First Love (30 page)

“What about your parents?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. My mother is still insisting I haven’t met the right boy. My father reminds me of how important it is to live their family values. That means that Jack and I are supposed to do what they want when they want. The only reason they are excited about Jack’s fiancé is because they expect she will increase their popularity in the Asian community. Plus the wedding in October will bolster my father’s political ratings.” She stopped. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You know anything you say is between us. I hope I’ve shown that you can trust me.”

“Always, Drew.”

“Then I’ll support you in whatever way I can. What else do you want from me?”

“I’ve learned about love from you.” She leaned her head against the seat. “I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. You must be, too. How far do we have to go?”

“At least another six hours.”

“Six? I didn’t realize how big Wyoming is. Are you okay to drive?”

“I’ve driven longer distances.”

*

Jordan must have dozed off because, when she opened her eyes, it was getting light. “Are you okay?”

Drew kept staring in the rearview mirror. “I don’t know. We’ll be in Rawlins soon. I’m going to pull into the McDonald’s there. We can use the restroom and get something quick to eat. There has been a car behind us since we left Dubois. It could be a coincidence, but they don’t pass when I slow down and they stay about the same distance away. There’s not a whole lot out here, so I think we’re being followed.”

Jordan started to look back but Drew stopped her.

“It’s a large black SUV. Too dark to make out the plates or the color. Here we are.” She pulled into the parking lot and parked across from the entrance. The SUV pulled in and stopped behind them.

“I guess that takes care of discrete escape.” Jordan tried not to panic. Black SUV, like the ones driven by the Secret Service. “How did they find me?” She sat in the car and waited for someone to get out. “What else can go wrong?” No matter what anyone said, she was not going back.

“Ma’am, this is not an authorized trip.” Mattie was angry. She opened the door and Jordan stepped out. “You must keep your security informed of your plans.”

“Ms. Thompson is safe, and she is going with me.” Drew was getting out of the car.

“Ma’am, good to see you, but I need for you to stay there while I talk to Ms. Thompson.”

Jordan put her hand up. “Drew, let me talk to her.”

“I’ll be right here.” Drew’s tone of voice indicated she wasn’t happy with the decision.

Jordan walked several feet away from the vehicles and Mattie followed. “Mattie, I am
not
going back. I know you could get in trouble. I’m going to stay here if Drew will let me. I’m not sure how you found me, but please turn around and go back.”

“There was only one reason why I thought you wanted to come to Wyoming.” Mattie looked over at the pickup truck. “Your alert bracelet has a GPS on it. As soon as you were more than a mile away from us, an alarm went off. We’ve been behind you the whole way.”

Jordan was confused. “Why didn’t you stop me sooner?”

Mattie looked uncomfortable, as if she was trying to make a decision. “Ma’am, I never said this and you never heard this. My girlfriend would divorce me if I stopped you.”

“Your girlfriend? Does my father know?”

“No, ma’am. The Service does, but they don’t care. We still have to provide protection for you. Please let me notify your father that you are okay.”

“Do I have any choice?”

“No, ma’am, but we could wait until you got to where you’re going. I could just say we followed you until you stopped. At a later time.”

“Mattie, thank you. I hope this doesn’t get you in trouble.”

“Ma’am, my job is to make sure you are safe. In another couple of hours, I’ll call for backup to meet us at Ms. Hamilton’s ranch around noon. As long as we make sure you’re safe, I’m still doing my job. The Secret Service is not in the business of forcing people to do things they don’t want. We leave that to our sister agencies.”

“Thank you.” Jordan walked back to the car. “I need to go to the bathroom. Shall we get something to eat, too? I haven’t been to McDonald’s in years.”

Ten minutes later, they were headed back to the car. She climbed in and grabbed Drew’s hand. “You were right.”

“About what?”

“That there are gay people around me and I didn’t know.”

Drew started the car. “Really?”

“Stop acting so surprised.” Jordan proceeded to tell her about Rob and Mattie. Jordan felt her courage returning and her future brightening. It was when they turned down the dirt road to the ranch that she felt some of that recently retrieved courage fleeing.

Marcia Hamilton was standing at the front door as the cars pulled up. Jordan took a deep breath. Being in Drew’s life included the entire Hamilton clan.

“Let me talk to my mom.” Drew jumped out of the pickup.

Jordan met her at the front of the vehicle. “Thank you, but I need to do this. I want them to know this is my decision.” Drew nodded and went back to get Jordan’s things. She walked up the stairs. “Good morning, Mrs. Hamilton.” She hoped she sounded braver than she felt.

“Good morning, Jordan. I’m surprised to see you here.” Her arms were crossed and her expression was not friendly. “I now understand what Drew’s sudden emergency was. Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry for the deception. It was my fault. I asked Drew not to say anything.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

Jordan wondered if she had made a mistake. So far, nothing had gone the way she had hoped, except Drew had met her in Dubois. “I’m here because I love your daughter and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. If she will have me.” She felt Drew’s hand on the small of her back. Maybe there was some hope.

