Green Calder Grass Read Free Page A

shoulders. “Jessy was ready to faint with hunger.”
    “That’ll be the day.” Skepticism riddled his response. With a nod to Jessy, Chase pulled out a chair on the other side of his son and sat down.
    “I’ll get you some coffee.” Sally started to move away from the table.
    “Better take our order first. I wouldn’t want Jessy keeling over for want of food.”
    A small, answering smile curved Jessy’s mouth at the twinkling glance Chase sent her direction. But some shading in her father-in-law’s expression told her that he had more serious matters on his mind. She doubted that a direct question would elicit a direct answer. In that she knew her father-in-law well. Whatever was on his mind, he would get around to telling them about it in his own good time.
    Instead, she waited until Sally had taken their food orders then asked, “What kept you?”
    “I got tied up on the phone,” Chase replied, a telltale grimness coloring his words. He leaned back in his chair and began pushing around the silverware in front of him.
    “With who?” Ty asked curiously.
    Chase grunted at the question, his mouth twisting in a smile that was without humor. “Which time?” He correctly interpreted the question in Ty’s raised eyebrow. “I called to find out what progress had been made in getting title to that land—and ended up getting the runaround.”
    “They’re no closer, then,” Ty concluded.
    “Nope.” With that said, Chase made an effort to throw off the dark mood and flicked a finger in the direction of Ty’s sling. “I see you still have that contraption around your arm.”
    “It’ll come off next week.”
    “Actually,” Jessy inserted, “Ty informed the doctor that if it didn’t, he was taking it off.”
    “And I meant it,” Ty stated, on the irritable side. “Four weeks of going around with a wing instead of an arm is long enough. It’s time I started using it again.”
    “The doctor said he’ll need at least two months of physical therapy,” Jessy told Chase.
    “Getting back to work is the only therapy I’ll need,” Ty replied.
    “We’ll see.” Wisely Jessy didn’t argue the point.
    Ty flashed her a look of annoyance. Then his eye was caught by the serene calm of her expression. Just the sight of her seemed to be enough to smooth everything inside of him. Almost against his will, a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.
    “Okay. I admit I’ll need some therapy,” Ty conceded, “but not two months’ worth.”
    Most times it was hard to tell what Jessy was thinking. She had always had a man’s way of hiding her feelings. But not this time. The glance she slid him was alive with a mischievous sparkle.
    “You’re just cranky because you hate not being able to cut your own meat at the table.”
    The teasing jibe was all too accurate, and brought a fresh surge of irritation. “It makes me feel like a damned child,” Ty grumbled.
    Jessy couldn’t resist another little playful dig. “That’s why he ordered Sally’s meatloaf instead of his usual steak,” she told Chase.
    “What about my meatloaf?” Sally returned to the table with their dinner salads and coffee for Chase.
    Ty shot a warning look at his wife and replied, “Jessy was just telling Dad that’s what I ordered.”
    Taking the cue, Jessy changed the subject. “Have you told Chase your news, Sally?”
    “What news is that?” Chase glanced from Jessy to Sally, a mild curiosity showing.
    Sally hesitated, then proceeded to refill Ty’s coffee cup. “I wouldn’t exactly call it news.” But she was careful not to look Chase’s way. “It’s just that I’ve put the place up for sale.”
    “For sale.” A stunned stillness gripped Chase.
    “It should hardly come as a surprise.” Secretly Sally was a little pleased by his reaction. “I’ve been talking about selling out for a couple years.”
    “Talking about it is one thing.” Chase declared with a frown. “Actually doing it is something else again.