[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online

enjoyed Duncan’s company. He also suspected that his sister would probably love nothing better than to secure a more permanent position in Duncan Hartford’s life.
    If I could manage to get the two of them together, Sonny mused, I wouldn’t feel so bad about my own plans . And his plans were extensive. He had just received word from two college chums who had teamed up for a government exploration trip to Alaska. The government was assessing the area to discover its potential for farming and relocating poverty-stricken families. All very new ideas, his friends assured him, but ones that held great promise—especially as drought seemed to be gripping various areas of the country. His friends droned on about the possibilities as if they needed to sell Sonny on the idea. Then they finally mentioned needing a third member for their team, a geologist, and wanted to know if he was interested.
    Interested didn’t begin to describe Sonny’s feelings on the matter. This venture would fulfill a lifelong dream of his. Geology was a passion to him. He could only imagine the thrill of exploring the frozen north. Now his only problem was how to break the news to Rainy. Sonny knew she depended on him for companionship on the tours. She had said more than once that she might never have taken the job with the Detours if Sonny hadn’t been hired on as her driver. Now his plan was to resign his position by the end of summer, and he still hadn’t found a way to break the news to his sister.
    Thoughts of Duncan Hartford came to mind again. With Duncan training to drive the tours, Sonny wondered if he couldn’t arrange it so that Duncan could take over his place with Rainy. He wondered even more seriously if something romantic might develop between the couple. He’d seen the way Rainy had looked at Duncan—heard her talk about him too. There was no denying her high regard for him.
    If Rainy and Duncan would fall in love and marry, Sonny thought, my troubles would be over. Rainy wouldn’t need me anymore. She’d have a whole new life, and her interests would lie with Duncan rather than me and Mom and Dad .
    He thought about this as he double-checked the Van Patten luggage one final time. Rainy certainly had expressed her interest in finding a husband and settling down, though Sonny knew she’d also love to be working in archaeology. Since they’d been young her heart’s desire had been to work on great archaeological digs. She’d even thought for some time she might go abroad to the great pyramids of Egypt. The Middle Eastern countries were certain to be full of mystery and intrigue from the past.
    Instead, he’d watched Rainy develop a deep love for the American Southwest. She had a passion for the desert and the Indians who lived there. He was amazed at the quick and easy manner in which she’d learned various Indian dialects. Furthermore, he knew she had grown to care deeply about the Indian people.
    “The Van Pattens will be out shortly,” Rainy called as she came from the hotel. “I left them to conclude their breakfast.”
    Sonny looked up and smiled. Rainy always brightened his day. They were as close as a brother and sister could be, and being twins, they felt they could very nearly read each other’s minds. Given that, Sonny wondered if Rainy had any clue as to his desire to leave the Detour business. He was waiting for just the right time to tell her—praying that the timing would come neither too soon nor too late. She wouldn’t be happy with him, for they always discussed major plans and changes with each other. He supposed they filled the void in each other’s life where a spouse might have offered counsel. But this time he hadn’t shared his plans, and he knew she’d be hurt.
    “We need to head out as soon as possible if we’re going to make Gallup by suppertime and still see everything in between,” he replied.
    Rainy straightened her serviceable brown skirt. “I know that. They were nearly finished. If