“It’s been a long time, Rose. How are you?”

How are you? After all they’d been through and all that had happened between them…What kind of question was that? This man had torn her world apart and now he wanted to make small talk? Her insides rolled. “Fine,” she blurted. “Mule Hollow is a great place.” How was she chatting when she wanted to throw up? Pass out. Run.

“That’s what I hear,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “Here, do you want me to take those for you?”

“No!” she exclaimed, and jerked away. Experiencing his touch again was the last thing she wanted. She was amazed she didn’t drop her packages. More amazed she didn’t throw them at him.

“I—I really need to be going. I have to get to work. But I’m sure we’ll see each other again. This is a small town.”

Too small for the both of them, she thought, angling past him.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

DEBRA CLOPTON

was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in the inspirational category, a 2006 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award winner, a 2007 Golden Quill Award winner and a finalist for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She praises the Lord each time someone votes for one of her books, and takes it as an affirmation that she is exactly where God wants her to be.

Debra is a hopeless romantic and loves to create stories with lively heroines and the strong heroes who fall in love with them. But most importantly she loves showing her characters living their faith, seeking God’s will in their lives one day at a time. Her goal is to give her readers an entertaining story that will make them smile, hopefully laugh and always feel God’s goodness as they read her books. She has found the perfect home for her stories writing for the Love Inspired line and still has to pinch herself just to see if she really is awake and living her dream.

When she isn’t writing she enjoys taking road trips, reading and spending time with her two sons, Chase and Kris. She loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her Web site, www.debraclopton.com, or P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Texas Ranger Dad
Debra Clopton

Published by Steeple Hill Books™

For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.

—Malachi 4:2

To my lifelong buddies and best friends in all the

world, Debra Drake and Lisa Webb—the fun and

laughter we’ve shared through the years is the

inspiration that fuels my stories today! God truly

blessed me with your friendship.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Zane Cantrell was looking for a woman. And not just any woman.

As a Texas Ranger, he’d made a career of either tracking or protecting men, women and sometimes even children. But this time it was different. This time it was personal.

His gut twisted and his jaw tightened. He wasn’t a Ranger anymore; still, following her to this small town of Mule Hollow had been the easy part.

Facing her…that was where the hard part would begin.

“Zane Cantrell?”

Hearing his name, Zane turned just in time to see a giant of a man emerge from Sam’s Diner. A broad smile spread across the man’s chiseled features. Given the gold star pinned over his heart and the fact that only one person knew he’d been due to arrive in town late last night, Zane took this to be Sheriff Brady Cannon.

When Zane had called inquiring about a job, the sheriff had surprised him by hiring him as deputy within minutes. Of course he’d been officially checked out and no doubt the background check had revealed his story—at least most of it. The sheriff didn’t know about Rose. Didn’t know that Zane had more reasons than just a bum leg to take early retirement.

“Sheriff Cannon?” Zane said, extending his hand for a brisk shake.

“Glad you made it. I see you found the apartment all right.”

A funny statement, since there were only two intersecting streets. Zane’s mood eased with a feeling of finding a kindred spirit in his new boss. “I didn’t have too much trouble,” he said.

“It’s not exactly Corpus, is it?”

One side of Zane’s mouth lifted. “Not by a long shot.”

Only seven hours separated the two places, but they seemed worlds apart. However, his leg injury required frequent stops to walk and stretch the recovering tendons. Because of that it had taken him eleven hours. He’d arrived in town shortly after ten, long after the streets had been rolled up. In Corpus, the nightlife would have just been getting started. He doubted the police here had much going on at any time of the day.

“Thanks for locating the apartment for me. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.” He glanced behind him at his new home over Mule Hollow’s only real estate office. That it had twenty steep steps was a painful blessing Zane welcomed. Every step would help him heal more quickly.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” Brady was quick to counter. “Having a man with your credentials call up out of the blue looking for a job, especially when I’m in need of help—it goes without saying that I’m pleased.” He chuckled. “And my wife insists you’re a godsend. Come on, let’s go around the corner to the office.”

A godsend. Zane could only pray that God was directing his steps here.

Rose Vincent lived here.

And that was Zane’s only reason for coming. Plain and simple.

Falling into step with his new boss, he surveyed the tiny town in the daylight. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a colorful place.” Each building along Main Street was painted a different color. The feed store was yellow, the diner grass-green and across the street was a pink hair salon among a row of equally bright buildings. When he’d walked down the stairs that morning and seen the town in the light of day for the first time, he’d been startled. But he’d adjusted, liking the idea of Rose living in a place that looked so…happy. Especially after learning about the years she’d had between then and now. The time she and her son had spent in hiding, struggling and alone, because he’d failed her. It was a small comfort to know she’d found this place. He owed this town a debt of gratitude.

Brady’s expression warmed. “The people are just as colorful. You won’t find a better group of folks. The pace around here is pretty slow, but with all the festivals and weekend traffic we’ve started attracting, it can get wild sometimes. Keeps me busy and me and my wife have got a baby on the way so I really need the extra help.”

“I’m glad to be of help,” he said, and knew he meant it. “So how’s the leg?” Brady asked. They turned the corner at the end of town, their boots clicking on the plank sidewalk. Though he could usually hide the weakness, the sound of his boots hitting the wooden planks accentuated the limp. “It’s coming along.” He’d been up front about his healing process from the injury that had almost killed him. He’d already assured Brady before taking the job that he was on the road to a full recovery. That was all the talking he planned to do. However, that wasn’t what had Zane’s answer stuck in his throat as they approached the sheriff’s office. It was the color of the law enforcement headquarters—chocolate brown with…It couldn’t be.

Rose trim on a sheriff’s office just wasn’t right. Then again, maybe it was red and he simply had Rose on his mind. The thought of being this close to her again after all these years had his attention distracted beyond repair. Almost as much as Zane feared their ability to reconcile the past would be.

Brady glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. The ladies came up with the color scheme.”

“That’s a relief,” Zane said, forcing a grin as he followed Brady inside the office. Paint was the last thing he was going to have to get used to in this new life. But if he could make things right by Rose then he’d be satisfied. It was a lot to ask of her. During his recovery, though, he’d realized he had to try. God had given him time to make things right…God had given him a second chance and he was taking it.

“So everything is here?” Rose Vincent asked, eyeing the packages spread out across the counter of Pete’s Feed and Seed.

“Goggles. Two pair. Just like you wanted,” the robust store owner said, pulling them out of the stack. “Two thick work shirts. One for you and one for Max. Leather work gloves, bandanas and a pair of size-seven boots.”

It was all here. “I just feel giddy, Pete. This is so thrilling. Not to mention I now own a pair of cowboy boots!”

Pete shook his head and grinned. “Greenhorns—Oh, I almost forgot.” He pulled two small canisters from the shelf behind him and set them on the counter. “You don’t want to forget your blowtorches.”

Rose laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Max cannot wait to get his hands on those. Thanks so much for showing him how to use them correctly.”

“It’s a guy thing and he didn’t need much teaching. Y’all are gonna do real good with this venture, Rose.”

