Twice a Texas Bride by Linda Broday

Callie’s hand.
    Staring into the dog’s expressive brown eyes, Callie stroked behind the ears and crooned. “You’re such a loving girl, aren’t you? We’ll get you cleaned up and brushed, just wait and see. Rand, she’s so sweet.”
    â€œThat she is,” Rand agreed. “Broke my heart when I saw the whimpering, bloody mess shivering by the barn door.”
    â€œHow old do you think she is?”
    â€œDoubt if she’s more than a year.”
    â€œWhat’s her name?”
    â€œShe hasn’t told me that yet. She’s pretty shy. But she did say that she likes it here.”
    â€œHa, ha. You’re a funny man.”
    Rand squatted down beside Callie, resting on the back of his heels. “Thought I’d let Toby do the naming honors.”
    Only a whisper of distance separated them. With Rand so close, she could smell the fresh air that lingered on him, the faint fragrance of coffee and…shaving soap? She hadn’t expected that, and it caught her by surprise. A quick glance from beneath her lashes revealed that he’d indeed shaved. This was the first time she’d gotten an unobstructed view of his firm, square jaw.
    The solid warmth of Rand’s shoulder brushed hers, and a heated flush climbed to Callie’s face. His very kissable lips were much too close.
    Getting to her feet before she succumbed to temptation, she glanced around the kitchen. He’d already brought in wood, a low fire burned in the stove, the coffee was made, and a half-full cup sat on the table where she’d seen him sitting.
    In the next room she noticed a fire in the fireplace and the pile of neatly folded blankets.
    â€œYou haven’t been to bed, have you?”
    Sighing, Rand got slowly to his feet and retrieved his coffee cup, taking a swallow. “Had too much thinking to do. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me roaming around all night.”
    Anger at Rand’s mother rose. What she’d done, whether she meant to or not, had come near to destroying her son. What was she like? Callie couldn’t help but wonder.
    â€œYou didn’t have to do my chores.” She yanked a skillet off the shelf beside the stove. “Some hired help I am.”
    â€œIt wasn’t any trouble. I was already up.” He refilled his cup and set the empty pot to the side. “Besides,” he said, grinning, “I left the cooking for you. Wouldn’t even dare make a mess of that.”
    â€œGood. Now sit down and stay out of my way.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Still grinning, Rand dropped back into his place at the table. Ruffling the dog’s ears, he said, “You hear that, hound? We’ve just been given a boot to our backsides.”
    Grabbing the empty coffeepot, Callie filled it with water and put more on to boil just as Toby wandered into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.
    The boy noticed the new resident right away. His eyes widened. “A dog! Oh boy! Can we keep him?”
    â€œHer,” Callie and Rand said at the same time.
    â€œI want you to think of a good name for her,” Rand said. “Something real good. Not like Yellow Dog or Outlaw or Bullet.”
    Toby squinched up his eyes and glanced around the kitchen, thinking hard. “Biscuit!”
    The dog gave a sharp bark and ran up to the youngster.
    â€œWell, I think she knows her name.” Rand grinned. “Couldn’t have thought of a better one myself.”
    Callie’s heart filled with love as she watched Toby. He’d needed something to get his mind off his rotten outlaw father. A son needed a father, but not one like Nate. No kid deserved a parent like that.
    It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps Rand’s mother had left him because she thought herself wrong to raise him. But surely she hadn’t been as unworthy as Nate. No one was.
    Nate Fleming had robbed every train, bank, packhorse, and stagecoach he came across, killing