“It would have meant living all over the world. I’m afraid I’m a Texas girl at heart, despite spending so many years overseas. When you asked me why I didn’t stay in China with my friends, the truth is, I was homesick for the ranch.”
“Did you have opportunities to ride over there?”
“Yea, but it wasn’t the same. Hunan Province has great beauty, but it doesn’t have hot spots of bluebonnets you can’t wait to run through. We always came home in April so we wouldn’t miss them in bloom.”
“I take it you’re happy to be home,” Luckey murmured. The dreamy expression on her face said it all, and a vision filled his mind. He could see her riding through purple-blue fields with the wind blowing her lustrous black hair back from her face.
“Oh, yes. I’m never leaving again, except to go on vacation.”
While her pronouncement trickled through Luckey’s awareness like mist, exciting him, the waitress brought their dinner.
“I’m a Texas man myself.”
Ally flashed him a smile that blew him away. “I would never have guessed. Since we’re exchanging information, are you involved with someone who wouldn’t like it that you’re having dinner with me tonight? Even if it is because of the case you’re investigating?”
He put down his fork. “For me it stopped being about this case the moment you opened your office door and we ran into each other. Does that answer your question?”
“Not all of them,” she said unexpectedly. Her smile had faded. “If you told me you’d never been in love, I wouldn’t believe you.”
“I fell hard for a woman in college and married her. We were both twenty-two. But when I was taken on as a Ranger, our problems began. I thought she understood what it meant, but I was naive. Within two years we divorced, and she went back to Houston, where she lives now with her new husband and two kids. He sells insurance, a nine-to-five man.”
“Not every woman could handle what you do for a living. I was surprised my mother could handle the life she shared with my father.”
Luckey was extremely interested in the answer to his next question. “What do you think was the key?”
“When I asked her, she said, ‘Ally? I fell in love with a cowboy and that never changed, because no job can ever take the cowboy out of a real man.’”
“Your mother sounds a lot like mine.”
Ally cocked her head. “In what way?”
“Both my parents came from ranching families who’ve done it for generations. Dad was a rancher before he became a police officer and eventually the sheriff of Travis County. Mom got her nursing degree. Last year they both retired and are back to full-time ranching.”
“Where?”
“In Dripping Springs.”
“That’s only half an hour away. How nice that you can be close to your family. I bet your mom loves it. Are you an only child like me?”
“No. I have a younger brother, Randy. He’s on the police force here in Austin.”
“Law enforcement is alive and doing well in the Davis blood. Didn’t he want to be a Ranger, too?”
Luckey nodded. “It’s odd you’d say that. Randy hopes to be taken on next year. He’s married and has two little girls.”
“Do you have lots of extended family?”
“Lots. They all live in Dripping Springs. What about you?”
“I have my share, too. Some of our relatives lived on our ranch for different periods while we were away, to keep watch over everything.”
“That’s the beauty of a large family.” They’d finished eating. “My twenty questions are over. With that discussion concluded, what do you say we go get your car? I’ll follow you home.”
“Sure. Sounds good.”
The whole time they were driving to the orphanage, and after, on his way to her house, Luckey had a hard time believing that this was really happening. He could thank providence that TJ had let him take this trafficking case. If it hadn’t been for Randy and their conversation about the dumped body, Luckey would probably have picked the case of the wheelchair-bound victim who’d been set on fire.
His grandfather had used a wheelchair before his death. The possibility of him being murdered that way didn’t bear thinking about. In any event, Luckey couldn’t comprehend not knowing Ally now.
He could hardly believe that, after all these years of being alone, he’d met a woman who’d managed, without even trying, to break through the wall he’d built around himself. She brought out every male instinct in him. Thank heaven her father had forbidden her to travel back to China. At this point Luckey’s protective instincts were on full alert. No matter how much she cared about her friend, one wrong move and Ally could disappear. He’d known her only a few days, but that didn’t matter. He wanted her in his life.
She drove fast. He liked that.
By the time they reached her house, twilight had turned into night. He jumped out of his car and walked around to hers. She’d just turned off the engine. Luckey wanted to pull her out of the car into his arms and take her home with him, but of course he couldn’t do that. In fact, he didn’t dare touch her yet, fearing he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Fighting his desire, he opened the door so she could climb out. It was impossible not to notice her shapely legs in the tight, knee-length skirt she wore.
“Thank you for dinner, Luckey.”
Their bodies were close enough that he could feel the heat between them. “I enjoyed our evening. Please tell your mother I’m in her debt and yours for the binder you’ve given me. I’ll be poring over it all night. I’ll get it back to you soon.”
“No, no. It’s yours to keep.”
He still didn’t want to let her go. “What’s your schedule like tomorrow?”
“I’ll be home reading over my graduate students’ theses.”
“Sounds like heavy work, but you like it, right?”
“I do.”
Get away from her, Davis.
“I want to see you again. Friday some of my friends are getting together for a family birthday party. You met Cy. He’ll be there with his wife and daughter. Would you like to go with me?”
