Alexander Ranch

by Marla Josephs

  “It would seem so, but I just want to do a follow-up,” She insisted.

  After eating, she dragged me off to the exam room and looked over my wounds. After a quick assessment she declared I was indeed doing just fine.

  Chapter 13

  The weekend passed very quickly. I’d had more fun then I remembered having in years. Ethan and Daisy definitely didn’t make me feel like I was under their protection. Though they never left my side, we didn’t stay hidden in the house. We went to the movies, to the gym, out to eat, and Ethan didn’t even object to shopping.

  Daisy assured me that there was no reason to hide. Either the bad guys they were protecting me from knew who I was or they didn’t. And if they did, they would come. If they didn’t know they wouldn’t. I wasn’t sure that this was the normal protocol for protecting someone, but reasoned that the president and celebrities had threats all the time and it never stopped them from going about their business with a security detail or a body guard. So, perhaps it wasn’t all that strange. I decided to enjoy this rare moment of socializing and fun and let the experts worry about my security.

  By Sunday night I was exhausted and had to go to bed early. I thought of all of the physical activity I’d gotten this weekend. No wonder I was worn out. Working out with Ethan and Daisy was exhausting. Daisy and Ethan both had seemingly inexhaustible energy. I’d thought I was in pretty good shape. However, after being blown away on the elliptical yesterday at the gym, I realized they were in much superior shape than I. And, after they swam laps around me in every stroke today, I realized they were military fit. Then we’d gone out shopping and eating after our workout. And, to top it off, we’d gone out dancing last night. After working out with the robo twins, going to eat and dancing, the only thing I wanted was my bed. Daisy and Ethan, however, seemed to be quite refreshed. They continued to have competitions of endurance and strength long after I’d wilted. I just watched in amazement. No wonder Daisy could put away so much food and remain so slender. I would have to work up to that level of fitness. I literally crawled into bed, wondering if I should take a painkiller for my aching body and promptly fell asleep.

  I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping, or what time it was, when I was startled awake by something. I sat straight up only to be forced back down with a large hand covering my mouth and a heavy body holding me down. Even before my sleepy mind could assess what was happening I began frantically fighting and struggling in earnest.

  “Sshh, it’s me, Jordan,” I voice hissed in my ear. It took me a few moments to understand the words or recognize the hushed voice I was so busy struggling. I’d gotten in a couple of good kicks and hits before he neatly pinned me down. Waking up this way would have catapulted me into a panic if he hadn’t continually repeated his previous statement in my ear until I stopped struggling. Finally understanding his words, I stopped struggling and froze. I looked into my mistaken attackers face and, even in the darkened room, I could make out the familiar features with the little light glowing in from the window. My eyes were wide open now, I could see his eyes shining down into mine. What the hell was he doing here, and why was he covering my mouth and pinning me down? Surprisingly, my panic piped down instead of ratcheting up.

  “You have to be quiet. There’s someone outside,” his breath tickled my cheek as he whispered the words in my ear. “I’ve called for backup. Are you ok, now? You won’t scream if I remove my hand will you?”

  I shook my head ignoring a new sensation that was beginning to make itself known from the feel of his weight upon me. He stared down at me for a moment and then slowly removed his hand from my mouth as if prepared to re-cover it again quickly if I tried to yell out. When I stayed quiet and still, he looked down at our joined bodies and hastily removed himself from me and the bed.

  “I’m, uh, sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to startle you or, uh, hurt you.”

  “I’m not hurt,” I managed to mumble. My pulse was racing. Adrenaline was coursing through me. The manor with which I’d been awakened so abruptly had me wanting to jump up and pace the floor, but I didn’t dare. I remained there unmoving on the bed. After, I moment I sat up slowly. We sat there in silence, Jordan alternately staring off intently as if he were listening for something and then returning his gaze to me. Then, his hand lit up, and I realized he was holding something. His phone. It didn’t vibrate or make any noise. It simply lit up and he jerked his hand up to look at it. After a moment he let out a pent up breath and put the phone to his head and listened.

