The Deputy Gets Her Man

by Stella Bagwell

She turned to go, but paused as Gib called to her, “Rosa, as soon as he sees you he’s going to know I’ve been meddlin’. But I don’t care how mad he gets. For a long time he’s needed to face things with his folks. I never thought there was a chance for that to happen until you came along. That’s why I called you.”

  Stunned by the older man’s remark, she stared at him. “Are you thinking I can talk him into going to Texas to see his family?”

  “If you can’t make the man go, then it ain’t possible.”

  Rosalinda’s head swung back and forth. “You’re putting too much faith in me, Gib. I don’t carry that much weight with Ty.”

  The white-haired cook leveled a shrewd smile at her. “I think you’re gonna learn different.”

  Now wasn’t the time to argue that point, Rosalinda decided. “All right. I’ll see what I can do.”

  She hurried off the porch and down the trail to the ranch yard. As she passed by the barns and cattle pens, she saw a herd of steers lined up at rows of feed troughs. Across the way, lights burned in the bunkhouse and the faint sound of voices could be heard within. Apparently, the men had called it quits for the day, except for Tyler.

  When she finally reached the weanling paddock, it was already growing dark, but she could see enough to pick up his silhouette among the horses.

  At the fence, she paused, watching as he rubbed manes and scratched ears. Even from this distance, she could see the baby horses loved and trusted him. And he drew solace from them.

  I get excitement from watching a calf born or a foal running at its mother’s side.

  Tyler had said those words to her the morning she’d first met him. And now she understood exactly what he’d meant by them. He might have built this ranch to prove a point, but in doing so, he’d made himself a home, she thought. But would she ever be a part of it? If he couldn’t allow his own family into his life, how could he ever hope to have one of his own?

  This isn’t about your dreams now, Rosa. This is all about Tyler and what he needs.

  With that reminder rolling through her head, Rosalinda climbed over the tall board fence and walked across the lush grass. The horses quickly shied to one side and stood staring curiously at her as she walked up to Tyler.

  “Sorry I frightened them away,” she said.

  “Don’t worry. Give them a few minutes and they’ll be all over you.” He turned to face her. “This is a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you. You’re not on duty tonight?”

  “No. I’m here because Gib called me. And frankly, I wish you had.”

  His jaw tight, he looked away from her. “That old codger never could mind his own business.”

  “You are his business, Ty.” Stepping forward, she laid a hand on his forearm. “Did you not want me to know about your mother?”

  His gaze swung back to her face and this time she could see his green eyes were full of torment. “It’s not that, Rosa. The news hit me so hard I can’t think. I don’t want to think.”

  Suddenly he latched on to her shoulders and pulled her tight against him. “Oh, Rosa, she’s the only person left in my family who really matters to me. If something happens to her it will be like—well, like they’re all dead. Do you understand?”

  The rawness in his voice caused her throat to burn and with her arms tight around his waist, she clung to him, her cheek pressed to shoulder. “Yes. I think I do. That’s why I believe you should go to her. If you want to tell the rest of your family to go to hell, then so be it. But don’t let them keep you from being with the person you love. Before it’s too late.”

  For long moments he didn’t respond, and then his hands stirred against her shoulders, and she lifted her face up to his. This time when she looked into his eyes, there was a sparkle of light that resembled something like hope.

  “You’re right, Rosa. I will go. If you’ll go with me.”

  If he’d not been holding on to her, Rosalinda was certain she would have toppled over backward.

  “Go with you? Are you serious?”

  “I’ve never been more serious in my life. I won’t make the trip back to Austin without you.”

  She’d be facing the very people who’d hurt him. Possibly even his ex-wife. How could she handle that? “But, Ty, your family doesn’t know me. I’d only be in the way. And you—”

  “I need you, Rosa.”

  The man she was coming to love needed her, and that was all that really mattered. She gave him a wobbly smile. “When do you want to go? I’ll have to see if I can juggle my schedule at work.”

  “I’ll try to book a flight for us in the morning,” he said.

  * * *

  Since they were smack in the middle of the arson case, Rosalinda had to do some major maneuvering to get two days leave from work. Thankfully, Sheriff Hamilton had understood and encouraged her to take the time she needed.

  Now, as Tyler negotiated the rental car through the Austin streets, toward the hospital where Edie Pickens was being treated, Rosalinda’s gaze kept straying over to his stern profile. Throughout the short flight from Ruidoso to Austin, he’d not spoken much and she’d understood his thoughts were preoccupied with his mother.

  Inside the hospital, they traveled the elevator up to the fifth floor, then searched until they found Edie’s room number. Rosalinda half expected him to pause and collect himself before he entered the room. Instead, he simply reached for her hand and opened the door.

  Despite the medical equipment in the room, Rosalinda’s gaze went to the woman in the bed. She had very dark hair threaded faintly with silver. Her oval face was very pale, except for her cheeks, and they were bright pink and slightly puffy. The faint outline of her body beneath the bedcovers revealed her build was tall and slender. At the moment, her eyes were closed and she appeared to be unaware of their presence.

