Texas Ranger Dad (15 page)

Beneath Zane's hand Max's shoulder heaved up then down as he sucked in a long, deep breath. Zane let his hand drop and waited.

With stronger eyes Max looked up at him. “Is that what you're doing right now?”

Zane nodded. “I don't know what will happen with your mom and me. But God knows…and I'm trusting, hoping and hanging in there, persevering with those things in my heart. But it's the protecting part that God had jump off the page at me. I love you, son. I'll always be here for you to protect and guide you no matter what happens between me and your mom. But right now, I'm trying to protect her heart. It needs time. I know God put this verse on my heart to help me understand.”

Max looked around the barn. Zane knew he was looking at all the lights. “I was rushing her with all of this.”

“Maybe a little. But it came from your heart and
there is no fault there. It might have been just what we needed to jolt her forward. Who knows? I'd have never thought in a million years to do something like that.” He laughed. “And I loved it!”

“You did?”

“Yeah, you might have turned your ol' dad into a romantic.”

Max laughed and rolled his eyes. “I think girls like that sappy stuff.”

“I think you're going to make some girl very happy one of these days. But for now, how about that cactus patch out at my house you were so anxious for me to buy? What say you put your dreams back on track and come help me move in and then we get to work?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Zane gave in and pulled him in for a hug. “You're doing great, kid.” Max hugged him back and Zane had never felt as perfectly at peace and grateful to be alive as he did in that moment.

O
n Wednesday morning Rose was dropping an order of jelly at Pete's when Zane walked in. She smiled, feeling grateful, for whatever he'd said to Max on Monday, it had worked. Max seemed more like his old self and was now working at Zane's each day harvesting the patch of prickly pear. She hadn't pushed to find out what had been said, feeling at peace with the idea that maybe she didn't need to know.

Ashby had announced on Tuesday morning that she was expecting a baby and Rose had been thrilled. As was everyone else. But despite Ashby's wonderful news, Rose had still had to endure three days of questions about how her special dinner date had gone. It had been stressful enough trying to convince everyone that nothing had changed. Except, looking at him now, she knew that something had. She didn't feel angry at him anymore.

But that was it. She was accepting that maybe they could live in the same town and share their son.

Looking at him as he strode into the store, she told
herself that the kick to her pulse was simply because she was startled that he was a mess. There was mud caked to his boots and the bottoms of his jeans and even his shirt was damp. It was only nine o'clock!

“What happened to you?” Pete asked the question she wanted to ask.

Zane looked sheepish and Rose smiled as he hung his head momentarily.

“You know that donkey that Cort and Lilly Wells have?”

“Samantha,” Pete said. “Everyone knows that donkey.”

“And so do I now. I was on my way into town this morning and saw her. She'd gotten herself stuck in the mud in that cow pond up near the road. I had to go get Cort to help me get her out of her little situation. It was a chore and a half.”

“I'm so glad you saw her,” Rose said. “Is she okay? Lilly would really have a hard time if anything happened to her sweet Samantha.”

Zane looked amused. “She's fine. She grinned over her shoulder at me with those big lips the whole time I was trying to push her fat little bottom out of the mud. Cort was on the other end with a rope.”

Pete hooted. “Sounds like you got the bad end of that deal. But that donkey grins at everyone. That donkey is a regular prankster.”

Rose laughed. “She's funny, all right. Why didn't y'all offer her some banana taffy?”

Zane looked pained. “That's how we got her out finally. Lilly got there after a bit since she'd had to take time to get the baby up. But once she got there with her pocket full of that yellow taffy and waved it under the ol' girl's nose she popped right out of that mud.”
He shook his head. “It was the strangest thing I've seen.”

“That's Samantha. She was probably just having a little spa time,” Pete said, grinning. “Was there something you needed? Besides a bath?”

“No, nothing, Pete. I was actually looking for Rose. Would you mind if I stole her for a moment and have a word with her?”

