Free Sea Of Grass by Kate Sweeney Page A

noncommittal shrug. “Looks all right,” she said nonchalantly and leaned back into a hat rack. She avoided Claire as she and Harry picked up the wayward hats.

    The trio walked down the sidewalk. Tess was giving Jack a lesson in walking cowboy style. Claire smiled and kept silent as Tess spouted her words of wisdom.
    “It’s been a while, but as I remember, you have to walk like you don’t have a care in the world,” she said and Jack listened intently. He took a deep breath and walked ahead of them.
    “There you got it,” she said. “Now you need to swagger just a little. Kinda like John Wayne.”
    “You’re not serious,” Claire said.
    Tess laughed. “Of course I am. He has to walk the walk.”
    “I love John Wayne! I know what you mean,” Jack said eagerly.
    The imitation had both women screaming with laughter. Jack was in heaven. “Now you just wait a minute, missy,” he drawled and swaggered closer. “What’s s’golldarn funny?”
    “Jack, stop! Please,” Tess begged as she doubled over with laughter. She took her hat off and fanned herself. “God, I’m having a stroke.”
    Claire wiped her eyes. “Jack, you belong on stage. That’s enough, let’s not kill Miss Rawlins. She hasn’t paid me yet.”
    A voice called out from behind them. “Well, Tess, you’ve come back. And who have we here?”
    Tess immediately stopped laughing. “Telford, good afternoon.”  
    Claire watched the exchange between them; she saw the dark look on Tess, which changed her appearance completely. Gone was the fun-loving nature. She glanced at the object of Tess’s dark mood. He was average height, perhaps an inch or two shorter than Tess was. He was a rotund man who wore a gray suit and a bolo tie and a pair of shiny black cowboy boots. He took a long puff on his big cigar. He looked like a man on the verge of a heart attack.
    “And who are you, young man?” he asked with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Jack stepped closer to his mother.
    “This is Mrs. Redmond and her son, Jack. This is Warren Telford,” Tess made the introductions.
    “Friends of the family?” he asked as he looked at Claire.
    “No, Mrs. Redmond is an employee. She’s taking over for Maria. It’s always nice to see you, Telford.” Tess took Claire by the elbow and led them down the street.
    “You look a little tired, Tess. You can’t run that ranch by yourself. Now that Stephen is gone,” he added, and Tess froze.
    Claire saw her entire body tense as Tess let out a low growl and started to turn around. Instinctively, Claire put a firm hand on her forearm. The muscles underneath her fingers flexed.
    “It’s getting late, Tess. I need to get back and start supper.”
    Tess looked into her eyes; Claire smiled when the angry look dissipated. The three walked away without another word or look back.
    “Nice to see you, too, Tess. A pleasure, Mrs. Redmond,” he called after them.
    They drove through town in silence.
    “Who was that man, Tess?” Jack asked, breaking the silence.
    “Jack, it’s none of our business,” Claire said.
    “It’s all right. He’s been after the Double R for as long as I can remember.” Tess rubbed her face. Claire noticed the tired lines etched in her brow.
    “He’s huge,” Jack said from the backseat.
    “Jack!” Claire exclaimed, then gaped at Tess, who was laughing.
    “Well, he is. He’s an old…” Tess started.
    “Enough, the both of you,” Claire said.

    Later that night, Tess sat at the large mahogany desk in the living room. The small light illuminated the area as she looked over the books. Sipping on brandy, she sighed heavily as she checked the figures.
    “Are we still in business?” Jed asked from the doorway.
    Tess looked up and grinned tiredly. “Yes, Dad. We’re fine. Actually, we have more cattle than we originally anticipated.”
    “Then why are you up so late and why the glum look?” He sat on the edge of the desk.
    She tossed down the pen and rubbed her eyes. “I