Jodi Thomas - Texas Rain

His sister said she'd be ready in an hour.

Mike finally gave her hand back and saluted. "I'll have two horses outside ready and waiting in one hour, Miss McMurray."

Sage suddenly looked shy, something Travis had never seen in his sister before. She took Duck's hand and turned toward home.

Travis stopped Mike from leaving with a stare. "Aren't you tired?"

"No," the young Ranger answered. "Not at all. Thanks for the breakfast."

"You're welcome and-"

Mike raised a hand. "I know. You'll kill me if I hurt her."

"You got that right," Travis answered, smiling for the first time since he'd suggested the idea of breakfast. "And I should also warn you that I've got two brothers who aren't as friendly as I am. After I kill you, they'll ride down from Whispering Mountain, dig you up, and kill you again."

Mike laughed. "Maybe I should think about going riding with girls who don't have any brothers."

"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Travis suggested.

Mike waved. "See you in an hour."

Travis walked in the opposite direction. When he turned the corner, Sage was waiting.

"Did you threaten him?" she asked as they walked.

"Yes." Travis saw no need to lie.

"Is he still coming to pick me up?"

"Yes."

"Good."

She didn't say another word. An hour later she kissed Travis on the cheek and wished him good luck with the questions he'd be answering in front of a panel of lawyers. "I'll be back in two hours and wait for you here. When you return, we can go pick up my new dress. I can hardly wait to see what Mike thinks of it."

"I don't know how long the questions will take."

"Not long, I hope."

Travis mumbled. "I'll be back as soon as I can." As he left with Duck, he noticed Mike riding up to the house. Somewhere he'd found a sidesaddle. Travis laughed. Sage had never ridden sidesaddle in her life. It would almost be worth being late for his testing to watch her face when she saw the saddle.

He walked across the street to the courthouse and slowly climbed to the second floor. A secretary told him that Judge Gates was finishing up with a case and would be with him as soon as possible. She pointed down the hallway. "You can wait down by the courtrooms, but make sure that boy doesn't make any noise."

He thanked her, then wondered why. If Duck would say something, Travis wouldn't care if he yelled it to the roof of this fine building.

As he walked down the hall, Travis figured it might be Dottie Davis's claim on the wine that held the judge up, but decided that would have been over at least an hour ago. To his surprise, Rainey was sitting on the bench outside the judge's chambers when he got there.

"Mind if I sit down?" Travis wasn't sure where he stood with Rainey. But then, why should today be any different than others? He never knew where he stood with her.

She looked up, but didn't smile. "No. I don't mind." She moved halfway down the bench, giving him more room than he and Duck would need.

The boy sat between them and to Travis's surprise patted her hand.

"Problem with the court, or just unhappy to see me?" Travis asked as he removed his and Duck's coats.

He dug in his pocket for the top string and two other balls of yarn Duck insisted on bringing along. One of the strings was caught on a half a cookie Duck must have crammed in his pocket along with a leaf he'd picked up somewhere along the way. "I swear," Travis mumbled as he tried to straighten the mess out. "I need a pack mule to take the kid anywhere."

Rainey smiled as she watched but made no effort to help.

Travis unloaded his other pocket on the bench next to Duck. "He collects everything. Not just food and string, but leaves and nails. I gave him one of the boxes Sage brought home to keep all he collects. He sleeps next to it like he's guarding his treasures every night."

Rainey laughed. "I know how he feels. When you don't have anything, one box seems like a lot. And, in answer to your question, my problem is with the court, not you. The judge is talking to Dottie now. It seems the partner may have a right to the wine. If so, we may be charged. He asked me to wait out here."

"If I get a license to practice, you may be my first client." Travis frowned. He wanted to see her again, but not as a criminal he defended.

"I thought you were being tested to be a lawyer this morning," Rainey said. "I may be running out of time. I may be sentenced and in jail before you finish the testing."

He shrugged. "Maybe. There's been a delay."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. No one passing would ever guess that they had shared several passionate kisses the night before. In truth they looked like two strangers waiting.

Finally Rainey broke the silence. "Good luck with the panel."

