Page 8 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

CaDee tucked her head under the hood of her car and looked at the engine. She could have easily been looking at the underbelly of a spaceship because she had no idea what she was looking for. She ’ d heard a loud popping sound and then squealing before the car became undrivable.

Tired from the long drive, she had little patience.

They ’ d stopped at a motel overnight and she hadn ’ t slept more than a few hours.

Every noise outside the room put her on high alert.

She ’ d taken great precautions to make sure Dante wasn ’ t following them, but no matter how safe she thought it was it would never be safe enough.

She craned her neck to see that Carsen remained in the front seat playing with his plastic dinosaurs, a dime store find she ’ d bought him when they ’ d stopped to grab some clothing and necessities.

While she couldn ’ t sleep last night, she ’ d counted and recounted the money that Albert had given her.

Filling up the gas tank, buying food, and the clothing had taken a chunk.

If she needed more financial help she could call Mark, but she wouldn ’ t.

The last thing CaDee wanted was to be indebted to anyone, even her best friends.

Carsen waved and she waved back. He ’ d handled the long trip superbly. More than anything she wanted to give him stability.

When they ’ d driven across the state line into Texas, she ’ d felt a sense of relief and apprehension. Albert had called her to settle her fears somewhat, letting her know that his aunt was expecting CaDee and Carsen. That had been a few hours ago, back when she had service.

She heard rustling in the weeds by the road and noticed the reeds swaying—something big was moving. Standing as a barrier between her car and the weeds, she gripped her phone, knowing it wasn't much of a weapon. Her only other choice was a half-eaten candy bar.

They were in the middle of nowhere.

She raised her phone higher to use as a weapon if needed.

The predator jumped out of the weeds in one leap, and she let out a squeal.

“ Mommy, it ’ s a dog!” Carsen had joined in at this point. He jumped out of the car and she held him back.

“ Get back in the car. It ’ s a strange dog.”

Thankfully, Carsen listened without hesitation.

The dog stared at her, and she stared back as if they were in a contest to see who ’ d blink first. He was a bit ragged, and she could see his ribs under his shaggy fur.

She leaned in to see if he had some identification.

Nothing but a collar of burs in his fur.

His tongue lolled out to one side of his mouth and his big brown eyes seemed to tell a silent story.

“ What do you want?” she asked as if the dog might respond.

He did. He lifted one leg.

“Fine. I’ll get you water, but then you need to leave.” She backed up toward the car. “Carsen, give me my water and a cup.”

She poured water into the cup, set it down halfway between herself and the dog.

He lapped up the cool water in no time. Then he continued to stare.

Before she could get a word out, Carsen jumped out of the car and was wrapping his arms around the stray’s neck. “Carsen,” she lunged forward but stopped. The dog was licking Carsen’s hand.

“He’s friendly, Mommy,” Carsen said through peals of laughter.

“Step away for a minute, son.” She knelt in front of the dog and scratched behind his ears. He was panting heavily. The sun rays were hot, and the poor thing was alone. “ You ’ ve been alone for a while, haven ’ t you, fellow?”

He whimpered.

“ I don ’ t have anything to give. No food. No shelter.”

A rumbling noise in the distance grabbed her attention.

She stood and looked up and down the gravel road, then she saw the dust cloud a second before the truck. It was speeding.

Because this was the first vehicle they ’ d seen on the road, she couldn ’ t take the risk that they ’ d pass by.

Running into the middle of the road, she threw her arms up and made big waving motions.

The truck came to a grinding halt, kicking up rocks and a squealing of brakes in protest. A plume of dust rose as the driver exited the truck.

She took a step forward to greet him. “ I ’ m so glad to see you—” His scowl underneath the wide brimmed hat steadied her in her tracks.

“ Have you lost your mind?” he bit out.

“ Excuse me?”

“ Who the hell stands in the middle of a road? Do you have a death wish?”

CaDee narrowed her eyes on the cowboy. He looked like a modern-day giant.

