The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes) (8 page)

She darted Travis a glance. “Is he liking school?”

“I think so. He hasn’t pulled a ‘sore leg’ on me yet.” But his
son had been plaguing him to go to another movie with Melissa. Before school
that morning he’d asked if she could come over to see him walk Dexter with his
new leash. Travis had muttered something unintelligible and told him they needed
to get going or they’d both be late.

“That’s a good sign.”

“I live in hope for the peace to continue.” At least in that
department. But Travis feared his son wasn’t about to give up on seeing Melissa
again.

She laughed as they made their way back to the church. “Lo and
behold, your truck is still here.”

“So it is.”

After he’d helped her inside, she pulled out her key ring. “I
better give this to you now before I forget. It’s an extra key to the cabin so
you can come and go as you please.” She handed it to him, and their fingers
brushed. As if he’d just come in contact with a strong electric current, heat
snaked up his arm.

It had happened earlier, too, when she’d held the tools he’d
needed while he’d installed the cameras. Each time she’d handed him something,
the friction of skin against skin had caused him to grow more aware of her.

* * *

M
ELISSA
PUT
THE
KEY
RING
back in her
pocket, but the tingling sensation from his touch was more intense than it had
been inside the cabin while she’d been helping him. Something was wrong with her
if she could still feel him in every cell of her body.

How embarrassing if he knew it.

Of course he knew it!

Travis Stillman was an extraordinary man who saw and sensed
everything.
And she was a nitwit!

On the way down the canyon, her cell rang. She checked the
caller ID. It was Tom. If this had to do with her artwork, Melissa figured she’d
better take the call. “Tom?” In the periphery she felt Travis’s eyes on her,
disturbing her concentration.

“Hi. I’m sorry to bother you. The receptionist at the clinic
said you were off today, so I thought I’d take my chances on reaching you at
home.”

“Actually, I’m out of town. Are you calling because you heard
from your editor?”

“Yes. I’m pretty excited. He’s accepted everything and wants to
be absolutely certain you won’t be doing any more artwork. I sent him my ideas
for my new series and he likes them. If you were going to be the artist on them
as well, he would add some information about it in your bio in the first
book.”

The man didn’t give up. “I’m positive, Tom, but I appreciate
you telling me.”

“Just checking in case you’d changed your mind.”

“I’m afraid not, but congratulations. I’m very happy for
you.”

“You deserve the same congratulations. Your artwork helped sell
it.”

“Thanks, Tom. I’m sure we’ll be talking again soon. Now I have
to run.”

No sooner had she hung up than Travis’s phone rang. After he
checked to see who was calling, his dark brows furrowed and he clicked on. A few
seconds later he said, “I’ll be there in five minutes,” and clicked off.

“Problems at work?” she asked.

“No.” She heard him draw in a swift breath, saw his face drain
of color. “It was the school calling. Casey fell from the monkey bars at
afternoon recess and is complaining of pain. They’ve got him in the office.”

Her stomach clenched in reaction, but she didn’t want to show
her alarm in front of him. “Then I’m sure he’s fine or they would have called an
ambulance,” she said. “Kids get hurt at school all the time.”

His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles
were white. “Not one who’s barely mended from a broken leg.”

Travis had always appeared in control in her presence, but this
was his precious son who was hurt again, and he’d already lost his wife. “I’ll
come with you and check him out. If need be, we’ll drive him to the clinic and
take an X-ray. The radiologist will tell you if you need to talk to his
surgeon.”

“You don’t mind?” he asked.

“This is what I do all day long at work. It’s nice that Casey
already knows me, so he won’t be as frightened.” Not as frightened as his
father.

Before long they rolled into the school parking lot. Melissa
jumped down the second he’d pulled to a stop, and they hurried inside to reach
the main office. Casey saw both of them come into the reception room. His blue
eyes widened before he slid off the chair. “Dad…Melissa…”

“Hi, Casey,” she said. “I heard you got hurt so I came with
your dad to see how you’re doing.”

His face broke out in a smile. “I fell off the monkey bars and
got hurt, but it’s feeling a little better now.”

Travis hunkered down in front of his son and gave him a hug. “I
thought you hurt your leg.”

“No, my arm. See?”

Melissa leaned over to inspect the sand burn below his elbow.
He moved his arm just fine. No fractures there.

