Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online

McCoy?”
    â€œAunt Jessi, he called you a whore and my mother a whore too. I had to whup him.”
    Jessi sighed tiredly. Joth had taken to defending her honor more and more lately. The proud Clayton blood flowed in his veins almost as fiercely as it did in her own. “Did Mr. Trent send work for you to do while you’re expelled?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen leave it on the mantel. Get started on your chores. No riding tonight.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    He went on into the house.
    Griff wanted to suggest she go easy on the boy. After all, he’d just been defending his womenfolk, but Griff kept the observation to himself; he doubted she wanted to hear his opinion. He hadn’t been sent here to offer her advice on raising her nephew.
    â€œI’m going to go into town—take a look around and see about some supplies,” he said instead.
    She looked up from reading the teacher’s reprimand. “Do you know the way?”
    â€œYep, rode through last night on my way here. I’ll be back before dark.”
    Jessi almost told him about Darcy’s decree forbidding any of Vale’s merchants to sell to the Claytons, but decided to let him find out for himself. Instead she watched silently as he mounted up and rode off toward town.
    After his departure, Jessi gutted the fish she’d caught for dinner and spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Joth, but her mind kept straying to the man Joth called “Oklahoma Red.” From the Wanted posters Joth had brought for her to see, Jessi learned that the outlaw deputy marshal had been wanted all over the West for myriad misdeeds, but train robbing seemed to be his specialty. The cash bounty the railroads had placed on his head would’ve fed the Clayton household for years. Add to that the rewards offered by numerous banks, the army, and the post offices, and you had the makings of a small fortune.
    One poster told of him escaping from a jail in Colorado with the help of two women. Jessi didn’t doubt it. His handsomeness had probably drawn many a woman to commit a variety of crimes. Jessi didn’t believe she’d have to worry about him turning his charm her way, though. He looked to be a man who preferred his women young and attractive. Since she was neither, that suited her just fine.
    She wondered what would happen when the road got rockier? Would Blake stay, or turn tail? According to rumors, Darcy had until September to close the deal. If he couldn’t deliver all the properties by then, the syndicate bosses were promising to move on. Four months…if she and Joth could hold out until then, life might return to something akin to normal. She still didn’t think Blake would be much help, but if he did stay, maybe his pastreputation alone would be enough to make Darcy think twice about increasing his efforts to force her out.
    Â 
    On Griff’s initial ride through the town last night, it had been very late and he hadn’t seen anyone. Now however, it was mid-afternoon and the place bustled with life. He rode down the street at a nonchalant pace. He saw that every building seemed to bear Darcy’s name, from the bank to the general store to the funeral parlor. He spied the small, flat roof building with the words “Vale Sheriff” painted above the door. Beside it stood the rather impressive Darcy Hotel.
    There were quite a few wagons and horses tied up to the posts lining the plank walks framing the dusty street. Even though he tried not to draw attention to himself, he could see the curious glances coming his way as he tied his big gelding to a post outside the general store. He wondered if anyone recognized his face.
    Inside, the wide eyes of the middle aged clerk told the tale. The dark-skinned man sputtered, “Aren’t you—?”
    â€œGriffin Blake.”
    â€œNo, Oklahoma Red.”
    Griff sighed. Why fight it? He’d hoped Joth would be the only one