Authors: Kathryn Long
He couldn’t help but smile back and place his hand lightly on her shoulder. "Sounds good to me."
They stood there, just looking at one another in silence and Daniel finally just managed the courage to speak when the sound of running footsteps came from behind. Daniel turned to see the shadow of a young boy approaching.
"Uncle Daniel, Uncle Daniel. Come quick!"
He recognized the voice of Stanton, his sister’s boy. "What's wrong, son? Slow down and tell me," he ordered.
"It’s the cattle. They are in danger from the fire."
"What fire, Stanton?" Daniel began running toward the barn for his horse, and Jess followed close behind.
"There’s a fire around the cattle in the field. Papa is trying to get them out, but it’s too hard for one man. So, he sent me to get you. We must hurry." The frightened boy tugged at Daniel’s sleeve hoping to make him move faster.
"Not again," Daniel spoke in frustration.
"What do you mean, not again?" Jess asked, overhearing their conversation. "This has happened before?"
"More times than you could imagine."
"But why? Surely there can’t be that much cause for brush fires."
They had reached the barn and Daniel quickly saddled his horse. "Not just fires, Jess. Lots of things have been happening."
"Lots of things? To his family?" Jess nodded toward Stanton.
"No. There have been others. Look, Jess. We’ll talk later," Daniel said hurriedly.
"But, Daniel. I didn’t get …" she began as his horse galloped away. All ready too late. So, Jess hollered, "I’m sorry, too!" Then he was gone.
Chapter 10
Steam filtered up from the hood of the truck, hissing and sputtering, as Emma stood by with arms crossed.
He watched from afar. Through his binoculars he could read the angry expression on her face. He chuckled to himself. "Just perfect."
Tossing the binoculars onto the seat, he hopped into the car and started the engine. He placed the ski mask over his head and face, then gloves to cover his hands. Putting the car into gear, he slowly traveled down the path, turning right onto the road. Several hundred yards ahead sat the disabled truck and its driver. As he neared, he felt his heart pound with excitement.
Suddenly, he detected a cloud of smoke rising just beyond Emma’s vehicle. He held his breath and waited, slowing the car to a stop. Soon, the smoke and dust cleared to reveal a brown pickup. "Daniel," he muttered. He watched in disappointment as the foreman stopped and spoke with Emma. Daniel lifted the hood, and then in a few minutes he was behind the wheel turning the engine on.
"Damn!" He slammed his gloved hand against the steering wheel and ripped the mask from his face. Seconds later he started down the road, slowly approaching Emma and Daniel.
"Need any help?" he asked.
Daniel shook his head and smiled. "Nope. We’re just fine."
So, he tipped his hat and continued driving down the road. "Someday you won’t be just fine. I’ll guarantee that." Seeing the sign to Chickasha he turned to head back into town. Better talk to Lucas. Emma would be making trouble and Lucas had to be warned.
* * *
As he walked to Lucas’ office, he passed the Prairie Dog Saloon, one of his favorite watering holes. He was a bit parched. He licked his lips and swallowed. His legs took him where his thirst led him.
Three drinks later, he stepped back out onto the walkway and took a moment to adjust his eyes to the glaring sunlight. It was then he noticed the attractive, young woman across the street in front of Merle’s Grocery. She seemed to be trying to juggle a bag of goods while unlocking her car door.
"Well, well," he said grinning and arranged his hat before crossing the street.
"May I be of some assistance, ma’am?" he asked politely.
Jess looked up, startled with surprise. "Why, yes. That would nice, if you could just …" She handed him the keys.
While opening the door he continued the conversation. "Aren’t you the one visiting Miss Emma Thomas?"
"Yes, but how did you …?"
"Ma’am, this is a small town. Not much happens that doesn’t get around by sunset," he explained with a friendly smile.
"Actually, I was supposed to stay with Fred Clinton. He’s my uncle. Of course the accident and, well, you probably already know," she said.
Now it was his turn to be surprised and to feel a bit uncomfortable. "No, I didn’t know that. I mean that you’re related to Fred. The accident, heck, everyone knows about that," he stammered nervously. "Look, ma’am. I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to get goin’," he said while backing away. "Nice meetin’ you. You have a nice visit here."
"Pleasure meeting you, too, ah … I didn’t catch your name?" Jess yelled, but he was already down the street.
* * *
"He’s got relatives, Lucas!"
"So? Everyone’s got relatives. What’s so terrible about that?"
He was pacing back and forth. "Relatives get nosy and cause problems. That’s what!"
"Hell. We’ve already got Miss Emma to fill those shoes," Lucas chuckled.
"Chrissakes, Lucas! It ain’t funny!" he yelled, wiping his sweating brow with a handkerchief.
"I think you’re buildin’ mountains outta mole hills."