  “Do you know who it was? Ok. No, we’re fine here,” he spoke quietly into the phone and then hung up.

  “What’s going on?” I let out my own pent up breath seeing his posture relax.

  “There was someone prowling around outside,” he stated calmly, looking directly at me with the oddest expression. “They’re gone now. You’re safe.”

  “Oh.”

  He looked so odd, upset maybe, I didn’t know what to say. I opened my senses just a bit to see what I could feel from him. Concern. I got the feeling of concern from him. But, concern for what? Himself? Me? Did I dare try to probe more?

  “I’m sorry you have to waste your time protecting me,” I blurted out not knowing what else to say. I knew he’d wanted to be doing other things. Maybe something else important to him was being neglected because he was here protecting me, and he’d be that much grumpier, irritated or whatever he was towards me tomorrow.

  He had turned towards the window but looked back at me now. I kept talking, “I know you weren’t happy being assigned to protect me. And, I’d thought that Logan had changed his mind and assigned only Daisy and Ethan to protect me, but I guess tonight you got the short straw since Ethan is gone.”

  I closed my mouth. He was just staring at me with a look I couldn’t read. I was sitting up in my bed now and after a moment I looked away.

  “I’ve been here every night protecting you,” he finally uttered quietly still looking at me quizzically.

  My head jerked up and my mouth opened in surprise but no words came out. I couldn’t think of anything to say so I closed it. Now I was staring.

  “Oh, well, I am sorry,” I said finally finding my voice.

  “Why are you sorry?” he seemed slightly amused.

  “I heard you, well, complaining to Daisy. And, I know you don’t want to be assigned to protect me. And, well I can tell how much my presence irritates you. So…, I’m sorry. I could talk to Logan if you think it would help?”

  “It most certainly wouldn’t help,” he snorted. “What do you mean you know how much your presence irritates me?”

  I just looked at him for a moment. He had a piercing stare. I don’t think I’d noticed that before. Maybe because he’d never really stared at me. I wished I hadn’t opened my mouth at this point. I felt like I was digging myself into a hole I couldn’t get out of.

  “Nothing,” I mumbled, shaking my head.

  “Please explain,” he dipped his head down trying to see my face.

  “I just thought, from hearing you tell Daisy how you didn’t want to protect me, you had better things to do,” I shrugged and tried for a cheery smile.

  “And?”

  “And, what?”

  “Why did you assume my not wanting to be assigned to protecting you meant I was irritated by your presence?”

  “Well, it’s pretty obvious, Jordan,” I said, irritation at his coyness giving me some courage. “You avoid and ignore me whenever we are near each other. You are very friendly to everyone else on the ranch but only speak to me if you have to. I mean, it’s not rocket science and I’m not stupid. Like I said, it’s pretty obvious and it’s ok.”

  “Is it now?” He smirked.

  “Yes, it really is. I get it. You don’t know me and then all of a sudden I am thrust upon you. I understand,” I said, trying to end this. If he didn’t like me much because I was an unwanted burden forced upon him, I could understand that. He didn’t really know me as a person
so I wasn’t going to take it personal, well, not too personal.

  “What if I said, I have no problem protecting you and it was more the way I was originally ordered to do so that bothered me?”

  I shrugged. I didn’t really believe that and wasn’t in the mood for semantics. And, I was growing more and more uncomfortable with this line of conversation. Suddenly he looked at his phone and then raised it to his head.

  “Yes…ok.” He hung up.

  “Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, that was Daisy. They pursued your visitor but he got away. But, you are safe.”

  “Where is Daisy?”

  “She and Ethan are outside guarding the perimeter.”

  “Ethan? I thought Ethan was gone?”

  “He was earlier and will be again tomorrow.”

  Oh. Why are they outside? They should come inside.”

  “No, it’s my turn to be inside,” he smiled. “Unless, you’d rather have me outside.”

  “Why is anyone outside?”

  “Well, each night we rotate. One or two of us is outside guarding the perimeter and the other or others are inside,” he explained and stood now, walking to my door and then turning to me. “You should sleep now.”

