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

everything, except the thing most on their minds. Mina’s safety.
    ****
    Half an hour
later, Mina stood at the screen door, watching Rex and his buddies walking
around the house, discussing possible blind spots and directions from where
trouble could come.
    Delta came back
from the bathroom. “Feels like I’m in there all the time, now.”
    Mina nodded, catching
Delta’s vague reference, but concentrating on trying to hear what the guys were
saying. Bennet had gone into his room, and loud snores now sounded from that
part of the house.
    With an elbow
nudge, Delta gestured to the porch. “Let’s go sit. Enjoy the afternoon sun.”
    They headed outside
and sat on two of the old rocking chairs. “It’s so unspoiled here.” Mina didn’t
often wish for a different life than the one she had, but after the last few
days, she could use an extended vacation. She heard Treven calling to Rex.
    Mina watched Delta
listen to her husband speak. The woman had a small smile on her lips. “How did
you and Treven meet?”
    Delta tucked her
shoulder-length shag-cut hair behind her ears. “He saved my life.”
    Mina crinkled her
nose. “Honest?”
    “Yep.” Delta held
out her hand, palm down. “Did you notice the burns on his hands? I was racing,
my car burst into flames, and he pulled me out, but he wasn’t wearing safety
equipment.” Wrapping her arms around her middle, she rocked her chair. “He’s a
true hero. And so is Rex.”
    Mina didn’t know
where she was going with that, but she nodded. “I agree.” He’d saved her.
    “He’s
exceptionally serious.” Delta stared off into the distance. “But he’s faced a
lot in his life.”
    “Many people who
choose crime fighting as a livelihood, do.” He and Bennet had made some
references, but she hadn’t wanted to ask personal questions. “He’s been
exceptionally decisive and surprisingly kind.” Not nice, really, but
understanding of her desperate maneuvers, which was more than she had expected.
    Delta looked at
Mina out of the corner of her eye. “You like him?”
    She wasn’t going
to participate in girl talk. “He’s a likeable person, but there’s no room in
our situation for enjoying each other’s personality.” Mina sounded stiff, even
to her own ears. It was odd, she usually only talked like a professor when she
had something to hide. And what had happened upstairs earlier…that was probably
something she’d like to keep hidden.
    “Yet, your cheeks
are bright red.” Delta grinned like a devious toddler.
    Bright red, probably
due more to guilt than infatuation. Guilt from crawling into bed with the
detective and boldly kissing him. She sighed. That kiss. It had shaken her
pretty darn good. But how did she feel about him? “I guess I could grow to like him.” Hopefully they’d all live long enough for that to be a
possibility. As the sun eased toward the western horizon, her anxiety level
increased. What would happen tonight?
    Delta reached over
and squeezed Mina’s hand once, quickly. “It’ll be okay. These guys know what
they’re doing.” The race car driver sat back and breathed deeply, her face
going pale.
    “Are you okay?”
Mina wasn’t sure what to do. “Are you ill?”
    Delta shook her
head slowly, then a slow, mysterious smile curved her lips. “Not sick.” She
glanced Mina’s way and set the palm of her hand on her lower belly. “I haven’t
told him yet.”
    Mina’s heart
thudded. “Congratulations.” Delta and Treven were obviously in love. Deeply.
And this baby would be a lovely blessing for them. “I’m so happy for you.” The
vision of a very-pregnant Delta behind the wheel of a racecar flashed into
Mina’s mind. “How long can you drive your—”
    The men came
around the side of the porch and Mina pressed her lips shut.
    Delta leaned
closer. “We’ll talk later.”
    Mina nodded,
hoping—praying—there would be a later for her.
    Clint, with his
loose-limbed swagger, leapt up the three steps onto the porch