Loe raamatut: «The Texas Ranger»

Chapter One

When he spotted the blonde across the room, Sam felt as if he’d been hit upside the head with a tire iron. For a minute all he could do was stare at her. And she stared back. He wasn’t sure what was going on between them, but he aimed to find out. She was a beauty.

Sam made a beeline through the crowd toward her. The closer he got, the more sure he was that he might have to arrest her. He figured she must have stolen those eyes from heaven. They were big and blue and reeled him in as pretty as if he were a black bass on a twelve-pound line.

“Hello,” he said to her, flashing his best smile. “I’m Sam Outlaw, Belle’s brother.” He figured that the blonde knew Belle since this shindig was given in honor of her buying and becoming publisher of the Wimberley Star newspaper.

She smiled back. “I’m Skye Walker, Gabe’s sister.”

“Gabe’s sister?” Gabe Burrell was an old friend of Sam’s, the host of the party and the guy who was hot for his sister, Belle. “If I’d known that Gabe’s little sister looked like you, I’d have been beating down your door. Wonder why he never told me?”

She laughed, a soft chuckle that was both sweet and sensuous. “He told me about you. And so did Belle. You’re the youngest of the Outlaw brothers and a Texas Ranger.”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s me. How about a dance?” It was the best way he could think of to get her into his arms.

Skye’s eyebrows lifted as she glanced around the room. “There’s no music and no dance floor.”

“Darlin’, I’m not one to let a little thing like that stop me. There’s an empty spot behind the buffet table, and I’ll hum.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her to him.

A big German shepherd who’d been lying beside her suddenly rose, hackles up. His teeth were bared and a low growl rumbled in his throat.

“Take your hands off me,” Skye said.

“Honey, I’m harmless. Honest.”

The dog growled again.

Sam dropped his hands.

“Sit, Gus.”

The dog sat. But he didn’t take his eyes off Sam.

“He yours?” Sam asked.

She nodded. “He’s very protective. Excuse his manners. Gus, Sam is a friend.”

No stranger to animals, Sam tentatively held out the back of his hand for the dog to sniff. Gus didn’t seem interested in getting acquainted. He merely eyed him suspiciously, as if waiting for a reason to take a plug out of his butt.

“May I get you a drink?” he asked.

She held up her wineglass. It was full.

“Okay. How about you get me one?”

Skye looked amused. “What would you like?”

“Anything you want to give me.”

She caught the eye of a kid with a tray and motioned for him. She plucked a glass from the tray and handed it to Sam. “Champagne. In honor of Belle’s new position. Cheers.” She clinked her flute against his.

Sam sipped. “Mmm. The good stuff. Have you raided the food yet? I just got here, and I’m starved.”

“Can’t have that. Let’s find something to take the edge off.” She walked to the spread on the table. He and Gus followed. She handed him a plate and took one for herself.

“Skye, dear, who is this darling man? I swear he’s as tall as the door. And just as solid I suspect.” The middle-aged woman dressed in purple sparkles flashed a big smile up at him and held out her hand. “I’m Flora Walker, Skye and Gabe’s mother. I’m guessing that you must be Sam. I must have missed you when you came in.”

“Yes, ma’am. Sam Outlaw. I just got here.”

“You look a lot like your daddy,” Flora said. “And your brother Cole.”

“Yes, ma’am. All the Outlaws look pretty much alike. Mama says we’re like peas in a pod.” He grinned. “Except for a few things. Cole’s the oldest. Frank’s the prettiest.”

Flora laughed. “And you’re full of the devil.”

“No, ma’am. That’s J.J. I’m the sweetest.” He winked.

Flora cocked her head this way and that, studying him for a moment, then she reached up and patted his cheek. “You are sweet, dear boy, but you’ve got a streak of the devil in you, too. I like you, Sam Outlaw. You must let me paint you sometime. Look after Skye. I don’t doubt that you can. I’m going to circulate.” She fluttered her fingers and waltzed off to a group nearby.

Feeling as if a whirlwind had just picked him up and set him down, Sam watched Flora go. “Fascinating woman.”

“Yes, she is,” Skye said. “Salmon?”

“Beg pardon?”

“Would you like some salmon?” She’d shoveled some up on a serving spoon.

“Sure.” She put some on his plate.

“Aren’t you having any?”

She shook her head. “I’m a vegetarian.”

“Really? You know, I don’t think I’ve ever met a vegetarian before.”

She smiled. “I can’t believe that. They may be scarce in Naconiche, but Austin is full of vegetarians.”

