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Although, he did feel like the fistfight wasn’t exactly his fault.
“You’re right. You’re always right.” He didn’t have to be happy about it though.
She didn’t look very happy about it either. The laughter had drained from her eyes, and she had a look of concentration on her face. Rightfully so, since she was probing at the sore spot on his face, but he liked it better when her eyes shone with humor and happiness. That was the way he thought of Ellen. That, and how adorable she was with her cows and dogs.
“We’re going to eat. I guess you guys can stand there all day and fiddle around with that if you want to.” Shanna came over carrying one child that was crying on her hip as the other small child grabbed her legs.
“I have to pee!” the little guy said.
“You’re wearing a diaper. Just pee in it,” Shanna said, and the irritation in her voice was unmistakable.
“We’re almost done. I just want to make sure he doesn’t need stitches.”
“He’s not a baby,” Shanna said. “And he bought my lunch. We’re supposed to be eating together. Not sitting around while you fiddle with his face.”
“I’m sorry,” Ellen said, and Travis had to resist the urge to grab hold of her and tell her that she didn’t have to apologize. He appreciated the fact that she was humble and that she hadn’t bought into the world’s idea of standing up for herself. Or whatever other such nonsense they talked about that wasn’t biblical.
“We’ll be over in a minute,” Travis said, trying not to move his mouth as he spoke. Ellen wouldn’t get angry at him, but it would make what she was doing harder.
“This has to hurt,” she murmured.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I like how things turned out.” His words came out a little slurred as he spoke again without moving his mouth. He tried not to smile either, but his words made him want to. After all, they were true. He would much rather have Ellen here fussing over him than off with Chalmer somewhere. Regardless of the fact that he was trying to drag her despite her protests. That alone would make him happy that he’d stoop to the level of teenage boy again. A position he thought he’d outgrown years ago. Apparently, when it came to Ellen, he hadn’t grown up at all.
“Well, I do too, but I guess I would rather be with Chalmer right now than have you sitting here in pain. Especially knowing that it is my fault. This is going to look terrible tomorrow.”
“So you’re saying tomorrow I’m not going to be handsome anymore?” He said that not being serious at all, but Ellen nodded, not even cracking a smile.
“This pretty face will be all marked up.”
“Pretty was not what I was going for.”
She smirked. “You know I think you’re handsome. And this is just going to make you look a little rugged. So, ruggedly handsome. You can pull that off for the next week or so.”
“She thinks I’m ruggedly handsome. I’ll take it.”
“Now, you probably better get over there and keep Shanna happy.”
“You’re coming too.”
“I’m pretty sure Shanna doesn’t want me. And I don’t want to get between you two.”
“There is no getting between us. We’re not standing that close.”
Her brows drew down, and her hand paused as she adjusted the ice on his cheekbone.
“You bought her lunch. You must be rather close.” And then, almost as though the words were dragged out of her, she said, “You didn’t bid on me at all.”
His eyes widened. He hadn’t thought that Ellen might for one second think that he wouldn’t have bought her if he had been there when she was for sale.
He shifted, not caring if the ice fell off his face, and he took her hand in his, looking up at her. “You were already gone when I walked in. I didn’t even know where you were. I got bombarded as soon as I walked in that I needed to buy something, and Shanna’s bucket was the only one left. Trust me, if there was anyone else in town available for sale, I would have bid on them in a heartbeat. I don’t exactly have great memories of Shanna.”
Ellen pulled both of her lips between her front teeth, and he could see the hurt that had been in her heart on her face.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean for you to think that for one second.” He kind of liked the idea that it had bothered Ellen, but hated that he’d hurt her. Even though it had been unintentionally.
He tried for a smile. “Plus, I get here, and you’re running around with Chalmer in the dark outside alone. What was I supposed to think?”
“That you hadn’t gotten there in time to buy me?”
