Texas Brides Collection (4 page)

Moira blushed from her neck to her eyes. “He wants to talk to Pa.”

The two girls hugged and, with no one in earshot, began to plan Moira’s wedding.

An hour later, Dugan and Chet settled on a price for a chestnut stallion to be picked up after the ranger’s next pay, and Serena rode her palomino home. Pa paid a fine price for the mare, and the horse acted frisky enough to please Serena.

She patted the mare on its neck. “Pa, I know I said this before, but I really appreciate this horse. I’ll take good care of her.”

His dark blue eyes peered into hers. “I know you will. That’s why she’s yours.”

Serena treasured the proud look in her pa’s eyes. As a little girl, she’d lived for his special look and smile meant only for her. Now, she wished Chet would show some kind of affection. Certainly, she wouldn’t have to save him from a wild boar again to get him to notice her.

Chet shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. James’s little girl had gotten under his skin. First she surprised him with her age, next she shot a charging boar between the eyes without a flinch, and now she handled Dugan’s newly broke mare like she’d been born in the saddle. Why hadn’t he noticed these things before? It rightly embarrassed him. He needed to have shown a little more foresight or at least paid more attention to the Talbot household.

A Texas Ranger prided himself in his good judgment and intelligence. Many times he’d heard a good ranger needed to ride like a Mexican, trail like an Indian, shoot like a Tennessean, and fight like a devil. Nothing was ever said about sense with a woman. Good thing only the Lord knew his thoughts.

Ever since he learned about Serena’s age, being around her made him feel rather peculiar, and today he found himself admiring her spunk. Of course, being the only child of James Talbot meant she knew how to handle herself like a man. He should have figured that out when he noticed she refused to use a sidesaddle. Scary thought when Chet had already angered her the night before.

He glanced her way, not really meaning to, and she smiled back at him. Her innocent look made his toes numb, and a chill raced up his spine. He’d never reacted like this to anything in his whole life…until now.

How many times had he thanked God for giving him a steady hand and a clear head? He prayed every time a bullet or arrow whizzed by without so much as piercing his clothes. Those qualities, vital to a ranger’s way of life, kept him alive and able to defend his beloved Republic. In addition, he owed his life here and in eternity to the Lord. Jesus rode with him everywhere he went, guiding and giving him courage to complete the task of defending the people of Texas.

Chet prayed and studied God’s Word every day of his life. He’d learned life didn’t always happen like he figured, but he couldn’t dwell on it. A man had to wait until the smoke cleared and see how God worked. He’d learned to expect the impossible and not flinch when trouble came knocking. But nothing had prepared him for these new findings about Miss Serena Talbot. The little lady kept amazing him everywhere he turned.

God must be chastising him for his prideful talk when he hurt Serena’s feelings. Well, he’d never do it again. This strange feeling unnerved him.

“Pa, where are you headed tomorrow?” Serena asked, breaking the silence.

“Rio Grande,” he said with no emotion creasing his rugged, lined face.

“How long are you going to be gone?” She knew Mexico and Texas were in heavy dispute over the border. The Republic claimed the Rio Grande, but Mexico insisted on the Nueces River.

“Couple of weeks, Little One. I plan to be back for your birthday.”

Serena sighed. “It’s not my birthday bothering me.”

“I know.” He sounded tired.

“I’m not complaining, Pa. I just love you.”

Chet felt as though he shouldn’t be hearing James and Serena’s conversation. Rather too personal for his liking.

“Oh, if God would only let peace come to Texas,” she said with a sigh. “Can you imagine Indians, Mexicans, and Texans all getting along like friendly neighbors? I mean, I know the Tonkawas, Choctaws, and Delaware sometimes scout for you.”

Her pa nodded with a grim smile. “We’ve had some real good Mexicans help us out, too.”

“But I’m dreaming and talking like a child. As long as men walk the face of the earth, there will be war,” she said. “And I do respect your commitment to Texas.”

Her pa cleared his throat. “It doesn’t matter who’s threatening the lives of folks, they have to be stopped. If the Rangers don’t step in, the innocent will die.”

“I understand, Pa, I really do.” Serena said nothing for a few minutes, then asked, “Do you believe we’ll one day be a state?”

Her pa shook his head. “Hard to say. A lot of folks would like to think so.”

“What would happen to the Rangers then?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Chet, you answer that one.”

Serena turned in the saddle, her deep blue eyes penetrating his soul—trusting and seeking an answer.

Suddenly, Chet couldn’t remember his own name.

J
ames slowed his horse to keep pace with Chet. The older man peered into his face. “Didn’t you hear me?” he asked. Again, Chet felt color burn his skin. “Ah, I reckon my mind went to wandering.” Why did the cap’n have that angry glint in his eye?

James chewed on his lower lip, a sign indicating he contemplated a serious matter. “Serena wondered what might happen to the Rangers if Texas became a state.”