The long-sleeved blue shirt had a few buttons undone and fit his broad shoulders and chest, tapering down to his waist embellished with a leather belt and a large, polished belt buckle with a design etched into the smooth medal.

The loose-fitting, worn jeans didn ’ t hide his powerful, muscular legs.

The lowered Stetson shadowed his eyes, but the grim set of his jaw sent a shiver through her, making her wish she ’ d waited for the next vehicle.

She straightened her backbone. After the hellish week she had she wasn ’ t about to take any lip from a stranger. “ Who the hell drives like an idiot on a narrow backroad?”

“Someone who doesn’t expect to see a person playing chicken in the roadway.” He took off his hat and hit it on his thigh, sending up a puff of dust

She slammed her hands to her hips. “For your information, I wasn’t playing chicken. I was trying to get your attention.”

“Well, you certainly succeeded on that. Why the hell did you need to get my attention?”

“Are you blind? Can you not see that my car is broken down?”

“Lady, you must not be from around here.” He dipped his silver-blue gaze down her and chuckled. “Figures. You’re a city girl and must think you were hailing a cab.”

“Are you assuming?”

“I haven’t seen a fancy pair of shoes like those since those arrogant corporates came to Fin’s Creek trying to buy up land from the locals.

They thought they could take advantage of the townsfolk by offering half of what properties around here are worth.

I suggest you get back in your car and save the damsel in distress routine for another town. ”

She gasped. She started to respond when she heard, “Mommy?” Carsen was watching the spectacle, with the scraggly dog at his side. “Are you angry?”

“No, baby. It’s okay.” She knelt in front of Carsen, reassuring him with a smile. “I was just having a conversation with this nice stranger who stopped to make sure we’re okay.”

“ Is he alright?” The cowboy asked.

She was a bit surprised that the man hadn ’ t left. “ He ’ s fine. Carsen, go sit in the car and I ’ ll be there in a moment.” Carsen looked at the cowboy then did as she asked. She stood and faced the obnoxious man again. “ He ’ s sensitive.”

“ He ’ ll be more than that if he stays out here too long. This isn ’ t a safe place for a kid to be. With the afternoon comes high temps and it ’ ll get unbearable. The dog won ’ t be comfortable either.”

She blinked before responding sarcastically, “There went my plan. I thought I might stay out here all afternoon and work on my tan while I come up with clever ways to steal land out from under the townsfolk.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “ What ’ s wrong with the car outside of it being foreign?”

“ It died,” she said smartly.

His smile turned the color of his eyes sky blue like the clouds rolling back after a storm had passed. If she hadn ’ t been so troubled, she might have found him attractive. Instead, she found him unpleasant.

"Let me check," he said, not waiting for her response. He glanced under the hood, then straightened. "One of your belts is shot and your oil is low." He brushed his hands together as if they'd gotten dirty.

She wasn't sure how bad that was, but being stranded on a Texas backroad felt serious either way. “Is it bad?”

“Bad enough that you won’t be driving it until it’s fixed.”

Frustrated, sweaty, tired, and feeling the stress of the world on her shoulders, she felt her control slip. She peered up and down the road again, weighing her options. No one else was coming along.

She asked him, “ Do you have a phone?”

“ I do. But it won ’ t do you any good. There ’ s no service until a few miles further toward town.”

The weight grew heavier. Why had she ever agreed to this? Because what other choice did she have? She needed safety and security for her son.

“ I have a meeting I ’ m late for,” he glanced at his watch.

“ Then don ’ t let us keep you.” That settled it. She didn ’ t need his help anyway.

He hesitated. “ When I get up the road I ’ ll call a tow service. I ’ ll tell Skeeter it ’ s an emergency.”

“ Mommy!” Carsen called.

“ I ’ ll be right there, honey.” She tried her best to keep her tone light. CaDee didn ’ t have the energy for any more disappointments. “Thanks for stopping. You take care now,” she said to the cowboy’s back. Good riddance.