Free Her Texas Ranger Hero by Rebecca Winters Page A

end table, she followed Jeremy through the house to the back door. They hurried outside to the corral. On the way, Jeremy told her all about his favorite action heroes. Living in China, she’d missed out on a lot of information important to an eight-year-old boy.
    â€œOh!” she cried when she saw the little brown-and-white horse playing in the grass next to the pony.
    â€œGo sit down by him and he’ll come to you.”
    Ally sank onto the grass and opened up the little packet of treats. Daken heard the rustle and came right over to her. She held one of the treats out on her palm and he sniffed it. Within seconds he’d gobbled it down and was stepping on her to get more. Laughter poured out of her. She lay on her side and petted him while Jeremy hunkered next to them.
    â€œI think I have to get me a little horse, too, Jeremy.” Her gaze flicked to the pony. “Uh-oh. I think Comet is jealous. I have one more treat left.” She got up and walked over to the animal. “Here you go.”
    By now Luckey had joined them. “It appears you have everyone eating out of your hand,” he told her. “How about going for a ride with me?”
    A rush of warmth filled her body when she met his glance.
    â€œCan I come?” Jeremy asked.
    Luckey grinned at him. “It’s your birthday, pardner.”
    â€œDaken will follow us.”
    Ally loved it. “That I’ve got to see.”
    Five minutes later Vic had saddled Jeremy’s pony. The other two Rangers joined them and they all went for a ride, with Daken trailing. While they rode, Jeremy related to Ally his harrowing experience of being kidnapped from school. The story tugged on her emotions. Jeremy had no idea she’d met Luckey because he was trying to solve a horrendous kidnapping case that had ended in murder.
    â€œThank goodness you were found in time,” she said.
    â€œDad charged into the room where I was tied up and took me home with him.”
    Ally’s eyes smarted. “Aren’t dads the greatest?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAlly’s dad is famous, Jeremy,” Luckey said.
    The boy looked up at him. “He is?”
    â€œThat’s right. Years ago the president of the United States chose him to be our country’s ambassador to China. Ally lived there with her family for fifteen years.”
    His eyes lit up. “Did you see panda bears?”
    â€œAbsolutely. My family used to go to Chengdu every fall with my friend’s family. They have a panda breeding and research center there where you can see newborn panda cubs. They’re so cute, just like your Daken.”
    â€œDid you have one for a pet?”
    â€œNo. I begged my father for one, but pandas are wild and owned by the People’s Republic of China. It’s against the law to keep one. Even if you could, you’d need to own a bamboo forest, because that’s what they eat all the time.”
    â€œDaken loves grass.”
    â€œHe makes a great lawnmower,” Vic piped up. Everyone chuckled before he said, “I think we’d better get back, son. It’s growing darker and your mom has a fun game set up for all of us out in back before we eat.”
    â€œWhat kind of game?”
    â€œIt’s a surprise.”
    â€œOkay, let’s go!”
    Ally smiled at Luckey before the six of them headed back toward the ranch house. In her wildest dreams as a child, she’d never imagined riding horses with four handsome Texas Rangers.
    To her delight she saw that three plastic barrels in red, white and blue had been set up in a triangle like a barrel racing event, with chairs placed around for an audience. Behind the chairs was the fire pit.
    â€œKellie lent Claire her practice barrels,” Luckey explained.
    â€œWhat a fun idea. I’d love to see her perform again.”
    â€œOne day maybe.”
    â€œIt’s about time!” Claire called out with a smile. “We’re