Oklahoma's Gold Read Online Free Page B

hurried to her vehicle, wanting to escape the uncomfortable situation she’d so thoughtlessly created.
     
    "Who’s that?" Missy inquired as soon as Jess got into the car.
     
    "He’s a very nice man whom I’ve just insulted," she answered.
     
    "What?" Missy looked puzzled.
     
    "Never mind." Jess put her off. "Just call me an insensitive boob."
     
    "We can sure do that!" Deek retorted, the first words to escape his mouth since leaving Missouri.
     
    "Hey!" Jess glanced in the rearview mirror and detected a smile along with his words. Now, that was worth the insult, she decided.
     
    However, she didn’t have time to worry about Deek right now. A bigger weight hung on her shoulders. They couldn’t impose on a total stranger by staying at her ranch indefinitely, even if she was a close friend of Uncle Fred. And from what Daniel had told her, the invalid relative probably wouldn’t be coming home to the Lazy K any time soon. Her mind was blank. They had nowhere else to go, she thought desperately.
     
    * * *
     
    Boy, prejudice came in all kinds of packages, Daniel decided and shook his head. Even attractive ones. His truck bounced and quaked as he drove rather fast and recklessly down the bumpy dirt road. He still burned with anger and embarrassment as he recalled their conversation. He was used to comments, but for a reason he didn’t understand, her words bothered him. Why? He'd let himself think about that during the drive over to Emma’s ranch, but suspected he wouldn’t arrive at an answer. He shook his head. "Women," he muttered under his breath.
     
    * * *
     
    Was this guy insane? Jess frantically tried to keep her small vehicle on the road as she followed Daniel’s truck. Bam ! Once more the front tire hit a hole and the back tires barely missed it as she swerved sharply to the left.
     
    "Probably punctured the engine on that one," she grumbled and pressed hard on the horn to get Daniel’s attention.
     
    "Is this the way they drive in Oklahoma?" she screamed out the window, hoping he would hear, but only managed to get a face full of dust. Jess wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Red Oklahoma dust . She spit into a tissue and wrinkled her nose.
     
    She seriously believed her car would fall apart, and she was getting ready to slow down, risking the chance of losing him, when the sign appeared. The words Dusty Rose were situated in the center of a wooden plaque, surrounded by a border of beautifully engraved roses. Unlike the Lazy K ’s, this sign had a feminine quality that continued down to the ground where colorful primrose plants nestled at the base of the wooden poles. So captivated was Jess by this lovely scene, she hadn’t noticed Daniel slowing down to turn. Slamming on her brakes her vehicle missed Daniel’s by inches. She fumed and got out of the car. Banging the door shut, she marched over to the truck.
     
    "What the heck kind of a ride was that? Are you trying to kill us?" she ranted. "I mean, I don’t think there’s much left of my car that’s not been knocked loose."
     
    * * *
     
    Daniel watched as Jess stood there, boiling with anger, her arms crossed and her foot tapping. Full of fire, he noticed and admired it.
     
    "Okay, okay," he began and held up his hands. "I’m sorry. I do apologize. I was totally out of line." His tone of voice was serious, but she must have detected the slight smile he couldn’t seem to hide.
     
    "You think this is funny?" she snapped.
     
    "No, no. Look, we really seem to have gotten off to a bad start. Maybe if we try again, we could …" She wouldn’t let him finish. Did this woman ever stop interrupting people? He let her go on protesting, but really didn’t listen this time. He turned to get back in the truck and drove toward the ranch. She could follow or just stand there yelling for all he cared. Miss Emma would probably tan his hide with one of her hell fire and brimstone lectures later on, but right now, he just didn’t give a hoot.