Jordan took Maggie's hand from her face and held it to her lips then placed a delicate kiss in the palm. "I like the way you think," she whispered hoarsely.
In the distance Jordan and Maggie could hear sounds of vehicles approaching. The hum of the motors grew louder as they neared. Finally, the sound of male voices competing with each other signaled that the work crew had arrived.
Jordan leaned in to kiss Maggie deeply once more before stepping back to allow Maggie to exit the barn before her.
* * *
During the next several weeks, Jordan worked side by side with the carpenters to complete the outer structure of the barn while Maggie split her time between supervising the finishing touches on the inside and with Jan's help, maintaining the day to day workings of the farm. Jan was uncharacteristically stoic during those weeks, no doubt attributed to the fact that Jordan spent most nights with Maggie and leaving her on her own in the bunkhouse.
The relationship between Maggie and Jan became distant, with communication focusing on the day-to-day workings of the farm. The relationship between Jan and Jordan was strained, but polite — a fact that both surprised and unnerved Jordan, considering the veiled threats Jan had delivered to her the day she moved into the bunkhouse.
Just before Christmas, the barn was finished. To celebrate the occasion, Jordan erected a small Christmas tree inside the main foyer of the barn. The entire construction crew and their families were invited to a holiday celebration, which began with a wine and cheese social in the grand room of the new barn followed by a home-cooked dinner at the farmhouse.
The farmhouse was gaily decorated with lights and garland. A large Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner of the living room beside the fireplace. The tree was festively adorned with lights and ornaments, new and old, including several that Maggie had made as a child.
Dinner was a huge success, followed by a gift hunt for the crew's children in the main barn. Part way through the evening, Jan claimed she had a headache and returned to the bunkhouse.
It was well into the evening before the last guests departed. Jordan and Maggie walked them to their cars then returned eagerly to the house to take advantage of the blazing fireplace. They threw an array of blankets and pillows on the floor near the flames, creating a romantic nest.
"Make yourself comfortable while I pour the wine," Jordan suggested.
"Okay, love. I'll tend the fire," Maggie replied.
When Jordan entered the living room carrying two glasses of wine, she found Maggie sitting in front of the flames, surrounded by pillows. She approached Maggie and handed her one of the glasses.
Maggie smiled up into Jordan's face. "Thank you, lover. Come sit with me," Maggie added as she patted the floor next to her.
Jordan sat on the floor next to Maggie and sipped her wine. She couldn't help but stare at the woman beside her.
"What are you thinking, Jordan?"
Jordan reached forward with her free hand and traced the edge of Maggie's cheek. "I am thinking that I am the luckiest woman in the world. I am thinking that you are so beautiful you take my breath away. I am thinking that I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you."
Maggie smiled and looked down into her wine glass, deep in thought.
"My turn to ask. What is on your mind?" Jordan asked.
"I guess I'm waiting to wake up and discover this is all a dream. I have never known anyone like you, Jordan. There is something so mysterious about you, yet I feel like I've known you forever. I feel safe with you, yet I hardly know anything about you. Who are you, Jordan Lewis?"
Jordan kissed Maggie tenderly. "I am the woman who loves you with all her heart. I am asking you to trust me, Maggie. I promise I will tell you everything you want to know in time. Just know that I will never hurt you."
Maggie yawned loudly.
"You are tired, my love. It's been a very long and hectic day. Here, let me take your wine," Jordan said as she took Maggie's glass and placed it on the hearth. "Come here, lie with me. Close your eyes and enjoy the warmth of the fire."
Maggie rested her head on Jordan's shoulder and draped her arm across Jordan's midsection as they lay together on the pillows. Jordan kissed Maggie's forehead. "Close your eyes, my love. Relax. I will keep you safe." Moments later they were fast asleep caressed by each other and by the slow flickering glow of the fire.
* * *
The next morning, Jordan woke up alone among the pillows strewn in front of the fireplace. She sat up and looked around groggily. When she realized where she was and how she came to be there, she smiled broadly.