  Rosalinda was wondering whether Tyler would attempt to wake her, when a woman suddenly stepped out of the private bathroom. Guessing her to be somewhere near forty years of age, she had brown hair and green eyes that vaguely resembled Tyler’s and she was staring at them with complete shock.

  “Ty! My God! I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “I didn’t know it myself until late last night,” he told her, then gestured toward Rosalinda. “Constance, I’d like you to meet Rosalinda.”

  The other woman extended her hand out to Rosalinda. “Nice to meet you, Rosalinda.”

  Constance Pickens appeared very Texan with her bold jewelry, carefully made-up face and clothes that looked like they came straight from Neiman-Marcus. What surprised Rosalinda was the warm twang in her voice and the welcoming grip of her hand. She’d not expected that from Tyler’s sister and she could only hope the men of the family would be half as affable.

  “Connie? Who is it? Has someone come to visit?”

  Tyler’s sister turned toward the bed and the weak sound of their mother’s voice.

  “Yes,” she told the woman. “Someone you’ve not seen in a long time.”

  Constance motioned for Tyler, and with his hand at Rosalinda’s back, the two of them moved deeper into the room. Once they reached the foot of the bed, Rosalinda could see an oxygen tube in the woman’s nose and electrode patches attached to her chest. Nearby, a monitor displayed her heartbeat and blood pressure.

  Edie’s expression was guarded as she squinted up at Tyler. And then suddenly recognition flashed across her face and she gasped sharply.

  “Ty!”

  “Yes, Mom,” he said quietly. “It’s Ty.”

  One of her hands reached weakly up to him and Ty quickly clasped it between the two of his, then bent to place a kiss on her forehead.

  Edie’s eyes squeezed tightly shut, and Rosalinda could hardly bear to see the tears slipping from the corners of the woman’s eyes.

  “You sh
ouldn’t have come, Ty. Your father...”

  As his mother’s words trailed away on a weary sigh, a muscle jumped in Tyler’s cheek. “I’ll deal with Dad. Don’t worry about that,” he gently assured her. “Don’t worry about anything. Just concentrate on getting well.”

  Her eyes opened, and as she studied him through her tears, her lips trembled. She started to speak, and a spate of coughing struck her. Once it was over, her head fell limply to the pillow as she struggled to regain her breath. “I didn’t think you’d ever come back to Texas,” she said finally. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

  He stroked his mother’s hair in the same soft manner he’d stroked the weanling’s manes. “I haven’t heard from you in a long time, Mom. You should’ve told me that you’ve been sick.”

  “I haven’t had any problems until lately. Now the doctor says I need a pacemaker. Just imagine. Your mother needs a battery to keep her motor going. I hope they use one with a long cell life,” she joked.

  “Mother! That’s not funny,” Constance scolded her.

  Edie glared at her daughter. “Why not joke about it? Trent does.” She turned her attention back to Tyler, and this time she looked at him with something akin to fear. “Have you seen Trent yet? Or your father?”

  “No.”

  She shook her head just as another round of coughing hit her. Finally, she was able to say, “Warren is going to raise some hell when he finds out you’re here.”

  “Let him raise it. He can’t hurt me anymore, Mom. And I’m sure as hell not going to stand by and let him hurt you. I think when you get well it’s high time you come out to New Mexico for a very long visit.”

  Rosalinda glanced over to Constance to see how his sister was taking Tyler’s suggestion. The younger woman looked mildly surprised. Probably because she’d not expected her brother to make those sorts of waves with their father. As for Rosalinda, she could only imagine how different her life might have turned out if Dale had been strong and forceful and taken the problem with Monique by the horns.

  But then she would have never met Tyler, she thought. And things happened for a reason. Just like the fire that had brought them together. Now she could only wonder what might happen to tear them apart.

  “Maybe it is,” Edie said with a weary sigh. “I’ll think about that.”

  Tyler’s hand suddenly returned to Rosalinda’s back and he urged her closer to the railing of the bed.

  “Mom, I want you to meet Rosalinda. She’s very important to me.”

  Edie’s gaze left her son’s face to travel over Rosalinda and a strange mix of curiosity and joy filled her eyes.

  “Yes, I can see that she is,” she said to Tyler as she smiled at Rosalinda. “It’s nice to meet you, Rosalinda. I’m happy that you made the trip with my son.”

  “Rosalinda is a deputy sheriff,” he told his mother. “She works for the county where I live.”

  “Oh, my,” Edie responded. “You must be a very brave young woman.”

  Rosalinda smiled. “Not really,” she said modestly. “I just like trying to help people who have been wronged.”

  At that moment, Constance came to stand at the end of the bed and Tyler took the cue that Edie had talked enough.

  Bending over her, he placed a kiss on her cheek. “You’re getting tired, Mom. We’ll come back later and visit more. After you’ve rested.”

  She latched on to his hand and gripped it. No doubt she feared these few short minutes would be the only ones she’d have with her misplaced son.

  “You promise you’ll be back?”

  “I promise. Now rest.”

  Before his mother could make any more protest, Tyler urged Rosalinda away from the bed and out of the room. His sister followed them and once they were out in the wide corridor, he turned to her for information.

