“Where’d you eat?”
“Uh…the Mexican restaurant out on the highway. I forget the name.”
“Casa de Sueños.”
“Yes, that was it. It was really good. Very authentic atmosphere and delicious food.”
“I love Mexican,” he said. “We’ll have to go together sometime.”
“Okay.” She answered without thinking because another pain shot across her back.
“I called to give you my estimate.”
“That didn’t take long.”
“I figured you’re anxious to get started, so I got right to work crunching numbers.”
“I appreciate that.” She leaned against the counter and stifled a yawn. All of a sudden she was very tired. Cole described the punch list and floored her with a very reasonable estimated dollar amount for the remodel.
“That’s a lot less than I expected. Are you sure you calculated correctly?”
“I’m sure. Is it agreeable to you?”
“More than agreeable. You’re hired.”
“Fantastic!” She could hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he began rattling off the schedule. “I’ll get the contract typed up and we can get started immediately. I’m thinking it’s best to get the bathroom started first. I’ll buy a toilet and put in the new window we talked about. If you have time tomorrow, you can pick out a vanity and sink at Lowe’s. If you can haul it home in your Jeep, I’ll try to get it installed in the afternoon. You can also check out the kitchen appliances while you’re there.”
“Wow! You’ve been thinking through all the details, haven’t you? How many cups of coffee did you drink today?”
“You know me so well already.”
Cole’s zeal was contagious. Catching her second wind, she said, “I’ve chosen my paint colors for all the rooms, so I’ll purchase the paint tomorrow, too. I didn’t think this would be happening so quickly. I’m very excited. I guess it was fate that we met in the café the other day.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I’m looking forward to working with you, Jordan. Oh, I almost forgot. I called a landscaper and got him lined up, too. You won’t even recognize your place when we’re all done.”
“You’ve been busy today. You must not have gotten anything else accomplished.” There was a pregnant pause before Cole answered.
“I can’t seem to stop thinking about you. I’m glad we’re going to be spending time together. I want to get to know you better.” His admission wasn’t altogether a surprise, given his attentiveness since they’d met. Not to mention the bit of jealousy he’d shown when Wyatt flirted with her.
“I’d like to get to know you, too,” she replied in all honesty. His good-looking face flashed through her mind. Cole was the perfect physical specimen of a man, with those movie star looks and muscular build. Dark hair, bright blue eyes and a brilliant smile were icing on the cake. Plus, he was genuinely nice. It would be easy to fall for a sweet guy like him.
“Jordan?” Are you still there? Did you fall asleep on me?”
His soothing voice roused her from her reverie. “Yes, I’m here. I apologize. It’s been a long day.”
“I understand. You must be exhausted. A lot has happened in the past couple of days. I’ll let you go. We can discuss more details tomorrow. See you in the morning.”
“Bright and early, right?” She remembered he got up with the roosters.
“You know it.”
She hung up the phone and turned off the TV and made sure the front door was locked. Then she slowly made her way into the bedroom. Her eyelids drooped, and her arms hung like lead weights against her sides. After climbing between the cool sheets, her head sunk into the pillow. As she began to drift, two handsome faces floated around in her mind. There was no reason in the world to keep carrying regret with her.
Right before she succumbed to sleep, a smile formed on her lips, and she mouthed the words, Adios, Drew, you little slug.
Chapter Nine
Jordan had a pot of coffee and a plate of sweet rolls waiting on the counter when Cole arrived early the next morning. Peeking out the window, she watched him climb out of his truck. He was so attractive it was hard not to stare. She threw open the door and greeted him with a huge smile, which faded as soon as she noted his solemn expression.
“Good morning, Jordan.”
“Morning, Cole. I can tell something’s wrong. What is it?”
“Your ranch sign is down.”
“What?” She stepped onto the stoop and peered down the driveway. Sure enough, the Lucky Seven sign was no longer hanging from the arched entrance. Shading her eyes with one hand, she said, “It looks like the wooden posts are damaged, too. What do you think happened?” She had her suspicions.
