All My Tomorrows (4 page)

"All right then. Give me a minute to freshen up, and I'll be right with you. Help yourself to some lemonade while you wait. I won't be long."

"Take your time, I'm on the clock," Jordan joked then took the pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator.

Jan walked in and stopped short when she saw Jordan making herself at home. "Does Maggie know you're helping yourself like that?" she asked curtly.

"As a matter of fact, she does. I'm actually waiting for her to freshen up. We're going to a horse auction," Jordan replied.

Anger sparked in Jan's eyes. "I guess it will be a threesome then," she stated briskly.

Maggie breezed into the kitchen. "Okay, I'm ready."

She stopped short when she saw Jan.

"Oh, Jan, I'm glad you're here. The building contractor is sending a man over in about an hour to inspect the damaged rafter. I think it might be beneficial for you to meet with him. I am taking Jordan with me to the Mustang auction. We'll be back later this afternoon."

Jordan locked eyes with Jan. If looks could have killed, Jordan would be dead.

CHAPTER 3

Maggie caught Jordan covertly looking at her as she sat in the passenger seat of Maggie's pickup truck. "Okay, I give up. What do you find so interesting that you feel compelled to stare at me?" she asked.

Jordan turned red with embarrassment. She covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry. I just can't help myself," she confessed.

Maggie's interest was piqued. "No, I'm flattered, actually. But why can't you help yourself? Really, I want to know."

Jordan looked surprised. "You mean you don't know?"

Maggie glanced at Jordan quickly then turned her attention back to the road. "Know what?" she asked sincerely.

Jordan shook her head. "Well, I'll be damned. Maggie, you are a beautiful woman. In fact, you are more beautiful in person than in print."

Maggie frowned. "When exactly did you see me in print?"

"Ah. Well, I did a little research on you and your farm before I came to apply for the job. I found a picture of you that was taken at some county fair a few years back."

Maggie appeared to be deep in thought. "Hmm, I see. Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

"I'm surprised you have to ask that question. I would think you'd have suitors lined up for a mile."

Maggie chuckled. "Well, it's pretty much common knowledge around town that Jan and I are a couple, so there haven't really been any offers for quite some time now."

"Did you date much before Jan?"

"A little, but I had a bad experience with a girl named Jess when I was in my twenties, and that pretty much turned me off to relationships for a while. Jan is my first serious relationship in a long time."

"How long have you and Jan been together?"

Maggie thought for a moment before answering. "For about four years."

"Hmm," Jordan said.

Maggie tossed her a sideways glance. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I guess I just don't see that she's your type."

Maggie was taken aback by Jordan's comment. "And just why do you feel you're qualified to know what my type is? Hell, you've only been here for two days."

"You're right. I apologize, but it just doesn't feel right to me. Don't ask me why. It just doesn't."

"I don't appreciate you talking about Jan that way. I decide what my type is, not you. Jan suits me just fine, thank you very much."

Maggie and Jordan rode along in silence for a few moments. Finally, the silence became unbearable. "So, what exactly do you think my type is?" Maggie asked.

Jordan appeared to be deep in thought. "Well, I guess your type would be someone who was your intellectual equal, someone who could give you good advice yet know when not to cross boundaries. That person should complement you physically as well. You are a very beautiful woman. Don't take this the wrong way, but your feminine nature doesn't fit the profile of someone who can run a farm all by herself."

Maggie glared at Jordan. "Okay, let me get this straight. First you tell me my partner is stupid, and she gives bad advice, and then you have the audacity to imply I can't run a horse farm properly because I'm too feminine?"

"No. No. That's not what I meant. Look, I'm digging a hole for myself that I won't be able to climb out of if I keep running my mouth, so let's just forget I said anything."

"Oh, no. You're not getting off that easy, Jordan. Now, explain what you meant."

Jordan placed her hands on her thighs and dropped her head back to look at the ceiling of the truck. She inhaled deeply then turned her head to look at Maggie. "Okay. Let me just say that most of the feminine women I have known in the past are pretty high-maintenance, and quite frankly, they tend to prefer someone more on the butch side to take care of things for them."

