Oklahoma's Gold Read Online Free

history.
     
    "Ah … in the late 1800’s the government opened the land to settlers. It says the first so-called homesteaders’ run was at noon on April 22, 1889. About 50,000 people moved to Oklahoma that day. Wow! What started out as a totally Indian-inhabited territory today consists of only eight percent Native Americans. That’s sad, isn’t it?" Missy commented.
     
    "Yes. It’s tragic how cruel mankind can be to one another, Missy," Jess said, and then added, "I guess prejudice and greed causes some people to commit some pretty unforgiving acts, but I can’t say that I understand it."
     
    "Me neither," Missy replied as she turned to Deek. "How about you, Deek? What do you think?"
     
    " Humph ," he grumbled, crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
     
    So much for that effort , Jess thought, then turned her attention back to the road. She had seen a sign for Chickasha. They were so close. Jess felt the energy of excitement and anticipation. She also experienced something even more important. Hope. A new future for the orphaned Clintons. There was hope in that.
     
     * * *
     
    Jess was puzzled. She could have sworn the sign had read Lazy K Ranch , but that was several miles back. Where the heck was this place? Just then another sign, bigger and more impressive, came into view. It was connected to two twenty-foot poles and hung over a dirt drive. "Lazy K Ranch - 1908, owner, Fred D. Clinton" was etched into the dark oak wood. About a mile down the drive, Jess detected a large, two-story, white, framed house and an even larger red oak barn. "We’re here," she spoke softly under her breath, and then sighed. "We’re really here."
     

Chapter 6
     
     
     
    He sat on the porch and glanced at his watch for the hundredth time. Where are they , he wondered? After two hours he was more than a little impatient. Already, he’d polished his saddle, rubbed down his horse, swept the porch, whittled a bear figurine and was starting to carve a deer when he heard the crunching sound of tires on gravel. Glancing up and squinting, he could just make out a small, red Toyota. He stood and brushed the wood shavings off his pants. After rearranging his hat, he leaned back against the railing and crossed his arms. As the car neared, he could see a woman with light brown hair sitting in the driver’s seat. In back, there appeared to be two younger ones, a girl and a boy. The girl was hanging out of the window as if anxiously wanting to see everything. The boy, on the other hand, was slumped down in the seat with what looked like a scowl on his face.
     
    He approached the car to greet them. "Hi! Welcome to the Lazy K. You must be Jessica Clinton," he said.
     
    "And you’re too young to be Uncle Fred," Jess answered with a puzzled look on her face. She looked over his shoulder. "Where is he, may I ask. And who are you?" she added with an edge to her voice, as she stepped out of the car.
     
    He looked amused and scratched his forehead while answering. "My name is Daniel. Daniel Ross." He held out his hand, but when she didn’t respond he just shrugged his shoulder.
     
    "My uncle?" she reminded him, though rather rudely.
     
    "I’m afraid I have some rather bad news for you, Miss," he began. Your uncle was attacked the other evening. Unfortunately, a blow to the head put him in coma. He’s at Lawton General."
     
    Jess stood there with her mouth open, working her jaw but no words followed. Her previous relief and comfort found in arriving at the ranch now gave way to confusion and uneasiness.
     
    Daniel took hold of her arm and led Jess to the porch. "I think maybe you need to sit down." He realized that she looked as though she might faint. "You see, I’m supposed to take you to Miss Emma’s ranch," he explained. "She says you’re to stay with her until … well, for the time being, anyway. So if you’ll just rest a minute, then we can get going and I’ll …"
     
    "Wait! Now, wait just a minute," Jess interrupted. "I