Nothing cute about this meet…
(excerpt from Sun-Kissed Mountains of Home)
“I’m Miranda Dunne. I was to meet…” Miranda began again only to be cut off.
“You,” the man’s eyes narrowed, “better do as I say we don’t want to sell. I’ve had it with you real estate people. We won’t let you tear up our land to develop it and sell it off in pieces. For the last time, leave us alone.”
Ethan was constantly warding off pushy realtors in the past and had a cumulative anger toward them. This lady was especially irritating as it was her untimely arrival, that not only interrupted his work, but it was her accelerating tires as she rounded the curve in the gravel yard that was the reason he was now spitting dust from his mouth and knocking bits of gravel from his ears.
The spray of rocks on the fence sent airborne when Miranda spun her tires had spooked Kit, the young horse Ethan was training in the round pen, causing the colt to buck. The horse’s, unexpected behavior surprised Ethan, and he lost his balance, which further confused the green horse. Ethan’s efforts to ride it out were futile. The athletic horse had unseated his rider sending Ethan to the ground, rolling behind him in a cloud of earth.
“I’m not a realtor,” Miranda attempted to clarify, now certain there was a misunderstanding, but her words stopped at her tongue when she saw red in the man’s blue eyes.
Hoping for an ally, Miranda made eye contact with the woman who siddled over to stand beside the man.
“There has to be an explanation. There’s been a mistake.” Miranda stammered.
“The only mistake made here is yours. You have no business being here so if you will just take your leave, there won’t be any trouble.”
Miranda didn’t need to try anymore. The two people were not to be reasoned with. She was certain she wouldn’t be able to set the record straight right here and now so retreat was the only option. Miranda took her leave as was so eloquently suggested.
Miranda was relieved when she turned the key that ignited the spark that brought the brawny, twin turbo, V8 engine to life with a comforting powerful grumble. Gaining her composure she put the automobile in gear and put a lot of gone between her and the scene on the Baldwin’s front porch.
“What was that all about?” Paula asked regarding the now retreating unexpected visitor.
She looked at Ethan standing next to her and laughed at the dirt that covered him from hat to boots. His face had a fine powdered application and the dirt grains were stuck to his eyebrows. “What happened to you?” She exclaimed, surprised by his appearance.
Ethan didn’t answer. He pulled off his hat, redistributing the dust that had settled upon it. In the fresh cloud, Ethan coughed, swiped his shirt sleeve across his brow, turned and headed back to work.