She took a deep breath and started stacking the boxes. Her heart was bursting with emotions she couldn’t put into words. If Pete only knew what it had taken for her to get to this point in her life. A life that hadn’t turned out anything like she’d envisioned it. And yet despite everything that had happened to her, she’d come to realize that she was finally happy.

More important, Max was happy. Her son was so excited about the new business they were starting together…even if it was selling jelly. The idea made her smile. Her grandmother’s wonderful jelly recipe was the perfect foundation with which to build their new future. God rest her soul; she’d always wanted the best for Rose.

Her heartstrings tugged as always when she thought of her grandmother. Oh, how she missed her. “I’m going to bring you my first jar of prickly pear jelly.”

Pete rubbed his belly. “I can hardly wait. Let me carry these packages out to your car for you.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said. “I can get this. You have better things to do and I have two capable arms.” She proved it by scooping the stack of boxes into them.

“I don’t feel right about you carryin’ all that,” Pete grumbled, leaning across the counter to balance the top boxes as they teetered.

“That’s because your momma raised you right. But really, I’ve got this. You have feed orders waiting to be filled, so go on and take care of that and stop worrying about me.”

He didn’t look convinced, but didn’t push the issue as Rose headed for the door. She’d learned a man with manners was a wonderful thing, but she wasn’t one to get used to such things. She glanced back to reassure him. “You have a great day,” she called. Her excitement about the boxes in her arms had her quickening her steps toward the door. Max was waiting at home, eager to start their first fruit harvest.

It was amazing, through years of bitter disillusionment, betrayal and a broken heart God had led her and Max here—to this new life they were starting today. She’d never felt so exhilarated or optimistic about her life. She was practically singing as she stepped out into the bright sunshiny day.

And straight into a wall of a man!

“Whoa, there,” he rumbled from behind the grass separating them.

Rose froze. That voice!

Shock washed over her—if it hadn’t been for his strong hands holding her up, her knees might have buckled beneath her. Dazed, she looked over the packages into the eyes of a two-legged skunk.

“Rose.”

Her name coming from Zane Cantrell’s lips was like the rock slamming through her heart.

“Zane,” she managed. Zane was the last person she’d ever expected to meet on the streets of Mule Hollow. The last person she’d ever wanted to meet anywhere ever again! “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I, well, I moved in last night.”

His eyes, his unforgettable, gold-dust eyes, leveled on her as the words moved in hit home. Her eyes widened.

“I’m the new deputy in town.”

“Deputy—” She yanked from his touch. Fought to appear calm. Fought to appear casual. Fought not to notice how good the years had been to him—that he was as handsome as she’d remembered and just as rugged. His cheekbones were more prominent, his jaw harder, his lips…Her mouth went dry. “You’re living here?” she repeated. Repeated, as though he hadn’t just said it loud and clear.

He nodded, probably thinking she’d lost her mind in the years since they’d had their…since their paths had crossed. Humiliation swamped her and she felt her cheeks heat as her past opened like a yawning black hole and threatened to swallow her. For a brief instant she almost welcomed the refuge fainting would give her. But weakness wasn’t an option. Weakness was a weapon that she’d sworn no one would ever use against her again.

“Where?”

He jerked his head to the right. “I moved into the apartment up there.”

Her gaze followed his to the apartment above the real estate office. It was directly across the street from the dress store where she worked!

Rose wasn’t a good enough actress to hide her shock. “I see.” No, I don’t, she silently said. What are you doing here?

“It’s been a long time, Rose. How are you?”

How are you? After all they’d been through and all that had happened between them…What kind of question was that? This man had torn her world apart and now he wanted to make small talk! Her insides rolled. “Fine,” she blurted. “Mule Hollow is a great place.” How was she chatting when she wanted to throw up? Pass out. Run.

“That’s what I hear,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “Here, do you want me to take those for you?”

“No!” she exclaimed, and jerked away. Experiencing his touch again was the last thing she wanted. She was amazed she didn’t drop her packages. More amazed she didn’t throw them at him.

“I—I really need to be going. I have to get to work. But I’m sure we’ll see each other again. This is a small town.”

Too small for the both of them, she thought, angling past him.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

She managed a nod, then hurried across the street to the dress store. She was off today, but she’d forgotten momentarily that her car was parked in front of the feed store. Her only thought was getting away. She wasn’t sure how her legs held her up, but she made it across the street and to the door.

“Hang on,” she growled under her breath. Her hand shook violently as she grasped the doorknob, wrestled with her packages and at the same time somehow got inside. She kicked the door closed just as her arms turned into noodles and the boxes toppled to the ground. Struggling to breathe, she fell against the wall and fought to regain some sort of control. It was a hard thing to do when everything she cared about was now at risk.

Zane Cantrell was here.

Zane watched Rose disappear inside Ashby’s Treasures. He wasn’t certain if he’d been right in coming here, but one look into her midnight-blue eyes told him he’d done what he needed to do. He wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t been glad to see him. He was trained to read people, but it hadn’t taken a trained eye to see that he’d upset her. An expected reaction, considering the likelihood she hated him.

And with reason.

Chapter Two

What are dreams made of?

Standing in the center of the pasture surrounding her newly acquired home, Rose smiled despite the turmoil she was feeling since seeing him that morning. Not many would say their dreams were made of ugly, purple, egg-shaped fruit. But that was exactly what Rose’s dreams were made of. Delicious prickly pear fruit.

The house was old and the pastures were overrun with huge prickly pear cacti. To the town it looked about the most useless of any land the Lord had ever created. But that was precisely the reason she’d saved and worked to buy this particular piece of property. These heavily laden plants, whose beautiful yellow flowers had given way to the ugly fruit, were a thing of beauty. They were her field of dreams.

She and Max had arrived in Mule Hollow on a bus loaded with other women relocating from a burned-down women’s shelter in L.A. They’d come with the hope that the small town and the new women’s shelter might be the answer to their prayers.

It had been everything they’d hoped and so much more. The town had such a caring, loving need to make the newcomers feel safe and that they had something to offer the community. That made a difference. Especially for Max. He’d taken to the town almost immediately and now dreamed of owning his own ranch one day. On the streets of L.A. that thought would have never crossed his mind. She thanked God every day for leading them here.

And this—this deceptive-looking field of cacti surrounding this frame house and barn that had seen better days—this was where their dreams were going to come true.

She refused to think the past few hours could have changed that.

“Mom!” Max yelled.

She spun and watched her gangly teenage son zigzag toward her through the cacti. In his gloved hand he held a canvas bag aloft like the trophy that it was.

“I’ve got a bagful,” he said, skidding to a halt, his beautiful eyes sparkling from behind the protective goggles. She could hear the grin in his voice behind the bandana covering the rest of his face. The tiny, hairlike stingers on the fruit and the cactus plant were not something to take chances with. They were horribly irritating if they got on skin; in the eyes would be even worse. He’d grumbled when she’d first asked him to wear the goggles, but no protective wear, no deal. When she’d gotten home from town he’d been so anxious to get to work he hadn’t blinked twice as he’d snapped the goggles into place.

He was too excited about the prospect of harvesting the fruit to notice that she was upset. She was glad because, though she tried to hide it, there had still been the chance that her observant son might notice. She wasn’t ready to explain Zane…Mule Hollow’s new deputy!

