He left so fast, she never got a chance…

He abandoned her when she needed him most, just as she’d discovered she was pregnant. And now, ten years later, struggling single mother Sabrina Davis has come home in search of refuge for her at-risk son. Except Tony Montoya, now a cop, has also returned to Salt Creek, Texas.

Recovering from being shot in the line of duty, Tony plans to use this time in his hometown to make amends for the trouble he caused as a youth. Amends for breaking Sabrina’s heart. But trouble seems to follow the police officer no matter where he goes, and he doesn’t want to hurt the woman he never stopped loving…or the son he’s just found.

She turned around and froze.

A pair of hazel eyes bored into hers with such intensity that she suddenly felt flushed. 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 fought against a ridiculous urge to throw herself into his arms. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she struggled to find the words to say.

“I heard you were moving back. Are you here to stay?”

“I don’t know yet.” He was close. Too close. The sandalwood scent of his aftershave sent her heart into overdrive. She took a quick step backward and tripped over the cart. The breath rushed from her lungs as he caught her in his strong arms.

His face was close enough for her to make out a faint scar under his jaw, just below his left ear. The scar he’d gotten while defending her. Along with the bump on the bridge of his nose.

She pushed against his chest, struggling to right herself. Silence permeated the air between them and his gaze never left hers. Like a mouse caught in the hypnotic gaze of a cat, she couldn’t move.

Breathe. You’re not eighteen anymore.

Dear Reader,

As a public-school teacher, I’ve seen my share of defiant children walk in the door with a chip on their shoulder. I’ve come to believe the saying “Those that deserve love the least, need it the most.” I’m not sure who penned that, but it’s become my classroom motto. Oftentimes, all kids need is someone to believe in them, root for them and never give up. I know. I’ve seen it happen.

When I was fifteen years old, I spent many happy hours pecking away on an old typewriter I bought at a yard sale for a buck. Even back then, all my stories involved bad boys and the good girls who loved them. Because even my teenage mind reasoned that rebellious behavior was just a cover-up for some deep-rooted pain. All they needed was someone to believe in them.

That’s when Tony was born. He was the perfect bad boy with a heart of gold. What he needed was a girl willing to give up everything for him. He had to wait almost thirty years for me to conjure Sabrina. She’s a small-town girl with pride as big as Texas and a heart that’s bigger. I finally had my perfectly flawed couple and they couldn’t wait to tell me their story.

I hope you enjoy Tony and Sabrina’s journey as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I’d love to hear from you! Please visit me leannebristow.com.

LeAnne

Her Texas Rebel

LeAnne Bristow

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LEANNE BRISTOW may have been born and raised in central Texas, but she’s a desert rat at heart. She calls southeastern Arizona home, even though her husband wouldn’t let her claim the title Arizonan until 2011, the year she’d officially lived in Arizona longer than Texas. When she’s not arguing with the characters in her head, she enjoys hunting, camping and fishing with her family. Her day job is teaching kindergarten, but now that her three kids are grown, she’s determined to teach her granddaughter how to catch lizards and love the desert as much as she does.

MILLS & BOON

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This is my first book and I feel like I’ve won an Oscar! There are so many people I’d like to acknowledge for helping me along this journey. First, I need to thank Janet Ferguson, Jackie Layton and Misty Beller for reading and rereading chapters and pushing me to be a better writer. Y’all are the best critique partners anyone could ever ask for. My wonderful agent, Scott Eagan, for never giving up on me, and my family and coworkers at Benson Primary School for cheering me on. I’d also like to thank Kaci Morrison for answering a million questions about the wonderful work that is done at the Cherokee Home for Children. This book is dedicated to all the people who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children who don’t have anyone else in their corner.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

“YOU DON’T WANT to do this.” Tony Montoya took a step forward, despite the gun pointing at his chest. His own weapon remained tucked in his holster. In eight years on the San Antonio police force, he’d only drawn it a handful of times.

The hand holding the gun shook, but the teen refused to lower the weapon. “Yes.” The boy’s chin lifted in defiance. “I do.”

Adolfo wouldn’t pull the trigger. He wasn’t a bad kid; he was just trying to survive. Tony understood. How many times had he stolen food from a convenience store when he was a kid? But Adolfo wasn’t trying to steal food for his family. The gun in the teenager’s hand was evidence of that.

“What are you going to gain?” Tony took another step toward him. “You think if you bring Raul money you’ll get moved from a peewee to a soldier?”

The boy’s dark eyes widened at the mention of that name. “You don’t know nothing, man.”

“I know you ain’t married yet.” Tony nodded at the boy’s right arm, bare of the bandanna marking him as a full-fledged member of the street gang.

A band tightened around his chest. Raul’s gang suffered more deaths than any other in the area. If he failed Adolfo, how long would it be before the boy paid the ultimate price? Would a rival gang member end his life or would it be someone in his own unit? A heaviness settled over Tony’s heart.

He’d seen too many young men ruined by the lure of gang life. Those losses far outweighed the people he’d managed to help leave the streets behind. Most of the boys, like Adolfo, weren’t tempted by the money, drugs and women. It was family. A place to belong. Over half of them were on their own. Deserted by mothers too strung out on drugs to care where their children were anymore, or too stressed out trying to earn enough money to keep a roof over their heads. Whatever the reason, the result was the same.

Tony had one chance to talk Adolfo down. He had to remind the kid that he had a real family, a family that depended on him. Keeping his voice low, Tony said, “Raul will still have you jumped. How you gonna explain that to your madre?”

The boy’s eyes flashed and Tony knew he’d struck a nerve. “How can you help her take care of your baby brother if you’re dead or in jail? Your mama needs you.”

“Leave my mama out of this.” The gun shook even more, and Adolfo’s eyes darted around the store.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tony spied the store clerk moving to the edge of the counter. He held a hand up to stop him. Mr. Chan kept a .22 rifle under the counter. Please don’t pull that gun out. Not now. It might push the kid right over the edge.

Adolfo noticed, too. “Put your hands up where I can see them!”

“If I have to put my hands up, how am I supposed to get your money?” The old man looked bored. He’d experienced more than his share of robbery attempts.

Tension hung like a cloud of smoke as Adolfo and the clerk stared each other down. For the first time, Tony stepped away from Adolfo, putting himself between the boy and the old man.

“Move.” Adolfo jerked the gun.

“No.”

“Move. Or I’ll shoot you.” Adolfo waved the weapon again. His voice held a note of panic.

Tony remained in place. If he moved, Adolfo would see it as a victory and that would empower him even more. Tony looked the kid in the eye. “I’m not afraid to die. I know exactly where I’m going. But what about you? Where are you going when you leave this store? You got no place to go.”

“I’ll go to the club.”

“No, you’ll go to jail, if you’re lucky.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Try me.” Tony knew the kid’s life because it had once been his, too. “Your pop skipped out on you. Your mom works all day, so all you got is the streets. You’re being challenged, mijo, and you’re about to fail in the worst possible way.”

Adolfo’s shaking hands told Tony he still had a chance. If the shaking stopped, it would mean the boy had found his resolve and was lost. Tony edged farther between the counter and the waving gun. “Step up, bro. You’re the man of the house now. Go home and take care of your brother. You want him to join a gang, too?”

“Shut up! You don’t know nothin’ about me.” His voice cracked.

“I’ve known you for three years, mijo. I know your brother will follow you, and one of you will end up in a body bag.” Tony’s voice was hard now. “Maybe not right away, but you will.”

“You’re the one who’s gonna be in a body bag!”

“Go ahead.” Tony stepped forward now. His gun was within easy reach, but there was no way he’d pull it. He needed Adolfo’s trust. “I told you, I’m not afraid to die. Not if my death will get you away from Raul.”

“Stay back.” Adolfo’s voice was barely a whisper.

“The way I see it, you have two choices.” Electricity swirled in the air between them. “One, you shoot me. You go to jail for manslaughter. It will break your mama’s heart, but maybe it’ll scare your brother enough to stay away from gangs. Two, you put down that gun and you come with me to the St. Paul’s Mission and learn how a real man takes care of his family. I don’t care either way, because in the end, you and your brother will be safe.”

He paused, giving Adolfo time to think. “If I were you, I’d take the second option. It’s a lot less heartache for your mama.”

“Yeah, right.” Adolfo’s face twisted with anger. “I walk out of here with you and you arrest me as soon as I’m out the door. No thanks.”

