you must be good and tired after your trip.”

“I am. A good meal, a hot shower and a few hours of sleep and I might actually feel normal again,” Travis said with a wide smile.

Marah patted his back. “I think we can take care of that for you,” she said. She glanced over her shoulder, her husband shaking his head.

“You better be on top of your game tonight, Mr. Stallion. I’m not going to forget that ‘heck no’ comment anytime soon.”

John pretended to groan, still grinning as he and his brothers made their way behind Travis and Marah. “Don’t be like that, baby,” he said, his voice a low whine. “You know I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Marah giggled. “I don’t know anything of the sort.”

John leaned to kiss his wife’s mouth as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “Let me make it up to you,” he said, his voice dropping to a low whisper as he nuzzled his cheek against hers.

Travis laughed. “I can certainly see what marriage and this good life has done to you!”

The sumptuous midday meal had left Travis full and satisfied. Marah had piled his plate high with fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, corn bread and peach cobbler and had supplied freshly brewed and sweetened tea. He’d eaten well and was still stuffed from the experience.

He stepped out of the shower, wrapping his muscular body in an oversize, plush white towel. A stark contrast to the rough army towels he’d been using, the soft cotton fabric felt luxurious against his skin. Travis closed his eyes, relishing the sensation. An image of Tierra Braddy suddenly flitted through his mind, and he couldn’t help but imagine how she might feel in his arms, her body pressed tight against his naked flesh. The imagery sent a spark of heat straight to his southern hemisphere, causing every muscle in his body to tense with frustration.

Moving to the sink, Travis turned on the faucet and splashed his face with cold water. This was getting out of control. He had only met the woman for a brief moment, and here he was starting to fantasize about her. Besides that, she had a man, and chasing another man’s woman was not something he would ever contemplate. It had just been way too long since he’d enjoyed some female companionship on an intimate level. He was suddenly acting as if he were fifteen again, when raging hormones controlled his male impulses. He needed to regain some serious control.

Moving back into the immaculately decorated guest bedroom, he dropped down onto the bed and lay his body back against the padded mattress. Before sleep quickly consumed him, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the woman. And he couldn’t help but wonder if, just maybe, Tierra Braddy might be thinking of him, as well.

“I’ll bet he got himself a good laugh out of it,” Tierra exclaimed loudly as she paced the floor from wall to wall. “I can just imagine what a fool he thought I was, me going on and on about the wedding and the whole time Damien wasn’t planning to show up.”

Tierra brushed her tears away with the back of her hand, smearing her mascara and the blush that highlighted her cheeks. The magnitude of her situation blanketed her spirit. “How could he do this to me!” she moaned sadly, dejection masking her face.

Eden Waller and her younger sister, Marla Baron, both shook their heads, clucking their tongues in sympathy. Eden leaned forward in her seat, meeting Tierra’s teary gaze as she passed the yellow sheet of lined note paper back to her friend.

“Tea, sweetie, you know better than anyone how Damien is. He’s hurt you before. You know he was capable of doing that to you and worse. The guy is scum.”

Tierra tossed her hands up in frustration. “Not Damien!” she wailed. “His sergeant… How could the man just drop news like that in my lap and walk away? He seemed so sweet. How could he do that to me?”

Eden stole a quick glance toward her sister, the two women exchanging a confused look between them.

“Are you sure he knew?” Marla asked. “I mean, do you think he read the letter?”

Tierra stomped to the other side of the room. “I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I’m sure he knew. I just find it hard to believe Damien didn’t tell him what he was up to. You know how men are. They put their business out there more than women do.”

Both Eden and Marla took a deep inhale of air at the same time, the two women sensing that nothing they could say would give their friend any comfort. Neither of them had been surprised when a hysterical Tierra had shown up at the ranch devastated by the Dear John letter her beloved fiancé had sent to her. No one expected much of anything from Damien. They’d tried for too many years to get Tierra to see that the love of her life wasn’t a man worthy of her heart. Eden had said it best: men like Damien Porter were what bad sperm produced.

Marla rose from her seat, offering Tierra a tissue for her runny nose. She shook her head. “What can we do to help you, Tea?”

Tierra finally collapsed into a chair, the hurt of it all weighing her down. She, too, shook her head. She couldn’t begin to fathom how anyone could do anything to make any of this well ever again. “I guess I won’t be needing that chapel now,” she muttered softly.

Eden tapped a comforting palm against Tierra’s knee. “Why don’t you stay here at the ranch with us for a few days? Take some time away from your normal routine to get some perspective. Next week you might actually see that this was for the best. Better it happened now than later, Tierra.”

Tierra briefly closed her eyes, tears pooling behind her eyelids. “You sound like my grandmother,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “She said the same thing.”

