Her Texas Rebel

Tony looked at the number and grinned as he answered. “Hello, David.”

“Are you still playing sick?”

“You’re just jealous.”

“Six weeks paid leave? Who wouldn’t be?” David laughed. “How close are you to Lampasas?”

“Twenty-two miles. Why?”

“Ashley’s dad is turning sixty-five this weekend. We’re heading to Hamilton tomorrow and have to go right through Lampasas.”

“Okay...” Did David want to stop by and see him?

“I thought I’d bring your SUV to you.”

Having his Dodge Durango would give him some measure of freedom. “That’d be great. I have a doctor’s appointment at ten in the morning, so I’ll already be in town. What time should I meet you?”

* * *

SABRINA WAS DUSTING THE mantel over the large fireplace again. She’d spent the better part of the last week deep-cleaning Dad’s house. There wasn’t much more to be done. She picked up one of the photographs perched on the ledge. A smiling woman with blond hair and laughing brown eyes grinned at her.

The screen door slammed shut as Levi tromped in from outside. “Who’s that?”

She traced the picture lightly as Levi came to stand beside her. “My mom.”

“She looks like you.” He took the picture from her. After staring at it for a moment, he let out a sigh. “I bet it would’ve been nice to have a grandma.”

The admission caught her off guard. She’d never thought about how much Levi had missed out on. “She would’ve been the best grandma ever.” She ran a hand over his back. “I really miss her.”

“She died when you were twelve?”

“Yes. She had breast cancer.”

He frowned. “At least you had two parents for twelve years.”

She sucked in her breath. She’d told him this one lie his whole life. What choice did she have? “I never thought about it like that. I guess I was lucky, in a way. But knowing her for twelve years makes me miss her that much more.”

Levi shoved the picture back at her. “What you’re really saying is it’s a good thing my dad died before I was born. Since I never knew him, it shouldn’t bother me, right?”

“That’s not what I meant at all.” She rubbed her temples. Constantly walking on eggshells around him was exhausting. Would he ever get rid of the chip on his shoulder?

His left dimple deepened as he pressed his lips together. Sabrina knew that look. He was deciding if he wanted to go into battle. His gaze darted around the room and stopped on the picture she still clutched in her hands.

Levi’s breath escaped like a deflated balloon. “Grandpa wants to know if you’re ready to go.”

She sighed in relief. His acts of defiance had diminished in the last couple of weeks. Especially when her dad was in the room. Looked like the school counselor was right—all Levi needed was a positive male role model. Why couldn’t she be enough?

“Run out to the barn and tell Grandpa I’ll be ready in five minutes.” They needed groceries, and at least Lampasas, twenty-two miles from Salt Creek, was big enough that she probably wouldn’t see anyone she knew. And by anyone, she meant Tony.

In a flash, her son bolted down the worn dirt path to the barn. A few minutes later, Levi and her dad ambled back to the house.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Let’s take the truck,” Dad said. “I need to run by the feed store.”

Lampasas was the county seat and a hub of activity. The small stores in Salt Creek only carried the basics, so most people drove to Lampasas every few weeks to stock up on supplies. The drive didn’t take long, and Sabrina pointed out the local landmarks to Levi as they drove—the show barn, where stock shows were held each January, the river walk and, of course, Storm’s Drive-In, home to the world’s best burgers.

“What’s going on?” Levi pointed to the bucket trucks parked along the side of the road. A large banner hung from the side of one bucket.

“They’re hanging signs across the street.” Dad slowed down so Levi could have a better look. “Spring Ho is in a few weeks, so they’re getting ready for it.”

“What’s Spring Ho?”

“It’s like a big fair. They’ll have a carnival, booths set up along the river, a parade, and one night they’ll have fireworks and a street dance over by the court house.”

Levi wrinkled his nose. “But it’s summer.”

Sabrina laughed. Having grown up in the area, it’d never occurred to her that the term might be confusing to people. “The town of Lampasas is home to a lot of natural springs, so the festival is named after their water source, not the season.”

The big Ford truck slowed to a crawl as Dad shifted gears and pulled into the parking lot of the H-E-B grocery store.

Robert waved at her as she jumped out. “I’ll pick you up after we’re done at the feed store.”

It wasn’t even noon yet, but already the sweltering humidity was unbearable. The grocery store’s air-conditioning was a welcome relief. Sabrina grabbed a shopping cart and in no time had everything on her list. Colorful boxes beckoned her as she passed the cereal aisle. She whipped her cart around. How could she forget Levi’s cereal?

She stopped her cart and frowned. The cereal she wanted for herself sat on the top shelf, just out of her reach. Just as she started to use the bottom shelf as a step, an arm reached over her and handed her the box.

“Thank you.” She turned around and froze. A pair of hazel eyes bored into hers with such intensity that she felt herself flush.

Disheveled black hair hung in soft curls at the back of his collar as he gave her a familiar one-sided smile. “Hey, Bree.”

“Tony?” Shakiness threatened to overwhelm her. Her heart pounded in her ears and she squeezed the box in her hands to hide their trembling. Seconds seemed to stretch into minutes as Sabrina fought to keep her composure. Years of anger, bitterness and betrayal warred against a ridiculous urge to throw herself into his arms. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she struggled to speak.

He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, the muscles in his arms stretching the sleeves of his T-shirt. “My grandfather mentioned you were moving back.”

Could he hear her heart pounding? “Good news travels fast. I read the article about you in the paper. You’re a hero.”

Silence permeated the air between them and his eyes never left hers. Like a mouse caught in the hypnotic gaze of a cat, she couldn’t move. Breathe. You’re not eighteen anymore.

The smile faded. He shook his head. “No. Just doing my job.”

Exactly what she’d expect a hero to say. “I’m sure your grandparents are thrilled to have you home for a while.”

“You should stop by and see them sometime. Abuela misses you.” He held her gaze. “How are you?”

Was he really trying to make small talk? She clasped her hands together. “I’m fine.”

The way his gaze swept over her gave her the impression that he was taking a mental inventory. She straightened the wrinkled T-shirt she’d thrown on in her rush to get out of the house.