“Ooh,” she said. “I bet that stung. But better your arm than
your leg.”

He nodded. “It really hurt.”

“Like I told you before, you’re tough, and now you’ve got a
mark of bravery to show for it. I think this calls for ice cream. Don’t you,
Dad?”

If she didn’t know better, she would say Travis was in a state
of shock. If he’d stayed on the phone long enough, he might have heard a whole
explanation from the receptionist and saved himself all this angst. But it
showed his love for his son, and she found that trait in this tough man
completely endearing.

Travis got to his feet, his color slowly returning. “Let’s go,
shall we?”

“Yeah.” Casey turned to the receptionist. “Thanks for calling
my dad.”

“Anytime. Glad to see you’re fine now.” She winked at Travis
and gave Melissa a smile before the three of them walked out to the truck.

“Can we go to Farr’s?” He’d climbed in the back and fastened
his seat belt. “They’ll put M&M’s in my ice cream.”

“I like candy in my ice cream, too,” Melissa said. “Peppermint
is my favorite.”

“Dad doesn’t like pieces in his.”

“Is that so.” She flicked her gaze to Travis. “Are you a
chocolate man?”

“Yup,” Casey answered for his father. “How did you know?”

“A wild guess.”

Travis shifted gears. “Melissa’s pretty smart.”

“I know.”

She wore a smile on her face the whole time they visited the
ice cream shop. Casey showed his sore arm to the salesgirl, who put extra
candies on his ice cream. They all thanked her warmly.

On the way home Casey said, “She sure was nice.” He glanced at
Melissa. “Can you come to our house and see Dexter?”

Melissa knew what his father wanted her to say. “Do you know,
I’d like that, but I have other plans I can’t break. Thank you so much, though.”
Deep down she wanted to go to his house more than anything, but she didn’t dare
take advantage of the situation.

“Can you come tomorrow?”

By now Travis had pulled the truck in front of her town house.
“Melissa will be busy.”

“Oh.”

“We’ll make arrangements for that another time.”

“Okay.” But he sounded downhearted.

She opened the door. “When you get home, be sure and put some
disinfectant on your arm.”

His head whipped around to his father. “Do we have any?”

“I’m not sure. If we don’t, I’ll buy some.”

“But it will hurt.”

Melissa had an idea. “If you’ll wait just a moment, I’ll get
some for you that doesn’t sting.” Leaving the truck door open, she darted into
her condo. Once inside, she grabbed the can off her bathroom shelf and in
seconds was back. Casey had opened his door and undone his seat belt, and now he
waited for her on the end of the seat.

“Can you stick out your arm? This is a spray. It’ll feel cool.”
He nervously extended it. She pressed the nozzle and covered the long scrape
with the mist.

“Hey! That didn’t even hurt!”

“Nope, and now you’re going to be good as new. I’m very proud
of you.”

Without warning, he reached out and gave her a hug. Luckily,
she’d been standing right next to the seat. She hugged him back, then stepped
away and shut the door. Her gaze flicked to his father. “See ya,” she said, not
daring to prolong this. She’d taken her cue from Travis.

“I’ll be in touch about tomorrow,” he assured her.

“See ya soon!” Casey exclaimed.

She chuckled as she walked back inside. Kids. They never gave
up when they wanted something. She was crazy about them, but her feelings for
Casey were growing deeper. Naturally, the loss of his mother had a lot to with
her desire to comfort him, but that wasn’t the only reason.

He was an endearing child in his own right. Fun to talk to.
Bright, adorable. A son his father loved with a fierceness she’d noticed from
the start. Casey was the reason Travis got up in the morning. She could see why,
and she envied him.

After checking her mailbox, she let herself inside the condo
without looking back. Because of their hike in the heat, she decided a shower
was in order.

Later, when she’d dressed, she felt restless. For once she
didn’t turn to her painting. Vaguely disturbed without knowing why, she phoned
her brother and asked if he’d come over to her place. He told her it would have
to be later that night, because he was up at the cabin right then having a look
around.

She was surprised and relieved. John was the one person she
felt she could talk to about Travis. Her brother might be able to give her
insight into how to handle the fact that Travis resented her looking like his
deceased wife.

