The Rebel. Jan Hudson

when we buzzed the governor’s mansion a few minutes ago. Didn’t I hear Sam say that you’d gone to the University of Texas?”

      “Only to law school. But except for occasional forays downtown to Sixth Street, I never ventured far from campus and my apartment. I pretty much kept my nose in my books.”

      “A high achiever, huh?”

      Belle chuckled. “You’ve got my number. I’ve always been competitive. But with four brothers, what can you expect? Hustling was how I kept up.”

      Gabe smiled and turned his attention to piloting the chopper.

      She saw a small town ahead, nestled among rolling hills and with a rocky river running through it. From her viewpoint, it looked like a picturesque village from a movie set.

      “That’s home,” Gabe said, nodding toward a place at the edge of town.

      She spotted their destination: a large stone house on a hill surrounded by a number of outbuildings. Horses grazed in a pasture, unfazed by the noise of the rotors, and she noticed several other animals as well, including what looked like a llama.

      Gabe landed on a pad near a barnlike structure located a couple of hundred yards from the house. A Jeep Cherokee approached as they set down. And by the time the helicopter engine died, a burly man climbed from the vehicle and waved.

      “That’s Ralph,” he told Belle. “Suki’s husband, come to collect us.”

      Gabe hung up his earphones and climbed from the chopper. “How’s it going, Ralph?”

      “Can’t complain. We had rain yesterday.”

      Gabe helped Belle from her seat. “Belle Outlaw, this is Ralph Sanderson.”

      Belle offered her hand. “Mr. Sanderson.”

      “Just Ralph will do, Ms. Outlaw.”

      His callused hand took hers in a no-nonsense grip. He had a sweet smile and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. She judged him to be in his late fifties, maybe a bit younger.

      “Just Belle will do, Ralph.”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      Belle’s legs wobbled a bit, and Gabe helped her to the Jeep’s front passenger seat while Ralph got their luggage and stowed it in the back. In contrast to the snowstorm that felled her, Wimberley’s weather was gorgeous: clear, sunny and mild.

      She rolled the window down as Ralph drove them to the house, and caught a lovely scent. “What’s that smell?”

      “Good or bad?”

      She smiled. “A sweet odor.”

      “You must mean the Texas mountain laurels,” Gabe said. “They’re in full bloom.”

      “Oh, yes, I remember now from when I lived in Austin. The little trees with the purple clusters. We don’t have them in East Texas. I always thought they smelled like grape Kool-Aid.”

      “Never thought about that,” Ralph said, “but, you know, I think you’re right. What part of East Texas are you from, Belle?”

      “A little town named Naconiche, right smack in the middle of the piney woods.”

      Ralph nodded. “Been through there. Beautiful area. I grew up in Fredericksburg myself.”

      “Heard of it, but I’ve never been there,” Belle said. “Gabe, I don’t think I know where you grew up. In this area, was it?”

      “Mostly. My first few years we lived all over the place, and when my mother and stepfather married, we settled here.”

      The Jeep pulled to a stop in front of the house, which loomed even larger up close. Built of native limestone, the two-story structure spread out like a fortress on the hill and was shaded by oak trees, which were huge by Central Texas standards but would be called merely scrubs by East Texans. And the Texas mountain laurels, with their purple clusters of flowers, lined a tall fence that meandered along the foot of the hill some distance away.

      “You folks go on in,” Ralph said. “I’ll get the bags.”

      As Gabe helped Belle up the steps to a large veranda that ran half the length of the house, a blood-curdling scream came from inside. An older woman in tie-dyed purple garb came running from the house and threw herself at Gabe.

      “Oh, Gabriel! Thank heavens you’re home. Do something! Do something!”

      “Good lord, Mother!” a younger blond woman said as she charged outside, a large German shepherd at her side and a tiny, yapping Yorkie dancing behind. “We have a guest.”

      “Calm down, everybody!” a third woman yelled. “I killed it with the broom!” This one, smaller and darker than the first two, hurried out still clutching the red-handled straw broom.

      “Exactly what did you kill?” Gabe asked as he extricated himself from the screamer.

      “A puny, little scorpion,” the executioner said. “Wasn’t even full grown.”

      “But you know how I hate those awful things, Gabriel. It was in my bathroom. Why, I almost stepped on it. And the awful creature reared up and was about to attack me. I do believe it hissed at me.”

      “Mother,” the blonde said, “it wasn’t going to attack, only defend. And scorpions don’t hiss.” The tall woman stuck out her hand to Belle. “Hi, I’m Skye Walker, Gabe’s sister. Welcome to Bedlam.”

      Belle smiled at Skye and returned the firm handshake. Skye, who looked to be about Belle’s age, was dressed in jeans, sneakers and a faded blue jersey that advertised dog food. Even though her fair hair was cut short and she wore very little makeup—maybe lip gloss—Skye was stunning.

      “Belle,” Gabe said, “this slightly hysterical woman is my mother, Flora Walker.”

      “Oh, my dear,” Flora said, capturing both Belle’s hands in hers, “we’re so delighted to have you here while you recover. You have the most magnificent cheekbones. And I love your eyes. They’re the exact color of storm clouds. You must let me paint you.”

      The woman with the broom cleared her throat loudly. “I’m Suki, Ralph’s wife. Now, everybody stand back, and let’s get the poor girl in off the porch. She looks a mite peaked to me. Ralph, take them bags to the guest quarters.”

      “Wait!” Flora stepped in front of Ralph. “Don’t take them up yet. Have Manuel spray in there first.”

      “Manuel is over at the kennel,” Skye said. “And he just sprayed two days ago.”

      “Then he didn’t do a very good job. We have an infestation of scorpions.”

      “Mother, one baby scorpion isn’t an infestation,” Gabe said.

      “Where there’s one baby, there’s another. Or more. Those little beasties are prolific breeders.” Flora grabbed Belle’s arm. “You must be very careful, dear. Don’t put on your shoes without shaking them. They love to hide in shoes. I’ve lived here for over thirty years, and I’m still not used to them.”

      If Belle had been in better form—and less polite—she would have laughed at Flora’s theatrics. “Thanks for the warning. But I’m familiar with scorpions—and worse…beasties. I’ll be careful.”

      Gabe’s mother repinned the long braid that had slipped from its coil atop her wispy tendrils of gray-blond hair. “Why are we standing here on the porch? Let’s all come inside and get Belle settled. Gabe, dear, it’s good to have you home.” She tiptoed to kiss her tall son’s cheek, then sailed inside, leading the way.

      Gabe glanced at Belle, shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

      “I’d like to tell you that things aren’t always so chaotic around here,” he whispered, “but I’d be lying.”

      “Gabriel,