Her Texas Ranger Hero by Rebecca Winters Read Free Book Online Page B

today.”
    Her father sat up with a grim look on his face. “Why would you do that?”
    â€œPlease don’t be upset, Dad. Oh—there’s the doorbell. I’ll let him tell you the whole story.”
    Her mother jumped up from her chair. “But not before we eat. Larry? Will you start the steaks?”
    Ally walked through the house. The second she opened the door and saw Luckey dressed in a black sport shirt and gray chinos, her legs turned to mush. “You made it. Come in.”
    â€œIt’s gorgeous country up here.” His dark brown eyes enveloped her as he said it, sending a curl of warmth through her body. Only then did she notice the file folder under his arm.
    â€œFollow me. We’re out on the patio.”
    Ally made introductions and her mother handed Luckey a glass of iced tea. They chatted about casual things before filling their plates and seating themselves around the wrought-iron table to eat.
    â€œThese beans are out of this world, Mrs. Duncan,” he said, causing her mom to beam.
    â€œThank you. It’s an old family recipe.”
    â€œIs that steak done the way you like it, Luckey?” Ally’s father asked.
    â€œIt’s perfect.”
    â€œWe’ve never had a Texas Ranger for dinner before. You’ve made my daughter’s night,” he added. “When she was a little girl, she was crazy about the Lone Ranger.”
    Oh, no.
    Luckey’s gaze swerved to hers. “Is that right?”
    â€œWe bought her a pony she named Silver. She must have had half a dozen black masks.” Her dad was on a roll. “I think there are still a couple of them out in the tack room left over from the good old days.”
    â€œThose I’ve got to see,” Luckey said.
    Ally cleared her throat, eager to change the subject. “Luckey? Why don’t you tell my parents why you came to my office yesterday?”
    With those words, the atmosphere around the table changed. Luckey got up from the table to get the file folder he’d left on one of the loungers. After he sat down again, he passed around the pages with the photos of the Chinese writing and explained where they’d come from.
    For the next twenty minutes he discussed the case he’d been assigned and the information he’d gleaned from forensics. Her parents didn’t say a word. They were too busy absorbing everything he was telling them.
    â€œYour work fighting the trafficking program hasn’t gone unnoticed, Mrs. Duncan. Your name came up at a conference I attended a month ago, praising your efforts.”
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    â€œAlly tells me she’s helped you when she could. That’s why she brought Soo-Lin’s letter to me. When I read about the disappearance of the young woman who hoped to be an Olympic gymnast one day, it reminded me of something Dr. Wolff told me at the morgue. He said the victim’s body indicated she was probably either a dancer or a gymnast.”
    A gasp escaped Ally. She eyed her parents, who looked equally stunned.
    â€œI’m not assuming that the dead girl is the girl your family knows. If I showed all of you her picture, would you recognize her?”
    â€œNo,” Ally said at once. “It’s been nine years since we were at the wedding. She was only seven at the time. But if Soo-Lin saw the photo you have, I’m sure she would know one way or the other.”
    â€œThat’s good to know, and we can explore that avenue later.” He eyed her parents. “Ally examined the dress and described the special elements to me. She said it had probably been made rather than bought for a girl of the higher class. If I could find out where that material came from, I might be able to discover who bought it and had the dress made. That could lead me to the girl’s parents.”
    â€œAnd you could unite them with their child,” Beatrice said. “What a blessing it would be if