Her temperature rose at the thought of him.

Desperately in need of a distraction, she stood dressed in her own gear harvesting prickly pear. Just what she needed. Denial was the name of the game. And at the moment, she’d play the game, because Zane, here in Mule Hollow, was simply too overwhelming to take in one dose.

She needed time to process it. Needed time to find a way to explain it all to Max. He knew that they’d spent many years in one shelter after the other, but he didn’t know all the circumstances that had led up to their nomadic way of life. He didn’t know that she’d witnessed a murder when she was twenty. Or that she’d briefly entered the witness protection program, when her testimony had sent the killer to prison. Nor did he know the whole truth about why or how she’d taken back her real name.

Max had been too young to remember anything of that life and she wanted to keep it that way.

Forcing the thoughts away, she held up her matching bag of fruit. “Me, too,” she said. “But, Max, please slow down. If you trip and fall into a cactus, those bristles are going to eat you alive.”

He tugged the bandana down. “Mom, stop worrying. I’m covered up like a mummy. Besides, I don’t trip.” The words were spoken like only a cocky teenager could do. “I’m an entrepreneur. The guys still can’t believe I’m opening my own business at fourteen.”

Rose teasingly lifted a brow at his words, loving his willingness to succeed. He was a fighter. Ambitious to achieve his goals. He was as proud as she was to have their first home, because at his young age he knew what it meant not to have a place to call their own. His ambition would help him survive.

“We’re opening a business,” he amended with a wide grin and teasing brow of his own. “Just you and me, kid,” he said with a wink of his beautiful golden eyes.

Instantly a stab of worry cut Rose to the core. Those eyes coupled with that wide grin…She was standing on top of a house of cards that had already begun to buckle.

But not here. Not in this moment when everything was supposed to be so perfect. “We’re full partners,” she said, forcing the conversation forward. “You are welcome to be as involved in this as you want to be. I’m going to rely on you a lot. If you’re sure you want the responsibilities.”

His eyes turned serious in an instant. “I’m in all the way. Remember, I have a ranch to buy. That means I better get to work. It’s torch time.” He took her bag, then sauntered off toward the worktable where his torches waited.

Cleaning off the stickers required singeing the bristles off with the hot flame. Like Pete said, it was a guy thing.

Watching him, panic crowded near. Zane was here. In her town.

She could run, leave all of this behind—but she couldn’t do that to Max. She sucked in a shaky breath, attempting to calm her fears. Deep down she’d feared this day might come. And now that it was here there was only one thing she could do.

Stay put.

No more running.

It was time to make a stand, whether she was ready to or not.

“I still can’t believe we got ourselves a real live Texas Ranger as a deputy in our little town,” Applegate Thornton said, sounding like he was talking through a bullhorn the minute Zane entered Sam’s Diner. Applegate was a reedy, dour elderly man of average height—Zane figured his scarecrow thinness probably made him seem taller to most on first glance. He was a mainstay of Sam’s Diner. With his buddy Stanley Orr, he seemed to have the pulse of the community well in hand. They sat front and center at the window table and were deep into their morning checker tournament. Zane had met them the previous day after his encounter with Rose. The two men and Sam had practically interrogated him for an hour.

It was pretty evident to Zane that though they looked like they were engrossed in their game, their eagle eyes saw everything that happened on the street beyond their window.

Softer, shorter and smiling, Stanley nodded in agreement. “Brady’s a good man, too. I bet he’d a made a good Ranger. Hard ta b’lieve our little town’s been fortunate ta get y’all both.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” Zane said, with a nod their direction. It was true. He’d only been in the small town a couple of days, but he already felt a connection to it. His natural sense of protectiveness had gone on full alert. Not that he was expecting any trouble—but if it came calling he’d meet it head-on. Zane had never taken his job lightly, as a Ranger or now, as a sworn deputy. He’d always prided himself on making choices in the best interests of the people or places entrusted in his care. For the most part, that code had left him with few regrets and enabled him to be proud of looking back. Rose was the exception.

“So, what do the two of you do?” he asked.

Sam hustled from the kitchen with tray of clean coffee cups. He was five feet, if that, with the bow-legged gait of a man who’d been built to sit a horse. Zane saw the craggy-faced proprietor as a small man with a big heart and more than likely a tenacious one. There was something about his eyes and his stout handshake that spoke to Zane. He was a mainstay of the community. Zane had studied people all his life, and then trained for it in his job, but there were some people who wore their character like an open book for all the world to see—that was Sam Green. He was a man who could be counted on. It was the way Zane had always hoped he could be described by those who knew him. It cut deep that Rose couldn’t say that about him.

“Them two,” Sam said, indicating Applegate and Stanley with a nod and talking loud enough for them to hear his every word. “Don’t let ’m fool ya. They kin get into more trouble than two teenagers let loose fer the first time in thar daddy’s pickup.”

Zane chuckled. “That so?”

Applegate scowled from across the room. “No mor’n anybody else. We’re retired and plum tired of it. So now we help out at The Barn Theater on the outskirts of town and that fills some of’r time.”

“That’s right.” Stanley jumped one of his checkers over Applegate’s, winning him a hard look. “You’ll have ta come on out and take in a show. We got ourselves a right smart good program.”

Applegate grinned for the first time and surprised Zane so much by the transformation that he almost spit out the coffee he’d just taken a sip of.

“Got some mighty fine talent out thar. Why we got reviewed in pert near ever newspaper that’s worth its salt. And our Sugar Rae Denton even got invited to be in a movie and on Broadway!”

“I’m impressed,” Zane said.

Sam arched a brow. “We got all kinds of good thangs going on in this little town. One of them thangs is my wife and her two friends. You bein’ a single man, ya ought to be prepared ta draw their special attentions.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’ve had this conversation several times in the past?” He knew resident journalist, Molly Jacobs, wrote a syndicated newspaper column about the goings-on of the town. He had heard it frequently covered matchmaking.

“’Cuz it’s true,” Applegate grunted, then plopped a handful of sunflower seeds into his mouth and grinned. He was more amiable than Zane had first taken him to be. “And it kin be downright entertainin’ fer us old-timers ta see you young bucks get snared up in their good intentions. Ain’t that so, Stanley?”

“Yup. This here spot in front of this window is better seat’n than front row at one of them movie theaters.”

Sam grinned at Zane. “We figure’d ta warn ya and then sit back and watch the show when they start in on ya.”

Their candor caused Zane to laugh, but it faded quickly when the older men all stared at him funny.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, feeling suddenly like he was in a lineup.

Stanley pulled at his ear. “When you laugh like that, I seemed ta thank maybe I met you someplace b’fore.”

“Yeah,” Applegate agreed.

Sam nodded. “But I ain’t one ta forget faces, so I know I ain’t met you.”

Zane had had his fair share of so-called twins through the years. He was certain everyone got told several times in their life that they looked just like someone else. “Someone in this area must resemble me,” he offered.

“That must be it,” Sam said, rubbing his chin and continuing to study Zane.

“We know e’vrbody,” Applegate grunted, piercing Zane with his scrutiny. “Who do y’all thank it is?”

