Her Texas Ranger Hero. Rebecca Winters

       Chapter Three

      When Ally got back she found her mother in the kitchen starting dinner. It was three thirty.

      “Hi, darling. Where have you been? We drove over to see your uncle Nick. When we got home, you weren’t here. I thought you didn’t have to go to the university for a while.”

      “I went out, but not to the campus. Mom, I have something to tell you and Dad. Where is he?”

      “Out talking to Hank about getting the horses vaccinated.”

      “It’s that time of year,” Ally said, but her mind was on Luckey. “Mom? Do you have any special plans tonight?”

      “No. Your father wants peace and quiet. We just want our family to be together. I’m fixing a salad and his favorite baked beans. We’ll barbecue some steaks.”

      “Would you mind if I invited someone to join us?”

      Her mother pondered the question. “You’re being very mysterious, rushing in here all out of breath. It must be a man to have created this unusual behavior in you.”

      “He’s not just any man. His name is James Davis, but he goes by the nickname Luckey. He’s a Texas Ranger,” she said, feeling her face burn. It was embarrassing, because her mother could always see through her.

      “Let me guess. Tall? Handsome? Honorable? Nothing but silver bullets in his gun and a black domino mask made from his brother’s vest?”

      “Mom...!” She tried to give her mother an incredulous look, but couldn’t hide the grin on her face.

      “So I’m right.”

      “Except for the mask, and maybe the bullets.”

      “Do you think I could ever forget your childhood hero? The Lone Ranger was your obsession when you were little.” She smiled. “All right. No more teasing. How did you meet this paragon?”

      “He came to my office yesterday looking for help with a case he was working on. He thinks talking to you and Dad would be very useful. But before I say any more, I need to call him. Maybe he won’t be able to come this evening. Be right back.” She dashed up to her room and phoned his cell.

      He answered on the third ring. “Ally?”

      “Hello again. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

      “Not at all. I just got out of a meeting with my boss and am headed home.”

      Hearing his deep voice sent a thrill through her. “I talked to my mother and told her you’d been to see me at the university on an investigation. She has no idea why, but when I told her you wanted to talk to her and Dad, she said you’re welcome to come over this evening for dinner. We’re having steaks on the patio. Very casual and low-key. But if tonight isn’t good for you, I’m sure we can arrange another time that’s more convenient.”

      “The timing couldn’t be better,” he said without hesitation. A big smile broke out on her face. “When would you like me to be there?”

      “Is six all right? My dad likes to eat early when he’s home.”

      “I’m salivating already.”

      Her stomach flipped over. “Good.”

      “Where do you live?”

      Ally gave him the address on Crystal Mountain Road.

      “The gray stone-and-wood ranch house sitting at the top of the canyon?”

      “You’ve seen it?”

      “From a helicopter. You live in prime horse country.”

      “The Duncans have been ranching people for three generations. My dad was a cowboy who married my cowgirl mom before he went into the marines.”

      “How did he end up being ambassador to China?”

      “The commandant requested two marine officers to be assigned to the navy’s program for the study of Chinese, a project originally developed in the early 1900s. He ended up studying with several Chinese tutors. His Mandarin was so good that he was called in to work for US Intelligence and one thing led to another. But he’s planning to retire and be a full-time rancher again at the end of the summer.”

      “I look forward to talking to him. See you in a little while.”

      Ally removed her leather cord, she headed for the bathroom to shower. After toweling off, she dressed in jeans and a navy crewneck sweater. She slipped on her tan wedge sandals. This wasn’t a real date. Luckey was working a case, but her heart didn’t know the difference, because he was coming to the ranch and she could hardly wait to see him again.

      After giving her hair a quick brush and applying a coat of pink gloss lipstick, she was ready. She pulled the letter from Soo-Lin out of her purse, went downstairs and found her parents out on the patio off the kitchen, drinking iced tea. Her dad had stretched out on a lounger in his cowboy boots.

      “Sorry I took so long. What a great help I am!” Ally saw that her mom had already brought out the food and plates to the serving table.

      “Don’t worry about it.”

      “You look lovely,” her father said. “I understand we’re expecting a Texas Ranger for dinner.”

      “Yes. I told him to be here at six. But before he gets here, you and Mom should see this.”

      Ally handed her dad the letter and watched his face darken as he read it. Wordlessly, he handed it to her mother, who was proficient in Chinese, too. She started to read it. “Poor Soo-Lin. I know how much she wanted a baby.”

      “It breaks my heart, but the other news is even sadder. Keep reading.”

      After a minute, her mother cried out, “Oh, no—not Yu Tan!”

      “Horrible, isn’t it?” Ally said. “But I don’t believe the story about her running off with a man.”

      “Neither do I,” her father muttered.

      “Because Luckey sought me out at the university yesterday needing help on a case involving female trafficking, I showed him this letter today.”