Lone Star Trouble by Autumn Piper

Author:Autumn Piper [Piper, Autumn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Kiersten hummed along with Cher as she drove to the ranch to pick up Oscar and her mail. She wanted to talk to Grandpa about renting Cleve access to the BLM parcel.

“Don’t know why you won’t just sell out and retire.”

“Dammit, Grandpa. I’m not selling it.”

His arms crossed over his stubborn old chest. “I can sell it without you and there ain’t a thing you can do about it.”

Luck was on her side today. Her vision blurred with tears, playing on the guilt he so deserved for that comment. “Go ahead and watch me be a spinster for life, just to spite you.”

He gazed at her for a full minute, chewing the inside of his lower lip. Then he threw back his head and laughed like she hadn’t seen him do in years. “You’re bull-headed enough to do it, too, aren’t ya?” He wiped the corners of his eyes. “Tell the cotton-picker we want fifteen hundred.”

“You sure that’s enough? I heard him today telling one of the cowboys that I’m a dirt-poor field-maggot rancher.”

His eyes narrowed as Nate gave an appropriately dramatic gasp. “You know what? I think five thousand is more like it. Maybe the rotten bastard’ll learn to keep his insultin mouth zipped.”

Nate lifted one brow. “Is this Cleve’s money, or Big Daddy’s?”

She shrugged. “I think CJ is bankrolling whatever it takes to set Cleve up in a respectable operation. Cleve said we’d be sticking it to his Pop if we gouged ’em.”

Grandpa leaned back in his chair, looking her over. “You seem pretty friendly with Cleve.”

“Yeah. I better get on the road.” Her eyes widened in silent communication with Nate, who coughed into his hands. “I still haven’t got my garden in.”

“Hey, don’t forget your mail,” Nate called, hurrying after her when she’d kissed Grandpa goodbye. “So, is Rapunzel expecting a visit from Prince Charming tonight?”

“I won’t be there alone, Nate.” She sighed, failing to act put out.

He grinned and tugged a hank of her hair. “Lucky little bitch.”

* * * *

Before meeting his guests at the gas station, Cleve had a phone call to make.

“Yello?” Pop answered.

“Hey Pop, it’s me. Rowdy tells me you arranged Miss Whitney’s trip out.”

“That’s right, son. No need to thank me, though. Ah was a randy young man mahself, not long ago.”

He could just see Pop kicked back in his den with a lit cigar. The old man was not going to appreciate what he had to say.

He fiddled with his keys dangling from the ignition. “Pop, I’m sendin her home as quick as I can get her a plane ticket.”

“Say what? You can’t send her back. She’ll get in a snit and tell her daddy. Parker Pearson and Ah got a business understandin. We can’t have no trouble over his little girl gettin her feelins hurt. Bed her a few nights, get it outta your system. She’s gotta go back to practice soon anyhow. You know she’s a cheerleader for the Cowboys now?”

Thanks to the clear connection, he could hear Pop draw an angry puff on his cigar.

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