by Linda Warren
“Why not?”
“I know what my problem is and I have to solve it myself.”
“Okay, then.” Caroline jumped up. “Let’s do something you wouldn’t normally do.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s eat spaghetti in your white living room, watching TV.” Eating was not allowed in the living room.
Grace swallowed hard and looked at Caroline. “You don’t think I can do that?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Can you?”
Grace stood. “Yes. I’ll change my clothes.’
Caroline caught her arm. “Don’t do this with a knot in your stomach. Do it for fun—silly girl fun. Otherwise it will only make you ill.”
Grace thought about it. “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything silly.” A grin spread across her face. “Except that time we were at Daddy’s cabin on the lake and the boy next door was really cute. I put on my bikini and sunbathed.”
Caroline remembered. “And he came over and talked to you, then you went swimming with him.”
“We had a good time,” Grace said, her eyes wistful.
“Yes. Sometimes you can have a good time by letting go.”
“Then let’s have spaghetti in my perfect, tastefully decorated living room.” Grace headed for the door. “I’ll change.”
“Put on jeans and a T-shirt,” Caroline called after her.
“Get comfy.”
Thirty minutes later they had the spaghetti ready—laughing like two ten-year-olds. Caroline carried the plates into the living room and placed them on the coffee table. “Mmm. I think we need some wine. A merlot maybe.”
“Definitely a merlot.” Grace was getting into it, but Caroline sensed her actions were forced. She was trying, though.
“I’ll open it.” Caroline popped the cork and poured two glasses. She handed Grace one and they settled on the sofa.
Caroline held up her glass. “Here’s to change.”
“Change,” Grace murmured, and gulped down a big swallow.
After two glasses, Grace was laughing and so was Caroline. It felt good to be silly.
Caroline held up the empty bottle. “Someone drank all our wine.”
Grace hiccupped. “I think we did.”
“And not one drop on this white sofa.”
“Yay.” Grace held up her empty glass. “Here’s to…what the hell are we toasting?”
“Beats me.”
“Oh, Caro, I’m going to have a big headache tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
Grace stretched out on the sofa. “Do you think we need to do the dishes?”
“Wow! You have had too much wine.”
“Are there polka dots on the ceiling?”
Caroline glanced up. “I don’t think so.”
“Good.” Grace snuggled into the sofa. “Caro?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think I need to apologize to that man with the weird name?”
“You mean Tuck?”
“Yes. Jeremiah.”
“Since we’re never going to see the man again, I don’t think another apology is necessary.”
Grace didn’t answer and Caroline knew she was asleep. She picked up the plates and carried them into the kitchen. Putting dishes in the dishwasher, she found a tear trickling down her cheek.
No, Grace, we’ll never see Tuck or Eli again.
The thought made her very sad.
THE NEXT MORNING Caroline moved back to her apartment. She and Grace both had hangovers and it dulled the fear in her. Grace went to work as usual and they hugged tightly before Grace left. Caroline knew if things didn’t work out at her own place, she could always come back.
But she wouldn’t.
She spent the day cleaning and airing out the place. When she picked up her camera, she didn’t feel the excitement she always did when she touched it. It would come back, though. She just needed time.
Tomorrow was her birthday and her parents were flying in to have lunch with her. She wasn’t jittery. She knew she’d get another lecture on her irresponsible behavior, but she was prepared. Or numb. Trauma seemed to have that effect.
In the afternoon she had an appointment with the federal prosecutor, and she had another at two o’clock the next day. They’d gotten an indictment and now they were preparing for the trial.
Buford and his followers were sticking to their stories, and Caroline hoped a jury wouldn’t believe them. That’s what it would come down to—the decision of a jury.
She hoped she would see Eli, but she didn’t. That was okay, too. She was moving forward.
Lunch with her parents and Grace went smoothly, mainly because her parents were on their cell phones most of the time. They gave her a day at a spa for her birthday and she thanked them, knowing she would use the gift. A day of pampering would be nice.
Grace gave her a bottle of merlot and a book of photos by a famous photographer. All in all her day was going well. She arrived for her meeting with the attorneys on time and spent two hours going over her testimony. They said they would get Buford and for her not to worry. She was worried, though.
She couldn’t explain exactly about what. She just had an uneasy feeling. It had a lot to do with fear. If Buford’s attorney persuaded a jury of his innocence, then “the prophet” would be a free man. Free to hurt other women. Free to hurt her again. That was a big part of her worries. How would she deal with that?
Distracted, she hurried down the hall and bumped into a solid wall of human flesh. She immediately started to apologize, but the words froze on her lips when she saw who it was.
“Eli.” Her heart picked up speed as she took in his tall frame, cowboy boots and cream-colored Stetson. His hair was now cut short in traditional ranger style.
He tipped his hat. “Caroline.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“It’s okay,” he said.
“I didn’t hurt your arm, did I?” The bandage and sling were gone and there were strips of tape over the healing scars.
“No. I’m much tougher than that.”
