The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes)

by Winters, Rebecca

  “Have you been to Kamas before, Travis?”

  “No, but I drove up Parley’s Canyon to Park City to ski with some coworkers several times last winter.”

  “Those places aren’t far apart. Our cabin is two miles beyond the town, farther up in the forest, at 8,500 feet.”

  He finished the apple and tossed the core with hers into the plastic bag he used for waste. “I thought the Davis Mountains of West Texas were amazing until I came here and saw the Uintas.”

  “All mountains have their own beauty. Unfortunately, there are lawless people who ruin it for everyone else.” When he didn’t say anything, she glanced at him and saw that his jaw with its dark shadow had hardened. “I—I’m sorry if what I said brought back your pain,” she stammered.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve been living with pain for a long time. Because of Casey, I’m able to deal with my wife’s death.”

  “I know what you mean. The children I work with brought me out of my depression after my divorce. When they’re around, you have to meet their needs. In the process, you forget yourself.”

  “Yup. The day my wife was buried, I wanted to crawl into the ground with her. Then Casey whispered that he didn’t feel good and needed to go the bathroom.”

  In spite of her sorrow for Travis, Melissa laughed gently. “The day I received my divorce decree, one of my young patients caught me crying. She asked me what was wrong. Not thinking, I told her my marriage was over. She said, ‘You’re lucky. Now you get to sleep with your mommy.’”

  Unexpected laughter burst out of Travis. It gave her a glimpse into that hidden part of him. She was pretty sure he was a man who’d once laughed a lot. How would it be to get to know that man…?

  “Have you been divorced for a while?”

  “Six years.”

  “You must have been a child bride.”

  “Being married at twenty-one does sound young these days. To make it worse, I was married to a child groom.” One who was Dr. Jekyll to everyone else, but when they were alone, he became a version of Mr. Hyde, who watched and knew every move she made until she couldn’t breathe.

  “How long did it last?”

  “Seven months.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. It wasn’t meant to be. You know those boxes you have to check as the primary reason for the divorce?”

  He nodded.

  “Well,” she continued, “instead of ‘incompatibility,’ the first one ought to read ‘total and complete immaturity.’”

  Her comment produced another laugh from him.

  “I can laugh about it now, too,” she said.

  She actually could laugh about that part of it, but the other part… Russ’s dark side… She’d since learned that he’d married again and moved to California. The news had made her euphoric, but if she ever allowed herself to think about it, she trembled for his unsuspecting wife.

  “You know, I wish I could find that little girl again and tell her I didn’t end up sleeping with my mommy, but I’m a lot happier now.”

  Melissa looked out the side window, knowing Travis couldn’t say the same thing. Even if his wife’s killer were caught and given the death penalty, it wouldn’t undo the pain of losing her. The horrific murder had robbed Casey of his mother. Melissa heaved a sigh. It was all too sad, but to wallow in it wouldn’t do either of them any good.

  “I have several theories about the people breaking into the cabin,” she said without preamble. “The first one is that they’re probably deer hunters without permits, checking out their favorite spots ahead of time and using the cabin as their motel.”

  His lips twitched. “That’s a possibility.”

  “The second one is that a couple of unemployed high school dropouts wanted by the police are hanging out where no one can find them.”

  “I like that one.”

  Apparently she was amusing him, but this was better than dwelling on his tragic past. “The third one is kind of outside-the-box thinking.”

  “Go on. I’m intrigued.”

  “A Sasquatch family has decided our cabin is the perfect retreat.”

  Again, laughter rumbled out of him. When it subsided he said, “Don’t tell me. You’re a regular listener of the Stargazer Paranormal radio show.”

  “I used to be, but the host was replaced so I don’t listen anymore.”

  “You liked Lacey Pomeroy?”

  Her eyes widened. “Did you used to listen to her show, too?”

  “A couple of times.”

  “Ooh, I wish she hadn’t gone off the air. Sometimes I work late and I loved to hear her talk about other worlds.”

  “Rumor has it she got married and retired into a life of obscurity.”

  “I figured it had to be something like that, but it’s my loss.”

  Travis flashed her a glance. “Does this mean you do a night clinic?”

  “No. I paint.”

  His gaze roved over her with new interest. “Am I in the presence of a famous artist?”

  It was her turn to laugh. “I just play at it for my own pleasure.” She could get lost in it, the best kind of therapy to rid herself of past demons.

  He slowed down to make a turn. They’d be in Kamas soon. “The art hanging in your office—it’s yours?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you sign them?” He sounded surprised. “You’re very good.”

  He sounded as if he meant it. “Thank you. Lest you think I’m crazy for putting up my own stuff and letting my art remain anonymous, I have my reasons.”

  “You mean besides making your office a place children love to visit? Casey said he wished he could take home that picture of the superhero sleeping against the huge bulldog.”

