The Ranger's Texas Proposal

by Jessica Keller

  But perhaps the pie was a peace offering. Or a window to her true emotions.

  Josie had a justifiable reason for having reservations about getting involved with a Texas Ranger, but Heath was beginning to feel like all the risk was worth it. Why not? No matter how long he searched, he’d never meet another woman with such a mix of determination, strength, compassion and beauty.

  He tucked the note into his back pocket and picked up the pie.

  Yes, stubborn man that he was, his heart had betrayed his tough resolve to never get involved with a woman. Heath was falling for Josie Markham. And if the pie was any indication, she just might feel the same way about him.

  Chapter Eleven

  The goats called to Josie with wavering bleats as she passed their enclosure.

  “Not now, sweethearts.” She shifted the blanket and stuffed animals she was carrying into one arm so she could go down the row and pet each one. The smaller goats had their heads at odd angles, completely rammed through the wires of the fence, while the larger ones braced their front hooves on the groove of the fence, making them tall enough to stick their heads over the top line. The coarse hair of their whiskers tickled her skin.

  “I’ll sneak you goodies later, though. I promise.”

  Thankfully, bucks weren’t kept with the herd, so Josie didn’t have to contend with the reek of the male goats, which was worse in the fall. Her pregnant nose couldn’t have handled the bucks right now. However, the wethers and does were delightful. Each one nuzzled at her hand, their large eyes following her every movement as if she might still have treats on her somewhere and she was holding out on them. Dale used to say goats creeped him out because their eyes looked like something out of a science-fiction movie, but their strange eyes, with the rectangular pupils, were one of the reasons Josie found them so charming.

  “Those are cute.” Katie Ellis, the receptionist at the boys ranch, pointed at the stuffed animals and blanket in Josie’s arms as the two women met halfway up the walk to the back door of the giant ranch house. Her curly blond hair looked extra bouncy today, and was it only Josie’s imagination, or was Katie sporting some new makeup? Her green eyes really popped.

  “Not the goats. The stuffed animals. Where are they from?” Her face read blank and Josie knew she wasn’t that good of an actress. Katie Ellis was definitely not the mystery matchmaker.

  Should Josie bother with telling her about the fake note? Sometimes Katie had a way of over-romanticizing situations. After Diego’s questions about marriage, Josie wasn’t sure she was up for more matchmaking talk.

  Josie shifted to cradle the items in both hands. “I was hoping you might know. Someone left them for me.”

  “No tag?”

  Not a tag Josie believed. “You could say that.”

  Katie glanced at the stuffed cow. “Aww. That’s supercute.” She handed over a canvas shopping bag. “Here. Take my bag. I insist. I was using the excuse of tossing this in my car as a way to get a breath of fresh air anyway.” Katie pivoted to face the side yard as she talked.

  Josie followed her movements to where Andrew Walsh, the extremely young but devoted senior pastor of Haven Community Church, was teaching a group of boys how to tend the compost heap—all in the name of a hands-on Bible lesson. Earlier he’d led the boys around the ranch until they returned with wheelbarrows loaded down with fallen leaves and plant debris. Usually Josie gave the compost area a wide berth. The musty, rotting smell that wafted from the heap was enough to make her nauseous for the rest of the day.

  “That’s expertly done, Sam.” Pastor Walsh clapped one of the quieter boys on the back in an encouraging manner. “Dry materials, green matter, a shovelful of soil and a sprinkling of fertilizer. Mix. Repeat. You remembered that all on your own.”

  Young Jasper—who was known as the ranch prankster—snickered beneath his mop of sandy-brown hair. “And by fertilizer, he means horse—”

  “Now, now, Jasper. We all know what it really is.” Andrew intercepted the conversation before it went south. The pastor excelled at redirecting the boys. He turned back to the others waiting in line. “Fertilizer actually teaches us an important spiritual lesson.”

  More of the boys joined Jasper’s laugher.

