Free The Texan's Reward by Jodi Thomas Page B

a case of mistaken identity like the last time I was shot. Maybe something
    about me reminds people of a target.”

    “Know anyone else in a wheelchair who lives out by the tracks?” He smiled, looking almost as if he believed she
    might say yes. “Our visitor was firing at you, no one else. Promise me you’ll keep this gun close. Odds are it
    won’t stop anyone, but at least it will sound an alarm.”

    “I’l do that,” she answered as she slipped the pistol into the drawer in the table beside her. She’d handled
    weapons several times over her life and never thought much about it. But since the accident, they’d made her a
    little nervous. She knew it wasn’t the gun that had hurt her, but the man behind it, yet somehow she related the
    pain to the weapon.

    Jacob twisted and sat on the floor beside her knees. His long legs stretched toward the fireplace, his shoulder
    touched her leg. His nearness and the comfortable silence between them slowed her pounding heart. She
    brushed her fingers over his sun-lightened hair, wishing she could find the right words to thank him.

    The fire popped, and she could hear Gypsy talking in the kitchen, but for just a moment the world stil ed as she
    moved her hand through his hair. Something passed between them, a feeling, a bond. Neither had the words to
    say, but they both needed to know the other was near.

    The sheriff walked through the front door without knocking. Jacob stood and stared down at her, his face
    unreadable as his big hand plowed through the strands of hair she’d just straightened. Then, almost by accident,
    she saw something in his eyes. A longing she’d never seen. A need.

    “What’s going on here!” Parker yelled to no one in particular as he neared. “Marla interrupted my breakfast to
    tell me someone’s shooting at you. Who in the hell would want to do that?”

    Jacob gave the sheriff his full attention. “Let me know, and I’ll make sure they reach hell by nightfall.” He was
    back in ful control, two hundred pounds of Texas lawman.

    Parker walked around Jacob like he was no more than a noisy tree and went straight to Nell.

    Jacob moved to close the door the sheriff left open, but before he could reach the knob, Rand Harrison darted
    through.

    “You’re here early,” Jacob grumbled. “I thought accountants had banker’s hours for starting work.”

    Harrison didn’t look frightened by the ranger’s frown. “I heard about the shooting. I’m here to help. Is anyone
    hurt?”

    “No, no one is hurt, and yes, you can help,” Jacob answered. “Can you use a gun?”

    Rand nodded. “If I have to. I’m not fond of them.”

    Jacob glanced at Nel . “There seems to be an epidemic of that around here. I don’t care if you like them or not.
    Would you use one if need be?”

    “I would.” Harrison stood at attention.

    “Good, I’d like you to stay here until I get back. I’m going to track the rider. It’l be ful daylight by the time I get my horse saddled.”

    “Wait.” Parker leaned and poked his finger through the bullet hole in the wicker of Nell’s chair. “I’ve got a few
    questions.”

    Jacob looked bothered, but he gave the sheriff his due. This was his territory. He had a right to take charge.

    “Did you see the shooter?”

    “Yes, but it was dark.” Jacob knew what the old lawman wanted, so he might as well give it to him as fast as
    possible. “He sat tal in the saddle. Thin. A big hat, shoved back on what could have been black or brown hair. It
    was too dark to make out his face. He fired one shot with a rifle. A man who can aim at that speed is trained.”

    “Or lucky,” the sheriff mumbled. “We got a few cowhands in town who are out of work and needing money
    something terrible, but I don’t think they’d fire at a woman. Maybe he could have been trained, but why’d he be
    here?”

    “I’m guessing he was on a mission, because he didn’t ever look my direction until I fired on him. Then