“Cain’t put a finger on it,” Stanley mumbled. “But it’s that smile and something else…I jest cain’t figure it out.”

Zane chuckled. “Well, boys, relax. Given the size of Mule Hollow, one of us is bound to run into my look-alike pretty quick. When we do, the mystery will be solved.”

Zane, who was used to challenging jobs, figured that would be the biggest mystery he might face in the peaceful little community. It was going to take some getting used to. But if he could make things right with Rose, then he would gladly settle into this quiet life with a happy heart.

Chapter Three

Mule Hollow was having a baby and everyone was in an uproar! For a town that had been on the verge of dying not so very long ago, it was pure joy to think that babies were coming. Rose couldn’t miss Dottie’s shower, no matter how much she’d considered hiding out at home. Dottie had been on bed rest for a month, so the shower was being held at her home. The place was packed with women.

Even though Rose was apprehensive about what was going to happen with Zane, she was determined to go on as if her world hadn’t been turned upside down.

As she’d done with Max in the cactus field, she focused on what was going on around her. It was always lively when the women of Mule Hollow got together. So unlike her own silent, secretive pregnancy. The comparison slipped in unbidden; it was as if Zane coming into her life again had brought her past back to haunt her. By the time she was as far along as Dottie, Rose realized she’d gotten herself into a mess. By this time she’d stopped thinking David, her exhusband, was the answer to her troubles. By then he’d begun to show his true colors and she was regretting her rash decision to marry him. His overprotectiveness had first drawn her to him, but she’d soon learned it was control and not care that drove him. Almost the instant their vows were spoken, he’d begun shutting her in and shutting out the world. She made no friends and even if she had, he wouldn’t have allowed them to come around. A gathering like this wouldn’t have happened.

“This is from Norma Sue,” Dottie said, reading the card. She was sitting on the couch and melted as she pulled back the tissue paper, exposing a pair of red, satin baby slippers and a matching dress. “Ohhh,” she cooed, lifting them for everyone to see.

“I love red!” Scarlet-haired Esther Mae’s voice rose above the others’ exclamations. Esther Mae was in her sixties and as vibrant as the color she dyed her hair. “Every baby girl needs a red outfit. You did good, Norma.”

Her friend and cohort in all kinds of escapades, Norma Sue Jenkins’s plump cheeks beamed. “I figured if the baby has a head of black hair like Dottie, that the red would look real nice.”

“You are so right,” Dottie sighed, her navy eyes bright against her pale skin. She handed the gift off and it began to make its trip around the room.

“This is from Lacy,” Rose said, glancing at the card on the bag, then holding it toward Dottie. Her hand was resting on her rounded stomach and she looked slightly uncomfortable. Rose hesitated. “Are you okay? Not too tired?”

“I’m fine. Really,” she said, but didn’t look completely convincing.

Rose hadn’t been ill a single day while she was carrying Max, a blessing in more ways than one. Her life had been so messed up in other ways that she’d been thankful not to add morning sickness to the mix. Still, she felt for Dottie.

“You do look tired,” Lacy Matlock said. Live-wire Lacy had enough energy to share with anyone who needed it. “Is there anything we can do to help you more?”

All the ladies seemed to lean forward, reminding Rose of racers in the starting blocks. Rose got the sudden picture of Dottie saying she could use a glass of water and the entire room blasting forward to get it for her. It was a sweet picture and so like her town. A lump formed in her throat. Her emotions were unusually volatile today. What would it have been like to have had this kind of support when Max had been born?

“Please don’t worry about me,” Dottie urged everyone. “The doctor assures me that the lack of energy is nothing to get worried about. You all know, my body went through an ordeal in that hurricane in Florida. He said considering all that my poor body had been through that I’m doing great. God has me in the palm of His hand.”

“Yes, you are, my dear,” Adela said. She was a wisp of a woman with a snowy-white pixie cut, and together with Norma Sue and Esther Mae completed the notorious matchmaking posse of Mule Hollow.

Esther Mae relaxed. “Y’all are right. My goodness, Dottie, the good Lord brought you through being crushed under that house so I expect He’s got bringing our sweet baby into the world under control.”

Rose let those words sink in. God was in control of her life, too…but she couldn’t help feeling like she was riding in a car without brakes. She managed to make it through the present opening without letting her thoughts dwell on Zane. However, a few minutes later, while everyone was enjoying cookies and punch, that became impossible when talk turned suddenly to the new deputy in town. Of course it would—she should have expected it. Not much went on in a small town that didn’t get talked about and a new deputy, especially a handsome ex-Texas Ranger, would draw attention. Rose had half expected it to be one of the matchmakers who brought him up, but it was Dottie.

“I’m so happy to have Zane helping Brady out,” Dottie said as she sipped her strawberry punch.

“He seems like a real nice, upstanding man,” Norma Sue said. “And he’s single.”

“And sooo good-looking,” Esther Mae added. “I met him yesterday. He has the most intense eyes. I mean really, they just come alive with all that gold sparking them up. It just gave me goose bumps when he looked at me.”

“They are unique,” Norma Sue added. “Just think how they’ll light up when the right woman comes along!”

If Rose hadn’t been so upset she might have gotten tickled watching the matchmakers setting their sights on a fresh target. But that wasn’t the case. As she took a long drink of her punch, she was too busy trying to keep her hand from shaking while the fear she’d been trying to deny began to surface. Zane’s eyes were unique—but she saw a similar set across the dinner table every night. Would they realize?

All the questions that she was trying to put off suddenly came screaming forward. His coming here couldn’t be an accident. He had to have discovered she lived here. But why had he followed her here after all these years?

Did he know?

The question knocked the breath out of Rose. Panic hit her and she hurried to the kitchen. Her hand was shaking and as she set her cup down punch sloshed onto the counter.

“You okay?”

She jumped, startled as Lacy came through the doorway behind her.

“You look as white as the tablecloth.”

Panic clawed at Rose. “I—I need to go. Could you tell the others I had to leave?” She was already headed toward the door. She could feel her friend watching her. She knew Lacy would be worried about her, but Rose was too distraught to attempt a smoother exit. The denial she’d been struggling to keep at bay came down on her head in a landslide.

What had she been thinking? She couldn’t put her head in the sand and pretend this wasn’t happening. She had to confront Zane and she had to do it now.

She had to find out what had brought him to Mule Hollow.

She had to find out if he knew her secret.

“Thank you, Officer Cantrell. You saved my life.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Lovelace. But all I did was change your tire.” Zane stepped back from the SUV and tipped his hat to the petite brunette. From the backseat the excited barks of two miniature poodles erupted.

“Oh, you saved me all right. If you hadn’t come along when you did, me and my babies wouldn’t have been able to make it to San Antonio in time for registration.”

“Drive safe. You’ve got plenty of time.” Zane waved as Mrs. Lovelace and her barking menagerie headed off in pursuit of dog-show glory. He was grinning as he got into his truck and drove back toward town. So far during his first couple of days at work, he hadn’t done much of anything. This roadside rescue was his first actual official act. Brady had assured him that the job had its days when everything happened at once. He was supposed to expect the unexpected at any given moment.

