The Ranger's Texas Proposal

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The Ranger's Texas Proposal Page 7

by Jessica Keller


  “I could have been there.” He kicked a rock into the abandoned yard in between the medical office and a small strip mall.

  “But you weren’t. And know what? I’m over it. I moved on. I’m with Danny now and I have this hunch he’s going to propose around Christmas and you’d better be there for the wedding.”

  His feet stilled. Nell married? Danny was a good guy.

  Heath felt a smile tug at his lips. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “You promise?”

  “Yes. And I love you.” He ran the toe of his boot over a patch of tar covering a crack in the road. “I don’t really ever say that, do I?”

  “Not ever.” Her voice hitched a little. “I love you, too. And I definitely like this warm and fuzzy version of you, but I have to ask, where is this change coming from?”

  “The anniversary of Dad’s death is coming up.” November 22 would mark fifteen years.

  “Two weeks from now.” Her voice sobered. “Is that... Are you okay?”

  “I’m in Haven for the month. Investigating it.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? You had such a hard time when...well, you know.”

  “I was fifteen. Dad was my hero.”

  “Not was. He is. Dad’s still your hero. Mine, too.”

  “I want closure.” Nell would argue that they had closure at the funeral, like she always did, so Heath pressed on, “More than what we have.”

  “So investigating Dad’s death has led to you thinking about the past?”

  “Not just that. There’s this lady here.” Heath cupped his free hand around the back of his neck. “Josie. She’s in a situation like yours except her husband was a policeman. He lost his life in the line of duty.”

  “Oh, Heath. You have a soft spot for her, don’t you?”

  He debated denying it, but Nell knew him too well for that. “You could say that.”

  “Have you told her?”

  “Her husband of ten years died six months ago.” He spoke slowly so his sister would understand how impossible the situation was. “No. I haven’t told her that I care about her. It wouldn’t be appropriate and I don’t think the attention would be welcome.” Josie often brushed away Heath’s offer to help her out of his truck and fought him when he tried to lighten her load. The mix of being standoffish yet sweet was messing with his head.

  “But you care about her?” Nell squealed. “This is huge. I haven’t heard you talk about a girl since high school.”

  “I’ve been busy.”

  She clucked her tongue. “Not anymore, though. Not this new and improved Heath Grayson.” There was a smirk in her voice.

  “How’d you do it...all alone, with Carly?”

  “I just did, because I had to. But it was hard. I wouldn’t choose to walk pregnancy and birth and caring for a child alone if I had to. I thank God every day for Danny strolling into my life last year. He’s already such a help.” Carly was singing along to something loud and high-pitched in the background. Nell and Heath both shared a laugh over it. “Heath...you could be Danny in Josie’s life. You realize that, don’t you?”

  He wanted to argue with his sister, but that would just lead their conversation in a circle, so he didn’t. “She invited me to the Thanksgiving dinner at the boys ranch.”

  “Tell me you’re going.”

  He started to head back toward the doctor’s office. “Since Dad, well, you know. Thanksgiving’s never been my thing.”

  “So change that. Go. I want you to go.”

  “There’s something else I want your opinion on.”

  “Shoot, Ranger.”

  Leave it to Nell.

  He chuckled. “Flint’s trying to locate all the original boys from when the ranch opened. They’re looking for someone by the name of Edmund Grayson... They think it might be Grandpa.”

  She gasped. “No. It can’t be, can it? He would have said something. We’d know, wouldn’t we?”

  “That’s what I thought, but should I call him? Make sure?”

  “I wouldn’t. He’s such a grumpy old man. I’d be afraid to ask because he might get offended. You know how he can get.”

  Of course he knew; that was why Heath hadn’t made the call yet.

  He noticed Josie fidgeting inside, so he tied up the conversation with Nell with a promise that he’d be around to celebrate Christmas with them and he couldn’t wait to see how much Carly had grown. He also found out what Carly’s favorite shows were so he’d have a better shot at picking a gift she’d enjoy. From now on he would be more involved in his niece’s life. Next year, he wouldn’t have to ask Nell for suggestions because he’d know what Carly wanted.

  At least, that was a goal to aim for.

  When he went back inside the waiting room, he smiled at Josie and they sat together without talking while they listened for her name to be called. Heath liked that. Just sitting near her, knowing she was safe.

  How would he ever go back to his old life next month? The life where he was just as alone as Josie had been, but hadn’t ever realized how lonely he really was? His five-hundred-square-foot apartment would feel like a solitary prison after this.

  * * *

  After the doctor’s appointment, Josie walked beside Heath on the way back to his pickup truck. Because of construction taking place in the parking lot, they’d had to park in the strip mall next door.

  “I can go get the truck,” Heath offered again.

  “Walking is good for me.” She charged ahead and shooed away the offer of his arm, although it would have helped to lean on him as they picked their way across the yard spanning the distance. But she’d decided to put space between them.

  As they entered the strip-mall area, the door to the first store flew open—the nail salon—and a lady with brass-blond hair and French-manicured fingers cut in front of them. She wore skintight jeans and a shirt bearing a bedazzled cowboy hat and the words Everyone Loves a Texas Girl. Josie would know those sparkly high-heeled sandals anywhere.