“The sign’s on the ground, bent with muddy tire tracks all across it. Looks like someone took an ax to the wooden structure.”
Panic set in. “How could I have slept through that kind of vandalism? Whoever did it must have made an awful racket. It’s so quiet out here, I don’t see how I wouldn’t have heard it.”
“You sounded pretty tired last night. You probably slept heavy.”
“I took two pain pills for my back before going to bed. They must have knocked me out cold.”
“I’m afraid that’s not all,” Cole said.
“What else?”
“There’s graffiti spray-painted on your barn. I’m going to have my guys repaint that for you first thing. I’m sorry, Jordan.”
She fisted her hands upon her hips. “It has to be Stillwell up to no good again.”
“You should call the sheriff.”
Jordan shook her head. “Not yet. I’m going to try and handle this on my own before bringing the law into it. Calling the sheriff might anger him further.”
“This is child’s play compared to what he’s capable of. I admire your guts, Jordan, but you don’t know Addison Stillwell. He’s a very powerful man. You don’t want to fight him alone.”
Her stubborn streak showed itself. “Lydia did. I guess if an eighty-something year-old woman could stand up to him, I can too.” Marching into the house, she went straight for the phone book and looked up Addison Stillwell’s number. She dialed without a moment’s hesitation. Cole stood with his shoulder against the doorframe, looking in.
“Answering machine,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, she willed her voice to be steady when the beep sounded.
“Mr. Stillwell, this is Jordan Mackenzie calling. I received your message this morning—or should I say your warning. Don’t think some childish vandalism is going to scare me into selling my ranch. You don’t intimidate me. Let me be perfectly clear. If you or your thugs step foot on my property again, I’ll call the sheriff. That’s your warning.” Jordan hung up the phone with a trembling hand. Glancing at Cole, she saw he was grinning from ear to ear.
“Do you think he’ll take me seriously?”
“We’ll see.” He turned at the sound of gravel crunching beneath tires. “That’s probably my men. Excuse me.”
She walked to the door and watched him strut out to meet two of his employees at their truck. He pointed to the barn. She heard him instructing them to repaint the side of the barn and then haul the Lucky Seven sign into the back of his pickup. When he returned to the house, he said, “I’ll take the sign to the dump and place an order for a new one. There’s a good sign maker in town.” He touched her arm. “Don’t worry. My guys will get that writing off your barn in no time. Why don’t you go ahead and remove the personal items from your bathroom so I can begin dismantling the fixtures.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, stepping off the stoop.
Cole grabbed her arm. “Jordan, don’t go out there.”
“I want to see.” She eased out of his grasp and walked to the corner of the barn where Cole’s two men were filling paint sprayers. They were both of Hispanic heritage.
“Mornin’, ma’am,” one greeted.
“Good morning. I’m Jordan
Mackenzie. Nice to meet you both.” She took turns shaking each man’s hand.
“I’m Tony and this is Bobby.” Tony cautioned her when she took a step forward. “You don’t want to look at this, Ms. Mackenzie.”
“Please feel free to call me Jordan. It’s all right. I want to see what they did.” She mentally prepared herself for what she was about to see, but it still unnerved her when she saw the disgusting words sprayed in big black letters.
“Was it teenagers?” Tony asked.
She wrenched her gaze away from the graffiti. “I don’t know who did it. Thanks for taking care of it.” Back at the house, she unloaded the bathroom items and offered Cole a mug of coffee. “I’m going to run in to town and get started on the shopping. It’ll take my mind off of what happened outside last night.”
“Good idea,” he said. He carried his tools into the bathroom and set up to work. While she was outside, he’d brought in a stained glass window, which was now propped against the wall. “I’ll install the new toilet I picked up last night and get started installing this window above the tub.”
She skimmed a finger over the octagonal window made of blue and pink cut glass. “Where did you find such a beautiful stained glass window on short notice?”