Tierra’s grandmother, Deloriann Braddy, had never been a woman who bit her tongue. Mama Dee had been saying loudly, and often, how she didn’t support Tierra’s decision to marry Damien. She also hadn’t bit back her glee in learning the wedding was off. It was just as the old woman had predicted would happen. Damien had betrayed her.

Tierra nodded her head. “Are you sure it won’t be any inconvenience? I just don’t want to be alone in my apartment, and I’d rather live out of my car than go to my granny’s and have her and Tingin say they told me so one more time.”

Marla nodded. “It’s no problem at all. You know we have a ton of space here, and right now the only other guest we have is John’s cousin visiting for the month.”

“John?” Tierra queried

“Our sister Marah’s husband. I don’t think you’ve met Marah yet, have you?” Marla responded.

Tierra shook her head. “Not yet.” There was a moment of pause while Tierra contemplated what she should do. Finally, she answered, “Well, if you’re sure it won’t be a problem.”

Eden wrapped her arms around Tierra’s shoulders. “We are. Come on. I’ll show you where your room will be.”

Following behind her friend, Tierra swiped at the tears that had begun to fall from her eyes for the umpteenth time. She hated that she couldn’t stop crying, but it hurt to admit that she had been wrong. It hurt even more to think that after all this time Damien hadn’t really cared about her at all.

At the top of the stairwell, Tierra turned to her friend and gave a sincere smile. “Eden, I really appreciate this.”

Eden grinned. “Everything’s going to be all right, Tea. Just keep believing that.”

As Tierra turned back toward the hallway, she wasn’t prepared for the large man who suddenly bounded from behind a closed door, stepping directly in front of her path. The duo slammed harshly into each other.

Instinctively, Travis reached out to grab the woman he’d just bowled over, intent on keeping her from falling to the floor. “I am so sorry,” the man exclaimed, his voice echoing loudly around them.

“Ouch,” Tierra muttered at the same time, gripping tight to the large arms that held her firmly by the shoulders. “Excuse me.” She looked up into the man’s face, recognition washing over her. “You!”

Travis’s eyes widened with surprise. “Ms. Braddy!”

The couple stood staring for just a brief moment, then before she could stop herself, Tierra balled up a tight fist and slammed it hard into Travis Stallion’s abdomen.

Chapter 4

Travis was still rubbing at his sore stomach muscles. Had he been expecting the slam into his solar plexus, it probably wouldn’t have bothered him at all. But Tierra’s punch had caught him completely off guard, and truth be told, for a little woman she packed one heck of a punch.

He still didn’t have a clue what he had done to deserve being punched but figured by the way Tierra had run back down the length of stairs and out the front door that it had to have something to do with the letter he delivered.

Eden had only shrugged her shoulders before turning an about-face to go after the woman. The expression on her face was as shocked as his.

Making his way downstairs, Travis’s curiosity was piqued. He was even more interested in knowing how Tierra had even known to find him there. Question after question raced through his thoughts as he stepped out onto the large porch.

The two women stood in front of the porch swing, Tierra sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears unnerved Travis and his usual steady and calm demeanor was suddenly anxious. Pushing both hands into the deep pockets of his jeans, Travis’s steps forward were tentative, the man not wanting to intrude where he might not be wanted.

Eden acknowledged him first, her head shaking with concern. She patted Tierra gently on the shoulder, leaning to give her friend a quick hug before making a polite exit. As Eden moved past Travis, she leaned up to whisper into his ear.

“Go easy on her. She just had her heart broken.”

Travis nodded ever so slightly. He took a quick glance over his shoulder as Eden stepped through the home’s front door. The woman’s stare back was equally curious as she looked from him to Tierra and back. She tossed him a quick smile of encouragement before disappearing inside. Turning his gaze toward Tierra, Travis didn’t have a clue what to say or do. The woman’s distress had knocked him completely off center.

Consumed with grief, Tierra didn’t bother to acknowledge him. Dropping down onto the swing’s cushioned seat, she dropped her head into her hands, swiping at the tears that didn’t look like they’d be stopping anytime soon.

Travis took a deep breath, blowing warm air back out slowly. He moved to Tierra’s side and took the seat beside her. Neither one said a word as they settled shoulder to shoulder against each other. Travis fought the urge to wrap his arms around her torso, sensing the gesture wouldn’t be appreciated. He heaved another deep sigh.

Staring out over the landscape, Travis watched the comings and goings of the ranch hands as they went about their morning chores. Having forgotten his wristwatch in his room, he had no idea how long they’d been sitting there, but when the horses were being corralled to another pasture and his stomach was rumbling loudly for a morning meal, he figured it was as good a time as any to initiate a conversation. Tierra’s sobs had finally slowed to a low sniffle, then suddenly she had a bad case of the hiccups.

