by Sarah Barrie
Now that was weird, he thought wryly. The head of the CWA giving you advice on your love life?
He removed the items Carol had just put in his pocket. They were two tickets to the ‘Cattleman’s Dinner’. And it was tonight. He grinned as he realised they were being set up, and looked up in time to see Jordan slip from her position and approach him. Many of the men stared after her as she headed in his direction, many women whispered. It was crazy, he told himself, to feel important for being singled out by Jordan Windcroft, but just then, he did.
‘Hey,’ she greeted.
‘Hey yourself. How’s everything going?’
‘Almost done, and I’m starving. You eaten yet?’
‘No. Recommendations?’
‘Yeah — the only show in town until later: Eats and Treats.’
As she spoke, Jordan moved toward the mobile van and looked in the windows. They were full of every fatty or sugar-laden food one could ever wish to find at a country show and it all looked like it had sat there just a little too long.
Reid looked over her shoulder. ‘Appetising.’
Jordan screwed up her nose, deciding on a chocolate doughnut to go with her sixth cup of coffee. ‘Want one?’
‘Absolutely.’
She grinned at the mock enthusiasm in his tone then frowned as he pulled out a note for the cashier before she could open her wallet. ‘I’m not so broke that I can’t buy you a coffee and a chocolate doughnut.’
‘Sorry — old-fashioned,’ he defended with a grin. ‘Let me enjoy myself.’
‘Old fashioned, huh?’
His grin widened as he took his change. ‘All the way.’
Jordan found herself smiling back. ‘So, like…the whole opening doors for ladies?’
‘Only for ladies that don’t kick them in.’
‘Ha-ha. What about pulling out chairs?’
‘Of course. I’m a very thoughtful date.’
Jordan laughed. ‘Sounds like.’
They wandered past the café and stopped at a mobile saddlery and clothing outfitters while Jordan took a look around.
‘Need something?’ Reid finished off his doughnut and dusted off his hands.
‘Not really.’ Her eye caught what she was looking for and she moved to the other side of the van. ‘But you do. Hold this.’ She held out her coffee, which he automatically took while she reached for an Akubra hat.
Reid looked unconvinced. ‘I need a cowboy hat?’
‘You never wear a hat. That’s crazy out here. Try this.’ She put it on his head, shook hers, tried another. After five attempts, she stood back and nodded. ‘That’s the one. Suits you.’
Reid looked in the small mirror attached to the stand. For some reason, he’d decided early on he’d look silly in one, so with no small degree of amazement he decided that he didn’t mind it.
‘I can live with that.’
‘Good.’ Jordan pulled it off his head and waved it at a stocky young man standing nearby. ‘Throw this on my bill, Mark?’
‘No worries, Jordy. Want a bag?’
‘Nah, he’s gonna wear it. Thanks.’ She stuck it back on his head, nodding again in approval.
‘You running a tab with these people?’
‘Rate I’m going through halters, it just makes sense. I’ve been here four times in thirty-six hours, so far. Besides, I don’t have to pay ’til the cattle sell. Mark owns the shop in town. It’s a well-used tab.’
‘Well, now you’ve outdone my chocolate doughnut and coffee gesture.’
‘We’re competing?’
‘Call it male ego. I guess I’m going to have to outdo you.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tickets. ‘I had these two tickets to whatever this Cattleman’s Dinner is popped into my pocket earlier by a well-meaning…someone, the idea being one is for you. If you refuse to come with me, I’m going to look bad.’
At the boyish look of hopefulness on his face, Jordan tilted her head in amusement, studying him. ‘So why don’t you just ask me, cowboy?’
‘Come with me, Jordan.’
She pondered that playfully. ‘That wasn’t a question, that was a statement.’
‘No, this is a statement.’
He took her face in his hands and drew her in, caught her up in a hungry kiss that made her heart contract and left her breathless. When he finally broke the kiss, she allowed her forehead to rest against his chest while she gathered her thoughts and steadied her legs, and felt his arms wrap around her possessively.
God, this was exactly where she wanted to be.
‘So…will you come with me to this dinner tonight?’
