The Texas Ranger's Nanny (Lone Star Lawmen 2)

Claire smiled. “I can understand that. And I bet he kept going over there to check on the horse. I’ve seen all those pictures of your mom. She was so pretty.”

Jeremy jerked his head around to eye his father. “You thought she was pretty, huh?”

“I sure did and made up my mind to marry her.”

Sharp pain attacked Claire’s heart with the realization that he would always love his wife. As far as Claire knew, he’d never been with another woman during the nine months she’d been working for him. No other woman stood a chance. “You look like her, Jeremy.”

“Aunt Carol says I look like both my parents.”

“Well, you certainly got your dad’s height, and you walk like him.”

He looked back at her. “I do?”

“Yes. The first time I met you, I noticed the similarity. It’s a father and son thing that made me smile. The next time you get out the family videos, you’ll see what I mean.” Those old family videos that showed the love Vic and Laura had for each other.

Five minutes later they arrived at Hershel’s Miniature Horse Farm. Jeremy got out of the truck first. “Come on, Claire. The corral where you can watch them is around the back.”

She ran to catch up with him. There were three tiny horses playing inside the fencing of the small outside enclosure. A man walked out and shook their hands. “Hi. I’m Mr. Hershel. Do you like what you see, son?”

“Yeah.”

“They were born in the past three weeks. Take all the time you want to look.”

“Oh, Jeremy—they’re so adorable!”

“I wish I had one. Dad?” He turned to his father, who leaned against the fencing. “Do they cost a lot?”

“That depends.”

After the kidnapping, Claire could imagine it would be next to impossible for Vic to deny Jeremy anything.

“I like that brown one with the white markings. Which pony is your favorite, Claire?”

“It’s hard to decide.” She studied each one. “That creamy palomino with the faint café au lait spots is a beauty.”

“Which one do you like, Dad?”

“The black one with that big white spot in the middle of his back.”

“Do you think we could buy all three of them? Then they wouldn’t miss each other.”

Vic broke into the deep laugh Claire had missed since his son had gone missing. She smiled at Jeremy. “They’re cute all right, but they’re a lot of work. Don’t you think it might make Comet feel neglected if you started to spend all your time with them?”

“But we could all be together all the time.”

She could see where this was leading. Vic was vulnerable right now. If he gave in to his son’s desire, it would mean taking on a whole new project. Since she would be leaving soon, she hoped he didn’t make a decision until after a new nanny had been hired. Preferably one who’d grown up around horses and could handle taking care of yet another animal in the Malone household.

Claire was also against the idea for selfish reasons. If Vic did buy a miniature horse for Jeremy right away, she would have to be involved in helping take care of it. Of course she’d become too attached. Combine that with her love for Jeremy—and her love for Vic—heaven help her, and she’d be swayed to stay on as Jeremy’s nanny and pass up one good job offer after another.

The owner walked over to Jeremy. “Do you want to go inside the corral and talk to the horses?”

He turned to Vic. “Would that be okay, Dad?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“Come with me.” Jeremy followed the man around to the entrance and they walked over to each little horse so he could pet them. The sounds of delight coming from the boy caused her eyes to tear up. Twenty-four hours earlier he’d still been missing. She and Vic had been running on sheer faith that he was still alive and could be found. Again she was reminded that a miracle had happened.

Vic had moved closer and caught her brushing away the moisture from her cheeks. “I’m still having trouble believing we found him. Claire—” His voice sounded thick. “If it hadn’t been for you...”