After a pause Ally said, “If you’re asking me to a Ranger party, how could I possibly refuse?”
“Good. I’ll call you sometime tomorrow and let you know the details. We’ll go riding and probably roast hot dogs around a campfire.”
“I haven’t done that in forever. It’s the reason I wanted to come home. I can’t wait.”
“We’ll take our horses in my trailer.”
“What’s your horse’s name?”
“Persey, after the Perseus constellation. I guess I don’t need to ask the name of your horse.”
“I’m embarrassed to tell you.”
Luckey grinned. “Silver’s a great name. Bring one of your masks, too.”
“Don’t you dare tell your friends about that.”
“Why? It’s a charming story told by a loving parent. What did you do with your pony when you left for China?”
“We stabled Silver with some neighbours.”
“My friend Vic will be there with his wife and son. Jeremy’s the one having the birthday. He has a pony and a miniature horse.”
“Oh...a toy horse? I’d love to see it.”
“I’ll give Vic a call and see if he’ll bring both.”
“That’ll be so fun. Thank you, Luckey. Now I’d better not keep you. Good night.” She hurried up the steps to her front porch and disappeared in the house.
He got back in his car, but sat there for a minute in a daze. For the first time in years he was going to go to a party with a most incredible woman.
Chapter Four
Early Friday evening, Ally watched for Luckey from the front porch of the ranch house,
wearing her black cowboy hat and cowboy boots. She’d dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved black Western shirt with silver fringe. Ally was so excited to be going with him she couldn’t stand still.
At four on the dot he drove up in a four-door dark red Dodge Ram 3500 truck pulling a two-horse trailer. She hurried down the steps to the vehicle, while Luckey opened the passenger door from inside so she could climb in. The gorgeous man wore a white Stetson and cowboy boots. There was no guy on earth who could equal his rugged good looks. “You’re right on time!” she blurted, with too much excitement.
“I’ve been looking forward to this outing since the other night and don’t want to miss a second of it.” His eyes played over her. “Black on black. I like it. The only thing missing is your black mask.”
His gaze missed nothing. She swallowed hard. “Keep winding down this road and we’ll eventually come to the barn.”
“I want inside that tack room. Maybe we’ll find one of your masks.”
Her cheeks felt warm. “Dad was just kidding.”
Luckey drove past the corral to the front of the barn. After pulling to a stop, he got out to open the rear of the horse trailer.
Ally joined him. “So this is Persey.” The horse nickered, causing her to chuckle. “You’re a handsome specimen.” The golden palomino had a lustrous white mane and tail and was every bit as magnificent as his owner. “I’ll have to bring you some treats.”
“Did you hear that?” Luckey had entered the stall to speak to his horse. “We’re bringing you a girlfriend. Her name is Silver. We’ll be right back.” He patted his horse’s rump and followed Ally into the barn.
She led him over to the stall where she kept her Morgan. Luckey’s knowing eye inspected the mare. “You’ve got a true black Silver here. Beautiful with that silver mane and tail.”
“You’re my sweetheart, aren’t you?” She hugged her horse’s head and kissed her. “We’re going on a ride with Luckey and his friends.” Silver nickered. “Let me show him my gear and then I’ll take care of you.”
When they reached the tack room he turned to her. “I’ll carry out your stuff while you load him.”
Ally grabbed some Buckeye Carrot Crunchers and led her horse out to the trailer. She talked in soothing tones as she walked Silver inside and gave both animals a treat. While they chomped on their goodies, Luckey came in with the gear. When he heard the noise, his deep chuckle worked its way to her insides.
“Spoiling you already, is she?” Though he’d spoken to his horse, his eyes had focused on her.
“It never hurts.”
“That works for humans, too.”
She tossed him a treat, making him laugh. They secured the horses and got back into the truck. “We don’t have far to drive,” Luckey told her. “Kit’s property is out here in Barton Creek, too. After he got married, he wanted more acreage for their horses, and moved out of his condo. He and his wife are throwing this party for Jeremy.”
Within minutes they arrived at the new glass-and-wood two-story house, where Ally spotted other trucks and horse trailers. Luckey escorted her inside to the big family room, where he introduced her to Kit and Natalie, who owned the house. Their little two-year-old, Amy, was adorable. Ally was envious.
“What a darling little girl, all dressed up in her Western duds,” she exclaimed.
Natalie laughed. “My husband has already turned her into a cowgirl.”
“My father did the same thing to me.”
“He sure did.” Luckey’s eyes were all over Ally. Talk about legs turning to jelly!
Slowly, they circulated around the room. She’d met Cy before. He stood next to his wife, Kellie, who was holding their baby, Holly.
“Kellie is our state’s most famous barrel racer,” Luckey informed Ally.
“Not anymore. I’m too out of shape,” she lamented.
Ally smiled. “I saw you in a rodeo on one of our trips home. You were fantastic.”
Cy put an arm around his wife. “She would have won the world championship if she hadn’t found out she was pregnant and had to quit the circuit.”
Kellie winked at Ally. “It was his fault.”
