A Texas Ranger's Christmas

by Rebecca Winters

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll see you at eight.” He shut the door and got back in the truck to park it with the others.

  Blaire couldn’t wait to get home. The second she entered her town house, she flew to the kitchen to undo the gift’s outer wrapping. He’d gone to Flowers by Phyllis.

  Nate had given her red roses from there both before and after they were married. She remembered because the name of the shop was distinctive, yet there was no stab of pain in the remembering. The memory didn’t hurt anymore….

  After removing all the paper, she discovered a gorgeous red poinsettia with a red ribbon tied around the basket. A card had been inserted. With a trembling hand, she pulled it out of the little envelope. You’re one in a million. Jack.

  She read it over several times. “So are you,” she whispered and took the plant into the living room where she put it on her newly refinished coffee table.

  This was her first Christmas decoration since becoming an unofficial widow. As of this moment, she decided that’s what she was. In twenty-three more months, it would be official.

  On a burst of adrenaline Blaire dashed back to the kitchen to get her new phone. She had to call him.

  “Are you home safe?” his deep voice sounded after two rings.

  “Safe, and delighted with the poinsettia. You shouldn’t have done it, but I love it. Thank you, Jack.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Are you home yet?”

  “I’m just pulling in the driveway. I can see Josh looking out the living-room window. Elly always sits there on the couch with him when it’s time for me to arrive.”

  Blaire’s eyes smarted. “If she’s already received her delivery, then she’s probably as excited as he is. Thanks again for the beautiful plant. See you tomorrow.”

  THE AUSTIN REAL ESTATE Board, along with two hundred Realtors and land developers, had assembled in the downtown hotel conference room. Caige had scanned the list of attendees ahead of time on the off chance someone might be coming who would recognize him. To his relief, none of the names sounded familiar.

  He knew Blaire had spoken to groups like this before and had everything under control. When she got up to address their audience, all eyes were on the stunning woman in uniform. Caige had a legitimate excuse to sit back and look at her all he wanted.

  “Thank you for the introduction, Mr. Harris. My colleague and I are happy to be here today. In fact, we’re eager for this opportunity because what we have to talk to you about is of vital importance to our community and state.

  “Forgive me if I go over information you already know. What I’m going to ask is that you really think about the following things. Our intact forestlands supply timber products, wildlife habitat, soil and watershed protection, aesthetically beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities. As these areas become fragmented and disappear, so do the myriad benefits they provide.

  “Our local governments can guide development away from the most sensitive areas through traditional land use tools such as zoning and performance standards, but sometimes these measures aren’t sufficient to fully protect the forested component of our state’s valuable natural-resource base. That’s where the Forest Legacy Program comes in.”

  Caige felt her passion as she spoke. It infected him.

  “This is a voluntary cooperative effort between the USDA Forest Service and the State of Texas that protects ecologically important forests threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. The program encourages the voluntary protection of privately owned forestland. That’s where you people come in. My colleague, Mr. Lignell, will explain further.”

  He could have listened to her speak indefinitely, but since she’d deferred to him, he had to get up and take the podium. Fortunately, he’d spent a lengthy time on the phone with Stan Belnap last night in order to be prepared for today’s seminar.

  “When you deal with a client, you need a thorough understanding of the acquisition of conservation easements. These are legally binding agreements transferring a negotiated set of property rights, primarily development rights, from one party to another without removing the property from private ownership.

  “Most Forest Legacy Program conservation easements restrict development and require sustainable forestry practices. The USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry branch administers the program in cooperation with the Texas Forest Service. It allows the state to purchase conservation easements on forestland with the goal of keeping the land in its forested state.”

  Caige looked over at Blaire. “If my colleague will come back to the podium, she’ll tell you how it works.” He knew he’d shocked her, but she handled it with grace, as she did everything else.

  She cleared her throat. “Landowners may continue to own their land and retain all other rights to the property, including the right to sell the property. The conservation easement is recorded with the property deed and transferred with the sale or transfer of the property. For your information, the USDA Forest Service funds seventy-five percent of the easement purchase cost. The landowner provides twenty-five percent, and his or her share may come from nonfederal sources, such as a donation of part of the easement value from the landowner or a nonprofit organization interested in the project.

  “We’ll show a video and some slides to help further your understanding. Afterward, Mr. Lignell will entertain your questions.”

  “Touché,” he whispered for her ears alone and was rewarded with a low chuckle.

  Afterward, the seminar broke for lunch. When Mr. Harris invited them to eat at the table with the Real Estate Board, Caige excused himself for a minute and turned to Blaire. “I need to make a call, but I’ll be right back.” He’d just checked his phone messages. There was one from Gracie and another from the florist.

  Once he’d found a place at the end of the hall where he had more privacy, Caige phoned the floral shop. “This is Ranger Dawson. You have information for me?”