Without a good talk, she feared that when she eventually went
to bed, she would lie awake half the night waiting for tomorrow to come. It had
been years since she’d found herself wanting to be with a man again. But he
wasn’t just any man. Since the movie with Casey, she’d thought of his father as
her own personal Texas Ranger.

Chapter Five

Travis drove away from the town house and headed
downtown. He needed to run by the forensics lab to drop off the soil samples,
fingerprint tapes and cast he’d taken.

En route he remembered what he’d wanted to ask Melissa before
he’d received that phone call from the school, and everything else had gone out
of his mind. He needed a list of any people who’d been in their cabin this year
besides family.

Without wasting any time, he phoned her. When she didn’t
answer, he realized she could be anywhere, doing anything. He left a message for
her to call him back.

“Dad? Where are we going?”

“To Lacey and Chaz’s condo. They’ve invited us for dinner.”

“Is Zack going to be there?”

“I think so.”

“I wish I’d brought Captain America. Can we go home first and
get it?”

“Afraid not. We’re late as it is.”

“But what about Dexter?”

“He’ll live till we get back.”

When they arrived a few minutes later, everyone noticed that
Casey had come without his crutches, and high-fived him.

“Yup,” he responded. “Melissa told me my leg was all better and
I didn’t need them anymore.”

“Who’s Melissa?” Mitch asked.

“She’s my or—” He looked at Travis for help. Everyone in the
room cracked up.

“Orthopedic specialist,” Travis managed to say without
laughing.

“She’s awesome and drives a red-and-black Jeep. She used to
have a bulldog named Spike, but he’s dead now. She made my sore arm all better,
too.” He extended his scraped elbow for everyone to have a good look.

“Ew!” Zack blurted.

“Does it hurt?” Abby was very worried. Since her bee sting, she
was overly solicitous.

“Nope. She put this spray on it.”

“She
does
sound awesome,” Mitch
murmured.

“She is! She gave me a leash for Dexter, and tickets for
Spider-Man
. Dad and I went to the movie with her. Oh,
and she bought cupcakes for my whole room. It wasn’t really my birthday, but she
said it was okay because everyone has a birthday party at school.”

Heidi smiled. “That’s pretty fantastic.”

“Was it a good movie?” Lacey asked him, but her eyes were on
Travis.

“Dad thought it was boring, but Melissa and I loved it!”

In the midst of everything Travis’s phone rang. He saw the
caller ID and said, “Excuse me for a minute.” He left the living room and walked
down the hall where he could have some privacy.

“Melissa? Thanks for calling me back.”

“Sorry it took me so long. I went to my folks’ place for
dinner. When I left, I couldn’t find my phone. After searching my car, I went
back to their house and found it on the couch. It must have slipped right out of
my purse.”

Her breathless explanation pleased him even more than the
knowledge that she hadn’t been out with some guy. Travis wasn’t blind. She
attracted every man in sight. Everywhere they’d been together, he’d seen men’s
eyes light up the minute they caught sight of her. The traffic in Kamas had
slowed several times because some guy was staring at her from his car as they’d
walked along the main street.

“No problem. Earlier today I meant to ask you if you would
compile a list of people who’ve been in your cabin this year. I’m talking
friends, neighbors, workmen—anyone. Your siblings might be able to help with
names, and your parents, too, of course. I’m trying to explore every
possibility.”

“I’ll do it before I go to bed. One more thing, Travis. You’ll
probably think I’m crazy, but maybe someone is looking for gold and using our
cabin to hide at night.”

“Gold?”

“I’ve been thinking about something my grandfather told me when
I was young. We were out hiking and he pointed out an old mine that wasn’t
active anymore. He said that most people thought the gold rush started in
California. But he said gold was mined in the western mountains in Utah well
before the first white settlers arrived.

“Apparently, Indians first worked the mines here, ones enslaved
by the Spanish explorers, who came in the l600s. In fact, what many originally
thought were Indian hieroglyphics and pictographs are actually markers along the
Spanish Trail. It led from Mexico to the Uinta Mountains and beyond.”

Travis blinked. “I had no idea.”

“If he hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known it, either. He
said the trail was the main link between Mexico and Spanish outposts here. In
the l800s, pack trains of Mexicans were seen heading out of the Uintas laden
with gold.

