Texas Lawman by Ginger Chambers Read Free Book Online

that’s not possible,” she said. His expression hardened. “I’m afraid it is.”
    “Jodie!” Mae exclaimed. “How can you say that? After the way he treated you!”
    “He … Rio just wouldn’t do that!” Jodie said. “Get her pregnant, yes. But not— That’s not the way he is! He’d never hit a woman, much less beat her.”
    “How can you know what he’d do?” Mae demanded harshly. “You misjudged him from the get-go, if I remember right. Which I do. And it’s been years since”
    “Yes, it has,” Jodie shot back. “I tried to tell you that earlier!”
    “I warned him not to show his face in Texas again,” Rafe said evenly, breaking into the disagreement.
     
    she was carryin’, and it seems to be touch-and-go for her, too. The sheriff up there is notifying all the places this cowboy’s ever worked to be on the lookout for him. His name’s”— a pause ” —Rio Walsh. “
     
    “And I didn’t put a time limit on it. He knows better than to come back here.” Rafe wfiS a hard man, accustomed to having his words heeded, particularly by someone who’d had the bad judgment to harm a member of his family.
    “I still have to pass the information along,” Tate said. “Sheriff Preston reckons he’ll head for familiar territory.”
    “Well, he won’t find any comfort here!” Mae declared. “Not from any of us. We’ll turn him in faster’n a snake can blink.”
    Tate nodded as murmurs of agreement came from around the room.
    “I still don’t believe it,” Jodie said stubbornly, setting her jaw.
    “Not from any of us!” Mae snapped, her angry gaze fixed on Jodie.
    Tate’s attention also fell on Jodie. In response she lifted her chin. Then something happened she hadn’t expected: he smiled at her. A small smile that disappeared as quickly as it came.
    Mae broke the silence. “Have you had dinner yet, Tate? I’m sure Made can make you up a nice plate.”
    Tate flashed his smile again, this time including everyone. “No, thanks, Miss Parker. My mom’s expecting me for dinner tonight.”
    Mae nodded approval. Familial togetherness was one of her highest priorities. No matter how small the family. “And how’s your mother doing?” she asked. “It’s been some time since I’ve seen her, but she looked all hale and hearty when I did.”
     
    “She’s doin’ just fine, Miss Parker. I’ll tell her you asked.”
    “Do that. And tell her I’ll stop by the station the next time I’m in town-and say hello.”
    Tate nodded, gave a slightly awkward salute, then left the house.
    “Such a nice boy,” Mae commented as the patrol car pulled away.
    “He’s not exactly a boy, Aunt Mae,” Harriet said. “From my perspective he is.”
    From Jodie’s perspective too much was happening in too short a time. Her journey home, her reckoning with Mae, her first steps toward readjustment to life on the Parker Ranch. She’d been away for long months. Now she was home, yet not at home, just as in some strange way she’d never been completely “at home” here. She was the odd person out in the Parker clan, both in looks and in attitude. Very much a Parker, but different. Wanting to be different.
    When the get-together broke up, Jodie tried to slip out with Harriet and her brood, but she didn’t get farther than the porch.
    “A word, Jodie,” Mae commanded. lo die shifted the sleepy little gift she’d been carrying into LeRoy’s arms and waited as Mae moved to stand beside her at the railing.
    “A private word,” she qualified, waving Gib on when he paused on the steps. “I won’t keep her long.”
    Sounds carried easily in the night. Muted words and childish laughter drifted from the other houses on the cool breeze, as did the chirp of crickets and the sharp cry of a hunting bird.
     
    Mae remained quiet, listening. Then she stirred. “I love this place, Jodie,” she confessed softly. “I love it like it was a living-breathinl thing. All my life it’s been like a mother and a