Page 28 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

Sharp looked at the circle of men who were hanging around the corral fence. “ If anyone here isn ’ t committed to this, now ’ s the time to say. No one will judge you. Ranching isn ’ t easy and this land hasn ’ t been what it can be in a long time.”

Bear kicked the bottom rail. “ Hell, I ’ ve been waiting to hear this for weeks. I ’ m in. Lock, stock and barrel.”

“ A little hard work never hurt anyone,” Arrow said.

The rest of the men were silent.

“ Fellows, what are you thinking?” Sharp asked.

Grimes swung his arms over the top rail. “ Just let us know what we need to do.”

Hawkeye ’ s laughter made Sharp look at him. “ What is it Hawkeye?”?

“ Well, can ’ t say I like the idea of living with any of you assholes again, but it could be worse I suppose.”

One by one, they all nodded in agreement.

“ It ’ s good to have the team reunited,” Sharp said.

“ Let ’ s get to work,” Arrow said.

“ I hate to do it the first day, but I have something I need to do.” Sharp grabbed his hat off the rail and slammed it on his head. “ Y ’ all know what you need to do. Pa ’ s here to supervise with the building construction.”

He glanced at his watch then hauled himself into his truck.

Lifting the console, he looked in to make sure the velvet box holding his ma ’ s ring was still there.

He felt his nerves on edge. He ’ d never asked anyone to marry him before, and he wanted it to go without hitch.

CaDee deserved the best proposal and wedding.

It was time to make the engagement official if she’d have him.

He ’ d wondered if his family would try to talk him out of asking CaDee to marry him because they hadn ’ t known each other for that long, but instead, they were almost as certain as he was that marrying her was the right thing to do.

Somewhere along the way, he ’ d fallen in love and he hoped she felt the same for him.

Driving up to the house, he showered and put on his best clothes. Tonight had to be perfect.

He had reservations for the best restaurant in town, and the owner was setting up a table on the rooftop. Candlelight, wine, and the works.

"Are you prepared for this?" Bradley asked as Sharp stepped out onto the porch.

"I am. I’m ready to propose to CaDee.”

Bradley replied with assurance, "I believe she will say yes." He then embraced Sharp, an action that seldom occurred. "I am proud of you and the person you have become. Your mother would be proud as well."

Sharp considered the possibility that his mother played a role in the events that brought CaDee and Carsen into his life. He wished his ma could be here to see the next chapter of his life.

“Pa, I need to go pick CaDee up. See you later.”

****

CaDee pulled the dress over her head and smoothed it down her body.

She couldn ’ t wait to meet Sharp at the restaurant.

Piper and Carsen were at the 4H meeting for the evening.

It just so happened that Carsen loved his new friends and the prospect of showing goats—and Piper seemed youthful spending time with him doing something she enjoyed.

They hadn ’ t spoken about her illness because Piper didn ’ t like to dwell on the things she couldn ’ t change. She wanted to live while she was alive. CaDee respected that choice.

She was running late, so she picked up her pace.

Hurrying down the stairs, she started for the front door and stopped mid-stride. The door was wide open. She was certain she had closed and locked it when Piper and Carsen left earlier.

She might have chalked it up to poor memory if she didn ’ t also catch a scent of Dante ’ s cologne.

Her chest tightened.

She squeezed the doorknob until her fingers ached.

He had been in the house.

Was he still inside?

“ Don ’ t you look pretty,” came his voice from behind her. He reached beside her and slammed the door shut, locking it.

With bravery she didn ’ t know she had, she turned, meeting his gaze in a headstrong rebellion. “ What are you doing here? You ’ re not invited.”

“ I think it ’ s amusing that you ’ d even ask that question.” He ’ d been drinking. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his breath stunk of cheap whiskey. She ’ d experienced too many of these times and had never wanted to experience one again.

She started to reach for the doorknob, but he grabbed her wrist. “ Don ’ t do this, Dante.”

“ Don ’ t do what? I just want to speak to my wife,” he slurred.

“ We ’ re not married any longer. You can ’ t just show up like this.” She hated that her voice quivered.

He cupped her cheek with his clammy hand. “ You know you miss me.”

It took every ounce of control she had not to cringe under his touch. That would only make him angry. “ That ’ s a lifetime ago. I ’ m happy here.”

“ With the cowboy?”

