The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes) by Rebecca Winters Page B

here. In
the l800s, pack trains of Mexicans were seen heading out of the Uintas laden
with gold.
    “Grandpa said all kinds of Spanish cannons and swords were
found in our ‘killer mountains,’ as they called them. One cannon was found in
Kamas. They had gold mines that few of the later European arrivals knew about.
The ruins of rock homes, forts, tree carvings and various artifacts were clues
that pointed the way to the gold ore. Silver, too.
    “The Indians knew where the mines were because they’d been
forced to work in them by the Spanish. After years of oppression they revolted,
killing most of their captors, and returned the gold to the earth, leaving it in
the mines. Grandpa told me that from time to time, men have come to Kamas in
search of gold, and have checked out that mine right behind our cabin. I know
it’s a stretch, but since this has been going on most of the summer, it has
caused me to wonder.”
    It was a stretch, but he wouldn’t
dismiss it out of hand. “Thanks for the Utah history lesson, Melissa. Anything’s
possible. I’ll keep it in mind while I look around.”
    “Uh-oh. I’ve got another call coming in, and better hang up.
Good night, Travis.”
    There was a click. He’d wanted to keep on talking. Since that
wasn’t possible, he turned off his cell phone and returned to the living room.
The guys eyed him speculatively, but it was Chaz who asked, “Talking to your
latest client?” His friend knew about Melissa’s resemblance to Valerie and the
shock Travis had received because of it.
    Travis nodded. And shouldn’t have been surprised when Casey
picked up on it immediately. Running over to him, he blurted, “Was it Melissa?”
With that question, the guys’ wives were looking at him, too.
    “As a matter of fact, it was,” he admitted.
    “I love her! Didn’t she want to talk to me?”
    Out of the mouths of babes, honest and unabridged. “She had
only a minute to answer a question for me,” Travis replied.
    “Oh.”
    He didn’t know how much of Casey’s exclamation had to do with
his memory of Valerie, but one thing was certain. His son was hooked on Melissa,
and everyone in the room knew it.
    “It’s time to get you home, bud. Tell Lacey and Chaz thank-you,
and thank Heidi and Mitch for the doughnuts.”
    Casey did so, adding, “It was really yummy. Bye, Zack. Bye,
Abby.”
    Mitch walked over to Travis with a gleam in his eye. “I’ve yet
to hear about all this. Expect a call from me if we don’t see each other in the
office tomorrow morning.”
    Travis’s friend would be relentless in wanting to find out the
details.
    Once they arrived home, Casey played with Dexter for a few
minutes and took him for a walk on his leash. Finally, it was time for bed.
“Come on, bud. Under the covers,” Travis said.
    As soon as Casey crawled in, the dog jumped up and lay at his
feet. Travis kissed his son on the forehead. “Sleep tight. I’ll see you in the
morning.”
    “Are you going to take me to the clinic tomorrow to visit
Melissa?”
    “No. You’re fine now.”
    “But you brought her to school to see me.”
    “That was different.”
    “How come?”
    He had hoped to avoid the subject, but Casey wouldn’t let it
go. Since Travis didn’t know how long this case for Melissa’s family might go
on, he realized he needed to tell his son a few facts.
    With a resigned sigh, he sank onto the side of his bed. “The
reason she was with me today was because I’ve been hired by her father to do
some investigative work. I understand you told Melissa I’m a P.I.”
    “Yup. At the movie.”
    “Well, she told her dad. He asked me to look around their
mountain cabin up in Kamas and find out who’s been living in it without their
permission.”
    Casey gasped. “You mean someone has been sneaking inside?”
    “It looks like it. I took Melissa with me today so she could
show me where it is and let me in.”
    “Is it far away?” His son’s voice had a mournful note.
    “No. Only