Texas Homecoming by MAGGIE SHAYNE

he had a clear view of the kids out front messing with the pony. "Look at the poor, scrawny little fella," he said. "He wants to ride Bubba's pony so bad he can hardly stand it, but his anal, overprotective mother is too afraid he'll get a bruise or a scratch to let him."
    He turned his gaze to Garrett. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
    "Uh, that"
    "What?"
    "What you just said. About Jasmine."
    Luke shook his head slowly. "She's a nut"
    "She's a woman, and she's on her own with that boy, and she's running scared," Garrett said, hunkering down and resting his elbows across his knees.
    Luke lifted his brows. "You got that feeling, too, huh?"
    "It's pretty obvious she's in some kind of trouble."
    "Yeah." He drew a breath, not liking the tight, anxious feeling in his chest
    "Now, I know you haven't been a part of the family for all that long, but I thought you'd picked up on enough to know better than to act the way you are toward a woman in trouble, Luke."
    Luke frowned. "What do you mean? I let her spend the night I gave her my own bed. And I made her breakfast, for crying out loud."
    "And this morning you're ready to boot her out"
    "She's trying to take my house away from me!"
    "Maybe she's got a legitimate claim," Garrett said, his tone deep and calm. "But that's not why you want her out, and I think you know it."
    Luke sighed, averted his eyes, then peeked down at Garrett again. "I don't think spending the weekend under the same roof with her is the smartest thing for me to do, is all."
    "Why not?" Garrett asked.
    "Why not?
Hell, Garrett, have you taken a good look at that woman?"
    Garrett pursed his lips. "So, you kind of like her."
    "No. I don't. I don't like her at all. And I don't want to. She's not the kind of woman I want to get involved with, not in any way, shape or form. Besides, she's lying. I can tell."
    "How?"
    "She won't show me any ID, Garrett. We don't even know she
is
Jenny Lee Walker."
    Garrett sighed. "Well, now, it wouldn't be too bright to come all the way out here and try to claim the place if she couldn't prove she was who she says she is, would it, Luke? Why would she lie about something that's so simple to check out?"
    Luke lifted his brows. "Simple to check out?"
    "Sure. We just check with the Illinois DMV, trace her plate number, get a copy of her driver's license down here and take a gander at the photo. What could be easier?"
    Pursing his lips, Luke said, "Do it."
    "Do it?"
    "Please? I've got a feeling about her, Garrett. She's trouble with a capital
T.
Run the plates, too, while you're at it."
    Garrett shrugged. "Fine, I'll do it. Have to wait till Monday, though. The DMV won't be open on the weekend. Come Monday, I'll put in a call and they'll fax me the photo. Okay?"
    He sighed. "Okay."
    "Meanwhile, you need to straighten up and be a Brand. You got a woman and a kid in trouble, with nowhere to go. You keep her here. Put her up until we settle this thing. And try being nice to her."
    "Is that an order?"
    Garrett smiled. "Considering I'm the closest thing to a big brother you got, cousin, yep, consider it an order. But, uh...be careful."
    Luke straightened away from the tree. "Careful? Why? Do you think she's dangerous?"
    "Hoo-yeah," Garrett said. "But not the way you think. See, there's this genetic defect that seems to run through the males in the Brand clan. Women who are trouble with a capital
T—
we tend to fall head over heels for ‘em."
    "What, are you kidding me?"
    "Nope." He shook his head. "And seeing as how you're scared to death to be left alone with her—even while swearing up and down she's not the kind of woman you want to be involved with— well, that tells me one thing, cuz."
    "Oh yeah? What?"
    Garrett got upright, adjusted his hat. "You're probably already doomed." He slapped Luke on the shoulder with a sympathetic shake of his head and started back around to the house.
    "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Garrett!"
    But his big cousin was already vanishing