“You walk out of here with me right now, and we’ll pretend this never happened.” He shot Mr. Chan a glance.

Mr. Chan nodded at him.

Time stood still as the young man considered his options. The tension in his thin frame melted and his trembling hands lowered the gun. The pressure around Tony’s middle eased and he stepped to the side so Mr. Chan could see that Adolfo’s weapon was lowered. As he stepped away, he held his hands in the air, so Adolfo wouldn’t feel threatened.

A sudden movement from the clerk drew Tony’s attention and made him realize his mistake. By stepping in front of Adolfo, he’d cut off Mr. Chan’s view of the boy’s hands. Now all Mr. Chan noticed were Tony’s own hands in the air. He must’ve thought Adolfo had pointed the weapon at Tony.

“No!” Tony whirled around to face Mr. Chan and jumped in front of Adolfo, shielding him just as the clerk’s gun went off. A searing pain ripped through his chest.

The room swayed and Tony sank to the ground. Adolfo tried to catch him, but Tony’s weight was too much and they both ended up in a heap on the floor.

Adolfo stared as blood poured out of Tony’s chest. “Oh, man! You’re hit!”

“I’m okay,” Tony muttered, the smell of rust and salt filling his nostrils. “I just need to sit for a minute.”

In a flash, the boy rolled Tony off him and sprinted out the door. Mr. Chan rushed over. “Mr. Tony, I’m so sorry! The ambulance is coming! I’m so sorry!” The frantic man pushed a towel into Tony’s wound. “I thought he was about to shoot.”

Tony shook his head, trying to dispel the faintness quickly taking over. An image floated in front of his eyes. Long blond hair, so blond it was almost white. “Bree.” Her dark brown eyes blinked and then she was gone.

* * *

SABRINA DAVIS KICKED the covers off and stretched. She opened her eyes and blinked. Bright morning light jolted her out of bed. If the sun was already up, she was late for work. Her pulse thundered in her ears and her gaze danced around the room. She let out a deep sigh and fell back on her pillow as she glanced at her bedside clock. Seven in the morning and for the first time in years, she didn’t need to jump out of bed and race to work or get her son ready for school. The scent of honeysuckle drifted through the open window and she closed her eyes, reveling in the silence. No hum of Houston traffic, no horns blaring. Somewhere in the pasture behind the house, a meadowlark began to sing, and she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. It was good to be home.

She rolled over in bed, listening for the crowing of the rooster that had been her alarm clock growing up. Nothing. What else had changed in the ten years she’d been gone?

Since a yelling match with her father had escalated into her storming off to live with her Aunt Patty and Uncle Troy in Houston.

At the time she’d thought her relationship with her father was beyond repair. Amazing what ten years and the love of a grandchild could do. It had been so late when she’d arrived at her father’s the night before that she’d fallen into bed without even turning on the light. She propped herself up on her elbows and examined the room she’d grown up in. Her breath caught. Everything was exactly the same. So much for change.

Her rose-colored bedspread, now faded to such a light pink it was almost white, lay clean and crisp on her double bed. The dresser across the room showcased her trophies and ribbons. Pictures of her high school activities and friends were still pinned on the corkboard next to the dresser.

Her bare feet didn’t make a sound on the threadbare carpet as she padded across the room to the closet. She steeled herself and opened the door. The clothes she hadn’t taken with her all those years ago were still on their hangers. Shoes lay scattered across the closet floor. With shaking hands, she reached up to the top shelf and her fingers brushed a small wooden box. She didn’t need to lift the lid to know what was inside. As happy as she was to be home, some memories were just too painful. She left the box in its place and went to the kitchen to make coffee.

“Already made.” Her father saw where she was headed and handed her a full mug.

“You should’ve woken me up. I don’t normally sleep this late.” She added sugar to her coffee.

“Figured you needed the rest.” Dad took a sip from his own cup. He nodded toward the alcove that had been added to the end of the large country kitchen. “What do you think of the addition?”

“It was so late when we got here, I didn’t get a chance to see it. I still can’t believe you finished it.” The gesture had been the final straw in convincing her to come back to Salt Creek.

Her parents had dreamed of a big family, so her father had started building onto the small two-bedroom farmhouse when Sabrina was two years old. Four years and three miscarriages later, the cement foundation and wooden frame only served to remind Sabrina’s mother of the family that would never be. When she hadn’t been able to bear looking at the wood-framed walls another minute, Dad had taken a sledgehammer and torn it down, piece by piece.

“When did you start on it again?” It must have taken months for him to finish the addition all by himself, and goodness knew how much money. How long had he been hoping she would come home?

“I started working on it right after Patty decided to move to Florida.”

Sabrina choked on her coffee. “That was seven years ago.”

“Yeah, well, I thought maybe you’d want to move back home when she left.”

Her heart leaped in her chest. “You never said anything.”

“I was waiting for the right time.”

She pushed down the butterflies swarming in her stomach. Her father cared much more than he ever said out loud. What was it her mother used to say? Actions spoke louder than words.

“I’ll be out by the pond if you need me. Water pump broke again.” He sat his cup in the sink. “We’ll finish unloading your furniture as soon as I get done.”

“Okay.” She suppressed a smile. The farm came first. It always did. The 160-acre homestead had been granted to her great-grandfather over 150 years ago. Not large enough to be considered a ranch, it was just enough to sustain a family. How had he managed by himself for the past ten years?

“No rush. The only furniture I brought was Levi’s bed and dresser. The rest of it is just boxes, and Levi and I can unload those.”

She tiptoed across the kitchen and paused outside the finished addition. She swung the door open silently and looked for her son. Levi was curled up inside the sleeping bag her father had left out for him. He looked so peaceful, his curly brown hair framing his cherub face. She doubted his teachers would use the word cherub to describe Levi.

His less-than-angelic behavior had been what finally drove her to return home. Levi shared more than physical looks with his father. They had the same quick temper and nose for trouble. Despite her best efforts, he was becoming more like Tony every day. Levi tended to get bored quickly, and boredom led to trouble. For the second time in her life, she was putting college on hold for the good of her child.

Country life was ingrained in her bones, but even so, moving back to Salt Creek was hard. Almost like admitting that she was a failure—the valedictorian, National Honor Society president and Best All-Around Student returning home a single mother with no education and no job.

Two things gave her the courage to face her conservative hometown. The first was the knowledge that Levi needed a change of environment to keep him out of trouble and possibly out of juvie. Her son was way more important than her pride. The second was knowing that no one, not even her father, knew who Levi’s father really was.

She topped up her coffee and carried it into the sparsely decorated living room. It was just large enough for a sofa and reclining chair, and her mother’s throw pillows still adorned the leather furniture. The Lampasas Dispatch lay folded neatly on the coffee table and she picked it up. The small newspaper was delivered only on Sundays and Wednesdays. Did Salt Creek still have a small section on Wednesdays?

She flicked the newspaper open to the middle and settled back to read. A local high school girl was competing in the Miss Texas pageant. An engagement picture of a young couple. She frowned at the names. Was that the same little boy she used to babysit? Another break-in at a construction yard. It didn’t take long to read the one-page section. She closed the paper to read from the beginning and her blood turned to ice.

The headline read “Hero Cop Has Roots in Lampasas County.” One name jumped out at her and sent her heart into overdrive. Tony Montoya. It couldn’t be. She scanned the article again.

Her hands shook and she laid the paper on the sofa. All the town had ever seen in Tony was a rebellious teenager looking for trouble. He’d certainly proven them wrong. A decorated police officer who put his life on the line by jumping in front of a bullet to save a young man’s life in the middle of an attempted robbery?

According to the paper, he was at home with his grandparents, where he was recovering from a fractured rib and a bruised lung. He was expected to return to work by the end of June. How was she going to avoid running into him in a town of fewer than seven hundred people?

* * *

TONY RUBBED HIS EYES. There was someone standing next to his bed. His gaze finally focused as an imposing figure with gray hair hovered over him, making him jump. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, jolting him back to reality. He wasn’t at his apartment in San Antonio. He wasn’t at the hospital. He was in the one place he’d sworn he’d never return to. Salt Creek.

“Papa. What are you doing? It’s two in the morning.” He rubbed a hand across his face.

“You were moaning in your sleep,” his grandfather said. “Your grandmother was worried.”