Mrs. Lovelace had been distraught when he’d found her broken down on the side of the road. With no phone service for her to call for help and absolutely no idea how to change a flat, she had been more than happy to see him drive up. Three months ago, he’d been escorting a federal criminal into court, and today he was sending poodles to dog shows.

It was a little hard to get used to, and as he drove into town, Zane wondered if he was going to be able to make this adjustment.

He was surprised but pleased to find Rose standing outside the sheriff’s office when he drove up. Just as it had the first time he’d seen her all those years ago, every protective instinct he had went into high gear when it came to this woman. The first time he’d met her she’d been a scared young woman who’d witnessed a murder. There had been no hysterics or melodrama. She’d quietly come forward and told her story, though she’d been visibly shaken. He’d greatly admired her for stepping up when it would have been easier…safer to pretend she hadn’t seen anything.

“Why are you here?” she demanded.

The anger in her voice jolted him. Even though it was well-deserved and expected. He stepped to the pavement, closing his door behind him as he grappled with the right words. She kept on talking.

“You can’t tell me that you showing up here was an accident. Mule Hollow is just too small. Too out of the way. And after all these years, why?”

There was a fierceness in her eyes that he’d not seen before. He’d known he wouldn’t be welcome. “I had to come try to make things right between us.”

She gave him a look of disgust. He’d told himself he was prepared for this reaction, but he wasn’t. Beautiful, sweet Rose looking this hostile broke his heart. How could he have expected her to understand what he’d done? Why he’d done it? He’d never given her any explanation of why he’d left. Up until this moment he hadn’t realized that deep down he’d hoped his leaving hadn’t affected her. Knowing he’d embittered her like this was hard to take.

“Make things right?” she scoffed at last. “Why now, Zane? That was the past and you of all people should know that I don’t live in the past. After all, you were the one who taught me the art of living a lie.”

“That was my job. It was to keep you safe and you know it. Taking on a new identity was the only way. You had to, or you might have been killed before you testified against that thug, Lawton.” He knew this wasn’t really what she was asking yet he needed to get his head back on straight. It was not keeping her safe that he needed forgiveness for. His oath required him to protect those under his care, but with Rose it had gone so much deeper. From day one of meeting her he’d been doomed.

When he’d been assigned to Rose’s case, it had been his job to explain her options. He’d explained that she needed to enter the program or risk being killed before she could testify. Rose had touched his heart with the way she’d handled herself. Naively, without understanding what it would cost her, she agreed to do what was needed to see justice served. She hadn’t realized her ailing grandmother would refuse to go into the program with her. It had been a devastating blow to Rose. He’d had to stand at the door and watch as her grandmother sent her away. She’d believed, and rightly so, that her illness might somehow make it easier for Rose to be tracked down. It had killed Rose to say goodbye, but it was her grandmother’s wish that Rose be safe. And against his better judgment, for the first time in his life his job became personal.

It went beyond his oath, beyond the promise to her grandmother that he would keep her safe at all cost…he’d fallen in love with Rose, with her principles, with her loyalty. And she’d almost lost her life because of it.

“I did what had to be done to keep you safe,” he said. And it was true, even down to leaving her. It was putting her at risk and not telling her goodbye that he needed to make right.

Rose stared at Zane. Hearing him say he’d done what he’d thought was best to keep her safe cut to the quick. After all these years, how could it still hurt so much?

“We need to get some things straight,” she said, hearing the bitterness in her voice. “Have you told anyone that we know each other?” If no one knew, then maybe she had a little more time to figure things out. But she had to know if he knew about Max and had come looking for him.

“No,” he said, unlocking the door. “Let’s go inside.”

Rose didn’t want to be alone in a room with him. But what she needed to say shouldn’t be discussed on the street, so she nodded.

She refused to let him see her unravel. But looking into his amber eyes so dusted with flecks of gold that they stood out in a crowd made it near impossible. She felt certain everyone in Mule Hollow was going to see that Zane Cantrell had given his son his distinctive eyes.

And if that weren’t enough, he’d passed his devastating smile to Max as well.

Rose felt sick and her legs barely held her up long enough to walk past Zane to the chair in front of his desk. “I’ve started a new life here, Zane,” she managed while she sank into the chair. “This one is real. I don’t want to be reminded of my past. Of the lies. My son doesn’t know I was once in the witness protection program and I had hoped to keep it that way. I wanted him to be…one identity. His real identity.” Only he doesn’t know his real identity.

Rose inhaled sharply. Her blood pounded in her temples. Until Zane had come into the picture she’d been able to pretend that Max didn’t need to know the truth.

Zane sat on the edge of the desk and looked down at her. Despite everything between them, her insides knotted with the pull of emotions. Oh, how she’d loved this man before he’d abandoned her.

Abruptly, he moved from the desk to the window and stood gazing out, with his back to her.

Did he know?

She wasn’t sure how well the U.S. Marshal’s office kept up with witnesses after they were deemed safe to return to the world as they’d known it. And she wasn’t certain how much information a Ranger assigned to the case would have access to. How much of her life since the last time they’d seen each other did Zane know?

His wide shoulders remained rigid as moments ticked by and he stared out the window. When he turned back to her, his expression gave nothing away. Striding past her, he took his seat behind the desk. “I’m not sure I understand why you’d keep your past hidden,” he said finally. “What you did was a brave thing. It’s something to be proud of. Since there is no threat any longer, no one would be in danger from knowing the truth.”

He didn’t know! Relief washed over Rose at the realization. She suddenly felt light-headed and closed her eyes.

“Are you all right?”

Startled by the concern in his voice, she opened her eyes and nodded. “Yes,” she said, trying to get a hold on her emotions. He didn’t know Max was his son. If he did he would understand that she wasn’t hiding her life in the witness protection program all these years. She’d been hiding from him.

He studied her, his keen eyes searching for the truth in her expression. “Look, Rose. I came here hoping to start over, too. Hoping that we—”

At his admission her traitorous heart beat a little faster. It upset her all the more. “‘We,’” she gasped. “There is no ‘we.’ Will never be a ‘we.’”

“We” died the day you left me there…alone.

The muscle in his jaw jerked and his gaze darkened. “I see,” he said after a long moment. “Coming here and seeing that you’re okay has been worth it. I would never do anything to jeopardize your happiness.”

There was so much she wanted to say to him. But she wouldn’t. She’d believed she was over being bitter…but she was seeing the truth now. “I hope not. But if you’ll remember, I don’t have much faith in what you say.”

His expression hardened. “I did what I considered was right for you when I got reassigned. I believed it would keep you safe. I’d do it all over again if I felt it was the best choice.”

She surged to her feet, emotions rushing at her like darts. “I trusted you, Zane. Do you even know what that means?” She was mortified at knowing she was about to unravel in front of him. “I can’t do this. I just needed to get things out in the open between us. Stay away from me and my son. Like I said, Max has no idea about my life in the witness protection program. I chose not to tell him because we’ve had more than our share of bad luck and I feel as if I’ve spent my entire life in hiding. I didn’t want him to feel that way. Your coming here can only make things bad again.” She closed her eyes and fought down the fear of what would come if he stayed. It was an impossible situation. “Stay away,” she managed as she headed toward the door.

