A Texan's Luck

by Jodi Thomas

  Dr. McClellan didn't comment on her silence as he talked about Nell's progress. "I've been careful to put her legs so there will be no pressure to her spine, but a few minutes ago I noticed her left foot."

  Lacy moved to the table as he lifted the cover off Nell's feet. "Look!"

  All she saw was Nell's leg.

  "What?" Lacy realized the doctor was waiting.

  "I think she may have moved her leg. It could have just been a jerk of muscles, but if it was her controlling it, there may still be feeling in her legs."

  It took a moment for Lacy to digest the words.

  Timothy laughed. "That's not the exact place I put her foot when I checked to make sure her ankles weren't swelling. If she moved, then there is at least some hope."

  Lacy clapped her hands, then hugged the doctor. "That means she may be able to walk," she whispered, almost afraid to hope.

  He didn't return her hug but smiled like a parent might with an excited child. "We'll know more later, if it happens again, but the sign is a good one."

  Lacy laughed and cried at the same time. All day and most of the night she'd worried that Nell might not be able to walk. She couldn't imagine the little girl who'd grown up running everywhere suddenly confined to bed or a wheelchair.

  The doctor warned her not to get her hopes up, but this was the first good sign.

  She stepped away from Timothy and noticed Walker standing at the door, his arms folded over his chest as he watched. Without a word, he turned and walked away.

  An unexpected hollowness touched her heart. She wished she understood the man beneath the soldier, but she wasn't sure he'd ever unlock the prison he kept himself so tightly barricaded in.

  For the first time she wondered what had hurt him so deeply that he'd rather live alone than let another person near. When they talked sometimes, his words didn't seem so guarded, but when he grew angry, he hid behind the part of him who'd turned all emotion off in order to be a soldier.

  Without warning, the front door opened with a bang. Walker swung in one fluid movement, his gun drawn and pointed at the wide-shouldered figure of a man stomping into the office.

  The intruder's coat collar was up and his hat pulled low.

  Lacy held her breath as the trespasser slapped a pound of trail dust off his coat and removed his wide-brimmed hat. Dust flew from shoulder-length hair. He was filthy from head to toe and swearing as he looked into the barrel of Walker's Colt pointing right at his heart.

  "Stop right there," Walker said almost calmly. "If you make a move for a gun, you're a dead man."

  The stranger's eyes darted from Walker to Lacy standing right behind him. "Morning." He smiled without an ounce of fear in his dark brown eyes. "This must be that husband you're always talking about. Touchy fellow, ain't he."

  Lacy cried with joy and ran past Walker into the arms of Jacob Dal ton.

  He laughed and swung her around, sending dust flying in every direction. "Hello, honey," he shouted as if he'd used the endearment a hundred times. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

  "It's about time you got here!" Lacy cried as she messed his hair. "I almost didn't recognize you. You look like you swam through mud to get here."

  "Pret near did. I've ridden through storms so bad the buffalo crawled in with the groundhogs to wait it out." He laughed, proud of his lie. "But Nell will see there's hell to pay for my not coming faster. She wired me you needed me, and in her mind there's no other job in the state more important."

  Lacy glanced at Walker, still holding his pistol in place, as Jacob set her back down. Walker couldn't have appeared more bewildered if she were dancing with the stray dog in the alley.

  She stepped back until she no longer stood between the two men. "Ranger Jacob Dalton," she said as if her husband didn't look like he were still considering shooting the man, "I'd like you to meet my husband, Captain Walker Larson."

  Walker slowly holstered his weapon. "There's a Texas Ranger beneath all that dirt and mud?"

  Jacob offered his hand. "Sorry, about the dust. I've been riding hard."

  The two men shook hands, each watching the other closely.

  "I've heard tell of you, Walker. It's good to see you in the flesh. I've a great deal of respect for you if half of what I've heard is true."

  Walker nodded.

  "How'd you find us?" Lacy asked.

