The Texas Ranger's Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

have been picked up by now.
    Her palms fell back to her side. “Bear said around three o’clock. That should be anytime now, don’t you think? I can go check outside. I noticed a clock on the water tower behind the livery.”
    She headed to the door but halted when Gage’s words stopped her. “No need. They’ll probably show up after the rain stops. Might as well keep dry as you can. I’ll go ahead and light the lantern. You warm enough or you need the stove heated?”
    “I’ve had enough fire for one day myself, but if you’re cold, suit yourself. You’ll probably do a better job of getting it going than I did.”
    She sounded defeated. Something buried long ago that he hadn’t allowed himself to dig up since he was eleven years old twisted inside him. The last thing his father had ever teased him about was having gangly legs and broomstick arms, being a late bloomer.
    That day, he’d been expected to watch for signs of the lobo attacking their herd. Gage had tired from his duty and started daydreaming, writing poetry in his thoughts, losing track of time. Next thing he knew, his father screamed at him to shoot to kill. Two cows were down, his father’s leg caught and bleeding profusely in one of the traps set for the wolf. Champion tumbled in a vicious battle with the lobo, the dog’s and the wolf’s snarls jerking Gage to his feet.
    All of a sudden, a high-pitched yelp tore from Champion’s throat and he fell backward. The lobo had taken the last breath from the dog’s body.
    Gage’s broomstick arms could hardly lift that big old rifle back then, but he vowed to stop the wolf from turning on his father. He kept that vow and his gangly legs and arms managed to get his father home and his dog buried. Two weeks later, he’d buried his father beside his dog. From that day since, he’d never allowed another soul to see any sign of weakness within him.
    He couldn’t allow Feather Hat to feel defeated. There was always strength to be learned just from trying. From believing you could do something.
    “You did all right.” Not being around much of anyone but criminals, Gage didn’t give compliments easily. “Maybe next time keep your nails clipped shorter.”
    She stared at her fingertips. “I’ll take that under consideration.”
    Gage laughed. “Is that a fancy way of telling me to mind my own business?”
    “Quick study, aren’t you?”
    “When I need to be,” he answered, noting the challenge that sparked in those Palomino eyes. He liked that kind of sass.
    “You must have a lot of skills at your disposal,” she announced.
    If her eyes had been pitchforks, they’d have been raking him from hat to spur.
    She must be trying to use one of her better skills on him now. Gage noticed that she suddenly appeared a lot prettier than a few minutes ago, or else the smoke was clearing enough to let him see her much better. Maybe it was just the amber glow of the lantern light causing her to look all soft and her hair to look fluffed up a bit. Her skin could have been carved from a pearl-colored tusk of ivory he’d once seen on a ship in Galveston.
    No matter how she’d managed to make herself more attractive, she still didn’t smell any better.
    “I’ve got a few skills,” he admitted, deciding he’d let his mind wander way too much on the subject of what he could see of her. “Which one appeals to you most?”
    “What if I said all of them?”
    Suspicion blazed inside Gage like a fire that had been kindling below the surface and suddenly flared. Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as he’d first believed. In his wondering about her identity, he’d never considered she might already know plenty about him. Who had told her? Hodge? “Why would you want to know what I can do?”
    “I’d like to make you a proposition, Mr. Newcomb.”
    “You don’t even know me.”
    “True, but you look like a man who knows how to handle himself well. You certainly showed me how to put out a