Rangers: Silver-Star Seductions: A Two-Book Box Set Read Online Free PDF Page B

lives for. Poor old Sam. That place has been in his family for four generations. Now what’s going to happen to him?”
     
    Zeb hated to answer that question. “Honey, Sam’s gone.”
    “Gone?” She pulled back to look at him. “What do you mean?  Did you arrest him?  What about his wife?  Her health isn’t good, Zeb. She needs him there t o̶ ”
    “He’s dead, Willa. They both are.”
    Nothing could have hurt more than seeing the look of shock and grief that claimed her face. Tears streamed from her eyes and she made no attempt to wipe them away. “How?”
    “Same as the deputies. Found them in the house.”
    Willa shook her head and raised both hands to cover her face. A moment later, the first sob erupted. Her body shook with the force of her sobs, the sound so filled with pain that his heart nearly broke. Zeb slid off the rail and gathered her in his arms.
    “I’m sorry. Honey, I’m so sorry,” he crooned.
    A deep growl from behind them had him turning slightly with her still in his arms. When he saw the source of the growl fear spiked hot and sharp. He shoved Willa behind him and was drawing his weapon when she screamed and grabbed his arm.
    “No!”
    “Willa, let go,” he spoke as softly and calmly as possible, keeping his eye on the wolf who stood not three feet away with its head lowered, hackles raised and a snarl on its face.
    She did release him but what she did next scared the crap out of him. She skirted around in front of him, putting her back to the wolf. Visions of the animal attacking her had him breaking into a sweat and his heart hammering in his chest.
    “Willa, don’t move. I’m going to slide real easy to the side so I can get a bead on—Willa!”
    His heart nearly stopped when she pivoted and dropped down into a crouch in front of the wolf. “It’s okay,” she said to the animal. “He’s my friend. It’s okay.”
    Zeb nearly fainted when the wolf leaped toward her. But instead of attacking, it literally wrapped its front legs around her neck and started licking her face. Willa hugged the animal to her, burying her face in the thick fur of its neck. They stayed like that for a long time.
    Finally, she released the wolf and stood. “Zeb, this is Lobo. Lobo, Zeb is my friend. You can trust him. Zeb, come here.”
    Zeb wasn’t at all sure he wanted to do that. She might trust the animal but he had reservations. Big ones. “That might not be a good idea.”
    “It’s fine.” She sat down and offered her hand. “Please.”
    Zeb hesitated, then holstered his weapon and slowly stepped toward her, keeping his eye on the wolf. It watched him as he took Willa’s hand and sank down on his heels beside her.
    “Lobo?” She used her free hand to rub the wolf along its head and nose. “Come say hey to Zeb.”
    Zeb wondered how fast he could get to his feet and draw his weapon if the need arose. The wolf moved toward him, and Zeb didn’t mind admitting that it scared him. That was a big wolf. With him sitting on his heels, the animal’s face was even with his.
    The wolf stopped, nearly nose-to-nose with him, sniffed the air, then lowered its head and sniffed at Zeb’s clothing and over to his hand that was joined with Willa’s. Willa released Zeb’s hand. “Offer your hand.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “He won’t bite. Just let him smell.”
    Zeb figured he had to have suddenly gone retarded because he did as she said. The wolf sniffed, then licked at the skin on the top of his hand. Zeb held his breath, expecting teeth to sink into him at any moment.
    To his surprise, the wolf wagged its tail and sat on its haunches.
    “See?” Willa said and rubbed the wolf. “Go on. He likes to be petted."
    Zeb reached out and ran his hand along the fur on the side of the wolf’s neck. It was thick and softer than he’d imagined it would be.  “Lobo,” he said. “Hey, I’m Zeb.”
    Lobo yipped and thumped his tail on the porch floor and Zeb looked at Willa in amazement.