desk.
“I appreciate the confidence you have in us, Miss Davenport, but I’ve got more than I can handle with the threats to our men. Luke?” Dax’s dismissive tone sliced through Rachel.
“I’m sorry, but I agree with Dax. Right now, we need to focus on this place, then get back to our regular jobs.”
“As Texas Rangers.” She’d hoped at least one of them would offer to help. She believed they’d see and acknowledge the need. Her hopes fell at the realization neither felt the town merited their help.
“Yes.” Dax felt a pang of guilt at declining her plea. “We could send a telegraph to our captain. Perhaps he’ll know of someone who’d be interested.” He watched as her face fell and wished it could be otherwise.
Rachel grasped her reticule and stood, moving toward the door. “Well, thank you both for your time. I’m certain you have work to get back to.” Her voice held no censure, only disappointment.
“Miss Davenport, wait.” Dax took a few steps forward, stopping a foot away. Neither said a word.
“Guess I’d better get back to the men.” Luke glanced at his brother as he walked past them. “It was good to see you again, Miss Davenport.” He closed the door behind him, leaving the two alone in the study.
Rachel kept her gaze fixed on Dax, making no attempt to leave. She felt her chest rise and fall, incapable of drawing a full breath. Resentment rose within her at his refusal to assist her friends and neighbors. At the same time, desire flared, and with it, an almost desperate need for him to reach out and pull her close.
He couldn’t look away. He’d meant to ride into town, take her to supper, and spend a quiet evening getting to know her, asking all the questions that had been swirling through his mind. Yet the knowledge of her agreement to share a meal with King Tolbert held him back. Dax wondered about her relationship with the rancher and why it even bothered him. There was no place in his life for a woman from Montana, regardless of the attraction he felt.
He lifted a hand toward her face, intending to stroke his knuckles down her cheek, then pulled back and dropped his arm.
“About the night outside the clinic… I should never have asked to call on you.” He spoke in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry I haven’t said anything sooner or told you my plans had changed.”
Rachel tore her eyes away from him, confused by his comment and angry he’d apologized over something she’d hoped would happen. She’d been looking forward to a visit, perhaps supper with the captivating southerner. Now she knew why he’d never come by. He regretted asking her.
She drew herself up, lifting her chin and feeling a wave of humiliation at his regret over asking to call on her. She could feel the heat of embarrassment rise up her neck and face, but refused to turn away.
“It’s quite all right, Mr. Pelletier. I’d forgotten all about it.” She turned toward the door, then stopped. “Again, thank you for hearing me out. If you do learn of someone with an interest in helping us, please let my uncle know.”
Rachel walked the few steps to the front door and dashed down the porch steps. She grabbed Old Pete’s reins, mounted, and turned him toward town, not looking back to see Dax standing on the porch, hands shoved into his pockets, a look of disappointment and confusion playing across his face. She wanted to get as far away from him as fast as possible and, with luck, not lay eyes on Dax Pelletier for a good long time.
“Perhaps we should consider it.” Luke rode alongside his brother a few days later, watching the ranch hands circle up the cattle in a nearby pasture.
“What?”
“Taking the sheriff job until they can find someone else.”
Dax cocked an eyebrow and cast him a disbelieving look. “Is there a reason you think we should take on more work?”
“I’m not looking to take on more work, but this is something we’re trained to do and the town needs help. We
“I appreciate the confidence you have in us, Miss Davenport, but I’ve got more than I can handle with the threats to our men. Luke?” Dax’s dismissive tone sliced through Rachel.
“I’m sorry, but I agree with Dax. Right now, we need to focus on this place, then get back to our regular jobs.”
“As Texas Rangers.” She’d hoped at least one of them would offer to help. She believed they’d see and acknowledge the need. Her hopes fell at the realization neither felt the town merited their help.
“Yes.” Dax felt a pang of guilt at declining her plea. “We could send a telegraph to our captain. Perhaps he’ll know of someone who’d be interested.” He watched as her face fell and wished it could be otherwise.
Rachel grasped her reticule and stood, moving toward the door. “Well, thank you both for your time. I’m certain you have work to get back to.” Her voice held no censure, only disappointment.
“Miss Davenport, wait.” Dax took a few steps forward, stopping a foot away. Neither said a word.
“Guess I’d better get back to the men.” Luke glanced at his brother as he walked past them. “It was good to see you again, Miss Davenport.” He closed the door behind him, leaving the two alone in the study.
Rachel kept her gaze fixed on Dax, making no attempt to leave. She felt her chest rise and fall, incapable of drawing a full breath. Resentment rose within her at his refusal to assist her friends and neighbors. At the same time, desire flared, and with it, an almost desperate need for him to reach out and pull her close.
He couldn’t look away. He’d meant to ride into town, take her to supper, and spend a quiet evening getting to know her, asking all the questions that had been swirling through his mind. Yet the knowledge of her agreement to share a meal with King Tolbert held him back. Dax wondered about her relationship with the rancher and why it even bothered him. There was no place in his life for a woman from Montana, regardless of the attraction he felt.
He lifted a hand toward her face, intending to stroke his knuckles down her cheek, then pulled back and dropped his arm.
“About the night outside the clinic… I should never have asked to call on you.” He spoke in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry I haven’t said anything sooner or told you my plans had changed.”
Rachel tore her eyes away from him, confused by his comment and angry he’d apologized over something she’d hoped would happen. She’d been looking forward to a visit, perhaps supper with the captivating southerner. Now she knew why he’d never come by. He regretted asking her.
She drew herself up, lifting her chin and feeling a wave of humiliation at his regret over asking to call on her. She could feel the heat of embarrassment rise up her neck and face, but refused to turn away.
“It’s quite all right, Mr. Pelletier. I’d forgotten all about it.” She turned toward the door, then stopped. “Again, thank you for hearing me out. If you do learn of someone with an interest in helping us, please let my uncle know.”
Rachel walked the few steps to the front door and dashed down the porch steps. She grabbed Old Pete’s reins, mounted, and turned him toward town, not looking back to see Dax standing on the porch, hands shoved into his pockets, a look of disappointment and confusion playing across his face. She wanted to get as far away from him as fast as possible and, with luck, not lay eyes on Dax Pelletier for a good long time.
“Perhaps we should consider it.” Luke rode alongside his brother a few days later, watching the ranch hands circle up the cattle in a nearby pasture.
“What?”
“Taking the sheriff job until they can find someone else.”
Dax cocked an eyebrow and cast him a disbelieving look. “Is there a reason you think we should take on more work?”
“I’m not looking to take on more work, but this is something we’re trained to do and the town needs help. We
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