Daughter of Texas by Terri Reed

the picture of her parents when they were newly married.
    She appreciated his compliment but her emotions were scraped raw; all she could muster was a brief smile in acknowledgment.
    The board where Ben tacked the pictures was nearly full. Corinna bit her lip to keep her tears from flowing. It just wasn’t right. Her father shouldn’t be dead. Her fists clenched. Why? Why? her mind silently screamed.
    â€œThis is great,” Ben said, taking a photo out of another box and holding it up for her to see. “We have to use this.”
    Her breath caught.
    The image showed her father from the chest up, holding a small baby in his big, strong hands. The look of tender love on his handsome face was her undoing. Corinna could no longer hold back the tears. She pushed away from the table and ran out the back patio door.
    Ben came out behind her, but she kept running all the way to the horse pasture. Thankfully her neighbor had agreed to care for the animals. As she neared the fence, one of the stallions trotted over. A big roan Quarter Horse named Dasher. She climbed the planks and allowed the animal to nuzzle her neck as she wrapped her arms around his head. Tears flowed, running down her cheeks to dampen the horse’s satin coat.
    She heard Ben approach and quickly dried her eyes. She felt the horse growing wary at the stranger. It occurred to her that Ben never visited the horses whenhe came to their house. A safe enough subject for now. She lifted her head to see him standing back a few feet. “You don’t like horses?”
    He met her gaze. “Not particularly. I ride when I have to.”
    He meant in parades and such, which was sometimes required of the Rangers. “Did something happen to spook you?”
    â€œNo. They’re just really big animals and unpredictable.”
    â€œAnd you like things predictable.”
    â€œI like things I can control,” he countered.
    She stroked Dasher’s neck. “Horses are controllable. You just have to know how to gain their trust.”
    â€œA lot like people,” he said.
    â€œI suppose.” She stared off into the distance. The flat terrain of the sprawling state lay in darkness now that the sun had finished setting. Though a quarter moon rose, it didn’t provide enough light to illuminate the land. Everything seemed to be in shadows. Just like her life. “I guess I’ll have to sell this place.”
    Her father had loved this land, this ranch. She couldn’t imagine someone else living here.
    â€œNot until you’re ready.” Ben’s answer was quick and decisive.
    She nodded. Impulsively she said, “I want the memorial here, not at the funeral home.”
    â€œBut all the arrangements have been made,” he protested, his voice closer now. “Besides, it would be too dangerous having people coming and going from the house. It’d be too easy for a bad guy to sneak in among the guests.”
    â€œI don’t care. I want it here. If a bad guy does sneak in, you and the other Rangers will be here to take him down.” She glanced over her shoulder at him, but could barely make out his features in the dim glow of the moon. “Please. It’s important to me. I don’t want the memorial in some unfamiliar, sterile place. Can you make it happen?”
    His voice softened. “If that’s what you want.”
    â€œIt is.” She reached for one last stroke of Dasher’s smooth cheek before hopping off the fence. She nearly knocked Ben over. He was closer than she’d thought. His strong hands steadied her. His masculine scent mingled with the smells of the hay and horse, making a heady, potent combination. Her mouth went dry. Unfamiliar yearnings spiked. She longed for Ben’s arms to slide around her, for him to press her close and tell her everything was going to be all right.
    And the world tilted slightly.
    She swayed. Ben tightened his hold. “Corinna, maybe