"Are you going to sleep all day?" Maggie teased as she walked into the living room fully dressed. Maggie scooted away as Jordan playfully reached out for her legs. "Oh, no you don't," Maggie exclaimed.
"No fair," Jordan responded as she lay back down among the pillows. A glance at the clock told her it was only seven. She watched Maggie button the cuffs of her shirt. "Where are you going so early this morning?" she asked.
"I'm going to take a ride out to the north pasture. Wanna come?"
Jordan placed her hands behind her head. "Actually, I thought I'd fix the broken spindles on the porch then start breakfast while you're gone. I'm not much of a cook, but I can do breakfast."
Maggie smiled. "You won't get an argument from me, but make it brunch if you would. I will probably be gone for a few hours." She squatted down beside Jordan and kissed her temptingly. "I'll be back in a while, lover."
Jordan watched Maggie leave, then climbed to her feet and tried to iron out the wrinkles in her clothing with her hands before heading into the kitchen to set up the coffee pot. While the coffee brewed, she showered and dressed in clean clothes then went out to the porch to assess which spindles needed to be replaced.
"Jordan, do you know where my saddle is?"
Jordan turned to see Maggie stroll toward her from across the barnyard. She stopped working on the repairs to the front porch to give Maggie her full attention. As always, Jordan felt a rush of desire pass through her whenever Maggie was around. "You're still here? I thought you headed to the north pasture a while ago."
"I can't find my saddle. I've been looking for it for the past half hour."
"Your saddle isn't in the barn?"
"No. I put it on the stand yesterday when Shawny and I returned from our ride but it's not there today. I was wondering if maybe you moved it."
"No, I didn't. In fact, I haven't been in the barn yet this morning. The saddler was here yesterday, wasn't he? Maybe he thought it needed repair and took it back to his shop."
Maggie stopped in front of Jordan and placed her hands on her denim-clad hips. Her curly red hair splayed in several directions from beneath her cowboy hat. "Hmm. That's possible, I suppose. I need to check on the horses in the north pasture and you know Shawny doesn't do well with saddles he's not used to."
Jordan looked into her emerald green eyes and smiled. "Why don't you take my horse? I'm sure Sally would love the exercise."
Maggie smiled and touched the side of Jordan's face. "You are so sweet, my love. I just might do that." She stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on Jordan's lips.
Jordan's arms immediately circled Maggie's waist and her hands found their way into the waistband of Maggie jeans as the kiss deepened. Jordan's hands delved deep, firmly grasping Maggie's buttocks and pulling her close to her own heated core.
"Hmm," Jordan moaned. "I want you again, my love."
Maggie drew her lips away from Jordan's to catch her breath. "God, if you keep that up, I'll never get out to the north pasture."
"Well, you could always send Jan out to check on them while we make better use of our time," Jordan suggested slyly.
"I would, but she doesn't seem to be around right now. She's been behaving pretty erratically. One moment she's stuck to me like glue and the next, she's nowhere to be found."
Jordan picked up her hammer and dropped it into the sling attached to her tool be
lt. "Well, if you ask me, I think she's trying to win you back."
Maggie blushed then gently punched Jordan's shoulder. "Get out of Dodge. She is not."
Jordan advanced one step in Maggie's direction and took the redhead's face between her hands as their eyes locked. "Trust me love, she wants something. Why else would she stay?"
Maggie wrapped her arms around Jordan's waist and pulled her close. "Well, lover, you have nothing to worry about. She can try all she wants. It's you I love and nothing she can do will change that."
"Well, the feeling is mutual. Now go on. Take Sally to the north pasture. I'll call the saddler for you while you're gone. Okay?"
Maggie turned to head back to the barn. "Okay. I'll see you in a few hours."
Jordan's eyes were glued to Maggie's swaying hips as she made her way back to the barn. After a few minutes, Maggie re-emerged riding Jordan's horse waving her hat in Jordan's direction as she galloped toward the north pasture.
When Maggie was finally out of sight, Jordan entered the house and called the saddler who said he didn’t have the saddle.
