Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More (36 page)

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 said.

“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. She had one foot on the ground before Maggie took her arm.

“Where are you going?”

Jordan looked down at Maggie’s hand on her arm, then up at Maggie’s face. “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’s pride would not allow her to respond, so she 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. 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, smiling.

Jordan and Maggie sat staring at each other for several long moments. 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 tonight?” 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? All right. 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’ll take a few months before anything is finalized.”

“Still, your parents aren’t getting any younger,” Jan said.

“I said Daddy is taking care of it. Now, I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”

Jan threw her hands into the air. “Fine. Whatever you want.”

A tense silence fell between the women. Jan broke it. “How was the auction?”

“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. “Why do you always have to nitpick everything I say? I don’t want a fight. I’m going to bed.”

“Suit yourself,” Jan said as Maggie stomped away.

By the time Maggie had 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.
Maggie turned on a small bedside lamp. She pulled her boots off and slipped her blue jeans down over her hips, letting them fall to the floor. She kicked them away with one foot and unbuttoned her shirt. A second later, Maggie was wearing only a sports bra and low-cut panties.

“Eww! I need a shower.”

* * *

I was fired today. Yes, fired after two days on the job. Kale, forget everything I ever told you about women. Obviously, I didn’t know what I was talking about. We were on our way to a horse auction, and, well, I quite readily opened my mouth and inserted my foot when I told Maggie she looked too feminine to run a farm by herself. Apparently, that was not a good thing because she pulled the truck over, fired me, and told me to get out. Damn, she’s feisty! Of course, I held my ground (would you expect anything less?), and used my charm to wriggle my way back into her good graces.

Anyway, I’ve been here for two whole days and so far, things are tense with Jan; the other farmhand, John tolerates me, and Maggie... Maggie and I are getting along okay, except for her firing me today.

I’m living in the bunkhouse, and it’s bugging the shit out of me knowing Jan is in there sleeping beside her every night. I know. Don’t do anything to change the course of history. I can hear you nagging me from eighty-seven years away. I’m trying very hard not to do too much of that.

Okay, it’s late and I need to rise early to mend fences in the north pasture, so I’ll say goodnight for now. I hope all is well with both of you. I love you lots. Jordan.

Jordan placed the pen beside the pad of paper and pushed her chair back. She rose to her feet and walked to the window. From her vantage point, she had a clear view of the back of the farmhouse, and a clear view of Maggie’s bedroom. As she stood there, the light suddenly came on. Common courtesy urged her to close the blinds and give Maggie her privacy, but Jordan couldn’t tear herself away from the sight of the slender redhead. Jordan stood immobile as Maggie flitted in and out of view.

Maggie, why do you enchant me so? I ache to touch you. I so need to kiss you. I ache to hold you in my arms while you sleep. I love you. Sleep well.
Long after the light from Maggie’s room was extinguished, Jordan continued to stare into the darkness.

* * *

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 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. “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. “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 eyes 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.

Jordan shifted uncomfortably under Maggie’s scrutiny. “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. If you’ll excuse me...” Jordan walked past Maggie into the main part of the barn.

“Jordan?” Maggie called out. Jordan 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 felt herself blush.

Maggie laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes. Dinner is at six o’clock sharp.”

* * *

At precisely 6:00 p.m., Jordan knocked on the front door of the farmhouse. She looked around nervously as she waited for someone to answer the door. Just as she’d convinced herself that her knock would go unanswered, the door swung open.

“Hey, Jordan. Come in. You clean up real nice,” Maggie said. Jordan’s hair was freshly washed and she wore clean, well-tailored slacks and a shirt.

Jordan stepped across the threshold and handed a bouquet of wildflowers to Maggie. “I, ah... 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, feeling as awkward as a schoolgirl.

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 didn’t relish the idea of spending time alone with Jan while she waited for Maggie to join them, but having no other option, she 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.

Jordan’s dislike of the woman increased significantly as she realized Jan was using her relationship with Maggie to establish a hierarchy in the farm’s chain of command. “I like it just fine. I appreciate Maggie giving me a chance.”

“Good. Maggie and I have great plans for this farm. We’ve 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.”

Jordan wanted to puke. The very thought of this woman spending the rest of her life with Maggie and raising their children sent waves of revulsion through her.

“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 she chose 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 yourselves.”

When they’d eaten the salad, Maggie excused herself, returning a few moments later with a food-laden platter. “I hope you like chicken,” she said to Jordan.

“I love chicken. It all looks so delicious,” Jordan said as she filled her plate.

As soon as they had served themselves, Jan reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a folded envelope. “Oh, Maggie, I forgot to tell you that this letter arrived by registered mail today. It’s from your father’s lawyer.”

Maggie’s eyes narrowed as she reached for the letter, and her eyebrows arched high on her forehead “You opened it?” 

Jordan’s gaze moved from Maggie to Jan.

Jan behaved as if opening Maggie’s mail was something she did on a regular basis. “Yeah. I thought it was important enough to read right away. You were gone to town, so I opened it. It’s actually good news,” she said.

Maggie rubbed her forehead. Jordan recognized the gesture as one of frustration and disapproval. “I really wish you hadn’t opened it.”

“What’s the big deal?” Jan asked. “You would have read it to me anyway. After all, it concerns me as well.”

Maggie put both hands down on the table hard. “I fail to see how this letter concerns you,” she said firmly.