  “He did?” That pleased her. “I painted that soon after my bulldog died.” She’d mourned the loss of him extra hard.

  “But he had four legs.”

  The man sitting next to her didn’t miss anything. When law enforcement failed, you called in a Texas Ranger to get the job done. She’d heard that all her life and couldn’t believe she was actually sitting next to one.

  “My bulldog, Spike, was my second dog.”

  “Spike?”

  “Like the dog in the Tom and Jerry comics.”

  “I liked those old cartoons. Still do.”

  With those words, her feelings warmed toward him. “So do I. Anyway, it was my first dog, Cleo, who was missing a leg. She was a white Bichon. A real cutie. She was a happy little thing, quite unaware she had only three legs.”

  “Do you have a dog now?”

  “No. With the hours I keep, it would be alone too much.”

  “I know what you mean. We have a part-time housekeeper who watches out for Dexter.”

  “A housekeeper who cleans and cooks is what I need, so I can have more time to spend on my hobby.”

  She felt him glance at her. “Lest I think you’re crazy for exhibiting your talent in public, tell me your real reason for putting it up in your office.”

  His brain was a steel trap.

  “Okay. One day I’d like to submit my art to a film company that makes animated cartoons. In the meantime I’ve brought my art to the office and mounted it, watching to see which samples appeal the most to my patients. But so far I’ve received such a wide range of responses, I can’t decide which pieces would be the best to send to an agent who’ll represent me.”

  She thought of h
er picture of Casey. If she dared put it up, she’d be fascinated to see if her patients found it more interesting than the others. But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Melissa turned her head toward Travis, needing to change the subject. “What are some of your ideas about the cabin break-in?” Then she corrected herself. “I suppose I shouldn’t say break-in—there’s no sign of a forced entry.”

  His expression sobered. “Doesn’t matter how they got in. After tracking criminals since my early twenties, I had quite a few scenarios springing to mind. But until I pick up some kind of evidence, I’m keeping the many possibilities open to investigation.”

  “That was a good nonanswer.” She said it with a smile.

  He shot her an amused glance. “We’re coming into Kamas. Let’s grab a bite at that fast-food place up ahead.”

  “You mean Grampy’s. They used to make awesome hamburgers, but they’re under new management. I hope the food’s still good.”

  “We’ll find out. After that I’ll drive to a church parking lot to leave the truck and we’ll head out on foot.”

  “Why a church parking lot?”

  “They’re usually safe places. Anyone looking to hot-wire it, if they can open the door, will think twice about stealing it. There’s usually a custodian around who could walk out at any time and catch them.”

  “That makes sense.”

  He pulled off the road next to some other cars parked in front of Grampy’s, where they had to get out to be served. She opened the cab door and jumped down to get in line behind half a dozen other people. Travis followed. In a minute it was their turn.

  Melissa knew just about everyone who ran the businesses in town. But she didn’t recognize the dark blond employee manning the window. Probably mid-forties, he had a buzz cut and a deeply burnished complexion, with that leathery kind of skin normally seen on a sailor or a beachcomber.

  She likely wouldn’t have noticed details about him if he hadn’t given her that blatant kind of once-over some guys did. Closer now, she saw a glazed look in his eyes. For a second it reminded her of Russ’s crazed expression before he’d struck her.

  This man didn’t stop staring until Travis moved behind her. Then his gaze turned away to Travis, who didn’t need a Texas Ranger uniform to be formidable. Melissa was thankful he was with her.

  “What can I get for you and the wife?” The question didn’t fool her. Neither she nor Travis wore wedding rings.

  She leaned inside the window. “Is that your wife cooking back there?”

  He glanced at the older woman at the grill, giving Melissa a glimpse of a tattoo on the back of his neck. “I don’t have a wife.” Melissa could tell that her question had angered him.

  “I see,” she said. “Well, as it happens, I don’t have a husband. Now, I’ll have a burger and fries to go. Heavy on the onions.”

  She pulled out her twenty-dollar bill and plunked it down in front of him. People in the line behind them must have heard her, for they started chuckling. She wasn’t sorry. The man had disgusted her. He stood there with spots of anger on his cheeks. The spots went even darker by the time he’d waited on Travis and handed him his order.

  By tacit agreement they took their food to a picnic table around the side of the building.

  Chapter Four

  Travis hadn’t liked the way the other man had looked at Melissa. And when his shifty eyes had seen Travis, the way he’d tried to cover up. A woman as pretty as Melissa would always be a target, but there was more to it than that. After chasing down criminals for years, Travis had a gut instinct about them, and this man’s behavior put up a red flag.