  “I found four orders for a dozen long-stemmed red roses sent within the time period you gave me. Three of them were charged to Mr. Farley’s debit card and delivered to Blaire Farley on February 14, July 18 and November 10. The fourth order also went out on November 10 to Janie Pettigrew. That one was a cash payment.”

  Caige rubbed his jaw. Cash?

  “Would you have any way of knowing if he phoned in those other orders?”

  “No. I’m sorry.”

  That name was nowhere on the police record list of friends, colleagues or relatives of either Blaire or her husband. So who was she? Did it mean Farley didn’t have enough money in his account at the time to charge both orders?

  When Caige got back to his house, he’d look for the printout and see how much money had been sitting in there at the time the money was taken out for the November order.

  “What’s the address for the delivery to Janie Pettigrew?”

  The florist gave him the address of the Sterling Luxury Condos in La Jolla, California.

  “Were there messages with the flowers?”

  “I’m afraid not. We’re on a different computer system now.”

  “I see. That’s fine. You’ve been a great help.”

  “Anytime.”

  He hung up and phoned Ernie. The older man told him he’d be faxing or emailing the picture of Farley and the artist’s sketch of him to the various shooting ranges tomorrow morning.

  “You do great work, Ernie. Now I need another favor.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  “Find out what you can on a Janie Pettigrew.” He gave him her last known address in California. “Farley sent her and his wife a dozen red roses from the same florist five days before he disappeared, but he paid cash for the Pettigrew delivery. That’s got me curious.”

  “Are you thinking she could be a family friend?”

  “I don’t know what I think.”

  “I’ll check her out.”

  “Thanks.”

  Caige clicked off
and listened to Gracie’s message. She’d invited him and Josh for Sunday dinner. He sent her a message to tell her they’d be there and thanking her, then he hung up and joined Blaire, who was the center of attention at the table. No surprise there.

  Her worried gaze flicked to him. “Is Josh all right?”

  “As far as I know, he’s fine.”

  “That’s good.”

  His chicken entrée had been served. He sat down and started eating. Knowing she needed more of an explanation, he said, “I had a call from my friend Gracie. She asked Josh and me to dinner with her family on Sunday. Her daughters are really great with him. I needed to respond.”

  “How old are they?”

  “Ten and twelve.”

  “Does Josh like them?”

  “He smiles when they interact with him.”

  “I don’t think he smiled at me the whole time we were playing golf.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit. Have you forgotten he didn’t have a meltdown with you?”

  She reached for her coffee. “I guess that makes me feel a little better.”

  “It was supposed to,” he murmured. “The girls have been playing with him for several years now.”

  Mr. Harris leaned forward to get Caige’s attention. “I was just telling Ms. Koslov that your input at this seminar was invaluable. Everyone has come by the table expressing the same sentiment.”

  “Thank you.” Caige eyed Blaire. “But she’s the expert. I’m just filling in until her partner gets back from vacation in another week.” Caige had anticipated the man asking them to speak to some other group. The less exposure he had in public, the better.

  “Shall we go?” he asked her once they’d finished their dessert. “We’ve got four appointments this afternoon.”

  “I’m ready.”

  They said their goodbyes and walked through the hotel to the parking. Once they were back in the truck, she rested her head against the seat. “After that chocolate parfait, I’m so full I probably won’t be able to climb any trees today.”

  “I’ll help you up.” He’d been waiting for the excuse to corner her in the branches of an oak. With a mass of leaves for a pillow, he’d kiss her mouth for as long as he wanted, showing no mercy. One day soon it was going to happen. But not before she knew the truth about him.

  By the time he’d driven them back to the office at the end of the day, he’d made a decision. He wouldn’t get physical with her until he could tell her he was Caige Dawson. That day would be here before he knew it because he still wasn’t getting all the information he needed from her when they were together.

  Blaire held the answers to too many questions, but to get them out of her meant interrogating her. In order to do that, he would have to tell her his real identity and explain that he’d been operating undercover to find out what had happened to her husband. After the trauma she’d lived through, she deserved all his honesty. Otherwise they couldn’t hope to have a relationship if it turned out they both wanted one.

  That was the other thing keeping him awake nights. Did he want to risk being in love a second time?

  When he’d married Liz, he’d thought it was forever, that it would be his only relationship. When she had fallen apart after the accident, it had almost killed him. He’d believed she would eventually get back to her old self, but it hadn’t happened. Her love for him hadn’t been strong enough and it had finally killed his.

  To start up a relationship with another woman meant beginning all over again. It meant going on faith, no matter what might be in store.

  Caige was having a hard time separating the part of him heading this investigation from the man who was enjoying Blaire’s company more and more. Was it Jack or Caige who’d invited her to go golfing?

  Which man had invited her to help him trim the tree on Friday night? Which man was trying to find answers to the missing Nate Farley? Which man craved a more intimate association with her because he couldn’t help himself?

  If he knew the answers to those questions, would it even help? He closed his eyes tightly. With hindsight, he could see he shouldn’t have told Mac he’d take on this case. The situation was playing games with his mind and his heart.

