Rangers: Silver-Star Seductions: A Two-Book Box Set (5 page)

Just as he reached the kitchen door, the ferret hopped down to his shoulder.

“Curly!”  Willa said as Zeb walked into the room. “Get yourself down from there. I told you it wasn’t polite to hitch rides without asking.”

The ferret chattered and wound its way down Zeb’s body like he was a May pole, and then disappeared around the corner.

“Sorry about that,” Willa said. “Sit. Eat.”

Zeb raked his hair back, took a seat, sampled the coffee and then picked up his fork. The eggs were scrambled, with onions, peppers, a little sausage and chopped tomatoes, topped with cheese.

“Damn good eggs,” he mumbled around a mouthful.

“Glad you like ‘em.” Willa took a seat across from him and started buttering a slice of toast.

“So, I’m going to arrange to have a patrol car stationed here until we can clear up this Ellis thing. I think it’d be a good idea if you stuck close to home today and tell your hands to be on alert.”

“We’ll be fine, Zeb.”

“Damn straight you will and I’m going to make sure of it. Just please, for me, let your hands know to be watchful. If they see anything there’ll be a deputy on the property.”

“Fine.”

“Fine? No argument?”

“Nope.”

“Well… well good. So what do you have on your plate today?”

“Working with some new horses.”

“Working how?”

“Training them for law enforcement – making sure they can handle fire and noise, cross water, that sort of thing.”

“I didn’t know you did that.”

“Yep.”

“I’d like to watch you work sometime.”

“I’d like to watch you.”

Zeb paused in the middle of lifting the fork to his mouth. “No, you probably wouldn’t.”

“Why’s that?”

“My line of work isn't always pretty.”

“There’s ugly in most things if you look for it.”

Zeb paused again. “You’re right. Okay, I hate to, but I have to go. Now remember –”

“Stay on property, be watchful, alert deputy if we see anything.”

He smiled and skirted the table to lean down and kiss her. “Okay if I head on back after work?’

“I’d be hurt if you didn’t.”

“Then I’ll see you later.”

She nodded, rose and walked with him to the door. Zeb paused and gathered her to him. “I thought coming back here would be the worst thing that ever happened to me. Turns out I was dead wrong.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad.”

He hugged then kissed her before opening the door. “See you by seven.”

“I’ll be here.”

Willa watched him until his cruiser pulled down the drive then backtracked to the kitchen. All five ferrets were lined up at the door, sitting on their haunches. Willa chuckled and scraped the remnants of breakfast into their feed bowl then busied herself cleaning the kitchen.

She couldn’t help but think how wonderful it would be to start every day this way and mentally scolded herself. As much as she wished that Zeb would want to stay, she still couldn’t trust that he would. And she wasn’t going to set herself up for an even bigger hurt by wishing for something he couldn’t give.

And you haven't been completely honest with him.
  Willa purely hated it when the voice of her conscious chimed up. It wasn't like she was keeping something horrible from him and besides it wouldn't matter.  She wasn't getting her hopes up.

No. She’d enjoy what time they had and hope like hell that when he walked away he didn’t take her will to live right along with him.

Zeb leaned against the fence of the paddock and watched Willa take the big gelding, Jet, through his paces. She’d had a line of poles erected, each wrapped with rags soaked in gasoline. They were all blazing. A portable music player with what sounded like a crowd rioting was blaring and all the ranch hands, along with the foreman, Ronnie Camp and his wife Polly were watching, hooting and hollering.

She’d wrangled an extra week of training with the horses and he knew she was feeling pressure to succeed. She took what she did seriously and would bust her ass to deliver what she promised.

Willa looked so small perched on the back of the horse. Jet pranced once as she urged him toward the entrance of the flaming gauntlet but he followed her commands and galloped through. She turned the horse and led him back to the entrance again. This time she forced him to walk the gauntlet.

Everyone watching cheered when rider and horse cleared the last set of flaming poles. She’d succeeded. All three horses were trained and ready.

Zeb felt a sense of pride swell inside him as he watched her rub the horse’s neck and praise it. She always gave credit to the animals she worked with and the people who helped and supported her, but Zeb knew the truth, as did everyone who watched. Willa was very talented. She was damn near a magician with animals. Sometimes he'd swear she could understand them in a way others couldn't.

Ronnie met her as she dismounted. She spent a minute rubbing the horse before turning over the reins to Ronnie. Another ranch hand, Dan Beechum yelled that he and a couple of the others would take down the poles and get the paddock back in order.

Willa shouted her thanks and headed over to Zeb. “You’re amazing,” he said as she stopped in front of him.

“No they are.” She indicated the horse and her people.

“No, you are.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.

“Zeb!” She resisted when he wrapped his arms around her.

“Honey I’ve been pretty much living here for the last three weeks. I don’t think we’re gonna shock anyone.”