Abuela wasn’t the only one. Tony rolled his shoulder and winced. The nurses at the hospital had warned him that the pain would get worse. Still, he’d rather suffer a little than risk relying on medicine. He’d have to do a better job of masking the pain. The thought of his grandmother losing sleep over him pierced his heart.

Papa fumbled through Tony’s things on the dresser. “Where are your pain pills? Didn’t you take them before you went to bed?”

“I don’t need them.” Tony stood up, fighting a wave of lightheadedness.

Papa pulled the empty prescription bottle from the top drawer of the dresser. “Where are they?”

Guilt pricked him. Did his grandfather think he’d already taken them all? Was Papa worried he’d end up like his mother? Pain medication was the first of many drugs his mother had been hooked on.

“I flushed them down the toilet after Abuela brought them home from the pharmacy.” Tony didn’t voluntarily take narcotics of any kind. Not even the helpful ones. Ever. The ones given to him immediately after his surgery didn’t count.

“Why?”

Tony noticed the lines around Papa’s eyes. He looked tired. He looked...old. “I’ve read that children of addicts are much more likely to become addicts themselves. I’m not willing to take that chance.”

Papa stiffened. “So you didn’t take the pain medicine?”

“No, Papa. I’ll take some ibuprofen when it bothers me too much, but I won’t take anything stronger than that. Please don’t ask me to.”

“You’re not like your mother, mijo.” Papa placed his hands on Tony’s shoulders. “Abuela will make an icepack for that shoulder. Perhaps that’ll help.”

Papa walked out of the room and Tony sank back onto the edge of the bed. Where would he be today if social services hadn’t discovered the grandparents he hadn’t known existed? Would he have been holding up convenience stores and pushing drugs like Adolfo? No. Not drugs. Never that.

Before his mother died, he’d joined a small street gang in his neighborhood. Until he’d found out they were the ones pushing drugs at his school and his own mother was one of their best customers. Getting out had meant risking his life. The beating he’d taken would’ve been more than worth it if he could’ve saved his mom.

At the soft knock on the door, he gritted his teeth, determined not to let any pain show on his face. “Come in.”

“I brought you some ice for that shoulder.” Abuela placed the pack on the nightstand and sat next to him. “You will tell me if you need anything?”

“Of course,” he lied. He’d been here one night and already he was interrupting their lives. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

Abuela took one of his hands in hers, her calloused fingers running over his knuckles. “You try to get some sleep.”

Outside the window, an owl hooted in the darkness. He peered out the window. He didn’t feel at all tired, but he lay down on the bed, anyway. Placing the ice on his shoulder, he closed his eyes.

He’d spent much of his life trying to control the chaos around him. But here, in this small town, things moved at their own pace. His teenaged self had hated it. Now it was exactly what he needed. Too bad he couldn’t stay.

The rattle of dishes woke him up. He didn’t remember falling asleep. The rich aroma of warm bread drifted down the hall. Abuela must be making tortillas.

He slipped a pair of sweatpants on and made his way to the living room. Nothing had changed since the first time he saw it all those years ago. The flower pattern on the sofa had faded, but his grandmother’s afghans and doilies covered up the worn places. Papa’s recliner sat in the corner, facing the ancient cabinet television taking up most of the space on the far wall.

He smiled. “Does that thing still work?”

Papa looked up from the newspaper. “Yes. Do you want to watch something? We still only get the three channels.”

No cable TV. No satellite. No cell phones. Yep. It was like he’d stepped back in history. If only he could go back in time. So many things would be different now. Starting with Sabrina.

“No, thanks.” The crumpling sound of the newspaper page being turned drew his attention. And he froze. From across the room, he could clearly read the headline on the front page of the open paper. “Hero Cop Has Roots in Lampasas County.”

“Can I see the paper for a minute?” Tony crossed the room and sat on the couch across from his grandfather.

Without waiting for a reply, he took the paper and scanned through the article. His name jumped out at him, followed by a story hailing him as a hero for jumping in front of a bullet to save a young man’s life. It failed to mention that the young man he’d taken a bullet for was the same one trying to rob the store. “How did the newspaper get this information?”

Abuela appeared, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Me. A reporter came by and wanted to know if you were the cop.”

“So you gave them a story?” He rubbed his hands on his legs. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not?” She lifted her chin. “I’m proud of my grandson and I don’t care who knows it.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. It wasn’t her fault. The last thing he wanted to do was worry her, but she had to know. “Abuela, sometimes I work with dangerous people. If they ever wanted to retaliate for any reason, this article could lead them right to you two.”

Her mouth opened but nothing came out. After a moment, she turned to her husband. “Did you know about this, Antonio?”

Papa shrugged and stood up. “No. Not until I got to San Antonio and talked to his captain.”

“How dangerous?” Her eyes darted back and forth between Papa and Tony. “Should we be worried?”

This was exactly what Tony wanted to avoid. He set the paper down. “I chase drug dealers and I work with kids from gangs. All small, local operations and I’ve managed to stay under the radar, but if I get promoted to detective, it may not stay that way.”

Abuela’s brow creased. She pressed her lips together and turned to her husband. “You call his captain and tell him he’s not coming back. He’s staying here.”

“You can’t protect him from everything, Elaina. He’s a grown man and makes his own decisions.”

“That’s what you said about Teresa and look how that turned out.” Her voice had risen an octave.

Tony held his breath at the mention of his mother’s name, waiting for the explosion. He’d lived with his grandparents for four years in his late teens, but it had only taken a few months to learn not to ignite Abuela’s anger.

Papa pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, immediately defusing the tiny woman’s temper. Only Papa could calm her down as fast as she riled up.

Tony swallowed. He’d once had someone who affected him the same way. How much trouble had he avoided because Sabrina had talked sense into him? He’d believed they would be as happy as his grandparents.

Until she’d ruined it by believing in him enough to sacrifice her future.

CHAPTER TWO

FOR OVER A WEEK, Tony stalked his grandparents’ house, looking for something to keep himself busy. How was he going to make it six weeks without going nuts? Or driving everyone around him nuts? More than once Abuela scolded him for moving around too much.

Tony decided that when Papa came home for lunch, he’d insist on returning to the hardware store with him for the afternoon. Papa was probably still using the same old cash register he’d had when Tony was in high school. Abuela couldn’t complain about him sitting on a stool and checking people out. It’s not as if the tiny store would be swamped with customers.

The thought of getting out of the house for a while lightened his dark mood. He stuck his head into the kitchen. “Can I set the table?”

Abuela flipped some frying potatoes. “That’d be just fine.”

Tony slipped behind her and gathered plates from the cabinet. When he’d first come to live with his grandparents, he thought it was odd that Abuela cooked her biggest meal at noon. The evening meal was lighter, usually leftovers.

He’d just finished placing the condiments on the table when Papa came in. Like clockwork, he closed the store every day at noon to come home and eat what his grandparents called dinner. Breakfast. Dinner. Supper.

“How are things going at the store?” Tony waited for Papa to sit down before pulling his own chair out.

“Good.” Papa never elaborated on work. “Robert Davis came in this morning.”

Tony almost dropped his fork. Sabrina’s dad. His heart kicked into overdrive. “Why’re you telling me?”

“He heard you was in town and he doesn’t want you getting any ideas about going out there and bothering Sabrina.” Papa’s words were clipped.

That meant Sabrina was in town. Her memory had haunted him for ten years. No way he was going to pass up an opportunity to make things right. He swallowed. “Nice to see Robert’s opinion of me hasn’t changed much.”

The platter Papa was holding hit the table with a thud. His eyes were hard as flint. “It’s got nothing to do with you. Or Robert. Sabrina hasn’t had it easy. Her fiancé was killed in Afghanistan, leaving her to raise her son alone. Robert only just convinced her to move back home where he could help her.”

Fiancé? Son? His racing heart plummeted. She’d moved on with her life, just like he’d wanted her to. So why did it bother him so much? “He told you all this today?”

Abuela piped up. “We heard about Sabrina’s fiancé years ago.”

“Years? When did this happen?” And more importantly, why hadn’t they told him?

“Let me think.” She pressed her lips together. “I guess it was about the same time you started at the police academy.”

Tony leaned back. Eighteen months. It’d taken her all of eighteen months to get over him and love someone else.