Jordan hung up the phone then went into the kitchen for a glass of water before continuing the repairs on the front porch. As she was filling her glass, she looked out the window above the kitchen sink and caught a glimpse of a figure covertly exiting the barn on foot. Suspicious, Jordan decided to investigate.
So as to not call any unusual attention to herself, Jordan sauntered toward the barn as she had done countless times before. Once inside, she allowed her eyes to become accustomed to the darker environment before looking around. She searched the horse stalls, but found nothing unusual. She even spent a short amount of time petting Maggie's horse, Shawny. Strangely, upon exiting Shawny's stall, she immediately noticed that Maggie's saddle was hanging on the rail, right where Maggie said she always put it.
Maggie, was this saddle really not here earlier today, or are you losing your marbles, girlfriend?
The saddle was hanging over the rail with the right side facing the rider. Jordan quickly inspected the saddle, then turned to walk away, but stopped short when something caught her eye. She turned back to the saddle and grasped it with both hands. In one quick movement, she lifted the saddle, spun it around and placed it back on the rail so that the left side of the saddle was facing outward.
Jordan lifted the stirrup and threw it over the top of the saddle, then reached down to grasp the belly strap.
"What the hell? How did this get here?" Jordan reached under the saddle and quickly released the buckle holding the belly strap. With the strap in hand, she proceeded to cross the barnyard toward the bunk house. She stopped before the bunkhouse door and banged loudly. "Open this goddamned door."
The door flew open and Jordan came face to face with Jan. Jordan thrust the belly strap toward her. "Care to explain this?"
CHAPTER 8
Jan looked at the belly strap Jordan held in her hand. "It's a belly strap. Surely you know that," Jan said sarcastically.
Jordan turned the strap over in her hand. "No, I mean this."
On the underside of the strap was a metal burr, embedded deep into the leather.
Jan took the strap from Jordan and looked at it closely. "It looks like a burr to me."
Jordan placed her hands on her hips. "That's exactly what it is. Care to tell me how it got there?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know that?" Jan replied angrily.
Jordan grabbed the strap from Jan and folded it in half. "This strap came off Maggie's saddle, which, by the way, went missing this morning and then miraculously reappeared just after I saw you sneak out of the barn. If she had ridden Shawny with this burr in the belly strap, he would have thrown her. She could have been seriously hurt, or worse."
Jan crossed her arms and cocked her head to one side. "So? Why are you telling me this?"
Jordan leaned in close. "Because if anything happens to Maggie, I will hold you personally responsible," she answered vehemently.
"Now, why would I want to harm Maggie?" Jan asked defensively.
"That's the part I haven't figured out yet. I would have half expected me to be your target, not her," Jordan replied.
Jan stepped in defiantly close. "Then I guess maybe you're the one who should watch her back."
"What's going on here?"
Jordan turned quickly to see Maggie standing on the bunkhouse porch behind her. After acknowledging her presence, she turned back to Jan and stared directly into her face while addressing Maggie's question. "Nothing. Everything's fine. Jan and I were just making sure we're on the same page."
Jordan looked down at the strap in her hand then shoved it inside her jacket before she turned to face Maggie once more. "Are you ready for brunch?"
Maggie smiled broadly. "You bet I am. I'm famished." She looked over Jordan's shoulder. "Would you like to join us, Jan?" she asked.
"No, thanks," Jan replied. "I've had breakfast already."
Maggie linked her arm into the crook of Jordan's elbow. "All right then, let's eat."
* * *
"Hmm, this is wonderful, Jordan. Where did you learn to cook so well?" Maggie asked as she chewed a forkful of French toast.
Jordan chuckled. "Actually, I'm a lousy cook. This just happens to be one of the few things I can make without poisoning myself. My friend Kale taught me how to make it."
"Kale? That's an unusual name. Male, right?"
"Definitely male," Jordan replied. "He's my best friend in the world, and my surrogate little brother. He's such a sweet guy. He's kind and considerate. We actually shared a house together for a couple of years. For the longest time he was convinced he was in love with me, that is, until Andi came along."
