Her Texas Ranger

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“I’m glad. And I’m sure your granddaughter will really be surprised when her birthday rolls around and she opens your gift.”

Betty glanced at the fry cook, who was busy flipping burgers, then edged closer to Corrina and lowered her voice. “Speaking of tips, who was the big spender at the bar?”

Corrina’s expression went blank. “Big spender?”

Betty’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “Yeah, the one who left you the big bill. The guy in the cream-colored Stetson and burgundy striped shirt. Every woman in the place was looking at him. I’ve never seen him around here before. But he sure was eyeing you like he knew you pretty well.”

Corrina released a pent-up breath. “Oh. That was Seth Ketchum. We…uh…went to high school together. A long time ago. He just happened to remember me.”

Betty’s wide mouth tilted to a suggestive grin. “Must be nice havin’ a man like that remember you. Is he one of those rich Ketchums? The ones that had that murder out on the T Bar K?”

Corrina nodded. “Yes. Seth is one of the Ketchum sons. He’s a Texas Ranger.”

Betty’s eyebrows arched, her eyes popped wide. To say the woman looked impressed by this news was putting it mildly. “I knew he was a Texan!” Betty exclaimed. “Just had that look about him. You know, the kind that makes you stop and stare when he comes into a room.”

Corrina could have told the woman that Texas hadn’t done that to Seth, it was his own natural presence that drew a person’s attention. But at that moment the cook motioned to Betty that her order was ready and the waitress turned away to fetch the plates of burgers and fries.

Corrina followed Betty out of the kitchen and into the restaurant. The bar was empty and the only customers that remained from the earlier rush were seated on the side of the diner that was Betty’s responsibility.

Seth had eaten his burger and departed the diner while she’d been busy scurrying from table to table. One minute he’d been seated at the bar and the next minute she’d turned around to find him gone. The tip she’d found by his plate had been so large she was actually embarrassed to stuff it into the pocket on her smock. But she had. Because she needed the money. And because she understood that Seth wanted her to have it.

Yet the generous tip didn’t make up for the fact that he’d left without speaking to her, and she had to admit she was feeling a little deflated by his behavior. Especially after he’d made a point of telling her he wanted to talk to her.

Well, none of it mattered, she told herself as she walked from booth to booth straightening napkin holders and salt and pepper shakers. She didn’t need to be talking to Seth Ketchum. She didn’t need to be thinking of him either. He was not the sort of man who would fit into her life at all. Besides, he was only here for a short duration before he’d be heading back to Texas.

The bell over the door jingled and she looked up thinking it was one of Betty’s customers leaving. Instead, her heart skipped an odd little beat as she spotted Seth walking through the door.

She remained standing by the booth and waited for him to approach her. As she watched him stride toward her, she could feel every nerve in her body stand on its head and sizzle with anticipation. By the time he reached her, she was shaking inside and the lopsided smile he was giving her didn’t help to soothe her sudden trembles.

“Has your break started yet?” he asked.

Trying to breathe normally, Corrina glanced at her watch. “It’s starting now. Would you like more coffee, or iced tea?”

“More coffee might be nice. But only if you’re having some,” he told her.

“Why don’t you sit down,” she suggested, gesturing a hand toward the booth. “I’ll be right back.”

Behind the bar, she quickly gathered two cups of coffee and creamers. As she carried the lot over to the booth, she spotted Betty watching her with undisguised speculation. No doubt her friend was wondering what a well-to-do man like Seth would be doing spending more than a passing moment with a woman like Corrina. Actually, she was wondering that herself. But as she joined him in the booth she tried to act as though having coffee with a Texas Ranger was nothing out of the ordinary, that having a handsome, sexy man seek out her company was just a normal part of her day.

“Is this where you usually take your breaks?” he asked. “I mean, if you had plans to leave the diner, don’t let me stop you.”

Corrina quickly waved a dismissive hand. “Oh no. Fifteen minutes isn’t enough time to run an errand or anything. I usually just sit and try to rest my feet.” She stirred cream into her coffee while she berated herself for not taking a moment to powder her nose and dab a bit of color onto her lips. After six hours of work, she knew she looked as washed out as an old dishrag. But then there wasn’t any point in trying to impress Seth. He knew what kind of background she’d come from, a place he would never personally know. “Actually, I didn’t expect you back,” she admitted.