  “Believe me, I know. I know.” Andrew shook his head in a commiserating way. “As funny as it sounds, sometimes it’s a good thing when we can draw spiritual parallels from the most mundane items. If we connect something we see or experience daily with a spiritual lesson, it teaches our minds to see God’s hand everywhere.” Andrew didn’t look fazed by their continued stream of giggles.

  “Even with—” Jasper doubled over before he could finish his question.

  “Even with fertilizer.” Pastor Walsh ruffled the boy’s already unruly hair. “Because fertilizer teaches us that it’s not where we begin that matters—we all have the power to work toward enriching the future. You do.” He laid his hand on top of little Morgan Duff’s head. “And I do, too.” He placed his hand over his chest and kept moving. “It’s our job to discover the skills and passions God has placed within us and then use those to better and grow His Kingdom. That’s something each and every one of us is called to do. No exceptions. Even if in the beginning of our journey we feel like we have the potential of...fertilizer.”

  “Even me?” Sam asked. “Or is that just for pastors?”

  “Especially you.” Pastor Walsh’s voice was warm. “Isn’t that exciting?”

  Jasper draped his arm over Sam’s shoulders. “Yeah, it starts as hay and ends up as—”

  Andrew cleared his throat. “I believe it’s your turn, Jasper.”

  Josie adjusted her hold on the canvas bag and then reached over and squeezed Katie’s arm. “So by fresh air you really meant you needed an excuse to venture outside to spy on poor Pastor Walsh?”

  Katie gasped. “Am I really that obvious?”

  Josie shook her head in an I can’t believe you don’t know already way. “Only to everyone.”

  Katie tilted her head and smiled dreamily. “Isn’t he so wonderful with the boys?”

  Josie nodded. “He really does have a way of connecting with them and I’ve never seen him get exasperated with any of them...not even Jasper. I don’t think anyone else on the ranch can say that for themselves.”

  The younger woman sighed. “I wish he would ask me out already. Better yet, I wish the ranch matchmaker would start trying to pair us up.”

  Josie looped her arm through Katie’s and turned her to walk away from the ranch house, in the direction of the red barn. “Speaking of the ranch matchmaker...any rumblings? I haven’t heard the latest hypothesis. Do we have any idea who it is?”

  “Are you kidding? If I knew, I’d be begging them about Andrew.”

  “Right.” Of course.

  “Oh!” Katie’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. “You think the matchmaker sent you that gift?”

  “I don’t think. I know.” Josie fished the typed card from the bag and handed it over. “See.” She tapped the card. “His last name is spelled wrong. I doubt Heath would do that.”

  “E and A aren’t that far from each other on the keyboard.”

  “Far enough.”

  Katie fanned the card. “You know, whoever the matchmaker is...he or she has been successful with every couple so far. You might as well give in and pick a date for the wedding.”

  Leave it to Katie.

  “Don’t start.” Josie snatched back the card. “Anyway, so far it’s only been Tanner and Macy, and they complement each other well. I’m sure they would have ended up together without the matchmaker’s interference.”

  “Not true.” Katie pursed her lips and wagged her head back and forth. “The matchmaker also broke up Chloe’s engagement.”

  Josie couldn’t argue that point. Tanner’s
sister wouldn’t have discovered her fiancé’s cheating ways unless the matchmaker had steered her in the right direction.

  “But Chloe’s fiancé was a creep. That would have come out sooner or later.” Or not...but it burned Josie to give the matchmaker any more credit now that whoever was behind the letters was twisting her heart with hope about Heath.

  “Well, well, lookie who we have here.” Katie winked at Josie and then jutted her head to the side. Heath was cutting his way across the barnyard, heading straight toward Josie.

  “I’ll take this as my signal to go back to my desk. But between you and me—” Katie leaned closer, speaking at a loud whisper “—I may or may not walk really, really slowly past the compost bin.”

  “You’re incorrigible,” Josie called after her retreating figure.

