The Texas Ranger's Family

by Rebecca Winters

  Before his arrest, the Dane who’d immigrated to Colorado with his father when he was a teen, had been a professional photographer celebrated for his scenes of the Colorado mountains. For years he’d used his studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, to cover up his real work of producing fake credentials for dozens of hardened criminals throughout the country.

  Despite what Kit’s instincts told him, he had no proof that Esger had been involved. But any information he could get out of the man would be valuable. For Harold to obtain an accounting job with LifeSpan in the first place, he’d have had to reinvent his whole life. He’d fooled so many people for so many years. The Morales duo, too. Had Esger set them up with fake documents, as well?

  One of them had killed Harold. Kit was sure of it. Had they discovered he’d double-crossed them? Had they turned on him because that had been their plan in the first place? Who knew the ins and outs of their ménage à trois? He’d like to lock them both up for good.

  Kit was looking forward to the day when Natalie was safe and could put all this behind her.

  When he climbed into his sleeping bag, he imagined being curled up with her. She always smelled delicious. What a loving heart she had, crying over Rod’s grandmother. He admired her immensely for the way she was handling the horror of having been married to a criminal.

  Another woman might have fallen apart, but not Natalie. Her strength of character was awesome to witness as she carried on with her life for the sake of her daughter.

  Amy was a little angel. He’d never felt an attachment to a child before. How ironic that it would be Harold Park’s daughter who pulled at Kit’s heart strings with such force. Maybe it was because of Park’s criminal background that Kit wanted the very best for that golden-haired little girl and her beautiful mother.

  When Kit’s father had been killed, he’d thought he’d experienced the very worst thing that could happen to a person. Though his father’s killer had been killed, too, Kit hadn’t been able to get over the pain. It took years of maturing to teach him that sometimes horrible things happened to the most innocent people. Other people suffered heartache, too. Ridding the world of the people who’d terrorized Natalie with frightening phone calls and break-ins had now become his first priority.

  * * *

  ON FRIDAY AT noon Kit walked into the interrogation room at the Leavenworth prison carrying an envelope. A prison guard stood by the door.

  Esger was sitting behind a table with his ankles shackled. The balding man was sixty but looked older. His dark blue eyes studied Kit’s star-shaped badge.

  “You’re excellent at what you do, Esger, I have to admit. Your forgeries fooled the very best for years. The inmates at Atwater sing your praises.”

  “Of course, but a Texas Ranger didn’t come here to compliment me.”

  Kit took his time. “You’re aging in here, Barni. I’m prepared to slice two years off your twelve-year sentence if you’ll help me out on a particular case.”

  The prisoner stared at Kit for a long time. “What do you want to know?”

  “Eight years ago Jimmy Salter and Harold Park made contact with you. I’ve got it on record that they came armed with a small fortune for you to transform their lives. ” Unfortunately those testimonials came from the inmates who knew Salter and were nothing more than hearsay. “Now I’m here to find out if you made documents for their friends Juanita and Alonzo Morales, the husband and wife team working with them.”

  “They were brother and sister,” Esger muttered before looking away. Kit was elated by that vital slip of information.

  “That’s it, Barni. That’s all I want to know.”

  The forger cocked his head to the side. “So all I have to do is tell you that information and my sentence will be reduced by two years?”

  “That’s the deal. Your confession will be signed and notarized by the warden.”

  “How do you know I won’t lie to you?”

  “I don’t. But if I find out later that you did lie—and I will find out—then I’ll have your sentence extended for ten more years on the grounds of perjury before a federal officer of the United States.

  “You’ve already served three years of your sentence. Doesn’t it sound good to know two more years can be lopped off simply by telling the truth? You’d only have to serve seven more and be out of here by the time you’re sixty-seven. There’d still be a lot of life to live, pictures to take of the Colorado mountains. Interested?”

  Kit pulled a document out of the envelope and set it in front of the prisoner along with a pen. “Go ahead and read it. Nothing will happen to you if you don’t sign it. I’ll walk out of here and you’ll go on serving your original sentence.”

  Esger picked up the piece of paper and began to read. “This says I supplied documents to all four of them.”

  “That’s right. If it’s not true, then I’m wasting your time and mine.”

  His eyes narrowed on Kit. “Before I do anything, I want to talk to my attorney.”

  Kit nodded to the guard who opened the door. Esger’s attorney entered the room, accompanied by a second guard. Kit stepped out to chat with the warden. After a few minutes Kit and the warden were allowed back inside.

  “Well, Esger?” the warden asked.

  The forger looked skeptical. “If I sign this, is it true I’ll be out of here in seven years?”

  “It is. But if you lie, that paper also states that ten years will be added to your original sentence. To make it legal and binding, I’ll sign my name below yours. Your attorney will sign it and the guards will witness it. Won’t it feel good to do something helpful for a change?”

  Esger hesitated a moment longer and then signed the document. His attorney, the warden and the two witnesses followed suit.

  Barni Esger’s signature helped tie the loose ends together, making a solid case against three killers wanted by the FBI, one of whom was already dead. Kit had yet to learn what crimes Juanita had committed since her release from jail. But for now he couldn’t have been happier.

