Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) Read Free Page B

rising.
    “Jacob Stone?”
    His mouth twitched.
“My mother was the only one to call me that, but yes, I’m Jacob Stone.”
    “What are you doing
here?”
    “I forgot to leave
you a note telling you that if you needed anything, to call me,” he grinned,
displaying perfect white teeth. “So, do you need anything? Can I do anything
for you, Red?”
    Could he do
anything for her? Sure … whatever he wanted. Stop it!
    “You’re the man who
thinks he’s going to buy my land? My ranch. The ranch that my grandmother left me.”
    She watched his jaw
clench as he walked toward her. A muscle twitched in his cheek.
    “So, you’re Hattie’s
granddaughter, huh? The same granddaughter who never visited
her. Not once. The granddaughter who all of a sudden
shows up because Hattie left her something. The
granddaughter who couldn’t even show up for her grandmother’s funeral.” Not
once did he raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The anger poured off him in
waves. With each word, he had stepped closer until she could actually feel the
heat coming off him.
    Instinctively, she
stepped back as she gazed up into dark brown eyes surrounded by thick, lush
lashes. He had to be six four, at the very least. Standing at five eight, Becca
was used to looking men in the eyes, but not this one. She could see fine lines
at the corners of his eyes. He was tan from working outdoors and she had a feeling
his body was well muscled from that as well. She thought him to be in his
mid-thirties maybe, but it was hard to tell. Then his words sank in.
    “I didn’t know
about the funeral. Hell, I didn’t even know about her.” She shook her head. “My
father never mentioned his mother to me. I was shocked when her attorney
contacted me.”
    Becca
blinked back the tears as she felt the blush rise in her cheeks.

 
 
    * * * *

 
    Jake swore and
turned away from her.  
    “How could you not
know?” he asked as he swung back around to her.
    “Like I said, my
father never mentioned her. I don’t know what went on between them but I never
knew she existed, and I wasn’t notified in time to attend the funeral.”
    Jake snorted. “Well,
Ms. Daniels, that’s a shame. This town loved Hattie. This a small community and
we take care of our own. You’re not going to get a warm welcome, to say the
least.”
    She shrugged as if
it didn’t matter. He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled. She had to
live here for six months from what Gray had told him, and six months in a town
where no one liked you would make for a hard time. What did he care? The sooner
the six months were over the better. She would leave and he would buy the land.
Not that he needed it, but he knew Hattie would want him to have it if her
granddaughter didn’t.
    “I don’t need your
ranch, Red. Hattie only left it to you so no stranger would buy it. However,
that’s kind of a moot point isn’t it? I mean, since you are a stranger.”
    Her eyes narrowed
at him. “Of course you need my land, Stone. All ranchers need more land.” She
poked him in the chest. “And you know what? You’re not going to get it. I’ll
stay for the six months and after that, I’ll do anything I can to keep it, and
keep you away from it.” She glared up at him and poked his chest harder, as if
to make her point. “And. Do. Not. Call. Me. Red. Now,
get out,” she nearly screamed the last words at him.
    Jake stared at her
for a full minute before he moved to put his coat on. He took a pen and scrap
of paper from his pocket. After writing down his phone numbers, he laid it on
the table. He slammed his cowboy hat on his head and turned to leave.
    “Just in case you
do need anything … Red,” Jake said before he went out the door, closing it
softly behind him, when everything within him wanted to slam it.
    Jake got into his
truck and looked at the backdoor. He gripped the steering wheel so hard his
knuckles turned white. Becca Daniels had trouble written all over her. Trouble
he didn’t