A Bride By Summer: The Texas Ranger's Bride / From Best Friend to Bride / Once Upon a Bride

“Always.”

He clicked off and reached for his Stetson.

* * *

CY DROVE THEM up to the barn. Kellie got out and headed for the entrance. Cy followed and they walked over to the first stall. “Trixie? I want you to meet a very important person.” Kellie’s palomino nickered and her ears pointed. “This is Cy. He’s going to ride Paladin while we do some circles.”

Clearly Cy was no stranger around horses as he rubbed her nose and forelock. “I watched you perform in Bandera, Trixie. You’re a champion just like your owner.” Her horse nudged him in the chest, causing him to smile at Kellie. When he did that, she forgot where she was or what she was doing.

They moved to the next stall. “This is Paladin, one of Dad’s geldings. He’s a big bay who loves a good ride. And he likes Trixie. When they’re out in the pasture, he follows her around.”

Cy’s eyes gleamed. “I can see why. She’s a beauty. Who says romance doesn’t exist among our four-legged friends?”

“The only trouble is, he can be annoying and she runs from him.”

He burst into that rich male laughter she loved so much. “So she likes her independence.”

“At times. But then there are others and she rests her head on his neck.”

“Sounds like a mercurial female. I’ll do my best to control him.”

This close to Cy, darts of awareness shot through her body. Together they picked out their saddles and bridles, then carried them to the stalls. Kellie heard a nicker from another stall.

“Starburst? I haven’t forgotten you, but it’s not your turn.”

A grin broke out on Cy’s face. “You talk to them like they’re human.”

“To tell the truth, I like them better than a lot of humans.”

“Amen to that.”

Before long they were both mounted. One glance at the gorgeous male astride the bay and she was in danger of melting on the spot. The only way she could describe her condition was that she was in a state of euphoria being with him like this.

He was a natural on a horse and took firm command of Paladin, yet displayed a gentleness that won Kellie’s respect and admiration. She decided he could do anything. They rode out to the pasture as if this was something he did every day. Though she hadn’t seen him ride in the Bandera parade, she could imagine him with the other three Rangers carrying the flag.

After riding some distance, she headed for the outdoor arena. Cy followed at a slower pace and pulled to a stop. Her pulse raced because he was watching her.

Once inside, Kellie began her routine and made perfect circles with Trixie, always using a little inside leg. She made certain her horse’s back feet went in the same track as her front feet. After a few minutes she walked her around, then changed to a trot so she could stand in the stirrups to build up the strength in her legs.

To transition from high speed to stops was part of the routine. So was the exercise of backing up, then calling to her horse to stop. While Kellie was building up her own leg muscles, the exercises were helping Trixie strengthen her hindquarters.

Finally she led her over to the fence and did a few more stops, causing Trixie to use her back hocks and stifles. The routine built the vital control necessary for barrel racing. “Good girl,” she called to her horse and patted her neck.

In the background she could hear clapping. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw Cy on Paladin, walking toward them. Beneath his white cowboy hat, his dark blue eyes traveled over her, filling her with warmth. “I wouldn’t have missed that expert performance for anything.”

“Did you hear that, Trixie? Such high praise coming from one of our famous Texas Rangers.” To cover her emotions, she gave her horse another couple of loving pats. “I think you’ve had a good enough workout for today. It’s going to be dark pretty soon. Let’s head back to the barn.” She glanced at Cy. “I try not to overdo it with her. It’s important I make an effort to change her daily routine. Tomorrow I’ll work with Starburst for a while.”

They rode back in companionable silence. After watering the horses, they put them to bed. On their way out to the car, he asked about her parents.

“They’re so thankful you caught one of the stalkers, they decided to attend an important dinner tonight. Otherwise they’d be here to ask you to stay for dinner. But let’s go inside anyway to freshen up before we leave for the condo.”

In a few minutes they went back to his car. He helped her in and got behind the wheel. “I’m in the mood for a good meal. Have you ever eaten at the Watering Hole? It’s only a few miles from here.”

He was finally asking her to do something a couple would do, but she couldn’t consider this a date in any sense of the word. Cy was hungry and needed to eat. Somehow Kellie had to rein in her thoughts that were growing out of control.

They’d been thrown together because of a life-threatening situation and nothing more. But it was getting harder and harder to remain objective when she was so attracted to him. It’s more than attraction, Kellie. A lot more.

“I’ve been there many times,” she answered. “Their charbroiled steak is the best in Austin.”

“That was easy.”

Yes. Way too easy. She was under the Ranger’s spell.

Luckily it was the kind of restaurant where you could come as you were. The place was always crowded. While they waited in the lounge area to be called to their table, Anita Wall, one of the women in the Blue Bonnet Posse, made a beeline for Kellie and gave her a hug. “It’s so good to see you. I heard you got married. You’ve got to introduce me.”

This was what happened when you went out in public. “Anita Wall? Meet my husband, Cy Vance.”

Her married friend and mother looked up at Cy and did a triple take. Kellie couldn’t blame her. The man was too striking.

“How do you do?” She shook his hand. “We’ve all wondered who the man was to snag our star.” Her gaze swerved to Kellie before she whispered in her ear, “Now I understand. Wow, wow, wow.”

While Kellie tried not to react, Cy asked, “Are you here alone?”

“No. I’m with some friends.”

“You’re welcome to join us.”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of intruding on you honeymooners, but thank you for the invitation.” She gave Kellie one more hug. “Call me when you have time to talk.”

“I will. It’s wonderful to see you, Anita.”

To her relief the hostess called their number and Cy escorted her to their table. Once their order was taken, Cy sat back, smiling at her. “Every friend of yours I’ve met lights up when they see you.”

“Every friend of mine can’t stop staring when they meet you,” she countered before she realized what she’d said. Heat rose to her face. “They’d all be shocked and horrified if they knew what the real reason was for our being together. For your sake I hope the stalker makes another move soon.”

“But not for yours?”

She lowered her head. “That came out wrong. Even if this is the career you’ve chosen, it has to be harrowing for you while you’re forced to bide your time waiting for the next opportunity to present itself.”

Their food came. Once they were alone again he said, “You have that turned around. You’re the one being tortured mentally and emotionally.” He cut into his steak. “Some victims would fall apart at a time like this, but not you. Your courage makes my job a lot easier to handle.” So saying, he started eating.

“That’s because you have a facility for calming me down. It’s a gift, Ranger Vance.”

Before she broke into grateful tears, she dug into her meal. They ate without talking. When she turned down dessert, he left some bills with the receipt and ushered her out of the restaurant to his car.

As they drove out of the parking lot, she turned to him. “I want to pay you for my share of the dinner. I don’t expect the taxpayers of our state to take care of my bill.”

“Didn’t you notice that I paid cash for our dinner? It’s from my paycheck. Any allowance I get as part of the job, I’m issued a credit card for that account. Tonight was my personal treat, if you like.”