He had hurt her. On purpose. It was the only way to keep her from giving up her scholarship to follow him to Louisiana. The kicker was that he’d only accepted a job out of state so he could earn enough money to follow her to the university in Houston. But when he got to Houston, he couldn’t find her. She wasn’t in any of the student directories and none of their mutual friends knew where she was. If they did, they wouldn’t tell him. Now he knew why.

He shot a glance at Papa. “Why did Robert feel it necessary to send me a warning?”

“You know why.”

Silence filled the room. Yes, he knew why. Until he came along, Sabrina Davis had been Salt Creek’s brightest star. And he’d tarnished her.

Papa stood up. “Might as well come to the store with me. I need to get some inventory done if we have to go to Lampasas tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir.” Tony picked up his plate along with Papa’s and carried them to the sink.

The ten-minute ride to town was quiet. Tony expected another lecture from Papa about staying away from Sabrina, but nothing was said. His cell phone chimed as Papa parked his small truck in front of the hardware store he’d owned for decades.

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.

The dimple under his left eye deepened. “I’d really like to get together while I’m still in town. Catch up. Could I take you to dinner sometime?”

He was close. Too close. Close enough for her to make out a faint scar under his jaw, just below his left ear. The scar—along with the bump on the bridge of his nose—that he’d gotten while defending her. She swallowed.

The sandalwood scent of his aftershave sent her heart into overdrive. She took a quick step backward and bumped into the cart. Strong arms caught her inches from hitting the floor.

His muscles tightened, and something flashed in his eyes. Before she could decipher it, thick black lashes blinked, and the mask she’d seen every time he wanted to hide his feelings returned. She pushed against his chest, struggling to right herself.

“Are you okay?” His husky voice sent shivers along her skin.

“I’m fine.” She took a breath in an effort to calm her galloping pulse.

Her knees almost buckled and she reached for the grocery cart. Leaning on it for support, she pushed it between them, forcing him to step back. A flicker of pain crossed his face. “You’re still injured. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It was only a flesh wound. What do you say? About dinner?”

“It was a long time ago. No need to rehash the past. Goodbye, Tony.” She pushed her cart past him and hurried to the checkout line.

She flinched as she slammed the groceries onto the moving belt. She kept her eyes trained on the items in her cart. Don’t look around for him. Don’t give him that satisfaction. How long had he said he was going to be in town?

The beeping noises from the cashier were drowned out by the pulse thundering in her ears. She paid as quickly as she could and pushed the cart outside just as her father’s beat-up Ford pulled into the parking lot. She scanned the area once more for any sign of Tony before making a beeline to the truck.

What was she afraid of? That Tony would be waiting to ambush her in the parking lot? What would he do if he found out the truth? Would he even care?

Her lie had never bothered her before. It was simply a means to an end. She’d done everything she could to get Tony to stay and he still refused. He’d been long gone by the time she found out she was pregnant. If he was that desperate to be rid of her, she wasn’t about to use a baby to blackmail him into coming back. Especially when he’d made it clear he didn’t want a family.

She pasted a smile on her face and opened the truck door. “How was the feed store?”

“Levi was a big help loading the sacks,” her father said. “He’s pretty strong for a nine-year-old.”

On the seat between them, Levi puffed his chest out. Sabrina let out a sigh of relief.

What would happen if the truth came out? No. She wouldn’t let that happen.

* * *

TONY STOOD INSIDE the store, waiting for Sabrina to leave. The pain in her eyes cut him to the core. What had he expected? For her to fall into his arms? The engagement ring she still wore on her finger was proof that she’d moved on. If he needed further evidence, all he had to do was look at the little boy who hopped out of Robert’s truck to help her load up the groceries.

David’s offer to deliver Tony’s SUV to Lampasas had been a godsend, and he’d given David directions to the H-E-B, right off the main road. His grandfather had dropped him off after his doctor’s appointment. What were the chances that Sabrina would be shopping there at the same time?

Here. Where are you?

Tony texted David back. Be right there. He stepped outside, looking for his Dodge Durango.

A horn honked and Tony saw a short, stocky man waving at him from across the parking lot. Grinning, he hurried over to shake his partner’s hand.

“How’re ya feeling, man?” David pulled Tony in for a quick hug.

For the next few minutes, Tony and David discussed doctors, the kids from St. Paul’s Mission and the weather, all the while ignoring the one thing Tony wanted to know the most.

Finally, he couldn’t stand it any longer. “Is Captain Rodriguez still pissed?”

David’s brow furrowed. “It’s not him you need to worry about. You screwed the mayor out of an opportunity to prove his anti-gang initiative is working. He’s the one gunning for you.”

“But it’s not working.” The only way to combat gangs was to get to the kids before they joined up. But the results took longer than most politicians had in office. None of them had that much time or dedication. “So I guess I’m still exiled.”

David shrugged. “It’s for your own good, you know. What would you be doing in San Antonio right now? Hanging out with the kids at St. Paul’s Mission? Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I can’t.” Tony lifted his chin. “I’ve put a lot of time in with those kids. You can’t expect me to abandon them just because Captain Rodriguez doesn’t think I should be seen there.”

“Most of those kids are known gangbangers and Cap is trying to keep you from being brought up on charges of hindering an investigation.”

“But I didn’t do anything wrong.” It wouldn’t matter. Tony had seen it too many times. Once a political witch hunt started, it didn’t end until someone went down. So in the meantime, he’d been banished to Salt Creek.

“You asked Mr. Chan not to press charges, so technically you did.”

Tony curled his fists. David was right. He’d let his own emotions get the better of him and he’d made a huge error in judgment. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Pain shot through his chest wound. “I guess I can kiss that promotion goodbye.”

“Captain Rodriguez is convinced the mayor is just blowing smoke. Hang tight and stay out of trouble. It’ll all work out.”

“Thanks, David. Keep me posted.”

“Will do, brother. Will do.”

A horn honked and then David’s wife pulled into the parking spot next to them.

“How are you doing, Tony?” Ashley asked through the open window.

“Good. Anxious to get back to work.”

“Well, hurry up. Without you around, David thinks he has to try out all his new jokes on me.”

David waved and jumped into the car. Tony waited for the two of them to pull away before climbing into his SUV. If he hadn’t blown it with Sabrina, would his life be more like David’s?

* * *

“CAN YOU STOP at the nursing home so I can pick up a job application?” Sabrina pointed the road out to her father.

Robert shot a look at her over Levi’s head. “Why do you want to do that?”

“I need a job, Dad. How else will I pay my half of the bills? And I want to try to get into the nursing program at Central Texas College. I need money for tuition.”

“Hmph. I managed to pay the bills before you got here. I reckon I can keep paying for them. All you need to do is worry about that boy of yours. Ain’t that the reason you moved here?”

“Yes, but I won’t let you pay for my school. If you don’t want to stop now, I’ll just come back and apply later.”

“Suit yourself.” He whipped into the turn lane. “You always do.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to remind her father where her stubbornness came from, but she clamped her mouth shut. She loved her father, but sometimes he was a hard man to get along with.

After her mother’s death, he’d retreated into a shell, cutting off everyone. Including his twelve-year-old daughter, who’d desperately needed to know someone still loved her.

Sabrina had tried to fill the void left in the house. She cooked, cleaned, shopped for groceries and paid the bills. Her father never seemed to notice. After a while, Sabrina had stopped caring if he appreciated her or not.

Instead, she’d found acceptance by excelling at school. She participated in every sport, organization and club her small high school offered. Most people saw her as an overachiever. Only Tony had understood.

Dad pulled up in front of the large brick building that housed the nursing home and parked without even glancing at her. She reached out to touch his arm. “I’m not trying to be stubborn, Dad. I want to contribute my fair share.”

She was proud of the fact that she’d been able to support herself ever since Aunt Patty moved to a retirement community in Florida. She refused to be a burden to her dad’s limited finances.

She returned just a few minutes later. Dad shifted into Drive and pulled out of the parking lot before saying, “They aren’t hiring right now.”

Sabrina stared at him. “How did you know that?”

He shrugged. “I called last week.”

He’d called on her behalf?

“Never could figure out why you always worked in nursing homes.”

“The only thing I have going for me is my CNA certificate. I don’t understand. Nursing homes are always hiring.” Now what was she going to do?

“They don’t pay much anymore, anyway. Ever since the high schools started letting kids earn college credits and certifications through them, the market is flooded. CNAs are a dime a dozen around here.” He turned onto the main road that would lead them back to Salt Creek.

“How do you know so much about it?”

