The Texas Ranger's Family (Lone Star Lawmen 3)

“She was the assumed podiatrist while the real doctor was on vacation. Juanita is a professional. After doing her homework she knew exactly how to get into the nursing home without creating suspicion.”

Frown lines marred Natalie’s pretty face. “She must have thought Rod had hidden the money with Gladys. What an evil mind.”

There was a lot more he could tell her but not right now. “We’re setting up a manhunt to find her. Hopefully it will lead us to her brother. I have to go to headquarters, but I won’t leave until the surveillance team gets here. They should be out front any minute.”

He picked up the beach ball and rolled it to Amy. She was so excited she scrambled to her feet to push it toward him. Laughter rolled out of her as they played the game, and it hit him that he loved this little girl. And, heaven help him, he loved her mother, too.

* * *

LONG AFTER NATALIE had put Amy down for the night, she still was too wired to go to bed. She changed into pajamas and a robe and went into the den, preferring to watch television on the larger screen. The room was small and could only accommodate the desk and a couch not much bigger than a love seat.

She noticed Kit’s bedroll propped in the corner. If he’d tried to sleep on the couch, his feet would have hung over the end. No way would he have gotten any rest. Ever since he’d moved in she’d been worried about him sleeping on the floor, but he never complained.

Tonight he’d gone off without dinner. Those brownies wouldn’t hold him for long. She was as bad as a wife who worried about her husband. But he’s not your husband, Natalie. She could remind herself over and over again, but the fact remained she’d fallen in love with him.

And she had to face another truth. Amy was used to seeing him around the house and had grown attached to him. The longer he stayed here undercover, the more impossible everything was becoming. This wasn’t a natural situation.

She needed to discuss it with Kit and decided to wait up for him. A plan had been forming in her mind that seemed to make good sense. Upon her mother’s death, Natalie had begun receiving a monthly payment from an annuity. The money automatically went into a Certificate of Deposit to be used for a rainy day. And although Austin was experiencing hot and sunny weather, Natalie’s rainy day had come.

She had to do something to free herself and Amy from a situation that was growing more and more untenable. You’re going to be hurt if you don’t take action. Separation was the only answer.

Nothing held her interest on TV, so she reached for a book on Lincoln she’d barely started and made up her mind to get into it. Anything to take her to a different world for a little while.

Near

midnight she heard the hum of the garage door lifting and closed her book. Instead of getting up to greet Kit, she stayed on the couch to give him time. In a minute she heard sounds from the kitchen and then she heard him in the hall headed for the guest bathroom. When he walked into the den, the soft light from the lamp made him look grim.

“Kit?”

He lifted his head. “You’re still up?”

“I’ve been waiting for you. Bad night?”

Kit raked his hair, a sign of frustration. “Have you ever gotten up early, ready to get everything done, then realized the people you needed to deal with weren’t available yet?”

She nodded. “I know the feeling well.”

“That’s what it’s like for me tonight. All the business I need to do has to wait until tomorrow.” He sat on the upholstered chair. “I assumed you’d be asleep by now. What’s on your mind?”

“You’ve got some icing from the brownies on your chin.”

He flashed her a quick smile before wiping it off and licking his finger. “Guilty as charged. I finished the last of them.”

“Without any dinner?”

“They’re better than dinner.”

She loved this man with a vengeance. “I can see you’re exhausted.”

“Not too tired to talk to you. What are you worried about?”

“Our situation.”

His eyes narrowed. “I thought it was working just fine.”

“It is. You’ve kept Amy and me perfectly safe, but we don’t know how long it’s going to take to find those two criminals. You’re shackled here in order to protect me. If Juanita Morales was in Denver today, it’s not likely they’re going to try to break in here again.”

“Your point is?” he asked tersely.