Pete looked from Zane to Rose. “I don't mind if she don't.”

“Sure,” Rose said, as she took the last jar of jelly out of the crate and set it on the counter by the other ones. Zane reached for the empty crate at the same time she did and their hands touched. Her pulse quickened like quicksilver and she immediately drew back.

“I can carry that,” she said even as he carried it toward the door. “I'm capable,” she said, following him.

“I'm sure you are,” he said. “But I'm doing it anyway.” He grinned over his shoulder at her like they were best friends.

And just like that her temper at him flared—or maybe it was just being near him that made her feel so vulnerable and scared and flustered that she was mad at herself and not him.

She hurried from the feed store and opened her back door, waiting as he set the crate inside. He was a mess and she found herself envisioning him stuck in the mud with Samantha and she couldn't help smiling.

He straightened and caught her. “Hey, stop laughing.”

“I'm sorry. It's just, I'm sure you didn't know keeping the peace in Mule Hollow would involve rescuing banana-taffy-loving donkeys.”

He turned a tinge of pink. “No, I didn't. It's a whole other world here.”

“Yes, it is,” she said, holding his gaze for a beat as they seemed to both think back in time.

“Everything better at home?” he asked, at last, filling the awkward moment.

“Yes. I don't know what you said to Max, but he seems more like himself.”

“Good. He was just wound up. He'll be okay. He's been working real hard the past couple of days.”

She nodded, trying to relax, but the conversation seemed forced, stilted. She was simply too tense standing beside Zane.

“So, when are you going to come out and see the place? I'm basically camping there right now while I wait on my things to arrive from storage. But I'd like to show you the place. And talk.”

She was so tempted. She'd been praying that God would ease her mind and her heart where Zane was concerned. It hadn't happened yet. All she felt was stomach-churning turmoil as she looked up at him. “I really can't today. I've got jelly to make after work.”

He rammed his hands into his jeans and looked so much like a disappointed Max that she couldn't take it. “Maybe tomorrow evening, though.”

He smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

She smiled, both from the smile on his face and that he'd stolen Max's quote.

“Are you going to the hospital in the morning?” he asked.

“Yes, the same group who went Sunday are leaving before daylight. I'm so excited for Dottie and Brady.”

“Yeah, they seem pretty excited.” He stepped back but looked almost as if he didn't want to leave. “I
better get back home and cleaned up so Mule Hollow isn't embarrassed by their law enforcement. Y'all be safe and I'll see you tomorrow.”

Rose watched him hop into his truck, then she hurried across the street to the store. Her legs were as wobbly as they'd been the day he'd first come to town. The torture just never seemed to end where the man was concerned.

 

“Y'all should have seen Zane and Cort!” Lilly Wells said over the wind. They were in the big pink convertible speeding down the highway, with the top down. Rose was sitting in the backseat between Molly, the reporter, and Lilly. Lacy was driving and Sheri was riding shotgun. Lacy and Sheri both had on fluorescent ball caps, but their short wispy hair was still dancing around their ears. Molly also had on a ball cap with her long ponytail sticking out the back but Rose and Lilly hadn't thought about hats. Looking at Lilly with her dark corkscrew tendrils whipping in the wind like string cheese in a mixer, she was afraid of what her own hair was going to look like when she got to the hospital.

“He said you got her out with taffy,” Rose said.

Lacy glanced over her shoulder, her eyes wide. “Oh, did he now! Did y'all have a nice conversation about it?”

Rose blushed and looked to the side, only to be met by Molly's inquiring gaze. The last thing she wanted was for Molly to go writing about her and Zane in her newspaper column. “I just spoke to him briefly. That's all. Absolutely no news there,” she said to Molly.

“Don't worry,” she said. “I'm not writing about you and Zane. Given your background, you know,
hiding out and all, I just don't think me plastering y'alls romance across the nation would be a good thing. Even if you are supposed to be out of danger now.”