Travis smiled sweetly. “Hold your breath. That might help.”

Tierra cut a quick glance in his direction. “That never—” hic “—works,” she muttered harshly.

There was a moment of pause before Travis said anything else. “Would you like me to get you a large glass of water?” he asked.

“I just want—” hic “—you to—” hic “—leave me alone,” Tierra answered.

Travis moved to get up from his seat, but Tierra’s next comment stopped him cold.

“I thought you—” hic “—were nice. Why—” hic “—would you do that—” hic “—to me? How—” hic “—could you?”

A look of confusion dropped over the man. Gripping her by her shoulders, Travis moved Tierra to face him. “How could I do what? I don’t know what it is you’re talking about, Tierra.”

He felt her tense beneath his touch, her hands balling once again into tight fists, as she rose from the swing.

“At least tell me what it is you’re mad about before you throw another punch,” Travis said, “and don’t take it personally if I punch back,” he added, an amused smile pulling at his mouth.

Tierra met his deep gaze evenly, unsure if she wanted to laugh or start crying all over again. Feeling completely defeated, she collapsed back against the swing’s cushions.

Travis was still eyeing her intensely. Tierra liked his eyes. She imagined a woman could easily lose herself in his eyes, if she were so inclined. Lost in his eyes a woman might imagine herself wrapped in his arms. In his arms, the possibilities that could be fathomed were endless. Tierra felt her breath catch deep in her chest as a flutter of something she didn’t recognize flitted through the pit of her stomach. She shook the sensation away as quickly as it had risen.

Reaching into the pocket of her khaki slacks, Tierra pulled the dreaded letter from inside. Unfolding the tear-stained paper, she barely glanced down at it as she passed it over to Travis.

“Read it out loud,” she said, her tone commanding.

Travis’s gaze moved from her face to the notepaper in his hand. The soiled paper had begun to weather from handling, and the damp moisture of saline had begun to fade away the neatly printed writing. He pulled the document closer and began to read. As he did, moisture puddled in Tierra’s dark gaze, threatening to spill over her cheeks again.

“Dear, Tierra. I hate to do this, but I know it’s the best thing for us both. I won’t be coming back to Dallas. I can’t marry you. I’ve met someone here who makes me very happy. I wish I could be the man you want me to be, Tierra, but I can’t. I hope we can still be friends. I wish you all the best in the world. Damien Porter.”

When he finished reading, Travis let the paper drop into his lap. Beside him, Tierra forced herself not to start crying all over again. She choked back a deep sob as she picked the letter up from where it had fallen and slowly tore it into shreds.

You could have warned me,” she whispered softly. “What? Did you and Damien have a good laugh planning how you’d do it? I bet you can’t wait to rush back and tell him how torn up I was so you two can bust a gut making a joke out of it all.”

Travis was flabbergasted, astonishment registering on his face. He leaned forward, grasping both of Tierra’s hands beneath his own. The torn shreds of paper fluttered down to the planked floor and across the perfectly manicured lawn.

“Tierra, I knew nothing about this. Private Porter never told me what he had written or what his plans were. The only thing he ever said was that it had to do with your wedding plans and that it was important it get to you as soon as possible. That’s all. I swear. If I had known…” Travis hesitated. He couldn’t begin to tell her what he would have done had he known. Suffice it to say, it would not have turned out well for Damien Porter.

Travis had been too nice, Tierra thought as she peered out the window to the landscape outside. She’d believed him when he’d said he didn’t know anything about Damien’s letter. She also sensed he would never have delivered news like that if he had been aware. Clearly the man was a gentleman who cared about her feelings.

Tierra blew a soft sigh past her glossed lips. In the distance she could see Travis interacting with his family as they all stood watching the horses being exercised in the corral. Tierra had been at the window watching him and the other men for some time.

He liked to laugh she noted, observing him as he threw back his head, chuckling heartily. The wealth of it seemed to rise from deep in his midsection, and Tierra imagined that with his deep baritone voice Travis’s laugh could be a balm to a woman’s ears. She couldn’t help but hope that one day the two of them might find something to laugh about together.

She had left him sitting alone on the porch hours earlier, excusing herself to go wash her tear-streaked face and lie down for a nap. The man had still been holding both of her hands tightly beneath his own. Tierra caressed the back of her hand where his skin had touched hers. Her fingers and palm still tingled from the heat of his touch.

“This is ridiculous,” Tierra suddenly spoke aloud, tearing herself from where she stood. She threw herself down against the bed, blowing a heavy sigh. She needed to be plotting revenge on Damien for hurting her, not thinking about some other man’s touch. She desperately wanted to be fishing in her bag of tricks for some way to pay Damien back for the hurt of it all. But for whatever reason, Tierra couldn’t stop thinking about Travis Stallion.