His eyes never left the road. “I’ve been watching for CNA jobs ever since Patty moved to Florida.”

Sabrina’s hand came up to her throat. The same time he’d started rebuilding the addition to the house. She swallowed hard. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Something’ll come up. Don’t worry.”

The ride back to Salt Creek was made in relative silence. Only the drone of country music blaring from the radio filled the void. The highway ahead split and Dad took the left lane, bypassing the little town of Salt Creek. A few minutes later, he turned off onto a farm-to-market road before taking the long stretch of dirt laneway that led to the farm.

After crossing a cattle guard, the truck topped a hill and it felt as if Sabrina’s heart broke into song. Waving grassland stretched for miles. The red flagstone farmhouse stood out against the blue Texas sky, a testament to old-fashioned ingenuity. It was a sight she’d never get tired of. Funny how she didn’t know how much she missed it until she came back.

Taking refuge in Houston with her dad’s sister, she hadn’t planned to stay gone long. Just long enough to figure out how to juggle college and a newborn. Then her uncle Troy had suffered a stroke. Aunt Patty had had her hands full working enough hours to keep her insurance and find a home health aide to care for her beloved husband.

The Certified Nursing Assistant certificate Sabrina earned in high school had been intended to give her an advantage over other nursing program applicants. Luckily, it also gave her the qualifications required by Aunt Patty’s insurance company—and a convenient excuse to stay away from Salt Creek.

Aunt Patty was the only one who knew who Levi’s real father was. When Sabrina’s letters to Tony were returned unopened, it was Patty’s idea to create a fictional relationship with her GI friend to place the blame on. At the time, Sabrina had been too distraught and heartbroken to care. After a couple of years, the lie became easier and easier to live with.

Did anyone else suspect the truth? Her father had run Tony off the farm enough times to know there was more going on than homework. Certainly her friends and half the town knew about the secret relationship that wasn’t much of a secret. Would anyone even care enough ten years later to put the pieces together?

The truck jolted to a stop as her father pulled up in front of the house. Before Sabrina could unfasten her seat belt, Levi barreled out of the cab and grabbed two plastic grocery bags.

She smiled. “Wow. I didn’t even have to ask. You’re good for him.”

Dad reached over the bed of the truck and scooped up several bags himself. “I saw Antonio pulling out when I dropped you off. Did you run into Tony in H-E-B?”

“I did. He stopped and said hi.” She kept her voice light.

He looked her straight in the eye. “Stay away from him.”

CHAPTER THREE

TONY’S AFTERNOON HAD been filled with more doctor appointments and medical tests. All the way back to Salt Creek, his knuckles had been white from gripping the steering wheel. The tightness in his chest had nothing to do with his injury and everything to do with the woman who’d walked away from him in the grocery store that morning. He stretched his fingers, but it did little to relieve the tension, or the ache in his jaw from gritting his teeth.

Why was it that the pending investigation at his department didn’t bother him nearly as much as seeing Sabrina? As a police officer, he was accustomed to noticing details others missed. Sabrina’s appearance screamed at him. Her faded jeans, thin from so many washes. Shoes with soles worn down to nothing. She even carried herself differently. Shoulders slumped, as if she had given up on the world. He’d never wanted to see her like that. Dejected. Sad.

When Tony pulled up to his grandparents’ house, he saw Papa sitting in an old rocking chair on the porch, holding a chunk of wood.

Tony gingerly climbed the weather-beaten steps.

“Hello, mijo.” The old man didn’t look up. He opened his pocketknife and began to whittle. “How was your visit with your friend?”

“Fine.” Sitting next to his grandfather’s chair, he let his legs dangle over the edge of the porch. Tony watched with fascination as wood shavings began to fall to the ground. “I wish I’d learned to do that when I was a boy.”

“You can still learn.” Pausing from his work, the older man reached into a bucket next to him and brought out a scrap piece of wood. “Here. Whittling is good for clearing your mind.” He looked Tony over with his sharp eyes. “You may need a bigger piece. You saw her today, didn’t you?”

“Am I that obvious?”

Neither had to say her name. Papa leaned back in the chair, his hands a blur as he carved.

“Yes.” Tony’s hands twisted the wood around and around, wondering what he was supposed to see in it.

“Hmph.”

“She isn’t doing well. What if it’s my fault?”

“We all make our own choices in life. Fault lies within ourselves.”

“Sometimes choices are made for you.” By leaving, what choices had he forced her to make?

Ten years ago Sabrina had had a bright future and he’d had nothing to offer: no job, no home, no money, no hope. When he got a job offer working for a construction company in Louisiana, it was for more money than he’d ever made in his life. But she’d wanted to put college on hold and go with him.

So he made the decision for both of them and broken up with her.

“She hates me.”

“Maybe.” Papa paused from his whittling. “Emotions are like that block of wood. You can look at, examine it, think about it. But until you cut into it, it can never reach its potential. You might cut yourself. You might bleed. But until you cut, you can never shape it into what it could be.” Standing up, he handed his wood to Tony and walked into the house.

Tony stared at a perfectly carved bear.

After a few stabs at his own wood with his pocketknife, he gave up.

Sabrina deserved to know the truth. But which truth? That he’d never gotten over her? That not a day went by that he didn’t wish he could take back what he’d said to her?

Sabrina might hate him even more when she heard the truth, but until he could sit down and explain the real reason he’d left, he’d never be able to move on.

* * *

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?”

“Did the big city affect your memory?” The other woman reached over to squeeze her hand. “We did go to high school together. We were in CNA classes at the same time.”

Sabrina repressed a grin. Marissa had been the first one to faint at the sight of blood. She’d quit after the second week. “Yes, I still have my license.”

“Good. That’s partly why I’m here.” Marissa fished into her purse and slid a business card across the table.

Sabrina read it. “Independent healthcare contractor?”

“Yes.” Marissa nodded. “I work for Crestview Health Care Contracting.”

Sabrina leaned back in her chair. “Are you offering me a job?”

Marissa arched one delicately shaped eyebrow. “Well, technically, I can’t offer you a job until you apply for it. Interested?”

Sabrina’s throat tightened. “Absolutely. What is it?”

“On-site medical assistant for the alternative school in town.”

That was the second time today she’d heard the alternative school mentioned. “What exactly is an alternative school and why do they need someone in the summer? Isn’t school out right now?”

Marissa took a long drink of tea. “Most of the students come from Little Mountain Children’s Home. The home hires staff in the summer while house parents get some leave time.”

“House parents?”

“They want the kids to feel like they’re home, not in a facility, so children live in homes with a couple that serves as their foster parents. During the summer, the couples recharge, so they need a medical assistant on-site to help handle any issues that come up.”

Sabrina’s mind raced back to the times she traveled with her church youth group to volunteer at the children’s home in Cherokee. “Do I have to stay on-site? Overnights, I mean.”

“No,” Marissa said. “The kids double up with other house parents at night, but they like to have one person who is aware of the medical needs of all the students. You know, one constant among the change.”

Sabrina bit her bottom lip. Although she couldn’t remember specific faces from so long ago, there was one thing she did remember about the kids. How eager they were to love. And be loved. “I imagine some of those kids have seen too much change.”

“So, you’ll come to my office tomorrow and apply for the job?”

“Yes. But why me? According to my dad, there are tons of CNAs in the area.”

Marissa pressed her lips together. “The truth? The kids can be a little rough and some of them have some serious issues. So far, no one’s been able to last more than a month.”

“What makes you think I’ll be any different?”

“When we were growing up, you took in every stray animal and every outcast that moved to town. I’m willing to bet some things haven’t changed.”

“I also let people use me as their doormat and take advantage of me. That’ll never happen again.”

“I always knew there was a tough nut under that soft exterior. Are you in?”

Sabrina paused. If she was going to get Levi the counseling he needed, she had to have an income. Maybe working with troubled youth would give her some insight into helping her own son.

Wait. She straightened up. “Do the residents at Little Mountain receive any kind of counseling?”

“They have group sessions every Thursday and a few of the older ones receive one-on-one counseling. Why?”

“I’ll take the job if Levi can participate.”

“Deal.” Marissa grinned. “By the way, does Tony know he has a son?”

CHAPTER FOUR

TONY STARED AT the television, but had no idea what he’d just watched. He stood up and paced around the living room. He’d finished the breathing treatments the doctor had ordered and was given the okay to start exercising. Lightly. Right. Tony didn’t understand the meaning of light exercise. What good was it if it didn’t make him sweat and leave him tired?

