Trusting A Texan (Try to Remember)

by Leann Harris

  “He was married. And my mom had a lot of pride. She didn’t want to go to him begging. She made her own way.”

  “Why, do you suppose, she never told you who your father was?”

  “Because she knew I would’ve confronted him. There was a lot of anger in me as a youth and if I’d met George then, it would’ve been explosive. Later...” He shrugged. “I don’t know why she didn’t tell me. Sometimes, wounds go so deep that you can’t talk about them.” He picked up his glass of iced tea and took a swallow.

  “From what you told me the other day, your mom was very successful in her job,” April commented.

  “Yeah, she was. And a barrel of dynamite.”

  “And she liked Cinderella stories. Right?”

  Before he could answer, the phone rang. Rafe stood and answered it. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Rafe, how are you feeling?” Alex asked.

  He smiled. “Fine.”

  “Well, if there are any complications, call, and take your pills,” she ordered.

  “I promise.”

  “Take care. You’re the only brother I have. I don’t want to lose you.”

  He understood her unspoken meaning—that she was glad that he had finally acknowledged their relationship.

  “And I know that J.D. and Toni feel the same way.”

  The way she said it alerted Rafe that maybe his other sisters knew about this afternoon. It always amazed him that he had three half sisters. George Anderson had always wanted a son, but he kept producing daughters.

  “I’m going to keep April inside and not let her get near any windows. We’ll try to keep her from harm until we can get a lead on her.”

  “In the excitement of the afternoon, I forgot to ask if you’ve heard back from any of the hospitals you faxed April’s description to?”

  “Nope,” he replied. “I’m still waiting on that one, too. I’ve thrown out enough bait that I hope I catch something—besides someone who wants to shoot April.” He felt April tense beside him. His eyes met hers, and he saw the fear in them.

  “I’m sure you will,” Alex replied, bringing him back to the telephone conversation. “Please be careful.”

  He found her worry over his safety warming. He wasn’t alone in the world. He had family that cared. “I will.”

  When he hung up, he turned to April. She had been hanging on every word he’d exchanged with his sister. Odd, how that word—sister—had slipped up on him. When had he started thinking of Alex that way? It was a nice feeling.

  “I take it that was your sister.” There was a glimmer in her eyes.

  “She wanted to make sure everyone was okay. And warned us to be careful.” He paused, savoring the words. When he glanced at April, he wondered if she had noticed his reaction.

  “That’s nice.” She looked down at her hands and traced an imaginary pattern on the countertop.

  Something was bothering her. “What’s wrong,” he asked.

  “I was just thinking it was nice that your sister called, concerned with your safety.”

  There was something else. “And?”

  “And maybe in a couple of days, I’ll remember who....” She sucked in her bottom lip. Her pain pulled him to her. Framing her face in his hands, he lightly stroked her cheeks.

  “I wish I could guarantee you would remember, but I can’t. But maybe....” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers, lightly sipping the nectar that was her. She was sweeter than the first peaches, and warmer than a summer afternoon. When he settled his lips firmly on hers, his hands cupped her head, and he tilted it so he could taste her luscious mouth.

  His tongue traced her lips, and she opened up, granting him the access he wanted.

  One of his arms slipped around her back, bringing her flush against him. His body reacted instantly to her touch, like a flash fire, and there was no way she could miss his need. But it seemed to further excite her. Her hands had slipped around his waist and she was stroking his back.

  He wanted to feel skin. Reaching for her shirt, he unbuttoned the first button and ran his fingers over the smooth skin. Suddenly, he heard the sound of an engine. Instantly alert, he stepped away from April and went to the kitchen window.

  “Who is it?” April asked.

  “It’s Billy’s son, Charlie. He’s here to do the chores. I’ll go out and tell him what needs to be done.” When he looked back at her, he saw the longing in her eyes, and knew that if Charlie hadn’t come when he had.... He didn’t need to finish that thought. He had enough trouble already.

  Chapter 9

  “Hello,” April answered the phone.

  “Who is this?” the man demanded.

  “Uh, this is Ranger Sanchez’s residence.”

  “Well, it’s good to know I’ve got the right number. For a minute there, I thought I had misdialed. The question now is who are you, little lady?”

  “I’m April.”

  “My daughter told me about you.”

  “Your daughter?”

  “Yes, Alexandra Grey.”

  “Oh, you’re Rafe’s father. Well, he’s out in the barn with the boy who came out to feed the stock.”

  “Well, I’m glad he feels well enough to be on his feet. Tell him—”

  “He’s walking in now, sir. Just a minute.” April put her hand over the mouthpiece and said, “Your father is calling.” She handed him the telephone.

  “Hello.”

  “Son, your sister told me what happened. Are you okay?” For so many years as a youth, Rafe had wanted a dad. Now that he had one, he didn’t quite know how to deal with it.

  “Yes. Alex took good care of me.”

  “Well, she’s a damn fine doctor. But what is going on there?”

  Rafe explained about April and the newspaper article that appeared that morning. “I think it triggered this incident.”

  “Can’t say I’m crazy about your methods,” George groused.

