Texas Lonestar (Texas Heroes Book 4) by Sable Hunter, Texas Heroes

didn’t say much. Each time he met her eyes, she looked hastily away. He began to wonder if she was regretting the invitation.
    “Are we going to mass tomorrow, Lenny? My Sunday School class is supposed to sing a song in big church.” Sally piped up with an expectant happy look on her little face.
    Lennon blinked. “I didn’t even realize what day it was. Yes, of course we’ll go.” She turned to Dallas. “This was Saturday. You were probably supposed to have the whole day off.”
    He shook his head. “While I’m on a case, I just do what needs to be done.”
    “When do you think we should check the cameras?” she asked, remembering how it felt to be in his arms–if only for a brief wonderful moment.
    “Let’s give it a couple of days,” he told her.
    “You can watch a basketball game with me tomorrow.” George offered. “If you don’t have anything better to do.”
    “Actually, I have a tea party. Remember?” Dallas watched Sally’s face light up.
    “Yes!” She pumped her tiny fist in the air. “Lenny, we have to make cookies!”
    “You could still watch the game,” George grumbled good-naturedly.
    “Yes, I can.” Dallas found himself looking forward to both things.
    Lennon wished she had something to offer him in way of entertainment. Try as she might, she couldn’t think of a thing she possessed that could possibly tempt him. Suddenly she just needed to walk. “While you all finish up; I think I’ll go feed the chickens this left over cornbread. I want to check on Bonita, she hasn’t been laying lately.”
    Knowing everything that had been going on, Dallas wasn’t keen on her going out at night alone. “I’ll walk with you.” He rose, wiping his hands with a napkin.
    “Are you sure? You don’t have to,” she assured him.
    “I’m sure. I’ve never fed chickens. This will be an experience.” He took the pan of scraps from her hands. “Lead the way.”
    Lennon felt herself tremble. “Okay. We’ll gather eggs while we’re out there. I didn’t have time to check this morning.”
    “I don’t know how you keep up with it all.” He was telling the truth. “You amaze me. You do the work of three people.”
    As they stepped into the night, Lennon felt as if she were glowing enough to light their path. “This is my world, it’s all I know.”
    “I know, but some folks never do anything in their life but take from others. All you do is give.”
    “That’s not true. George and Sally give me a reason to get up in the morning, that’s no small thing.” They walked companionably side by side. When they reached the pen, Lennon could see the chickens were all on their roosts. “We’ll leave this here. They’ll find it in the morning.”
    “Did we eat a former member of this little assembly tonight?”
    Lennon paused, trying to understand. “Oh, no!” She realized he was referring to the chicken which had gone into the dumplings. “I never eat anyone I know. I buy my meat at the grocery store. Do you find that hypocritical?”
    “No. I think it’s sweet.” Heck, he thought she was sweet.
    She eased the coop door open and stepped inside. The moon was bright enough they could see fairly well. “Let me check for eggs.” Walking back to the nest, she began gathering eggs. On some, she had to run her hand underneath the chicken to find them. “Oh, no!” she gasped.
    “What?” Dallas was immediately concerned. “Did you find a chicken snake?” He’d heard of that happening.
    “No! It’s Bonita.” She knelt down by the lifeless bird. “She was old. Poor Banty.” Dallas found Lennon speaking to a small rooster like he was a person. “I’m so sorry. You two were together a long time.”
    “Let me help.” He carefully left the coop and walked to the barn where he remembered seeing some burlap bags. Returning with one, he lifted the dead chicken from the ground. The little rooster walked around, making low chirping noises. He looked lost. “Poor fellow. Were they a