The Problem With Jordan Read Free Page B

his turn to ask a question of the girl. “Why didn’t you get a job when your aunt died?”
    “No one would hire me on permanently,” she admitted. “I think it bothered the wives to think of me bein’ around their husbands. Of course, I would have given them what for if they’d tried somethin’ with me!” she declared. “I was left fending for myself, and I tried not to help myself from those who couldn’t afford it… like Widow Parker. She’s real poor. I was tryin’ to fend a bit for her, too, but she didn’t know it was me leavin’ her food and such.” Jordan looked at Cray and said, “I took her some of your eggs, too.”
    “I’m glad to hear that,” Cray answered, realizing he meant it. “You may continue to help Mrs. Parker if you want, but instead of fending , we’ll find another way to share what we have.”
    “You aren’t a bad sort, Cray McCormick,” Jordan said, her head tipped sideways as she seemed to see him in a different light. She looked ready to say something, but she shook her head and turned her attention to her meal, as if afraid it would suddenly disappear if she didn’t eat it all within seconds.
    “Slow down, Jordan. No one is going to take away your plate, I promise.” Cray had never seen anyone so hungry and it infuriated him and made him sad at the same time. He felt like raising hell all over someone for letting this poor girl go hungry for so long, but how did he take an entire town to task? “If you are still hungry when you finish that steak, I’ll make you another one,” he stated.
    “ Another one ?” she repeated, and looked at him in shock. “I think this will be all I can handle. But, thank you kindly,” she said, trying to remember the manners that her Aunt Hermione had attempted to teach her. It was almost too much to believe that he was willing to fix her another steak just for the asking!
    Cray finished his steak before she did, probably because she was forcing down the last few bites. He could see she didn’t want to waste the food. “You know, Jordan, the dog would be happy to finish those last few bites. He hasn’t had too much to eat today,” he added, and had to hide a grin when she jumped to her feet, picked up her plate and hurried outside to feed the animal her scraps. As Cray watched, the dog wagged his tail and was utterly delighted when she put some food in his bowl. He wagged his entire butt and looked at Jordan with love in his dark eyes. Jordan petted him, and then kissed the top of his head.
    Jordan was surprised to turn and find Cray watching her. She stomped back to the porch and put her hands on her hips. “Don’t be watching me all the time. I don’t run from my problems!”
    “You think that I am a problem?” Cray was not amused.
    “Hell, yes, you’re a problem! You’ve already beat on me, and how do I know what you’ll do next? I wish to God I’d never fended here!”
    “That makes two of us, but what’s done is done. You fended here and in the process you fended a husband, girl. Like it or hate it, you are my wife, and I intend to keep a real close eye on you. Now get your butt inside and help me wash up these dishes so we can leave for town. When we get back we’ll go to your place and move anything you wish to bring here.”
    The problem with Jordan was that she didn’t like being bossed around, and now that her belly was full, she was feeling cantankerous. “I don’t want to live here! And I ain’t gonna live here!” Jordan insisted.
    Cray told himself to hold his temper. “Jordan, you are going to live here. We are married, and this is where we live. If you are afraid that I’ll force you to make love before you are ready, I’m giving you my word here and now that I won’t do that. I don’t hold with raping women, and making love to you right now would be the same as rape. I saw some of that during the war, and I won’t ever do that to any woman. No, Jordan, upon my word, you will be safe under this