  “I’m not thrilled, either. But when April wasn’t appearing on any missing persons list, I went with a public airing of her story. It brought results.”

  “But nothing you can’t get a handle on.” There was pride in his father’s voice.

  That pleased Rafe. It also surprised him. “I also sent some faxes on April to the hospitals in the state.”

  “Why’d you do that?”

  “Alex told me that April has a distinct scar that maybe a surgeon might recognize, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

  “I can have my secretary call around the hospitals here if you like.”

  “No, George, this type of surgery is only done at larger hospitals.”

  “Well, it’s good that you and your sister are working together.”

  “How are you feeling today?” Rafe asked. George had just recovered from a car accident that had killed his second wife. And as much as he was conflicted about his father, Rafe enjoyed the brassy old man. He was the kind of oilman who could arm-wrestle a bull and come out victorious. And Rafe was sure George had done just that.

  “I’m doing okay. Your sister, Toni, decided to move back to Midland from Austin. She’s going to teach at the university.”

  Rafe wasn’t too surprised that Toni had moved back home. Of all George’s children, she was the closest to their father. “Well, I’m glad to hear she’s teaching there. I know she’ll do a good job.”

  “Well, if you want any help with your lost lady, let me know. I’ve got connections.”

  Rafe couldn’t help but smile. His father had enough audacity for two men. But that was probably what made George a success in the maverick business of wildcatting.

  “Thanks for the offer.” Rafe didn’t call him “dad.” He might be able to refer to Alex as his sister, but he still wasn’t ready for that next step.

  April was watching him when he hung up the phone. “You call your father ‘George’?”

  “I do. Apparently, Alex called him and told him about the shooting. He was concerned.”

 
“That was nice of him.”

  Rafe shrugged. “I guess.” That was as much credit as he could give George.

  “How did it go with the evening feeding?” April asked.

  “Charlie’s a good kid. I paid him and sent him on his way. I’ll be well enough to feed the stock tomorrow morning.”

  She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.

  The phone rang again. Rafe reached for it. “Hello.”

  “Rafe, this is J.D.,” said his oldest sister.

  “Did Alex call you, too?”

  “No, it was Dad. He told me what happened and about your situation with April. Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, thanks.” He was truly amazed. He’d met J.D. and her husband, Luke, a detective with the Dallas police department, when they came to Saddle for Alex and Derek’s wedding. He’d liked J.D.’s no-nonsense approach to life.

  Rafe looked at April. She was watching him, her eyes questioning and worried. He smiled at her, hoping to ease her fears. He grabbed the tablet on the counter and scribbled the word sister on it. April nodded.

  “Well, if you need me to do anything or check anything, please call.”

  Having sisters—warm and giving and willing to help at a moment’s notice—still astounded Rafe after a lifetime of being alone. This was not the first time they had offered to help him. “I will. Thanks.” He hung up the phone and shook his head.

  “What did Alex say?” April asked, stepping forward.

  Rafe sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. His leg was starting to throb. “That wasn’t Alex.”

  “But you wrote ‘sister.’ ”

  He held up three fingers. “You forget I have three sisters. That was the oldest of them, J.D.”

  “The attorney,” she answered quickly.

  Rafe threw her a sharp gaze.

  “You told me that she was a lawyer that first afternoon at Mabel’s.”

  It was obvious that April’s memory since she woke up was working well. “She got a call from George. She wanted to see if she could help. Asked if her husband, a cop in Dallas, could help.”

  April rested her hip against the wooden base of the counter island. “That was nice of her.”

  The lady had nice curves. Well, there was something that hadn’t been wounded this afternoon: his attraction to April. Rafe grinned. “They make quite a pair,” he commented, bringing his mind back to the conversation. “She’s a defense attorney, and they don’t see eye to eye on many things.”

  April grinned. “I’m surprised they got together.”

  He shook his head, thinking of the verbal sparring he’d witnessed between J.D. and Luke. And yet, there was mutual respect between them. And love. That was what blew him away about the relationship. “They were surprised, too. Sometimes sexual attraction overwhelms opposites.”

  The quiet in the room was deafening. Well, he’d stepped in it that time. “My captain is going to try to arrange a TV interview for you with the local Midland station. Or if he can interest CNN and it’s a slow news day, we’ll get you on coast to coast. The more people who know about you, the greater our chances of discovering who you are.”

  “I guess.” She didn’t sound enthusiastic.

  “I’ve put out through DPS that you were here with me. The Rangers around the state are keeping their eyes and ears open.”

  He saw the tension in her shoulders relax.

  The phone rang again. Rafe’s brow shot up. “I got one sister left. What do you want to bet?” He picked up the phone. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Rafe. This is Toni.” Rafe laughed and gave April a thumbs-up.

  “Is something funny?”

  April’s eyes were wide as she watched him.

  “I’m sorry, Toni. It’s just that George, J.D. and Alex have called in the last few minutes. They all were concerned.”

  “Oh!” Toni laughed.

  “It’s just not something I’m used to yet—having a concerned family. It’s nice.”