Zane was beside her in an instant, his hand reaching to open the door for her, surprising her with his apologetic smile…Max’s smile.

“I can’t do that, Rose. I owe it to you to explain. To make you see—”

“I don’t want anything from you. It’s too late for explanations.” There, that was plain enough. Back stiff, she walked out the door. But she knew when she got inside her car and met Zane’s unwavering gaze through the windshield that somehow what she wanted didn’t matter. Never had. Zane would do what he wanted and she would suffer the consequences.

Chapter Four

“You feeling okay, Mom?” Max asked as they got out of the car and started toward the church the next morning.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired, I think,” Rose said, feeling as if she was walking straight into disaster. She should have told Max last night. “I was up late making syrup for the jelly.” And worrying—but she kept that thought to herself as she looked up at her son. Even at his age it was obvious he was going to be tall and lean just like…his dad. All these years she’d tried to pretend she didn’t see Zane every time she looked at Max, but that was impossible. And today, with each step she took toward the small crowd gathered on the church lawn, her world teetered on the edge of falling apart.

What would Max say when he realized that she’d lied to him? The very idea made her sick. Her skin was clammy and her stomach kept lurching as if she were on a raft in high seas. Seeing Zane standing among her friends sent her hand to her stomach in the futile attempt to quell the queasiness. She’d left his office the day before knowing she’d left herself wide open for a public confrontation. She’d like to think that even if Zane realized the truth, he wouldn’t make a scene…but she didn’t really know him. It was stupid on her part, but she really wasn’t thinking straight. How did a woman break such news to her son? She prayed God would help her figure this out. So far no light had appeared at the end of the long, dark tunnel she found herself in.

“Hey, there’s Gil. I’ll check ya later.” Max loped away.

She watched him go and felt a touch of relief knowing the inevitable might have been put off for a few minutes. Why hadn’t she figured out a way to tell him?

“Rose, over here,” Norma Sue hollered, waving her over. Rose paused and engrossed herself in digging a peppermint out of her purse. It was her only excuse for delaying moving toward Zane. Also, peppermint was good for a queasy stomach. Her fingers trembled as she unwrapped the candy and plopped it into her mouth. Sadly, there was no instant calm for her nerves.

Esther Mae and Norma Sue were both waving her forward now, with big rolling waves like traffic cops. She nodded and finally, with nothing else to put it off, she closed her eyes, prayed for guidance—intervention actually—and then willed herself to cross the yard.

You can do this, she coached herself.

She would do this. Could do this.

Deep breath. Another deep breath and steps in between had her moving across the lawn. Choices from the past yielded consequences—the truth exposed was of her own making. She’d lived almost half her life behind a mask of deception and as much as she despised it, she would do it for a bit longer if it meant clinging to her and Max’s make-believe life for a moment more.

She couldn’t help clinging to it for as long as possible, because she was terrified of how their relationship would forever be altered when he realized she’d lied to him.

Zane had been watching her approach, but she’d kept her gaze off him. Meeting his watchful stare would only make her queasiness worse—throwing up on the church lawn was not something she wanted to do. Thank goodness for the peppermint, though she realized she was really expecting a lot from the tiny piece of candy.

“Good morning,” she said, pleased that her voice sounded halfway normal. She continued to avoid Zane’s piercing gaze locked onto her like a missile to a target. Of course he had no idea the potentially explosive nature of their meeting here on the lawn of the quaint country church.

Rose scanned the small crowd. Who would discover her secret first? Who would recognize what they were looking at? The question loomed over her like a monster’s shadow—who would unwittingly expose her?

“How are you feeling today?” Esther Mae asked. She had on a pillbox hat with white and orange daisies and Rose concentrated on the flowers. It was a very subdued hat compared to Esther Mae’s favorite with big purple feathers. Sadly for Rose, the daisies weren’t distracting enough for her needs.

“Feeling?” she asked, trying to focus on why they were asking her how she was feeling.

“Yes, you left the shower so fast yesterday we worried you might have caught a bug or something.”

“Oh, that.” She was breathless and gave Esther Mae what she feared was a pitiful attempt of a smile. “Fine. I’m fine. Really,” she rambled, while her betraying gaze slid to Zane. He might seem at ease to the group, but she saw the keen watchful alertness in his lawman’s eyes and knew he was looking much deeper. Knew he understood she was on pins and needles. He just didn’t know why. She looked from Esther Mae to Norma Sue. “No bug here.” She forced a laugh that came off sounding exactly like the nervous laugh it was. “Just another case of prickly pear jam that needed to be put up,” she said lightly, when in reality her knees were buckling and she needed to lie down. No, what she needed was a little backbone.

“Zane, you are definitely going to have to try some of Rose’s jam,” Norma Sue said. “It’s good enough to make a grown man cry—”

“That’s the truth,” Esther Mae gushed. “Our Rose is the catch of the county. A cowboy would snatch her up in a second if he had any brains beneath his Stetson!”

“Is that right?” Zane asked, a chuckle underscoring his words. His grave eyes twinkled.

The heat of mortification flared across Rose’s clammy skin. Things couldn’t get any worse. But of course she knew they could…would.

Norma Sue didn’t even try to hide her matchmaking attempt. “Matter of fact, Rose has just gotten moved into her very own place out there in the country. It would probably be a good idea for you to keep a close watch on her place when you’re out making your rounds. You know, her being a single woman and all.”

“No!” Rose exclaimed. “Norma, I’m quite capable of taking care of myself,” she stammered over the candy in her mouth.

Zane had on his poker face, but she could tell he was amused as he crossed his arms and studied her. The way he used to. All those years ago, when they first met and she was an idealistic, naive twenty-year-old, and he was her sworn protector. What a lie that had been. It made her temperature boil and her spine stiffen. “Deputy Cantrell won’t have any reason for stopping by my place, I can assure you.” She gave him a cool look that caused Esther Mae to gasp and Norma Sue’s brows to dip in consternation. Since coming to Mule Hollow she’d been nothing but grateful and thrilled to be here. She didn’t like this side of herself and didn’t appreciate Zane for coming here and provoking her!

“When you need help, you just call,” Zane said, as if he hadn’t heard her jibe! “I’ll be there for you. I promise.”

Oh, right, just like before. Rose went straight from feeling sick to furious. “I’m sure all of Mule Hollow will rest easier knowing you are so very reliable,” she practically sneered. Her sarcasm was so unlike her that it brought another gasp from Esther Mae.

“W-we certainly will,” Norma Sue said, finally getting over her uncharacteristic loss of words. Looking from Rose to Zane, she grinned so wide her plump cheeks almost touched her eyes. “We were just telling Zane that he reminds us of someone. What do you think?” She slapped her hands on her ample hips and studied him intently. “You got any ideas, Rose?”

Rose’s heart plummeted as her fear replaced everything. This was it. She could see Max written all over Zane, not only his smile and his eyes, but in the way he stood, the tone of his voice…There was no way—no way—she was the only one who could see this! What could she say?

The corner of Zane’s lips lifted. “Applegate, Stanley and Sam thought the same thing. I guess I have a twin.”

Rose clamped her teeth together, sending the peppermint right down her windpipe!