Well, that at least was a blessing. Except she had said romance. “There isn't any romance.”

“And just why not?” Lilly asked. “He was so cute yesterday. You should have seen him all big heroic man that he is back there with his shoulder pressed to Samantha's rump. You know, poor thing is the size of a small elephant. And she kept slapping him in the face with her tail.” Lilly chuckled. “I told her it wasn't very nice but she just grinned. Truth is, though, I didn't tell the men this but she could have walked out of the mud anytime she wanted.”

“So why didn't she?” Rose asked; the picture of Zane and the donkey made her smile.

Lacy hooted from the front seat. “Because Lilly had her on a diet. That's why!”

Lilly nodded. “Bingo! She needs to lose weight desperately but she'll do anything for banana taffy. The sneak. Even pretend to get stuck in the mud. The only reason I gave it to her yesterday was because I didn't want to embarrass poor Zane. I mean the man was really,
reallly
working hard to save her! How could I let him know she was hoodwinking him?”

Rose got tickled. She couldn't help it. Poor Zane. “I think you were right. He probably doesn't need to know the truth.”

Their hoots of laughter trailed out behind them as Lacy guided the big car around a curve. Rose felt light-hearted and happy suddenly. And for the rest of the drive her mind stayed dangerously on Zane.

T
he hospital waiting room was packed.

Rose, along with half of Mule Hollow, waited for the doctor to come and give them good news about Dottie and Brady's little baby.

“Esther Mae, I don't think we need to let you near the baby when she's born. She might have nightmares when she gets a whiff of the ten gallons of gardenia perfume you're shellacked in!”

Esther Mae's eyes widened. “I don't smell anything. I only put on three squirts.”

“Three squirts!” Norma Sue barked. “That stuff is so nasty a little dab'll kill ya.”

“Norma Sue, shame on you,” Rose said, making Norma Sue chuckle. “You do not smell, Esther Mae. The baby is going to love you.”

Norma Sue was about to tease her buddy more, but the doctor came walking through the double doors and she zeroed in on him instead. “So how is our Dottie?” she demanded. “And our baby?”

“I'm pleased to report that Dottie just gave birth to
a seven-pound twelve-ounce baby girl. Both mother and baby are doing well.”

A cheer went up.

“And the daddy,” Lacy called over the roar. “How's he holding up?”

“He's doing fine, too. At the moment he's holding his baby and getting to know her.”

After explaining that they would be able to view the baby in a few minutes down at the baby room, he left them all.

Rose sank happily into her chair as the group charged toward the end of the hall to wait next to the glass for the baby to appear.

Lacy plopped down beside her. “Our first baby girl. What do you think?”

“I'm thrilled.”

“Me, too. But I look thrilled, don't you think?” She gave an extreme grin.

Rose choked with laughter. “Yes, you look thrilled. And a bit crazy.”

“Just the way it should be.
You,
on the other hand, look a million miles away. And miserable to be there.”

Rose slid her friend a long-suffering look. “Why do you have to be so observant?”

“Because God made me that way. And since I do feel a little responsible for helping to set you up the other night I have to ask if some of this might have to do with a certain handsome deputy?”

Rose moaned. “You kill me. And, yes, you should be very ashamed of your part in that little setup you worked out the other night.”

“That didn't answer my question at all.” Lacy tapped her forehead. “Where are you right now?”

“Oh, if you must know I'm going out to Zane's this evening.”

“
Really.
This is promising.”

“No. I'm just going to look.”

“Looking is good. Talking is better. But looking is a start. I love to look at Clint. Sometimes I just sit across from him and I just can't believe he's mine.”

“Lacy! I'm going to look at his house for crying out loud.”

“Seriously, Rose. Do you even know how to have a good time? I'm not joking. You do remember what that is like, don't you?”

Rose wasn't so sure if she did. She chose to ignore the question. “I'm only going because I'm trying to be amicable for Max's sake.”

“Oh, brother. Are we back there so soon? We talked about this the other night. You need to do something for your sake.”

