Chapter 2

Just as the foreman raised the crop again, the sound of tires crunching on gravel cut through the tension.

A convoy of black SUVs with government plates pulled up to the house. The doors opened in unison, and several serious-looking men in dark suits stepped out.

The lead man, an aide I recognized from the Senator's staff, walked briskly into the party. He held a framed document in his hands.

He scanned the chaotic scene, his eyes landing on me, restrained and bloodied, with Old Man Hemlock shielding me. His professional calm shattered, replaced by shock.

"What in God's name is going on here?" he demanded.

My mother, Maria, immediately tried to take control. "Just a small family matter, sir. Nothing to be concerned about."

Gabby, seeing an opportunity, wiped her fake tears and stepped forward, putting on her sweetest smile. "You must be looking for Jocelyn Fuller. That's me."

The aide stared at her, then back at me. A flicker of disbelief crossed his face, followed by cold anger.

"Ma'am," he said to Gabby, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "I have known Jocelyn Fuller personally for the past three years. You are not her. And attempting to deceive a United States Senator is a federal offense."

He turned his attention to the stunned crowd, his voice ringing with authority.

"I am here on behalf of Senator Thompson. He has made a full recovery, thanks to the selfless and discreet service of one person."

He walked directly to me, ignoring my mother's sputtering protests. He held up the commendation for everyone to see.

"By order of the Texas Legislature, and with the personal endorsement of the Senator, I am honored to present the Texas Legislative Medal of Merit to Miss Jocelyn Fuller for her extraordinary service to the state and the nation."

A collective gasp went through the room. The Medal of Merit was one of the highest civilian honors in Texas.

The aide looked at my torn shirt and the welt on Hemlock's back. "Miss Fuller, are you alright? What happened here?"

Before I could answer, another car, a heavy-duty ranch truck, roared up the driveway.

The door flew open, and my grandfather stepped out.

The Patriarch of the Fuller family.

He had been in Europe on business, but his presence filled the room with an authority that dwarfed everyone else's. His eyes, sharp and clear, took in the scene in an instant: me, injured; my mother, furious; Gabby, pretending to be me; and the Senator's aide, holding a state honor.

His face turned to stone.

"What has happened to my granddaughter?" he thundered.