Amusement crinkled his features. “Why not? When I tell someone I’m going to do something, I do it.”

Yes, Corrina was quite certain he was a man who stuck to his word and his principles. He wouldn’t give a woman false promises the way Dale had done the two years they’d been married. What would it be like, she wondered, to have a relationship with a man who didn’t lie to his spouse or think only of himself? A man like Seth?

Embarrassed by her wandering thoughts, she cleared her throat then quickly sipped her coffee. “So…what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked, deciding to get straight to the point.

She could feel his gaze sliding over her skin and hair like an inquisitive hand. The sensation left her hot and cold at the same time.

He said, “I wanted to talk to you about Matthew.”

Her son’s name was probably the last thing she’d been expecting him to say, and the surprise must have shown on her face because he chuckled as she scooted to the edge of her seat and leaned toward him.

“What did he do?” she asked in a desperate rush beneath her breath. “Did he…insult you yesterday?”

“No,” he said with an easy smile. “Your son was very mannerly. I enjoyed spending a few minutes with him, in fact.”

Corrina released a breath of relief. “Oh. I’m glad. I—I’ve tried to raise him right, Seth. But it’s not always easy by myself. Sometimes I never know what might come out of his mouth or what he might do. He’s an adventurous boy and he needs a male figure in his life. More than just Dad. But…well—” She bent her head and focused her blue eyes on the swirling coffee. “Dale has been out of our lives since Matthew was a toddler. He never sees his son. And I…well, it’s probably obvious to you that I never remarried.”

He continued to study her face as he wondered what her life had been like since she’d grown into a woman. It couldn’t have been easy. Not with raising a son alone and now taking care of an alcoholic father.

The urge to console her had him wanting to reach across the table and press her hand between the two of his. He wanted to tell her that the world wasn’t all gray. That one day her sky would be bright and blue.

“Have you wanted to remarry?”

Her head jerked upward as though she’d been shot. “No!” she uttered forcefully, then floundered as her cheekbones turned scarlet. “I mean, I haven’t been looking. Raising Matthew is more important than me having another relationship with a man.”

Did she know just how revealing her words were? he wondered. Since she’d been in the same class as Ross, he knew she had to be around thirty-five, yet she was a woman who’d given up on men and marriage. And love. But then that shouldn’t be so surprising to a man who’d never gotten remotely close to starting a family.

She touched fingertips to the furrows in her forehead. “I’m sorry, Seth. I didn’t mean to run off with the conversation. It’s just that—” She broke off, her smile rueful. “It’s not too often I have anyone to…lend me an ear.”

Suddenly there were so many things he wanted to ask her, to learn about her, but her break was almost over. He couldn’t expect her to sit here and loaf away the remainder of the afternoon. Besides, he didn’t need to know things about Corrina Dawson. The more he learned about her, the more he would eventually have to forget once he went back home to Texas and resumed his life.

Circling his coffee cup with both hands, he watched the tip of her forefinger move from her forehead down to her lower lip, where it rubbed back and forth against the plush, moist curve. Even though the action was totally innocent on her part, the sensual movement caused a gnawing need to start deep in his belly.

Shocked by the unexpected reaction in his body, he focused his eyes on the brown liquid in his cup. “I’m glad you brought up the subject of Matthew needing male attention. Because I’d like to take him horseback riding. I tossed the idea at him yesterday and he seemed interested. So I promised him I’d talk to you about it. I’d planned on calling you, but after I ran into you here…I thought talking with you face-to-face would be better.”

Her heart thudding heavily, Corrina stared at him as all sorts of questions plowed through her mind. The main one being, why would he bother with her son?

“Uh…look, Seth, I understand you’re busy with Noah’s murder case. You couldn’t have time to waste on Matthew.”

His hazel eyes locked with the blue depths of hers. “It wouldn’t be a waste. At least, not for me.”

Her chest winced as a mixture of unexpected emotions hit her. “But you…”

Shaking his head, he said, “Corrina, I promised Ross I would do what I could and I will. But that doesn’t mean I intend to work every minute of the day.”

