Badge and a Saddle (Heroes in the Saddle Book 2) by Randi Alexander Read Free Book Online

snorted.
“Delta Pennington. Her face is all over the television.”
    Mina cocked her
head. “You’re…an actress?”
    Delta shook her
head. “Don’t listen to this crazy man. I’m a racecar driver, and I do ads on TV
for motor oil and I have a foundation for injured firefighters.”
    “That’s amazing.”
Mina sounded excited. “I’d love to hear more about all of that.”
    Treven cleared his
throat. “I’m Mr. Pennington…uh…I mean, Delta’s husband, Treven.”
    Mina shook his
hand. “Mr. Arnett, I’m impressed by how well you’ve adjusted to your wife’s celebrity.”
    Treven wrapped his
arm around Delta. “She’s worth all the extra work.”
    Delta elbowed him
softly. “I’m no work at all, don’t listen to him.” She gestured to a duffle bag
in the corner of the kitchen. “I hope you don’t mind, but I brought you a few things
that I thought you could use, since, well, you can’t exactly run to town for a
change of clothes.”
    “Thank you.” Mina
blinked a few times. “You’re so kind.” She looked at Treven and Bennet. “All of
you. To help me this way, I’m grateful.” She avoided Rex’s gaze completely.
    “Hup. Company.”
Bennet looked at Rex and pointed out the door. The man had ears like a rabbit.
    Rex ran and
grabbed the shotgun then peered out through the screen door. The familiar red lift-kit
truck rolled down the driveway. “Looks like Clint.” He didn’t relax until the
truck came to a stop and he saw his friend, with his short, spiky, white hair, walking
toward the house wearing dark aviator glasses.
    “Hey.” Clint
opened the screen door and walked in.
    “Thanks for
coming.” Rex shook his hand and set down the gun as Clint took off his glasses.
    “Hey.” The man
nodded, then strode toward Mina. He held out his hand. “You must be the
fugitive.” He grinned, and gave her a look with his light-blue eyes, one that
Rex had seen melt many women’s resolve. “Rex didn’t mention how beautiful you
were.”
    Mina held back a
smile. “You must be the paramedic.” She glanced out the door. “Rex didn’t
mention your…big truck.”
    Bennet and Treven
laughed, and Delta looked like she wanted to give Mina a fist bump.
    Clint released her
hand, not looking as cocky as he had a few seconds ago.
    “Have a seat.” Rex
went to the refrigerator. “Beer?”
    Clint hung his
sunglasses from the back collar of his T-shirt, and sat. “Yeah, I could use one
after that conversation.”
    A gush of relief
had flowed through Rex when Mina had cut Clint off at the knees. What had he
been feeling before that, when Clint was holding her hand? Couldn’t have been
jealousy, could it? He shook off that thought and got down to business.
    “We’re going to set
up a schedule to cover the hours when the people looking for Doctor Cooper
would most likely come to the ranch.” He pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.
“Between dusk and dawn.” He drew lines. “We’ll have two people outside, one
inside. During the day, Bennet and I will be able to handle it.”
    Mina’s brow
crinkled. “Is this necessary?”
    “Yes.” Treven and
Bennet chorused.
    “Best to be safe.”
Clint pulled out his phone and typed.
    “I think it’s a
good idea.” Delta leaned close to her husband. “I can come with you to help
protect Mina here inside the—”
    “No.” Treven
reached out and laced her fingers with his. “You’ll be at home. The fewer
people we have to worry about, the better.”
    Rex noticed Mina’s
gaze shift to the burn scars on Treven’s hand, then quickly look away. Her gaze
locked with Rex’s. Heat flooded his body, centering in his groin. There
couldn’t be a repeat of this afternoon’s episode in the bedroom.
    “I’ll take tonight
and tomorrow night.” Clint pointed to Rex’s paper. “I’m on call with the fire
department the next night.”
    Rex set up the
schedule and everyone snacked on sandwiches and brownies while talking about
anything and