Chapter 1

      1880 Texas

      "Darcy Pendergrass, you should not ask such things!"

      "Come on, Belle," Darcy pleaded with the petite brunette sitting beside her in the surrey." We are supposed to be best friends, and best friends tell each other everything. I would tell you if a boy kissed me."

      "Girls, what are you two chattering about?" Mr. Pendergrass asked from the front seat of the surrey.

      "Why, Richard, the girls have been to a dance. I'm sure they have plenty to talk about that is none of our business."

      "What our daughter does is our business."

      "Richard, you know so little about girls."

      "Oh, all right, you ladies share your secrets," Richard Pendergrass moaned.

      "Thank you, Ma." Darcy leaned forward and kissed her mother's cheek then slid back in her seat.

      "Well?" Darcy turned back to Belle.

      Belle giggled, enjoying the look of desperation on her friend's face.

      "All right," Belle leaned closer to her friend's ear," yes, he kissed me."

      "I knew it. I knew it." Darcy drummed her feet against the carriage floor. "Tell me everything!"

      "Well," Belle took a deep breath," first, he is a man, not a boy. And," she grasped Darcy's arm," he's a ranger."

      Darcy's jaw dropped." You mean a Texas Ranger?"

      Belle's head bobbed.

      "Wow! A grown man. Oh, Belle, how did you get so lucky? Not only did you get your first kiss but with a grown man—a Texas Ranger." Darcy exhaled a dreamy sigh. "I should be jealous. But how could he resist you, especially with you wearing the blue dress your ma made. It practically sparkles. The only one after me was Joe Carter."

      "Why, Darcy Pendergrass," Belle scolded, "Joe is a nice guy, and he likes you a lot. I saw him following you around like a lovesick pup."

      Darcy shrugged. "He's still a boy, not a man like your ranger."

      "Darcy, you know Joe is not a boy. He's twenty-one, and that's not a boy."

      "He seems like one to me. Maybe I don't see him as a grown man since I've known him most of my life. But enough about Joe. I want details. What's it like to be kissed? How did it happen? I need details, Belle." The blonde ringlets of Darcy's hair bounced as she fidgeted with excitement.

      "All right. We finished our dance, and he went to get us some punch. But I was so hot, I couldn't wait for the punch, so I went outside to cool off. I sat on the bench right outside the church hall, and then I heard this deep voice—

      "What did he say?" Darcy jiggled in her seat.

      "There you are, young lady," Belle lowered her voice to imitate a masculine tone.

      "He called you a lady?" Darcy squealed.

      "Yes." Belle giggled.

      "Imagine,"