Chet swallowed. He sure didn’t like the hard look on James’s face. He must have riled him, except the cap’n didn’t get provoked too easily. “Hard to say,” Chet began, determined to give the popular subject his best. “Statehood might be fine enough, but I don’t think we’d get along with the army—have a hard enough time with the Republic’s army. Too many rituals and regulations for me. I don’t see any purpose in wearing uniforms or keeping my boots and buttons polished. And I couldn’t ever take orders from a man I hadn’t ridden with. Texas Rangers earn their rank by showing they have guts and use their heads. I can’t respect a man simply ’cause he wears a fancy uniform.”

Serena turned in the saddle to address him. The late morning sunlight fairly glistened in her dark hair, giving it a copper cast. “So do you think Texas could get along without the Rangers?”

“Texas will always need rangers,” he said, sitting straighter in the saddle. “I guarantee you the US Army or our Republic’s army would not consider any fighting without first sending us to clear the way.”

She smiled, and he noticed her sparkling white teeth. “Thank you, Chet. I agree with you. Nobody can keep us safe like the Rangers.” She reverted her gaze back to the path ahead, leaving him feeling plumb foolish. And he had no idea why.

“You and me need to talk,” the cap’n said under his breath. He spurred his horse forward to ride alongside his daughter, leaving Chet short of bewildered.

Serena wondered what she’d said to embarrass him. He looked akin to a ripe tomato. Then she had a thought. He must be sweet on Moira and seeing her must have gotten him flustered. Serena supposed it didn’t help matters any with her bold statement about him probably liking Moira. Her dear friend filled his requirements and looked comely, too.

Pa had picked up on Chet’s discomfort. Of course, Pa had a way of knowing what people were thinking long before they said a word.

A knot settled in Serena’s throat. If Chet had eyes for Moira, Serena might as well forget anything ever blossoming between them. Her sweet friend would make a good wife. But…Moira said Aaron Kent had come calling, and she’d rambled on and on about him. Surely she’d rather have Aaron than Chet. At least the widower didn’t live a dangerous life. Good thing she hadn’t shared her dreams with Moira, especially with Chet possibly interested in the pretty redhead.

Lord, help me not to be selfish and jealous. I know I’ve given this to You, but it doesn’t help this ache in my heart
.

Maybe she did need to talk to Ma about Chet. Like Ma had said, some things only a woman understood.

By the time the three made it back to the cabin, Ma had a noonday meal almost ready for them. She’d pulled one of the hams from the smokehouse and cooked it with a bunch of fresh green beans. Ears of buttered corn boiled on the fire with a pan of corn bread baking beside the pot. Ma always cooked hearty meals when Pa came home.

Outside the barn, Ma admired Serena’s palomino. She patted the mare’s neck and let it nuzzle against her. “Beautiful horse. No wonder your pa had to have it for you. Have you a name for her yet?”

Truthfully, Serena had been thinking on it. “I like the name Fawn. The palomino’s color puts me in mind of a baby deer.”

“Sounds real fitting,” her ma replied, giving the mare another pat, “and I don’t recollect hearing a horse called by that name before.”

“Would you like to go riding tomorrow evening?” Serena asked.

“Yes, I believe I would. Might be nice after your pa’s gone.”

Pa leaned up close to Ma and kissed her on the cheek. Tears welled in her pale blue eyes, a sadness seen much too often. Serena felt compassion wash over her. For a brief moment she asked herself if she really wanted the same heartache and separation in her life.

“Let me finish in the house,” Serena said, gathering up her skirt. “I’ve had Pa to myself all morning, and now it’s your turn.”

Pa took Fawn’s reins, and she left her parents to a few stolen moments alone. Chet tied his horse to a post and wordlessly followed Serena inside.

“Shall I tie an apron on you?” she teased. Odd, he looked uneasy. “Something ailing you, Chet?”

“No, nothing.” He looked like a bull calf at a quilting bee.

“Why don’t you sit down while I finish here?” She went about her business, trying to shake herself of his disturbing presence. What had happened to the free-talking ranger she’d known and grown to care about for the past two years?

Once Chet eased down onto a chair at the table and removed his hat, she ladled him a tall mug of water. He murmured his thanks and watched while she placed butter, dewberry preserves, and sliced tomatoes on the table. All the while, his piercing gaze increased her nervousness. While filling a huge bowl with the ham and green beans, she dropped a big wooden spoon on the floor. Snatching it up, she slammed the spoon on the table a little harder than she intended.

Exasperated, she began, “Chet Wilkinson, we’ve known each other for quite a spell, and you have never acted this way before. So why don’t you just tell me what’s wrong? Are you sick? Did you and Pa have words? Are you still mad about last night or me shootin’ the boar this morning?”

Chet raked his fingers through yellow hair. “You could pester a man to death with your questions.”

“Oh,” she said, raising a brow. “You certainly have gotten mean-spirited all of a sudden. I was only trying to help.”

He narrowed his pine green eyes and lifted the tin mug to his lips. In a huff, Serena covered the bowl of vegetables and ham with a clean towel and pulled out the plates and utensils. Realizing the corn must be ready on the cook fire, she grabbed another towel and bowl, then stormed outside.

What made her think Chet Wilkinson could possibly be the man God intended for her? The man had suddenly become intolerable and sullen. She didn’t need a moody man, leastways one who couldn’t answer a little question without getting sour as day-old milk.