Call Of The West. Myrna Temte

George.”

      This conversation was making less and less sense as it went on, but Hope bristled at the derision and the demand in Jake’s voice. She really hated it when somebody tried to tell her what she thought or felt. Whatever his problem was, she wasn’t going to allow Jake McBride to take it out on her or on George.

      “Well, unlike some people, he’s always been extremely sweet to me,” she said.

      Jake’s face turned an even darker red. His nostrils flared and his hands curled into fists. “That’s no reason to marry a man old enough to be your grandfather.”

      “M-marry him?” Hope sputtered, looking from Jake to George and back to Jake. Good lord, what exactly had George said to him? She’d have to thrash it out with him later. “My plans are none of your business.”

      Shaking his head, Jake grumbled something unintelligible, then stood up so fast his chair scraped the linoleum floor like a fingernail down a chalkboard. “I’ve gotta say, the two of you make quite a pair. I hope you’ll be damn happy together.”

      With that, he left the room, slamming the back door behind him.

      Hope turned on George. “What on earth was that all about?”

      George cackled wickedly. “Aw, I was just havin’ a little fun with Jake. Sure gets pompous, don’t he?”

      Her throat too tight to speak, Hope nodded.

      “And imagine him thinkin’ you were after my money.” George chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll bet you could buy me a hundred times and not even feel a pinch in your pocketbook.”

      “Why that…” Hope muttered as the truth of what George was saying sank into her brain. “He really thinks I’m a gold digger. Doesn’t he?”

      “Yeah, that’s why he asked about your book sales,” George said. “Didn’t you get that?”

      “No, it all happened so fast and I was too busy trying to figure what you were doing.” She smacked her palm against her forehead. “Oh, duh, DuMaine.”

      “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve got him runnin’ scared. Serves him right for thinkin’ so poorly of you.”

      Hope’s heart contracted painfully, then filled with a burning, righteous anger she knew only too well. George was right. Only Jake deserved worse than to be running scared. For thinking such awful things about her, he deserved to lose the Double Circle.

      “As long as I fulfill your conditions are you still willing to sell me the Double Circle for fair market value?” she asked.

      “Hell, yes.” George stuck out his hand. “Deal?”

      She took his hand and shook it. “Deal.”

      She’d needed a major life change for a long time, and now she was going to make it. She was going to get out of L.A. and move to Sunshine Gap. She was going to take a pen name and write historical novels. She was going to live a simpler, more meaningful life at a slower, saner pace. She was going to make real friends, be a part of a real community and have a real home. Dammit, she was going to belong here if she had to give up her fake fingernails and hair dye to do it.

      And Jake McBride could take his low opinion of her and sit on it.