"Thanks," he answered. "Would you mind if I talked to you about something?"

She looked like she might bolt.

"I could use some advice. It's about my sister," he quickly added.

Rainey met his eyes for the first time. "All right. If you think I can help."

While Duck played with his string, Travis explained everything that had happened that morning at the bakery. Rainey relaxed at his side, asking questions, offering comments. By the time he'd finished his account, she was laughing at his threats.

"She's just eighteen," Travis ended. "I don't think she knows what she's doing."

"I'm twenty-three," Rainey said. "And I'm not sure I know what I'm doing most of the time."

Travis almost forgot about his sister's problem. Rainey had just told him something personal about herself.

"What do you think I should do?" he asked.

She smiled. "I think you should back away. Trust her."

He didn't like her advice, but he didn't argue. "Thanks," he said.

"You're welcome," she answered. "You love your little sister very much."

"True. When she was a kid it was like she had three fathers. It's hard now thinking of her grown. You have any siblings?"

He waited, expecting her to change the subject, or lie, but she said simply, "No."

The chamber door opened and Dottie Davis hurried out. There was no more time to talk. Travis heard the judge promise he'd solve their problems with the partner.

The judge's secretary hurried down the hall and told Travis he could go into the courtroom. She took the time to frown at Duck, men hurried back to her desk.

He leaned close to Rainey for a moment and whispered, "I need to see you tonight."

She met his gaze. Though her head shook slightly, he didn't miss a sparkle of passion in her eyes.

Travis stood. When he collected their coats, he lightly brushed Rainey's arm as if the need to touch her just once was too strong to resist.

Her lips made a circle and he groaned under his breath. The thought crossed his mind that if she didn't plan to see him tonight, she might as well kill him now.

The doors to the courtroom opened and lawyers were already lining up behind a table to question him. He glanced back and saw Rainey start down the steps. She looked over her shoulder and whispered, "Good luck."

Travis turned and headed in, feeling less prepared than if he'd been an unarmed man in a Shootout. But this is what he'd told everyone he came to Austin to do, and now all he had to do was see it through.

By the time the introductions were over and the questions began, Duck had crawled up on top of Travis's coat and was sound asleep in the pew behind Travis.

Two hours later when Duck awoke, the lawyers were still asking questions.

Rainey walked home with Dottie. The widow talked all the way about how the judge promised to do his best to help her, but her dead husband's partner seemed to have the advantage. No matter how you looked at it, wine was considered liquor, and he did own the half that was a saloon.

"What did he do with the other half after your husband died?"

Dottie frowned. "It's sitting empty. I've tried to sell it, but nobody wants half a place. Jeffrey, my husband's partner, doesn't make it any too easy, either. The few people who have looked at it didn't like the idea of sharing the building with him after they met him. He's meaner than a snake."

They hurried up the steps of the Askew House. Dottie held the door against the wind. "I may have to move over there and live. The judge said if Jeffrey presses charges, and he will if I know him, I'll have to hire a lawyer."

Rainey hung her old navy cape on one of the hooks by the front door wondering where she'd find the money for her lawyer if it came down to a trial. If she didn't have one, she'd probably go to jail. Maybe she should ask Pearl and Owen if she could work one more day. The extra pies would sell and she could sock back the money just in case. But she felt she was already intruding on their privacy enough by working three days.

The widow turned from putting up her coat. "It's lunchtime. I've got tea and biscuits in my room."

Rainey smiled. "Texas biscuits or English biscuits."

Dottie winked. "English of course."

One of the sisters stepped from the drawing room and frowned at them. When Rainey looked puzzled, the sister smiled. "I'm sorry. I'm glad to see you two in from this bitter cold, but we are expecting a young lady for her final fitting this morning, and it doesn't look like she's going to show up."

"Sage McMurray?" Rainey asked.

Grace nodded.

"I saw her brother at the courthouse. It appeared he had urgent business, and if so, she may have to wait until he can escort her." Rainey didn't want to tell the spinster that the girl stood her up to go riding with a handsome young man. They'd never understand.