She wheezed and her eyes watered.

Norma Sue slapped her on the back. “You okay?”

“Y-yes,” she gasped as her mind whirled. She had to act. Had to do something before they figured it out right then and there. She needed a little more time. “Oh, goodness, it’s time for class,” she gushed and grabbed Zane’s arm. “Come with me. I’ll show you to our classroom. I’m sure Sheriff Brady already informed you that he’s the teacher of the singles class,” she said, tugging him along. “Bye, ladies,” she called over her shoulder, then frowned up at Zane. He was looking at her like she’d lost her marbles.

The ladies’ excited voices carried on the breeze behind them. “Oh, Norma, that’s perfect!” Esther Mae exclaimed. “Don’t they look cute together?”

“Sure do.”

The confusion and curiosity in sharp-as-a-tack Norma Sue’s voice caused Rose to cringe, but she continued to pull Zane along the sidewalk. She ignored the surprise she’d seen in his eyes. She knew full well that her escorting him around was the last thing he’d expected. He was a lawman through and through and had to be wondering why she was acting so erratically.

She had to pull herself together. But she also couldn’t just stand there and wait while Norma and Esther put two and two together. This was all she could come up with. “Don’t look at me that way,” she snapped, dragging him on with little resistance.

“And how would that be?”

“Like I’ve lost my mind.”

He chuckled, a low rumble that sent her senses tumbling. “Have you?”

She turned on him a few feet from the annex entrance. “No. I certainly have not,” she hissed, leaning close so no one would hear. “You know very well it is your impromptu visit that has me choking on peppermints. Sweating bullets. Acting like an ill-mannered—”

“Rose. Calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down. You’ve come barging into my life. My territory. With no consideration for the life I’m building here.”

“Rose, I’m sorry.”

He took her by the shoulders and she froze at his touch; his palms were warm against her bare skin and sent shivers racing through her.

“I tried to explain. You wouldn’t let me. Would you look at me? Please.”

Reluctantly, Rose did as he asked. It was a bad move, because looking at Zane almost made her believe he was sincere. And if there was one thing she’d learned about Zane Cantrell, it was to never believe he was sincere.

Even after all this time the realization had the ability to knock the breath out of her. It bothered her that he could still have that power. “We need to go inside,” she said. Pulling away from his touch, she yanked open the door and led the way into the building.

Her life was falling apart and she didn’t know what to do!

Brady had been the first to invite Zane to church when he’d arrived in town. Zane tried to concentrate on the lesson Brady was teaching, but it was useless because all he could think about was that Rose hated him.

He wasn’t sure why she’d dragged him into the class with her in the first place. Not when it was clear that him jumping off the edge of the world would have been her first choice.

The woman’s scorn was epic.

That they’d very nearly had an altercation out in front of the church hadn’t been something he’d been prepared for. The Rose he’d known and loved had been idealistic, warmhearted—spirited, yes, but unbelievably gentle. He didn’t know the Rose sitting rigidly beside him.

Earlier, he’d watched her and her son as they’d exited their car and then walked across the gravel parking lot toward the church. She hadn’t looked happy even then. Though he hadn’t gotten a close look at her son before he’d disappeared inside the annex, he’d been surprised to realize how tall the youth was.

He had to admit that it was hard to realize that Rose had a teenage son. Seeing her with a child was another reminder of all the years Zane had foolishly let stretch between them. He had a bad feeling that his coming to Mule Hollow was a futile attempt and that no reconciliation would be had between him and the only woman he’d ever loved.

He’d known he had his work cut out for him when he came searching for her. And he’d been right.

Chapter Five

The instant Brady finished giving the final prayer, Rose left the classroom. The hallway was packed as everyone headed toward the exits before walking up the sidewalk to the front of the church for morning services.

Rose greeted everyone she had to, but was intent on getting outside and going home. No church for her today. She’d realized she couldn’t continue this way. She had to get Max home and come clean.

Her throat clogged thinking about what he was going to do. She’d lied to him about one of the most important things in his life. Rose knew now that she couldn’t take the chance on it coming out before she’d told him. Maybe she was just being paranoid thinking anyone other than Zane could possibly put the pieces together. Who could do that? No one even knew they’d known each other before. Still, irrational as it was, the fear clung to her.

Dear Lord, help me, she prayed as she walked outside. Help me. She felt like such a hypocrite asking for help when she’d been so wrong in everything she’d done.

She could hear Zane behind her at the door as he was greeted by people. The man had only been in town a few days and already seemed to know everyone. She scanned the lawn, looking for Max. She had to get to him. Not seeing him, she turned to search behind her in the moving crowd. No Max. Instead she found herself looking straight at Zane. He was mere inches from her and his eyes were troubled.

“We really need to talk,” he said quietly, leaning close. “This is not the way things need to be.”

She swallowed hard. He had no idea the strain that was weighing on her. Before she could say anything more, Esther Mae and Norma Sue were back upon them.

“Zane, yoo-hoo!” Esther Mae said, waving as she plowed the way in front of Norma Sue. “We just had to come look at you again. We can almost see who it is you look like, but it won’t come to us.” Barreling to a halt, they studied him as though he was the latest exhibit at an art show.

Rose wanted to yell fire or something! Anything to prevent this scrutiny. Her gaze slunk from them to Zane. His golden eyes were sparkling as he smiled that devastating smile of his at the older ladies. Rose’s adrenaline was pumping so she could hardly breathe. Then from the corner of her eye she saw Applegate and Stanley burst from the annex exit. They headed straight toward them. Rose groaned because their keen eyes were glued to Zane as they stopped before him. And her nightmare was about to come full circle, because Max and his friend Gil were coming out of the annex, too.

“I told ya, Stanley. I told ya,” Applegate said. “Don’t ya see it? Jest look close. It’s jest plain uncanny. That’s what it is.”

Stanley scratched his bald spot and his eyes widened. “Well, what do ya know? Yor plum right, App.” Both men looked from Zane to Max, who was approaching Rose and the rest of the gathering crowd. Rose was heading for the edge of Niagara Falls. There was nothing humanly possible that she could do to stop going over the edge.

Max and Gil came to a halt in front of Zane. Oblivious to everyone’s stares, both boys looked at Zane in awe. Max’s eyes glittered gold in the sunlight. He might as well have been wearing a sign proclaiming his identity.

“You must be the new deputy. The Texas Ranger. This is Gil and I’m Max.” He smiled openly at Zane.

The admiration in his warm eyes caused a deep ache in Rose’s heart. Her son had just met his dad and he had no idea…Shame engulfed her. Max believed his dad was a lowlife they’d had to escape and then hide from for years until he had finally given up hunting them. He was a man to be ashamed of and feared. And, now, Max was about to learn that his mother was a liar. Dear Lord, what have I done?

Esther Mae’s gasp was loud enough to draw looks from the far corners of the world. Beside her, Norma Sue’s mouth fell open. Rose felt faint and quickly scanned the gathering group. Applegate and Stanley were gaping, too. Of course, none of them realized exactly what they were seeing—they just saw the startling resemblance.

But she knew that Zane, frozen, his jaw slack, his brows dipping together over stunned eyes, knew exactly what he was looking at. His son.

