Jodi Thomas - Texas Rain

He moved around the house to the alley. There he saw the last bit of proof. A third-story window overlooking the alley lined on the opposite side by saloons.

He'd found his fairy woman.

By six that evening he was back at the Askew House. He thought of waiting for Rainey on the porch, but that might draw too much attention. The landlord seemed a nosy old woman, and he didn't want to do anything to cause suspicion. With his luck his little thieving fairy was doing something illegal, and the last thing she needed was people watching her too closely.

So he waited at the end of the street, where he had a clear view from two directions. His plan was that if he saw her coming, he'd fall into step with her. Maybe, if she grew frightened, he'd hold her arm until he had time to calm her. For if she ran he'd have no hope of catching her.

Like she'd told him, what she did best was run.

Travis moved to the corner where he could lean against the building and take some of the weight off his leg. He watched the sun set below a half-finished building that he'd been told would be a church. It was getting late and he guessed his fairy had missed her supper. Maybe he'd offer to take her to one of the cafes to eat. He'd like having time to look at her, talk to her. Then he'd walk her home and explain to Mrs. Vivian why she was out late. Surely Rainey would be in no trouble if she were with him.

Once they became friends, Travis decided it would be fun to continue to write her. He came to Austin enough so that they could see each other from time to time. He'd keep up with what she was doing and make sure she was staying out of trouble. She might not be the kind of woman who would ever invite him to her room, but he planned to make her heart race a few times as they strolled in the shadows.

Travis grinned. It wasn't as if he'd have to steal a kiss; she'd already given him a few without him even asking. He'd never taken much time to notice how it worked between men and women other than barmaids, but there must be something between buying a woman by the hour and marriage. Whatever it was, he planned to discover it with Rainey.

The evening turned dark with streetlights not close enough together to offer good light. Travis's eyes adjusted to the night. He missed little as he watched from the corner of the alley.

People moved faster now. There was no need to stroll. He noticed mostly men walking, a few delivery men running the last of their rounds, a few women of the evening talking loudly as they crossed from one end of town to the other.

If his sight hadn't been perfected by years of scouting, he might have missed the little woman in navy blue moving in the shadows. The hood of her cape was up, but a curl at her forehead caught the glint of the streetlight for a moment before she hurried farther into the shadows.

Travis didn't move. She was headed right toward him. For her to remain unseen, she'd have to pass within a few feet of him. He sensed she was frightened, for she was almost running.

Once he introduced himself, he'd scold her for being out so late. Didn't she know how dangerous the streets could be? This one looked calm enough with mostly shops and offices, but one street over the town turned ugly.

She moved closer, keeping out of the light. Her cape appeared old and not heavy enough for the evening air. She had her arms crossed over her with her hands tucked away. He knew without seeing that she wasn't wearing gloves.

There was no time to address her. She'd jump and scatter like a rabbit the moment she knew a man was near.

Without thought, Travis waited a heartbeat longer, then as she passed, swung out one powerful arm. He swept her off her feet and into the blackness of the alley before she had time to scream.

Rainey ran as fast as her skirts and long cape would allow. She crossed to the last block before the Askew House. Thirty more feet and she'd be safe. She'd stayed too late again at Pearl and Owen's place, but the orders for pies were increasing every day. She'd burned her fingers several times trying to hurry, and now the cold made them ache.

She focused on the dim lantern that marked the boarding-house's front porch. With luck, she'd make it in before Mrs. Vivian locked the door; if not, she'd have to use the laundry window. The landlord truly didn't care if everyone was safely inside. She never bothered to check on anyone, either. Rainey could climb in the window, sneak up the back stairs, and claim she retired early. Mrs. Vivian would never know the difference.

But if she had to use the laundry room window, she'd have to walk alone down the alley after dark. It had been frightening enough when Dottie was with her. Rainey didn't know if her heart could take it if she had to walk into the alley alone.

"I'll make it before she locks the door. I have to," she almost said aloud as she forced herself to move faster.

