A moment later when the doctor opened the door from the hallway, Travis knew she was gone. He closed his eyes, fighting the need to roar against the void her vanishing had left.

"You awake?" the doc asked.

Travis couldn't answer.

The doc sat in the chair by his bed, stretched his feet out on a stool, and relaxed. Within a few minutes his breathing deepened and Travis knew he was asleep.

He also knew Rainey would not return tonight.

At dawn, when the doc examined him, the first question Travis asked was if he could be untied.

Dr. Bailey pointed a finger at him. "Only if you swear to be careful. I don't want those stitches to break open. You can move around from bed to a chair for a few hours a day, but no more than that for at least a week."

"I'll try," Travis grumbled, thinking two days in bed was enough. "But no more of that bitter tea."

Bailey laughed. "It was the only way I could get you to rest. But no more and I'll untie you. I guess you've suffered bedrest long enough."

As Dr. Bailey pulled the sheets free from the bedding, he mumbled, "I'll ask Miss Adams and the widow to come in to keep you company. I know Sage will need the Ranger's help giving Duck a bath this morning."

The boy was up and across the room before the doc could turn in his direction. He climbed as far as he could into the bay window.

Sage looked puzzled. "He doesn't need a bath again today."

The old doc smiled. "I know. I also know that he understands what we're saying. I thought he must when Travis said his goodbyes, but I know it for a fact now."

Sage stomped her foot and yelled, "That wasn't fair to scare him like that. I'm going to go bake him cookies to make up for it."

Duck reached her side before she made it to the door. She smiled down at him. "You're a grand boy, Duck McMurray. Fast as lightning and silent as a spring thaw." She took his hand and disappeared out of the room.

The doc looked at Travis. "You going to claim him?"

"The only clue about his folks we may have found was a two-year-old report a neighbor made up near Fort Worth. A young couple was killed and their farm burned. The neighbor said he thought they had a blond boy just learning to walk. I'm having the report mailed here, but it doesn't look good. No kin requested the few belongings the couple had left or their bodies. The county records had no next of kin listed for either of them on file when they married."

"So you'll keep him?" Bailey raised an eyebrow. "There's an orphanage here in Austin for kids like him."

Travis shook his head. "I think it's more that Duck claimed me, but he's not going anywhere if his parents are dead. We've already talked about it. If he has no name, he'll be a McMurray and his home will become Whispering Mountain."

Mike helped Travis stand as the housekeeper came in to put fresh sheets on the bed. Travis was surprised how little his leg hurt when he shifted a slight amount of weight on it. Dr. Bailey knew what he was doing. Travis had been lucky to make it to his door.

With Mike's help, Travis managed to get dressed just as Dottie Davis tapped on his door. He insisted on moving to the little drawing room between the bedrooms. It didn't seem right talking to the widow in his bedchamber.

After Mike got them settled and the housekeeper brought more coffee, the young Ranger left, saying he had to check in at headquarters.

As soon as Travis was alone with Dottie, he began to ask questions about all she'd seen and heard the day of the kidnapping. He couldn't help but smile as her part in the raid grew with the telling.

Dottie was more than happy to talk between bites of rolls, but her conversation galloped from one topic to another without pausing long enough for Travis to ask more questions. She was a woman who liked to take her time with both eating and telling a story.

About the time Travis thought he might need a gag for the little widow, she stumbled into the topic of Rainey.

"Sweet girl," Dottie said. "Loving and giving as I've ever seen." She frowned and stared at Travis. "But if you don't mind me saying so, Ranger, you're about as bright as rained-on ashes. Even considering the fact that you're a good-looking man, I can't see why she even cares for you."

Travis frowned. He'd thought he measured a little higher in the widow's opinion. After all, he had brought Rainey back after she'd been kidnapped. He'd made sure the widow got to the doctor after she'd been shot. He'd even had the widows' things moved to the Baileys' so she'd feel more comfortable.

He knew he'd regret it, but he had to ask, "And why is that, Mrs. Davis?"

