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

Tonight Kit had been given a gift he hadn’t expected. He didn’t have to worry about that issue with Natalie. Even though she knew his father had been killed in the line of duty, she’d sent him off with her heart in her eyes, willing him to come back to her. That’s what he intended to do. He could see a future opening up. A fantastic future with the cherub and, God willing, maybe even a few more.

While he kept watch, he checked in with the guys on his phone. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be the night. Only a few cars had gone by. They talked strategies. The hours dragged on. He ate a couple of Snickers.

Around three-thirty in the morning when Kit had just about decided it wasn’t going to happen, he saw a dark vehicle turn onto the street and park a few houses away on the opposite side.

He alerted the guys to get ready.

Three figures had gotten out and were creeping toward the house. No sooner had Kit warned his buddies than the front window shattered from the impact of a semi-automatic weapon, just as Kit had imagined. Shards of glass flew in all directions. With his adrenaline gushing, he waited against the wall until they started to climb inside.

Kit aimed his gun and shot the first two thugs. He would never forget the look of shock on Alonzo’s face as he spun around in the moonlight before falling to the floor. Cy shot at the third intruder, but he turned and started running.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Kit climbed up on the window sill and jumped to the grass. The thug shot at him, then took off toward the car. Kit raced after him and tackled him before he could open the door. It was like throwing a steer; the guy fell hard against the pavement and lost consciousness. With a grunt of satisfaction, Kit reached into his pocket to pull out his cuffs when a fourth man pointed a gun at him through the open rear window of the car. Kit hadn’t counted on him.

“Get down!” Cy yelled. Kit had already obeyed the instinct and heard two shots fired. The last thing he remembered was a stinging sensation in his upper right arm.

* * *

NATALIE WOKE at seven and looked over at Amy. She was still asleep, her knees pulled up beneath her and her cute little bottom in the air. Her quilt was wrapped around her middle. It was a hilarious site. She quickly grabbed her phone and took a picture. Kit would laugh his head off.

Her body quickened when she thought of him. She had no idea how long it would be before she spoke to him again, let alone saw him. But it didn’t matter because however long it took, she knew he’d eventually come home and she’d be here waiting for him.

While Amy was still out cold, Natalie got dressed in a pair of jeans and a blouse. After freshening up in the bathroom she went into the kitchen to make coffee. Just as she found the jar of decaf in the cupboard, she heard the phone ring. Her heart pounded. Maybe it was Kit.

She answered.

“Mrs. Harris? This is Milo, one of the surveillance crew out front. You’re going to have a visitor in a minute. It’s Ranger Saunders’s mother. I didn’t want you to be startled.”

Kit’s mother? “Thank you for letting me know.”

“You’re welcome.”

She hung up, curious to know why the older woman had come. Kit’s mother was probably here for an unannounced visit and would no doubt be surprised to find Natalie in residence. She was glad she’d gotten up and dressed.

She walked to the front door and opened it in time to see Kit’s mother walking toward her. She was dressed in jeans and a top much like Natalie was wearing, but the older woman looked paler than Natalie remembered and for some reason she started to get nervous. “Mrs. Saunders?”

The woman’s hazel eyes looked at Natalie for an overly long moment. “There’s no way to make this easy for you, Natalie.” Natalie’s heart plummeted. “Kit was injured last night. His captain asked me to come over here because he knew Kit had brought you here and that you’d need to be told.”

She gasped. “But he’s still alive. Right?”

“Yes. By some miracle he

is.”

Natalie felt weakness overtake her as if she might faint, but she’d never fainted in her life. “Come in and tell me what happened.”

“Oh. Your little girl is still asleep,” Mrs. Saunders said quietly as they entered the living room.

“It’s fine. Please. Sit down.”

“I’ve just come from the hospital. I don’t know all the facts yet, but he got shot in his upper arm.”

“Oh, no—” Natalie exclaimed, causing Amy to stir.

“We simply won’t know the prognosis for a while. The doctor explained that they have to look at the X-rays to find the extent of the damage. If it hit the bone, surgery might be required. He says there was little loss of blood, which is a very good sign. They’ve hooked him up with IV antibiotics and fluids. Whatever is decided, he’ll need wound treatment and dressings. The ironic part is that he was wearing his bulletproof vest, but it doesn’t cover the arms.”

Natalie shuddered. “Mrs. Saunders?”

“Call me June.”