Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

“Yep.” Hannah opened her door and hopped out, saying before she shut her door, “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Travis eyed Carl through the windshield, noting the other man’s confident stride and the slow grin that spread across his face as Hannah met him halfway. Carl held out his hand and Hannah shook it, then Carl leaned closer and smiled as he spoke, causing Hannah to laugh and toss her head, her silky ponytail rippling across her back.

Travis bit his lip and looked away, trying to ignore the jealousy that sparked in his gut. Then, stifling a groan, he climbed out of the truck and walked toward Hannah. He studied Carl as he approached.

The guy looked about forty years old, tall, clean-cut, and, judging from his opulent surroundings, well-off. What was it Hannah had said took center stage in Paradise Peak? Oh, yeah. God and money. It was obvious Carl possessed the latter, whereas he . . .

Travis dragged a hand through his shaggy hair. Well, he’d never had either.

Hannah looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Travis.” The welcoming look in her eyes dampened the envious burn that had begun to grow inside him. “I’d like you to meet Carl Lennox, owner of Misty Ridge Stables and good friend of the family.”

Travis stopped beside Hannah and held out his hand. He offered a tight smile as Carl reluctantly released Hannah’s hand and shook Travis’s instead.

“Travis joined the ranks at Paradise Peak Ranch this week,” Hannah said. “He’s our new hand.”

Carl nodded, his green eyes surveying Travis from head to toe, weighing and measuring. “New hand, huh?” His head tilted. “Travis . . . ?”

“Miller,” Travis answered. The lie stuck in his throat, but he forced his way through it, feeling more ashamed than ever but unable to voice his real name. The one Hannah had said in the truck, her tone full of contempt. “My name’s Travis Miller.”

Carl’s eyes narrowed on him. “Haven’t seen you around Paradise. You’re not local, are you?”

“No.” Travis grasped at one of the few truths he felt safe in sharing freely. “I’m originally from Rockton Park.”

“Rockton Park?” Carl asked. “Never heard of it.”

“It’s in western Tennessee.”

“Travis was passing through town and Red and Margaret offered him a job,” Hannah said. “He’s been an excellent help so far and he’s the reason we made it today. We redid the stable roof yesterday, which means our new horse will have a safe, dry stall to settle in to.”

Carl frowned. “Now, I told you and Red both that I’d have been happy to help y’all out with that.”

“I know,” Hannah said. “And I appreciated the offer, but after Red hired Travis, we managed to get by.”

Carl released Travis’s hand and half turned away, saying in a low voice Travis had to strain to hear, “You don’t have to rely on just getting by. I told you, if you’re short on help or cash, I’d be happy to help you out. All you gotta do is ask.”

Hannah bristled. “Well, I’m not asking, and neither is Red.” Blushing, she glanced at Travis apologetically, then whispered, “Not everything can be solved with money, Carl.”

“I’m aware of that, but Red didn’t have to go and hire—”

“Well, Red did, and here Travis is.” Hannah stepped back from Carl and smiled. “You know as well as I do how hardheaded Red is when he decides on something, and I have to admit”—she glanced at Travis, her eyes warming—“I’m really glad Red stayed stubborn this time. Like I said, Travis has been a huge help already.” She clapped her hands together and rubbed them briskly. “So is this a good time for you to show us the horse? We’re anxious to meet her and get back to the ranch before the storm hits.”

Without waiting for an answer, Hannah headed for the closest stable, her curvy, jean-clad legs moving quickly and her red ponytail swishing.

Carl blew out a frustrated breath, then chuckled. “And she thinks Red’s stubborn?” He faced Travis. “I hope you didn’t take offense at what I said. Red sometimes makes a habit of leaping before he looks, you know? And I

imagine you’ve seen for yourself what state that ranch is in. They don’t exactly have a lot of money to spare.”

Travis nodded. Carl’s apparent attraction to Hannah didn’t sit well with him, but the sincerity in Carl’s voice when he spoke of Red did. “I understand and have every intention of earning my keep.”

“I’ll take you at your word.” Smiling, Carl headed toward the stable Hannah had entered and gestured for Travis to follow. “Lemme show you ar—”

“Giant!”

Travis halted midstep, almost stumbling over the three-foot-tall, brown-haired boy who darted in front of him. Head tilted back, the little boy stood at his feet and stared up at him, openmouthed, a look of wonder in his big, brown eyes. A yellow Labrador pup ran up, nudged the boy’s legs, then took to sniffing Travis’s boots.

Carl laughed. “That’s Zeke and his dog pal, Blondie. Zeke helps in the stables from time to time. Go on, Zeke, tell the man hello.”

Zeke’s wide gaze roved over Travis’s legs, hands, chest, and face. “’lo, Giant.”