Rose had no doubt that he understood what he was seeing when he tore his gaze from Max and planted them on her.

“Mom, hey,” Max said, breaking into her thoughts. “Do you feel bad? You don’t look so good.”

Rose grabbed his arm. “I—I need to go home,” she stuttered, tugging him back a step, meeting his worried eyes.

“Sure. Maybe you got a bug or something. See y’all later,” he said, glancing at the small group.

Rose did the same and didn’t miss the stunned looks everyone was still wearing.

“Do you need any help?” Esther Mae asked as did several others. “Maybe Zane could drive you home. You look like you’re going to faint.”

“No!” The last thing she needed was Zane’s help. And one look at the dark expression on his face told her a storm like nothing she’d ever seen was brewing. “I’ll be fine.” She clung to Max’s arm as they headed toward the parking lot. She could feel Zane’s eyes boring into her back and was thankful that he chose not to make a scene.

“Everyone sure was looking weird,” Max said as soon as they got in the car. “You’d think they never saw a sick woman before. You sure you can drive?”

Rose nodded and proved it by sticking the key in the ignition and twisting. Her hands shook as she put the car in Reverse, but as soon as they were heading out of the parking lot she felt a bit better. Just getting away from Zane for a moment was a relief.

“Did you see the look on Ranger Cantrell’s face?” Max asked. “He looked kind of scary. For a minute there I thought I’d done something wrong.”

Rose ran over a pothole in the pavement and the car jerked. “Sorry,” she gasped as she and Max bounced roughly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Max laughed. “I figured that out soon as I looked at you. Who’d have thought a Ranger would be scared of a woman upchucking!”

Rose didn’t laugh as she glanced at Max. He was so happy.

He met her eyes. “Mom, what’s wrong? You look like you’re about to cry,” he said, and the smile immediately faded from his face. “Mom?”

Rose inhaled and glued her eyes to the road. How was she going to tell him what was really wrong with Zane?

“Mom, please tell me you aren’t fixin’ to tell me we’re leaving.”

“You okay?” Applegate asked. His loud voice added to the pounding in Zane’s head. It brought him back to his surroundings and he became aware of Norma Sue and Esther Mae whispering to each other while Applegate and Stanley openly stared at him. They’d seen exactly what he’d seen. But, obviously, they didn’t know the truth of it.

They didn’t understand that it wasn’t some uncanny fluke that Max and him looked so much alike. In reality if it hadn’t been for the eyes and the smile they would have only resembled each other like people do. But it was the Cantrell eyes and smile that had them speechless. They didn’t know that the genetic pool had been passing that same magnetic smile and glittering, amber eye color to Cantrell men for generations.

He had a son.

Rose hadn’t said so—she didn’t need to. Max was his. It had been like looking at a teenage version of himself. How could this be?

His head was pounding like it would explode. For nearly fifteen years he’d believed that Rose was the most honest woman he’d ever met and her integrity was above reproach. How could she have kept this from him? He focused on the group around him. Focused on covering up the emotions that were raw and exposed.

“I’m fine,” he said.

Stanley scratched his head. “That thar is jest plain somethin’. It’d been a shock to me, too, ta see somebody wearin’ my face.”

“’At’s the truth,” Applegate grunted. “I told ya him and Max looked alike. It’s the eyes and that thar smile.”

“The two of you could be related,” Esther Mae said. “Me and Norma Sue were speechless there for a minute.”

“And that’s saying a whole heap.” Applegate cocked a bushy gray brow at him. “It jest don’t never happen.”

Stanley wagged his head to and fro. “Esther Mae’s right, though.”

“Son, did you and Rose—” Norma Sue began, then slammed her mouth shut and colored slightly. “Forget I said that.”

Zane was already walking off, heading for his truck. He had a son.

A half-grown son. And it was obvious that Max was as clueless as he was.

“The witness protection program,” Max said, clearly confused.

They were sitting in lawn chairs next to the house. It had been as far as Rose’s legs could carry her. In the car she’d assured him that they weren’t leaving but that she had something very important to tell him, but that it had to wait until they got home. She’d finally forced herself to just say it. Now, she nodded, giving him a moment to process the information.

“But that’s for mobsters, isn’t it?”

“Not always. Sometimes, innocent bystanders see something that puts them in danger and then they have to go into the program for the protection of themselves and their family. That’s what happened to me.”

“Wow,” he said, interest replacing the confusion in his words. “You saw a murder? Were you scared?”

She nodded again and swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

“And then they saw you and tried to kill you? Like in the movies? Did you have to run? Did they shoot at you?”

His questions flew at her like buckshot. She had to hold her hand up to get him to pause. “It wasn’t like that,” she said. “The man didn’t actually see me. I went to the police and picked him out of a police lineup.”

“Cool,” Max said. “But how did he know it was you if he didn’t see you?”

“He was a very bad man. He had connections. The police had already explained to me that I might have to go into the witness protection program.”

“Wow,” he said again. “It’s just like an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger!”

Though Max had loved that popular TV show, she’d never been able to sit through a full episode because it always caused bad memories of Zane to surface. “Sort of,” she said, and then answered some of his questions.

“But why didn’t Grandma come with you?”

Rose’s mother had gotten pregnant just out of high school and died giving birth to Rose. She’d never known who her dad was. The only people she had in her life were her grandmother and grandfather, who had passed away when she was ten. Though Max hadn’t been born before her grandmother died, Rose had told him many stories. She just hadn’t told him all of them.

“She couldn’t bring herself to leave the house she’d lived in for almost fifty years. It was the home she’d shared with your grandfather. And all of her friends were there.”

“But didn’t she love you? Didn’t she want to be with you?”

“That’s the hard part. Yes, she did. But she had health issues, too. And she feared that somehow medical records could lead the man I was hiding from to me.”

“Oh. But don’t they protect you from all of that?”

“Yes, they do, but things happen. When there is a chance that you’ve been located they hide you somewhere else. Gram couldn’t have handled all the moving. But she wanted me to be safe. Leaving her behind almost killed me. Even now, thinking about it is hard. But the Texas Ranger who helped me explained all of this to us and that was the decision we had to make. We shared letters. They were passed through the Justice Department and when Gram got really ill I was able to see her before she died.”

He looked stunned by the information overload. Poor kid had no idea that it only got worse.

“So, are we still in it?” he asked. “I mean, is somebody out there still trying to kill you?”

She shook her head. “Oh, no. We’re safe now. All that was before you were born. The man I sent to prison was killed there and so I was able to take back my real name. When I married David I’d been out of the program for about four months.”

He studied her and she could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. “So, us always moving—we were really hiding from my dad? All that is real?”

She nodded. She’d had to be honest with him when he was young about the fact that they were hiding from David. He’d had to know not to trust him and not to go anywhere with David if he showed up trying to snatch him. “Unfortunately, that was true, too. Everything about your past is authentic.” Rose’s panic stole her breath. “Except…”

He straightened, locking his shoulders back and looking so much like his dad. Over the years every time he’d made this move she’d pictured Zane. One day that chest would be wide and strong and those shoulders would look as if they could take on the world.

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