"Andi? Pretty androgynous name. Male or female?"
"Andi is all girl. A very beautiful one at that, and smart too. She's a physicist. Andi, Kale and I all worked together at the lab." Jordan smiled wistfully as she thought about her friends.
Maggie touched Jordan's hand. "You haven't seen them in a while, I take it?"
Jordan pushed her food around on the plate as she shook her head. "I didn't realize until now how much I would miss them."
"Well, maybe we can invite them to visit, do you think?"
Jordan looked at Maggie and smiled. "Maybe," she replied.
Maggie took a bite of sausage. "Oh, when I came back from the north pasture, I noticed you found my saddle. Where was it?"
"Actually, Mags, I didn't find it. It was right where you always put it."
"No way! I swear to you, Jordan, it was not there when I went to saddle Shawny this morning."
"Well, for what's it worth, I believe you," Jordan replied.
"So who would have taken it? And who brought it back?" Maggie asked.
"I'm guessing it was Jan," Jordan said. "John is on vacation until after the holidays and she's the only other one around beside you and me."
"What would she want with my saddle?"
"That's just what I was trying to find out when you interrupted us a while ago."
"Jordan, what I interrupted was some type of confrontation. I'm not blind, you know. I could have sworn Jan was dealing okay with the breakup. Wanna tell me what you were discussing?"
Jordan sat back in her chair. "Nothing, really. I was just making sure she and I understood one another."
Maggie narrowed her eyes at Jordan. "Why don't I believe you?"
Jordan stood and collected their dishes, then placed an inviting kiss on Maggie's lips. "Trust me, sweetheart. I'm just looking out for things, especially for you."
"I don't need looking out for, Jordan. I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."
Jordan carried the coffee pot back to the table and refilled their cups. "I'm sure you can, sweetie, but it never hurts to have help." Jordan returned the coffee pot to the hot plate. "Tell me about your ride this morning. How are the horses?"
"Oh, I stopped at the new barn to check on the foals. They are doing really well…"
Jordan sat down and enjoyed her coffee as Maggie talked excitedly about the foals, the farm and life in general. For Maggie's benefit, she maintained the smile on her face, but inside, she was seething.
Jan, I won't let you screw this up. That is a promise, she thought fervently.
* * *
Maggie sat at the kitchen table studying several official-looking documents. As she read, she jotted notes on a pad of paper nearby. Her attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of stamping feet on the porch just outside the kitchen door.
Jordan pushed the kitchen door open and stepped inside. "Damn, it's colder than a witch's tit out there," she cussed as she bent over to remove her boots.
Maggie chuckled. "And just how cold is a witch's tit, my love?" she asked coyly.
"Cold enough to produce milkshakes." Jordan grinned. "Sometimes I think your parents have the right idea. Florida in January sounds like a wonderful thing."
Jordan hung her coat on one of the hooks by the door then rubbed her hands together as she approached Maggie. She stood behind her and looked over her shoulder.
"What are you reading?" she asked.
Maggie glanced up at Jordan. "I'm just reviewing the Planning Commission guidelines before I draft the proposal for the riding school," she explained, returning her attention to the documents.
"I can imagine there will be a lot of rules and regulations we'll have to follow and safety upgrades to make the farm safe and suitable for the kids," Jordan predicted.
"I'm afraid you're right. The problem I'm having, though, is trying to put limits on the definition of handicapped, one that doesn't exclude too many of the more disabled children. I really don't want to limit any child with a disability from taking lessons, but I guess it will be unavoidable if we can't make it totally safe for them."
Jordan leaned over Maggie as she read and nuzzled her cold nose into Maggie's neck.
"Yeeow!" Maggie screamed as she squirmed away. "Your nose is cold."
Jordan laughed evilly as she shoved her cold hands into the neckline of Maggie's shirt.
Maggie jumped up from the table. "Jordan Lewis," she shouted. "Stop that."
All My Tomorrows Page 8
