The Twin

The Twin
Jan Hudson

The Outlaw clan has always been tight, so Sunny Outlaw Payton and her sister, Cassidy, assumed the family didn't want anything to do with the "illegitimate" twins.All that changes one day when Sunny is welcomed into the fold…and she's introduced to her cousin's friend Ben McKee, a Texas Ranger who really knows how to turn up the heat! Sunny's not looking for sparks–she left the Austin police force for a quiet life running her family's Chili Witches Cafe. And as a new widow, she's gun-shy about falling for another man with a dangerous job.But Ben, who has his hands full as a Ranger and as a single father to a five-year-old towhead, is sure she's the woman for him. And he's doing his damnedest to convince her that he's the "good guy" her Outlaw heart's been looking for!

Ben grinned

“You’re a beautiful woman, Sunny Outlaw Payton, both inside and out, and I’m a lucky man to be with you.”

Electricity seemed to crackle and hiss between them as his eyes caressed her face. She had no idea about any long-term relationship with Ben, but she didn’t want to think about that now.

She wanted only to savor tonight.

She wanted to feel the warmth and comfort and passion of a man again.

Of Ben.

Dear Reader,

So many folks who have enjoyed the Outlaw family stories have asked if there aren’t any more Outlaws around. Well, I investigated and, by golly, found that Uncle Butch Cassidy Outlaw, who was a Texas State senator, had a couple of secrets, including twin daughters none of his family knew about. The Twin is the first of two stories about these sisters, who run Chili Witches Café in Austin.

Naturally it’s Sam Bass Outlaw from The Texas Ranger (AR, May 2007) who first meets his cousin Sunny, and, wouldn’t you know, he happens to stop in to have a bowl of chili with another Texas Ranger, Ben McKee. (I’ve told you before that I’m a sucker for tall, handsome Texas Ranger heroes.) Sunny and Ben are perfect together, but even with the senator’s help, it takes a while for them to realize that.

Austin is a wonderful town, laid-back and mellow, and rich in history as the state’s capital. It’s also famous for its music scene, and I’ve added some of that flavor for you to sample, as well.

Now, I’m not allowed to share Chili Witches’ recipe, but for those of you who like Texas chili, the recipe is quite similar to several recent winners of the Terlingua International Chili Championship. TICC 2008 winner Susan Dean’s entry would give you a good approximation. www.chili.org/terlingua.html.

Enjoy!

Jan Hudson

The Twin

Jan Hudson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jan Hudson, a former college psychology teacher, is a RITA

Award-winning author of thirty books, a crackerjack hypnotist, a dream expert, a blue-ribbon flower arranger and a fairly decent bridge player. Her most memorable experience was riding a camel to visit the Sphinx and climbing the Great Pyramid in Egypt. A native Texan whose ancestors settled in Nacogdoches when Texas was a republic, she loves to write about the variety of colorful characters who populate the Lone Star State, unique individuals who celebrate life with a “howdy” and “y’all come.” Jan and her husband currently reside in Austin, and she loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at JanHudsonBooks@gmail.com.

For my own Ben,

a hero in the making, and

with special thanks to Jan Yonkin,

Tracy Wolff, Lexi Connor and April Kihlstrom

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five