The Curse of the Rebellars — Georgia M. Shewmake

Fawn Terence was mildly apprehensive about quitting her dull clerking job to join Monica Winslow at the Rebellar estate in New Mexico. She had met Monica during a brief vacation, and although the girls had become close friends in a short time, Fawn did not really know her well. Nevertheless, an orphan since the age of eight, Fawn had jumped at the opportunity to become part of the Rebellar family, sharing with Monica the task of caring for her dead sister's daughter, nine-year-old Jackie Rebellar.

But to Fawn's dismay, Monica desperate for a taste of glamour after lonely years at secluded Desert House, turned Jackie over to Fawn and headed for New York. On her own in the strange household at the old Spanish manor, Fawn turned her attention toward the black-haired Jackie, who seemed constantly frightened and was nearly mute. The child's disturbing behavior caused Fawn to speculate about her widowed father, Nathan Rebellar, who was away from Desert House on business. The housekeeper spoke of her employer with deep affection, while blond Randall Kent, Monica's stepbrother, always referred to him disdainfully.

When she finally met the arrestingly handsome Nathan, Fawn's emotions were torn between annoyance and powerful attraction. His past was shrouded in mystery and, Fawn believed, held the key to Jackie's fears. At first she was merely curious about the curse that seemed to shadow Nathan Rebellar, but when danger began to dog her heels, Fawn felt a compelling urgency to uncover the mystery.