She swallowed, hard, and moved back a step, flushing because she knew he’d take it the wrong way that she’d retreated. She couldn’t help it. She was afraid of men because of what Morris had done to her. It wasn’t rational, and she knew Banks would never hurt her. It was instinctive. She ground her teeth together and looked tormented.

He frowned. He was remembering the overbearing man who’d shot himself in the foot trying to grope her. She had her arms wrapped around her chest and she looked as if she was being tortured to death. He also recalled what Brenda had told him, what her pastor had said to her at church.

“It’s a lot of responsibility that you have here,” he said after a minute, keeping his voice low.

She nodded. She drew in a long breath. At least he hadn’t blown up, when she backed away. “I love my brother.”

“I love my sister. She’s ten years younger than me. I was responsible for her after our mother died. I know what it’s like.”

It was a moment of shared experience. But he didn’t know about Morris. She didn’t want him to know, ever. She worked for a Texas Ranger and her brother was a convicted felon. How would that look? Worse, she hadn’t mentioned it when she applied for the cold case clerk position. She could lose her job. It would be a disaster. She’d lose Tad. She’d mentioned that to Cal, who’d said it wouldn’t matter. But she wasn’t sure about that. She didn’t trust men anymore. Well, except for Cal.

Tad came running back, with a book in his hand. “I almost never found it! This is my book about Texas Rangers!”

Colter took it from him and looked at it, smiling. It was a basic book about the Rangers and what they did; a free one.

“Sis took me to the Texas Ranger Museum one Saturday,” he said. “We got a bus there and back. It was awesome, especially those pictures of the old days!”

Colter chuckled. “I know what you mean,” he said, handing back the book. “Those old-timers were tough.” He smiled. “The modern ones are, too,” he added. “We have to be.”

“I’ll study real hard,” Tad said, serious now. “If I get good grades and stay out of fights, maybe I can be a Ranger, too, someday.”

Colter frowned. “Fights?”

The boy grimaced. “Well, not so much anymore. Cal said I had to learn to...” He glanced at his sister, who was glaring at him. He shrugged. “I don’t get into fights now,” he added, and smiled.

“Good man,” Colter said. “Violence is rarely the answer to any problem.”

He wondered why they both looked so grim. He glanced at his big watch. “I’ve got to get going,” he said. “I’m working a robbery.”