Dottie leaned back, her smile saying she knew she had his attention. "A man shouldn't propose after the first kiss. You scared that poor child to death. She told me she'd spent her life at a girls' school and you were the first man to even try to kiss her." The widow shook her head in disgust. "And what do you do, you ask her right off to marry you."

"She told you?" He wasn't surprised. What little he knew of women, they seemed creatures who shared everything. He'd often thought the need for newspapers would be lost if Western towns had more women to spread the word.

Dottie wiggled in the chair as if fluffing herself, took another roll, and continued. "I shouldn't be saying anything, Rainey being my friend and all, but the judge and I were talking and we agreed you could benefit from a little motherly advice."

Great, Travis thought. The judge was involved in this.

"Women like Rainey need a bit of a challenge. She's a survivor, a fighter. Did you ever think that maybe she should have to fight a little for you? Fish that hop up on the bank ain't near as fun to catch."

Travis stared at the little lady, having no idea what to say to her. She was right about him having little experience with women, but it seemed to him a woman would much rather have an offer on the table and then make up her mind than be wondering how a man felt about her.

"Would you like some more coffee?" was all he could think of to say.

Dottie seemed to understand. "No, I think I'll go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea. Will you be needing anything? I could have someone bring it to you."

Travis shook his head.

Ten minutes later he was still staring at the fire when Rainey walked in.

"Morning," she said. "Dottie said you wanted another cup of coffee."

"Thanks." He didn't look up as she handed him the cup. One good thing about this place, he'd never finish all the coffee.

Rainey stood in front of him as if waiting for him to do or say something. Her hand was so close he could have reached out and held it, but he didn't. He wasn't sure how she felt about what they'd done last night. He thought she enjoyed it, but he wished she'd had time to say something before she vanished.

"How are you feeling?" She finally broke the silence as she leaned toward him.

"I'm feeling tired of people worrying about the way I feel," he answered, his words sounding colder than he'd intended.

Rainey took a step backward.

Travis swore he could feel the coldness between them. She sure wasn't acting like she wanted him to play hard to get. He glanced up and saw her green eyes staring at him. She looked like she wanted to be kissed, he thought. Or maybe that was just what he wished she was hoping for.

"I was just about to leave to go bake today. I have orders for pies that are late. No one seems to need me around here." She waited as if expecting him to say something. "I'd also like to go back and get my shoes. Sage loaned me a pair of hers, but I keep walking out of them."

He wanted to tell her to forget about work, he needed her. But Dottie's comments lingered in his thoughts. He didn't want to say anything that got repeated to Dottie, who'd repeat it to the judge. Hell, he thought, I might as well just shout everything I say so that everyone can hear the first account.

"Travis?" She stepped back in front of him.

He thought he knew what she wanted. They were alone. She was close. In one step she could be in his arms. But he didn't reach for her.

To his surprise, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back before dark."

He watched her go.

If black moods could darken, his did. He sat, staring at the fire trying to figure out where he stood with his fairy. He'd told Mike she was his, but he wasn't so sure. She'd slept beside him part of the last three nights, but he hadn't touched her until last night. She'd swore she'd never marry him, but she worried about him worse than both Roy's wives put together worried about Roy. Every time he mentioned marriage she said she never wanted to see him again and every time she thought he was in trouble she risked her life to let him know.

He leaned his head back against the leather of the wing-back chair. The worn leather conformed and he closed his eyes, drifting back into the dream he'd had on Whispering Mountain.

He heard Mike's boots stomping in from the side door. The Ranger ran through the hall as if on full alert pulling Travis from his dream.

Travis glanced up just as Mike Saddler rounded the corner, his face red from the cold. "McMurray!" Mike took a quick breath. "Where's Miss Adams and Widow Davis?"

"Rainey left to go make pies. I think the widow said something about going with her, but I could be wrong. I don't know women all that well." Travis straightened, sensing something was wrong. "What is it, Saddler?"

Mike's tanned face paled. "Eldon Norman has been spotted in town. We've got men looking for him everywhere. The undertaker said he came by to pay his respects to his brother and left swearing that he'd pay back the witch who stabbed Seth."