  He went to the warden’s office and had a copy made of the signed confession before he left the prison with it and headed to the airport twenty-five miles away in Kansas City. He would have to hurry; his US Airways flight would be leaving at 4:00 p.m. That would put him in Austin around seven-thirty.

  It was close to eight when he phoned TJ from his car in the airport parking lot to tell him the outcome of his visit to Leavenworth. “They’re all involved in the LifeSpan embezzlement scheme. I’m waiting for a few more bits of information and then we can begin a manhunt for the Morales duo.”

  “That’s fine work despite your unorthodox methods. Using the prison warden—that’s a new one. I see you’ve logged a lot of flying miles in less than a week. Take a day off before you burn out. That’s an order.”

  “In that case, I have a rodeo event I’d like to attend this Saturday and I’ll need an officer to stay at the Harris home while I’m gone.”

  “I’ll arrange it. Don’t get stomped on.”

  “No, sir.” With a laugh Kit hung up and started changing into his clerical shirt when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and took the call.

  “Hey, Brandon—”

  “Boy, am I glad you answered. I need your help in the worst way, bro.”

  “You mean you haven’t found a hazer yet?”

  “Yeah, I have. Corky Tibbs.”

  “I remember Corky. He’s a great choice.”

  “I know. He said he’d haze for me until Scott is back, but he can’t start for two weeks. I still haven’t found anyone to ride for me in San Antonio tomorrow night.”

  Kit sucked in his breath. He’d thought he’d try to get there to watch his brother tomorrow night, but not to be part of the show. He’d turned him down once. Maybe he could help him out tomorrow night. B
ut it all depended on Natalie, because he wasn’t going to leave her unattended with Alonzo and Juanita still on the loose.

  “Tell you what. Give me an hour and I’ll phone you back if I can do it. That’s the best I can offer.”

  “I knew I could count on you.”

  “Brandon—I only said if, so don’t—”

  His brother clicked off before Kit could finish the sentence.

  After he hung up he finished putting on the shirt and took off for Natalie’s house. En route he phoned Luckey. Kit had no idea if his friend would be available. He could be deep into a case or he might already have plans. But it was worth a try to find out.

  “Well, if it isn’t Father Segal,” Luckey teased when the call connected.

  Kit chuckled. “Tonight it’s just plain Kit, even if I’m wearing a collar. I’m glad I could reach a live voice.”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t have anything to do on a Friday night because none of the guys would believe you. What’s up?”

  “My brother needs me to haze for him tomorrow night in San Antonio. Are you working a case or could you guard Natalie for me?”

  “You mean at her house?”

  “No. She says she likes the rodeo so I thought I’d take her and Amy with me so she can watch. I’d need your services during the event. Here’s why.”

  He spent the next few minutes filling his friend in on the case. “One or both of the Moraleses is after the money and the guns. None of those items are in the house, and I’m convinced they’ll come after Natalie when they break in again and realize that fact. She’s not safe until they’re caught.”

  “Sure I’ll help. It’ll be fun to watch you in the saddle.”

  “You don’t have to do this, Luckey.”

  “You’ve helped me out plenty of times and my weekend is wide open. The boss told me to expect a new case on Monday.”

  “I’ll owe you big time. I’m on my way home now. If Natalie says she wants to go with me, I’ll call you and we’ll make plans.”

  “Home, huh?”

  “Don’t start, Luckey.”

  “Yup. You have it bad. I’ll wait for your call.”

  * * *

  NATALIE HAD JUST put Amy down for the night when her cell rang. Her pulse raced before she answered. “Hi, Kit. Are you still in Kansas?”

  “Nope. I’m pulling into the driveway and I wanted to give you a heads-up.”

  She was so happy he was back she had to be careful not to show it. “It’s perfect timing. Amy’s just fallen asleep. If she’d seen you, she wouldn’t have wanted to go to bed. She said your name several times today. She can’t figure out where you are.” His chuckle worked its way to her insides.

  She could hear the garage door opening while they were still on the phone. “Maybe we can fix that problem this weekend,” he said and then disconnected, leaving her hanging.

  When he walked into the kitchen wearing his collared shirt, her heart was still thudding. He looked...sensational. “Welcome back, Father Saunders. Would you care for something cold to drink?”

  His gaze held hers. “I’d like a cola if you have one.”

  “I have a six-pack.”

  “Give me a minute to freshen up.”

  While he disappeared, she pulled two out of the fridge and went into the living room to wait for him. He returned quickly, wearing a polo shirt, and reached for his soda before he sat on the couch. After taking a long swallow he said, “How was your day?”

  “Uneventful, thank heaven. How was yours?”

  “My trip to Leavenworth turned all of my hunches into truths.”

  She sat forward in her chair. “Tell me everything.”

  “I made a deal with Esger, who signed a confession in front of the prison warden. In exchange, two years have been taken off his twelve-year prison sentence. He provided false ID to your husband, to Salter, to the other prisoner who escaped with your husband, Alonzo Morales, and to his sister, Juanita Morales.