  I obediently I lay down, knowing I wouldn’t sleep.

  “And, Lela,” Jordan continued, “I’m sorry if I made you feel like I resented protecting you, or that I didn’t welcome you to the ranch.”

  “No apology necessary, Jordan,” I mumbled. Moments later I heard his light footsteps fading back into the living room. So, Jordan had been guarding me all along? No wonder he was so irritated still. I didn’t believe for a minute that he didn’t resent being assigned to me. As a matter of fact, it made more since now knowing that he hadn’t been released from having me as a responsibility. He probably just didn’t want me to mention to Daisy or anyone that I felt like he didn’t like me much. He was probably worried that, if it got back to Logan, he’d be assigned to me during the day too. If he had to be assigned to me, certainly carrying out his duties while I was sleeping would be easier since he didn’t have to interact with me. Sheesh, how was I supposed to sleep now?

  Chapter 14

  The next day, Daisy drove to the ranch. I closed my eyes and lay my head back during the short drive. Ethan must be off on assignment as Jordan had said. I didn’t question Jordan’s absence. In truth, I was rather tired and told myself I was too exhausted to care. He was the reason I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. I hadn’t slept for a long time once Jordan left my room. He’d said they’d been taking turns rotating the outside and inside guard duties. However, each evening Daisy and Ethan were the only ones who had been in my home. Or, at least, the only ones I was aware of. Yet, his last words to me last night were that he didn’t have a problem being assigned to protect me. He seemed sincere, but I couldn’t make myself believe him. How could I believe his words? If nothing about my presence or his assignment to protect me bothered him then why was I never aware of his presence? Why had he been avoiding me like a contagious bad rash?

  I decided that my previous conclusion, the only one I kept coming up with all night, was correct. He simply didn’t want me to feel bad or didn’t want Logan to find out how I felt. After all, what was he supposed to say when I pointed out that he seemed to not want anything to do with me or want me around? He didn’t seem like a rude person in general. My mind had gone round and round last night comparing how he was with me and everyone else, and his words simply didn’t fit. I had finally drifted off to sleep for the last couple of hours before dawn.

  We arrived at the Ranch and, after grabbing a muffin and some milk, Daisy and I headed to the horse stalls. I put Jordan out of my mind and anticipated a nice long ride.

  The Alexander Ranch had the most beautiful horses. I’d been working with two mares and one stallion named Cervantes. Cervantes was the most docile stallion I had ever seen. Gringa, one of the mares, was much more headstrong than he was. She balked at her saddle and bridle and would nip at you if you let her. Ethan had told me that Daisy usually just rode bareback with a blanket because Gringa fought the saddle so much. I gave it a try and found that she was much happier and more cooperative without the saddle. I hadn’t ridden so much since I was a girl. Admittedly, my saddling and bridling skills were rather rusty, but I could ride and work with the horses all day and never get tired of it.

  I would start with Gringa today and then Ginger, the other mare. Ginger was sweet but spirited. She was a young girl and loved to run. I would save Cervantes for last. He would rather just plod along. Ethan told me that they actually rescued Cervantes and he was malnourished and ill when they did. It was as though his spirit had been broken. However, he was very affectionate once you got to know him.

  Ricky was outside the barn when we arrived. I gave him a cheery, “Good morning,” grabbed Gringa’s bridle and headed for the stall. But, when I walked in Jordan was there talking to Ginger.

  “Oh. Good morning,” I said, halting in surprise.

  “Good morning, Lela,” he replied brightly and gave me a smile. I frowned.

  “Where’s Ethan?” I asked cautiously.

  Jordan’s smiled slipped a little, “He’s on assignment today. You’ll be working with me, unless, you have any objection.”

  He’d told me that already. I wasn’t sure why the words had come out. He probably thought me daft. But, I’d been so startled to see him that the words just burst out. Daisy came in then, saving me from having to respond.

  “Oh, hey Jordan. Good. You’re here,” Daisy said stepping in the doorway. “I’ve got to head back up to the house. I’ll see you at lunch, Lela.”

