“Thanks. I’m glad there’s one gentleman around here.” Rising, she accepted his hand and allowed Travis to walk her to the front door. As he was about to open it, she turned tearful eyes back toward Conner. “This isn’t over,” she said. “You’ll see.”

The sound of Ronda May’s car starting up and driving away was like music to Conner’s ears. A moment later, Travis came back inside the house, shook the snowflakes off his coat, and hung it on the rack.

“Thanks,” Conner said. “You may have just saved my life.”

“Anytime.” Travis ambled into the kitchen, greeted Bucket, and took a cold beer out of the fridge. “Something tells me you’ve got woman trouble,” he said, sinking into the overstuffed chair and popping the tab. “Care to tell me about it?”

Conner managed a weary chuckle. “That depends,” he said. “How long can you stay awake?”

* * *

On Monday morning, Megan took her brother to the clinic. The doctor told him to rest without the sling for one more day. If there was no pain, he could go back to work on Tuesday.

“Maybe Conner could use my help at the ranch,” Daniel said as Megan drove him home. “Maybe you could call and ask him.”

Megan sighed. “Conner has plenty of help. And today won’t be busy like Saturday. Stay home and rest your shoulder, like the doctor told you to.”

Daniel slumped in the seat, the picture of dejection. Megan’s mood matched her brother’s. She hadn’t heard from Conner since last night, when she’d told him not to call her until he’d dealt with Ronda May. She’d assured herself, again and again, that she’d made the right decision. But that didn’t stop her from worrying. What if Conner still had feelings for his former girlfriend?

What if she’d already missed her chance with him?

Later that morning, she’d just changed the beds, and put a load of laundry in the wash, when her cell phone rang.

Her pulse leapt. But the caller wasn’t Conner. It was Tracy.

“Hi, Megan. I got your number from Conner. I apologize for calling on short notice like this. I’m putting together a bridal shower for Maggie, and her only free afternoon is this Wednesday. Since that’s only two days off, there’s no time to send out invitations.” Tracy paused for breath. “Anyway, if you can make it, we’d love to have you come.”

Megan thought fast. She’d enjoyed meeting Tracy and Maggie. They were delightful women, but they were Conner’s friends. Would they still welcome her at the shower if they knew that she and Conner weren’t together?

All she could do was be honest.

“Thank you for inviting me, Tracy,” she said, “but it might be awkward for me to come. Conner and I are having some . . . issues.”