The boar raced straight toward her. Serena faintly heard her mother’s cries and another shout from Chet, but she had her focus dead center between the animal’s eyes. She squeezed the trigger. Rifle fire echoed and the boar fell six feet in front of her in a puddle of blood.
Instantly, Chet stood by her side, clearly amazed. “You got him right square between the eyes.” His face had paled, and he looked a bit angry.
Serena blinked. “I know. That’s where I aimed.”
He poked the boar with his boot. “Who taught you to shoot like this?”
“I did,” James boomed from the doorway of the cabin. “Good shot, Serena. You didn’t flinch once.”
Serena beamed. “Thanks, Pa. I tried to remember everything you taught me, but it took me by surprise when it barged forward.”
“Couldn’t have handled it better myself.”
She adored her father’s praise. “You hungry? I just about have breakfast ready.”
“Nigh starved,” her pa replied. A grin spread across his full face, as he wrapped his arms around Ma’s waist.
Serena glanced at her ma, trembling beneath Pa’s firm hold. Her grim expression left no question as to the fear she’d felt.
“She’s fine,” Pa said, obviously realizing Ma’s apprehension. “She can handle a rifle better than most men.”
Ma nodded and sniffed, blinking back tears. “There’s a few things about our daughter, James Talbot, that I wish she hadn’t gotten from you.”
Chet cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I can understand your fright, but I’m glad she has her pa’s eye and smooth pull on the trigger. Thank you, Miss Serena. I’ve been in a lot of dangerous places, but taking on a boar didn’t rank among them. Praise God for your shootin’.”
His words broke the tension flaring around them, and Ma laughed and cried at the same time.
“I’ll get this overgrown pig out of the way so we can eat,” Pa said. He released her ma and walked toward the dead animal, passing along a wink to Serena.
She handed his rifle to him, and he squeezed her hand. Fighting the urge to take a quick glimpse at Chet, she moved toward her ma, still quivering in the doorway. They held each other without uttering a word. Ma had been right; certain things only a woman could know, and Serena had just earned a note of admiration from Chet.
Once breakfast and chores were completed, Serena rode with Pa and Chet to Dugan Niall’s. She felt completely immersed in the hill country around them—the cedars dressed in blue-green leaves and gnarly post oaks with an occasional mesquite tree. She admired patches of orange trumpet-shaped wildflowers, purple wide-leafed petals, and a host of yellow beauties. She listened to the singing insects and calling mockingbirds as they offered their lulling songs, but Serena knew the dangers of the land—more powerful than any wild animal.
Three races of proud people claimed Texas: the Mexicans, despite the war for independence; the Apache and Comanche Indians; and the proud Texans. She’d long ago decided whoever fought the hardest would have the vast land. Pa told her once if he’d been Mexican, he’d be fighting for them, and if he’d been born an Indian, he’d be warring alongside the red man. Lucky for Texas, James Talbot was a white man and believed in the Rangers.
“God did a pretty good job out here,” Chet said, squinting as he stared up at a robin’s-egg-colored sky. “No wonder the land’s restless; everyone wants a piece of it.”
“No matter the cost,” Pa said. “He made Texas for those willing to die for it—or defend it like we do.”
“Some folks claim we rangers are of the devil,” Chet said, “but they sure call us angels when there’s trouble.”
Pa chuckled. “ ’Cause we aren’t afraid of anything—leastways, nothing we show. The only thing I hate is leaving my family so much. Guess I’m lucky Rachel knew my commitment to the Texas Rangers when we met. Sometimes it’s right hard to push thoughts of her and Serena away when we’re in the thick of things.” He lowered his gaze at Chet. “You listen to me, now. God’s done me a fair amount of blessings, but this is a life for a single man. Your head can’t be clouded with anything but the job at hand.”
Serena listened intently. Pa seldom talked so freely, and she knew every word meant something important. The only thing was she didn’t like what he had to say. Oh, he spoke the truth about wits and clearheaded thinking keeping the rangers alive and winning, but the yearning in her heart for Chet couldn’t subside so easily. If Chet ever decided to look her way, he’d have to deal with Pa. Some said the devil could be more obliging than James Talbot when he was riled.
Lord, if me and Chet are supposed to be together, then let it happen. I’m already a Texas Ranger’s daughter, and I can be a good ranger’s wife. With Your help he could be right proud of me.
Dugan Niall met them as they rode up. He grinned from ear to ear. Most likely he anticipated the sale of his palomino and a stallion to Chet. Moira accompanied him along with a dozen other rusty-headed siblings.
“Aye, James, Chet, and Serena. Ya do me pleasure by stoppin’ by. Is it the palomino you came for?” Dugan’s Irish brogue sounded musical, and his wild, fiery-red hair and beard were a colorful match to his character.
“We sure are,” her pa replied, lifting his hat and wiping the perspiration from his brow. “I want to give the mare to Serena before her birthday.” He waved at the Niall clan. “Mornin’, all you rooster tails.”
They loved Pa’s teasing and greeted him all at once.
Dugan’s eyes twinkled, and he laughed till his round belly jiggled beneath his suspenders. “And you, Chet, do ya still have an eye for me stallion?”
“I’m just looking today, but I’m looking hard.”
Dugan’s mirth roared above the treetops. “First let’s have some coffee. Me wife has just made a fresh pot.”
Serena and Moira stayed outside, knowing the men would be talking awhile. The two walked to the corral, where a half dozen fine horses grazed.
“Why’s Mr. Wilkinson with you?” Moira asked, her brown eyes dancing.
