Give Me A Texas Ranger. Jodi Thomas
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When Anna got back to the infirmary, a meal was waiting for her. She hadn’t expected her first duty to be delivering a baby, but she was glad. It reminded her of why she loved nursing. Not the dying and hurting, but the healing and helping.
She was almost asleep in her chair when someone stepped into the little clinic.
“I beg your pardon. Is it too late to call?”
Anna stood. “Lieutenant Dodson?” He was not a big man, in size or manner. She would have had to slump to be eye to eye with him, and Anna refused to slump. Despite what her brother thought, she wasn’t interested in a man who planned to consider her because he “couldn’t afford to be picky.” “Is there something I can do for you, sir?”
His gaze darted over her as if taking her measure. She saw intelligence, but not kindness.
“I heard what you did today and I commend you,” he began formally, then rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to relax. “I lost my wife to childbirth last year, so I know what a trial it is. My children are in Kansas City with her folks while I finish this tour, then I hope to have them back with me.”
“You must miss them,” Anna said, watching him closely, wondering why he’d come so late.
“It’s not that, ma’am. It’s the fact that they belong with me. I’m their father.” He frowned. “I know I’m a military man, but I’ve always believed a wife belongs with her husband, and the children should be raised and disciplined by their parents. There is an order to things, in and out of the army.”
“I see,” she said, then waited for him to explain why he’d dropped by.
He glanced around the office, frowning at the piles of supplies still remaining to be organized, then continued. “I planned to ask you to dine with the officers tonight, but I see you’ve already eaten.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant, but you needn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine here.” She’d found the officers’ dinner boring. “I prefer to eat my evening meal in silence. It’s become my habit over the years.”
“You are a woman too long alone.” He said the words slowly, as if he thought they might frighten her. “And this is not a country for women alone. It’s the nature of things that men and women should be married. If not for love, then for convenience.”
“I’ve been on my own since I was nineteen.” She met his stare. If he expected her to be helpless and needy, he was about to be disappointed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll turn in.”
He puffed up slightly, as if not used to anyone dismissing him. Then he nodded once and mumbled good night.
Anna stood in the doorway watching him walk away, but her thoughts were on Ranger McCord, not the lieutenant. If Wynn had stepped into her quarters, he would not have left without touching her, and one touch would have made all her exhaustion vanish. He’d told her that what was between them was not finished, and she agreed. He might bruise her lips with his kisses and hold her so close to him she couldn’t breathe, but she knew he was attracted to her, he wanted her, needed her. There was no “convenience” in his passionate touch.
Dodson seemed about to propose a business arrangement. He hadn’t even taken the time to get to know her. Anna had the feeling that, in his mind, any woman would do.
Anna would never settle for so little. She’d rather have one honest day with Wynn McCord than a lifetime of convenience.
“Miss Anna?” Private Clark’s voice sounded from the other side of the porch. “Just wanted you to know that I’m on guard tonight. I’ll put my bedroll in front of your door once you’re inside so you won’t have to worry about anyone else coming along just to visit.”
She smiled. Clark was a good kid. He would have to be, for all the Texans to accept him. “Thanks,” she answered. “I’m going to turn in soon, but thought I might circle the camp once to get some air.” The smell of blood still lingered in her lungs. “Would you mind walking with me?”
“I’d be honored,” he answered as he set his rifle just inside her door threshold before offering his elbow. He didn’t seem to notice that her hair was a mess and she still wore the stained apron she’d had on all day.
She tucked her hand on his arm and they walked, talking quietly as the sun set. The camp was like an ant bed of activity with movement tonight. Someday, if the camp grew into a fort, the place would be surrounded by walls, but now most of the buildings and tents circled the stockade of supplies. Teamsters had brought in a line of wagons and everyone seemed to be helping with the unloading.
She watched the movements but spoke low to Clark. “You were listening to what the lieutenant said to me.” It was a statement, not a question.
“It was hard not to. The door was open,” Clark said, defending himself.
Anna smiled. “I got the feeling he’d come to ask me something.”
Clark laughed. “I swore I heard the trap door about to fall, but you played it smart.”
“Maybe we’re just guessing what he wanted. Maybe he just came to thank me for helping with the birthing.”
“Maybe,” Clark answered. “My guess is he didn’t know about McCord or he wouldn’t have even been hinting.”
She stopped walking and looked at the kid. “What about McCord?”
“He’s your man. All the enlisted men know it. I’m surprised the officers don’t.”
Anna had to ask. “How do they know it?” She couldn’t imagine McCord talking about their time together.
“McCord told us before he left. He said every one of us better keep an eye on his Anna or there’d be hell to pay when he got back.”
Anna started walking again, pulling the private along beside her. “I’m not his Anna and he’s not my man.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Clark said as he fell into step beside her. “He also said not to argue with you no matter what crazy thing you said.”
“Oh, he did,” Anna said, more to herself than the kid. She wanted to get home and think about what Clark had told her, then decide whether to kill McCord when he came back. A few kisses and touches did not define ownership, even if those kisses still filled her dreams at night and the memory of his touch still warmed her each time she thought of it.
When they stepped back into the infirmary, she noticed Clark’s rifle was missing beside the door, a moment before she saw two men standing in the shadows. Clark’s muscles beneath her hand tightened, and she prayed the kid wouldn’t go for his Colt. Maybe they should have locked the door before leaving, but they’d both felt safe inside the circle of the military.
“Evening,” one stranger said as he stepped forward, a rifle pointed at Clark’s chest. “We’ve come to ask you, lady, if you’d like to take a ride with us.” He smiled, showing rotting teeth in a face weeks past needing washing. “There’s a gambler who says he has a little game to finish with you. He says you ran out on him before all the cards were on the table.”
The stranger laughed as if pleased with his politeness, then glared at Clark. “I guess you’re coming too. If we kill you it’ll draw attention, and I’d like to ride out of here the same way I rode in. Unnoticed. A soldier riding along with us will make us look all the more legal.”
Anna panicked. “No. Tie him up and I’ll go with you without a sound.” She guessed they’d kill Clark when they were far enough away from the camp that no one would hear the shot.
“No,” Clark answered calmly, his eyes staring at the man without any fear showing. “I go with her. I’m her guard. If I’m not outside someone will come check on her, but if we’re both missing they’ll think we’re somewhere in camp.”
Anna closed her eyes, wishing he wouldn’t