Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page B

change the subject. Are you in need of a job?”
    â€œSomeone around here hiring?”
    â€œYes, as a matter of fact. My father-in-law’s always looking to employ skilled men such as yourself.”
    I’ll bet he is , Griff said to himself. It still angered him that Jessi Clayton would be looked upon with such derision. Even though he knew very little about her past, she’d impressed him with her fire and her determination. “Thanks for the information, but I’ve already hired on someplace else.”
    â€œWhere, might I ask?”
    â€œI work for Miss Clayton.”
    Minerva managed to keep her alarm well hidden this time, but Griff knew the news had shaken her. When she composed herself, she turned to the clerk behind the counter and said, “Mr. Thomas, you may as well re-shelve his order. Everyone knows the Claytons and their people aren’t welcome to trade here.”
    Griff kept his face void of all emotion. “Why not?”
    â€œJessi Clayton refuses to sell her land to the railroad.”
    â€œIf it’s her land, it’s her right.”
    â€œNot when her stubbornness keeps everyone else from exercising their rights.”
    â€œI don’t understand,” he lied.
    â€œEvery landowner in the valley stands to make a tidy profit selling his land to the railroads, but they all have to sell. The railroads want the land intact, not in pieces.”
    â€œAnd Miss Clayton is the fly in the ointment?”
    â€œExactly.”
    Griff turned and surveyed the store’s other patrons. Were they all lined up against Jessi and Joth? Did they all call her a whore? If so, was it because she’d beenCalico Bob’s woman? He then looked to the clerk, Thomas. The man appeared to be very uncomfortable. Griff wondered why. “Well, Mr. Thomas, guess I’ll have to give all this gold to another merchant.”
    Griff took a small leather pouch from his shirt pocket and emptied the coins out onto the counter so the clerk could get a good look. Griff didn’t miss the way Thomas’s eyes widened. On his way to Vale, Griffin had stopped off in Denver to visit a pretty saloon girl named Sally who’d been graciously holding some of his stashed gold. Even though Griff had spent a good portion of it outfitting himself for the journey here, he still had small caches of railroad gold hidden with friends, mostly females all over the West.
    Minerva said, “You’ll have to go a long ways to find someone who’ll take that gold, Mr. Blake. There isn’t a merchant within miles who’ll take Clayton money.”
    â€œI see,” he said, noting the merchant’s disappointed eyes as he put the coins back into the pouch. “Well, it’s been real nice meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”
    â€œSame here,” Minerva replied. “If you decide you do want a job, just come by the hotel and ask for me or my father-in-law.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind.” Griff promised. He touched the brim of his hat in departure and exited the store.
    Â 
    Jessi and Joth were just sitting down to dinner when he returned. The meal consisted of fish and fried cornmeal cakes. It was sparse fare, but after dining on nothing but prison slop for the past few months, Griff found the fish mouth-watering.
    He looked up from his plate. “Met Roscoe and Minerva Darcy in town.”
    â€œA very pleasant encounter, no doubt,” Jessi cracked.
    â€œQuite. Especially the part where she ordered thestore clerk not to accept my gold for the supplies I was after.”
    â€œThat must’ve made Abe Thomas sick. He’s as greedy as he is nosy.”
    â€œIs everyone in town lined up on Darcy’s side?”
    â€œMostly. Those who aren’t keep quiet and pretend they are, especially if they’ve had their lives threatened. Still want to stay, Mr. Blake?”
    He flashed her that smile and then went back to his meal.
    After