  A shudder racked his body. There was only one thing he knew absolutely. Josh was his first priority.

  He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands and took off for Modern Display. He’d seen an ad for a Santa with lights you could put up on the chimney. Caige didn’t know if the decoration would even register with his son, but something his father had told him at Thanksgiving had stayed with him.

  “One day in the hereafter when you’re up there with your son talking man-to-man, I have a hunch he’ll thank you for all the joy you brought to his life.”

  There was only one problem. Caige didn’t want to have to wait that long for such a conversation.

  In truth, he didn’t want to go through the rest of this life without a companion. But if it was the wrong one for him, for Josh, Caige couldn’t handle that.

  THE SALESGIRL WALKED over to Blaire. “Hi. Can I help you find something?”

  After driving away from the office, Blaire had come to Toy Castle and had been wandering around, but didn’t know what to ask for. “You sell toys for handicapped children?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, good. Josh is an eight-year-old who’s brain-injured and doesn’t talk, but he’s active and goes to school. I’m going to be seeing him tomorrow night, and I wanted to take him a little present.”

  “Do you know if he has a pull ball?”

  “I don’t.”

  “They’re very popular. Come over to the counter and I’ll show you.” She brought out a demonstrator yellow game, kind of like a small igloo cut in half. “This operates on two double-A batteries. It lights up and makes music when you gently tug on this tetherball. It will fly back inside when released.”

  Blaire tried it a few times. “I can see him liking the repetitive motion. I like this game myself.” They both laughed. “I’ll take it. Would you gift wrap it please?”

  “Of course.”

  Maybe it wouldn’t interest Josh, but she didn’t want to arrive at Jack’s house empty-handed. With her purchase in hand, Blaire left the store and drove to the mall to do some shopping for the family. She found a stunning red lapelled jacket and black pants for herself. Deciding to go all out, she bought a pair of black leather sandals with a medium heel.

  Once back home, the first thing she saw when she entered her town house was the poinsettia. She would never see one again without thinking of Jack. He’d made her eager for Christmas to come. For everything!

  She’d been positively giddy doing her job with him this afternoon. He was amazingly well-informed and knew more political jokes than she could believe. It seemed they had the same slant when it came to politics, a subject she normally couldn’t discuss with many people.

  Blaire wished they were going out tonight, yet the minute she entertained the thought, she realized she was out of control. That’s what came from being a widow for five years. Somehow she needed to find a way to slow down.

  But how to do that when she’d spent time with Jack, the most…oh, she couldn’t even find the words for the way he made her feel. He was like this fabulous mosaic of so many textures and colors, she wouldn’t know where to begin describing him.

  Today he’d had the Realtors eating out of his hand. He had sophistication. His wealth of knowledge astounded her. The man could tackle any subject. Sometimes he was funny, other times serious, tender, kind. He was the best listener she’d ever known. There was no end to the list of his outstanding traits. She found him without flaw, inside or out.

  Easy, easy, Blaire! There was no such animal.

  That was a dangerous kind of talk that could only get her into trouble.

  She already was in trouble.

  When the phone rang and she saw the name on the caller ID, heat swarmed her cheeks. After four rings she clicked on
. “Hello?”

  “Hi. Did I catch you at the wrong moment?”

  “No.” She sank down on the side of her bed. “But my phone was on the other side of the room.”

  “Mine’s usually in the wrong place, too.”

  “Is everything all right with Josh?”

  “Yes. At the moment he’s turning my bedroom light switch off and on. He loves to do that. It’s a good thing I can handle flashing lights since he sometimes keeps it up for ten minutes at a time.”

  Blaire chuckled softly. “After listening to you deal with all the questions at the seminar, I’ve a feeling you can handle anything.”

  “It would be nice if it were true. The reason I’m calling is to find out what you’d like for dinner tomorrow. I’m leaving for the store in a few minutes. It’ll be Elly’s night off, so I’ll be doing the cooking. You have three choices.”

  She smiled to herself. “What does Josh like?”

  “Pancakes.”

  “Can we have those? I love them, especially when they’re not for breakfast.”

  There was a brief silence. “Well, that was so easy I guess I don’t need to go anywhere.”

  “After the hard day we put in, I’d stay put if I were you. I’ll write up our notes on my computer. See you in the morning.”

  “Blaire?” Some nuance in his voice drew her attention.

  “Yes?”

  “On second thought, nothing. It’ll keep until tomorrow.”

  “Nope. You can’t do that to me. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  “How did you happen to become a plant pathologist?”

  “You want to know that now? After we’ve been climbing trees all afternoon? That’s not what you were going to ask me.”

  He laughed. “Even so, I still want to know.”

  “Well, I always loved music. When I went to college, I intended to become a music major in the performance end of it. But I also loved the biological sciences and took a botany class. After looking in the microscope, I was snagged.”