The Ranger's Texas Proposal. Jessica Keller

press Heath. Then again, Josie had promised herself after Dale passed away that she wouldn’t allow anyone to push her around ever again. Not that Heath was being pushy. But from now on, she was going to be strong. Ask questions. The old Josie always swallowed her thoughts and opinions... No longer.

      A breath. “I’m sorry, but your tone. You...you don’t like them—the boys—do you?”

      “I don’t know them. I’ve only been to the ranch a few times and last time was years ago at the old location.”

      “Yet you’re judging the boys anyway.” She shouldn’t be talking to him like this. Heath was almost a stranger, and here she was challenging him. But it grated on her to hear someone misjudge them, and so quickly. The Lone Star Cowboy League had worked hard to try to weed out the rumors in town that the boys at the ranch were trouble, yet still some of that belief lingered.

      Heath scooped his hat off the back of the chair and worked it around in his hand. “See, that’s where people get it wrong, though. Using good judgment isn’t the same thing as being judgmental.”

      A fire lit in Josie. She wanted Heath to see the boys differently. But how to do that? “How long are you around, doing this favor for Flint?”

      “For November.”

      She had a month to change his opinion, and she knew just how to do it. “You should volunteer at the ranch. Get to know the boys.” It would be good for him. Besides, the boys would be floored if a big, important Texas Ranger started hanging around them.

      Heath’s eyebrows formed a V. “Why?”

      Think like a lawman... What will convince him?

      She took a deep breath. “For starters, your presence will prevent anything else from happening. Also, if you really think it’s one of them, that’ll put you in close proximity. You’ll be able to get to know them and talk to them. Someone might even confess. Or you may see that they’re wonderful and realize you were wrong to judge them.”

      Heath rubbed his thumb over his nose. “You know what, that’s not a half-bad idea. It would help my...investigation. You’re right about that. I’ll talk to Flint about it tomorrow.”

      Josie’s heart tripped over itself at the thought of spending more time with Heath. Of course she wanted him to change his opinion about the boys, and time at the ranch was the best way for that to happen. But what if it changed her opinion about men in law enforcement?

      Her eyes skirted over the lines of his strong jaw, his shoulders. He’d given up so much time to help her this morning and he hadn’t talked down to her at all. Maybe he wasn’t like Dale. Maybe...

      The baby inside of her moved, rolled. Josie loved that feeling. She hugged her stomach. Above everything, she had to protect her child from hurt. That was her duty as a mother.

      No lawmen.

      If God did choose to give her a second chance at love, He’d have to bring a nice insurance agent or IT man her way. Someone who worked a boring, safe job all day, tucked away behind a desk. One whose greatest career danger was an ink stain.

      Not someone who carried a gun for a living.

       Chapter Three

      The loud noise outside sent Josie reaching for the closest heavy object.

      A frying pan.

      She pulled back the curtain over her sink and peered outside. Heath’s large Ford pickup was parked near the river, dwarfing her vehicle. He’d unlatched and opened the barn—which explained the noise—and had already headed inside. A minute later he was leading out the cattle.

      “That man,” she grumbled and set the pan back onto the stove. “What is he up to?”

      He’d left soon after their brunch yesterday. Said even though his apartment was only forty-five minutes away, he needed to check into the Blue Bonnet Inn in town because he preferred to stay close during an investigation. He explained that if something happened at the boys ranch, he wanted Flint to be able to call him and be only minutes away. Which made sense. Flint’s place at the boys ranch wasn’t that big and his young son lived with him—so asking Flint to host him for a month, even though Heath and Flint were close friends, was probably asking too much.

      Josie had to chuckle, though. The Blue Bonnet Inn was an upscale place inside an old historical home. The rooms were decorated to match Texas flowers. It was better suited for a granny on vacation than a lawman. Heath Grayson would stick out there like a rooster in a henhouse.

      She rested her elbows on the counter and cupped her chin in her hands. Today she’d have to ask Flint exactly how long his friend was going to stick around and be a pest in Haven. Heath had given her the vague answer of November, but she had a hard time believing that an investigation into a few missing items, a lost therapy horse last month and the calf incident would hold the attention of a Texas Ranger for long. At least after speaking with Flint, Josie would have an end date to look forward to. Not that she particularly minded Heath—not him personally. Oh, he was nice enough and not bad to look at.

      But he was a Texas Ranger. They sought out danger. That was their job. Even if he insisted on stopping by her ranch and doing chores in the morning, which it looked like was his plan, she couldn’t get used to it...to him. Heath would leave soon and rush off somewhere that meant risking his life. It was best not to get attached to him in any way, even simply as a friend.

      Really, it would be better if she got rid of the overly helpful man. At least in her personal life.

      After changing into fresh clothes, braiding her hair and straightening the kitchen, Josie made her way outside and entered the barn. She found Heath sitting on a stool, hunched over the water troughs, scrubbing them out with all his might.

      He glanced her way. “Animals are fed. Bedding’s changed. I spotted a few fence posts that could use reinforcing.”

      How did he know how to take care of a ranch? It wasn’t like a Texas Ranger had a lot of free time on his hands to care for animals and land and everything that went along with ranching.

      “You don’t need to do that.” She paused in the doorway. “Actually, you don’t need to be doing any of this.” She crossed her arms. “Why are you here?”

      “I thought I could help.”

      She propped her shoulder against the doorjamb. “I don’t need any help.”

      Straw dust danced between them in the morning rays of light bleeding into the barn. Heath’s eyes met hers across the space and he held her gaze. Raised his eyebrows.

      Josie shook her head and walked forward. “I don’t need your help.”

      “What if I said I was hoping to get more breakfast out of the deal?”

      Even though he said it with a straight face, Josie was smart. She knew the man was trying to save her pride. Allow her to hang on to the idea that he was working for a good meal instead of pitching in because she was a lonely, pregnant woman. He could get a huge breakfast at the inn every morning if he wished and he was choosing not to.

      Fine, then. She’d play along. Because that was better than admitting the truth.

      “Oh. I see how it is.” Josie clucked her tongue. “You’re like some homeless dog. I made the mistake of feeding you and now you’ll just keep on coming back?”

      He dragged the first trough back to its corresponding enclosure. “Something like that.”

      Josie spun around and called over her shoulder, “Wipe your boots before coming into my house.”

      “Will do.”

      She went back inside and muttered to herself as she set the griddle on. She leaned her hip into the counter and braced her hand along her side. It was a blessing not to have to do all the