Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter by Anna Schmidt

Author:Anna Schmidt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc
Published: 2015-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The last person Maria thought she would see when she rode into town for the monthly meeting with the cattlemen’s association was Jasper Tipton. Furthermore, she was stunned to see the other ranchers treating the man as if he were an old friend, laughing at his jokes and jockeying for position to be in his immediate circle.

“What’s going on?” she asked Phil Proctor.

“Can’t live without big business, then best figure how to live with ’em,” Phil replied.

“I don’t understand.”

“The Tiptons have made a proposal that the association has decided to consider. Jasper Tipton has come here today to answer questions.”

“How come I wasn’t told about this?”

Phil looked down at his boots. “I thought Roger would have told you. He was the one who came to us with Tipton’s offer.” He looked around. “Thought for sure he’d be here today.”

“Well, he’s not. I am,” Maria replied through gritted teeth. She was fighting to hold on to her temper, and as always, she tried to think about what her father would do if faced with such a situation. But the truth was that her father would not be faced with such a situation because he would have had the respect of the others. The respect she, as his daughter, was still fighting tooth and nail for. “Excuse me, Mr. Proctor,” she said as she pushed her way through the circle of ranchers until she was standing in front of Jasper Tipton.

“Hello, Mr. Tipton,” she said, sticking out her hand for him to shake. “I am—”

“No need for introductions, Miss Porterfield,” Tipton interrupted. His smile beneath a full black mustache was tight, his eyes wary. Instead of accepting the handshake she offered, he patted her shoulder. “I knew your father—a fine man. Please accept my condolences.”

“Thank you. I understand you have made a proposal to the ranchers in this association, Mr. Tipton.”

“Indeed, and may I say that I believe your father would have been most impressed with the details.”

“Exactly what are the details?”

He gave her that patronizing look that she’d come to expect when talking business with men. “Well, now, Miss Porterfield—may I call you Maria?”

“May I call you Jasper in return?” she challenged and took a measure of pleasure in seeing him flinch. No one called him anything other than Mr. Tipton.

He decided to ignore the question. “Miss Porterfield, I have had extensive discussions with your foreman, Mr. Turnbull, and he has assured me that—”

“My foreman has no authority to speak for my family, Mr. Tipton. Now if you will be so kind as to explain your offer.” She folded her arms and relaxed her stance as if she had all the time in the world. She gave him her sunniest smile.

Around her, the other ranchers moved a little away, as if they did not want Tipton to see them as associated with her. George Johnson stayed put but cleared his throat.

“Now, Maria,” he said, “it’s almost time for us to get started, and Mr. Tipton is prepared to answer any questions

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