  “She probably drove the vehicle that took them to Fort Collins where they would have paid a fortune to Esger to fix them up with false documents. When they’d planned out their con, they came to Texas. The woman Colette saw with your husband was Juanita. I sent Colette a rap sheet on the other woman and she made a positive identification of the mug shot.”

  Natalie jumped to her feet. “Then two killers are still at large.”

  “That’s true, but we know who they are and what they look like. Thanks to Colette, I’ll be able to close in on them much sooner. When I’ve pieced a little more information together, I’ll organize a manhunt to bring them in.”

  She stood there looking at him in awe. “You only took on this case a week ago, and already you know everything. You must have come to this earth with special gifts.”

  He darted her a quick smile. “No. I was born naturally curious. I was always asking why. It drove my family crazy.”

  “Be serious for a minute. Do you ever take a break?”

  “I’m taking one this weekend.”

  Natalie didn’t know what that meant. “I’m glad to hear you have a personal life. You must be sick of sleeping on the floor with one eye open all the time.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s all part of the job.” He finished his cola. “How would you and Amy like to drive to San Antonio with me tomorrow? She’s a great little traveler. We’ll stay at a motel close to the arena and order a crib for your room. There’s an animal exhibit at Little Buckaroo Farms Amy will love. You can push her around in her stroller.”

  What?

  “I’m going to haze for my brother at the rodeo tomorrow night. My friend Luckey will guard you during the steer wrestling event. But if you don’t want to come, a surveillance team will watch you here all weekend. The decision is yours.”

  Don’t want to come? Natalie had trouble catching her breath. “I’d love to go, but I don’t want you to feel you have to take us along. Amy and I will be fine here.”

  “Wouldn’t you like a break that doesn’t include traveling on a jet?”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “But what?” he broke in, sounding tense all of a sudden.

  “But nothing,” she said with a smile he reciprocated, thrilling her out of her mind. Natalie sensed he wanted her with him and she wanted to be there. She was overjoyed that he’d invited her. “What time do you want to leave tomorrow?”

  “Whenever we feel like it. The drive to San Antonio only takes an hour and a half. I’ll need to meet Brandon at the arena an hour before his event. Why don’t we take off after breakfast and check in at the motel before we visit the animals?”

  “That sounds perfect. Amy will be worn out after that and take a nap before we go to the arena to watch you compete.”

  “Then it’s settled. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have half a dozen phone calls to make.”

  She could imagine. “While you do that, I’ll do a little packing and get ready for tomorrow. See you in the morning.”

  For once she didn’t mind saying good-night because she knew she’d be with Kit all weekend. She couldn’t wait to watch him in the arena. Any time spent with him was precious.

  By the time Natalie slid under the covers she knew she was suffering from a full-blown case of hero worship.

  Truth really was stranger than fiction because in one week she’d fallen hard for the gorgeous Ranger. With every passing minute she was getting in deeper and deeper. Last night when he’d put his arms around her to comfort her, she’d struggled not to return the kiss he’d given her on the cheek. If only he knew how badly she’d ached for the taste and feel of his mouth on hers.

  Chapter Six

  “Look, Amy! That’s a cow! A big one.”

  Kit chuckled as Amy imitated him and said, “Big cow.�
�� He’d been pushing her around in the stroller with Natalie at his side. Despite the heat, the Little Buckaroo Farm turned out to be pure delight. Seeing it through Amy’s eyes made the experience so much fun, Kit didn’t want it to end.

  Hundreds of other families exclaimed over the animals. The goat-milking entertained everyone. “Shall we go see the horses now?” He pushed on and stopped in front of the fence so Amy could have a clear view of the horses in the corral.

  Natalie leaned down. “See the horses?”

  “Hus!” Amy pronounced. Both Kit and Natalie broke into laughter.

  “That’s right, little cutie,” Kit agreed. “You’re looking at a big hus.”

  When they least expected it, the bay closest to them let out a loud, high-pitched neigh that startled a lot of people and frightened Amy. “Kit!” She cried his name and squirmed around, holding up her arms. He undid the strap that held her and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him, crying her heart out.

  A lot of bystanders smiled to see her hugging the priest. Natalie eyed the two of them. “If you had any question of how much she likes you, it’s just been answered. You’ve received my daughter’s seal of approval. She didn’t even think to turn to me.”

  To hold her warm little body against him with her arms around his neck brought a huge lump to his throat. “I’m a grown man who was raised around horses and it startled me, too. I’m glad she feels safe with me. But maybe coming to the farm wasn’t a good idea.”

  “Don’t be silly. She loved it. She’ll get over the scare.”

  When he would have put Amy back in the stroller, she fought to stay in his arms.

  Natalie shot him a glance. “I think it’s time to go back to the motel.” He agreed.

  She started pushing the stroller toward the main gate. He followed, carrying the precious princess who continued to let out shuddering little half sobs. By the time they’d reached Kit’s car she’d calmed down.

  He put Amy in her car seat, but she didn’t like it. “I’ll sit next to her,” Natalie told him. “A nap is exactly what she needs.”

  After Kit put the stroller in the trunk of the Altima, he started the car and drove them to the Bucking Horse Motel near the arena. They had rooms side by side. He opened the rear door to help Natalie out.