Page 25 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

“ I beat you!” Carsen jumped up and wiggled his behind.

“ Keep it down, buddy. Piper is sleeping upstairs,” CaDee said. She’d noticed that Piper had seemed a lot more tired lately.

CaDee, Sharp, and Carsen were sitting on the floor with a board game and a popcorn bowl between them. She was glad that Sharp had forgiven her for accusing him of taking her journal. She still had no clue where it went and assumed Milo must have taken off with it.

“ Well done, Sport,” Sharp said with a high five.

“ I ’ m the winner!” Carsen crooned.

“ Okay, let ’ s not rub it in too much,” CaDee drew Carsen into her arms for a tight hug. “ It ’ s past your bedtime so run along and brush your teeth. I ’ ll be up to read you a story in a few minutes.”

“ I want Sharp to read my bedtime story,” Carsen said.

CaDee looked from Carsen to Sharp. “ That ’ s entirely up to Sharp.”

He stood and stretched out the kinks in his back. “ I ’ m in.”

“ I ’ ll come in after I clean up here. Make sure you brush your teeth, Carsen.”

Cadee felt a ping in her chest watching Carsen lay his hand in Sharp ’ s much larger one as they walked up the stairs.

Somehow Sharp had swept into her life and showed her that she could trust someone again.

She put away the board game, took the popcorn into the kitchen, did the dishes, and headed upstairs. She stayed outside of the bedroom door full of emotion. Carsen was tucked against Sharp ’ s arm while he read Three Little Pigs , even changing the sound of his voice for effect.

When he read The End, CaDee stepped inside. “Bedtime.”

Carsen was rubbing his eyes sleepily. “ Sharp is a good reader, Mommy,” he yawned.

“ I heard. I agree.” She winked at Sharp who hauled himself out of the bed.

“ Night, champ.”

Carsen jumped up and gave Sharp a hug then dropped back onto the bed, bouncing twice, then scooping Tommy up close.

CaDee kissed him on the cheek and forehead then gave his hand a squeeze. “ Sleep tight.”

“ Mommy?”

“ Yes baby?”

“ Will you have a baby again?”

“ Uhh…why do you ask?” Knowing this needed her attention, she sat down on the bed.

“ I ’ m going to run downstairs,” Sharp excused himself.

“ Because Sarah and Saul are brother and sister. I think I ’ d like to have one.”

“ Well, that ’ s a big question and one I can ’ t answer with a yes or no.”

“ Do you love Sharp?”

She had to manage her expression. “ That ’ s another big question. I have respect for Sharp. I love you.” She tickled under her chin. He laughed and buried his face in the pillow. “ It ’ s time for you to shut your eyes and get some sleep.”

“ Okay.” He tucked Tommy under his arm. “Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“I think it’s time I stopped sleeping with Tommy.”

“Why, honey?”

“Because Saul doesn’t sleep with a stuffie. Big boys don’t.”

“It’s your choice, love.” Tears came to her eyes. Her son was growing up fast.

“Tomorrow I won’t sleep with him. Good night.” He closed his eyes.

She shut off the light. “ Door open or closed?”

“ Open.”

Leaving it ajar, she went downstairs and found Sharp in the kitchen.

“ That boy is something else,” she said.

“ You should know that he asked me an interesting question.”

“ Did he? Let me guess. He asked if you loved me?” When Sharp nodded, she sighed. “ He asked me the same question about you.”

“ He ’ s curious. That ’ s a good thing.” He leaned his hip against the counter.

“ Would you like a glass of Piper ’ s dandelion wine?” She took down two glasses and the half full bottle.

“ No one ever passes up Piper ’ s dandelion wine.”

“ The taste does grow on you.” She poured a small amount into each glass.

“ What if?”

She looked at him over the rim of her glass. “ What if what?”

“ What if you and I got married?”

The wine went down the wrong pipe and she started coughing and sputtering. When she got it under control, she sniffed the wine. “ Is there something in this wine?”

He set his glass down. “ I’ll freely admit I ’ m not good at this. I ’ ve never been one to connect with my emotional side, but I ’ m serious when I say that I ’ ve thought about us…and marriage.”

“ Sharp—”

“ Wait a second. I ’ ve grown very fond of Carsen. I ’ ve also grown to care for you. I know I might not be your idea of a great catch, but I can promise that I ’ ll do my best to keep you and Carsen safe and happy.”

She set her glass down and swiveled, her intention was to get away, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back around.

“If you’re not interested, just say so,” he said.

“This is sudden.” She looked up at him.

“Yeah, but sometimes things happen fast.”

“Are you asking out of pity?”

“No. I just don’t want you to go.”

She sighed. “Marriage isn’t easy.”

“I want us to build a home together.”

“But why? You barely know me.”

“I know you’re a good mother, a good human, and that’s saying a lot.”

She searched his expression. He was serious. And why didn’t she say a hard no ?

Marriage. She swore she’d never marry again, never even consider marrying someone.

And yet, what Sharp offered was safety, security, and a stepfather to Carsen.

Yet, marriage was commitment to one’s person.

A lifelong commitment and she’d been stripped of her forever once.

She’d invested so much of herself into Dante, and he’d betrayed her.

Sharp wasn’t Dante.

Sharp made her feel…what?

Safe. Something she hadn’t felt in so long. Seeing him with Carsen and how they connected made her happy.

“Don’t answer right now,” Sharp told her. “Think about it for a few days. I’m a patient man.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Yes you are, and I appreciate everything.”

“I’ll take off and we’ll see each other later.” They kissed again and he left.

She was staring through the window into the darkness of the night when she heard, “You could always marry worse.”

CaDee turned and saw Piper standing in the doorway.