“Guess we don’t eat at the same places. I’m big on barbecue, Tex-Mex and hamburgers. And I don’t live in Austin anymore.”

“Oh, that’s right. Belle said that you’ve been transferred to San Antonio. Do you like it there?” She piled his plate with roast beef and hers with some pasta salad.

“Haven’t seen enough of it yet to tell.”

When their plates were full, they found a quiet table in a corner and sat down. Gus tagged along. He didn’t look any friendlier.

Trying to make points with the dog, Sam broke off a piece of roast beef and held it out to Gus. He ignored it.

“Is he a vegetarian, too?”

Skye laughed. “No. But he’s been trained not to accept food from people.”

Sam shrugged. “If our shepherd had been trained like that, I’d have been in a mess growing up. I hated liver, and I always sneaked mine under the table to him.”

“I think Belle did, too. He must have been very full on liver day.”

“J.J. fed his to the cat. I think Cole and Frank had to eat theirs.”

She laughed. “Growing up in a big family must have been fun.”

“It had its moments. Do I remember Gabe telling me that you’re a veterinarian?”

“I am. I’ve been in practice for several years.”

“Somehow I can’t picture you walking around a cow lot in rubber boots.”

“I treat cows sometimes, and I’ve delivered many a calf, but mostly I see small animals in my practice. Cats, dogs, birds. Pets. Do you have a pet?”

“Not since Bounder died a couple of years ago. He was my bird dog. But I could get one. What would you suggest?”

She cocked her head at him the same way her mother had. “Hmm. A toy poodle maybe.”

He must have looked horrified because she burst out laughing.

“Bite your tongue, woman. Do I look like the poodle type?”

“Poodles are very smart and very lovable. And quite fearless.”

He grinned. “That’s me. Smart, lovable and fearless.”

“Is that part of the Texas Ranger code?”

“Maybe the smart and fearless. But I don’t know of a single Ranger who has a poodle. Wait. I take that back. I think Carson’s wife has a poodle. Or is it a Pekinese?”

“The breeds aren’t very similar.”

“Except that they’re both little yappers. Want some more champagne?”

“Thanks, no.” Skye glanced toward the door. “Are those your other brothers?”

“Where?” He turned to look over his shoulder. “Well, I’ll be. They’re here. I thought J.J. and Frank weren’t coming because their wives are expecting.” He stood. “Come on and meet them.”

She hesitated. “Go ahead. I’ll meet them later.”

“Don’t you run off now, darlin’. I’ll be right back.”

Skye watched him as he strode across the room and slapped backs with his brothers. They did look very much alike. They were all tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired and quite good-looking. Sam was a charmer, just as Belle had said. And he seemed to have a well-defined sense of himself. He certainly didn’t suffer from low self-esteem. Maybe that came from being a Texas Ranger. She’d bet that he didn’t lack for female companionship. He surely made her heart skip a beat.

He caught her watching him and winked.

Heat crept up her throat, and she glanced away.

“You okay, Dr. Walker?” Pete asked.

Skye glanced up at Pete, one of four security guards working the party. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

He nodded and stepped back to his post, his eyes scanning the crowd.

In a moment, Sam was back. “You look like an orphan sitting there by yourself. Come on and join the party.” He pulled her to her feet.

Gus growled again.

“Gus, hush!”

Sam eyed the dog. “Listen, fella, you and I are going to have to have a serious talk.”

Gus didn’t relent. Skye squatted down and ruffled his scruff. “Gus,” she whispered, “you’re embarrassing me. Behave yourself. Sam is a good guy. He won’t hurt me.”

Gus licked her chin.

As she rose, Sam put his hand to her elbow to help her up. “Come meet J.J. and Frank. Did you know that Gabe sent a private jet after them? Their wives hated to miss the party but figured that they could do without the guys for a few hours. Cole’s wife Kelly is their doctor, so they’re in good hands in case one of them goes into labor.”

Sam guided her to where his brothers were talking with Gabe and Belle. Gus pushed his way between them and walked along, too.

Flora had taken Nonie and Wes Outlaw, Sam’s parents, under her wing and was escorting them around the room, chatting with this small group and that. Skye wished she was as socially adept as her mother. Even though she knew almost everyone in the room, she was still uncomfortable in the crowd, feeling not only awkward but a little panicky as well.

Gus bumped against her trying to move her apart from Sam, but for some reason she clung to his arm, feeling safer when she could touch him. Odd for her. She was usually wary of strangers.

Skye had already met Cole, the oldest outlaw brother and a former cop who was now taught criminal justice. He’d driven his parents to Wimberley, and they were staying with her family for the weekend. Sam introduced her to his brother Frank, a judge, and to J.J., a sheriff.