That comment drew a roar from everyone before Ally was introduced to Vic and his wife, Claire, who was in the latter stages of pregnancy.
“And this is our birthday boy,” Claire said, putting her arm around a dark-haired child wearing a cowboy hat.
“Luckey told me,” Ally said, handing him her gift. “Happy Birthday, Jeremy. You can go ahead and open it if you like.”
The boy undid the wrapping and pulled out a red scarf.
“You know what that’s a replica of,” Luckey remarked. He darted her a secret glance.
“What?” Jeremy asked.
“The Lone Ranger’s scarf. He wore it knotted at the side of his neck.” Luckey took over and tied it for the boy.
“Cool! Thanks!” He turned to Vic. “What do you think, Dad?”
“I think that’s a terrific gift for a junior Texas Ranger. All you need is a black mask to complete the outfit.”
Luckey’s eyes swerved to Ally’s. “I know a place where I can dredge one up.”
Before he had a chance to say any more, she changed the subject. “I hear you have a pony.”
“Yup. His name is Comet.”
“I love that name. What about your miniature horse? Is it here, too?”
He nodded. “We took them to the corral.”
“I want to see both of them. I had a pony when I was young, but I never had a toy horse. They are so cute!”
“You’ll love Daken.”
“That’s an interesting name.”
“Yup. Daken is Wolverine’s mutant son. It means mongrel, but my horse doesn’t look like one.”
Ally fought a smile. “I’m sure he doesn’t. Tell me about Daken.”
The boy turned to his parents. “Hey, Mom—I’m going to take her to see Comet and Daken, okay?”
“Go ahead.”
“Come this way.”
A grin lit up Luckey’s handsome features. “While you go with him, I’ll drive the horses around to the corral.”
“Wonderful.”
Ally opened her purse and pulled out a packet of horse treats. After setting her bag on an end table, she followed Jeremy through the house to the back door. They hurried outside to the corral. On the way, Jeremy told her all about his favorite action heroes. Living in China, she’d missed out on a lot of information important to an eight-year-old boy.
“Oh!” she cried when she saw the little brown-and-white horse playing in the grass next to the pony.
“Go sit down by him and he’ll come to you.”
Ally sank onto the grass and opened up the little packet of treats. Daken heard the rustle and came right over to her. She held one of the treats out on her palm and he sniffed it. Within seconds he’d gobbled it down and was stepping on her to get more. Laughter poured out of her. She lay on her side and petted him while Jeremy hunkered next to them.
“I think I have to get me a little horse, too, Jeremy.” Her gaze flicked to the pony. “Uh-oh. I think Comet is jealous. I have one more treat left.” She got up and walked over to the animal. “Here you go.”
By now Luckey had joined them. “It appears you have everyone eating out of your hand,” he told her. “How about going for a ride with me?”
A rush of warmth filled her body when she met his glance.
“Can I come?” Jeremy asked.
Luckey grinned at him. “It’s your birthday, pardner.”
“Daken will follow us.”
Ally loved it. “That I’ve got to see.”
Five minutes later Vic had saddled Jeremy’s pony. The other two Rangers joined them and they all went for a ride,
with Daken trailing. While they rode, Jeremy related to Ally his harrowing experience of being kidnapped from school. The story tugged on her emotions. Jeremy had no idea she’d met Luckey because he was trying to solve a horrendous kidnapping case that had ended in murder.
“Thank goodness you were found in time,” she said.
“Dad charged into the room where I was tied up and took me home with him.”
Ally’s eyes smarted. “Aren’t dads the greatest?”
“Yeah.”
“Ally’s dad is famous, Jeremy,” Luckey said.
The boy looked up at him. “He is?”
“That’s right. Years ago the president of the United States chose him to be our country’s ambassador to China. Ally lived there with her family for fifteen years.”
His eyes lit up. “Did you see panda bears?”
“Absolutely. My family used to go to Chengdu every fall with my friend’s family. They have a panda breeding and research center there where you can see newborn panda cubs. They’re so cute, just like your Daken.”
“Did you have one for a pet?”
“No. I begged my father for one, but pandas are wild and owned by the People’s Republic of China. It’s against the law to keep one. Even if you could, you’d need to own a bamboo forest, because that’s what they eat all the time.”
“Daken loves grass.”
“He makes a great lawnmower,” Vic piped up. Everyone chuckled before he said, “I think we’d better get back, son. It’s growing darker and your mom has a fun game set up for all of us out in back before we eat.”
“What kind of game?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Okay, let’s go!”
Ally smiled at Luckey before the six of them headed back toward the ranch house. In her wildest dreams as a child, she’d never imagined riding horses with four handsome Texas Rangers.
To her delight she saw that three plastic barrels in red, white and blue had been set up in a triangle like a barrel racing event, with chairs placed around for an audience. Behind the chairs was the fire pit.
“Kellie lent Claire her practice barrels,” Luckey explained.
“What a fun idea. I’d love to see her perform again.”
Her Texas Ranger Hero Page 6