pulled back his suit coat to show them the distinctive silver star on his shirt.
The first one leaned closer for a look. “Marvelous. Alma, look what it says.”
Alma leaned closer, too. Two old ladies reading his chest wasn’t Sam’s idea of a good time, but his mama had trained him to be polite. He waited until they’d studied his badge before he let his coat fall back into place.
“Oh, there you are, Sam,” Flora said, sweeping into their threesome. “Ladies, will you excuse me if I borrow Sam for a minute? There’s someone I want him to meet.” Without waiting for a reply, she whisked him away as pretty as you please.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Flora tittered. “You looked in pain. Alma and Thelma Culbertson mean well, but they can be a trial sometimes. They adore Belle. She met them in her pottery class.”
Flora led him to a corner where Skye was talking to a sharp-looking dude in an expensive suit. Sam didn’t like the way the dude was standing so close to Skye or the way he was looking at her. He noticed that Gus didn’t seem to care.
“John,” Flora said to the guy, “I’d like for you to meet Sam Outlaw, one of Belle’s brothers. Sam, John Oates is the mayor of Wimberley.”
The two men shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries.
Flora took John’s arm, and said, “I don’t think you’ve met Belle’s other brothers, John. Come along and let me introduce you.” She waltzed him away before he had time to protest, leaving Skye and Sam alone.
“Hi, again,” Sam said.
“Hi, again, yourself.”
“Did your mother just engineer that?”
Skye smiled. “She did. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not a bit. I was trying to figure out a way to escape the twins and make it back to you. Sure you don’t want to dance?”
She laughed again, and the sound of it reminded him of the wind moving through a stand of pines on a spring day.
“Who’s John Oates?”
“He’s the mayor.”
“I mean besides that.”
“He’s a building contractor.”
“Is he married?”
Skye shook her head. “Divorced. We went to school together. I’ve known him most of my life. I treat his dog Commander.”
“Will you treat my dog?”
“I thought you didn’t have a dog.”
“I’m going to get one.”
Chapter Two
“You sure do seem to be humming a lot these days,” Suki, the housekeeper, said as she placed Skye’s breakfast on the table.
“Must be the lovely weather.”
“Humph. I’d bet my last dime it has more to do with a tall drink of water named Sam Outlaw,” Suki said.
Gabe lowered his newspaper. “Something going on that I don’t know about?”
“Lots of things going on around here that you don’t know about,” Suki replied. “You spend more time at Belle’s place than you do in your own house. You ought to marry that gal if you ask me.”
Skye smiled as Suki stomped from the kitchen. Suki and her husband Ralph had worked for Gabe for years, Suki as housekeeper and Ralph as overseer of the compound, and were more like part of the family than employees. Ralph was a big, easygoing man, but Suki was a tiny thing with flashing black eyes who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind about everything. Skye adored them both.
“Yeah,” Skye said, “when are you and Belle going to get married?”
“As soon as she says the word.”
“And what word is that?”
“Yes.” Gabe folded his newspaper. “Don’t change the subject, baby sister. What’s going on with Sam?”
“Nothing’s going on with Sam. I’ve only seen the man once in my life. At the party.” She dug into her cereal. “He seems nice. I liked all of Belle’s family.”
“So did I. And don’t get me wrong, Sam’s a great guy, but I don’t think he’s your type.”
A sudden flash of anger jerked her head up. “Really? And exactly what is my type?”
“Whoa. I didn’t mean to insult you, honey. I just meant that he seems a little rowdier than someone I’d pick for you.”
“Define rowdy.”
The doorbell rang, and Gabe seemed decidedly relieved. “That must be Napoleon.”
“Suki will let him in. Define rowdy.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly mean rowdy. Maybe high-spirited would be a better term. He’s a rough, tough kind of guy in a rough, tough occupation.”
“And you don’t think I would appeal to a man like that?”
“Skye, I think you’re a lovely woman who would appeal to any man. It’s just that you haven’t shown any interest in anyone since…well, in a long time.”
“It’s Carlotta ringing the bell,” Suki shouted. “And looks like Napoleon is coming up the drive.”
Skye sighed and rose. “I guess you’re right, Gabe. Let me go tend to Carlotta.” She grabbed a banana, then she and Gus headed for the door.
Carlotta was her banana-loving pal, a llama that nobody wanted any longer and had ended up in their pasture. In a moment of mischief, Skye had taught the smart creature to ring the doorbell. It ceased to be amusing after she started escaping from the pasture frequently and trying to get into the house.
“I thought you said Carlotta was going to quit getting out and pulling them shenanigans when you got those sheep for her to tend,” Suki said.
“You’ll have to admit she’s better nowadays. This is the first time she’s rung the bell in a long time. Napoleon and I will put her back in the pasture.”
She stepped out on the porch and patted Carlotta as the llama nuzzled close to Skye and sniffed the banana.
“She get out again?” Napoleon asked.
Napoleon Jones, an ex-tackle from Texas State and a hulking brute of a guy, climbed the steps to the porch. Not only was Napoleon her bodyguard, but he was also her assistant at the clinic. Even as fierce-looking as he was, animals adored him, and he was loving and gentle with every fury and feathered creature she treated. He picked her up