  "I didn't. Not on purpose anyway. I heard the sheriff had been in visiting the doctor yesterday, and no one knew where he was this morning, so thought I might catch him here before I head over to the hotel to clean up. Now that I know you're all right, a bath seems in order." He smiled at Walker. "Though I doubt you'll be needing me, now you've got the captain."

  Lacy glanced at Walker. She realized Jacob didn't know Nell was hurt.

  Walker nodded slightly, telling her he understood.

  "Dalton," Walker took the lead. "There's something I need to tell you. There's been an accident—"

  "Ranger," Dr. McClellan shouted as he opened the door. "Thank God you're here. She came to a few minutes ago and asked for you."

  Jacob's questioning eyes looked from Lacy to Walker.

  "It's Nell," Walker said, but the ranger was already storming across the room. "She was ambushed heading out to the McKoy place yesterday morning."

  Jacob was at the operating table before Walker's words died in the air. Lacy didn't want to watch, but she couldn't help herself. She slipped into the room. She hated to see the ranger's pain, but she couldn't leave him alone.

  The ranger tossed his hat and coat on the floor and stood at the foot of Nell's makeshift bed. He folded his hands in front of him and grounded like a tree.

  Lacy knew he fought to keep from grabbing Nell and demanding she get up.

  When the doc moved to his side, Jacob asked, "Can she hear me?"

  "No, I don't think so. I gave her something to help her sleep a few minutes ago. But when she comes to, she'll be glad you're here. Right now she's just whispering your name while she's fighting back the pain."

  "What happened?"

  Lacy and the doctor backed away, neither wanting to tell the ranger what had happened to the kid he'd befriended for years. They already saw raw pain on his weathered young face.

  Walker stepped forward and, in a much more caring tone than Lacy would have thought him capable of, he told Jacob every detail, including his plan to get Nell and Lacy to safety.

  Jacob stood for a long while without saying a word. Then he thanked the captain and asked if he could have a few minutes alone with the kid.

  Lacy thought she heard him choke back a cry as she closed the door, tears already streaming down his face.

  Nell's ranger had finally come home, and Nell didn't even know he was there.

  CHAPTER 17

  Walker moved to the window facing the street and stared out at the morning. The rainy day reflected his mood. A window seat kept him from standing close enough to be seen by anyone passing. Part of him wanted to ride off and never look back at this town for as long as he lived.

  The same feeling he'd had once before, he thought. His lifestyle in the army was hard on the body, but this place was hard on his heart.

  Last time he'd been torn apart by love, and now he'd been pulled back because of duty.

  The doctor walked to the front office, pulling off his bloody apron and reaching for his coat. He announced he planned to head over for breakfast at the cafe. "I've missed four or five meals, so it will take me a while to catch up. Don't expect me back soon, but tell the ranger he's welcome to make himself at home."

  McClellan left without another word. Walker thought about asking him to bring back a couple of meals, but the fewer people who knew they were holed up here, the better.

  Lacy moved about in the next room. The ticking of an old clock on the wall by the kitchen door seemed to be measuring time slower with each beat.

  "Captain?" Lacy's voice drifted from just behind him.

  He didn't turn around, didn't wan
t to see the tears he knew were in her eyes. Without a word, he leaned back from the window, lifted his arm, and gently circled her shoulders.

  She rolled into his embrace, crying softly against his chest.

  For a long while he held her, glad that the room lay in shadow. Neither of them had slept much. The hours and emotions weighed on them both. Her nerves were raw, his control crumbling by the hour. But even with all the trouble around them, he closed his eyes and thought once more how good she felt in his arms. There seemed nothing better than Lacy willingly and warm in his embrace. The feel of her was addictive. Somehow, no matter how often they fought, she still returned to his shoulder when she cried.

  He might nevet be more, but Walker knew he was one thing to her: a refuge.

  Finally she stopped sobbing and stood next to him as if needing another's nearness.