  Avery Culpepper.

  Despite her decision moments ago to not touch Heath, Josie grabbed his arm and gently tugged so he’d slow down. “That’s Cyrus Culpepper’s granddaughter,” Josie whispered. “She came after the reading of the will. A real troublemaker.”

  Heath bobbed his head slightly. “I’ve seen her a few times at the Blue Bonnet Inn. She made a ruckus over wanting poached eggs the other morning.” Heath eyed the woman as they got closer. “Culpepper? The man who left his property to the boys ranch?”

  “The same.”

  Avery had her smartphone in her hand as she tottered toward her aging red convertible. “I can’t wait until I can shut down that ranch. Turn out all those bratty little children and sell the place for some real cash. I have so many plans for that money. You have no idea.”

  Josie dug her fingertips into Heath’s arm. He wrapped his hand over hers and offered a sympathetic look.

  “Of course I think I’ll win!” Avery smacked away at her gum. “Ain’t it my right?” Her car chirped when she hit the unlock button. “What claim do those snivelers have to it? I’ve got the name. They’ve got sad stories.” She dropped into her driver’s seat and adjusted the rearview mirror. “Sad stories don’t win lawsuits and I aim to sue.” Avery peeled out of the parking spot, veered around an elderly woman pushing a shopping cart out of the grocery store and tore down Main Street.

  Heath worked his jaw back and forth as he held the passenger door open for Josie. She climbed in and waited for him to slowly round the front of the truck and enter on the driver’s side.

  But not a moment longer.

  “She can’t take the ranch away, can she?”

  Heath shoved the keys into the ignition, but then let them dangle. He leaned back in the seat and took in a long b
reath. “I don’t know. I hope not.”

  “But you know laws.”

  “I know crime codes. Not inheritance laws.”

  “The will named the Lone Star Cowboy League for the property, not her. She can’t do this to those boys.” Josie swiped at tears.

  “Shh.” Heath’s face twisted when he saw she was crying. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I’ll talk to Flint. I’ll help however I can.”

  “Why? You don’t even care about the boys ranch.” She shot the words at him because she was frustrated and needed an outlet for the emotions that threatened to drown her. They had never affected her like that before pregnancy.

  Heath kept his voice soft, calm, as if he was speaking to one of her orphaned calves. “Just because I don’t trust every single person there, doesn’t mean I want the place shut down. The work being done at the boys ranch is valuable. I’ll tell Flint what we heard and—”

  “No. Gabe.” More tears. “He’s the president of our chapter of the Lone Star Cowboy League. We have to tell Gabe.”

  “All right, we’ll tell Gabe. Hey. Everything will be okay.” He squeezed her hand again before letting go. “We’ll fight for this place if we have to.”

  Not trusting her voice, she sucked in a rattling breath and nodded.

  Heath wrapped his arm over the steering wheel and turned on the engine. He backed out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of the boys ranch. “I’m sorry about how I acted earlier, when you asked me about Thanksgiving.”

  She gripped the armrest, just to have something to hold. “I shouldn’t have assumed you’d want to attend.”

  “It’s not that. It’s only...my father was murdered a few days before Thanksgiving. At the boys ranch—at the old location. So, this is all a mess for me right now. If that makes any sense.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, not knowing how else to comfort him. “That makes complete sense. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I’m saying something now.”

  Josie shook her head. Men.

  Heath turned down the music and glanced her way. “What I’m trying to say is, I’d be happy to come to the Thanksgiving dinner, that is, as long as you promise to sit at my table.” His smile lit up every angle of his face.

  She wanted to say she’d sit beside him at every meal for the rest of their lives if he was willing.

  Careful, heart.

  Act like it’s no big deal. Because it’s not.

  Josie removed her hand and rolled her eyes at him. “Are you sure there will be room? My guess is all the boys will be fighting to sit at your table.”

  “I’ll save a seat.” He winked at her. “Right beside me.”

  Josie swallowed hard. “Then, sure, I’ll sit at your table.”

  And she’d probably regret it once December started...but she’d do it for the sake of the boys at the ranch. They’d be ecstatic once they learned Heath would be there.

  Okay, maybe it wasn’t just for the sake of the boys, but she wouldn’t give hope wings by dwelling on the feelings stirring in her heart. Because truth be told, if that hope sprung wings, the only ending for it would be a crash landing.

  Chapter Six

  Neither of Heath’s real-life investigations were going so well.

  Despite talking to several staff members who had worked at the boys ranch while his father was there and going over the case files every night back in his hotel room, he wasn’t any closer to figuring out what had led to the murder.

  Could a resident at the ranch really have committed the crime and then been able to cover it up? Unfortunately, he’d encountered crazier scenarios during his course of duty. Heath’s gut twisted. It was impossible to imagine one of the boys who currently lived at the ranch engaging in such an act. The very thought made him feel ill.

  Then again, there had been different boys there fifteen years ago. Who knew what they’d been like? Other than his father. And Heath could hardly ask him.

