Her Texas Ranger Hero. Rebecca Winters

she was wearing.”

      Ally moaned.

      “It’s apparent this writing has great significance for you.”

      She closed her eyes for a moment before she sat back down. “This girl knew she was going to die. The writing is a desperate plea for help in the only way she could communicate in order to prevent her captors from knowing what she was doing.”

      The Ranger seemed perplexed. “Is it in Chinese, then? The chief forensics expert said they couldn’t identify it as such.”

      Ally took a deep breath before launching into an explanation of what he’d brought her. “This message has been written in Nüshu, a secret language that has evolved over a thousand years in the Hunan Province of China. Nüshu means ‘women’s language’ and comes from a remote area of Yongzhou City in Jiangyong County.”

      “Why secret?”

      “Since the traditional Chinese culture was male-centered, girls were forbidden from any kind of formal education. Nüshu was developed for the women to educate themselves. They were sequestered away from men, and males never learned their language. These sworn sisters took an oath never to reveal their secret language to anyone.” Ally picked up the first sheet and studied it again. “This victim was begging for help.”

      The Ranger studied her intensely. “How do you know all this?”

      “For one thing, my best friend, Soo-Lin, was born in Yongzhou and has lived there all her life, except to attend the university in Changsha.”

      He cocked his attractive blond head. “Which means you’ve lived there, too?”

      Ally sat back in her chair. “I’ll have to give you some background. My birth name is Allyson Forrester Duncan.”

      The moment she said her full name, she saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “Duncan...as in former Senator Lawrence Duncan from Austin, then ambassador to China, who now resides here in Austin instead of Washington, DC? It’s been in the news.”

      “He’s my father.”

      “Incredible that you would be the expert I sought out first,” he murmured.

      “My mother’s name is Beatrice Forrester Duncan.”

      “Forrester,” he said aloud. “Her name came up among a few others at a conference I attended recently. The panel praised her work devoted to ending the trafficking of female victims from the Far East here in Texas.” He sat forward. “Your mother...”

      “Yes. I have fabulous parents and am extremely proud of them.”

      “How could you not be? Tell me more about your life in China.”

      “We spent equal time in Beijing and Changsha, for fifteen years. Twice annually we flew home to Austin for two weeks, then went back. Being thirteen years old when we moved, I had tutors and was at the perfect age to pick up Mandarin and Xiang—a dialect of the Changsha region. As soon as I was old enough, I studied at the University of Changsha, under some brilliant teachers.

      “Soo-Lin was also studying there and became my close friend. I spent time at her home in Yongzhou and came to love her family, as well. I loved it in China. I never wanted to come home and almost didn’t.”

      “Why did you, then?”

      The Ranger was direct, but then, that was his job.

      “Last year my father was recalled to Washington. A new ambassador was named, but my dad now serves as a consultant to the president for Far Eastern affairs. So we returned to the Duncan family ranch here in Austin. I joined the university faculty last fall.

      “Dad flies back and forth, but my mother and I stay here. She’s more involved than ever in her work against trafficking and I help her when I can. We’re committed as a family. If I’d stayed in China, I would have missed my parents too terribly.”

      Ally heard Ranger Davis clear his throat. “You’ve led a fascinating life. I’m so glad I decided to seek your department out first.”

      “I must admit the hairs stood up on the back of my neck when I read what’s on those pages.”

      “Mine, too, when you said what they contain.”

      “It was through Soo-Lin I learned about the secret language.”

      The Ranger got to his feet. “When we bumped into each other at the door, you said you were on your way out, so I won’t keep you. What’s your schedule like tomorrow? I’d like to meet again. Get from you an exact translation of what’s written on the dress so I can build my case. Out of four similar cases in the last ten months, this is the first piece of tangible evidence to turn up.”

      “You mean the other bodies were all young Chinese women, too?”

      “No. One was Indonesian, but I highly suspect they were all victims of human trafficking. It’s imperative we find the person or persons who did this. Unfortunately, there are thousands of trafficking victims currently working in the underground sex trade here in Texas. Trying to escape often means death. Even if these girls don’t die, it’s nearly impossible for them to get their lives back on track after going through something like this. The men who are responsible need to be caught and locked away forever.”

      The emotion in his voice convinced Ally that this Ranger was the one who could do it. “I couldn’t agree more. Since I don’t have a busy schedule right now, why don’t you tell me when and where you want to meet?”

      “If morning is all right with you, how about we say nine o’clock at the Magnolia Café?”

      “Morning is fine,” she said. “I realize you’re anxious to get going on this case. The Magnolia Café is in my neck of the woods. I suspect you love their chocolate-chip pancakes.”

      One corner of his mouth lifted.

      “So do I,” she said, smiling.

      He gathered the photocopies and put them back in his folder. “If you’re ready, I’ll walk you out.”

      Be still, my heart.

      Ally locked her office door behind her and left the building for the faculty parking lot. Several students were milling about outside and one of the young women called out to her. Ally waved, but the other woman was staring so hard at the Ranger, Ally felt a ridiculous sense of pride over the fact that he was escorting her to her car.

      She pressed the remote to unlock the door of her silver Audi. “Thank you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

      “Let me get your cell phone number. That way, in case an emergency arises, I’ll be able to reach you.”

      Ally told him her number. After he’d typed it into his phone, his eyes fused with hers, melting her insides. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Please remember that for the time being I must ask you to keep this to yourself. If you were to say anything to anyone, even your parents, they could give something away without meaning to that could jeopardize the case. It’s for their protection, too.”

      “I understand.”

      “I’m sure you do. What should I call you, by the way?”

      “Just Ally.”

      “Until tomorrow, then, Just Ally.”

      She laughed and watched him head toward the public parking area, then got into her car and pressed her head against the steering wheel. She hated that she’d scanned his left hand for a wedding ring, and hated it even more that the fact that he wasn’t wearing one made her so happy.

      Had she gone out of her mind? It didn’t mean he didn’t have a girlfriend. Ally felt shaky after colliding with him in the doorway of her office. Her world had suddenly changed. Fear and excitement waged a war inside her as she pulled out of the parking lot and drove off toward the ranch.