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told him in a private voice. Her heartbeat was all over the place but you couldn’t tell from looking at her.
    “Done. Don’t worry about anything this afternoon. I’ll cover it or reschedule it.”
    Today would have seen her up and down and in and out to appointments, committee hearings, meetings and back at the office. She answered with a curt nod. Having someone like Steve on the staff was invaluable. He and Nona, her chief of staff, could empty her day as fast as they could fill it.
    Steve turned back to the reporter and smoothly changed the subject to one on which he and Jana were informed, while the circle of people standing around Jana widened, leaving her alone.
    In politics, when you were on top, you were there in the company of friends. When you hit bottom, you were on your own.
    Normal face . Keep smiling, and remain pleasant.
    Turning away, she whipped her cell phone out of her purse. Before she had a chance to hit her father’s private number, the phone rang. Mom, the caller ID read. Jana turned away and walked off the footbridge where too many curious ears were perked. “Mom, what’s going on? I heard—”
    “Come home, Janushka. Right away.” The phone went dead.
    Only to light up immediately. Jared. Her brother. “Jana, drop what you’re doing and meet me at the ranch. I’m on my way.”
    “For the love of God, Jared, tell me—”
    He hung up.
    “—what the heck is going on,” she finished lamely. She stood there, staring at the phone in her hand. Dad’s integrity was beyond question. Jared was as full of himself as ever, the consummate ladies’ man and hotshot pilot, but as a National Guard officer and business owner he was as honest as they came. He, like Dad, had never come within smelling distance of scandal. An unblemished public record was a source of Jasper pride. Now this. It was time to get back to the ranch and find out exactly what was going on.

CHAPTER TWO
    J ANA’S MOTHER and grandfather waited for her in the cozy, wood-paneled library. The room smelled as it always did in the cool months—of wood smoke and orange oil. The crackling fire added an atmosphere of tranquility that was completely false; all it took was one step into the room for the tension to hit Jana like a brick wall.
    Grandpa sat in his wheelchair with shoulders hunched. He looks ancient, Jana thought. Her mother’s beautiful face was chalk-white. She was dressed elegantly in a white silk shirt, lots of gold chains and slim tan pants, but strands of blond hair slipped from her chignon: a telltale sign of trouble in a woman whose appearance was always immaculate.
    Jana’s hands were cold as she pulled the heavy wooden doors closed behind her. “Okay, what happened?”
    “The Coalition for Higher Ethics came forward with figures that bring into question your father’s campaign funds,” her mother said.
    “The CHE?” Jana made a dismissive snort. “They’re a political action group—from the other side . They’re lying.”
    “Of course they’re goddamn lying,” Grandpa growled. “But that never matters, does it? Guilty until proven innocent in the court of public opinion.”
    “When’s Dad coming home?”
    “I don’t know,” Mom said with a tired sigh. “He may have to stay behind over Easter in Washington to take care of this.”
    Easter recess began at the end of the week. Dad never “stayed behind” during Easter recess or any extended break for the House. As in the Sacramento Capitol, the last couple of weeks before any recess were always packed with things screaming to be finished before the congressmen returned home, but when it was time to go, Dad was home for the holidays. All the Jaspers shared a deep attachment to the family and the ranch, and rarely did they spend the holidays anywhere else.
    “Hey…” Tall and rumpled-looking in an open-collared button-down shirt and khaki pants, Jared strode through the double doors, shoving them closed behind him. In one smooth move, he