  Heath stopped a pace away and chuckled. “Me? Or her?”

  Josie sighed in a good-natured way. “Probably both of you.”

  She met his deep gaze and rocked forward onto her toes. Looking into his eyes gave her the feeling of tipping over, headfirst, diving. And she found, in the moment, she didn’t mind that feeling.

  Not one bit.

  * * *

  Josie’s brown eyes were warm and inviting as she joked with him.

  Not just falling...nope... He was 100 percent, entirely in love with her.

  There.

  Had that been so hard to admit?

  Heath should have kissed her yesterday. He wanted to right at that moment, but they were out in the open, and even if Josie welcomed the advance, she probably wouldn’t want a display of affection to happen in such a public manner.

  At least not the first time.

  Heath had the pie balanced in one hand. He looked down at the pie and back at Josie. Then back at the pie. Well, talk already. But he wasn’t quite sure how to start the conversation. The past few days had felt like they were playing tug-of-war. One second he thought Josie cared about him and the next she was silent and withdrawn. Then the pie.

  He lifted the pie so it was right between them. “I know over the past few days we’ve experienced a couple of miscommunications, but I wanted to say thank-you. I really appreciate this gesture.”

  Her brow formed a V. “I’m sorry, but what gesture? I have no idea what you’re referring to.” Josie crossed her arms, a reusable grocery bag hung around one of her wrists so it dangled over her stomach. “And it’s not even noon—why are you carrying around a pie?”

  He jerked his head back. Was she joking? If someone was pulling a prank on Heath, they were cruel. He’d taken the pie to believe she cared about him. Apparently he was a fool.

  Heath looked down at the pie as if it held the answer. “Because you gave it to me?”

  “I didn’t.”

  Suddenly the pie felt very heavy. He lowered his arm. “You left it for me, but you didn’t make it. Is that it?”

  “I have never seen that pie before in my life.”

  “Color me confused, then.” Heath pulled the printer paper with Josie’s note from his back pocket and handed it to her.

  Josie glanced at the page and then tipped back her head and belly laughed. Not exactly the response he had hoped for. It would have been better if she’d looked at it and said, Oh, this? I’d forgotten I wrote it. Yeah, it was me. I’m actually in love with you. Want to eat pie and be together forever? If a man didn’t have hope, he had nothing.

  A stiff wind ripped across the ranch, shooting dust like pellets against Heath’s back. Hopefully, the wind meant rain was in the air. The ground could use it. So could everyone’s sinuses.

  Josie groaned. “I should have known.”

  Heath rocked forward in his boots. “I’m usually pretty quick on the uptake...but I feel like I’m missing something here.”

  Josie’s lips quivered as she tried to hide a teasing smile. “Are you completely certain you’re a trained detective? Because...” The grin that tiptoed across her lips was downright mischievous. Heath loved seeing Josie’s playful side. If he was going to be the butt of a joke, at least he got to flirt with Josie in the meantime.

  “Give me that.” He snatched the page back.

  Josie held up a finger. “One, why would I type a note that short?”

  “Maybe because you have terrible handwriting.”

  She opened her mouth and her eyes went wide.

  He held up his hand. “Oh, I’ve seen it. With that handwriting, you could be a doctor, sweetheart.” He folded the page into a small square and tucked it safely into the back pocket of his jeans.

  “Two,” Josie continued, obviously enjoying the back-and-forth jabs, “why sign it with the initial to my last name? I’m the only Josie here.”

  “I don’t know.” He tossed up his free hand. “I saw pie. I thought, That’s really nice. My mind was clouded by pie.”

  She giggled. “Three, there’s this.” She fished a small card out of her bag and handed it to him. It was a note from him...a fake note. Heath hadn’t written it. Although, now he wished he’d been smart enough to have the idea of giving her a gift.

  “Well, now, this is downright ridiculous. They spelled my name wrong.” He raised his voice in mock offense.

  It was her turn to snatch back the card. “That’s how I knew it was a fake right away.”