The phone in the kitchen rang and his grandmother answered. “Tony, it’s for you.”

Who would call him here? Most people called his cell. “Hello?”

“Tony Montoya?” an unfamiliar voice greeted him. “My name is Jarrod Butler. I work with the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Department.”

“Hello, Jarrod. What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you could meet me for coffee. I’d like to discuss some things with you.”

What did someone from the sheriff’s department want with him? “Yeah, sure. What time?”

“I have time right now. How about meeting me at The Eagle’s Nest in about twenty minutes? I’ll buy lunch.”

The Eagle’s Nest. Any place but there. His first instinct was to insist on discussing this on the phone, but curiosity got the better of him. “Sure. See you in a few minutes.”

He’d been through town several times in the weeks since his return, but this was the first time that he paid attention to his surroundings. It looked the same as it had...well...almost. A few more of the old buildings were boarded up. The drought that had racked the area over the past few years had taken a toll on the small ranching community and many of the smaller mom-and-pop shops had closed. How much longer would the place be able to survive?

When he paused at the town’s only intersection, next to what used to be a dry-goods store, Tony scanned the graffiti on the weathered lumber across the window. A force of habit. There were no gang signs or hidden warnings in the scribbles on the warped wood. Just kids looking for something to do.

The gravel crunched under his tires as he pulled into the café parking lot. He recognized many of the vehicles. More proof that small towns were reluctant to change. Might as well get this over with.

Pausing at the café’s entrance, he tried to shake off the feeling that he truly was about to walk through time. A small bell rang when he opened the door. He scanned the dining area but didn’t see a uniformed officer anywhere.

Nostalgia punched him in the gut as he slid into a booth to wait for Jarrod to arrive. How many hours had he sat in the exact same booth, waiting for Sabrina to finish her shift as a waitress here? He shook his head, warding off the memories.

“Tony? I’m Jarrod Butler, I’m an investigator with the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Department.” He looked up to see a redheaded man with freckles.

Standing up, he shook the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” He followed Jarrod to a secluded area at the back of the café.

The waitress greeted them. Makeup pancaked her face in an attempt to cover the wrinkles. “What can I get for y’all?”

The aroma of fried chicken overpowered his resolve to find out what Jarrod wanted and leave. “Give me the special and a glass of sweet tea.”

Jarrod placed his order and then they were alone. He swirled his water glass, watching Tony carefully. “I read the article in the paper about you. Impressive.”

“I was just doing my job.”

“I talked to your captain.” Jarrod leaned his forearms on the table. “He says you’ve got quite a gift for working with troubled kids.”

Jarrod had talked to his captain? Why? He gave the man a level stare. “It’s not a gift. It’s experience. I’ve been where those boys have been. I understand what they’re going through.”

“He says you’ve helped more boys get out of gangs than the rest of his staff combined. Sounds like a gift to me.”

“I like to think I’m using my rebelliousness to allow me to connect with the kids no one else wants to deal with.” Was Jarrod aware of Tony’s teenage reputation in this town?

“While you’re here, I wondered if you would be willing to put your experience to use.”

“Surely you’re not having gang trouble in Salt Creek?”

“No.” Jarrod shrugged one shoulder. “At least, not yet. But we are experiencing some issues.”

“Issues?”

“Vandalism, theft.”

Tony shook his head. “Sounds like typical teenagers.”

“I thought so at first. But we’ve received reports of drug activity in the area. Maybe linked with a group home here in town.” Jarrod leaned back in his chair. “Some of the teenage boys have suspected gang ties.”

“So what do you want from me?” Bitterness soured his sweet tea. Was Jarrod looking for someone to tell him it was okay to send the kids away? Pack them up and ship them out. That’s how everyone wanted to deal with kids in the foster care system.

Jarrod reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He slid it across the table. “I want to help them. But I don’t know how. I’ve tried to get to know these boys but—”

“You were shot down.” Boys like that didn’t trust easily. Especially a deputy sheriff. Tony studied the list of names, complete with ages and where they were from.

The platinum blonde waitress appeared with their order. “Can I get you anything else?”

“No, thank you,” Jarrod and Tony said in unison.

She started to walk away, then stopped and turned back toward Tony. “Don’t I know you? You look real familiar.”

He narrowed his eyes as he tried to place the woman. “Could be. I lived here for a few years.”

She studied him for a moment before a toothy smile brightened up her chubby face. “You’re Antonio Montoya’s grandson, ain’t ya?”

She set the coffeepot down and grabbed him by both arms. “Stand up, boy, let me get a look at ya.” She clicked her tongue. “I guess I just lost a bet.”

Betty. She’d been best friends with Sabrina’s mom and had taken Sabrina under her wing when her mom died. “What bet?”

“I figured you’d end up in jail ’fore you were twenty-one, but Sabrina always said you’d come back here one day and prove everybody wrong.”

“If it wasn’t for her, I probably would be in jail,” he told her honestly.

“When Sabrina lit out right after you, we was sure you two had run off together.”

His gut wrenched. No way had she tried to follow him. He’d made sure she wanted nothing to do with him. From her reaction yesterday, he had done a good job.

A customer across the café called her name and Betty gave him one last bear hug before leaving.

“You okay?” Jarrod’s face was one of concern. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“This town is full of ghosts.” He slipped the list into his shirt pocket. “Thanks for the lunch, Jarrod. Can we talk tomorrow?”

* * *

THE WARM SUMMER breeze flowed through the windows of Tony’s SUV. For the last two hours, he’d been touring the back roads of Salt Creek. His own trip down memory lane. But more recent events were troubling him. It’d been almost a week since he’d seen Sabrina. Why didn’t she ever come into town?

The setting sun bathed the cab of his truck in an orange glow, and his stomach growled. Time to head home. He slowed down as he approached the outskirts of town. The large brick school that housed kindergarten through twelfth grade looked the same, but the area surrounding the school had changed. The residential houses across the street had been replaced by mobiles. A sign identified one of the buildings as an alternative school. Code for the place where the troubled kids had to go.

Was that where they would’ve sent him? A small dirt road branched off the main one and disappeared over the top of a hill. One more stop down memory lane. Tony turned his SUV onto the gravel and followed it to the end. Little Mountain. The namesake of the children’s home.

Tony got out of his vehicle and climbed onto the warm hood. Leaning against the windshield, he listened to the wind rustling through the tall oak trees surrounding the area. The stars twinkled as the heat from the day began to ebb.

This was the first place that he’d been alone with Sabrina. He had done nothing but complain about Salt Creek and she’d been desperate to make him see the beauty of small-town life. So she brought him to Little Mountain. After a brief history lesson on the town, she’d spread a blanket out in the back of his old pickup truck. They were there for hours. Just talking. He never even held her hand, but it was the closest Tony had felt to anyone in his entire life.

Now, as he lay against the windshield and searched for the constellations she’d loved to point out, a sense of peace washed over him. How long had it been since he’d taken the time to look at the night sky? Too long. It was almost impossible to see stars through the glare of city lights.

His time in Salt Creek was slipping away. It was the middle of June. Half of his six-week sentence was over and he didn’t want it to end. He took a deep breath, and the smell of cedar trees, wildflowers and mesquite enveloped him. By the time he got back in his truck and headed slowly down the hill, lightning bugs were dancing in the tall grass.

As he approached the school, the lights on the outside basketball courts drew his attention. A group of boys tossed a ball around on the center court. He pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine. Jarrod wanted him to get to know the boys in town. The best way to learn about someone was to watch them when they didn’t know they were being watched.

The group home was just on the other side of Little Mountain. How many of the boys on the court were from the home? And were they here unsupervised?

A few scantily clad teen girls chatted on the benches while watching the game. Another group of boys huddled together in the far corner of the parking lot.

One shadowed figure straightened up and turned toward Tony’s vehicle. His companions followed suit. When three of the boys broke off from the group and headed to him, Tony pulled out his smartphone and pretended to be sending a text.

Aware of every move made close to his truck, Tony didn’t look up from his phone until he heard a sharp rap on the window.

“You lookin’ for somebody?” Long brown hair fell in the young man’s face.

“A place, actually.” Tony looked down at his phone. “Little Mountain Group Home. Ever heard of it?”

“I’ve heard of it. Nothing there but a bunch of losers.”