Suddenly, from nowhere, something slammed into her just below the chest and swung her off her feet. For a moment she thought it was a tree branch, then she felt it curl around her, holding her in a solid vise.

She opened her mouth to scream. A gloved hand slapped across her face with efficient force to halt any sound. A second later her back hit the wall of a building so hard she thought she heard her teeth rattle.

Panicked, Rainey flew into action, fighting and kicking for her life. A man's body leaned into her, smothering her completely and making her efforts wasted. He was much taller than she, and solid. The smell of him seemed oddly familiar… a memory she couldn't get thought around as she fought for freedom. The only thing she owned worth stealing was in the tiny pouch around her neck, and she'd die before she gave her grandmother's ring up to a thief.

He leaned closer, pressing her against the building.

She froze, waiting for her chance to run or scream. One chance was all she needed, and she'd make him pay for the attack.

"Rainey," the man said, out of breath. "Rainey. It's me."

She knew no one in Austin who knew her name… no man called her Rainey except Owen, and he'd make little more than half the giant trapping her.

She clawed into her pocket looking for the knife Owen had insisted she carry when she walked alone. He'd told her twice to keep it in hand while she hurried home. "It will do you no good," he'd said, "if you can't get to it when needed. A murderer isn't going to stand around while you look for it."

The body eased off her just enough to let her breathe. "I didn't mean to frighten you, but you were moving so fast."

Her hand closed around the knife.

He freed her and stepped back.

Rainey saw her chance. She pulled the knife and raised it to his chest. If she were to die in this alley, it would not be without a fight. She thrust the blade forward with all her strength aiming for her attacker's heart.

He moved with an easy swiftness of one never off guard.

He grabbed her wrist an inch before the knife would have cut him. "Rainey…" He sounded less sure. "Is it you?" He released her hand. "Don't tell me I caught the wrong woman. There couldn't be two fairies your size roaming this part of Texas."

She looked up at the shadow before her. Big, frightening. Tall and strong as an oak. "Travis?" she whispered.

The shadow's head jerked up. "Thank God. I thought I'd just attacked the wrong woman."

Rainey moved toward the light. "You meant to attack me?"

He followed. "No. I only meant to stop you. The attack part sort of happened. Thank goodness it was you or I'd be explaining myself to the sheriff."

She heard his cane tap against the walk as they moved into the light of the street. There was no doubt Travis McMurray stood before her, all six feet four, two hundred pounds of him. He might be a little thinner than she remembered him, but no less powerful.

"You frightened a year off my life," she scolded. "I should turn you in myself. I don't believe I know you well enough, Mr. McMurray, to be attacked without complaint. My heart stopped in fear."

"Well, you almost stopped mine as well with that blade." He didn't sound like he believed his own defense.

As panic melted into anger, Rainey walked toward home. "What are you here for? To arrest me? Or did you plan to just scare me to death to save the cost of a noose?"

He tried to keep up with her. "No. I came to help you."

She stopped so suddenly, he almost tumbled over her.

"I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help. No matter what you or my father thinks I can make it on my own." Waving her hands as she left him, she added, "Why is it men think a woman can't make it alone?"

He couldn't hide his smile. She looked like a toy someone had wound up too tightly.

Grabbing her hand, he whirled her around and placed her fingers on his arm. "Slow down, Rainey. Walk with me."

She tried to pull away, but he locked her hand between his arm and his chest.

"Walk with me," he insisted.

She had no choice unless she planned to be arrested for brawling with a Texas Ranger on the streets of Austin. "It's not safe out after dark," she said as her steps matched his. "No one should be alone, so I'll keep you company if you are walking my way."

"I'm not worried," Travis answered. "After all, I'm traveling with someone who's armed with a butter knife."

"Paring knife," she corrected. "The blade is plenty long enough to reach your heart if you ever try attacking me again."

"I promise I'll do my best to remember that."

"You do that, Mr. McMurray."

"Have you had supper?" He asked in a voice that sounded more like he was interrogating her then asking her out.