The Texas Ranger by Diana Palmer Page B

not that high to climb up into,” he said shortly.
    She shrugged and got in with as much grace as possible. He closed the door behind her with exaggerated patience.
    When he was behind the wheel, he fastened his seat belt and checked to make sure she had her own in place before he started the truck and pulled out into traffic. He drove like he did everything else, with ease and mastery. She looked at his beautifullean, brown hands on the steering wheel and remembered how they felt on bare skin…
    She shifted in her seat and looked out over the golden grass as they passed pastures scattered with pumper wells, small grasshopper-shaped machines that brought up oil from beneath the grazing pastures. Cattle plodded around beside them with magnificent unconcern.
    â€œThose tanks barely look half full,” she remarked, eyeing the concrete depressions that caught rainwater, called “tanks” in Texas.
    â€œThe drought is hitting everybody hard. Of course, some people do get rain, as long as they don’t need it,” he added.
    He glanced at her from under the broad brim of his Stetson. “I spoke to the D.A. before I got off duty. She says they like you over there.”
    â€œShocking, isn’t it?” she replied drolly.
    â€œThat isn’t what I meant.”
    She glanced toward him with a bland expression. “What do you want to talk about?”
    â€œHow a convicted murderer got put on a work detail,” he said.
    She pursed her lips, watching fences and cattle and grasshopper-shaped oil pumpers fly by. “Now there’s a valid question. I didn’t think to wonder about it, either, but it’s not exactly standard policy to let murderers pick up trash on the roadside.”
    â€œExactly.” He glanced at her. “Somethingmore—the Wayne Correctional Institute isn’t a federal prison, either, it’s a state prison. Jennings was sent to federal prison.”
    â€œSo, what was Jennings doing in Wayne at all, right?”
    â€œRight.” He pulled off the highway toward a truck stop. “Coffee and a burger suit you? That’s about all I can afford until payday.”
    â€œI pay my own way, Ranger, so suit yourself,” she said without embarrassment. “Have you talked to the warden?”
    â€œNot yet. But it’s pretty obvious that somebody pulled strings to get Jennings transferred there.”
    She whistled softly. “Some strings!”
    â€œI’m waiting.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor the obvious inference—that the Texas lieutenant governor probably has contacts who could manage it.”
    She gave him a steady glance. “Why state the obvious?”
    â€œBib didn’t kill Henry Garner, or Dale Jennings,” he said firmly.
    â€œNobody could ever accuse you of being disloyal to your friends,” she remarked. “But I’m keeping an open mind on this case, and you have to do the same,” she added firmly, her eyes steady on his face. “We’re both prejudiced in favor of the peoplewe think are, or were, innocent. That has to make us extra cautious about any accusations.”
    â€œYou’re very broad-minded for a woman with your past,” he said curtly. “And I don’t mean that in a derogatory way,” he added quietly. “I can’t quite figure you out.”
    â€œNo need to try,” she assured him. “We’re doing a job together, nothing more. When we get the culprit, I’ll go back to Austin and do what I do best.”
    â€œWhich is?” he prompted.
    â€œProviding a liaison from Mr. Hart’s office to district attorneys around the state. I’m very much at home with my nose stuck in a filing cabinet or my ear glued to the telephone.”
    â€œThat isn’t what you trained to do at college.”
    She shrugged. “I’m not suited to fieldwork” was all she was going to admit. “If you don’t mind,