“Grandpa said all kinds of Spanish cannons and swords were
found in our ‘killer mountains,’ as they called them. One cannon was found in
Kamas. They had gold mines that few of the later European arrivals knew about.
The ruins of rock homes, forts, tree carvings and various artifacts were clues
that pointed the way to the gold ore. Silver, too.

“The Indians knew where the mines were because they’d been
forced to work in them by the Spanish. After years of oppression they revolted,
killing most of their captors, and returned the gold to the earth, leaving it in
the mines. Grandpa told me that from time to time, men have come to Kamas in
search of gold, and have checked out that mine right behind our cabin. I know
it’s a stretch, but since this has been going on most of the summer, it has
caused me to wonder.”

It
was
a stretch, but he wouldn’t
dismiss it out of hand. “Thanks for the Utah history lesson, Melissa. Anything’s
possible. I’ll keep it in mind while I look around.”

“Uh-oh. I’ve got another call coming in, and better hang up.
Good night, Travis.”

There was a click. He’d wanted to keep on talking. Since that
wasn’t possible, he turned off his cell phone and returned to the living room.
The guys eyed him speculatively, but it was Chaz who asked, “Talking to your
latest client?” His friend knew about Melissa’s resemblance to Valerie and the
shock Travis had received because of it.

Travis nodded. And shouldn’t have been surprised when Casey
picked up on it immediately. Running over to him, he blurted, “Was it Melissa?”
With that question, the guys’ wives were looking at him, too.

“As a matter of fact, it was,” he admitted.

“I love her! Didn’t she want to talk to me?”

Out of the mouths of babes, honest and unabridged. “She had
only a minute to answer a question for me,” Travis replied.

“Oh.”

He didn’t know how much of Casey’s exclamation had to do with
his memory of Valerie, but one thing was certain. His son was hooked on Melissa,
and everyone in the room knew it.

“It’s time to get you home, bud. Tell Lacey and Chaz thank-you,
and thank Heidi and Mitch for the doughnuts.”

Casey did so, adding, “It was really yummy. Bye, Zack. Bye,
Abby.”

Mitch walked over to Travis with a gleam in his eye. “I’ve yet
to hear about all this. Expect a call from me if we don’t see each other in the
office tomorrow morning.”

Travis’s friend would be relentless in wanting to find out the
details.

Once they arrived home, Casey played with Dexter for a few
minutes and took him for a walk on his leash. Finally, it was time for bed.
“Come on, bud. Under the covers,” Travis said.

As soon as Casey crawled in, the dog jumped up and lay at his
feet. Travis kissed his son on the forehead. “Sleep tight. I’ll see you in the
morning.”

“Are you going to take me to the clinic tomorrow to visit
Melissa?”

“No. You’re fine now.”

“But you brought her to school to see me.”

“That was different.”

“How come?”

He had hoped to avoid the subject, but Casey wouldn’t let it
go. Since Travis didn’t know how long this case for Melissa’s family might go
on, he realized he needed to tell his son a few facts.

With a resigned sigh, he sank onto the side of his bed. “The
reason she was with me today was because I’ve been hired by her father to do
some investigative work. I understand you told Melissa I’m a P.I.”

“Yup. At the movie.”

“Well, she told her dad. He asked me to look around their
mountain cabin up in Kamas and find out who’s been living in it without their
permission.”

Casey gasped. “You mean someone has been sneaking inside?”

“It looks like it. I took Melissa with me today so she could
show me where it is and let me in.”

“Is it far away?” His son’s voice had a mournful note.

“No. Only forty-five minutes. It’s up by Park City. Do you
remember we went up there skiing?”

“Yes.” But Casey looked unhappy.

“Melissa and I were on the way down the canyon when someone
from your school called me.”

“Is her cabin big?”

“Sort of. It has an upstairs and is made of logs because it’s
old.”

“Cool. Can I see it sometime with you and Melissa?”

“I think it’s a possibility.” After fighting his conflicted
feelings for Melissa from day one, Travis was surprised he’d conceded that much
to Casey. Something was happening to him. Today, with Melissa, he’d had moments
he wished could have gone on.

“Are you going to go up with her tomorrow?”

“Probably.” She wanted to paint. Travis couldn’t very well tell
her she couldn’t come, but the scenario was starting to get complicated in ways
he didn’t feel like examining.