‘Okay,’ she agreed on a small sigh. ‘You’ll need a suit. I suppose you got the tickets from Carol?’
‘I never reveal my sources.’
She pulled away, then smiled up at him. ‘Joel’s going into town to pick up a rental suit shortly. You’ll want to go with him.’
‘Rental suit?’ he shuddered, wishing he had one of his own. ‘Guess I’ll go hunt him up.’
‘You should probably do that now.’
His sigh was almost comical. ‘Right.’
Jordan watched him wander off, found a seat and sat. Realising she was still grinning, she put her head in her hands and laughed at herself. ‘What is wrong with me?’
‘You’re gonna have to give me a clue here, honey.’ She looked up to see Madi standing in front of her, arms folded. ‘And don’t think I didn’t just witness that blow-your-head-off kiss with the hottie. Whew!’
‘And so I repeat: what is wrong with me? It’s like I have an idiot switch.’
Madi sent her a quizzical look. ‘A what?’
‘An idiot switch. And it’s set to automatically turn on whenever Reid is within range. “Be careful,” I tell myself, “don’t get too wrapped up in him.” Then he’s here and it’s like, snap! I could blame him for that except that my mouth opens of its own traitorous accord and I’m flirting with him like there’s no tomorrow. Now we’re officially going on a date —’
‘Jordy, stop. You’re not an idiot,’ Madi laughed.
‘At least part of this is your mother’s fault. She gave him the tickets for the dinner. I’m going to find her.’
‘Wait…my mother set you up?’ Madi kept pace as they moved into the pavilion.
‘Laugh it up, missy. Yes she did.’
‘But he knows what happened now. What’s the problem?’
‘He’s being mysterious.’
‘Sexy.’
‘Annoying. He keeps just telling me to trust him.’
‘So he wants you to trust him. Surely if he was going to have us all locked up he would have done it by now.’
‘Yes, I agree. However…’ Jordan thought about that. ‘It’s not just that.’
‘Then what?’
‘Later,’ she replied, spotting Carol. ‘I have to speak to your mother.’
Carol saw them coming and grinned wickedly. ‘Get your ticket, honey?’ she asked sweetly as Jordan grabbed one of her legendary scones and collapsed onto a bale of wood shavings beside her.
‘Yep, and a date too. Convenient huh?’
‘Ohh…very.’
‘Guess I’ve got you to thank for both.’
Carol laughed. ‘I was on my way back with the tickets when I saw Reid staring all gooey-eyed at you. I thought it would be nice for you to go together.’
Gooey-eyed? ‘You’re full of it, Aunty C,’ she said, bumping her affectionately. Carol put on her lecture face and Jordan’s eyes automatically hit the ceiling.
‘Jordy, you just can’t see a good thing when you smash into it, can you? That man’s doing everything but falling over himself for you — and he’s gorgeous enough to just eat right up.’
‘Yeah, all that.’
‘Jordan’s worried he’s going to dob us all in.’
‘Madi!’
‘Well, aren’t you?’
‘Not giving him much credit, are you?’ Carol asked.
&nb
sp; ‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s here, he’s helping, and he’s doing everything he can to keep you safe. Give the hunk a chance.’
Jordan stood and dusted off her hands. ‘Thanks for the food.’
‘Here’s my girls,’ Joel greeted, snatching a scone.
‘Hi Joel. Did Reid find you?’
‘Yep, we’re heading off soon.’
‘Okay. Um, I should probably talk to you about this.’
‘Not any of my business.’
‘But —’
‘But nothing. Enjoy yourself.’
Jordan hesitated, then hugged him. ‘Okay. You coming, Madi?’
‘Yeah, sure.’
As they walked away, Joel sat next to Martha and sighed. ‘Thirty years old and she’s looking for permission.’
‘She’s worried about you.’
‘I’m worried about her.’
Carol slipped her arms around him and held on. ‘You told me Harry said he’s a good man. I’m not going to worry about it.’
‘You’re probably right. I’ll have another chat to him while we’re getting suited up.’
Back at Jordan’s place, Madi sat cross-legged on Jordan’s bed and watched Jordan pull last year’s dress from her suit bag.