Yep. This kid was definitely trouble. It was in the way he moved and talked. Tony recognized it because he’d been like that once. “I’m supposed to start volunteering there tomorrow morning and I want to be sure I know where I’m going.”

The boy placed one hand on the roof of Tony’s Durango. “Why would you do that?”

Tony shrugged. “I have to.”

He was purposely vague. Someone used to trouble would assume he’d been ordered to do some type of community service.

“Kyle,” one of the boys on the court shouted at a kid walking away. “Where you going? We need you.”

Tony remembered seeing a Kyle on the list Jarrod had given him and looked up to see a lanky kid strutting across the concrete. He stopped next to Tony’s truck.

“Wassup, Nick?” The kids bumped fists.

Nick nodded toward Tony. “This guy wants to know where the home is. Says he’s supposed to start work there tomorrow.”

Kyle turned his head to spit on the ground. “Just follow the road around the mountain and follow the signs out of town. Can’t miss it.”

Tony frowned. Well, that had backfired. Now he had no choice but to leave. Unless he wanted to look suspicious. He fell back on his training. Keep ’em talking. “What’s there to do around here?”

“Not much. Where you from?” Kyle stepped between the truck and Nick.

Something about the way Kyle stood put Tony on edge. He hovered around the truck, his eyes darting back and forth from the dark alley next to the basketball courts to Nick.

“San Antonio.”

Kyle grinned. “No way. I’m from San Marcos.”

“I’ve been there. My buddies and I like to tube the Guadalupe River down to New Braunfels.”

“Yeah? We did that a few times, too.”

Nick slapped Kyle on the shoulder. “The guys are ready. You coming?”

“Yeah. I’ll be right there.” Kyle leaned against the truck, clearly in no hurry.

“I take it you’re from the home. What about him?” Tony nodded toward the retreating kid.

“Nah.” Kyle glanced over his shoulder. “His grandpa donated the building the state turned into the home, and his dad’s some big shot who inspects all the group homes in the area.”

“Sounds like the kid’s got it made.”

“Yeah.”

“Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” Tony watched the teen head back to the others.

Kyle took his time getting to Nick’s group. He stopped and talked to a girl watching the game and another boy coming off the court. Tony smiled. Nick liked to run the show and Kyle was making it known that he wasn’t going to jump through the kid’s hoops.

Tony looked around the area. How many of the teens were from the home? He was pretty sure they were supposed to have adult supervision at all times. Wherever the chaperone was, they weren’t paying much attention to the boys on the courts. Kyle got in a truck with Nick and a few others and left without saying a word to anyone else. Was Nick one of the long-time residents of Salt Creek? Was he a transfer from the city?

Most people who grew up in the small town couldn’t wait to get out. Then, as they got older, they tired of the hustle and bustle of city life and recalled an idealistic childhood. When their teenage children became belligerent, the parents’ solution was to ship them to the grandparents, convinced life in small-town America would cure them. Sometimes it worked, like with him. Sometimes it didn’t. Too bad those parents didn’t realize it was the first decade of their life that counted the most. Was Nick one of those kids?

* * *

SABRINA SCRAMBLED EGGS while listening for Marissa’s car. She rolled her shoulders. Lack of sleep over the past week had given her a dull headache and an aching back.

She had no reason to be so worried. Marissa had promised to keep her secret but if Marissa had guessed that Levi was Tony’s son, how long would it take for others to figure it out? After almost an hour of questions, she’d managed to convince Marissa that she didn’t intentionally lie to Tony. She doubted others would be as forgiving. Especially Tony.

Her own sense of morality was the cause of most of her uneasiness. Would things be different today if he’d opened the last letter she’d sent? More than once he’d declared that he never wanted a family but deep down she knew he’d never abandon his child the way his father had abandoned him. And that was the crux of her dilemma.

Aunt Patty told her not to feel guilty because every effort had been made to notify Tony about Levi’s birth. After hearing her story, even Marissa agreed that Sabrina had done everything she could. Back then. But what about now?

Her son was finally returning to the happy, carefree boy she knew. If she told the truth, would it help her son or make him worse?

“Levi,” she called, scooping the eggs onto a plate. “Breakfast is ready.”

“Is Bradley here?” He came out of his room, already dressed.

“Not yet, but any minute now.” She poured him a glass of milk.

“I hear them.” Levi shoved the scrambled eggs into his mouth and jumped up from the table.

By the time Sabrina met Marissa at the door, the two boys had taken off to the barn in search of her father.

Marissa watched the boys from the porch. “I take it that Levi’s as excited about this fishing trip as Bradley.”

Sabrina laughed and held the door open for her. “I don’t think either of them are as excited as Dad. He’s been packing things all week.”

Marissa’s easy laugh put Sabrina at ease. It was clear Marissa wasn’t going to judge her for the sins of her past. As soon as she signed the paperwork in Marissa’s briefcase, she’d officially have a job. And better yet, Levi would get the counseling required to get him back into school. Little Mountain even promised a bonus after six months of employment. A bonus that was large enough to pay the first semester’s tuition for the nursing program.

By the time she’d poured Marissa a cup of coffee, Marissa had papers scattered across the dining table.

She handed the cup to her friend and sat down to look over the forms. “Thanks for bringing these over. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

Marissa sipped her coffee. “No sense in you having to drive to Lampasas to sign papers and turn around and come back. Especially if you want to start today. Besides, it gave me an excuse to go into the office late this morning. And Bradley was going nuts waiting for Levi. This was the fastest way to get him out of my hair.”

A thrill ran through her as she signed the last form. “How are you involved with Little Mountain? I’m going to be working for them, not Crestview, correct?”

Marissa stacked the papers together. “Yes. We’re a contracting company and just assist with the hiring process. They tell us what they need, we find them the best applicants for the job. Once hired, you’re all theirs.”

Sabrina nodded. Her dad was less than thrilled to hear she’d be working at the children’s home. Maybe they were rougher than what she’d been led to believe. “Any advice on working with these kids?”

Marissa nodded. “I understand your concern, but we’ve never had any major problems with them. They’re troubled, yes, but most of them are just kids who need someone to care about them. The state puts those who have a violent history in a different facility. This one only takes fifteen to thirty children at a time, and the ages range from seven to eighteen.

“A couple of the kids have diabetes and need glucose monitoring and shots occasionally. And several of them have asthma. The entire staff is CPR certified, but the state requires someone with more medical training during the day. At least while the kids are out of school for the summer.”

She relaxed. That didn’t sound too bad.

“The home is in the old Johnson house, outside of town. Do you remember where that is?”

Sabrina nodded. She knew the house where the home was located well. Once considered a model home in the county, years of neglect had taken its toll. Sabrina and Tony had gone into the abandoned house one night. Not one ghost jumped out to scare them, much to their disappointment.

It was a large home, but not large enough for thirty children plus all the adults it took to supervise them. “Where do they fit that many kids?”

“The younger children stay in the main home, but they built cabins on the ten-acre property for the teens. The boys and girls are separated, of course, and each cabin has a married couple who lives with them.”

Thirty minutes later, Sabrina stood in front of the double wooden doors of the main house. It looked like the property had been a good investment. The State of Texas had probably bought it for next to nothing, which made the obvious repairs on the home that much more affordable.

The door was unlocked, so she stepped inside. Chimes echoed, alerting anyone in the building someone had entered. Where was everyone? A small girl ran across her path and stopped short when she saw Sabrina. Her dark brown eyes opened wide. “Are you a wobber?”

“A what?” Sabrina squatted down so she could understand her better.

“A wobber,” the girl said slowly, then smiled, revealing her missing front teeth.

Sabrina smiled. “No. I’m not a robber. I’m a medical assistant. Is there an adult around here?”

“Ms. Paula!” the little girl yelled, and ran down the hall.

The hallway ended in a large playroom. Several children, boys and girls who all looked to be under the age of ten, were sprawled across the floor, engaged in different activities. A woman with short, spiky hair sat cross-legged, reading a story to a small group.

She jumped to her feet when she noticed Sabrina. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Karen?”

“Down the hall and to the right.”

Sabrina followed her direction and almost ran into a robust woman in a hot pink dress decorated with ducks. “I’m looking for Karen.”

“You found her.” The woman smiled and reached out to shake hands with her. “From the scrubs you’re wearing, you must be our new medical assistant.”

“Yes. I’m Sab—”

The back door burst open and a young man in his early twenties shouted, “Miss Karen! Help!”