“If I did something for my sake I'd stay away from Zane.”

“I can't believe you,” Lacy said, springing from the chair as if it were Esther Mae's mini exercise trampo-line. “I'm beginning to think you are a hopeless case.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Seriously. If you aren't going to go out with Zane then you need to start dating someone. Anyone.”

Rose stood up, deciding this conversation needed to die a quick death. “Come on. Let's go see the baby.” Esther Mae practically had her nose plastered to the glass, which was a good indication that the baby had just been wheeled out for viewing.

Lacy fell into step beside her. “On second thought, you shouldn't go out with anyone else. You should marry Zane and have another child.”

“Lacy!”

“Rose!” Lacy echoed her, chuckled. “I'm just teasing you. But really go out there tonight and make me proud.”

Rose groaned. “What I'm going to do is go look at this beautiful baby.”

“Me, too. Then I'm going to drive you home so you can get ready for that great date.”

 

“This is not a date,” Rose reminded herself that afternoon as she drove toward Zane's. Her nerves were tingling they were so frazzled. She clearly understood too many close encounters with Zane would weaken her resolve. She'd been thinking about that all day.

Zane didn't realize that she didn't need to come out and look at his new home. She knew it well. It was a lovely mid-size ranch with beautiful old oaks spread out over the front pastures. It was the type of landscape that inspired a person to want to walk through the open fields between the trees. Especially in early April when the bluebonnets dotted the landscape like a deep blue carpet. Which was the way it looked the first time she'd come and looked at it last year.

The way it had looked the day she'd fallen in love with it.

Today, since it was practically May, the pasture was a vibrant yellow from the brown-eyed Susans that blanketed the land. Turning onto the dirt drive that was actually a private dirt road to the house, she remembered the day she'd driven back here for the first time. She'd let herself dream that she could afford to buy such a place for herself and Max. Of course she'd never told anyone. Being a realist, she had known with her meager resources it was an impossible dream.

But still, she'd come to look…often.

Like Max said, it had a cactus patch that spread for acres and acres. It was the type of natural resource that would have enabled her to stretch her business straight from the start. But it was only a dream and she'd been more than thrilled to be blessed to buy the property where they lived now. The land had been cheap and small but ideally perfect for starting her business. For giving her and Max a home within the realms of their budget. She loved her home.

Still, if she'd had the money, this would have been her true dream home. It was a secret that would go to the grave with her. And an odd irony that Zane would move here and buy it.

Of course he would though. It was the prettiest property in four counties, even if a person didn't find the prickly pear patch an extra-special feature.

The house came into view as she topped a slight hill. Just the sight of it sent a warm happy feeling through her. It was just a sprawling ranch, white with bold black shutters and a detached garage that was connected to the house with a covered patio. She knew from walking around the place and peeking in the windows that there was a flagstone patio on the back with a massive stone grill built to one side. It was a very masculine home on the interior. But she loved the simple bold lines of it and the larger scale of all things. It fit the landscape. It looked like it fit Zane.

He'd bought two pots of red geraniums at some point and they sat beside the sidewalk near the front door. A welcome splash of color against the white backdrop.

The house was actually perfect for Zane. The fact that she kept harping on that detail grated on her already frazzled nerves as she rang the doorbell.

There was no answer, so she rang it again and, after waiting a few more minutes, she walked around to the backyard.

Several yards, practically a football field's distance from the house, there was a large metal barn. She headed that way.

“Max,” she called. She was halfway there when she saw Zane's truck coming from the road and behind him driving an all-terrain utility vehicle was Max. Rose's first inclination was to get angry. How dare Zane let Max drive one of those four-wheeler type vehicles!

The minute he got out of the truck she was beside him.

“What do you mean letting him drive that?”

Zane looked like she'd lost her marbles. “He's fourteen, Rose. It's a ranch vehicle.”