‘I guess I should have had it dry-cleaned,’ Jordan muttered.
Madi just shook her head. ‘No. Oh no. You are not wearing that again.’
‘What’s wrong with it?’
‘Nothing. You look great in it. But this year…’ She snatched the dress out of Jordan’s hands and threw it in a heap on the ground. ‘You’re going to be spectacular.’
‘Madi…I don’t have anything else.’ Jordan swore. ‘Mack! Don’t lay on it. Dumb dog!’ Irritated, she shook it out.
‘Hmm…we’re going shopping.’
‘Now?’
‘Yes, now. You can come with me for my hair appointment. I wonder if they could squeeze you in…’
‘I can do my own hair. I’m not exactly flush for cash.’
‘I’m buying. You can pay me back after the sale.’
‘I might not be able to —’
‘Rubbish. We’ll take my car…and hunt up Lillian.’
Jordan’s expression was shock mixed with dread. ‘Here’s you’re “no, oh no” right back at you! We are not taking Lillian. I’ll end up with half a dress and look like I’m the evening’s entertainment.’
Madi’s grin was enormous. ‘Reid will love it.’
‘I’m not dressing like that for anyone. Even Reid.’
‘Even Reid?’ Madi enquired with interest.
‘Yeah well…’
‘Well…?’
‘Well what do you think?’
‘Oh, we are so buying a new dress,’ Madi cheered. ‘With Lillian.’
‘I said no, Madi.’
‘Yes, I heard you.’ Madi just dragged her out the door.
‘At least let me lock Mack up…’
‘You sure about this place?’ Reid looked through the windscreen as they pulled up outside an older-style building on the outskirts of town.
‘Yep. Come here every year. If I absolutely have to wear a penguin suit, this place is as good as any.’
Reid climbed out of the car reluctantly. ‘It looks like this is something else I’m going to have to trust you on.’
‘About that…how’s everything going?’
‘So far, so good.’
‘You can’t tell me any details.’
‘Sorry.’
‘You’re working on putting Carter way. I don’t want an apology.’ Joel locked the car and they walked across the parking area. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
It turned out Joel was right about the place, Reid decided, as he was measured and fitted. If anything, the assistants went to more trouble than anywhere he’d been to in the city, and the suits were a decent enough cut and appeared practically brand new.
‘Look pretty good,’ Joel grunted at him as he did up a button on his jacket.
‘Why Joel, I’m touched,’ he teased, earning a shake of the head and a scowl.
‘You watch yourself with Jordy.’
‘You worried about me now?’
‘Oh get out! You know what I mean.’
‘Yes. This is the big speech designed to put me in my place and rattle me in my boots, right?’
‘You’re not who she thinks you are. I know that’s how it has to be, but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry about it.’
Reid’s face sobered. ‘I don’t like it either. It’s temporary. Look, I’m hoping to wrap everything up this weekend.’
‘This weekend? You’ve got enough on Carter already?’
‘To arrest him? Yeah. Joel…Hal’s pretty smart and he’s going to try and slip and slide his way out of as much trouble as he can. I need witnesses that have had dealings with him — especially you, as you had that meth. And I’m going to try and pin more than the drugs on him. If he had anything to do with the drowning or the disappearance of those men on his property, I want to make sure he goes down for them. It would be handy to have yours and Madi’s testimonies on the business with Sean, the threats against you and your family — the accident may come into it. Anything that goes to Hal’s character, links him to anything underhand, will help. Some of it will be admissible, some of it won’t. But I need all the ammo I can get.’
‘You want…oh hell, Reid. What’ll that mean for Jordy?’
‘In return for your cooperation I can ensure no charges are brought against any of you. I can wipe Jordan’s record and make it right, Joel.’
It took Joel several seconds to answer. Eventually he swallowed hard and nodded. ‘Then you can count on it. I’ll do anything you need.’
‘Okay, I’m happy.’
Lillian nodded in approval at the transformation in front of her. It had taken all afternoon, much cajoling, convincing and even a little threatening, but Jordan was, to her satisfaction, ready for her date with the hottie.