“He and Pa are riding out in the morning,” Serena replied, hoping her friend thought Chet’s presence meant nothing to her.
“He’s a mighty handsome man,” Moira continued, her gaze lingering on the cabin door then back to the horses. “I’d give anything to have hair as yellow as his.”
Serena frowned. “Your pa would skin you alive if he knew you were contemplating a ranger.”
“Yours, too. But they’re right. Rangers live too hard a life for us. Besides…” She clasped her hands behind the back of her green print dress and teetered on her heels.
“Besides what?” Serena asked, feeling a giggle rise in her throat.
“Aaron Kent’s been calling.”
Clasping her hand to her mouth, Serena tried to stifle her enthusiasm. “Since when? How long has this been going on?” Aaron Kent had been widowed about a year, and he had two small young’uns to raise.
“Three times now—and I’m not saying another word.”
Serena couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s serious face—the same round face as her pa’s, beautiful skin, and huge brown eyes. “Oh, you have never been able to keep secrets from me. And Aaron Kent is a good man, Moira, and easy to look at.”
Moira blushed from her neck to her eyes. “He wants to talk to Pa.”
The two girls hugged and, with no one in earshot, began to plan Moira’s wedding.
An hour later, Dugan and Chet settled on a price for a chestnut stallion to be picked up after the ranger’s next pay, and Serena rode her palomino home. Pa paid a fine price for the mare, and the horse acted frisky enough to please Serena.
She patted the mare on its neck. “Pa, I know I said this before, but I really appreciate this horse. I’ll take good care of her.”
His dark blue eyes peered into hers. “I know you will. That’s why she’s yours.”
Serena treasured the proud look in her pa’s eyes. As a little girl, she’d lived for his special look and smile meant only for her. Now, she wished Chet would show some kind of affection. Certainly, she wouldn’t have to save him from a wild boar again to get him to notice her.
Chet shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. James’s little girl had gotten under his skin. First she surprised him with her age, next she shot a charging boar between the eyes without a flinch, and now she handled Dugan’s newly broke mare like she’d been born in the saddle. Why hadn’t he noticed these things before? It rightly embarrassed him. He needed to have shown a little more foresight or at least paid more attention to the Talbot household.
A Texas Ranger prided himself in his good judgment and intelligence. Many times he’d heard a good ranger needed to ride like a Mexican, trail like an Indian, shoot like a Tennessean, and fight like a devil. Nothing was ever said about sense with a woman. Good thing only the Lord knew his thoughts.
Ever since he learned about Serena’s age, being around her made him feel rather peculiar, and today he found himself admiring her spunk. Of course, being the only child of James Talbot meant she knew how to handle herself like a man. He should have figured that out when he noticed she refused to use a sidesaddle. Scary thought when Chet had already angered her the night before.
He glanced her way, not really meaning to, and she smiled back at him. Her innocent look made his toes numb, and a chill raced up his spine. He’d never reacted like this to anything in his whole life…until now.
How many times had he thanked God for giving him a steady hand and a clear head? He prayed every time a bullet or arrow whizzed by without so much as piercing his clothes. Those qualities, vital to a ranger’s way of life, kept him alive and able to defend his beloved Republic. In addition, he owed his life here and in eternity to the Lord. Jesus rode with him everywhere he went, guiding and giving him courage to complete the task of defending the people of Texas.
Chet prayed and studied God’s Word every day of his life. He’d learned life didn’t always happen like he figured, but he couldn’t dwell on it. A man had to wait until the smoke cleared and see how God worked. He’d learned to expect the impossible and not flinch when trouble came knocking. But nothing had prepared him for these new findings about Miss Serena Talbot. The little lady kept amazing him everywhere he turned.
God must be chastising him for his prideful talk when he hurt Serena’s feelings. Well, he’d never do it again. This strange feeling unnerved him.
“Pa, where are you headed tomorrow?” Serena asked, breaking the silence.
“Rio Grande,” he said with no emotion creasing his rugged, lined face.
“How long are you going to be gone?” She knew Mexico and Texas were in heavy dispute over the border. The Republic claimed the Rio Grande, but Mexico insisted on the Nueces River.
“Couple of weeks, Little One. I plan to be back for your birthday.”
Serena sighed. “It’s not my birthday bothering me.”
“I know.” He sounded tired.
“I’m not complaining, Pa. I just love you.”
Chet felt as though he shouldn’t be hearing James and Serena’s conversation. Rather too personal for his liking.
“Oh, if God would only let peace come to Texas,” she said with a sigh. “Can you imagine Indians, Mexicans, and Texans all getting along like friendly neighbors? I mean, I know the Tonkawas, Choctaws, and Delaware sometimes scout for you.”
Her pa nodded with a grim smile. “We’ve had some real good Mexicans help us out, too.”
“But I’m dreaming and talking like a child. As long as men walk the face of the earth, there will be war,” she said. “And I do respect your commitment to Texas.”
Her pa cleared his throat. “It doesn’t matter who’s threatening the lives of folks, they have to be stopped. If the Rangers don’t step in, the innocent will die.”
“I understand, Pa, I really do.” Serena said nothing for a few minutes, then asked, “Do you believe we’ll one day be a state?”
Her pa shook his head. “Hard to say. A lot of folks would like to think so.”
“What would happen to the Rangers then?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Chet, you answer that one.”
Serena turned in the saddle, her deep blue eyes penetrating his soul—trusting and seeking an answer.
Suddenly, Chet couldn’t remember his own name.