Texas Rain

Dillon paced as he talked. 'I sent a man over to the three dressmakers' apartment. They'll be sleeping below in the shop tonight to make sure no one gets to them. Dottie says she has a safe place. Other than them'-he looked at Rainey and Sage-'you are the only two alive who saw the kidnapping. We need to get you somewhere safe fast. Somewhere no one will think to look for you.'

Sage met her brother's glance. 'I'm going home,' she said simply.

'But…' Mike started to argue.

Travis understood. For a McMurray there was no safe haven but Whispering Mountain. 'Let her go,' he said, knowing that whoever was killing the witnesses would be after Rainey next, not the old maids or Sage. 'Mike, get her the best horse you can and ride with her. Even if you two are followed, there's not an outlaw in Texas who can keep up.'

Mike smiled. 'I'm not sure I can even keep up with her. Once she switched saddles the other day, I saw what riding-like-the-wind truly looks like.'

Dillon stopped pacing. 'I can send guards out with them the first day.'

Travis shook his head. 'They'd be safer leaving town unnoticed'-he looked back at his sister-'and well armed.'

Sage nodded slightly. 'I'll be ready to leave in an hour. We'll be well away from Austin before dawn. The roads are good for miles. We'll make good time.'

Travis looked at Sage. 'You'll be home in less than half the time it took to get to Austin. I'll hire someone to follow in a few days with the wagon.'

'What about Duck? He won't go with me without you along. I left him with Dottie, but he won't stay for long. She said if you can get Rainey to her, she'll take her into hiding.'

'I'll take care of Duck and Rainey,' Travis said. 'You worry about getting home safely.' He wished he could send Rainey and Duck to Whispering Mountain, too, but Rainey couldn't ride well enough to keep up, and if they slowed they'd be sitting ducks on the road.

Sage hugged her brother.

'I wish I could ride with you,' he whispered, hating that he wasn't the one taking her to safety, but his leg, even now that it felt like it was healing, would only slow Sage and Mike down.

'I know,' she answered. 'But you're needed here.'

Dillon interrupted. 'Right, McMurray. And the first thing we have to do is get Rainey out of here without anyone seeing her. I'd bet a month's pay that someone is watching the house right now just waiting to see where she goes.'

Sage hugged Rainey and left the room, but Travis stopped Mike Saddler before the young Ranger could follow.

'I'll get her home safely,' Mike promised.

Travis didn't let go of his arm.

Mike smiled. 'And you don't have to say it. I know, you'll kill me if I touch her.'

Travis smiled. 'She's not the kid I thought she was. She'll kill you if you touch her. I'm just telling you to take care of her.'

'I will.'

He disappeared and Travis turned back to Dillon to plan how they would get Rainey out of the house safely.

A tap on the dining room door disturbed them a few minutes later. 'Sorry to bother you,' Roy said. 'Your sister left here riding lightning fast. Anyone following her would have to have wings.'

'Good.' Travis smiled. He knew Mike would circle until he knew no one followed before he took her back to the Baileys' place so she could change.

Roy handed over a coat lined in fur. 'Only problem is she picked up the wrong coat. I could have sworn she wore this in.' He turned to Rainey. 'I think she must have taken yours.'

CHAPTER 32

Rainey slipped from the laundry room window into Travis's arms. She felt numb with worry and fear. She'd let Dillon and Travis discuss protecting her as if she were not responsible for herself, but deep down she knew that the longer she stayed around Travis, the more danger she put him in. When she got the chance, she needed to disappear.

But tonight didn't seem the time. A fog had settled over the town earlier, and now a slow rain hung in the air. The weather would make her escape easier, but it left a feeling that the whole world was crying.

Travis held her hand as they moved in the darkness down the alley to where Roy had the wagon waiting. When he reached the wagon, he turned and lifted her into the back between boxes and bundles of what looked like supplies, then swung in beside her. In an instant they vanished beneath blankets.

Travis opened his arm and pulled her against him as Roy set the horses into motion. He moved slowly, as if he were in no hurry. To all that might glance in their direction, Roy looked much like Owen did when he made deliveries.

'You all right?' Travis whispered. They were so close she felt his breath on her cheek.

'Yes.'

They remained silent for a few minutes, and then he whispered close to her ear. 'I wish we were back in your room on the third floor.'

'Me, too,' she answered, remembering how she'd lain beside him without her clothes and without embarrassment.

'Rainey?' he mumbled.

'Yes.'

'I love touching you.'

She stilled. It was the first time she'd heard him use the word love. He hadn't said he loved her, just touching her. The wagon rattled along. Rainey closed her eyes and remembered how it had been for a few short hours. No one would ever guess that the hard man beside her could be so tender. He'd made her feel beautiful, if only for a few hours. The memory of the way he'd kissed her warmed her still.

After a while the wagon came to a stop and Travis slipped from beside her. 'I'll be back in a minute. Don't move.'

Rainey poked her head out enough to see the outline of the judge holding Duck at the back door. The boy began to fight and kick the moment he recognized Travis coming toward them. The judge let him go. Duck flew down the path to Travis.

As always, Travis engulfed the boy in his hug. Watching, Rainey saw how much the child meant to him.

'Thanks,' she heard Travis say as he moved closer to the judge. She couldn't hear more. Roy climbed from the wagon and loaded more supplies.

Travis finally stepped away from the judge and said, 'We'll be in touch.'

When he put Duck in the wagon, Travis told him to lie down in a voice Rainey thought sounded harsh. Duck didn't seem to mind. He smiled back at Travis and cuddled down next to Rainey. Travis lay on the other side of the boy and covered them all with a buffalo hide as Roy started moving again.

Rainey reached her hand above the boy and touched Travis's shoulder. 'Where are we going?'

'You know that cellar where Dottie collected the wine you stole?' Travis whispered.

'No,' she said. 'I'm not going there.' She couldn't bring herself to even think of climbing back in that cellar. She'd face the kidnappers again before she'd hide in the darkness of that place.

His hand gently brushed her cheek. 'Dome's waiting there with a lantern. The saloon is long closed. We'll only have to pass through to her part where her husband's restaurant used to be. It was the only place we could come up with where no one would look and you both would still be close.'

Rainey tried to slow her breathing as the wagon rattled. The boarded-up restaurant would be the perfect place to hide. It was right in the middle of town so the Rangers would have no trouble watching over them, and no one probably even remembered Dome's husband once ran the place.