“ With everything, Dante. So is Carsen. Can ’ t you be happy for our son?”

“ Happy that you won ’ t let me see him?” he scoffed. “ I ’ m his father.”

“ Right, so when do you start putting his needs before your own?” She took a step back, needing space.

He lowered his hand. “ Is this really what you want?”

“ Yes, it ’ s really what I want.” She took another backward step. Her mind raced for the quickest exit. She ’ d never make it to the back door before he caught her.

“ You want to marry him?”

She blinked. “ What are you talking about?” He reached into his back pocket and produced her leather journal, the one that went missing. She should have put two and two together. “ You stole my journal?”

“ I had been watching you,” he admitted as if he no longer had anything to lose. He tossed the book onto the couch and took a step toward her. “ I always knew you were a whore.”

“ Just leave. It ’ s not too late. No one needs to know that you were here. I want no trouble,” she said.

The faraway look in his eyes made her stomach turn. Something had snapped within him.

“ It ’ s too late for that.”

She knew she had to do everything in her power to get away.

She ran for the kitchen, but he was faster. He caught her by her hair and her feet slipped out from underneath her. She cried out when she felt the roots of her hair popping.

“ I thought you said you weren ’ t going to run again?” he leered as he tightened his fingers in her hair.

“ If you cared for Carsen you wouldn’t be doing this.”

“ If you cared for Carsen you would have stayed and been a good wife and mother,” he said near her ear.

“ Fuck you.” She ’ d reached her patience. For years she ’ d tried to talk him down from the ledge, but today that ended. She ’ d no longer try to pacify a man who hated himself so he hated others.

He dragged her back against his chest. “ I like it when you talk dirty.” He led her by the hair through the living room and through the screen door.

“ Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

“ Home, back where you belong.”

A low growl made him pause. Milo was standing a few feet away, his teeth bared, and his ears cocked.

“ Get now! Scat!” Dante hissed and stomped his foot.

Milo didn ’ t budge.

“ Call your dog off, bitch,” Dante warned.

“ Attack, Milo!” she yelled.

He leaped off his back paws and lunged at Dante who was backing away. He flung his arm and Milo sunk his teeth into Dante’s elbow.

A gunshot ripped through the air. Making CaDee jump.

Piper had her shotgun aimed at Dante. “ Milo! Back.”

When the dog continued to rip into Dante who was frantically trying to get away, CaDee grabbed Milo ’ s collar and pulled him off. Both Dante and the dog were covered in blood.

“ Look what your fucking dog did to my arm,” Dante was on his knees, holding his bleeding arm.

“ If you make one wrong move the bite will be the least of your worries,” Piper said.

“ Where ’ s Carsen?” CaDee felt her heart drop into her stomach.

“ Don ’ t worry. He ’ s with Ursula and the twins at the meeting. I wasn ’ t feeling well and I see it ’ s a good thing I decided to come home.” Piper still held her gun steadily. “Grab a shovel.”

“Piper?”

“What the hell is wrong with you two bitches?” Dante looked worried.

“I have nothing to lose, asshole,” Piper said in a low voice. “It’s time I put a stop to you terrorizing my family.”

“Piper, I know you want to do good for Carsen and me, but I can’t be a part of this,” CaDee said.

“Then take my truck and leave. Keys are in it. I’ll take care of the mess.”

“Fucking do something, CaDee,” Dante whined. A wet spot appeared on the crotch of his jeans. “She’s a crazy bitch.”

“Shut up or I’ll let her do what she’s biting at the bit to do,” CaDee warned.

A truck’s tires on the lane made her look. She was relieved to see Sharp coming. He’d know how to handle things.

He got out, his gun at his side, as he strode toward the threesome. “Piper, I’ll take it from here.”

Piper didn’t move a muscle. “What so this piece of shit can get a slap on the wrist? Let me take care of this.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he gets what he deserves, but think of Carsen,” Sharp said calmly.

“Please, Piper. This isn’t what’s best for Carsen,” CaDee pleaded.

Finally, she lowered her gun. “You’re a lucky man, Dante.”

He stumbled to his feet, his expression twisted. “You crazy old cunt. You’re all a cast from some psycho horror flick.”

CaDee felt sickened that she’d loved him. She crossed the distance and slapped him so hard that his head kicked back. “For the first time in your life shut the fuck up.”