Alexander Ranch

Untitled Part 20

I woke the next morning to the smell of coffee just before my alarm went off. I lay there not willing to get up one minute before I had to. Too soon the alarm clicked on and the radio music was playing. As soon as the music started there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in."

Jordan walked in with a cup of coffee, "I thought it would help get you moving."

I smiled, grateful at not having to drag myself out of bed to get the eye opening brew. "Thank you. You have no idea how grateful I am."

He grinned and I caught myself staring at that relaxed grin. I shook myself and then took the mug he was offering.

"Please, tell me you have heard from Ethan?"

His grin seemed to get stuck in place. "Yes, we have. He is fine."

I sighed with relief and took a sip. "Why do I always have to ask? It's like you want to keep me in suspense."

His face took on a strange look that I didn't understand. I almost feared that I had offended him. But, he sounded perfectly normal when he spoke. "If Ethan were in any trouble, I promise to let you know immediately."

"Ok," I said cautiously. I still felt like I was missing something but was too tired to try and figure it out. I sipped more coffee and then got out of bed feeling awkward. I seemed to keep finding myself with him in my pj's.

"I'd better get dressed."

"Lela?" He spoke my named in a quiet, resigned voice.

I looked up at him, "Yes?"

"I know hanging out with me isn't, well, the same as being with Ethan. And, he's scheduled to be back either tomorrow or the next day. So, you'll only have to put up with me until then. I hope I can keep you entertained until then."

I frowned in confusion, "You're company is just as pleasant and welcome as Ethan's, and Daisy's too for that matter. Why would I prefer Ethan's?"

He was the one who'd acted like he didn't want to be near me until recently. Hadn't I accepted this new attitude he had towards me? I was skeptical yes, but I wasn't treating him as if I didn't want to be near him.

"Well you ask about him every morning," he stated, sounding a little confused himself.

"I'm worried about him," I said exasperatedly, "just as I would be worried about any of you. Everyone else is safe. He's not."

"Oh, well," he sounded distinctly uncomfortable and wasn't quite able to meet my eyes. "That makes sense. I just thought..., well, never mind."

"You thought what?" I asked, completely flustered now. What was it with this man? Maybe I should spend more time trying to read his mind. He was so contradictory.

"Nothing. I'll go so you can get dressed."

"You thought what?" I said again, insistently. He looked uncomfortable, but he met my eyes.

"I thought you and he were," he cleared his throat gently, "well, becoming involved."

"Involved?" I frowned in confusion. Then my eyes opened wide with understanding, "Me and Ethan?"

I blurted out the latter and then, for some stupid reason mentally corrected myself, Ethan and I. He was watching me closely now, intently.

"Was I wrong?" he asked with a cool reserve.

"Well, yes," I spluttered in astonishment. How had he come up with that conclusion? I mean, yes, Ethan was a flirt and I flirted back a little, but we weren't seriously flirting. I wasn't serious. Surely, Ethan wasn't either. I would have known, right? He stepped very close to me now recapturing my attention. He was looking into my eyes so intently I couldn't look away. It was as if he were trying to see something in them.