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little twitch of her lips, but it was definitely still a smile.
    He felt as jubilant as if he’d just single-handedly brought every outlaw in the Wild West to justice.
    â€œThank you,” Sarah murmured, her voice as soft as that spring breeze that teased her blond hair like a lover’s hand.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” he answered gruffly, knowing damn well he shouldn’t be so entranced by a tiny smile and a woman with secrets in her eyes.
    â€œAnd I’m sorry for the terrible things I said to you,” she went on. “I had no right to say such things. To judge you like that.”
    He had to like a woman who could apologize so sweetly. “You’re a teacher concerned about one of her students. You were willing to do what you thought was the right thing, which is more than most people would in the same situation.”
    She didn’t seem to take his words as the compliment he intended. Instead, her mouth tightened and she looked away from him toward the wooden slats of the porch.
    What the hell had he said to make her look as if she wanted to cry? He gave an inward, frustrated sigh. Just when he thought he was making progress with her, she clammed up again.
    He ought to just let it ride. Sarah McKenzie was obviously troubled by things she figured were none of his business. But something about that lost, wounded look that turned her green eyes murky brought all his protective instincts shoving their way out.
    â€œSomething wrong?” he asked.
    â€œNo,” she said curtly. “Nothing at all.”
    â€œHow’s the knee?”
    She looked disoriented for a moment, then glanced down at her outstretched leg. “Oh. I think it’s feeling much better.” Gripping the arms of the wicker rocker, she rose to her feet and carefully tested it with her weight. “Yes. Much better.”
    She was lying. He could tell by the lines of pain that bracketed her mouth like sagging fence posts.
    â€œYou sure?”
    â€œYes. Positive. I’m fine. I appreciate all your help, Chief Harte, but I’m sure you have better things to do than baby-sit me.”
    He couldn’t think of a single one, especially if he stood half a chance of coaxing more than that sad little smile out of her. But she obviously wanted him gone, and his mama hadn’t raised her kids to be rude. Well, except for Matt, maybe.
    Anyway, he’d have another chance to see those green eyes soften and her soft, pretty mouth lift at the corners. And if an excuse to see her again didn’t present itself, he’d damn well make one up.
    â€œIf you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll leave so you canget back to the supper I dragged you away from. It’s probably cold by now.”
    She grimaced. “I’m afraid it’s not much of a meal, hot or cold. A frozen dinner.”
    It broke his heart to think of her sitting alone here with her solitary dinner. If he thought for a second she’d agree to go with him, he’d pack her into his Bronco and take her down to the diner for some of Murphy’s turkey-fried steak.
    But even though he had willingly left the ranch work to Matt, he had still gentled enough skittish mustangs in his time to know when to call it a day. He had a feeling he was going to have to move very slowly if he wanted to gain the schoolteacher’s trust.
    Asking her to dinner would probably send her loping away faster than the Diamond Harte’s best cutter after a stray.
    No hurry. He could be a patient man, when the situation called for it. He would bide his time, let her know she had nothing to fear from him.
    Meanwhile, he now had two mysteries on his hands: Corey Sylvester and whatever mischief he was up to. And Sarah McKenzie.
    The pretty schoolteacher had scars. Deep ones. And he wasn’t about to rest until he found out who or what had given them to her.

Chapter 4
    T he nightmare attacked just before dawn.
    She should have expected it,