The Ranger's Texas Proposal by Jessica Keller

Author:Jessica Keller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2016-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Josie prepared bottles for the calves and called over a few of the boys to move them out into the small pasture and take turns giving each calf a bottle. The boys were ecstatic—they always begged for the opportunity to do the bottle-feeding. By the time Heath strolled in with a bale of hay propped on his shoulder, Josie was alone again.

“Are they old enough to eat this stuff yet?” Heath swung down the bale and set it beside the cabinet where she stored the other food items.

She smiled and shook her head good-naturedly. Sure, Heath had told her he’d spent time on his uncle’s ranch, but the man definitely had more city in him than country when it came to animal knowledge.

“We start them on hay at four days old. But they’re mostly still on the bottle. If you must know, I end up sneaking most of it over to the goats.” She pointed in the direction of the goat enclosure. “They’re so cute and I’ve always wanted one. It’s impossible to pass up their sweet little cries, so I feed them.”

Heath tilted his head, wearing a soft smile. “You’ve always wanted a goat?”

“Or two.” Josie laughed lightly. “I can’t justify spending money to buy one now, but they’re on the dream list for my ranch. Someday.”

They stood for a moment, staring at each other. The man in front of her looked so capable, handsome and strong. She fought the powerful urge she felt to melt against him and beg him to change her mind about falling for a lawman.

What should she say? Why did you leave yesterday without saying anything? Do you care about me? If not, why do you act like you do? Will you leave me...us...and never look back? Can I trust you?

Heath cleared his throat. “I’m real sorry about leaving you stranded yesterday. That wasn’t my intention. I was going to come back for you, but I should have told you that.”

“Why’d you go?”

“To clear my head.”

Of what? Of her? Of the ranch? “Did it work?”

A slight grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “Does it ever?”

Josie propped her hands on her sides. “I overheard what you said to Stephen.”

He adjusted his hat. “All of it?”

“Most,” she admitted. Okay, all. She happened to step through the doorway right as Heath began questioning the boy about the calf incident. “It was sweet of you to say you’d mentor him after November, but will you be able to do that?”

Say you love it here. Say you’re moving. Say you’ll stay.

“I don’t live all that far. When assignments don’t take me away, I could swing by here in the evening if I wanted to.” He propped his hand on the side of his belt.

“Stephen’s scheduled to go home in December. He won’t be here at the ranch any longer.”

“Right.” Heath scratched the back of his neck. “Cell phones and computers are wonderful inventions, as well.”

“True, but they don’t replace face-to-face interaction.”

“I agree.” He stepped closer.

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