Maggie slammed her foot down hard on the brake, bringing the truck to a grinding halt on the dusty country road. Jordan nearly went through the windshield. She was only able to stop herself at the last minute by quickly placing both hands on the dash.

"What the hell?" Jordan exclaimed.

"Get out," Maggie demanded.

"What?"

"I said, get out. You're fired."

Jordan turned in her seat to face Maggie. "Why am I fired?"

Maggie leaned across the seat toward Jordan. "You're fired because anyone who doesn't respect who I am and what I can do is not welcome on my farm. Now get your ass out of my truck."

"When did I say I didn't respect you?" Jordan spat back.

"You called me high-maintenance." Maggie's voice had risen an octave.

"Like hell I did."

"You said that feminine women look for butch women to take care of them," Maggie insisted.

"Wrong," Jordan shouted back. "I said you don't fit the profile of someone who can run a farm alone. Sheesh, woman. Do you always look for a fight where there isn't one?"

Both women fell silent. Jordan reached for the door handle and set one foot on the ground before Maggie took her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm fired, remember? I'm going back to the farm to collect my things."

"No. Don't go. Please get back into the truck."

Jordan looked at her for a few moments, then shifted her weight back into the vehicle and closed the door. She stared straight ahead.

Maggie had both hands on the steering wheel as she looked out over the hood of the truck. "I'm sorry," she said.

Jordan continued to sit silently, staring out the windshield.

Maggie turned in her seat to face Jordan. "I said, I'm sorry. I misunderstood what you said. Forgive me?"

Jordan tilted her head down and to the left so she was looking at Maggie out of the corner of her eye. "Only if you rehire me," she said, trying to hide a grin.

"Done," Maggie replied.

"And give me a raise," Jordan added.

Maggie's anger immediately erupted again. "Why you…"

Jordan grinned and leaned forward to face Maggie. She pointed her index finger at the angry redhead. "Got you," she teased.

"Jesus Christ. You are exasperating."

"Yeah, but I'll grow on you."

"Like hell you will," Maggie replied, trying to fight a smile.

Jordan and Maggie sat staring at each other for several long moments. Try as she might, Maggie was unable to erase the smile from her face. Finally, Jordan broke the standoff.

"I think we're going to be late for the auction."

Maggie's head snapped back. "Shit, you're right. Hold on. It's going to be a wild ride."

* * *

"Hi, Mom. How are you and Dad doing?"

Maggie paced back and forth across the living room as she held her cell phone to her ear. "That's good. Is Daddy's cough getting any better? Great. I'm sure it's just a cold. If it's not gone in another week, promise me you'll take him to the doctor's and have it checked out. Okay? I'll talk to you in a few days then. Give Daddy a big hug for me. Okay, Mom. I love you both. Goodnight."

Jan placed the book she was reading in her lap. "How are Mom and Dad?" she asked as Maggie sat on the couch with one leg curled under her.

"They're doing okay. Dad still has a cough, but Mom says it's getting better."

"That's good. Have they said any more about putting the farm in your name?"

"Not really. I know Dad hired a lawyer to set things in motion, but it will take a few months before anything is finalized."

"Still, your parents aren't getting any younger," Jan said.

"Jan, I said Daddy is taking care of it. Now, I don't want to discuss this anymore."

Jan raised her hands into the air. "Fine. Whatever you want."

A tense silence fell between the women. Jan broke it. "So, how was the auction?"

Maggie placed both feet on the floor. She leaned forward and rested her forearms on her thighs. "Things went great. We were able to secure about a half-dozen mustangs. It appears our Jordan knows her animals. Those horses came from quality stock."

Jan cocked an eyebrow at Maggie. "Our Jordan?"

Maggie sighed deeply. "Jan, why do you always have to nitpick everything I say? Look, I don't want a fight. I'm going to bed."

"Suit yourself," Jan returned as Maggie stomped away.

By the time Maggie reached their bedroom, she was furious.
Why does she always have to have the last word? Sometimes I regret ever becoming involved with that woman.

