nudged him toward the door. "No, you go on to the bunkhouse and get some sleep. Tomorrow we have to talk to the
reverend and notify Kate's friends. I believe you were the only
family besides Crystal that Kate had. I'll need you to be rested,
Luke. Now off with you." She patted him on the arm. "She'll be
all right. You can count on that"
Luke was too tired to fight her, so he left. He fell into his bunk
and was asleep before he could take off his boots.
'9
Three days later, as Crystal looked over the rolling valley, it was
hard to tell that a storm had even occurred and touched lives with
such havoc. Out of respect for Kate, Luke had hired someone from
a neighboring ranch to continue patching the roof. The cowboys
had the day off so they could attend the funeral. Already repairs
were being made on the roof of the house and the barn. The ping
of a hammer sounded, keeping time to the throbbing inside Crystal's head. She gazed out her bedroom window, her aunt's funeral
so very fresh on her mind. Earlier that morning, Bill Alden had
eulogized Kate as a beloved neighbor and friend to all whose lives
she touched. Crystal couldn't bear to look at Rusty. His pain was
written on every line in his rugged face.
The sharp pain in her chest had become a hard knot while a
feeling of emptiness inside took over, and she couldn't eat a morsel
of food. There was no word to describe how she was feeling. One
more loss. How many more could she endure? She felt like an
orphan with no family to speak of. It was just too much to bear.
Returning from the cemetery, Mary took charge, much to Crystal's relief. Kate's friends came by to pay their respects. Most of them Crystal didn't know. Many brought a covered dish of food
or a dessert to be shared, but she had no appetite. She instead
busied herself with making coffee for everyone.
Puffing on his cigar, Jim McBride approached Crystal and
steered her away from the hot, stuffy room in the direction of
the doorway. His huge frame commanded authority just in the
way he stood, with the firm thrust of his chin and his thumbs
hooked into the lapel of his expensive suit. Once he had offered
his condolences, he immediately became the cattle baron and got
right down to business.
"Miss Clark, I have a business proposition in which I would
purchase Aspengold, allowing you to return to Georgia free of
your aunt's debts:" He chewed on his cigar.
"Mr. McBride, I do not think that now is the time to discuss
business" Crystal could not believe his insensitive timing. With
fury in her eyes, she started walking away, but he placed his hand
on her arm.
"Perhaps not, my dear. But you see, I have to look out for my
best interest, and since Kate was a little-how shall I put it?strapped for cash, I was good enough to tide her over till the
steers could be shipped to market. It would be best if you sold
Aspengold lock, stock, and barrel and rid yourself of this problem.
I am willing to pay top dollar since her property adjoins mine.
And let's face it, you know nothing about ranching:" His brown
eyes pierced into Crystal's, and his smug face made her want to
slap him. Then she was shocked that she had even had such a
thought and that he had made her so angry. Now she understood
Rusty's dislike of McBride.
"I don't need you to tell me how to set my aunt's affairs in order. Now, if you will excuse me, this little conference is over"
She hadn't meant to raise her voice, and now she was aware of a
dozen pair of eyes boring into her. Crystal removed McBride's
hand from her arm.
Josh was now making his way to her side. Luke, who stood
some distance away with April hovering near his side, made a
step in her direction, but josh was quicker.
"My apologies. We'll continue this conversation another time,
very soon." McBride's level brown eyes were so like Josh's but
lacked his warmth.
"Is there anything wrong?" Josh asked Crystal as his father
bowed and walked
reverend and notify Kate's friends. I believe you were the only
family besides Crystal that Kate had. I'll need you to be rested,
Luke. Now off with you." She patted him on the arm. "She'll be
all right. You can count on that"
Luke was too tired to fight her, so he left. He fell into his bunk
and was asleep before he could take off his boots.
'9
Three days later, as Crystal looked over the rolling valley, it was
hard to tell that a storm had even occurred and touched lives with
such havoc. Out of respect for Kate, Luke had hired someone from
a neighboring ranch to continue patching the roof. The cowboys
had the day off so they could attend the funeral. Already repairs
were being made on the roof of the house and the barn. The ping
of a hammer sounded, keeping time to the throbbing inside Crystal's head. She gazed out her bedroom window, her aunt's funeral
so very fresh on her mind. Earlier that morning, Bill Alden had
eulogized Kate as a beloved neighbor and friend to all whose lives
she touched. Crystal couldn't bear to look at Rusty. His pain was
written on every line in his rugged face.
The sharp pain in her chest had become a hard knot while a
feeling of emptiness inside took over, and she couldn't eat a morsel
of food. There was no word to describe how she was feeling. One
more loss. How many more could she endure? She felt like an
orphan with no family to speak of. It was just too much to bear.
Returning from the cemetery, Mary took charge, much to Crystal's relief. Kate's friends came by to pay their respects. Most of them Crystal didn't know. Many brought a covered dish of food
or a dessert to be shared, but she had no appetite. She instead
busied herself with making coffee for everyone.
Puffing on his cigar, Jim McBride approached Crystal and
steered her away from the hot, stuffy room in the direction of
the doorway. His huge frame commanded authority just in the
way he stood, with the firm thrust of his chin and his thumbs
hooked into the lapel of his expensive suit. Once he had offered
his condolences, he immediately became the cattle baron and got
right down to business.
"Miss Clark, I have a business proposition in which I would
purchase Aspengold, allowing you to return to Georgia free of
your aunt's debts:" He chewed on his cigar.
"Mr. McBride, I do not think that now is the time to discuss
business" Crystal could not believe his insensitive timing. With
fury in her eyes, she started walking away, but he placed his hand
on her arm.
"Perhaps not, my dear. But you see, I have to look out for my
best interest, and since Kate was a little-how shall I put it?strapped for cash, I was good enough to tide her over till the
steers could be shipped to market. It would be best if you sold
Aspengold lock, stock, and barrel and rid yourself of this problem.
I am willing to pay top dollar since her property adjoins mine.
And let's face it, you know nothing about ranching:" His brown
eyes pierced into Crystal's, and his smug face made her want to
slap him. Then she was shocked that she had even had such a
thought and that he had made her so angry. Now she understood
Rusty's dislike of McBride.
"I don't need you to tell me how to set my aunt's affairs in order. Now, if you will excuse me, this little conference is over"
She hadn't meant to raise her voice, and now she was aware of a
dozen pair of eyes boring into her. Crystal removed McBride's
hand from her arm.
Josh was now making his way to her side. Luke, who stood
some distance away with April hovering near his side, made a
step in her direction, but josh was quicker.
"My apologies. We'll continue this conversation another time,
very soon." McBride's level brown eyes were so like Josh's but
lacked his warmth.
"Is there anything wrong?" Josh asked Crystal as his father
bowed and walked
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