“You’ll be a rich man with five hundred dollars in your pocket and I’m offering you a job. I’m in need of a smart man to be in charge of security. Nothing like this is ever going to happen again to my daughters. They said you risked your life to save them.”

“Your daughters can take care of themselves.”

“They will be able to do just that with your help, so what about taking the job?”

Trapper studied the man. “Did your daughters talk you into hiring me?”

“Of course not. No woman could ever run my life.” He smiled. “I did love my wives. All three of them. I acted like I wanted boys, but truth be told, I wouldn’t take ten sons for any one of the girls.”

Trapper kept grinning. “They put some pressure on you?”

“Of course. Anna tried reasoning with me. Catherine told me she wanted you for her foreman when she takes over running this place. But it was Sophia who settled the debate. She said she wouldn’t wear shoes ever, ever again if I didn’t try my best to keep her Tapper around. From what I see, she’s already halfway barefoot as it is.”

Trapper leaned closer. “I’ll make you a deal, Colonel. If Emery says yes to marrying me, I’ll take you up on the job.”

“Good. I’ll have the former foreman’s cabin cleaned out. It’s about the right size for newlyweds.”

“What’s happened to the outlaws I brought in?”

The colonel shrugged. “I had a man ride into Dallas to get a Texas Ranger. He’ll take them in as soon as their wounds heal, and I’ll send a dozen men to ride along to make sure they make it to a trial.”

“You mind if I’m one of the men going along?”

“It’ll be your first assignment.”

The colonel stood, happy with the deal, but Trapper feared the hardest part was yet to come. He had to ask the little widow to marry him first. Since she was already thinking she’d like to have kids with him, he thought he knew what the answer would be.

It was evening before he caught her alone in a big room the housekeeper called the great room. The fireplace was tall enough for a man to stand in, and tonight candles lined the windows. Garland climbed the staircase. The center table was covered with sweets for the neighbors and the employees and their families. It didn’t take long for Trapper to realize the ranch was a small town.

When Emery entered, dressed in a dark-green dress with white lace, she took his breath away. He took her hand and pulled her into the empty study.

“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her hand. “Almost as beautiful as you were that night in the rain.”

“Thank you.”