  Looking down at her, he wiped a tear from her face with his thumb. "Nell is going to pull through this, you'll see. That ranger won't let her die."

  Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "And would you let me die?" she whispered.

  The honesty of her question shocked him.

  "No," he answered. He thought of adding something about it being his duty, but it was more than that. Somehow, through all the fights and danger, she'd become important to him. He'd stand in death's path if it rode for Lacy.

  She stared at him for a minute, seeming to build her courage. "What happened to you back there on the stairs before dawn?" She glanced down at her hands. "I have to know what you intended. You don't seem like the type of man who snaps and not be able to explain his actions afterward." Her honest eyes met his. "Would you have harmed me, Captain?"

  Without looking at him she added, "I have to know if I need to be on guard. If I have to walk softly until you're gone."

  She didn't have to add that she'd lived near such a man before. That she survived once in the past.

  "And if I had?" He hated asking. "Then you'll deal with it, because you can tolerate anything if you know it will eventually end, right Lacy?"

  A strand of her hair swept across her face when she nodded, and he hated knowing that somewhere, sometime she'd felt a fist strike in anger.

  "I would never hurt you." He wondered to himself if he lied. Hadn't he hurt her the first time they met? "I didn't mean to frighten you. I reacted out of training and anger when you took flight." And something else he didn't want to admit even to himself. "I ran after you to catch you. I meant you no harm."

  "But if I'd fought you? If I'd pushed?"

  "It wouldn't have mattered."

  There was just enough light to see the worry in her eyes.

  "You've no reason to be afraid of me, Lacy." All he ever did was try to convince her that they could stand the sight of one another. He was tired of trying, but this time he couldn't blame her. He had overreacted.

  He might not be able to admit it to Lacy, but Walker needed to be honest with himself. The lie would only fester inside. He was attracted to her. More than attracted, that was too weak a term. If she asked him to bed her right here, right now, he would not hesitate as he had. the first time. There would be no clock ticking away the seconds.

  If he had another chance with her, he would take it slow, letting her experience loving one step at a time.

  Only his wife didn't want him ... would probably never want him again. He lived in a hell of his own making.

  She stared at him with those huge eyes full of mistrust. Maybe it was just because they were exhausted, maybe it was the strain they'd both been under, maybe he'd truly frightened her, but he had to make it right with her.

  "I don't know a great deal about being around women," he admitted. "But I swear I would not have harmed you on the landing, no matter what you said or did."

  She nodded, accepting his apology, even if he knew she didn't fully believe it.

  "At least I know you don't fear all men. You've hugged every man you've seen this morning except me."

  Lacy looked surprised at his observation. "I wasn't aware you were a man who welcomed a hug."

  He stiffened at the prick. "I think that I would." He didn't bother to add that having been raised by only a father and living most of his life in a fort, there had been very few times he'd embraced a woman even lightly.

  "From anyone?"

  "No." He smiled. "The doc's too thin, the ranger's too dirty, and the sheriff is too old. I guess that leaves my wife, if she were willing to offer the service."

  She moved in front of him and squared her shoulders as though bracing herself for a task. "Well, since I seem to be passing them out this morning, it must be your turn."

  He waited. If he took a deep breath, his chest would have touched her, but he had no intention of advancing.

  She had to stretch to put her arms around his neck. The hug was awkward. "Help me out a little, Captain." She laughed shyly. "I feel like I'm trying to hug the garden scarecrow. You're too tall."

  He leaned down and placed his hands at her waist. "Maybe you're too short."

  His last word brushed across her mouth by accident. When she didn't pull away, he kissed her gently.

  Her bottom lip trembled, but she still didn't retreat.

  Waiting, he hesitated.

  She tugged on his neck and leaned her body against his.

  Accepting the silent invitation, he kissed her again. Nothing in his life had ever felt so good. The light touch of her lips against his was newborn, washing away scars across his heart he'd lived with so long he thought them a part of him.