“It’s something I had at my own house, left over from a previous job. The owner changed her mind about the kind of window she wanted. I thought it would look perfect here in your bathroom and it’s the right size.”
Jordan beamed. “It’s my style, too. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Cole snapped on his tool belt and looked ready to begin work.
“I guess I’ll get going,” Jordan said. “I’m anxious to get to town. See you later.” She picked up her purse and started for the door.
“Adios,” he called before disappearing into the bathroom.
As she opened her car door, she spied Wyatt’s pickup lumbering up the drive. He was pulling a long horse trailer behind him. She didn’t expect him to bring the horses over this early, although she should have known he’d be up with the sun. Did everyone around here rise at the crack of dawn? Even though she was chomping at the bit to leave and do her shopping, the memory of that almost-kiss washed over her. She didn’t mind putting off her trip for a while. She enjoyed being around him.
They waved at one another as he pulled up and parked. The back end of the trailer faced the barn. From inside the trailer came the whinnies of horses. Jordan tossed her purse onto the front seat of the Jeep and strolled over to greet him. Wyatt rolled down the window.
“Good mornin’.” He tipped his baseball cap at her.
“Good morning, Brannigan.”
The door squeaked as he pushed it open and drew his long legs out. “I see you’ve had some company.”
At first she thought he meant Cole and his employees since their two pickups were parked in the drive. She understood what he meant after he motioned toward the barn that was in the process of being repainted.
“Unfortunately, yes,” she sighed. “I suspect it was Addison Stillwell again. My Lucky Seven sign is destroyed, too.”
“Looks like the work of juvenile delinquents to me. We have a lot of them around here.”
“You don’t think it could be Stillwell?”
“Not him personally. Probably those two idiots he has on his payroll. Where’s the sign?”
“Cole Roberts is taking it to the dump later. He’s going to get a new one made in town.”
Wyatt glanced at the adobe then back to Cole’s pickup. “He’s doing some work for you?”
“Yes. He gave me an estimate for repairs and remodeling. I accepted it, and he’s starting today. I was getting ready to head to Lowe’s to pick out some new items.”
“That was awfully fast. You didn’t get more than one estimate?” Wyatt asked, tilting his head. “That wasn’t too smart, Jordan.” He slipped on leather gloves and unlatched the trailer gate and then hung a lead rope over his arm. His blunt remark took her aback.
“Excuse me?” Her eyebrow arched. “I’m fully capable of making a decision about whom I want to do work around here, Mr. Brannigan. I don’t need a second estimate. Cole is a fair man and I trust him.”
He snickered. “You trust him? You just met him a few days ago. How do you know he’s fair?”
She could tell he was needling her. “I just met you a few days ago, as well,” she challenged good-naturedly.
He winked. “Yeah, but that’s different.”
“How is it different?”
“I’m the most honest man you’ll ever meet, and that’s a promise.” He nodded his head—firmly—and then yanked open the trailer gate. Six horses stomped hooves and swished tails. “They want out.”
“That’s obvious,” she said, pinching her nose. All the horses had pooped in the trailer. “Yuck!”
His hearty laugh boomed. “Would you please hold the door open, Jordan? That is, if you can remove your fingers from your nose long enough.” He jumped into the back, easier than she would have imagined for a man his age, and slid the dividing bar back. Then he clipped the lead rope onto the halter of the nearest horse. Turning the animal around, he tugged on the rope and jumped off the trailer with the horse following.
“Can you close the door?” he asked.
“Oh, okay.” She pushed the heavy door closed and slid the handle into place.
“Where are you taking them?” she asked, jogging to catch up with his long-legged strides.
“I’m turning them out in the pasture. Come with me and watch what I do. This is your first lesson.” When he approached the metal gate, Wyatt opened it with one hand and unsnapped the lead rope from the gelding’s halter. “Yah!” he called, and slapped the horse on the rump. The horse kicked up his feet and galloped down the field before stopping to nibble at dry grass.
