Read Online Sea Of Grass by Kate Sweeney - Free Book Online Page A

huh, Dad?”
    “Yep. How’s the branding coming along?”
    Tess took the offered cup of coffee. “Just fine. Chuck said we didn’t lose as many as we suspected in the winter. We’ll fatten ’em up.”
    “Planting that new grass seed on this pasture was a marvelous idea, Tess. I’ve never seen the pasture this green.”
    Tess nodded and looked around. “Uncle Jeremiah was right. It was his idea. The tractors did a good job of broadcasting it. It took a while, but it produced some fine grass and alfalfa. As Pedro says, ‘mar de hierba .’”
    “Sea of grass,” Mrs. Redmond repeated.
    Tess raised an eyebrow. “You speak Spanish?”
    “ Sí ,” she said with a grin.
    “ Bueno . You’ll be our translator along with Manny. Things are coming together, Dad.”
    Mrs. Redmond watched Tess as she spoke with Jed. Tess was certainly not your average woman. Dressed in Levi’s, leather chaps, and cowboy boots, in no way did Tess Rawlins look like a college professor. Glancing at the full curve of her hips and swell of her breasts, suddenly Mrs. Redmond’s mouth went dry, and she took a deep breath and a long drink of lemonade.
    Tess looked over at Jack, who was gazing at her horse tied to an oak tree. “Her name’s Stella, and if it’s okay with your mom, you can go over and say hi.” Tess smiled at the look of hopefulness on the boy’s face. His mother gave a worried look that Tess found too irresistible to pass up. “Unless you think Stella might eat Jack. I know she hasn’t had her oats today.”
    “I’m just concerned. He’s never been around this many animals.”
    Tess nodded in understanding. “Ah, okay, Jack, wash your hands first.”
    “That’s not what I meant,” Mrs. Redmond explained, then saw the lips twitching with amusement. “Fine. Jack, go ahead. Just be careful.”
    Tess laughed, looked into the basket, and plucked out an apple. Taking her pocketknife out, she cut the apple in half. “Here, she’s hungry.” She took the half and laid in it the palm of her hand.
    The tall chestnut mare easily snapped it up. Jack watched carefully. “Stella, this is Jack. He’s a friend, so watch your manners. His mother is a bit skittish and afraid you’ll eat her son, so behave.”
    Jack snorted a laugh and tried not to look at his glaring mother.  
    Tess glanced at her and laughed. “Here, hold it in the palm of your hand and leave your hand flat.”
    Jack licked his lips and did as instructed. “Hi, Stella,” he said, and the mare gobbled up the remainder of the apple. Tess cut another and Jack had the time of his life.
    In moments, he was stroking the long neck of the gorgeous horse and kissing her nose.
    “Aw, Jack.” His mother winced and picked up a towel.
    Tess rolled her eyes and grabbed at the towel. “Mrs. Redmond, let him be. He has a way with animals, can’t you see that?”
    She reluctantly looked at Jack and had to agree. The horse was perfectly content to receive the attention from Jack.
    “He must get that from his daddy,” Tess teased.
    “Miss Rawlins…” she started in a terse voice.
    “Tess…”
    She blinked and opened her mouth, then shut it and laughed at the innocent look. “Tess, I just don’t want him hurt,” she said evenly.
    “I don’t, either. Do you honestly think I’d allow that, whatever your first name is?” she asked, grinning wildly. She took a healthy bite of an apple.
    “Claire,” she said.
    Tess cocked her head. “That’s a pretty name. I like it.” She announced her approval with another crisp bite.
    Claire shot her a look. “Thank you. Do I get to keep it?”
    Jack laughed behind them as he petted Stella. Tess tossed the remainder of the apple to Jack. She took the pocketknife and closed it. “Here, use this, Jack,” she suggested and tossed that, as well.
    “ Ahh !” Claire exclaimed in horror as she watched the knife fly through the air. Scaring the hell out of her son, Jack jumped back and the closed knife fell to the