  “What are the doctors saying about her condition? How did this happen anyway? Mother is only sixty years old! She’s still young! She should be going strong.”

  Constance grimaced. “You’re right about that. But the stress she’s lived under has made her more like a hundred-year-old woman. Some part of her heart is wearing out. The doctors are hoping the pacemaker will deal with it for a while. Later on they expect she’ll have to have open-heart surgery.”

  “I see. And what about her condition right now? The pneumonia?”

  “They’re pulling the excess fluid from her body and her lungs are reacting positively to the antibiotics. Believe me, Tyler, she’s a hundred times better today than last night when I called you.”

  He released a heavy breath. “I’m grateful that you did.”

  His sister peered skeptically at him. “Really? I wasn’t sure. It’s not like we’ve kept in touch, Ty. I didn’t know if you would want to hear from me.”

  Shrugging, he said, “I never had any quarrel with you, Connie.”

  “No. But I—” She shook her head in a self-deprecating way. “I’ve always felt badly because I never stepped up and took your side in things. You know how Dad is. It’s easier just to stay out of his way. As for Trent, he behaved horribly. And DeeDee, my God, Ty, you made a great escape there. Actually, those two deserve each other. Trent is getting—well, I’ll let you see things for yourself. You are going out to the ranch, aren’t you?”

  He glanced at Rosalinda. “Yes. For a while. But Rosalinda and I will be staying the night here in Austin.”

  “Then hopefully I’ll see you again before you leave.” Stepping forward, she gave him a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Thanks, Connie. Tell Mom I’ll see her later.”

  After assuring Tyler she’d give their mother the message, Constance waved them off, and they walked down the corridor to the nearest elevator.

  As they stepped into the cage, Rosalinda looked over at his strained profile. “Your mother is going to get better, Ty. I feel certain of that.”

  “She looked awful.” He jabbed the button that would lower them to the ground floor. “She used to be a beautiful woman, Rosa. But living with Dad for forty years has taken a toll on her.”

  “Why has she stayed? Because she loves him or fears him?”

  He grimaced. “A little of both, I think.”

  Rosalinda suddenly thought about Daisy Martell and how she’d advised the young woman to make changes in her life. Edie Pickens was much older than Daisy, but it was never too late to reach for happiness.

  “When you mentioned visiting New Mexico to her, I could see a light suddenly spark in her eyes. It would be good for her to be with you. She’s already missed so many years with you.”

  “After she gets out of the hospital and back on her feet, I’m going to make sure she spends time on my ranch. And I’m going to make that clear to Dad.”

  The elevator opened and they stepped past a group of people waiting to enter. As they headed toward the huge glass doors that would take them to the parking area, she asked, “Are we going out to the Rocking P now?”

  “We are. Why? Are you worried?”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. As a law officer, I’ve seen—well, family fights can get out of hand.”

  “There won’t be any fighting, Rosa.”

  “Arguments lead to explosions,” she reasoned.

  “There won’t be any of that, either.”

  By now they were out on the sidewalk and they paused in the shade of a crepe myrtle tree. A hot, humid wind was whipping her hair in all directions and as she lifted her hands to hold it down, he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

  “Look, Rosa, my main purpose for coming here is Mom. As for my father and brother, I can’t change who they are. I wouldn’t want to try. But I figure they think I stayed away all these years because I’m not man enough to face them. They need to know diffe
rent. And this is something I should have done a long time ago.”

  Releasing the hold on her flying hair, she placed her hand against his cheek and somehow the feel of his day-old whiskers comforted her, reminded her that he was his own man and walked his own path.

  “And what about DeeDee?”

  “What about her?”

  “You might see her, too.”

  With a wry shake of his head, he said, “DeeDee can’t hurt me anymore. Now let’s get going.”

  On the way to the car, Tyler’s words continued to echo in her ears.

  DeeDee can’t hurt me anymore. Dale had said those very same words about Monique and look how that had turned out, she thought, sickly. The woman had very nearly killed her.

  But DeeDee wasn’t a psycho. And Rosalinda was now an officer of the law. She was trained and capable to deal with violent people, she reminded herself. However, she wasn’t trained to protect her heart. And now, more than ever, she was beginning to see that coming here with Tyler was exposing it to all sorts of dangers. Because slowly and surely she could feel herself falling in love with him and the realization left her more vulnerable than she’d ever felt in her life.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Rocking P Ranch was on a vast stretch of land situated northwest of Austin. As they drove through the green rolling hills dotted with live oaks and mesquite trees, Rosalinda could only think how different the area was from Tyler’s ranch. This land was gentle, the lush meadows undulating into another. Tyler’s land was rough and tough and breathtaking. So very much like him, she thought.

  “We’re almost to the house,” he said, his voice cutting into her thoughts. “I’m sure you’re tired. We’ve been traveling most of the morning. And meeting Mom under those circumstances couldn’t have been easy for you.”

  Outside the window, a white board fence bordered the dirt road and stretched as far as the eye could see. Massive live oaks shaded sections of the road and dotted the pastures. Beneath their draped limbs, black cattle sought relief from the burning sun, while at others, horses dozed and swished their tails at the pestering flies.