She knew that he was—as tough as they come.
“How is your arm?” she asked.
He flexed his fingers. “Better every day.”
She saw the end of jagged cuts that would leave scars—a reminder of the day he’d rescued her from hell.
He glanced at her low heels. “Guess your feet have healed?”
“Oh, yes. I’m back to normal,” she replied. “I’ve just been visiting with the attorneys.”
“Then you’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll walk out with you.”
That was a surprise. She’d thought he would make a point of getting away.
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
They walked outside to a beautiful May day. The sun was shining, birds were singing and the magnificent colors of spring enhanced the landscape.
She turned to face him, her eyes centering on his badge. “I’ve never seen a Texas Ranger badge before.” It was a circle with a cut out five-pointed star inside. His name was written across the top of the circle and Texas Rangers across the bottom. His rank—sergeant—was printed in the middle of the star.
He lightly touched it. “It’s made from a Mexican five peso silver coin. The oak leaves on the left represent strength and the olive branch on the left signifies peace. The cut-out star symbolizes the Lone Star of Texas.”
She heard the pride in his voice. “And it’s worn over your heart as a sign of integrity and honor.”
“Something like that.”
“You’re very proud to be a ranger, aren’t you?”
“Yes. The most honest, decent man I ever knew was Jess Tucker. I wanted to be just like him. I’ll never reach that goal, but I’m a better man for just having known him.”
The wind blew Caroline’s hair and she pushed it away from her face, thinking Eli was the best man she’d ever met.
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�I feel as if I should thank you again, but I know you don’t want to hear it.”
“No. You’ve already covered that.”
“But you saved my life and it’s really hard for me to forget that.”
There was that expression again—the closed one. The one she was beginning to recognize.
“At the very least let me buy you dinner.” She rushed on before she could halt herself.
His expression didn’t change, but it didn’t stop her. “It’s my birthday. You’re not going to refuse me on my birthday, are you?”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Aren’t you eating with your fiancé?”
Was that it? He thought she was still engaged.
“Colin and I broke up.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
But he wasn’t. She could see it in his eyes and his expression changed. Things were looking better.
She cocked her head to one side. “I bet you’re a steak man.”
His mouth twitched and it was the closest thing she’d ever seen to a smile on his face. “You’d be right.”
“Then do we have a date?”
“Okay.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to go back to my office, but I can pick you up in about an hour.”
“Or I can pick you up?”
The twitch became more noticeable. “I drive. I always drive. I don’t make a very good passenger.”
“Then you can pick me up at my apartment. It’s—”
“I know where it is,” he interrupted. “I’m just surprised you’re staying there.”
“I was staying with my sister and I love her very much, but living with Grace can be trying on my nerves.”
“I can imagine.”
From his tone, she knew exactly what he was talking about. “She’s real sorry for what she said about Tuck’s name. She didn’t mean it to sound the way it did.”
“Don’t worry. Tuck has a very thick skin.”
“Okay.” Caroline took a step toward her car, hating to leave but knowing she’d see him soon. “I’ll see you in an hour.”
WHAT WAS HE THINKING?
He chastised himself all the way to his car. When Caroline smiled, he couldn’t think too clearly. She had a smile that rivaled the sun for brightness and warmth, and he felt its heat in a way he hadn’t for a very long time. He tried to remember Ginny’s smile and failed. That didn’t upset him. He had to move on. Ten years was long enough.
He closed his office and hurried home to shower and change.
He was shaving when the phone rang. It was Tuck.
“Sorry. I can’t come over and watch the baseball game tonight. I have to get ready to go to Oklahoma on a murder investigation. I’m leaving tomorrow and I’ll be gone for a couple of days. Could you feed the horses, as well as Samson and Delilah?”
“Sure. No problem.” He’d completely forgotten about the game.
“Eli?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re very quiet. Something wrong?”
“No. I’m fine. I’ll talk to you when you get back.”
He was better than he’d been in a while and the truth of that ran through him like the call of a whippoorwill—tempting, appealing and mystifying in its intensity.
CAROLINE RUSHED INTO her bedroom, yanked open her closet door and started pulling out clothes. What was she going to wear? Something casual? Something nice? What? What? What? She didn’t have a lot of time. Something casual, yes—black slacks with a mint-green knit top. That would work.
As she headed for the shower, the phone rang. She talked to Grace as she removed her clothes.
“I spoke to your friends Abby and Dani, and we thought we’d go out tonight and celebrate your birthday.”
“Thanks, but I have other plans.”
“Like what?”
“Don’t be nosy. Tell Abby and Dani thanks and I’ll call them and we’ll arrange something later.”
“Caroline—”
“Bye, Grace. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Before Grace could protest further, she hung up. Caroline didn’t mention her date with Eli because she didn’t want to hear how unwise it was, or how she was fixated on him, or how she was on the rebound from Colin.
She was aware of all those things and she knew what she was doing. After tonight she’d probably never see Eli again, except in the courtroom. But tonight she planned to enjoy herself and to get to know the man who’d saved her life.
