Her Texas Ranger. Stella Bagwell

could and I will. But that doesn’t mean I intend to work every minute of the day.”

      Corrina didn’t know what to think. To be honest, she was totally floored by Seth’s suggestion. He’d only met Matthew yesterday and he’d not seen or talked to her in years, close to twenty at least. And even then, the two of them had been casual acquaintances.

      Only because you wouldn’t let him be more.

      The little voice going off in her head shook her, reminded her of a time when she’d dreamed about being someone special to this man, when her young heart had been filled with love for him. Yet she’d never acted on her feelings. She’d only been a teenager at the time, but she’d been mature enough to know a Dawson couldn’t rub shoulders with a Ketchum. It would have never worked. Especially while Tucker had been alive. Seth’s father had wanted the best for his offspring. And Rube Dawson’s daughter wouldn’t have made the grade.

      “In that case, I’m sure Matthew would love to go riding with you.”

      He smiled and Corrina realized the easy sign of pleasure on his face was not something she’d seen much of since he’d come to the house yesterday. The notion made her wonder if he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders over the Rider case or if something had happened in his past to mute his joy for living.

      “Then you have no objection?” he asked.

      She laughed softly. “I’m sure if I made objections my son would never speak to me again. But why would I? If he isn’t safe with you, he isn’t safe with anyone.”

      He’d had high-ranking political officers in Texas rely on him to protect their very lives, yet to know Corrina trusted her son in his care touched him in a far deeper way. In fact, the pride he was feeling at this moment was downright ridiculous.

      “Good. If he’s not doing anything tomorrow afternoon about one, I’ll drive over and pick him and his horse up and take them back to the T Bar K.”

      Her eyebrows lifted. “You’re going to ride at the Ketchum place?”

      He nodded. “Why? Is something wrong?”

      She shrugged one shoulder. “Not really. I just assumed you’d be riding on Dad’s place.”

      Her eyes traveled over his face and he could see she was trying her best to size up his motives. Seth could have told her that she was wasting her time. He wasn’t even sure himself as to why he was going to this much trouble to show Matthew a little attention. Except that he’d seen a hungry need in the boy’s eyes and had wanted, in some way, to try to ease it.

      “And you’re going to a lot of trouble to go over and pick up his horse,” she added.

      “I think Matthew will enjoy seeing the ranch,” Seth said, deciding it wouldn’t be polite to add that he believed the boy needed to get off the Dawson place for a while.

      A smile lifted the corners of her lips and her blue eyes twinkled at the thought of how much pleasure her son was going to derive from this outing with Seth. “He’ll probably stay awake tonight just waiting for you to show up.”

      “I have a nine-year-old nephew, Aaron. He’s my late brother’s son. I might include him on the ride, too. If it’s okay with his mother, Maggie. After Hugh was gored to death by a bull, she’s a little hesitant about letting her son get around horses or cattle. But she doesn’t forbid it and I think she’ll agree. If that’s all right with you.”

      Over his shoulder, Corrina spotted the manager of the diner coming out of the kitchen. A quick glance at her watch told her she’d already gone two minutes over her break. Not wanting to jeopardize her job, she rose to her feet and picked up her dirty coffee cup.

      “Of course it’s all right. I’ll tell Matthew to be ready tomorrow. Right now, I’ve got to get back to work.” As she turned away from the booth, she shot him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Seth.”

      Early the next morning, Seth stood on the front porch and kissed his new sister-in-law’s cheek. A step away, Ross looked on with an indulgent glare.

      “Here now,” he warned. “That’s as far as you go, Tex.”

      Isabella smiled daintily at her brother-in-law. “Goodbye, Seth. Take care of yourself while we’re gone,” she urged him.

      “I will,” Seth assured her, then to his brother he said, “Don’t be so greedy, brother. You’re going to have your pretty wife all to yourself for the next two weeks.”

      Grinning, Ross reached for his wife and, with both hands around her rib cage, lifted her off her feet. “Yeah, and I can’t wait,” he said. “Ready to go, honey?”

      Ross’s darker-skinned, half-Apache wife smiled adoringly down at her husband. “I’m very ready.”

      The intense love on Bella’s face was like nothing Seth had ever seen. And though he wasn’t in the market for a wife, he couldn’t but help feel an empty loss and a ridiculous sense of envy.

      Setting her back on her feet, Ross curled his arm around Isabella’s waist and urged her toward the waiting pickup truck where their luggage was already loaded.

      Sauntering after them, Seth waited until they’d climbed inside the cab before he stuck his nose in the open window. “It’s not bothering you one little bit to go off and leave me all alone, is it?”

      Ross laughed. “It’s not my fault you’re alone.”

      No, it was his own choice, Seth thought. But there were times like this one when he wondered if his life would ever change. Moreover, did he really want it to? He could go and do as he pleased. He didn’t have to answer to anyone. And the only person he had to take care of was himself. All those things outweighed the loneliness he sometimes felt. Didn’t it?

      “Well, you two enjoy the Caribbean,” he said.

      “We will,” Ross assured him with a grin, then just as quickly the grin was replaced with concern. “Just be sure and watch your back, brother. I don’t want anything to happen to you while we’re gone. Or anytime, for that matter.”

      Seth frowned. “Are you forgetting Steve Chambers is behind bars?”

      “Yeah, Steve tried to kill me. But someone did kill Noah. And he’s still out there on the loose.”

      Seth reached through the window and squeezed Ross’s shoulder. “Don’t go off on your honeymoon thinking about any of that, Ross. Linc is here with me. We’ll keep things going and we’ll be safe. Promise.”

      Seemingly satisfied that Seth and their cousin could keep things running smoothly and safely, Ross said a final goodbye and started the truck.

      Seth waved them off and then watched as the vehicle made its way down the hill, past the ranch yard, the barns, and finally the bunkhouse. Once it was out of sight, he walked back into the kitchen and found Marina sitting at the table dabbing her eyes with the corner of her apron.

      “Well, if this isn’t something,” he scolded softly. “You’re sitting here boohooing over Ross being gone. Don’t I count for anything?”

      Marina blew her nose, then sniffed. “’Course you count. But I’m used to you being gone. It’s always awful quiet when Ross is away.”

      Seth patted the woman’s shoulder. “The days will pass before you notice. Besides, I’ll try to give you as much trouble as I can so you’ll think Ross is still around.”

      Marina snorted, then chuckled, then looked at him and smiled. “I didn’t know you could make a joke.”

      “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he said as he walked over to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I guess that’s my fault though. I should have been coming back home on a regular basis.”

      “You have important work to do, Seth. We understand that. And we’re all very proud of you.”