  When she stepped away, he let her go. For a moment they stared at one another. Then she touched her fingers to her mouth. Without warning, she whirled and marched halfway across the room, then turned and hurried back, her hand still covering her mouth.

  He sat on the window seat, crossed his arms, and waited, trying to decide if he should apologize for the hundredth time to her when she eventually came to a stop.

  She stood in front of him once more. "Thank you," she whispered.

  "For what?"

  She lowered her hand. "For kissing me. Now I've been kissed. I won't have to wonder."

  Walker couldn't hide his grin. "You're welcome. Any time I may be of further service, let me know."

  She brushed her hand over her lips once more. "I like the way it felt, Captain. Not at all like I thought it might."

  "And how did it feel?" he asked knowing firsthand exactly how the kiss had felt.

  "Nice." She smiled. "Butterfly soft at first and then warm."

  While he fought the urge to pull her to him, she did the strangest thing. She reached over and ran her fingers over his mouth.

  He unfolded his arms slowly so he wouldn't frighten her.

  She moved closer, touching his face, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingers. "You haven't shaved today."

  "I will." He gripped both sides of the window seat so he wouldn't reach for her.

  Her fingers crossed his hps again, then she leaned closer and touched his mouth with hers, not kissing, only feeling.

  "How do I let you know?" Her words tickled across his face.

  "Know what?" he answered, trying to think with all the feelings shooting through him.

  "That I'd like to be kissed again, please." Her words brushed over his mouth.

  "This will do." He was no longer able to resist. He hugged her to him. This time his kiss grew bolder, spiced with a need for her that surprised him.

  When she leaned away, it was harder to let her go, but he knew if he didn't want to frighten her, he had to allow her to set the pace.

  She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth as if tasting his kiss. "That was nice. Thank you, Captain."

  "Stop thanking me, Lacy," he said sharper than he'd intended.

  "Stop ordering me," she answered, but her eyes were dancing with pleasure.

  He would have closed the space between them once more, but a rider passed the window. They both leaned farther back into the shadows on either side of the
window.

  "I meant no order," he whispered from the other side of the window. "I also hadn't realized it was getting so late. People are already on the street. We'll have to be more careful if we're near the windows."

  She nodded and hurried back into the office, but the sunlight followed her, as did his gaze.

  Walker noticed the blush across her cheeks slowly cool and knew reality had returned. Part of him wanted to go back to the kiss they'd shared in the shadows, but he knew there were many things that needed to be said. Their game of kissing, no matter how pleasant, had to be pushed aside to allow full attention to be given to problems.

  He followed her into the kitchen. She handed him a bucket, and he pumped water as she talked. "I've got a plan that will get me to the farm, and I don't have to pretend to be a boy."

  "All right."

  She handed him another bucket and continued, "I told you about the gypsies' place. I could go there without playing dress-up."

  Walker filled a third bucket and wondered how long this plan might take to discuss or if she would simply talk until the well ran dry.

  "One of the girls, Cozetta, comes in to cook and clean for the doc. Judging by his food supply, I thought she must be overdue, so I asked. Timothy says if the weather doesn't keep her away, she's due today."

  Walker saw where she was going, but he waited as she set the kettles on to warm, then grabbed her bag.

  "She comes to town in a little two-wheel cart. One of the old women from the village always rides along as chaperone, otherwise there'd be talk about a young girl cleaning a bachelor's place. I've heard Timothy complain that he has to pay the old woman for doing nothing, but that's the only way he can get Cozetta."

  Walker almost asked her to shorten her plan to a few hundred words.

  She continued, "Maybe I could wear the old chaper- one's shawl and ride back with Cozetta. From the village, it's not a far walk to the river. Once I cross that, I'll be on Carter's land and in his orchard."

  "What do we do with the old lady?" Walker followed her through a side door off the kitchen he had never noticed before. He tried to listen and not slosh the water all over his legs.