Madi patted Lillian on the back. ‘I have to admit, Lil, you’ve got skills. Jordy, you look like a goddess!’
Jordan stared into a full-length mirror at the day spa they’d spent the last two hours patronising. She’d not only tried on more dresses in one afternoon than in her entire life, she’d also had her hair and makeup done, had a pedicure — another first — and bought new shoes, a purse, a necklace Lillian had demanded had to go with the dress, and some ridiculously priced perfume Madi insisted on. She’d lost count of how many times Madi had pulled out her credit card and her head was spinning with the tally of what it all had cost. Now they were putting on their finishing touches, including applying foundation to her bruised shoulder, before heading back out to the showground.
‘I still think the dress —’
‘It’s not too much. Look at mine!’ Lillian did a spin in her backless red creation.
‘Yes but…people expect you to wear that. This is me.’
Lillian pulled a face, ran her eyes over the figure-hugging sparkling blue evening dress. Certainly not everyone could wear it, but Jordan pulled it off with an elegance Lillian could only worship. ‘You look divine. Why are you sitting?’
Jordan looked up at her two friends with genuine gratitude. ‘I’m sounding ungrateful. I’m sorry. You’ve both gone to so much trouble…’
‘If you cry, you’ll ruin your makeup. This is no time for a girlie moment!’ Lillian dragged her to her feet. ‘Come on, we’ll be late.’
‘Nothing wrong with being a tiny bit late,’ Madi replied cheekily, admiring her own black gown, ‘when you’re the hottest three women attending.’
‘Hell yeah!’ Lillian hooked Jordan and Madi by the arms. ‘Let’s go!’
The Cattleman’s Dinner opened the annual show and sale with a four-course menu, official speeches and dancing until late. As usual, the pavilion had transformed into a ballroom. There was drapery from the ceiling to the floor, large, chandelier-style lights hanging from the high ceiling,
and the tables were elegantly decorated with classy adornments. Jordan wondered every year how the committee managed to pull it all off.
She’d wandered away from her friends, wanting a few moments to herself. The nerves were there — she couldn’t ignore the fact that the rest of her life hung on the results of the next couple of days. She wanted to be here next year. She had no way of knowing yet whether that would happen. She watched as a waitress put the finishing touches on one of the nearby tables and decided she should head back.
‘Oh my good God.’ Jordan turned from the pavilion to see Carol staring at her.
The older woman took in the dress, the heels she knew Jordan hated wearing, the beautiful tresses of hair piled up on her head that curled gently around her face before joining those tumbling down her back.
‘Jordy, honey…’ Carol reached up to cup her face then hesitated. ‘You look too perfect to touch.’
Jordan laughed. ‘This is because I dressed up? Blame Madi and Lillian. You look lovely too.’
‘You’re a vision.’
‘You’re biased,’ she countered kindly.
‘Come with me.’ Carol took her arm and steered her out of the pavilion, past onlookers and friends who called out greetings as they passed.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked, amused. She had her answer a minute later when they arrived back at Carol and Joel’s locker.
‘Joel? Joel, get the camera.’
‘I’m coming, woman, I’m — look at you!’ he finished, catching sight of Jordan as he came out with a small digital camera. He let out a low whistle. ‘Guess this is why you want the camera. We should round up the others, get a group photo.’
‘Yes. And then I’m taking the camera with me. I want to make sure I get a shot of Reid when she walks into the dinner,’ Carol replied smugly, obviously pleased with her part in the direction of the evening.
‘Where is he?’ Jordan asked.
Joel cleared his throat. ‘Just had a few things to take care of… won’t be long. Why don’t you call Madi, see where she is. I want to get these photos.’
Jordan, Madi and Lillian walked into the event just a little late. Jordan saw Reid immediately, flanked by Katrina and one of Katrina’s close friends. It seemed each had appropriated an arm and might start a tug-of-war at any minute, and unexpected jealously cut through her like a knife. Reid looked incredible. Jordan had been so wrapped up in wowing him she hadn’t thought too much about what seeing him dressed like that would do to her. How was it possible that a suit could show off more of his broad shoulders and tall good looks than half as much clothing?