“What about him?”
“I can understand why he’s upset over the TexTile plant. It will usurp some of his power. Palmetto has been his kingdom, and he’s ruled it for a long time.”
“I suppose you could look at it that way,” she said.
“I think you looked at it that way.”
“Meaning?”
“Knowing that the plant would adversely effect Patchett—is that why you decided to build it here?”
“You’ve read the prospectus. You know that Palmetto is the perfect location.”
“I also know that you could have picked a dozen or more towns along the Southeastern seaboard that would have been equally as perfect. Why Palmetto?”
“I was familiar with it.”
“Which brings me to my second question. Why did Patchett think it nervy of you to show your face around here?”
She tossed her head, rearranging the cloud of loose, dark curls lying against her shoulders. “I didn’t leave Palmetto under ideal circumstances.”
“And these ‘circumstances’ somehow involved the Patchetts?”
“Among others.”
“Especially the younger Patchett.”
“Why do you say that?”
He studied her face for a moment, then took his best shot. “Who is your son’s father, Jade?”
“Graham doesn’t have a father.”
“Wrong. That hasn’t happened since Bethlehem. You were pregnant when you left Palmetto, weren’t you?”
She merely regarded him with frosty blue eyes.
“Did Neal Patchett get you pregnant, then refuse to marry you? Is that it?”
“Absolutely not. I despise Neal Patchett and always have.” Pushing him out of her way, she yanked the door open and stepped outside. The dog bounded to his feet and vigorously wagged his tail, eager for another kind word. Jade ignored the dog and marched down the steps, turning on the lowest one to address Dillon again.
“Look, I know I got a little high-handed with you this morning in town, and I’m sorry. I should have reassured you that I’ve got the situation under control and let it go at that.”
“Do you have the situation under control?”
“Absolutely. I can handle whatever difficulties might arise, and, as I’m sure you realize, there will be many before we’re finished. You should concern yourself only with those relating to the actual construction.
“And please keep your speculations about my son and me to yourself. Better yet, don’t speculate on us at all. Once the excavation begins, you should be so busy that you don’t have time to think about anything except the business at hand.”
Dillon was more intrigued than ever. Her volatile reaction to his questions only reinforced his curiosity. This was a small town. People talked. Sooner or later he would know more about her murky past. Judiciously, he chose not to pursue it any further now.
He locked the trailer and followed her to the new pickup, where she was already sitting on the passenger side. He climbed behind the wheel and started the motor. “Pretty fancy,” he remarked as he surveyed the interior.
“GSS is a first-class corporation,” she said stiffly.
He guided the truck along the rutted path leading to the highway. “You’ll have to give me directions to your house.” He knew the place she had rented, but he didn’t want her to know that.
Following her terse directions, he drove through town. Shortly, he realized that she wasn’t leading him to her leased house. “I’m surprised you wanted to live this far out,” he commented conversationally as they left the city limits.