Karen rushed to him, with Sabrina right behind her. The man carried a boy down the hall. Blood dripped from under the hand he had pressed to the child’s scrawny arm.

“Bring him in here.” Karen held a door open.

Sabrina followed closely, recognizing the room as the medical office. She snatched some alcohol wipes and gloves off the shelf next to the exam table. Karen stepped back to let Sabrina examine the wound.

“What happened?” Sabrina removed the man’s hand from the cut.

“We were on a nature walk when Jake decided to run again. He tried to climb the fence and cut his arm.”

Jake, the boy in question, winced as Sabrina dabbed an alcohol wipe over the cut. When she asked him questions, he turned his head, refusing to talk. A current of anger ran through the boy. He was about the same age as Levi. What could cause so much rage in such a young kid?

“What a day for you to show up.” Karen handed Sabrina a box filled with different sized bandages. “It’s usually not this exciting.”

The ringing of the doorbell was followed by a man calling out, “Hello? Anyone here?”

Sabrina didn’t need to look up from the butterfly bandages she was applying to Jake’s arm to know who was in the hallway.

“That must be the new volunteer,” Karen said. “Travis Anderson, our campus director, is out of town for a few days, so I’m holding down the fort. Be right back.”

A few minutes later, Jake was bandaged up and sound asleep on the cot in the corner of the room. Sabrina held her breath. Was Tony gone? Was it safe to come out?

The half-open door swung open all the way and Tony leaned against the frame. “I thought that looked like you in here. Everything okay?” The dimple on one cheek deepened.

“Fine. Thanks.” She kept her voice calm.

“I didn’t know you worked here.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, pushing the curls out of his face. He nodded toward the sleeping figure. “The kid going to be okay?”

“He’ll be fine. And today is my first day. What are you doing here?” She pretended to organize items inside the desk.

“I work with an outreach program to try to keep kids out of gangs back in San Antonio, so I stopped by to see if I could hang out with the kids here.”

She looked up at him. “I thought you were a police officer.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I am. I volunteer at St. Paul’s.”

“Does it work?”

“What?”

She sighed. “The outreach program. Does it keep kids out of gangs?”

“Sometimes.” He looked squarely at her. “We do what we can, but not every kid wants to be saved.”

She chuckled. “Seems like someone told me the same thing about animals once.”

He reached over and took her hand. His fingers traced the deep scar running across her palm. “I was right, but you had to learn the hard way.”

His featherlight touch sent chills up her arm. She snatched her hand away from him. “It may take me a while, but once I learn something, I never forget.”

The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of his gentle side.

“I have scars from that night, too.” He held up his own hand to reveal a matching mark.

Sabrina looked down at the sleeping child on the cot. “Funny thing about scars. The worst ones are the ones people can’t see.”

* * *

A SHARP PAIN twisted Tony’s gut. Sabrina was looking at the little boy curled up on the cot, but he had the feeling she was talking about herself. The last ten years hadn’t been easy for her. He could tell without asking. She was still beautiful, despite being much thinner than she’d been in high school. Her long blond hair was wrapped in a tight bun, making her high cheekbones stand out.

He’d thought he made the right choice so long ago. Or, rather, that he’d forced her to make the right choice. But looking at her now, it was easy to see that she carried a heavy burden.

“Bree.” He swallowed. Where to begin? “I heard about your fiancé. I’m sorry.”

She crossed her arms. “Thank you.”

“It must be hard being a single mom. I’m sure his family helps you a lot.”

Sabrina found a supply chart inside the desk and pulled it out. “No. They aren’t involved.”

“Why?”

“Levi’s father didn’t know I was pregnant when he left.” She placed the clipboard on the desk. “I’m really not comfortable talking about this. Especially here. Do you want something?”

Something was wrong. Her voice was missing the bitterness and pain he would’ve expected from a woman in her situation. She couldn’t even look at him.

First she’d been abandoned by him. Then she’d lost her son’s father.

The boy on the cot stirred and he knew the conversation he wanted to have with her would have to wait.

“Sorry about that.” Karen breezed back into the room. She stopped three steps inside the door. She looked back and forth between Tony and Sabrina. “Everything all right?”

“Yes,” Tony said. “I’d better be going. I only wanted to stop by and introduce myself.”

“Come on back to my office,” Karen said, “and I can go over the schedule with you.”

He nodded. “I’ll be right there.”

Karen waited at the door for a moment. Tony crossed his arms. She pressed her lips together. “I’ll just go get the schedule for you.”

He waited for her to leave and turned back to Sabrina. “I don’t want things to be like this. Can we get together sometime and talk? Please.”

“What do you want?” Her eyes were red. Was she holding back tears?

His mouth dropped open. “I need to know you’re okay. That my leaving didn’t force you into a doomed relationship with a guy that was no good for you. That you won’t hate me forever.”

She lifted her chin. “I know you’re only going to be in town a few more weeks, so I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away from me while you’re here.”

There was the pain and bitterness he’d expected. Aimed at him. Of course. She couldn’t be angry with a dead man. It was easier to be mad at him. She’d confirmed his fear. Her life hadn’t turned out as planned and it was his fault. He couldn’t go back to San Antonio without setting things right. But where did he start? “I need you to know that leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Good.” Sabrina turned her back to him and opened a supply cabinet at the back of the room.

* * *

AFTER HIS BRIEF meeting with Karen, the assistant director, Tony decided to stay for rest of the day. The kids at Little Mountain were a different kind of intense than the ones at St. Paul’s Mission. He could see a little of himself in the eyes of the children at both places.

He was signing out at the front desk when Sabrina closed and locked the medical office. For a brief moment, their eyes met.

He caught a whiff of honeysuckle as she whisked by.

Taking his visitor badge off and setting it on the counter, he nodded at the woman behind the desk. “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and almost ran to the parking lot. He stopped short when he saw her open the door of a beat up gray Toyota. At least he thought it was gray. Wasn’t that the same car she drove in high school? It’d been on its last leg back then. How had it lasted this long?

Catching up to her, he cleared his throat.

“I’m in a hurry, Tony.” She kept her back to him and opened the door.

“Please. I need to get this off my chest.”

She tossed her purse on the seat. “You’ve got two minutes.”

Tony rubbed his palms on his jeans. She wasn’t going to make this easy. “I am so sorry for the way I treated you. And the way I left. I never meant what I said that night.”

“Yes, you did. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said it.”

“That’s just it. You ruined your reputation by vouching for me the night I was accused of robbing that store, so I couldn’t let you take any more chances on me until...” He paused. “Until I could deserve you.”

Sabrina shrugged and looked down at her feet. “It doesn’t matter anymore. We were young. I’m over it. I went on with my life, just like you.”

“Is that what you think I did? Just went on with my life like nothing happened?” He pointed to the diamond on her left hand. “Looks like you didn’t have a hard time moving on.”

She whipped her head up to look at him. Anger flashed in her eyes. “You’re the one who left me. You have no right to judge me for the decisions I made when you left.”

Is that what he was doing? Judging her? The truth was, he was jealous of the man she’d loved enough to have a family with. Angry, even. “I only left because I thought it would make things easier on you.”

She threw her hands in the air. “How was leaving me when I needed you the most supposed to make things easier for me?”

“When I heard you tell Adalie you wanted to put college off for at least a year so you could go to Louisiana with me, I panicked. Without me around stirring up trouble, I thought the town would forget about me, and you would go to college like you were supposed to.”

“Well, guess what? It didn’t work.”

“If I’d stayed, you’d never have become a nurse. We’d both be stuck in this little town forever.”

Her hands curled into fists. “Here’s a newsflash for you. I’m not a nurse. I still haven’t finished college and I like this little town.”

Tony sucked in a breath. “Your scholarship—”

“Got yanked right after you left.” She pulled herself up tall. “And thanks to your disappearing act, people just shook their heads when they saw me. So I pulled a page from your book and ran away, too.”

“I didn’t know.” Stepping over to her, he took her face in his hands. How had things gone so wrong? “Everything was planned. You were going to finish school and become a nurse.”

“No, we had everything planned. Then you decide to leave. I have the same CNA certification I had when I graduated high school. That’s how perfect our plan worked out.”

The words slapped him in the face. He had hurt her. On purpose. And it killed him. Had he done it for nothing? “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care. Not anymore.” Sabrina slid into the car and slammed the door.