She showered, then did her hair and makeup, all the while watching the clock. While she was applying lipstick, the doorbell rang. She grabbed her purse and went to let Eli in.
And she’d never felt so excited in her life.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THEY DECIDED ON a steak house and talked as if they’d known each other forever. They discussed the trial and their fears that Buford might find a way to get off. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn’t seem to notice the other people in the room.
Their food came. Eli had ordered steak and a baked potato, and Caroline had grilled chicken breast with vegetables. She started to ask if he wanted her to cut up his steak, but saw that he could use his right hand very well. She had a feeling Eli did everything well.
“How is Jezebel, the woman who helped you find me?” Caroline asked, cutting up her chicken.
“They’re now calling her Jane Doe,” Eli replied. “She’s in the hospital and they’re running tests to see if they can determine the cause of her memory loss.”
“That has to be so frightening.”
“Yeah.” Eli took a swallow of tea. “The agents say she won’t talk, so they’re giving her some time to adjust before questioning her again.”
“No one knows why she was in the camp?”
Eli finished off his steak and wiped his mouth. “We don’t know anything about her except that she’s not one of Buford’s clan. She was more or less a slave.”
“How horrible.” Caroline laid down her fork. “Those hills are so beautiful and vibrant with color in the spring. I never imagined something so ugly was hidden away there.”
The waiter brought the check and Caroline quickly handed him a credit card. She had it in her pants pocket, readily at hand, because she’d sensed Eli was going to resist her paying.
“No, no. I’ve got it.” Eli immediately pulled out his wallet.
Caroline placed her napkin on the table. “No way. This is my treat.” The waiter left with the card before Eli could stop him.
He frowned.
“Tough,” Caroline said, trying hard not to laugh at his expression.
“What?”
“It’s really tough when a woman buys your dinner.” Unable to stop herself this time, she laughed.
He laughed, too and the sound was awesome—deep and robust. “It just doesn’t feel right.”
She raised her right hand. “I won’t tell a soul.”
He scooted back his chair. “I guess I’m not a modern man.”
“What type of man are you?”
His eyes held hers. “I don’t think I’ll answer that.”
She knew what type of man he was—a man of honor, ethics and high standards, and she’d never met anyone like him before.
Neither said anything as they made their way out to the car. She turned in her seat to face him. “To make you feel better, I’ll let you buy me an ice cream cone.”
“Okay. What flavor?”
“Rocky Road with chocolate sprinkles on top.”
They stopped at an ice cream shop and he got out to get it. When he came back, her eyes opened wide. He’d bought the biggest one they had.
“I can’t eat all that,” she said with laughter in her voice, staring at his own choice. “Why is your vanilla cone so small?”
“That’s what I wanted.”
“I think you’re trying to pay me back for buying dinner.”
“Nah. I wouldn’t do that. Beside, it’s your birthday.” He finished his cone in record time and started the engine.
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nbsp; “Uh-huh.” She tackled the ice cream with gusto and thoroughly enjoyed it, but she still wasn’t finished when they reached her apartment. They sat for a few minutes parked under a streetlight until she did. She licked her lips. “Now I think we need some exercise.”
He watched her tongue dart in and out. “Like what?”
The innocent question and his gaze created a sexual tension that hummed through her veins with a lazy languor.
She shook it off and answered, “Walking.”
Hurrying out of the car, she met him on the pavement. He’d left his hat in the car.
“You don’t walk by yourself at night, do you?”
“Relax, Mr. Ranger,” she teased. “I never walk at night, but I figure since I have a big lawman with me, I’ll be safe.”
They set off down the sidewalk in comfortable silence. It was a beautiful moonlit night and the sky was brilliant with stars.
“Can I ask you a question?” she murmured.
Silence. No “sure.” No “go ahead.” Only silence. But that was Eli. He was a man who didn’t like to answer questions. She already knew that about him.
“So you don’t like questions?”
“No,” he replied. “Especially if they’re personal.”
“How do you know it’s personal?”
He glanced at her. “Isn’t it?”
She inhaled deeply, loving the fragrant scent of blooming roses drifting through the air. “I was just going to ask who the men were that came into your room the day I visited you.”
There was a noticeable pause before he said, “They’re my half brothers. We have the same father.”
“Oh.” This was an answer she wasn’t expecting and it threw her for a second. “You weren’t glad to see them.”
“No. I’m a Coltrane and they’re McCains.”
“But you said you have the same father.”
“Joe McCain never claimed me. He said I wasn’t his.”
This time she didn’t know what to say. She was sure he didn’t want to hear that she was sorry, so she said nothing.
When he continued, she was surprised. “My mother worked in a bar in Waco and we lived in a two room apartment not far from it. Joe McCain was always there even though he had a wife and kids. He was seeing my mom before he even married Althea McCain. Althea never knew and neither did Jake, the eldest. I’m a few months older than him and he never knew we were brothers. But I did.”