Gambling On a Heart. Sara Walter Ellwood
It was a replica of the original plantation house where her great-great-great grandfather had been born before the Civil War. When he’d returned from the War Between the States, he and his two cousins headed west.
Tracy picked at her pancakes. “Zack sure has his hands full. He’s still helping the Texas Rangers and the FBI investigate Leon’s crimes, and now this.”
Her mother stopped wiping the counter. “I heard yesterday from Winnie Cartwright that Leon’s trying to plead insanity. He’s pulling in doctors from all over to give credence to his claim because his father and grandmother had bi-polar disorders.” Her blue eyes flashed and she huffed. “I’ll tell you I can agree that Leon’s crazy, but if my stepbrother tries to use that crock of classic bull crap to get off murdering his grandfather, his father and the mother of his daughter... Plus, the forgery of my father’s will.” She slapped a hand against the counter. “And he threatened the lives of my son and the mother of his unborn child. If he gets off, I’ll–I’ll...” Her face flushed red as her shrill voice trailed off. She released her death grip on the dishcloth in her hand and ran the fingers of both hands through her short hair.
Her father grinned and raised a dark brow. “You’ll what?”
“I’ll raise Cain,” her mother drawled with a jut of her chin.
Both Tracy and her father laughed. Picking up his empty mug, he stood and went around the island and kissed his wife on the cheek. “I’m sure you will do just that.”
Tracy averted her eyes and focused on eating the now-cold pancakes on her plate.
“Mom! Mom!” Bobby ran into the kitchen from the mudroom with her mother’s two yapping Yorkshire terriers on his heels. “Mom!”
Tracy winced as Cinnamon and Ginger barked very time he called for her. “What?”
While her mother calmed the excited dogs, Bobby looked up with widened eyes from her to his grandfather. Before he could explain what the hullabaloo was all about, Tom Miller, the foreman of Oak Springs Ranch, and Zack Cartwright followed the boy into the kitchen.
Zack stood in the doorway, dressed in a tan uniform that looked too damn good on his lean frame. He took in the entire room with one sweeping glance as he removed his Stetson. His eyes burned with something Tracy couldn’t name when they settled on her. “Someone rustled forty-five Angus steers out of the southeastern pasture of Oak Springs last night. Who wants to break the news to the newlyweds?”
* * * *
“Oh, no!” Eileen and Tracy gasped at the exact same time and both women covered their mouths.
Zack almost smiled at the reactions of the mother and daughter. He looked from Tracy to Bob and couldn’t help slipping into a military stance with his arms at his sides. “Morning, General Quinn.”
Bob’s lopsided grin surprised Zack. “Relax, Zack. Last time I checked I’m not wearing a star on my shoulder. Good morning, Tom.”
When the retired Army general moved around the counter to stand by Tracy, Zack blinked. The tough old general wore a pair of running shorts, a wife beater, and a pair of flip-flops.
“No, I suppose not,” Zack said.
“Bobby, go up to your room and start getting ready for church,” Tracy said.
Bobby started to protest, but when she arched a delicate dark brow, he huffed out a breath and headed out of the room.
She stood from the stool, the long pencil skirt hugging her slender figure as she moved. She tugged on the flouncy sleeves of her white blouse and looked from Zack to Tom. “Would the two of you like some coffee?”
Tom shook his head, but Zack could use a cup. He hadn’t had more than a couple hours of sleep, and now his mouth was dry. “That’ll be good. Thanks.”
As Tracy headed for the coffee maker across the kitchen, Zack’s gaze followed the sway of her slender hips.
“How do you know the cattle were stolen?” Bob broke into Zack’s memory of what Tracy looked like without her clothes.
Zack cleared his throat and focused on business. “I saw the cut in the fence on my way to work this morning. The thief didn’t close up the fence, and a few steers were out on the road. I stopped and got them back in and called Tom.”
The foreman shuffled his feet and twisted his hat in his hands. “I drove out there with a few hands and verified forty-five of the steers are missing. I have the hands driving the rest into another pasture.”
“How can you be so sure the fence didn’t just break and the cattle got out on their own? Daddy used to have that problem all the time along that road.” Eileen placed a creamer pitcher and sugar bowl near Zack.
Tracy returned with Zack’s steaming black coffee. He set his hat on one of the stools by the bar and reached for the sugar bowl. “I already added the sugar.” Their eyes locked as he took the mug from her. She smiled and shrugged. “Four heaping spoonfuls, just as you’ve always liked it.”
Was she flirting with him? “Thanks.” He took the cup from her. His fingers brushed hers and awareness buzzed through him as surely as the caffeine and sugar would, once he drank the coffee.
“It was cut,” Tom said, reminding Zack that he had a job to do. “Dylan checked those fences Wednesday.”
“I really don’t want to ruin Dylan and Charli’s honeymoon with this news.” Eileen took a stool beside her husband.
Tracy glanced at her mother. “I agree. I think we shouldn’t tell them unless something else happens.”
Zack rubbed his chin and shook his head. “I can’t do that. They own this ranch, and it was their property that was stolen.”
“True.” Tracy slid onto the stool beside him and leaned against the edge of the island, facing him. “But I live here, as do Dad and Mom. Dylan and Charli both left it up to us to make any decisions regarding the place while they were gone.”
Zack considered her words. He knew they were true, but he also knew the law. As Tracy regarded him with big gray eyes, he gave in. He didn’t want to ruin his friends’ honeymoon any more than she did. “Okay. But if there’s any other trouble, I’ll have to call them.”
She pushed off the stool and smiled at him. “Good. Now, I have to make sure Bobby is getting ready for church. See you around, Zack. Tom.”
Tom nodded. “Have a good day, ma’am. Ah, tell Bobby I have a job for him when he comes home.”
She smiled. “I will. Thanks, Tom, for putting up with him.”
He shrugged and shuffled his feet. “Not a problem. He’s a good help around the barn.”
As she passed Zack and headed toward the door, he glued his gaze to the swish of her long brown hair and the sway of her behind until she pushed out the swinging door.
“Cartwright, if you’re done lusting after my daughter, why don’t you tell us exactly how you plan to catch these cattle thieves.”
Tom Miller’s chuckle punctuated Bob Quinn’s amused words.
Damn, he needed a woman.
But that woman couldn’t be Tracy, no matter how much he wanted her.
Chapter 4
Tracy smiled at Henrietta Parker as she shuffled across the wood floor toward the salon sink, her cane making a jaunty tap-tap with each step. Although she was now stoop-shouldered and aged ninety-one, Henrietta was still famous around town for being a pilot during World War II. And up until six years ago, she’d flown her crop duster. Only her eldest son’s taking the engine out of the old thing grounded her.
Henrietta pointed her cane at Tracy as she sat in the chair in front of the sink. “Haven’t I told you a thousand times to get