From where she stood in the front foyer, Tierra could see Marla, Eden and their kinfolk cutting up in the family room. The family was having themselves a good time, and Tierra didn’t want to interrupt and spoil the fun with her bad mood.

Trying to escape without being seen or heard, she tiptoed across the polished wood floors toward the front door. Her name being called stopped her dead in her tracks before she could wrap her hand around the doorknob.

“Tierra?” Travis called a second time, coming up behind her. “Is everything okay?”

The young woman winced with frustration before turning around to face the man. “I’m fine, thank you,” she said as she forced a slight smile. “I just have some errands I need to run.” Tierra turned back to the door, opening it widely as she hurried to make an exit.

Still moving close behind her, Travis followed her outside. “Do you mind if I tag along with you? I would really like to see some of Dallas if I can.”

Moving forward, Tierra winced again. She wasn’t in the mood for company. “Maybe some other time, Sergeant Stallion. Right now I would just really like to be alone,” she said as she reached her car. “The peace and quiet will be good for me.”

“Maybe so,” Travis stated, pulling open her passenger-side door. “But I think being with friends would be better for you right now,” he said, a wide grin filling his handsome face. “You won’t even know I’m here, friend.”

Before she could respond, Travis stepped into her Saturn roadster and settled down comfortably in the front passenger seat. It was clear that nothing Tierra could say or do would be able to change his mind. She decided not to say anything at all, hoping the look she gave him would be enough to express her displeasure. She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“So, what kind of music do you like to listen to?” Travis asked as he reached across her dashboard and turned on the car’s stereo system. He began to scroll through the local radio stations.

Tierra cut her eyes in his direction. “How is this quiet?” she spat.

The man laughed, his disposition teasing. “Oh, you thought I was actually paying you some attention!”

A deep frown pulled at Tierra’s mouth, aggravation clouding her expression. The man was hardly moved as he winked in her direction. Still smiling, Travis nodded his head as he settled back against the leather seats. His head bobbed in time with the music playing.

Tierra’s own head shook at the absurdity. Shifting into drive, she pulled her car into the circular driveway and pulled away from the Stallion family home. As she navigated the traffic, the sound of jazz music settled comfortably between them.

The midday sun had settled nicely in the afternoon sky. The air was heated with just the hint of a breeze blowing. With the top down and the seductive tunes billowing from the speakers, the day could have been considered almost perfect.

Tierra suddenly wished she didn’t feel so alone. Even with the gorgeous man seated beside her she was feeling like she didn’t have a friend in the world. Heaving a deep sigh, Tierra stole a glance in Travis’s direction. The man’s gaze was fixed on the highway. His head bobbed and he patted his hand on his knee to the beat of the music.

He looked far more relaxed than he’d appeared the day before, his casual styling suiting him nicely. And just like the day before, the man was exceptionally attractive. His rugged good looks could make a woman lose her mind, Tierra thought, admiring the chiseled line of his features and the lush, full lips that pouted ever so slightly. Tierra couldn’t help but wonder what kissing those lips might feel like.

She shook her head vehemently, appalled that just hours earlier she’d gotten her heart broken and here she was now, wondering what it might be like to kiss another man.

“You shouldn’t have come,” she suddenly said out loud, the words coming out of her mouth in a rush.

“Excuse me?” Travis said as he settled his intense stare on her.

Tierra’s eyes flitted from the road to his face and back again. Lord, have mercy, Tierra thought. Why does he have to look at me that way?

She heaved another deep sigh, the air catching in her chest as she held her breath for a brief moment. She reached for the volume button on the car radio and turned it down until the music was barely audible. “I said you shouldn’t have come. This was a bad idea.”

Travis smiled, not bothering to respond. He turned the radio back up, his gaze still focused on the side of her face. He couldn’t get over how incredibly beautiful she was. The woman was perfection personified. Private Porter had to have been a complete fool to let such an incredible creature get away.

His smile widened as the muscles in her face twitched with frustration. Without giving it any thought, he reached a large hand out and rested it on her shoulder. As he gently caressed the bare flesh, he felt her tense beneath his fingertips.

Tierra sucked in a deep inhale of oxygen. She hadn’t expected the man to touch her, and suddenly the heat from his hand had ignited a fire deep in her midsection. It was all she could do to keep from running her car off the road.

“Hey, we’re in this together now, so go with it. So, what are we doing? What’s our first stop?” Travis asked, his hand still teasing her flesh as his fingertips tap danced against her skin.

Taking a second inhale of air, Tierra shifted her shoulder upward, rotating it away from the man’s touch. “I have to go by the florist and cancel my flower order. In fact, I have to cancel everything I’ve ordered for the wedding. I don’t know what you’re doing.”