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

my work, you’ll know that most of my films are westerns. I want to make them more realistic. I’m starring in a new film called The Mystery of Navajo Gulch . I’m hoping to see the real Navajo people—to learn about them and better understand them. I want the movie to be as accurate as possible because I’m putting some of my own money into the making of this project.”
    “How very noble of you,” Rainy said, not feeling at all interested in his cause.
    “You think me insincere?” He looked genuinely hurt and Rainy immediately regretted her reply.
    She was grateful that Chester had lost interest and had now joined his mother. He was deep in an animated conversation that included all kinds of hand gestures. Same old Chester, Rainy thought. Turning back to Phillip, she drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I didn’t sleep well last night, but that is still no reason to be harsh with the guests. Please accept my apology. I’ll do what I can to help you.”
    Phillip immediately perked up. “Wonderful. Now, you must come and meet my sister, Jennetta. She lives in Santa Fe and is one of those madly tortured authors who sleeps all day and writes all night. Some day she’ll be famous—but right now she’s just grumpy.”
    Phillip immediately put her at ease and Rainy couldn’t help but giggle at this reference. She’d met many of the writers who frequented Santa Fe’s cafes and other gathering places. Artists and writers made up a growing number of people who had embraced Santa Fe as their undisclosed place of residence. The community was branded as positively inspiring for those of an artistic nature.
    Phillip led Rainy to where his sister stood talking with Marshall Driscoll. “Jennetta, dear, this is our guide, Rainy Gordon. Miss Gordon, this is my sister, Jennetta Blythe.” The woman looked mousy compared to Phillip’s vibrant appearance. Plain brown hair had been bobbed short and she wore a gray wool skirt and jacket that allowed only a hint of a blue blouse to peek from the top.
    “Will we be leaving soon?” Jennetta questioned in a tone that suggested boredom. The look she offered Rainy seconded this emotion.
    “Yes,” Rainy said, forcing a smile. “If you’ll all make your way down to the car, we’ll head out immediately.”
    “Marvelous,” Phillip declared. “I can hardly wait to get to know you better.”
    “I thought you were here for the desert and Indians,” Jennetta said, scowling at Rainy. “She doesn’t appear to be either one.”
    Rainy immediately disliked the woman but put it aside. Five days, she told herself. I only have to endure them for five days .

CHAPTER SIX
    D uncan immediately realized that the Driscolls and the Gordons shared some kind of past. Rainy particularly avoided the younger of the Driscoll men, while conducting herself in an overly formal manner with the elder Mr. Driscoll. Duncan couldn’t help but wonder what secrets the past held. Mr. Driscoll seemed to hold Rainy in some kind of contempt, while Chester appeared to go out of his way to speak in intimate whispers with her whenever the situation presented itself. Chester had put his hand on Rainy’s waist only to have her elbow him sharply. But it wasn’t the action so much as the look she gave him that left Duncan little doubt as to her disdain. Her glare could have frozen water at noon in the middle of the desert.
    They reversed the order of their trip, spending the first night in Tuba City. Duncan, as always, helped to unload the luggage and didn’t see any suspicious packages or additional suitcases. He shared a room with Sonny and saw nothing in his demeanor or actions that suggested he was about the business of stealing artifacts.
    Leaving Tuba City, Sonny turned the driving over to Duncan. He hesitated, knowing that he wasn’t truly interested in becoming a courier driver. Of course, he would have to at least pretend to be about the business of learning the route. The drive was a fairly