Love On The Brazos (5 page)

Michael parked in the circular driveway in front of Jordy’s house, and went around, and opened her door; then, taking her hand, he walked her to the door.  She turned toward him and tilted her face to him expecting, wanting to be kissed.  He leaned and lightly brushed her lips with his, sending little tingling jolts through her body.  “Bye, Jordy and thanks for a great day.  I enjoyed it.”

“Thank you for asking Michael.  You took me away from a day of boredom and turned it into a very nice time and a great lunch.”

He turned and started to walk down the steps.  He looked back over his shoulder to where Jordy stood, unmoving.  He went back up the steps, wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to him.  With the other hand, he tilted her chin.  His kiss was slow and thoughtful, surprisingly thoughtful.    She returned the kiss, lingering and savoring every moment.  They broke apart.  “That was nice,” he said.

“Yes it was,” she said and stepped in to him.  He kissed her forehead, her eyes and finally her sweet warm lips.  Her lips parted slightly allowing him access.  The shock of his tongue on hers elicited a soft “mmmm” from her.  This time when they broke apart, she said, “Bye, Michael and thanks again.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said.

“Great,” was her only response.  He went down the steps, and she entered the house.

“Did you have a good time, dear?”

“Yes, I did.  I had a wonderful time.  We had lunch at Rudy and Paco’s, explored the shops along the Strand and just walked around.  He's a really nice guy, too.

His Dad is Steve Simms.  They’ve lived here like forever.  Do you know his family?”

“I don’t but your Dad might.”

“I’ll bet Papaw does.  His grandfather was a wildcatter.  I think the family is still into oil.  I’ll have to ask Dad.”

“Ask Dad what?” Her father said as he walked into the room.

“Have you ever heard Papaw mention the Simms family?  Michael’s family is in the oil business.  His grandfather was a wildcatter.”

“I’m sure Dad knows him,” he said.  “I think they hit it big years ago.  So that’s who Michael’s family is?” 

“Well, how was your day, baby girl,” Jordy’s father asked?

“It was fabulous.  We ate at Rudy and Paco’s, and it was outstanding.  He is the easiest man to talk with I’ve ever been around… outside of you I mean.  Daddy, do you know Isaac Simms?”

“I know him to speak to but not much beyond that.  I think your grandfather knows his dad though, why do you ask?”

“Steve is Michael’s father and Isaac is his grandfather.  Michael said they have lived in this area forever.”

“If Michael plays his card right, he could be your son-in-law someday.”

“Aren’t you moving kind of fast Jordy?”

“Oh don’t worry.  He doesn’t know it yet.  I like him a lot.  He asked today if he could help me, but I told him no; in addition to being a conflict of interest, this is something I want to prove I can do.  He asked who I was trying to prove it to, myself or Hank.”

“Sounds like a real smart person doesn’t he?”

“Yes he does, and I think he is.”

“So you’re going to keep seeing him I gather?”

“Yes, if he keeps asking.  I need to get to work; I still have a few things to pull together.  I’m meeting with the bank on Wednesday.  Want to go?”

“No, you do it.  Like you said, this is your baby.”

* * *

Michael called the next morning.  “Jordy, you ride don’t you?”

“I’m an Aggie, and I live on a ranch.  Of course I ride.  You have something in mind?”

“Mom and Dad’s place has some great riding trails along the river.  Would you like to try them out?”

“Sure, but I’m going to have to hit it hard Monday and Tuesday.  I’m meeting with the evil money changers Wednesday, and I have to be ready.”

“Are you sure you don’t want my help.  I know what they look for.”

“Thanks, Michael, but I’ve got to do this for myself.  You want to pick me up or do you want to meet somewhere?”

“Let me give you directions, and you meet me at the ranch at ten or does that make you get up too early?”

“Ten will be fine.  See you then.”

She took the directions and looked them up on Google Earth.  It would be easy to find.  She put the directions on the dresser where she wouldn’t forget them.

She met Michael and his parents the next morning before their ride.  Sure enough, Michael’s dad knew who her grandfather was.  It was like old home week.  She told them, “I’m Papaw’s only grandchild.  My Dad was an only son.”

They were both dressed for riding.  Michael was wearing boot cut jeans, and a white Stetson.  Jordy had jeans and an embroidered cowgirl shirt with snaps instead of buttons.  She also had a white Stetson with a light blue hat band.  They rode out at a trot.  Michael saw that she sat comfortably on her mount so he quit worrying she might fall.  At times, they dropped the reins and let the horses drift along where ever they wanted. 