  When it came to the recent happenings at the boys ranch—a missing therapy horse last month, some minor thefts and the person Josie had witnessed setting the calves loose—he didn’t have much to go off of there, either. Although, his hunch was still that one of the boys had a penchant for pranks—nothing sinister. So far, there hadn’t been any more incidents while he’d been volunteering. Heath guessed—if someone local had been committing crimes—his presence was enough to keep wrongdoers away. Haven was a small town. Everyone knew a Texas Ranger was loitering around the boys ranch by now.

  They’d wait until the guard dog went home to strike again.

  So don’t leave.

  He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his jaw.

  At least the made-up investigation his detection class was working on was going better.

  Since a few new boys had joined the boys ranch in the past week, Heath had put off going back to the fake crime scene. He wanted to give the new boys a chance to catch up before bringing the group to solve the case. But today he’d led them back to the makeshift crime scene in the calf barn. They’d pulled up the shoe imprints and were passing them around for inspection.

  Most of the boys were staring at him, waiting. Had he been silent so long?

  He cleared his throat. “So what else do you notice about the crime scene?”

  Heath passed in front of the row of students. He paused in front of Joey and Damon, two of the new boys to arrive at the ranch that month. Joey’s red hair stuck out at odd angles, making it look like he’d just woken up in spite of the fact that it was already midday, but he’d been smart as a whip during his talk about interviewing suspects. Damon was smaller, shier. His deep brown eyes matched his skin tone.

  “Damon, notice anything?”

  Damon squinted and tilted his head. “Maybe the person was shuffling?”

  “Great eye.” Heath stepped across the yellow crime-scene tape and squatted near the shoe prints. “Damon’s correct. Does everyone see how some of the prints are dragged together and spaced closer?” He pointed so they could see exactly what he was talking about. “These little details are real important when it comes to identifying the suspect. It’s also the sort of thing that’ll help you win a case in court.”

  Stephen raised his hand. Heath still needed to find a time to speak with the young man about the calves getting loose. He made a note to do that before he and Josie left for the day.

  “Yes, Stephen?”

  The teen stood at the back of the pack and rose up a little, probably on his tiptoes, to gesture toward the back wall. “It looks like the shoes went deeper into the mud way over by the wall there.”

  “Excellent.” Heath rose to his feet. “Any ideas as to what would cause that?”

  Joey licked his lips. “The ground could have been muddier there. Wetter?”

  Heath nodded. “That’s definitely a possibility. However, the ground slopes toward the drain in the center of the building, so it’s unlikely that moisture would pool near the walls. But I really like the way you’re thinking. The deeper impressions mean something...”

  Stephen crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes and tilted his head a fraction. “The person was carrying something heavier when they stepped there.”

  Heath winked at him, letting the teen know he was correct. “Which raises the question...what’s missing?”

  Riley, one of the older boys, looped his arm over a shorter boy Heath had noticed was always his shadow. “I got this one. I asked Josie. She said the old hand-crank ice-cream maker used to be on that ledge there.” He gestured toward the back wall near the footprints. “And now she can’t find it.”

  “Sought out and interviewed a victim.” Heath whistled. “I’m impressed. You just might be a future Ranger.” He grinned
at the boys, surprised by how much fun he was having teaching them. “So here’s what we have so far.” He used his fingers to tick off the clues. “A stolen ice-cream maker, someone who might have shuffled and the knowledge that the ice-cream machine might have been a struggle for them to carry.”

  “And this.” Stephen wiggled the plaster cast of the shoe impression. “The print doesn’t have any logos on it, and most of the bottoms of tennis shoes have that. Right?” He looked off to the left. “So I think it’s someone who doesn’t wear shoes like that. But most everyone else around here wears cowboy boots, and it doesn’t look like that, either. It’s too wide...almost like a loafer or something.”

  Joey laughed. “It looks like an old-lady shoe.”

  They were so close to cracking the case. Heath almost gave in and told them, but he bit his tongue. They’d piece it together soon enough and the ranch cook, Marnie Binder, had a surprise waiting for them when they did.

  Stephen’s eyebrows rose. “You know, now that you said that...it looks like Marnie’s shoes! She makes sense with the ice-cream maker, too.” He took off running out of the barn and banked a hard left toward the big house. Heath motioned for the rest of the boys to follow. Moving as a pack, they sprinted past the learning center and barged into the back of the big house, where all the boys lived.

  Marnie was waiting for them in the kitchen, a huge smile plastered across her face.

  “You’re the thief!”

  “It was you!”

  “Give the ice-cream maker back!”

  The younger ones were jumping up and down, excitement pulsing around the room.

  Marnie threw back her head and laughed as she raised her hands in the air. “You caught me, all right.” She grinned back at Heath. “I see you’ve got a whole brood of junior detectives on your hands.”

  “My future boss is somewhere in this crowd. The next generation of Rangers, right here.” He spanned his hands to include all the boys. Each one looked so proud of himself, proud and confident. Heath’s chest swelled, although he couldn’t brush away the pang of sadness he felt, too. He would have benefited from a father figure to encourage him after his dad passed away.

 

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