  Obviously, Melissa had seen that look, too—she’d paled in reaction—but she’d camouflaged it by turning the tables on the man. But something had gone on inside her, and Travis planned to get to the bottom of it. He’d wait until she was ready to talk.

  Melissa had been a constant surprise from the first moment she’d connected with Casey. Travis might have a problem getting past the similarities to Valerie, yet on the drive up the canyon, he’d enjoyed talking to Melissa, and recognized she was her own person.

  Now she sat across from him and tucked into her burger and fries. He wondered how long it would be before they resumed conversation. Before long he’d finished his food, noticing she had, too. “If you’re through, shall we drive to the church we passed?”

  Her head lifted. “I don’t usually behave that rudely to people, even if they deserve it.”

  He got up and threw their sacks in the receptacle. “The man did make a false assumption.”

  “You mean after he’d—”

  “That, too.” Travis broke in, reading her mind. “You were certainly within your rights.”

  “Well, things like that happen often enough.” Travis didn’t doubt it. “He just happened to pick on the wrong man and woman today.”

  Curious, Travis cocked his head. “Wrong man?”

  “Because of my resemblance to your deceased wife. You must have hated the reminder.”

  Ah. Now he understood part of her reaction, but not all. She jumped up from the bench and started toward the truck. After they were both in the cab, he angled his head toward her. “Actually, it was probably the first time since her death Valerie wasn’t on my mind, but I appreciate your sensitivity. Don’t give it another thought.”

  The more he was getting to know Melissa, the more he realized how different she was from his wife. Since they’d be working together for a while, he needed to get over it. He started the truck and they drove down the street to the church. “How long ago did new management take over there?”

  “Around the first of July. Why?”

  “Have you noticed any other changes? New people in town?”

  “You mean like teens who work here for the summer?”

  “That and anything else you find unusual.”

  “Not really. Normally, I drive straight through to the cabin. But I have to admit that man gave me the creeps.”

  “You actually went pale.”

  She jerked her head toward him. “I did?” she asked in an anxious tone. That made him even more suspicious.

  He nodded. “What would make you do that?”

  “I have no idea.”

  He knew she was lying.

  “Have you ever seen him before?”

  “Never. He certainly has no social skills.”

  Travis agreed. “Do me a favor. Until I’ve had a chance to take a look around Kamas, don’t go to Grampy’s for a while.” He was afraid Melissa could have made an enemy without realizing it.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. Something wasn’t right about him.”

  Amen. Travis would get the whole story out of her later.

  He parked in the church lot, where the truck could be seen from the main street. He grabbed his backpack, and once the vehicle was locked they headed out of town and began the ascent to her cabin.

  She flashed him a smile free of her earlier tension. “We’ll keep heading up this road. It’s not that far.”

  “I’m not complaining.” She was entertaining, as well as incredibly beautiful. He took some invigorating breaths of fresh air.

  Everywhere he looked, the quaking aspen showed some yellow. Signs of fall were creeping into the landscape. He saw a smattering of orange in various areas, but it would be another month before the heavy mountain foliage would turn into full autumn splendor. With the air still warm and a hot sun shining overhead, Travis felt a sudden
infusion of well-being.

  Maybe it was being out in nature again, but as they gained in elevation and he used leg muscles that had needed a workout, he found himself thinking he was glad to be alive. He couldn’t remember feeling like this in a long time.

  He glanced at Melissa. She was keeping right up with him.

  “How do you stay in such great shape, Melissa?”

  “I usually go to the gym after work.”

  “It shows. I’m probably holding you back.”

  She responded with a laugh that said his comment was absurd. He liked it that she didn’t take herself too seriously. “You can see a few cabins here and there, but the higher we get, the more isolated things are.”

  “And more magnificent.”

  She spread her arms and whirled in a circle. “It is!”

  Amused by her behavior, he said, “You sound happy.”

  “I am, and you’re the reason. Since midsummer I’ve been nervous being up here alone, but today I’ve got you with me. Casey told me you go after bad people. I’m counting on you to find out what’s going on up here.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s good enough for me. The cabin is around the next curve in the road.” She picked up speed, forcing him to move faster. In a few more minutes he saw the medium-size two-story log cabin half hidden by trees. Tons of pine needles and cones covered the ground. A lot of family life had been lived up here. He spotted an old swing and furniture on the front porch. There was a rope swing hanging from a nearby tree.

  The branches of one enormous pine brushed against the eaves. Any agile person could climb the tree and get in an upstairs window using the right device. No glass would have to be broken. Two squirrels chattered noisily, then darted across the sun-dappled roof.

  “Aren’t they cute?” Melissa said in a quiet voice.

  Travis smiled. “I recognize them from several of your paintings.” They drew closer. “Before we go inside, I want to walk around and check all the windows and doors from the outside.” He looked at the ground. “When you or your family come up, do you always park here in front?”