Michael’s mother had packed a picnic lunch for them.  “That was nice of your mother,” she said.

“Mom’s my best girl,” he said.

“I thought I was,” she said with a pouting expression.

“Oh you are, right after Mom.” 

“Well, I
didn’t
know you were a mama’s boy she said.”

“Absolutely.” 

“You have made this past week very enjoyable, Michael.”

“Do I hear a ‘but’ coming?”

“Not from me,” she said.  “I just wanted you to know I have really enjoyed our times together.”  They pulled up to a stand of cottonwood trees and dismounted.  Michael tied the horses to a bush, and they sat in the shade.  He draped an arm across her shoulders and moved closer to her.  He leaned over and kissed her softly.  “Mmm, you taste good,” he said.  He kissed her again, with more passion.  Her lips parted, and he moved his tongue over hers.  He explored her mouth from within, pulled back and traced around the edges of her lips with his fingers.

She wrapped her arms about his neck and initiated a soul warming kiss.  This was followed by slow shivery kisses.  She felt her knees weaken and shifted her position so her head was against his chest.  He dropped his hand to her breast.  She had a burning sensation through her shirt and bra.  With his fingers, he unsnapped one of the snaps and moved his hand to the smooth, tender skin of her breast.  She had a sharp intake of breath and covered his hand with hers.  He kissed her with an intensity that left her mouth burning. 

Abruptly, he withdrew his hand and looked into her sparkling blue eyes.  “I don’t want to mess this up by moving too fast.  I think we have the makings of something special here.”

“What a gallant thing to say.  Thank you.  I do too, and I was not offended.”

“All the same, let’s be heading back, it’s going to be hot out here pretty soon.”

“I noticed it was getting a bit warm,” she said as they wandered slowly back toward the mansion.

She went with him to take care of the horses.  She said, “I’ll take care of mine.”

“Well, look at you.”  They wet the horses down, and Michael put some grain out for them and turned them out to the pasture and watches as they galloped off.

“Come on, I want to show you my special place,” and walked around to the back of the house.  There was a nice shade tree with a swing hung from one of the branches.

“Papaw has one of these he hung for me when I was about seven or eight,” she said.

“Mine has a spare tire to sit in.  I used to try to swing high enough to touch the clouds.  I never made it, but I scared Papaw to death.”

“Where does your grandfather live?”

“He and grandmama have a ranch near Rosenberg on the Brazos.  They don’t do much on the ranch.  They have some cattle and Papaw has a foreman that runs the ranch.  Dad wants him to move closer to Sugar Land or Houston so they are closer to medical facilities.  They both are eighty and healthy as a horse.”

“Is there oil on their ranch?”

“Oh yes.  I don’t know how much of it is active but I would go with Papaw when I was little.  We would ride out on horseback.  I loved to watch the pumpjacks.”

“Sounds as if you had a happy childhood.”

“I did.  I had no idea what was going on in the real world, but it was fun.  When school was out I would go to work with Daddy.  I even had my own hard hat.”

“I did just about the same thing with my Dad, but he didn’t get his hands dirty by then.  It was a good life.  I was lucky.  Dad wanted me in the business, but I was more of a numbers person.”

“Are you going to stay in banking, then?”

“Banking and investments.  That’s where the real money is, and it’s fun digging out the good ones.  I seem to have a knack for it, and I love it.”

“Michael, as enjoyable as this has been, I need to get back.  I have some work to do.”

Michael took her in his arms and held her closely.  He looked down at her and reflected,
“This is one smart, and special girl.  I want to share her life, and her to share mine”
He tilted her chin and brought his lips to hers.  They tasted of warm honey and cream.  They shared a long and tender kiss. 

When they broke it off, she said, “That was nice and sweet.  I enjoyed it, but I have to go.  I want to thank your mother for the lunch.  That was very thoughtful of her.”  They went into the house.  She went to his mother, and hugged her and thanked her for the picnic lunch. 

Michael walked her to her car and held the door for her.

“Talk to you tomorrow, Michael?”

“I hope so.” 

“Bye, and thanks for a nice day.”  With that, she closed the door, waved goodbye and drove off.

Michael went back into the house and into the kitchen where his mother was putting some things away.  She said, “Michael that is a lovely girl.  I really like her.”

“I do too, Mom.  I think she is really special.”

“Jordy, we need to talk,”
Jim Carlyle said to his daughter.

“Sure, Daddy, what’s up?”

“I went to the doctor yesterday, and we discussed my condition.  He pretty much told me, I’m not going to get any better than I am today.  There’s no way I can ever come back to work full time,” his voice filled with emotion.

