Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More (37 page)

Jan shrugged. “We’ve talked about getting married. I think the fact that your father has signed the deed of the farm over to you definitely concerns me.”

Jordan’s eyes opened wide as Jan threw out the reference to marriage.
No!

Maggie took the napkin off her lap and put it on the table beside her plate. She rose to her feet. “Jan, could I please see you in the kitchen?”

“Sure,” Jan said brightly as she followed Maggie.

Jordan sat alone in the dining room, feeling like she was intruding on a private conversation as loud voices came from the kitchen.

“What the hell was that all about?” Maggie asked in a high-pitched voice.

“I don’t know what part of it you don’t understand, Mags. Your father transferred the deed of the farm to you. It’s all yours now.”

Jordan could hear Maggie pacing back and forth across the kitchen as she spoke.

“And what does that have to do with you?” Maggie asked.

“You and I have talked about getting married some day. When that happens, we’ll want to add my name to the deed. That way, the farm is protected in the event something happens to either one of us.”

A pregnant pause filled the air as Jordan strained to hear what Maggie would say next.

“Look, Jan. We have company. This is not the time to have this conversation. I am going back into the dining room, and I am going to enjoy dinner with Jordan. You’re welcome to join us if you want, but I don’t want to hear another word from you about this deed. Is that understood?”

“I thought you’d be glad to hear the news. Forgive me for living.”

“That doesn’t even warrant a response. Now, I’m going to finish my dinner. You can come with me or not. Your choice.”

Jordan quickly grabbed her fork and transferred a bite of mashed potatoes into her mouth as Maggie came into the room. Jordan waited for Jan to appear behind her but soon realized she would be dining alone with Maggie.

“Jan sends her apologies. She’s decided to have dinner later.”

“That’s too bad. Is she feeling okay?” Jordan asked, hoping she sounded sincere.

Maggie sat down and spread her napkin in her lap. “She’s fine. Let’s just enjoy our dinner, okay?”

After dinner, Jordan excused herself and stood to leave.

“Do you have to go so early?” Maggie asked in a wistful tone.

“I promised John I’d help him unload the hay crop in the morning. We’re meeting at seven, so I really should get settled in for the night.”

“But you haven’t had dessert yet.”

“That’s okay. Dinner was so good, I ate too much anyway. Maybe I’ll take a rain check on dessert?”

“Deal,” Maggie said. “Let me walk you to the bunkhouse.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Jordan said.

Maggie grinned. “I know I don’t.”

Jordan offered her arm to Maggie, who slipped her hand into the crook of Jordan’s elbow.

A few minutes later, they stopped in front of the bunkhouse door and Maggie released Jordan’s arm.

Jordan shoved her hands into her pockets. “Maggie, I want to thank you for dinner. It was the best fried chicken I’ve had in a long time. I appreciate the invitation.”

Maggie looked into Jordan’s eyes and smiled. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed having you. However, I must apologize for Jan’s behavior.” Maggie crossed her arms in front of her and hugged herself close. “Brrr. I can’t believe it’s getting cool at night already,” she complained.

“Are you cold? Sheesh, how inconsiderate can I be? Let me get you a jacket. Wait right here,” Jordan said as she slipped into the bunkhouse, emerging seconds later carrying a jeans jacket. “Here, put this on.” Jordan helped Maggie into the jacket and then rubbed her upper arms to warm her up. “Is that better?” she asked.

“Much. Thank you.”

Maggie took a step closer and looked up at Jordan.

Jordan felt as though all the air had been forced from her lungs. She stared at the beautiful face before her.
I could easily drown in her eyes.
“I need to kiss you,” she whispered, lowering her mouth to Maggie’s.

As Maggie’s lips parted, Jordan’s tongue explored the moist cavern within. A wave of liquid desire coursed through Jordan as the kiss deepened. It was a full minute later that Jordan finally broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against Maggie’s so they could both catch their breath.

“Oh, my God!” Maggie whispered hoarsely.

Jordan took a step back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You didn’t do that. We did,” Maggie said, “and I’m the one who should apologize.”

“No, I take full responsibility. You have a partner, and I should know better than to interfere with your relationship. Jan doesn’t deserve that,” Jordan insisted.

Maggie placed her index finger on Jordan’s lips. “You’re right. She doesn’t, but I’m sure you can see that things aren’t perfect with her. In fact, things have been a little shaky for some time. Maybe you were right earlier... she is assuming.” Maggie wrapped her arms around her middle and walked a few feet away. “I don’t know, Jordan. I need time to think about Jan. I need to process what I’m feeling for you. I’m sorry if I’m sending confusing signals. Please, forgive me.”

Jordan inhaled deeply and nodded, releasing a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Maggie smiled and stood on tiptoe to place a gentle, chaste kiss on Jordan’s lips. “You need to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night,” she said.

Jordan’s heart flipped in her chest as she watched Maggie walk across the barnyard and into the house.

Early the next morning, Jordan directed pallets of hay bales into the loft as John lifted them with the hoist and pulley. She had a perfect view of Maggie sauntering into the barn wearing Jordan’s jacket.

Maggie greeted John brightly. “Good morning.”

John tipped his hat with one hand while maintaining a firm grip on the pulley rope with the other. “’Morning, Maggie.”

“Nice jacket,” Jordan called down from the loft.

Maggie looked up. Her face lit up happily as she grabbed the sides of the jacket, spreading them out while turning around in a circle as though modeling a coat. “Thank you. Do you like it?”

“It’s great. You have good taste,” Jordan responded.

Maggie smiled. “Are you almost finished? I was hoping you’d be free to ride with me to the north end of the property. I’m meeting my carpenter up there to go over plans for a new barn.”