“But—”

Max laughed as he barreled off the seat. “Mom, chill. It's as safe as a golf cart.”

She wanted to say more, but realized that it was the truth. She was just being overprotective or a little territorial where Max was concerned. It was clearly something she was going to have to get over.

The fact that Max looked happy thrilled her.

“Look what I've got in the back,” Max said, waving her to the small bed of the vehicle. It was no more than about three feet by three feet, maybe four, but it was absolutely packed with prickly pears.

“You picked all of that today?”

“Yes, ma'am. And there's tons more where those
came from! We're going to have plenty of jelly juice. All you have to do is sell it. I'm going to be working like a dog over the next few weeks picking and torching these babies and the rest out there waiting to be picked.”

He slid onto the bench seat of the little truck and grabbed the steering wheel. “C'mon,” he said, and slapped the seat beside him. “You have to see this.”

Zane doffed his hat. “After you.”

Rose slid onto the seat beside Max and scooted closer to him when Zane sat down on the other side of her.

“Hit the road, kiddo,” he said, looking past her to Max.

“Sounds like a plan,” Max called and hit the gas—the kid had ridden in Lacy's car far too many times it seemed.

Rose watched silently as he maneuvered the tiny work truck down the lane. She concentrated on watching him and not the fact that her entire right side was pressed against Zane's left side. He needed more room, naturally, and so he'd automatically put his arm across the back of the seat. His hand dangled off the back of the seat between her shoulder and Max, therefore basically placing her in his relaxed embrace. That was hard to ignore.

“I really do love the place,” she said, glancing up at him. The wind was whipping all around them in the open-air vehicle and she was pretty certain she looked a sight. His hair was short and since he had on his hat he looked just as handsome as always. Life just wasn't fair sometimes.

“I'm
really
glad you do. I wouldn't have bought it if I felt you wouldn't like it.”

His admission caught her off guard and the light that warmed his eyes told her he knew it.

She looked away, trying not to put too much meaning on his admission. His hand brushed her arm, sending a thrill of unwanted awareness through her. Her gaze dropped to his hand…only he wasn't caressing her arm but had simply touched her arm to draw her attention to what he was pointing to.

Embarrassed at her assumption, she looked at the pasture he was pointing at and told herself she would stop jumping to conclusions as they drove through an open gate, and crossed the pasture to where the cactus spread out before them.

“Isn't it amazing, Mom?”

She nodded, awed by the sight of the cactus just like she'd been all the other times she'd come to look.

“Max gave me a history lesson about all of this.”

“He's done his homework,” she said. “It's amazing to think areas like this could stretch for such long distances and also have been so important to our heritage. Not only for sustaining the Indians' lives with food but also socially and economically.”

Zane glanced at her. “I like the way it looks, too. There is just something beautiful about those ugly purple tunas hanging off them.”

Max giggled.
Giggled.

Rose laughed at her son's reaction to Zane's bizarre statement and at the statement itself. It just seemed odd coming from him. But as they all three sat together on the seat of the little truck and stared out across the rolling hills covered in cactus she couldn't help but wonder if he'd made the statement because he understood. Understood the ugly purple fruit symbolized so much more to her than just a paycheck.
Could he know working with the prickly pear symbolized taking all the ugly parts of her life and turning them into something beautiful? No, no one would understand that but her.

“Let's head back, Max,” he said after a minute and to Rose he said, “We thought we'd grill some burgers on the pit.”

“But,” she started to protest, feeling vulnerable. This was not a date. She'd only come here to look at the house and then she and Max would go home. Dinner wasn't in the bargain.

“Mom,” Max said. “Don't say no. We have to celebrate Dad getting his new place. It's only right.”

She counted to ten, knowing she was being ganged up on, but she couldn't take this from Max. “Burgers sound great,” she said, and folded her hands in her lap as she prepared herself for what waited for her back at the house.

A very hard time, that's what it was.

She wondered if God was getting a kick out of torturing her…because it sure seemed like it to her.