The Texas Ranger. Jan Hudson

      With his star pinned to his shirt and his gunned clipped to his belt, he looked every inch the tough Texas Ranger…except for the infectious smile

      Skye walked straight into Sam’s arms, and before she knew it, she was dancing as she’d never danced before, feet flying and laughter bubbling from her like an artesian well. One dance led to another and another. She could have danced all night.

      Suddenly a woman screamed and a fight broke out at the bar.

      Skye froze. Panic hit her like a lightning bolt as the place erupted into pandemonium.

      She had to get out!

      Dear Reader,

      For those of you who have been following the Outlaw family books, this is the last of the four brothers and a sister, all named for famous outlaws, following a tradition established by their grandfather. Sam Bass Outlaw’s story, The Texas Ranger, like Belle’s story, The Rebel, is set mostly in Wimberley, Texas, a real small town in central Texas known for its guest ranches, artisans and picturesque surroundings.

      When I lived in Houston, a talented artist friend used to wax poetic about spending weekends in their river cabin in Wimberley, and other friends used to rave about the charming village, but I’d never been there until we moved to Austin. Cypress Creek and the Blanco River are the stuff of picture postcards, and when the wildflowers bloom it’s breathtaking.

      Since a big hunk of my heart remains in East Texas with its tall pine trees and the rest of the Outlaw family, we’ll revisit Naconiche and the magic of The Twilight Inn Motel as well as meet the newest members of the clan.

      In this book, I’ve also returned to my roots in psychology and hypnosis to deal with some special issues that haunt a heroine I’ve come to adore, Skye Walker. And I’ve always been a sucker for tall, dark, handsome Texas Rangers.

      Enjoy!

      Jan Hudson

      The Texas Ranger

      Jan Hudson

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      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 [email protected].

      Books by Jan Hudson

      HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

      1017—THE SHERIFF *

      1021—THE JUDGE *

      1025—THE COP *

      1135—THE REBEL *

      SILHOUETTE DESIRE

      1035—IN ROARED FLINT

      1071—ONE TICKET TO TEXAS

      1229—PLAIN JANE’S TEXAN

      1425—WILD ABOUT A TEXAN

      1432—HER TEXAN TYCOON

      For the heroic Texas Rangers, past, present and future.

      And for the eight great in Travis Country.

      Thanks y’all.

      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

       Epilogue

      Chapter One

      When he spotted the blonde across the room, Sam felt as if he’d been hit upside the head with a tire iron. For a minute all he could do was stare at her. And she stared back. He wasn’t sure what was going on between them, but he aimed to find out. She was a beauty.

      Sam made a beeline through the crowd toward her. The closer he got, the more sure he was that he might have to arrest her. He figured she must have stolen those eyes from heaven. They were big and blue and reeled him in as pretty as if he were a black bass on a twelve-pound line.

      “Hello,” he said to her, flashing his best smile. “I’m Sam Outlaw, Belle’s brother.” He figured that the blonde knew Belle since this shindig was given in honor of her buying and becoming publisher of the Wimberley Star newspaper.

      She smiled back. “I’m Skye Walker, Gabe’s sister.”

      “Gabe’s sister?” Gabe Burrell was an old friend of Sam’s, the host of the party and the guy who was hot for his sister, Belle. “If I’d known that Gabe’s little sister looked like you, I’d have been beating down your door. Wonder why