With that, he kissed her. And, at the whoop that went up from the onlookers, he picked her up clean off her feet and kept his lips glued to hers.

She grinned when he finally put her down. “You’re such trouble Zeb Childress.”

“And you love it.”

Her eyes moved from his to her feet. He knew that move. It did not matter that he’d slept no more than two nights in his own place in the last three weeks and spent every moment he wasn’t working with her, she still didn’t trust what they had. He knew that. Could see it in the way she looked at him at times. She expected him to leave.

He wished he could say she was dead wrong, but the truth was, even if he was crazy in love with Willa, he still wasn’t keen on the idea of being stuck in Calder County.

“I need to go get the horses ready. Billy’ll be here in an hour to pick ‘em up.”

“Okay, I need to get on the road. The deputy should be here any time.”

“About that,” she said as they both started toward his cruiser. “It’s been weeks. I’m betting they’re pretty tired of sitting here all day. And there hasn’t been any trouble. Call ‘em off, Zeb. Please.”

Zeb stopped at the driver’s door of his vehicle. “Tell you what. I’ll speak with the Sheriff today and see what he thinks.”

“Zeb…”

“Willa, today let’s just be happy. In fact, let’s celebrate. How about I pick you up when I’m done and we head into town for dinner and some dancing?  I hear there’s a pretty good band at Bucky’s and you haven’t been off the ranch in weeks.”

“And you’ll talk to the Sheriff?”

“Yes, I’ll talk with him.”

“Promise?”

“Scout’s honor.”

She blew a raspberry. “Like you were ever a boy scout.”

Zeb grabbed her for a kiss. “I’ll see you at six. Wear a dress.”

“A dress?”

“Easier to feel you up on the drive.”

“Get outta here.” She pushed him away with a laugh. “See you at six.”

Zeb climbed in the cruiser and watched her head back toward the barn. He hadn’t told Willa much about the investigation into the shootings at the Newell place. He was in touch with the Rangers Headquarters and forensic evidence definitely placed at least two of the Ellis men at the ranch the day of the shootings. Along with that, they’d found evidence of drugs. One of the bundles had leaked inside a cow and the carcass proved the animal had been used to transport drugs.

It was only a matter of time before they had enough to take the Ellis clan down. Zeb fully intended to be part of that operation. After that, well, he hadn’t thought that far. He had no desire to be stuck in Calder County, but he knew there was no way he’d ever talk Willa into leaving.

Which left him where?

That was a question for which he had no answer.

*****

“Do I look stupid?” Willa stood in front of the old-fashioned dressing mirror that had been her mama’s, turning one way then another. The ferret family was perched on the bed watching. Sassy chirped and bobbed her head in response.

“Is that a yes, you look stupid as all get out?” Willa asked. She didn’t own a lot of dresses and hadn’t worn this one in a good three years. It was a simple peasant dress with smocking that started beneath her breasts and ended just below the waist. A full skirt covered her legs to three inches below her knees and the small capped-sleeves rested on the outer curve of her shoulders.

The color of the desert at sunset, it was a plain affair with no frills or embellishments. She studied her reflection in the mirror. What would Zeb see when he looked at her? A woman in an old dress who should have stuck with jeans?

She blew out an exasperated breath and turned away from the mirror to grab her boots. Okay, so worn cowboy boots didn’t exactly spell class but she didn't own anything else aside from a pair of more worn-out sneakers and flip flops from the local bargain shop.

As she turned to give her appearance one more look, she heard the sound of a car door slam. Willa was just descending the stairs when Zeb opened the front door. He looked up at her and stopped dead in his tracks.

Willa’s heart sank. Did she look that ridiculous in the dress?

Her fear was short lived when he gave her a smile sexy enough to wake a dead person, followed up with “Christ almighty, sugar, maybe we should forget going out and take this party upstairs.”

“It’s okay?” she asked, despite the relief his words provided.

“More than okay. You look incredible.”

“You’re not just being polite?” she asked as she finished descending the stairs.

Zeb laughed. “You do remember who you’re dealing with, right?”

Willa chuckled. Zeb could be the most charming man on the planet, but he tended to be brutally honest. “Then thank you. I was a little nervous. I’m not exactly a dress kinda gal.”

“Well, you make that dress look damn good. So, whadda ya say, beautiful?”

“I say let’s hit the road. I didn’t have time for lunch and I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound mule.”

Zeb laughed. “Always the romantic.”

She gave his shoulder a shove as she passed him and headed out the door. The drive into town was passed with talk of anything but their troubles or his investigation, which she appreciated. Time passed quickly as they reminisced about times he and her brother Ethan had shared and the trouble they’d gotten into as kids.