“Leave it to you, baby brother, to latch on to the prettiest woman in the room,” J.J. said.

“Gee, thanks,” Belle said, punching J.J. on the arm.

“Sorry, Madam Publisher, but sisters don’t count. Did I hear there was some grub here?”

Frank smiled at Skye. “And leave it to J.J. to find the food. Pardon his manners.”

“Skye,” Gabe said, “would you show J.J. and Frank to the buffet? I see a new batch of folks arriving. Looks like the mayor.”

Frank and J.J. each offered Skye an arm, and they headed to the food with Gus and Sam trailing behind. The dog was careful to stay between Sam and Skye.

What was it with that dog? Sam wondered. Gus didn’t seem at all disturbed by Frank and J.J. being around Skye, just him. Sam was a little pissed about it. Dogs and babies always liked him.

Between his family and the rest of the people at the country club party, he didn’t get any more time alone with Skye. A couple of elderly ladies, twins from the look of them, cornered him and grilled him for half an hour about the Outlaw family and about being a Texas Ranger. He really didn’t mind. Lots of folks were fascinated with both the story of his family’s names and occupations as well as everything about the legendary Rangers, but he’d rather have been spending his time with Skye.

“Well,” Sam said, “My granddaddy was Judge John Wesley Hardin Outlaw, and he figured it was a political asset to be named for a famous outlaw. He named his boys John Wesley Outlaw, Jr. and Butch Cassidy Outlaw and encouraged them to go into public service. My daddy, who’s known as Wes, was sheriff of Naconiche County for years, and Uncle Butch was in the Texas legislature. My daddy just followed the custom in naming his kids.”

“And your uncle?”

Sam shook his head. “Died a bachelor.”

“We know that Belle is Belle Starr Outlaw and that she was in the FBI,” one sister said.

“Yes, ma’am. She’s the one who finally bucked tradition when she left the bureau. My brother Cole used to be a homicide detective in Houston, but he teaches criminal justice in college now.”

“Cole. That’s for…?”

“Cole Younger Outlaw. J.J. is Jesse James Outlaw and he’s a sheriff. Frank James Outlaw is a judge, and I’m Sam Bass Outlaw, Texas Ranger.”

“How every interesting,” one of the ladies said.

“Is it true,” the other one asked, “that there are only a hundred Rangers in the entire state?”

“Used to be,” Sam told her, “but we’ve added a few more. There are a hundred and sixteen of us now.”

“I don’t see your badge,” the other one said.

He pulled back his suit coat to show them the distinctive silver star on his shirt.

The first one leaned closer for a look. “Marvelous. Alma, look what it says.”

Alma leaned closer, too. Two old ladies reading his chest wasn’t Sam’s idea of a good time, but his mama had trained him to be polite. He waited until they’d studied his badge before he let his coat fall back into place.

“Oh, there you are, Sam,” Flora said, sweeping into their threesome. “Ladies, will you excuse me if I borrow Sam for a minute? There’s someone I want him to meet.” Without waiting for a reply, she whisked him away as pretty as you please.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Flora tittered. “You looked in pain. Alma and Thelma Culbertson mean well, but they can be a trial sometimes. They adore Belle. She met them in her pottery class.”

Flora led him to a corner where Skye was talking to a sharp-looking dude in an expensive suit. Sam didn’t like the way the dude was standing so close to Skye or the way he was looking at her. He noticed that Gus didn’t seem to care.

“John,” Flora said to the guy, “I’d like for you to meet Sam Outlaw, one of Belle’s brothers. Sam, John Oates is the mayor of Wimberley.”

The two men shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Flora took John’s arm, and said, “I don’t think you’ve met Belle’s other brothers, John. Come along and let me introduce you.” She waltzed him away before he had time to protest, leaving Skye and Sam alone.

“Hi, again,” Sam said.

“Hi, again, yourself.”

“Did your mother just engineer that?”

Skye smiled. “She did. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not a bit. I was trying to figure out a way to escape the twins and make it back to you. Sure you don’t want to dance?”

She laughed again, and the sound of it reminded him of the wind moving through a stand of pines on a spring day.

“Who’s John Oates?”

“He’s the mayor.”

“I mean besides that.”

“He’s a building contractor.”

“Is he married?”

Skye shook her head. “Divorced. We went to school together. I’ve known him most of my life. I treat his dog Commander.”

“Will you treat my dog?”

“I thought you didn’t have a dog.”

“I’m going to get one.”