The Texas Ranger's Bride (Lone Star Lawmen 1)

“Be careful, Cy.”

He took a deep breath. “Always.”

Chapter Seven

I have to leave for a little while with Vic.

Kellie could only imagine what that meant. Instead of lying there shuddering in fear for Cy, she threw back the covers and slid off the bed to get her phone. When she opened her door, she saw her cell but couldn’t hear voices downstairs.

Something important was going on and he wanted her out of it, yet he always put her needs first. She believed he was so dedicated, he’d treat any person he was guarding with the same kind of care. That was the problem. Kellie wanted to mean much more to him.

When they’d kissed earlier, she’d never wanted them to stop. She couldn’t blame all of it on hormones. This man was different. She was different when she was with him. Kellie had dated a lot of guys over the years, but something had changed when she’d first looked into Cy’s startling dark blue eyes.

She picked up her phone and went back into the bedroom. If only there were someone she could talk to about this, but her feelings were too private to divulge even to her family or closest friends. She’d known Cy for only a week. Anyone she confided in would smile and tell her it was natural that a man and woman thrown together in a dangerous situation would grab a little comfort that went along with the hero worship. But in the long run it couldn’t be taken seriously.

As she walked over to the bed, more questions ran through her mind. What would it be like to be married to a Texas Ranger? To know that every time he left for work, he was facing danger head-on? When he didn’t get home on time, or was involved in a stakeout that kept him away for days at a time, how would she be able to handle it?

Judging by the tension gripping her body right now, she already had the answer to her question. She wouldn’t be able to cope. To love Cy meant she would never be at ease when he was out of her sight.

Kellie’s mom didn’t worry when her husband left the house. She knew he’d walk in at the end of the day and come find her wherever she was. Barring a natural disaster or an unforeseen accident, her mom didn’t have to be concerned that she might never see her husband alive again.

Like her mom, Kellie had grown up knowing their husband and father would always be in their lives. She’d never given it a thought. But she did now...

With a tortured sigh, Kellie turned off her phone and lay back, praying this threat to her life would be over soon. If the stalker were caught before she had to leave for South Dakota, she would end her association with Cy cold turkey. That was the only way to deal with her feelings. They never had to see each other again and she could concentrate on getting ready for Finals.

Tomorrow she’d talk to the real-estate agent helping her find the right property to buy. So far she hadn’t found the exact thing she wanted. Maybe something else had just been listed on the market. Whether something turned up or not, she’d go on her last four-state circuit of rodeos starting with South Dakota, then Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma.

After that she’d come home for three more rodeos in Texas before she left for Las Vegas. Once Finals were over, she’d buy a place to get her new training business started. With the decision made about Cy, she turned on her side. But her mind wouldn’t shut off. Being in his arms, being kissed with such hunger, had changed her.

Upset with herself, she turned on the other side. When sleep didn’t come, she slid out of bed to get her laptop off the table. The latest scores of her competitors would be listed. Cynthia Lyman from Tombstone, Arizona, was the barrel racer to beat. She’d made the most money for the year, and her last winning time was 13.77.

Kellie needed to do better than that in order to come in first. Her time in Bandera was 14.10. Though she came in second, it wasn’t good enough. Once she reached Las Vegas, she’d be competing for ten nights and had to nail those barrels with consistently low scores in the l3s. Focus was everything.

After reading the latest news, she went to her blog. Once she’d thanked people in a general message after reading the latest entries, she posted her schedule of events for the next seven weeks and promised to add to her blog between each rodeo.

Eventually she grew tired and put her laptop on the floor before succumbing to sleep. When morning came, she was surprised to discover she’d slept in until nine. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that. Emotional exhaustion had to account for it.

Was Cy back?

With her heart in her throat, she showered and dressed in riding clothes and boots. She ran a brush through her hair and put on lipstick before hurrying downstairs.

“Good morning, Ms. Parrish.”

Her spirits plummeted to see a dark blond Ranger wearing a polo shirt and jeans seated at the table with his laptop while he drank coffee. He was a close friend of Cy’s.

“Good morning. You must be Luckey.”

“That’s right.”

“I take it C—Ranger Vance hasn’t come home yet.”

“Nope. He’s still out working.”

She bit her lip. “Have you heard from him?”

“Not yet.”

Good grief. What was wrong with her? He wasn’t about to discuss Ranger business with her. “I’m going to make breakfast. Would you like some?”