"You may call me Travis."
"Very well. I appreciate your kindness* Travis* in escorting me."
"I'm not being kind. The way I see it* I'm stuck with you* and the sooner we get started* the sooner I'll be rid of you."
She pulled her hand away from his and turned to her luggage. "If I hadn't just remembered I'm not going to be honest and forthright anymore* I would tell you I think you're an extremely insolent and hostile man."
"You've been nothing but honest and forthright since you started talking* haven't you?"
"Yes* but I only just remembered not to be."
"I'm not going to ask you to explain this time*" he muttered. "Wait here while I get the horses. And by the way* Emily* you're only taking two satchels up the mountain. O'Toole will have to come and fetch the others. You can leave them in the hotel now. Olsen will make sure no one steals them."
"I'll do no such thing*" she shouted so he could hear her. The rude man was already halfway down the street. "I'm taking every one of my bags* thank you very much."
"No* you're not* but you're welcome* anyway."
She gritted her teeth in frustration. She watched him stroll down the boardwalk* noticed how his shoulders and hips seemed to roll with each stride he took* and found his arrogant swagger most appealing. He was a striking fellow* all right. It was a pity he was also obnoxious.
With a sigh* she forced herself to look away. She was engaged to marry Mr. O'Toole* she reminded herself* and she shouldn't be noticing how fit any other man was.
She wasn't the alley cat in the family; Barbara was. Emily was the reliable and practical one* like an old but comfortable pair of shoes* she thought. No—she had always been reliable and practical in the past. She wasn't anymore.
Travis was just about to cross the street when she called out to him.
"Travis* I should warn you. I'm not at all reliable."
"I didn't think you were*" he called out. "You don't have any sense either."
She smiled with satisfaction. That reaction stopped him dead in his tracks.
"You don't think I have any sense?"
Honest to God* she seemed thrilled by his assessment of her. Didn't the woman realize she was being given an insult?
No* not an insult* he qualified. Just the blunt truth.
"Emily?"
"Yes?"
"Does O'Toole know he's going to marry a crazy woman?"