open-minded than many outsiders would suspect. Although,
how could anyone know for sure? "I guess I just hope that
no one else reading those flyers falls for Ebbert's propa-
ganda. It almost makes me wish I'd printed his original let-
ters in the paper-just so everyone would be aware of his
true colors. But at least I had Abigail file them in case he ever
did anything questionable. That way we could pull them for
a story, or maybe, although I hope it never comes to this,
even submit them as evidence."
"Good thinking. Maybe I'll study them and try to see if I
can figure him out a little better. One thing I've learned about
this guy-he's not stupid. I mean, other than believing in a
very ignorant philosophy."
"Did you talk to him much when you went out there?"
"I tried to. At first he seemed somewhat suspicious, but I
tried to act pretty nonchalant. I told him I felt bad we
couldn't print his letters and wanted to learn more about him
and his political views and such. Then he warmed up a little
and started to talk-but kind of guarded, you know. I was
surprised that he let me take some photos, but he stayed
right with me the whole time. I don't think he wanted me
snooping around too much."
"Hmm. I know he has a couple sons-is there a wife?"
"Actually, he has three sons-one high school age, and
the other two just a little older. They all work on the ranch.
And he has a wife and a younger daughter, but I didn't see
them. Ebbert told me, quite proudly I might add, that none
of his kids have ever gone to public school, that his wife
homeschools them all because, as he put it, 'they don't want
the government filling their kids' heads with a bunch of lib-
eral garbage."'
Maggie sighed. "I wonder what he fills their heads with?"
"Yeah," agreed Scott. "Shouldn't that be considered
some sort of child abuse or something? I can't believe it's
actually legal to keep American kids from going to a real
school and being around other kids."
Looking for You All My Life103
"Well, the issue isn't really about homeschooling. I
happen to know people who teach their children at home
and do a fantastic job of it. But this thing with Ebbert is
something completely different."
"He did say one thing that got my attention." Scott low-
ered his voice. "He's pretty ticked off that Michael Abundi
is still here. That might even be what set him off on this new
crusade of his. He said it's just a matter of time until the
minorities (well, he didn't say it quite like that) would be
taking over this whole area-just like down in California.
Then he looked at me as if I were a case in point." Scott
laughed uneasily. "At first I didn't know exactly what he
meant. I know it sounds strange, but I sometimes forget that