With tears in her eyes, and a lump in her throat she replied, “I think you’re getting better, a little bit at a time.”

“That’s wishful thinking honey.  It’s a part of life, and I accept it.  It’s just that I always wanted to work with you and I thought we’d have years of working together.”

“Daddy, I need you.  You can still work with me.  Do you think you’re pushing too hard?”

“I don’t think so.  I don’t want to have another stroke.  There are some things your mother and I always wanted to do, and I think we are going to get around to doing them.  We want to see a bit more of the world before our time comes.”

“Daddy, don’t talk like that.  I need you.”

“Jordy, honey, you don’t need me.  I think we should put the business in your name and let you do your thing.”

“No.  Not going to happen.  I won’t have my name on the business without yours.  I will not do it.  You can set things up to give me control, but it’s your business and always will be.  That is that, and I don’t want to hear any more about it.  I’ve got to go to work now, are you coming?”

“No, I don’t think I’m going in.”

“Daddy, don’t you dare quit on me.”

“Honey, I’ll help out if you really need me, but I want to let it go.  It’s time.”

Openly crying now, Jordy went to her Dad and hugged him fiercely.  “I hate you talking like that, and don’t do it again.  Now, I’ve got to go fix my makeup.  See what you did?”

With that, she strode forcefully from the room.  She sat on the vanity chair in her bathroom until she had control of her emotions, stood before the mirror and repaired the damage to her face. 
“I won’t let him quit.  He needs to work, and I need him.”

* * *

Jordy was sitting at her desk when her phone rang.  She picked it up and answered in her usual manner.  “This is Jordy.”  Then lightning struck.  It wasn’t really lightning; it was who was on the other end...

“Jordy, this is Hank.”

The call was the first time she had heard from him in over a year.  “Hi”, she answered in a voice devoid of any emotion or feeling.

“I’m in Houston for a few days and thought we might get together while I’m here.”

“Toward what end,” she asked coolly in the same voice.

“We left with some bad feelings, and I would like to resolve them.  I care for you, Jordy.”

“And you took eighteen months to decide this?”

“Come on, Jordy.  Don’t be like that.  We were going to be married.  I cared for you, and you cared for me, or so I thought.”

“I don’t think so Hank.  I’m pretty busy right now on a project and don’t have any spare time at all.”

“How about if I come out to your parents tonight?  You’re staying with them, aren’t you?  I’d love to see them.”

“Yes, I am.” She said and immediately regretted it.  She didn’t want to see him but didn’t see any way out of it.

“Great, I’ll be there at seven.  It’ll be nice seeing you again.”

* * *

The evening was a total disaster.  Hank really turned on the charm with her parents, her Dad wasn’t buying his line.  Any of it.  Her mother was more receptive, but then she had always liked Hank.  Jordy had been raised never to be rude to anyone, but it was a struggle at times.

When she walked in, Hank stood and held out his arms as if to kiss her.  She ignored him.  “You’re late, Jordy.  You should have called.”

“Late for what?  Mom and Dad know not to expect me at a specific time.”

“I told you I would be here at seven.”

“Yes you did, but I didn’t invite you or even tell you I would be here.”  She walked out of the room to go change clothes.  She had brought work home and wanted to get to it before too late.

She returned to the family room and sat next to her mother on the sofa.  Hank began talking about moving to Houston.  He had apparently been passed over for promotion with his company and was looking for greener pastures.  He thought these pastures might be in Houston.  When he began hinting about resuming their relationship, that was it.  Jordy had heard enough.  She said, “Hank, I’d like to talk with you for a few minutes?”

“Well sure, honey.  You want to go outside?”

“Yes, let's.”  Once they wereout of hearing range on the front porch, she turned on him with a fury.  “How dare you show up here after eighteen months without a word and invite yourself to my home and start this crap?  I cannot believe the unmitigated gall you have.”

“What do you mean?  I apologize for being so obstinate at a time when your father was ill.  I should have known better, and I’d like a chance to make it right.”

“Ill?  My father had a stroke.  He is still partially paralyzed on one side, and you say “ill”.”  Jody’s voice had risen in volume and tone. 

Her mother came to the door and asked, “Jordy is everything all right?”

“Yes mother, everything is okay.  Hank was just leaving.”

“Well, okay.  Nice seeing you again, Hank.”  She went back in and closed the door.

