Her Texas Rebel

* * *

SABRINA’S GUT TWISTED as she hung up the phone. How naive of her to think that moving here would give Levi a chance to start over.

“What was that about?” Dad took his hat off the deer antlers mounted on the wall.

“Nancy Beal.”

He turned from the door to face her. “The principal? What did she want?”

“To let me know that the school had received Levi’s records and they have some concerns about him attending a regular class.” Tears welled in her eyes.

Dad hung his hat back on the wall. “What else is there besides a regular class? He doesn’t need special education.”

“She thinks I should consider the alternative school.” Her breath caught in her chest. “How am I going to tell my son that he’s not wanted here, either?”

Dad pulled her in for a hug. “They can’t do that. We’ll go to the school board if we have to.”

Levi was already convinced the world was against him. She only hoped this didn’t push him over the edge.

“Where is he, anyway? I haven’t seen him since he fed the pigs this morning.”

“He went fishing at the pond.” Sabrina glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m going to town to talk to Mrs. Beal in person. Maybe I can change her mind.”

“Want me to come with you?”

Her father stood poised for battle. He wasn’t known to have a quick temper, but once he was riled...

“Thanks, Dad, but this is something I should do on my own. Can you keep an eye on Levi? I don’t want him to know what’s going on. Not yet.”

He nodded. “I think I’ll grab my pole and join him at the pond.” Whistling, her dad put his hat on and strolled out the door.

She watched him heading to the barn. When was the last time she’d heard him whistling? Probably before her mother died. Was he finally getting over his grief, or were she and Levi bringing him out of his shell? She’d moved home because it was what her son needed. She’d never expected her dad might have needed it, too.

* * *

THE MEETING TOOK less than an hour and although Sabrina couldn’t claim victory yet, there was a glimmer of hope. All she had to do was enroll Levi in some counseling sessions and have the therapists evaluate him for anger issues.

Simple. Ha. Try explaining that to Levi. Slamming the door of her old Toyota Camry, she paused at the gate to the front yard. She could hear the faint drone of another vehicle approaching. Her heart caught in her throat. Could it be Tony? He’d never been good at taking no for an answer.

When a shiny, red Lexus came into view, she relaxed. She didn’t know what kind of vehicle Tony drove, but the fancy sports car didn’t suit him at all. She waited by the gate for the car to come to a stop behind her own.

A tall, slender woman got out and straightened her pencil tight skirt. “Hi, Sabrina.”

Sabrina took in the professionally dressed woman. She was older than Sabrina, but not by much. The woman waited, tapping her toes in three inch heels. “Marissa? Marissa Porter?”

Marissa was a couple of years older than Sabrina, but they’d become friends in high school, only to lose track of each other after Marissa went away to college.

“I knew you couldn’t forget me,” Marissa said. Reaching over the gate, she enveloped Sabrina in a giant hug.

“What are you doing here? How are your parents?” Sabrina hadn’t attempted to contact any of her childhood friends since moving home.

“They’re good. Dad retired and drives Mom crazy.” She wiggled her left hand in front of Sabrina, showing off the shiny diamond. “I’m Marissa Butler now. My husband, Jarrod, is a county deputy. We moved back a few years ago. I know, I swore I was never moving back to a small town...but here I am!” The slamming of her car door interrupted them.

Sabrina looked behind her to see a young boy about Levi’s age.

Marissa beckoned the boy. “Come on, Bradley, I want you to meet a friend of mine from high school.” The boy shuffled his way around the car. “Sabrina, this is my son, Bradley.”

“Pleased to meet you.” The boy reached out to shake her hand.

“Likewise, I’m sure.” Amusement tugged at her lips. She glanced at Marissa.

“Don’t let his manners fool you,” Marissa whispered, reading her thoughts. “Wait till he gets to know you. He really lets loose.”

“Mom,” the boy protested.

Levi ran around the back corner of the house. “Mom, where does Grandpa keep his trowel? We need to dig up more worms.” He stopped short when he saw their visitors. “Oh. Hi.”

“Levi, this is Mrs. Butler and her son, Bradley. This is my son, Levi.”

Marissa’s brow crinkled and she gazed from Levi to Sabrina and back.

Bradley didn’t seem to notice his mother’s silence. “Are you digging worms for fishing?”

Levi grinned. “Yeah. Wanna help? I have an extra pole you can use.”

Bradley looked at his mother. “Please?”

Marissa nodded. “Only if it’s okay with his mom.”

“The trowel’s hanging on the wall of the shed, to the right of the door,” Sabrina said.

“Thanks, Mom.” Levi took off like a shot with Bradley on his heels.

Shaking her head, she opened the gate. “It looks like the boys didn’t need any introductions. Would you like to come in and have a glass of tea?”

“I would love that.” Marissa’s high heels clicked across the stone sidewalk as she followed Sabrina inside. “How old is your son?”

Sabrina lifted her chin. There was no sense in lying. “He’s nine.”

She motioned for Marissa to sit at the kitchen table as she poured the tea. “What are you doing here? Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to see you again, but how did you know I was here?”

Marissa grinned. “Your dad has been telling everyone at the café for weeks that you were moving back. He’s your biggest fan. How long have you been home?”

Ah. The Eagle’s Nest Café. Every morning farmers and ranchers met at the café to drink coffee and solve the problems of the world. “About two weeks.”

“Are you still a CNA? Do you have a job yet?”

“How did you know I was a CNA?”