  “Well, we might all fuss and fight with each other, but when the chips are down, we’re there. And what I wanted to do is offer my help, whatever I could do. Do you need for me to identify some birds?” she added in a teasing tone. Toni had a Ph.D. in ornithology.

  Another laugh worked its way out. He shook his head. “Thanks, Toni. I don’t think there’s anything you can do and as far as I know, there are no birds involved in the case. But if I come across any, you’ll be the first I call.”

  “Really, if I can help, let me know. Even you famous Texas Rangers need help occasionally.”

  “And a smart Ranger asks for help when he needs to. I hear that you’ve moved back to Midland.”

  “I’m teaching at UT Permian Basin in Odessa, but it’s close enough to Dad for all practical purposes.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “He’s doing better. He’s wanting to run my life again, so I know he’s making progress.”

  “I guess that’s a positive sign.”

  “It is. Although Dad’s pushy, when he wasn’t after the accident, it worried everyone. I’m glad he’s back.”

  “Thanks for calling, sis.” That was a first for him, too. He was amazed that he thought of all three women as his sisters.

  When he hung up, April stepped closer. “That was your other sister?”

  Rafe nodded. “George said something to her. She was concerned and offered to help. It was a nice gesture, but unless birds turn up in this case, I don’t know what help she could be.”

  “Birds?”

  “Yeah. She’s an ornithologist. George says she’s a pain in the butt when she starts talking about migration and how sludge tanks in the oil fields can mess it up.”

  Her eyes wide, she said, “Oh.”

  He grinned. “That’s not exactly what George says, but mi madre didn’t allow me to use that kind of language. As a matter of fact, when she worked for one of the judges down there in Brownsville, he was known for his foul mouth—until she got the job as his clerk. After a week, she told him if he didn’t clean up his language, she would put in for a transfer and let everyone in the courthouse know why she was asking for the change. It was an election year. She didn’t have another problem with the man.”

  “I believe I like your mother’s attitude.”

  “She was tough, but fair.”

  He stared out the kitchen window, seeing again the spot where the shooter had been. “I want to warn you again, don’t get close to any window. I don’t want you to make a target of yourself.”

  Her cheerful mood evaporated. “Do you think whoever shot at us will try again?”

  His hand cupped her face. “I can’t say. Whoever was trying today made a mess of things. It depends on how desperate he is. And what he doesn’t want you to remember.”

  The expression in her eyes made him regret his unvarnished words. But April needed to know what she was facing. She’d be safer if she was careful.

  “I don’t want to take a chance that you might be harmed.”

  Her eyes grew bright, and she swallowed. She bit her lip and opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head. “But what about your safety?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep a sharp eye out from now on. I don’t plan on being ambushed again.”

  She didn’t look happy with his answer but, thankfully, didn’t challenge it.

  He had the oddest feeling that things were going to change. And real soon.

  Rafe sat by April as they finished watching a TV program about volcanoes. But he didn’t see the screen. Instead, his mind was reliving April’s reaction in the kitchen, after he’d been shot.

  “I’m surprised that you get this program,” April said.

  Her voice snapped Rafe back to the present. “Satellite dishes have changed the face of this community. We’re now connected with the outside world.”

  She looked back at the screen, and Rafe’s mind wandered again to her reaction in the kitchen. When he had asked her about the incide
nt earlier, she had hesitated. She must be withholding something.

  “April, will you answer a question for me?”

  “Of course.”

  “This afternoon when I was shot, you had an odd look on your face. What were you thinking?”

  She picked at a nonexistent piece of lint on her jeans.

  “Did you remember something? Something that you’re not wanting to talk about?”

  Finally, her green eyes met his. There was fear in those eyes. “When I saw your wound, for a moment there, another scene flashed before my eyes.”

  Now they were getting somewhere, he thought. “You want to tell me about it?”

  “No.”

  He reached over and lightly stroked the back of April’s hand. He didn’t rush her, as much as he wanted to. She needed to feel safe, and pushing her wouldn’t accomplish his goal.

  Finally she said, “There was a man. He was sprawled on the floor. Under him was a carpet red with blood.”

  From what she was describing, he could see why she might have lost her memory. Hysterical amnesia.

  “Can you tell me anything else about the scene? Is there anyone standing around the body? Can you see the room, any of the furnishings?”

  She shook her head. “It happened so fast that I just got a glimpse.” Her face was a portrait of misery.

  He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on her head.

  “I don’t think I want to remember, Rafe, if that’s what I saw.”

  “Don’t worry, querida. I’m here.”

  Her lips moved on his neck, gently kissing him. When he looked into her face, there was trust shining in her eyes. Her fingers traced the contour of his chin, then she ran the back of her fingers over his five o’clock shadow.

  “Has anyone told you what a handsome man you are?” she quietly asked.

  A grin curved his mouth. “Not too many of my fellow Rangers have said anything like that. They say I’m as stubborn as an old mule, or that I can be as contrary as a bear. And there was one guy I was trailing that told me I was as mean as a snake. Of course, Kevin didn’t have too much room to talk. He’s the gentleman who shot me up a couple of years ago.”

  She shivered.