Zeb had chosen to have dinner at Bill’s Beef Barn, a local steakhouse. It was a family owned place that had been around as long as Willa could remember. She hadn’t been there in quite some time but the place had not changed. There were still framed photos of local ranchers and rodeo cowboys dating back to the 1920’s on the walls, and the tables were still the same rough hewn wood sealed with years of shellac.

As she discovered during dinner, the steaks were still as good as ever. Having spent her entire life in Calder County she knew darn near everyone in the place, and was well aware of the curious eyes watching her and Zeb.

It didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he seemed to hitch up his charm and flirtatiousness a few notches, reaching out to touch her hand or offer her a bite from his fork of the buffalo steak he’d ordered. Willa had no doubt that by morning they would be a major topic of gossip.

What surprised her was that she didn’t care. In fact, she liked the idea that people would think of her and Zeb as an item. Hell, she’d been in love with him damn near her whole life. To have him feel something for her was a dream come true. Even if it wasn’t destined to be forever.

That thought put a bit of a damper on her mood. But her mood picked back up when he suggested they mosey down to the local honky-tonk for an after dinner beer and maybe some dancing.

Bucky’s had been the local hangout as long as Willa could remember. Weekdays they had a jukebox, Wednesday Karaoke night and on Fridays and Saturdays a local band would play. There was sawdust on the floor, baskets of peanuts on the table and the coldest draft beer south of the Mason Dixon line.

The moment they walked in, two women Willa had grown up with spotted them. “Willa Hale!” The busty blonde with a smile as bright as the sun and a voice like Minnie Mouse squealed. “God almighty, girl, I was starting to think you’d left the state.”

“Hey Molly,” Willa replied and acknowledged the thin redhead with her. “Hey Brenda.”

“Hey Willa,” Brenda’s eyes went to Zeb. “And hellooooo cowboy.”

Zeb put his finger to the brim of his Stetson. “Ladies.”

“Well aren’t you a long drink of cool water.” Molly looked up at him in a manner that reminded Willa of a cat eyeballing a prime mouse. “Don’t think I’ve seen you round these parts before cowboy.”

“Zeb Childress, Texas Ranger,” he introduced himself. “Nice to meet you but if you’ll excuse us, I’ve been plumb dying to get this beautiful woman in my arms all day.”

Willa nearly swallowed her tongue as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor where a dozen or so couples swayed to a slow county song. Zeb pulled her into his arms and her eyes widened in surprise when he led her into a slow and very sensual two-step.

“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises, Ranger.”

“That I am, darlin.”

By the time the dance ended, Willa was ready to take him off behind the building and rape him. She knew the man had serious moves in bed, so she shouldn’t be surprised that he could dance. But damnation if he didn’t have her feeling about as hot as a fourth of July fireworks display.

“You want to grab a table and have a beer?” he asked.

“Sure.” She looked around and spotted an empty table. “There?”

“I’ll grab the brews and meet you there.”

Willa made her way to the table, sharing greetings with several people along the way. Bucky’s was busy so she lost sight of Zeb. She angled in her seat to watch the people on the dance floor. When the band had finished two songs and Zeb had not returned she felt a little concerned.

She got up and made her way to the bar. Zeb was standing there, a beer in each hand, talking to a man she did not know. As she came up behind them she could hear what they said.

“So you think you’ll be headed back to El Paso soon?” The tall, dark-haired man asked.

“I hope. Just waiting for the heat to die down.”

The man chuckled. “Guess there’s not enough action out here, eh?”

“Let’s just say that watching weeds grow is about as exciting.”

“Then I guess I’ll be seeing you. It'll be good to have you back in El Paso. Say, what’s happening with that drug thing here?”

Willa stopped, pivoted on her heel and headed back the way she’d come. Tears stung at her eyes and she blinked them away, refusing to let them spill. She reclaimed her seat at the table and sat staring at the dancers. Zeb had no intention of staying. Regardless of how he said he felt about her, he didn’t plan on sticking around.

She felt like such a fool. She shouldn’t have let herself get involved with him. She knew it was likely to end this way. Her with a broken heart, watching him drive away. A sob threatened to erupt at the thought.

“Sorry.” Zeb’s voice had her jerking around to look up at him.

“A Ranger I worked with in El Paso, Kade Lawson, is here for a day or so. I ran into him at the bar and we got to yacking.”

He handed her one of the beers and took a seat beside her. “So, you feel up to another dance, beautiful?”

Willa didn’t feel up to much of anything at that moment. All she could do was replay his words in her mind. He didn’t intend to stay. He was going to leave her.

“Willa?”

“I … actually, I think I should get on home. A lot to do tomorrow and dinner’s sitting a little heavy.”

“Oh, okay, sure.”  Zeb put his beer on the table and stood.

Willa let him take her arm and escort her out to the car. She stared out of the side window for the entire drive, trying to decide what she should do. If she broke it off with Zeb now maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much when he left. Then again, she could just pretend she didn’t know and enjoy the time they had left.