Corrina didn’t know what to think. To be honest, she was totally floored by Seth’s suggestion. He’d only met Matthew yesterday and he’d not seen or talked to her in years, close to twenty at least. And even then, the two of them had been casual acquaintances.

Only because you wouldn’t let him be more.

The little voice going off in her head shook her, reminded her of a time when she’d dreamed about being someone special to this man, when her young heart had been filled with love for him. Yet she’d never acted on her feelings. She’d only been a teenager at the time, but she’d been mature enough to know a Dawson couldn’t rub shoulders with a Ketchum. It would have never worked. Especially while Tucker had been alive. Seth’s father had wanted the best for his offspring. And Rube Dawson’s daughter wouldn’t have made the grade.

“In that case, I’m sure Matthew would love to go riding with you.”

He smiled and Corrina realized the easy sign of pleasure on his face was not something she’d seen much of since he’d come to the house yesterday. The notion made her wonder if he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders over the Rider case or if something had happened in his past to mute his joy for living.

“Then you have no objection?” he asked.

She laughed softly. “I’m sure if I made objections my son would never speak to me again. But why would I? If he isn’t safe with you, he isn’t safe with anyone.”

He’d had high-ranking political officers in Texas rely on him to protect their very lives, yet to know Corrina trusted her son in his care touched him in a far deeper way. In fact, the pride he was feeling at this moment was downright ridiculous.

“Good. If he’s not doing anything tomorrow afternoon about one, I’ll drive over and pick him and his horse up and take them back to the T Bar K.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “You’re going to ride at the Ketchum place?”

He nodded. “Why? Is something wrong?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Not really. I just assumed you’d be riding on Dad’s place.”

Her eyes traveled over his face and he could see she was trying her best to size up his motives. Seth could have told her that she was wasting her time. He wasn’t even sure himself as to why he was going to this much trouble to show Matthew a little attention. Except that he’d seen a hungry need in the boy’s eyes and had wanted, in some way, to try to ease it.

“And you’re going to a lot of trouble to go over and pick up his horse,” she added.

“I think Matthew will enjoy seeing the ranch,” Seth said, deciding it wouldn’t be polite to add that he believed the boy needed to get off the Dawson place for a while.

A smile lifted the corners of her lips and her blue eyes twinkled at the thought of how much pleasure her son was going to derive from this outing with Seth. “He’ll probably stay awake tonight just waiting for you to show up.”

“I have a nine-year-old nephew, Aaron. He’s my late brother’s son. I might include him on the ride, too. If it’s okay with his mother, Maggie. After Hugh was gored to death by a bull, she’s a little hesitant about letting her son get around horses or cattle. But she doesn’t forbid it and I think she’ll agree. If that’s all right with you.”

Over his shoulder, Corrina spotted the manager of the diner coming out of the kitchen. A quick glance at her watch told her she’d already gone two minutes over her break. Not wanting to jeopardize her job, she rose to her feet and picked up her dirty coffee cup.

“Of course it’s all right. I’ll tell Matthew to be ready tomorrow. Right now, I’ve got to get back to work.” As she turned away from the booth, she shot him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Seth.”

Early the next morning, Seth stood on the front porch and kissed his new sister-in-law’s cheek. A step away, Ross looked on with an indulgent glare.

“Here now,” he warned. “That’s as far as you go, Tex.”

Isabella smiled daintily at her brother-in-law. “Goodbye, Seth. Take care of yourself while we’re gone,” she urged him.

“I will,” Seth assured her, then to his brother he said, “Don’t be so greedy, brother. You’re going to have your pretty wife all to yourself for the next two weeks.”

Grinning, Ross reached for his wife and, with both hands around her rib cage, lifted her off her feet. “Yeah, and I can’t wait,” he said. “Ready to go, honey?”

Ross’s darker-skinned, half-Apache wife smiled adoringly down at her husband. “I’m very ready.”

The intense love on Bella’s face was like nothing Seth had ever seen. And though he wasn’t in the market for a wife, he couldn’t but help feel an empty loss and a ridiculous sense of envy.

Setting her back on her feet, Ross curled his arm around Isabella’s waist and urged her toward the waiting pickup truck where their luggage was already loaded.