  “So what did I supposedly give you?” He craned his neck to try to look into the bag.

  Josie showed him two small stuffed animals and a tiny blanket. “Isn’t this little goat the cutest thing?”

  “I’m not an expert in cute—they don’t train us on that in the academy—but I will say, are you sure that’s a blanket and not a washcloth? It’s almost nonexistent.”

  She traced her fingers over the plush fabric. “Babies are exactly this size in the beginning. You’ll see.”

  Babies were awfully small when they first entered the world, weren’t they? Heath’s gut bunched into a knot. Josie would need someone helping her more than ever once March hit. He imagined her and him relaxing on the couch back at her ranch after a full dinner, a tiny yellow blanket spread between them with a baby sleeping soundly as they both watched on.

  She had said You’ll see... Did she mean it?

  Heath cleared his throat as well as the image from his head. “It was very nice of me to give you that.”

  “Incredibly thoughtful.” She tucked the stuffed animals back into the bag.

  She hadn’t given him the pie. So what? He could still try to find out if she had any interest in him beyond someone who was fixing the fence at her ranch for free. Besides a chauffeur.

  Heath balanced the pie on the top of a fence post and then touched Josie on the arm. “If you have a second, I think we need to talk.”

  Josie’s smile dissolved. “Aren’t we talking now?”

  Although they were out in the open, Heath closed the distance between them so no one could overhear. “I understand—it’s only been six months. I know you’re still in love with your...with...”

  “My late husband,” Josie offered.

  Heath swallowed hard. Nodded.

  Josie bowed her head. “He was planning to leave me,” she whispered. “That’s the twist no one knows about.” She angled her face a bit to be able to meet his eyes. “Just me, and now you. The day before...before he was shot, that’s the day he told me he was walking out on our marriage.”

  The word twist couldn’t have been used more appropriately.

  Heath had a hard time wrapping his head around the idea of a man being stupid enough to leave a woman as amazing as Josie. “Are you sure?”

  “He’d packed up all his belongings.” Josie suddenly gripped Heath’s arm, as if without him she might not be able to stand. “He already had a divorce attorney lined up.”

  Heath caught Flint eyei
ng them from across the barnyard. No doubt, his friend would have some severe words for him after seeing them together. But Flint didn’t get it. It was impossible for Heath to stay away from Josie.

  “Josie.” Heath fought the desire to wrap his arms around her.

  She pulled her hand away from him and tucked it against her side, giving herself the hug he wanted to offer. “I hear it happens to a lot of spouses in law enforcement.”

  “Not everyone. I know countless guys in happy marriages who adore their wives. Guys in my company.”

  Josie shrugged and blinked a whole bunch of times. “He wanted a child. That’s the real kicker to my sad little story. He said I couldn’t give him what he wanted. I was pregnant, Heath.” She laughed once, but it held no humor. “I didn’t know it yet, but he was leaving me and I was standing there crying with our baby growing the whole time.” She hugged her stomach even tighter. “At least I know this little one was wanted. Even if I wasn’t.”

  I want you. I’ll always want you.

  Heath fisted his hand. His muscles screamed for an outlet—something to punch—some way to burn off the anger he felt for how Josie had been treated. He forced his fingers to straighten, flex again, straighten. No fists, but his voice shook. “I mean no disrespect to your husband’s death or his office, but in this, he was a fool.”

  “I’m not in love with Dale anymore,” she whispered. “That’s all I meant to say.”

  “Josie.” His voice was only a breath. A breath that held every hope for the future. Could she hear it?

  She turned so he could no longer see her face. “You had a breakthrough on your father’s case yesterday. If you solve it, will you be leaving before Thanksgiving?”

  “Flint still wants me to look into the run of incidents happening here. The thefts and the animals being set loose.”

  Josie gave him a look that said level with me. “You’ve been poking around and asking everyone questions all month. No offense, but I think we both know that investigation is going to come to nothing.”