“Piper! Were you eavesdropping?”

“No. I was coming to grab a glass of water and caught the tail end of that.”

“You could have alerted us.”

Piper sighed. “Sit for a minute.” She pointed at the table.

“Piper, I’m tired and I don’t want to discuss the proposal—”

“It’ll only take a minute.” She pointed at the chair again.

CaDee sat. “You know I respect your opinion, but this is something I need to think about.”

“I want to tell you a story.” She stared into the distance as if looking into the past through a painting on the wall. “I was eighteen when I met my husband. He was tall, dark and handsome.”

“Love at first sight?”

“No, I couldn’t stand him,” she huffed. “Arrogant as the day was long.” She waved a knotted hand through the air.

“But he pursued me. I knew it was the challenge. Men like my late husband craved the challenge. Matthew had a reputation, you see, as being a player and I wanted no part of that. Ma always told me when looking for a lifelong partner look for a fireplace and not fireworks. Well, he was fireworks. Until one night. The only people who know the truth are dead and gone, and me. And I’m going to make it two by telling you.

” Her sad eyes filled with unshed tears.

“I had just graduated high school and like most kids back then, we were out celebrating down in the holler. A crowd had gathered, we were all drinking and being teens on the precipice of freedom. There was a young man I was fond of. He was a fireplace. He had pretty eyes and a kindness that promised he’d make a great partner.

He and I wandered a bit from the others, talking about what our hopes and dreams were for the future, and he kissed me.

I’d never kissed anyone before so I was a bit taken back.

Soon he started moving his hands on my body and I was scared.

I pushed him away and he seemed to understand, but as I started to walk away to join the group again, he came up behind me and dragged me into the woods.

There he took my most precious gift. My innocence. Trust. In one act he ruined me.”

“Piper, I’m so sorry.” CaDee reached over and laid her hand on Piper’s.

The woman looked down as if she hadn’t been shown kindness in a long time.

“I didn’t tell a soul, except for Matthew.

He saw me running away from the party and he was worried, he caught up to me, and I guess I was so relieved to cry on his shoulder and tell him what I had just suffered.

He swept me away in his truck to get me away from the others and tried to convince me to go to the Sheriff and report what happened.

But I was afraid. Ashamed. Things were different back in those times.

I worried that I’d be a disgrace to my parents, and no man would ever want a woman who had been hurt.

I was naive. But Matthew, he held me for hours, didn’t judge me.

For a month he was there for me, a friend, never taking advantage of my situation.

” Her narrow shoulders slumped . “Then I found out I was pregnant. I was devastated all over again. I had no clue how I’d tell my family.

Matthew asked me to marry him and made a promise he’d protect me, keep me safe, and always love me and my child.

And you know, he came through on his promise.

The boy who had this wild reputation turned out to be the best husband a woman could ask for.

He raised our son like he was blood and he loved me so well.

Then the accident…” She exhaled. “Fate cheated me.”

“Piper, what happened to the boy who did that to you?”

“I don’t know the details. Of course there were rumors.

Some say he ran off with one of the girls in town because he got her pregnant.

I often wonder if I had a hand in forcing him out of Fin’s Creek, but Matthew and I never talked about that night or mentioned the attacker’s name again.

I’ve prayed that whatever happened to him he never hurt another woman.

I often felt guilty, thinking I should have come forward not for me as much as for anyone who would be in danger because of him.

I’m telling you this because sometimes we need to understand that marriage is as much about friendship as it is lust. Love doesn’t always come crashing through all our walls, but sometimes it’s as gentle as a feather knocking out block by block.

I’ve known Sharp all my life and he’s a great balance between the feather and wrecking ball.

He needs someone like you who can allow him to expose all the layers. ”

CaDee looked down at her lap. “That’s a big step. I enjoy his company. I’ve learned to let down o those walls, but my life is quite a mess right now.”

“We never have to clean up messes alone. When someone is there willing to clean up your space right along with you that’s a gift.” She looked frail, older than her years, as if she’d lived a lifetime. “I found out some news I wanted to share.”

The concern she saw in Piper’s fragile features set CaDee on edge. “What is it?”

“The biggest reason why I wanted someone to come to the farm was because I needed the help.”

“Albert explained.”

“What Albert doesn’t know is that six months ago I was diagnosed with cancer. Doc seems to think I only have months to live. It’s incurable. Going to beat me in the end.”

Tears filled CaDee’s eyes. “Piper…”

“Now, now. I’m not telling you this so that you’ll mourn me.

I feel like you need to know. It’s only right.

And don’t worry, child. I don’t fear death.

I’m a believer that I’ll be with my family again and what more could a simple woman like me wish for?

” A smile broke through her frown. “I’m having my attorney write up a new will tomorrow.

I want you and Carsen to have the farm. Everything in it. ”

CaDee about fell off her chair. “Piper, I can’t accept such a gift.”

“And if you don’t what? Corporates will buy it for half what it’s worth. Turn it into a casino. No. I don’t want that. I want you and Carsen here. Just promise me you’ll take care of my goats.”

“I promise.”

Piper stood. “So, you think about what I said about love.”

Sitting alone on the couch, CaDee allowed the tears to form and fall. Over the last few weeks she’d grown to care for Piper. Felt like they’d become friends, and now hearing the news that she had a terminal illness sank into CaDee like a heavy weight.

She wiped away her tears and went to check on, on Carsen who was sleeping so soundly tucked in a ball. She pulled the blanket around him and kissed his cheek.

She’d do anything to protect him. She’d made a promise she’d keep.

Going down the hall to her bedroom, she crawled into the big bed and cuddled under the blankets. She stared through the window into the night sky as thoughts swirled in her head.