Jordan looked down at John. “How many more do we have, John?”

“Looks like two more. Why don’t you go ahead with Maggie, and I’ll finish up here.”

“No, a promise is a promise. We’re going to finish this before I leave,” Jordan said. She looked again at Maggie. “Give me about twenty minutes, and I’ll be with you. Okay?”

“Sounds good. I’ll go straighten up the tack room while I wait.” Jordan stepped into the hook of the winch and rode it down to barn level to help John secure the next pallet.

John watched Maggie nearly skip away before he looked at Jordan with raised eyebrows.

“What’s that look for?” Jordan asked.

“I’m surprised she didn’t blow a cork,” John replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Maggie sometimes isn’t very patient when she wants something.”

“Really?” she asked. “Has she ever lost patience with you?”

“Nope, not me, but Jan’s been on the receiving end a few times. Let me tell you—what they say about redheads and tempers is true in her case.”

“Hmm... interesting.” Jordan wondered to herself what Jan had done to provoke Maggie’s ire. “I know what you mean. She seems to lose her temper quite easily. I can’t imagine it would have taken much for her to blow up at Jan.”

John eyed her conspiratorially over the pallet of feed. “To tell you the truth, if it was me, I’d have been mad too.”

Jordan grabbed the hook and stepped onto the edge of the pallet. “Take her up, John.”

John winched Jordan and the load of feed to the level of the loft. Jordan stepped onto the platform and pulled the pallet over far enough to settle lightly on the deck as John slowly released the tension on the rope.

“Okay. That’s enough.” Jordan unhooked the straps from the pallet and once more slipped her foot into the hook. When John had lowered her to the floor, she handed the straps back to him. Curiosity got the best of her as she waited for him to thread the straps through the final pallet. “What did she do to make Maggie so angry?”

“Maggie was away for a couple of days about a month ago, showing some of the mustangs at a horse show in the next town. One of Maggie’s favorite mares took sick while she was gone. Jan was supposed to be keeping an eye on the place, but instead of taking care of chores, she pretty much lorded it over the farm like she owned it. When Maggie came home and saw the shape her mare was in, all hell broke loose.”

Jordan tried to imagine how she would feel if Kale had neglected her horses when she was in the hospital. “Wow. Maggie must have really been upset.”

“I was in the barn here, cleaning stalls when she returned. I could hear her yelling at Jan from here, not that I blame her none. Jan really should’ve been taking care of things while she was gone instead of playing king of the castle.”

Jordan pulled the straps through the bottom of the pallet and looped them over the hook. “That must have put a strain on their relationship.”

“Climb on. She’s going up.” John pulled the slack out of the winch rope.

Jordan stood on top of the pallet while John winched it into the loft. Once the pallet was safely settled in the loft, she unthreaded the straps from the pallet and hung them back on the hook. “Winch it up, John.”

By the time John had taken care of the winch, Jordan had descended the stairs of the loft and met him at the bottom.

“Why does Maggie keep her around?” she asked John.

John looked at her. “I reckon she loves her,” he replied.

Jordan’s brow furrowed into a deep frown.

John shook his head “I thought as much,” he said, almost sadly.

“What?” Jordan prompted.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you,” he stated rather than asked. “I’ve seen how you light up when she walks into the barn.”

Jordan looked everywhere but at John. “Ah... I don’t even know her yet.”

“Doesn’t matter how long you’ve known her,” John replied. A few moments of silence fell between them before John spoke again. “You know Jan won’t be happy about this.”

Jordan’s attention was suddenly drawn away from her conversation with John. She turned to see Maggie standing nearby with her arms crossed impatiently in front of her. She wondered how long Maggie had been standing there.

“How long are you going to keep me waiting?” she asked.

Jordan grinned. “Patience woman,” she said teasingly. “Some of us have work to do around here.”

Maggie swatted Jordan’s behind with the leather gloves she was holding. “Mind who you’re talking to, Missy. You’re liable to get yourself fired again.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jordan replied dryly. “Whatever.”

Jordan looked at John and winked. “John, did you say you needed some help with the feed bags next?”

“Oh, no you don’t.” Maggie locked her arm with Jordan’s. “You’re coming with me to the north pasture, remember?”

Jordan slapped her palm on her thigh. “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. You know, Maggie, I think I’ll be needing that raise now, considering how valuable I am around here.”

“I’ll give you a raise you little shit—right at the end of my foot if you don’t shape up.” Maggie laughed.

Jordan looked at John and shook her head. “Women,” she said, which earned her a quick kick in the pants from Maggie.

* * *

Jordan rode beside Maggie on the way out to the north pasture. “I’ve always though this is a beautiful farm,” Jordan said.

Maggie looked at Jordan and frowned. “Have you seen the farm before?”

“Huh?” Jordan asked. “What do you mean?”

“You just said you’ve always thought the farm was beautiful. That sounds like you’ve seen it before.”

Shit!

“I meant I always thought Vermont was a beautiful state. It goes without saying the farmland is the best part of it.”
Lame, Lewis. Real lame.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Maggie replied.

Jordan released an almost audible sigh of relief. They rode in silence for the next minute or two before Maggie posed another question.

“Have you lived in Vermont long?”

“Yes I have, all my life in fact. I’ve traveled a lot, but my heart is right here. This is where I want to spend the rest of my life.” Jordan fell silent as she realized the double meaning of her words.

“What did you do before you came to me looking for work?”

Think fast, Jordan.

“I was affiliated with the University of Vermont. I worked in the lab there.”

Maggie looked at the field ahead of her as she spoke. “Doing what?”