A Bride By Summer. Rebecca Winters
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parking area.
Kellie had met hundreds of cowboys in all shapes and sizes over her years pursuing her dream to get to the Finals. She’d dated quite a few, nothing serious. But these four were exceptionally good-looking. The man she’d brushed against had momentarily caused the breath to freeze in her lungs. Why hadn’t he been the one to ask her out on a date in Oregon? She might have been a fool and said yes without knowing anything about him.
Stunned by her immediate attraction, she hurried inside the building afraid she was late. The receptionist told her to walk straight back to the broadcast booth.
“Oh, good. I’m glad you’re here. We’re on a station break. I’m Tammy White. You’re even more beautiful in person. Thanks for doing the show. You’re one of our state’s biggest celebrities.”
“Maybe with a few rodeo fans.”
“You’re too modest. Your appearance here is making my day.”
“Thanks, Tammy.” Kellie shook hands with her and sat down. “I barely got here in time.”
“I don’t suppose you bumped into the Sons of the Forty while you were on your way in here?”
Kellie blinked. “I actually did bump into one of them. Wait—aren’t they the Texas Rangers who brought down a drug cartel recently? It was all over the news.”
“Yup. You had the luck of getting to see them up close and personal.” Up close and personal is right. “I swear if I weren’t married...” Kellie knew exactly what she meant. The man with the deep blue eyes was a Texas Ranger!
Kellie couldn’t believe it, except that she could. With his rock-hard physique and rugged features, he looked as if he could handle anything. Come to think of it, he had been wearing a badge over his Western shirt pocket. But she’d been so mesmerized by his male charisma, nothing much else registered.
“Okay, Kellie. We’ll be live in seven seconds. Ready?”
“No. I’m no good behind a microphone.” Her mind was still on the striking Ranger. Her body hadn’t stopped tingling with sensation.
“Don’t worry. Leave it all to me. This is going to be fun.”
It would be fun if it weren’t for the menace lurking somewhere out there. Thank heaven for Sally and her husband, who were letting her stay in their trailer with them tonight and tomorrow night. Monday morning she’d take off at dawn.
She couldn’t get back home fast enough to tell her parents what had been happening and go to the police. Kellie had put off telling them about this, hoping the man would give it up, because she didn’t want her folks worrying about her. But she’d gotten a call in the middle of the night last night, which was the last straw. Her stalker was potentially dangerous, and that terrified her.
* * *
CY’S CAPTAIN, TJ HORTON, walked into his office Monday morning. The veteran Ranger now sported a head of gray hair, but he still looked tough enough to take on any fugitive and win. “It’s good you’re back.”
“I’m just finishing up some paperwork on my last case.”
“I’ve got a new one I’d like you to look over. It just came up. Come on into my office.”
“Sure.” He followed him down the hall. The captain told him to shut the door and take a seat. Cy could tell something was up.
TJ sat back in his swivel chair with his hands behind his head and smiled at him. “You men did the department proud over the weekend. I listened to your contribution on Hill Country Cowboy Radio. Whether you liked it or not—” nope, none of them liked it “—she made you guys out as the poster boys of the department. You’re now known as the Famous Four. I thought that might happen, but good publicity never hurts in an age when law enforcement takes a lot of unfair hits. The favor you did for me personally was much appreciated.”
“Anything to help, sir.”
“I heard a but in there. Next year I’ll pick another bunch to carry the flag.”
“That’s a relief.”
TJ chuckled, but then leaned forward with a serious expression. “The police turned over a case to our office this morning. It’s high profile and the victim could be in serious danger. Because the case has crossed state lines, they feel our department is better equipped to deal with it. I’d like your take on this one.” He handed him a folder.
Cy nodded and opened it. The name Kellie Parrish leaped out at him. She was the person in danger?
With her silvery-gold hair and cornflower-blue eyes, the barrel racer was a knockout. Under other circumstances he would have liked to hang around the radio station and listen to her interview. She’d been on his mind ever since he’d seen her a few days ago.
He scanned the folder’s contents. She was being pursued by a stalker. He’d followed Ms. Parrish across her latest five-state racing schedule. She’d given the lieutenant a description of the man and a typewritten note he’d left on her truck windshield.
The most alarming aspect of the case was the fact that this stalker had phoned her cell phone as recently as the middle of Friday night. She’d been asleep in her friend’s trailer in Bandera before driving to Austin this morning. Terrified, she’d gathered her parents and come straight to police headquarters.
Cy let out a low whistle. “I met her coming in the radio station as we were leaving on Friday. We watched her perform at the rodeo Saturday night. She had the second-best time.”
“That’s not only an amazing coincidence, but fortuitous. It isn’t often you already have prior knowledge of the victim, so you understand what kind of threat she’s been living with.”
Especially when he’d found her incredibly attractive.
The hairs lifted on the back of his neck. Cy couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this strong a feeling for a woman in passing. Because of the stress of the job, he didn’t have much time for dating and hadn’t been out with anyone for at least four months. After watching Ms. Parrish’s performance at the rodeo, he’d admired her skill and found himself wondering how to go about getting to know her better. Not in his wildest dreams had he thought it would happen like this.
TJ kept on talking. “The police chief told me her parents met her at the station. They’re well-heeled ranchers from southeast Austin who are demanding protection for their daughter and are willing to pay for it. Ms. Parrish is a prominent athlete. I’ve already ruled out a possible kidnapping scheme with a plan to collect a ransom or she would likely have been abducted at her first stop in Montana. Her parents want her to quit the rodeo circuit and stay with them until this lowlife is caught. She’s their only child.”
Cy got it. Ms. Parrish was their precious baby.
He shifted his attention from the file to his boss. “If you could have seen the way she rides, you’d know she would never agree to that.” Even under so much stress, she’d put in a terrific time at the Bandera Rodeo. “Otherwise, I’m certain she would have quit the circuit in Pendleton when he first showed up and returned to Austin to contact the police. Several of her competitors headed for the championship in Las Vegas were also in Bandera competing. My bet is on her winning the whole thing.”
TJ shook his head. “In order for that to happen, she would need full-time bodyguards on the circuit with her. Her parents can afford it. I’ll call them now and ask them to bring her back to headquarters so you can talk to her. When you’ve got a feel for what you’re dealing with, let me know how you want to handle this case.”
“TJ? Send her in to me first. Then I’ll talk to her folks.” Parents had their own ideas about what should be done. It simplified things to talk to the victim without anyone else in the room. “I’ll let you know when I want them to join us.”
His boss nodded in understanding.
“Until