Sea Of Grass Read Online Free PDF Page A

heart broke when Joan graduated and left without a word. “What an idiot I was, acting like a love-struck fool, chasing her car.” Tess laughed aloud as she shook her head.
    An older and wiser Tess got over the pain quickly. Rhonda Monroe was her next “love” during her senior year. Tess actually thought Rhonnie might be the one. She had a chance to continue her education and get her master’s, which she took. Rhonnie had other plans, however.
    Rhonnie was a nice caring young woman who truly loved Tess but loved her work more. The research took Rhonnie to Europe and Asia. They kept in contact for a year, then as with most things, life got in the way, and the letters grew more infrequent. The last Tess heard, Rhonnie was happily living in Germany with a woman.
    Over the years, there had been a few women, and finally Tess met Melanie. Tess was intrigued and captivated by Mel, who was fifteen years her junior. Though it was an enjoyable relationship with Mel, Tess knew not to make it more than it was—enjoyable and sexually satisfying, nothing more.  
    Tess laughed. “Oh, Mom. Ready for someone?” She tossed the blade of grass down and stretched, letting out a loud groan. “I sincerely doubt it.”
    Off in the distance, she saw her father. “Riding out on a cold morning like this,” she said, shaking her head.
    As he rode up to Tess, she looked up and waved. “What are you doing out here?” she asked as she stood.
    Her father pulled the horse to a halt a few feet from her. Leaning on the pommel, he gave her a stern look. “I’ll ask you the same thing. You’re daydreaming again,” he said with a mock glare. “Just like you did as a young girl.”
    Tess took off her hat and ran her arm across her brow. “I know. I stopped to take a look at the land and I got sidetracked,” she said with a sheepish grin. “What are you doing out here?”
    Jed sat tall in his saddle to stretch his back and looked around. “Doing the same thing, I guess. Telford called again this morning. God, he wants this land.”
    Tess grunted rudely. “Who gives a fu—?”
    “Tess! You have a foul mouth, young woman.” He sighed and his daughter grunted again.
    “He’s an asshole, Dad. He’ll do anything to get the Double R. He’s just angry because I got the better of him with Tom a few years ago.” She laughed again. “Remember how red in the face he got when Tom told him we were buying exclusively from him?”
    In spite of himself, Jed laughed along. “He almost blew a gasket. Thank God for your degree in business from that fancy college of yours.”
    “It was worth all the years of studying marketing and business just to see the look on his face. He wanted Tom’s store, as well. The money-grubbing old fu…”
    “Ah, ah, how in the hell are you ever gonna get married with a mouth like that?”  
    Tess heard the serious tone behind the laughter. She glared up at him. “I’m not getting married,” she gently reminded him.
    Jed took a long patient breath. Tess gave him a stern “don’t start this again” look, and he let out a sigh of resignation.
    “I want a grandson.”
    Tess gave him an incredulous look. “A grandson? Dad,” Tess started. Her father groaned and hid his face in his hand. “I know I’ve been gone for a while, but did we forget one teeny tiny fact?”
    Jed groaned more deeply and did not respond.
    Tess hid her grin. “Dad?”
    “What?”
    She laughed openly then and walked up to his horse. Reaching up, she tugged at his arm until he looked down at her. “I love you, and you know I’d do anything for you.”
    Jed beamed. “Rick Cunningham is still single.”
    “It’s Cumberland, and I’m still a lesbian.”
    Jed grimaced and shut his eyes. “Still? I thought maybe you’d have come to your senses.” He opened his eyes and chuckled. “No, huh?”
    “No.” Tess smirked and put her hands on her hips. “You’ll have to adopt.”
    She was pleasantly surprised when her father let out a