* * *

The next morning, Jordan rose early and headed to the north pasture to mend fences. She worked in the hot sun all day, and by the time she returned to the house, she was in desperate need of a shower. She rode her horse into the barn and dismounted, then took the reins and led the animal into its stall. After feeding and watering the horse, Jordan meticulously brushed him until his coat was gleaming. As she turned to leave, she was startled by Maggie who was standing in the entrance to the stall.

Jordan jumped. "Jesus! You scared me. How long have you been standing there?"

Maggie leaned against the post with her arms crossed in front of her. She grinned sheepishly. "Oh, for about five minutes," she replied. "You really do a nice job with the animals, Jordan. You have a knack for it."

Jordan took her hat off and dusted it as she spoke. "Well, like I said before, I had horses while growing up. Mustangs, in fact. They're beautiful animals."

"Yes, they are. You've been in the north pasture all day, right?"

"Yeah, mending fences. And now I need to shower. I'm kind of filthy and smelly."

Maggie's gaze roamed up and down Jordan's tall frame. Jordan was wearing a plaid button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled back to her elbows and the tails tucked into soiled blue jeans. She had on a brown leather vest, a bandanna around her neck, and a well-worn pair of cowboy boots. Tucked in her back pocket were the leather work gloves she'd used to handle the barbed wire fencing. Her shoulder-length brown hair was damp with sweat. She'd tucked the wayward locks behind her ears.

"I see your luggage arrived," Maggie said.

"Yes it did." A few moments passed in silence until Jordan broke it. "I really should shower. I'm a mess."

Maggie grinned. "I happen to think you look fine. I like a woman who isn't afraid to get dirty doing a hard day's work."

Jordan smiled. "Looking fine and smelling fine are two different things." Jordan walked past Maggie into the main part of the barn.

"Jordan?" Maggie called out. Jordan stopped and turned around. "Would you care to join us for dinner? At the risk of sounding full of myself, I'm a pretty good cook."

As if on cue, Jordan's stomach replied for her, loud enough for Maggie to hear. Jordan turned red with embarrassment.

Maggie laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. Dinner is at six o'clock sharp."

* * *

At precisely six, Jordan knocked on the front door of the farmhouse.

"Hey, Jordan, come in. Wow. You clean up real good," Maggie exclaimed. She noted with approval the freshly showered shine in Jordan's hair and the clean, well-tailored slacks and shirt she was wearing.

Jordan stepped across the threshold and handed a bouquet of wildflowers to Maggie. "I saw these out in the north pasture this morning while I was mending fences. I ran out and picked a few. I hope you like them," she said.

Maggie accepted the flowers, inhaling their aroma. "They're beautiful. Thank you." She closed the door behind Jordan. "Jan is pouring wine in the living room. Go on and join her while I put these in water."

Jordan pushed open the door between the kitchen and living room and passed through.

Jan was standing by the fireplace looking pensively at the flames while she sipped a glass of wine. She looked up when Jordan entered the room. She smiled and extended her hand. "Jordan. It's so nice you could join us."

Jordan was taken aback by Jan's polite and friendly manner but offered her hand anyway. Jan's handshake was firm.

"How do you like the job so far?" Jan asked.

"I like it just fine. I appreciate Maggie giving me a chance."

"Good. Maggie and I have great plans for this farm. We have been thinking about opening a riding school for handicapped children. Maggie just loves kids. In fact, we've considered having one of our own or maybe adopting one or two in the near future."

"I'm sure Maggie would make a great mother," Jordan replied.

Maggie entered the room carrying the bouquet of flowers Jordan had given her. "Jan, look at the beautiful flowers Jordan picked." She placed the vase on the fireplace mantel then turned to face them. "So, is anyone hungry?"

"Famished," Jan replied. She directed Jordan into the dining room.

Jordan held Maggie's chair for her then sat in the seat to Maggie's left. The table was nicely set for three and a crisp garden salad waited in the center of each plate. An array of salad dressings was clustered in the center of the table.

Maggie gestured toward them. "Help yourself."

When they'd eaten the salad, Maggie excused herself, returning a few moments later with platters of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. "I hope you like chicken," she said to Jordan as she placed the platter on the table.