"Easy for you, isn’t it?" He leaned in close to Lucas, his voice surly. "You just sit here in your office, makin’ your plans, schemin’ up a storm, while we go out and get our hands dirty."
"Now, that’s not quite true," Lucas objected. "I’m riskin’ my reputation in this here community."
"Reputation!" He spat on the desk. "That’s what you can do with your reputation!" he shouted before storming out of the office.
Jess, Missy and Deek nervously waited on the porch for Miss Emma’s arrival. Daniel had left the ranch around two o’clock to look for her, since she was well overdue. So, with a mixture of both worry and anxiety, Jess sat on the glider, moving back and forth while taking deep breaths trying to calm herself. She looked over at Missy and Deek to seem them poking and tickling each other, probably to alleviate the boredom. Fourteen-year-olds couldn’t stay quiet for very long. It always turned into some kind of restless behavior. Yet, she felt grateful for the change in Deek. Already in a matter of a few hours, he’d come out of his depression, especially when he saw all those horses in the corral. City boy and all, the first thing Deek asked Daniel was if he could learn how to ride.
Even Missy seemed less subdued. Celie, a young Indian girl who often visited the ranch, had been Missy’s main topic of conversation. It was "Celie says this" or "Celie and I are going to do that."
She had been here to greet them late last night when Stanton came for Daniel. She lived on the farm next to Stanton’s. Jess got the distinct impression that Celie felt more than admiration for Daniel. Of course, she couldn't blame Celie. Jess had taken in Daniel's tall, muscular built, and his soulful brown eyes the moment she meant him. Then later, she discovered his personality was just as attractive. So it was no wonder Celie's conversation seemed to bring up his name every chance she got. She would get what Jess called dreamy-eyed and sigh as she said "Daniel".
When Jess had teased Daniel about Celie this morning, it amused her how embarrassed and agitated he became. They had gotten off to a very rocky start, but now? She smiled to herself when admitting that Oklahoma wasn’t such a bad place after all. If only Uncle Fred wasn’t hurt. She frowned at the thought, just as she saw the dust flying in the distance. She recognized Daniel’s truck, followed closely by another vehicle. Miss Emma’s, she assumed. She watched as an elderly but very spry-acting woman hopped out of the car and practically ran up to the porch.
"Well, well. So you’re Fred’s kin." Emma smiled as she spoke, and then extended her hand. "Glad to meet you and welcome to my little old Dusty Rose."
"Glad to meet you, too. And thanks so very much for all this. You’re quite generous," Jess returned.
"Oh, fiddle! It’s the least I could do to help Fred." Her eyes softened as she mentioned his name.
"How’s he doing? When can we see him?" Jess asked.
"Well, he’s about the same, so I suppose whether you go to visit is more up to you, seein’ as he won’t know the difference," Emma spoke sadly.
"Has the sheriff found out anything about his attacker?"
"Caleb? Awe, criminy. He’s about as slow-workin’ as they come. So don’t go expectin’ any news soon." Emma spat out the words, letting be known her obvious displeasure of how the local law enforcement operated.
"I guess we really picked a bad time to come." Jess frowned and looked apologetically at Emma.
"Nonsense! Look at you! Just lost your parents and all. Besides, I’d say Fred needs as many friends and relatives as he can get right now," Emma argued. "Just when we should be welcoming you with open arms, I hear Daniel’s been givin’ you a hard time. I was gettin’ fixed to chew him out good, but he tells me everything’s fine between you." She raised an eyebrow. "Has he been straight with me?"
"Oh, yes," Jess assured her. "Your Daniel seems to be a very kind and helpful person. I was particularly impressed with how he helped put out that brush fire last night."
"What fire?" Emma asked, looking back and forth between Jess and Daniel.
"Oh, there was trouble at my sister’s ranch," Daniel answered casually, trying to underplay the seriousness of the incident. "It’s okay now. Nothing to worry about." He then gave Jess a warning look.
Jess immediately caught on, so she tried changing the subject by asking questions about the Dusty Rose. However, Emma was too smart for that trick.
"Now, don’t you two try an’ pull one over me," she warned. "I want to know more about this fire." She sat firmly down in the porch rocker and crossed her arms, giving Jess the impression the woman would not move till she got some answers.
"Miss Emma, you’ll just get yourself all worked up," Daniel tried.
"I’m already there, dadblast it, with all your secrets!"
"I guess you’re talking about more than this fire," Jess interjected.
"Yes. She is," Daniel replied, keeping a wary eye on the elderly woman.
"I’m talkin’ about all these so-called accidents in the past few months, and why they seem to be happenin’ to only the Choctaw and Cherokee folks. That’s what I’m talkin’ about." And with that Emma slammed her hands down hard on the armrests, making Missy and Deek jump in their seats.