Sauntering after them, Seth waited until they’d climbed inside the cab before he stuck his nose in the open window. “It’s not bothering you one little bit to go off and leave me all alone, is it?”

Ross laughed. “It’s not my fault you’re alone.”

No, it was his own choice, Seth thought. But there were times like this one when he wondered if his life would ever change. Moreover, did he really want it to? He could go and do as he pleased. He didn’t have to answer to anyone. And the only person he had to take care of was himself. All those things outweighed the loneliness he sometimes felt. Didn’t it?

“Well, you two enjoy the Caribbean,” he said.

“We will,” Ross assured him with a grin, then just as quickly the grin was replaced with concern. “Just be sure and watch your back, brother. I don’t want anything to happen to you while we’re gone. Or anytime, for that matter.”

Seth frowned. “Are you forgetting Steve Chambers is behind bars?”

“Yeah, Steve tried to kill me. But someone did kill Noah. And he’s still out there on the loose.”

Seth reached through the window and squeezed Ross’s shoulder. “Don’t go off on your honeymoon thinking about any of that, Ross. Linc is here with me. We’ll keep things going and we’ll be safe. Promise.”

Seemingly satisfied that Seth and their cousin could keep things running smoothly and safely, Ross said a final goodbye and started the truck.

Seth waved them off and then watched as the vehicle made its way down the hill, past the ranch yard, the barns, and finally the bunkhouse. Once it was out of sight, he walked back into the kitchen and found Marina sitting at the table dabbing her eyes with the corner of her apron.

“Well, if this isn’t something,” he scolded softly. “You’re sitting here boohooing over Ross being gone. Don’t I count for anything?”

Marina blew her nose, then sniffed. “’Course you count. But I’m used to you being gone. It’s always awful quiet when Ross is away.”

Seth patted the woman’s shoulder. “The days will pass before you notice. Besides, I’ll try to give you as much trouble as I can so you’ll think Ross is still around.”

Marina snorted, then chuckled, then looked at him and smiled. “I didn’t know you could make a joke.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he said as he walked over to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I guess that’s my fault though. I should have been coming back home on a regular basis.”

“You have important work to do, Seth. We understand that. And we’re all very proud of you.”

Seth turned a grateful eye her way. “I know. But sometimes I miss being around my family.”

Twisting her head around, Marina leveled a stern look on him. “You’ve lived alone too long. If your mother was still alive, she’d be very unhappy about that.”

Seth grimaced. “Don’t go using that tactic on me, Marina. Mother always understood the choices I made. Much more than Dad ever did. She knew that I would never marry just for the sake of having a wife or kids. If there is such a thing as love, I want to find it. I don’t want things to be—” He broke off, uncertain about how much he could say to this woman without upsetting her. Even though he had a feeling that Marina knew private things about his parents’ marriage, she’d never spoken of the problems between Tucker and Amelia. Probably because she had loved both of them equally. Just as Seth had. “I don’t want things to be forced,” he finally finished. “I’d rather be alone than live that way.”

Rising from her chair, Marina began to gather the dirty dishes from the table. “Sometimes it’s not meant for a person to find love. Sometimes a person has to settle for less.”

“Not me.” He tossed back the last of his coffee and placed his cup in the sink just as Marina approached with an armload of plates. “I’m going to drive up to the Double X this morning, Marina. But I’ll be back by lunch. I was wondering if you could fix a few snacks for my saddlebags. I’m taking Aaron and another boy riding this afternoon. They might get hungry.”

Always glad to be needed, she gave him a bright smile. “I’ll fix ’em right up. No little boys will ever go hungry around here,” she said, then her eyes narrowed on him. “What you going up to the Double X for? That’s an hour away from here.”

“I’m going to talk to James, see if he’d been in touch with Noah at any time before he was killed. I’m sure they were once friends. James purchased a lot of cattle from Dad during those days that Noah was foreman.”

“Why don’t you just call him?” Marina suggested.

One corner of Seth’s mouth lifted as he shook his head. “You can’t question a person over the phone, Marina. You have to look them in the eye, watch their reactions to see if they’re telling the truth or if anything else is going on with them.”

She dropped the plates into the soapy water. “Well, you’ve went a little loco if you suspect James Miller of killing Noah! That man is a—well, he’s a saint!”