Texas Rebels: Falcon
A Secret Shared… Falcon Rebel has been a single dad ever since his ex walked out seventeen years ago. Now Leah’s back to see their daughter, Eden – just once, she says. She’s made another life and wants them all to move on. But Falcon’s suspicious. Why won’t Leah keep the door open between them, if only for Eden’s sake?Leah won’t burden her family with the truth. But coming home has reignited the incredible bond she and Falcon once shared. And soon Leah is facing an impossible choice: share her devastating secret, or walk away… and leave her heart behind.
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Cast of Characters
Kate Rebel: Matriarch of the Rebel family.
Falcon: The oldest sonâthe strong one. Abandoned by his wife, Leah, following the birth of their daughter, Eden.
Egan: The loner. Married to Rachel Hollister, daughter of the man who put him in jail.
Quincy: The peacemaker. In love with Jenny Walker, his brotherâs girlfriend.
Elias: The fighter. Falls in love with the daughter of their archenemy.
Paxton: The lover. Never met a woman he couldnât have, but the woman he wants doesnât want him.
Jude: The serious, responsible one. Raising his small son alone.
Phoenix: The wild one and the youngest. Heâs independent and free until Child Protective Services says heâs the father of a small boy.
Abraham (Abe) Rebel: Paternal grandfather.
Jericho Johnson: Eganâs friend from prison.
Two-time RITA® Award-nominated and award-winning author LINDA WARREN loves her job, writing happily-ever-after books for Mills & Boon. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a farm/ranch in Texas, she writes about sexy heroes, feisty heroines and broken families with an emotional punch, all set against the backdrop of Texas. Her favorite pastime is sitting on her patio with her husband watching the wildlife, especially the injured ones that are coming in pairs these days: two Canada geese with broken wings, two does with broken legs and a bobcat ready to pounce on anything tasty. Learn more about Linda and her books at her website, www.lindawarren.net, or on Facebook, LindaWarrenAuthor, or follow @Texauthor on Twitter.
The internet is an invaluable source and I used it extensively to research brain tumors. Some of the personal stories tugged at my heart. A big thanks to the women who were willing to share their ordeal.
A special thanks to Phyllis Phucas, RN, for graciously sharing her knowledge and answering my many questions about preemies.
All errors are strictly mine.
I dedicate this book to Elaine Weldon, a faithful reader. She loved my books and would tell anyone who would listen about them. I will miss her shining face at book signings. Soar with the angels, Elaine.
Contents
My name is Kate Rebel. I married John Rebel when I was eighteen years old and then bore him seven sons. We worked the family ranch, which John later inherited. We put everything we had into buying more land so our sons would have a legacy. We didnât have much, but we had love.
The McCray Ranch borders Rebel Ranch on the east and the McCrays have forever been a thorn in my familyâs side. Theyâve cut our fences, dammed up creeks to limit our water supply and shot one of our prize bulls. Ezra McCray threatened to shoot our sons if he caught them jumping his fences again. We tried to keep our boys away, but they are boysâyoung and wild.
One day Jude and Phoenix, two of our youngest, were out riding together. When John heard shots, he immediately went to find his boys. They lay on the ground, blood oozing from their heads. Ezra McCray was astride a horse twenty yards away with a rifle in his hand. John drew his gun and fired, killing Ezra instantly. Both boys survived with only minor wounds. Since my husband was protecting his children, he didnât spend even one night in jail. This escalated the feud that still goes on today.
The man I knew as my husband died that day. He couldnât live with what heâd done, and started to drink heavily. I had to take over the ranch and the raising of our boys. John died ten years later. Weâve all been affected by the tragedy, especially my sons.
They are grown men now and deal in different ways with the pain of losing their father. One day I pray my boys will be able to put this behind them and live healthy, normal lives with women who will love them the way I loved their father.
Falcon: the oldest sonâthe strong one.
A time to forget...
Eighteen years was long enough to wait for his wife to come home. Today Falcon Rebel would stop waiting.
Every time the phone rang he tensed. Every time the news came on and someoneâs body had been found he could barely breathe until he heard the personâs identity. Every time his daughter mentioned her name he searched his mind for reasons why Leah would leave him and their three-month-old baby.
What could possibly justify her actions? It had been a long labor and a difficult birth, and Leah was different afterward. Heâd tried talking to her, but nothing worked. She had wanted to be left alone, and then one day he came home to find a note on the bed. It was simple: âI need time. Leah.â No love. Nothing. Just like that, she was gone from their lives.
Standing on his balcony looking out over Rebel Ranch, his eyes strayed to the tall oaks in the distance shading Yaupon Creek. Theyâd made love there for the first time. She was a virgin and scared, and he had wanted to make it special for her. It had been, but they were just teenagers playing adults. Getting pregnant in high school wasnât in their plans. Theyâd gotten married, though, because it was the right thing to do. Leah moved into his room on the ranch and he was sure they could make it. They loved each other.