“Why can’t I go with you?”

“You know why. You have school.”

“No, I don’t. Tomorrow is teachers’ work day.”

Travis blinked. He’d forgotten about that.

“I don’t want to go to Aunt Pat’s. I want to be with you. What
if you don’t come back?”

Travis knew that deep-seated fear was always lurking beneath
the surface. He pulled his son into his arms. “Tell you what. I’ll phone her.
Maybe we can all go up for part of the day. How does that sound?”

“Hooray!” In an instant, his boy became a happy child again.
They high-fived. “I can’t wait till tomorrow. Night, Daddy.”

Travis discovered he couldn’t wait, either, and reached for his
phone to call Melissa for a second time. Hopefully, whatever she was doing,
she’d pick up.

She answered on the third ring.

He liked her well-modulated voice. “Hi. I know it’s getting
late, but there’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about before you’re in
bed. Are you free to talk?”

There was a pause, then she said, “Is there a new development
in the case?”

He frowned when she answered his question with a question.
Something was definitely off. She wasn’t the same warm woman from earlier, and
she didn’t mention Casey in the conversation, which wasn’t like her. “I can tell
you’re not alone.”

“My brother’s here, helping me with that list. He just got down
from the cabin.”

Travis’s blood turned cold. “Did he go alone?”

“Yes.” She paused for a second. “Are you saying it wasn’t a
good idea? I thought it would be okay for him. He wanted to look around.”

“After today I’m concerned, because I suspect that more than
one person has been using your place to sleep. I don’t like the implications,
and feel it won’t be safe for you or anyone in your family to go up there unless
I’m with you.”

He heard her quiet gasp. “You’re not telling me everything you
know, are you?”

“I’m operating on instinct right now, Melissa.” He grimaced.
“It’s too soon to give you facts. What’s important is that you and your family
will come to no harm if you stay strictly away. If it’s necessary for one of you
to go up, and I can’t be there, then I’ll send some of my backup crew to protect
you. Be sure you tell your brother how serious this is. I’m sorry it has to be
this way.”

“So am I. But if you say it’s dangerous, I believe you. John’s
totally impressed with all your surveillance gadgets. He’s fascinated by the
work you do and can’t wait to meet you.”

“I look forward to meeting him. In the meantime, all is not
lost. Casey’s school is taking a teacher work day tomorrow, so he’ll be free.
We’ll pick you up around ten and drive to the cabin. While I’m busy checking
around the area, you can paint to your heart’s content, as long as you and Casey
stay within fifty feet of the cabin. Two of my crew will already be around to
keep everyone safe.”

“You mean it?” The excitement was back in her voice—the sound
that had been missing. The one he’d wanted to hear. “You don’t know how I long
to take advantage of this weather. I love the mountains this time of year.”

“I’m aware you took a week off from work to paint, Melissa.
Even though your father hired me, and I need to be up there to do the job he’s
paying me to do, there’s nothing to prevent you from being with me. Under the
circumstances it will be best if we take your Jeep, so anyone keeping a lookout
will know you’re in residence and won’t come around while we’re there.”

“No problem. Casey told me he wanted to ride in it.”

“Now he’s going to get his chance. On the way up the canyon
we’ll pick up pizza to take with us. There’s a place in the Bell Canyon
Plaza.”

“I know the one.”

“Since Casey learned you have a cabin, he’s dying to see it. Is
it all right if we bring Dexter?”

“Oh, yes!” Clearly, she adored animals. “He’ll love it up
there. I want to draw him. Terriers are so darling.”

Melissa had Travis smiling. “Then it’s settled. See you
tomorrow.” He hung up, excited to know he’d be with her soon. He was also
pleased at the idea of taking their Scottie along. Besides being fun for Casey,
Dexter made an excellent watchdog.

Too wired to go to bed yet, Travis went to his study. He needed
to write up notes on the case and email them to Roman, to keep him abreast of
his progress. Travis had no idea what he’d find up there tomorrow, but he
planned to hike around and look for signs of people camping in an undesignated
area.

Melissa’s suggestion that people might be up there trying to
find a lost gold mine might not be so far-fetched. She was a regular treasure
trove of information. It was one more facet of her personality that drew
him.