  “Sure,” I said turning to Daisy. And she was off.

  “Well,” Jordan said reclaiming my attention with a knowing smile tugging at his mouth. “Do you have any objections?”

  What was he up to? Was this some kind of joke?

  “Uh, no,” I said continuing on to Gringa’s stall.

  “I already worked Gringa,” he said casually.

  I stopped and turned to him. He looked sheepish.

  “I thought you might be tired today after the interruption to your sleep last night. And, I needed help today with Fillie.”

  Fillie was another horse that Jordan usually worked with. I’d never worked with Fillie before. Why was he being so nice to me? I needed to understand. I dared to open my senses just a tiny bit to taste the feelings in the air. The only feeling I detected was humor. There was still some underlying frustration or indecision, but the most prevalent was definitely humor. He smiled gently at me as if he could read my mind.

  “Look, Lela, I really am sorry if I’ve made you feel disliked or unwelcome. I assure you that is not the case. The situation, this case you are involved in, or rather are in the middle of, is a very dangerous one. My issues revolve around the case not you.”

  I said nothing just nodded. I mean, what was I supposed to say? He seemed to be telling the truth yet, there was still something he wasn’t saying.

  “I don’t dislike you. In fact, I find you to be a very likable person,” he said with a chagrined smile I was sure wasn’t meant to be dazzling but was dazzling all the same. I looked down and kicked the toe of my shoe softly into the dirt floor of the barn trying to hide the silly grin threatening to break out on my face. I wanted to stay mad or hold back whatever it was inside me that his words began to unfurl. I couldn’t let his words just disarm me. Something was up. I needed to stay on my guard. But, there was no doubt that some of my defenses had just crumbled.

  “Ok, Jordan. Thanks,” I said giving him my best professional smile.

  The rest of the day he talked with me easily and acted as if he hadn’t treated me like I had the plague for the last week. We mucked out stalls and whatever other tasks were necessary, and he even ate lunch with me. He seemed not to notice my bewilderment at his easy conversation or my lack of response. I spoke when spoken to, but I couldn’t help but wonder with suspici
on what brought about this change.

  “You’re really good with the horses,” he commented at the end of the day as we were finishing up.

  “Thanks,” I said stiffly. I just could not relax around him. He was a completely different person and that kept me perpetually off balanced. We walked back to the house in silence where Daisy was waiting to drive me home.

  “See you tomorrow,” Jordan waved as Daisy and I climbed into her car. I waved and gave what I hoped was a smile. It felt more like a grimace.

  “So, how did you and Jordan get along today?” Daisy asked as she maneuvered the car down the long drive.

  “Fine, I guess?” It sounded like a question.

  Daisy laughed, “You don’t sound sure.”

  “I’m not sure. He’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide. He was perfectly nice and friendly today as if he hadn’t been ignoring me for the last week. I think you and Grace should check him over. There’s clearly something wrong with him.”

  “I told you he didn’t dislike or hate you,” she chirped.

  “Yea, today. So, what did you do? Tell him how I felt or what I said? Is this week be friendly to Lela week for him? If so, I hate to see next week. Maybe it will be spit on Lela week.”

  “Ewe, gross!” Lela exclaimed crinkling up her little nose, “Jordan would never spit on you!”

  “Yea, right. Maybe if I were on fire he wouldn’t,” I drawled cynically. I didn’t want her to think for a minute I believed that suddenly all of Jordan’s hostility towards me had vanished. I was starting to really see that Daisy must have told Jordan about our conversation and he was trying to change the way I saw him for whatever reason. “He’d not want to waste the spit on putting the fire out.”

  Daisy gasped and stared at me for a moment before turning back to the road. All humor gone from her eyes now. She opened her mouth and closed it a couple of times then just drove looking straight ahead, eyes wide.

  “I’m sorry,” I said hastily feeling like maybe my acerbic humor had crossed the line, and I’d offended her. “I didn’t really mean that. I was just being sarcastic.”