Jordan stood at the fence, captivated. “That’s awesome.”
He grinned. “Close this gate and we’ll get another one.”
“What? How do I close it?” She fumbled with the complicated latch.
“Like this.” He showed her the way to lock the latch so the horse wouldn’t prod it with its nose and escape. His nearness stirred those same warm feelings in her she’d felt last night. “Got it now?” he asked, bumping her shoulder on purpose.
“Got it.”
“You don’t want your horses running loose all over the county. Let’s go get the next one.” His long strides were purposeful.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” She ran to catch up. He opened the trailer door again without answering. “Aren’t you going to tell me their names?” she asked.
He snapped the rope onto the next horse’s halter and led him off the trailer the way he had with the first. “The one in the field is Trigger. This one is Prince. I think.”
Once again, Jordan followed him to the pasture and stood at the fence as he released the animal to join the other. She latched the gate without being told this time, and they walked back to the trailer side by side. This routine was repeated three more times until only one horse remained. Wyatt stood at the end of the trailer bed and whistled.
“Buttercup! Wake up, you lazy girl.”
Jordan squinted. “Is she sleeping?”
“Yep. Guess she had a late night,” he joked.
“Is she the only female?”
“Yes. They’re called mares.”
“I knew that.” Jordan slid him a smile. “I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.”
“I always pay attention when a pretty woman talks to me.”
The golden horse with a snow-white mane and tail opened her eyes and slowly turned her head. She neighed softly and nudged at something furry near her legs. Jordan blinked. The back of the trailer was dim. It was difficult to see clearly. Puzzled, she squinted again, in order to get a better look. “There’s something standing behind the horse. It’s short, black and hairy. What on earth?” She threw a questioning glance at Wyatt. He responded with a sheepish gri
n.
“Maaaaa.”A fat pigmy goat with horns made its appearance, stepping out from behind the mare.
“What is that?” Jordan pointed. Wyatt hopped into the trailer and scratched Buttercup on the head as he hooked the lead rope to her halter. He led the Palomino out of the trailer with the beady-eyed creature waddling behind.
“Jordan, this here is Houdini.” To the goat, he said, “Houdini, meet your new mommy.” The goat leaped off the back of the trailer with the grace of a flying pig and stared up at her. Her jaw dropped.
“Come on, Buttercup.” When Wyatt began leading the mare toward the pasture, the goat sidled up to Jordan and rubbed the side of his head against her outer thigh.
“What’s he doing?” She squealed and jumped away as if she’d been burned. The goat was insistent. He rubbed again, still ogling her.
“Give him a pet. Or shove him away if you don’t want him bothering you,” Wyatt called over his shoulder.
“Oh. Okay.” With a tentative hand, she patted his side. When the goat cried,”Maaaaa,” she smiled and hollered, “I think Houdini likes me, Brannigan. He’s pretty cute, but his head must itch because he keeps rubbing it against me.” Just as she reached out to scratch between his horns, Wyatt turned and yelled.
“Don’t touch his horns!”
“Wha-?” The goat reared up and slammed his horns into the tender flesh of her bare leg. She howled and the goat butted her again.
“Get him off me!” she screamed.
Wyatt dropped Buttercup’s lead rope. He ran to where Jordan stood and roughly shoved the goat away. “Git!” He knelt and examined her leg with gentle hands. “Are you all right?”
“I think so. I’m not bleeding, am I?” She felt her eyes cloud and mist.
“No blood. He didn’t open the skin.” Wyatt stood. “I’m so sorry. I remembered too late about him not liking his horns touched. I should have said something before I let him out of the trailer, but it slipped my mind.”
Jordan glared at the animal. The little bully planted his hooves, lowered his head and glowered back, like a bull ready to charge.
“Where did you find that psychotic demon?” she asked, trembling from the scare.
Takin' The Reins Page 9