“Get this straight, Hank Webster.  There is no making things right.  All you were thinking about was the place where you thought you could do better, not what I needed.  It never occurred to you I was hurting and needed you.  But noooooo.  You wouldn’t move to Houston, and that was it.  You were right about one thing.  That was it.  Now get off my porch and leave.  I never want to see or hear from you again.  Ever.”

“Jeez, you don’t have to be so hateful about it.  I care about you.  I want to be there for you and you for me.”

“No, Hank, not now, not ever.  Now leave.”

She went back into the house and closed the door emphatically.

She went into the family room, with fire coming from her nostrils and steam from her ears.  If she had been watching closely, she might have caught the twinkle in her father’s eyes.  Is everything all right, dear?” It was nice of you to invite him out and nice to see him again.”

“Nice?  Mother, I didn’t invite him, he invited himself and hung up before I could tell him no.  I can’t believe him.  Hinting we might
get
back together.  As if!  He isn’t a hundredth the man Michael is.”  She looked over at her father.  The twinkle was more obvious now.  What are you smiling about?”

“I always thought you could do better than him.  I always did think he was shallow, but you didn’t see it.  I’m proud of you honey.  I like Michael.”

“I do too, Daddy.”

* * *

The next morning

Jordy took out her iPhone and punched a number she had on speed dial.  When Michael answered the phone, she said, “Good morning, Michael.  How are you this morning?”

“I’m fine and you. Ms. Carlyle?”

“I am doing very well, thank you.  You’ll never guess who called me yesterday?”

“Justin Bieber?”

“No, silly.  Good old Hank called.  He came out last night.  He wanted to talk and he was hinting around about us getting back together.”

Jordy felt a distinct chill come through the phone lines.  “Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s so.  I had a mean nasty thought about calling you and yelling help.”

“But you didn’t.  What did you do instead, if I may be so bold?”

“I chewed him out, and then ordered him off my porch with directions not ever to call or bother me again.”  The chill evaporated, replaced by warmth.

“Well good for you.  What prompted all of this?”

“The way he was hinting, I think things must not be going so well, and he thinks maybe the grass is greener here.  If so, I think he’s been chewing on loco weed.”

“Can you break away for lunch today?”

“I don’t think so, but what about tonight?”

“You don’t have something going with good old Hank?”

“I’ll break it.” 

“Pick you up at seven, okay?”

“Terrific.  See you then.”

Later…

“I’m not in for Hank Webster,” Jordy told the operator.

“He’s called two times already this morning,” the operator replied. 

“He’ll keep bugging us until I take his call.  Next time he calls, put him through, and I’ll see if I can get the message across.”

An hour later, her phone rang.  It was Hank.  “I don’t know what I did to make you so angry, Jordy.  I don’t understand.  We had a great thing going.”

“That is all water under the bridge, Hank.  I’ve moved on.  I don’t want to see you, I don’t want to talk to you, and if you call again, I’ll report you to the police for harassment.”

“Jordy, I’m desperate.  I need a job.  My company downsized, and my department was integrated into another and they let me go.”

“I have nothing to offer.  There are a lot of companies in Houston.  See a headhunter.  We have no need for someone of your background.  Goodbye Hank, and please don’t call again.”

The secretary brought the mail in.  “Who was it said ‘Old flames die hard’?”

“I don’t know, but it certainly applies to him.  Don’t put any more calls from him through.”

That Evening…

Jordy told Michael about the latest episode with Hank Webster.  “One thing about it, he doesn’t give up easily does he?”

“Apparently not,” Jordan said.  “Still losing your job whether from downsizing or anything else would be traumatizing.  As far as I know, this would be the first time in his life things haven’t gone his way.  His self-confidence was always high, and he didn’t hesitate in telling you just how good he was.  Now, he has nothing to hold onto.”

“Are you sympathizing with him?”

“I guess.  At one time, we were going to marry and planned to spend our lives together.”

“You’re wrong about one thing though.  This isn’t the first time he’s lost at something.  He lost you, the biggest prize in his life whether he knew it or not.”

“Aren’t you sweet?  Girls like to hear those kinds of things.”

“Changing the subject, I have been thinking of using the tickets I have for a week in Belize.  Would you be able to get away for a week and go with me?”

“I would love to, and it would be good for me, but my life is on hold right now while I’m working on my subdivision project.”

“I could help if you’d let me, but I do appreciate your position.  You should receive your answer within a week.”

“Do you think?  That would be great.  I have applied with three other investors.  I would expect to hear from one of them soon.  Daddy and Papaw would fund it if I would agree to it, but I don’t want to risk any of the family’s money.  If it were mine, I’d go all in.  I’m convinced if done right, there’s no telling how much it can turn out to be.”