Drew’s mother put her arms down by her side. “Around here,” she said, her voice firm, “we give second chances. I don’t want to see my daughter hurt again. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jordan sighed when Drew’s mother opened the door.

“Go ahead and take her stuff upstairs and we’ll make some room.” Drew’s mother held the door as Jordan and Drew walked in.

At the top of the stairs, Drew stopped and allowed Jordan to walk past her. “Where do you want me to put your stuff? We have two empty bedrooms.”

Jordan was confused. “Where are you sleeping?”

“In my room, but last time you were here you were uncomfortable with sleeping with me.”

Jordan put her hand on Drew’s arm. “I’ve never been uncomfortable with sleeping with you. I’ve been uncomfortable with me.” She opened the door to Drew’s bedroom. “Can you set them in here? If it’s okay with you?”

Drew sat Jordan’s luggage on the bed. She took a deep breath. “We need to talk. I never stopped loving you, but I must admit I have some trust problems right now. I need some time, too. Can we take things slowly?”

“I will do whatever it takes. For as long as it takes, unless you tell me to go.”

“I may never tell you to go.”

“Never?” Jordan shook her head and reached for Drew’s hand. “I’m not sure that’s long enough. I’ve never met anyone like you and I think I want more than forever.” She reached for Drew’s other hand, turning her so that Jordan could look into her eyes. “You were right at Christmas. I was hiding. I was hiding from myself. I’m not hiding anymore because hiding means not having you in my life. So, damn it, get over it.”

Drew’s eyes were wide. “You’re swearing has gotten worse.” She stroked the side of Jordan’s cheek and reached for her hand. “Jordan, I don’t understand the last six months. What happened to
we
were going to figure things out?”

Jordan turned away as she thought about what her father might be saying to Mattie.

“What’s the matter?”

Jordan was gripping Drew’s hand so tight it was turning white. Her tongue played along the corner of her mouth.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Is it this hard for everybody? Coming out?”

Drew pulled Jordan close. “Not always.”

“Mattie is talking to my parents now. Whatever my parents may think is not important, but what you think is. The last six months have been the loneliest and most miserable of my life. I don’t ever want to be without you again.”

“Just for the record, I want you to know your father’s threats didn’t scare me nearly as much as you refusing to talk to me or see me. I could have taken care of both of us.”

“That’s part of the problem. I needed to learn to take care of myself. Will you ever forgive me?”

“I love you and will forgive you, in time. I need to know you aren’t going anywhere first.”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to convince you. Is your father around? I guess I need to see him.”

“Sooner or later, we will have to deal with your father. I guess we will deal with my own family first. Let’s go downstairs.” She looked at her watch and smiled. “By the way, thank you for the graduation present. I’m not sure how I feel about the GPS, but at least it brought you to me.” She stroked the watch. “Good luck piece. Unfortunately, I don’t have one for you. Besides, I wasn’t sure how to get one to you.”

*

“That’s okay. You’re my best present.” She leaned over and kissed Drew. She had dreamed of this moment for months and now she was savoring the taste and the warmth. The groan that slipped out from Drew’s mouth tingled between her legs. She wanted Drew as much now as she had that first night. She wasn’t surprised when Drew pulled back.

“Jordan, let’s slow down. Let’s go downstairs. We need to get some things taken care of.” Drew grabbed her hand and led her down to the kitchen.

Drew’s mother was standing in front of the sink staring out at the bunkhouse. She didn’t bother to turn around. “I’ve already warned Jordan that she will have the entire clan to deal with if she doesn’t behave.” She paused but only briefly. “Do they have anything to wear but suits, because it’s going to get hot.” She finally turned around to face Drew and Jordan. “Why don’t you two help those Easterners get settled? And, Jordan, I hope you’re planning to stay because I don’t think Drew is planning on moving again.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

*

The next two days were difficult. Jordan’s family was furious. Her father ordered her to get back to Jackson. She refused. He told her he was sending a helicopter to get her. She told him she’d refuse to get on it. If he tried to force her, she would make sure there was media around. He threatened to have her security bring her back. She reminded her father that they were guests on private property. Then her mother called.

“Jordan, what’s happened to you? Your father called frantic because you had disappeared. Then he finds out you are with…with that person. And you have refused to come to your senses. Is she holding you against your will? That’s the only explanation I have.”

“No, Mom. I’m here because I want to be.”

“She must have some kind of power over you. You’ve never disobeyed your parents like this.”

“Mom, I love Drew. The only power we have over each other is our love. You told me that one day I would find someone I would love and would want to settle down with. Well, I have.” Jordan was struggling. Her father had used anger. Her mother was using guilt. She didn’t know which was worse.

“Jordan, you know we love you. We realize this has been a difficult time. Come home. We’ll get some help for you. I’ll even come out there and get you.”

“Mom, there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“You’re young. You can get over this. We just need to get you here and get some help for you. And we need to do it quickly. The next two months are critical for his campaign. You need to be here with us. Now, let me come get you or leave with your Secret Service team. I can be there later today. You need to come home.”

“I am home.” Jordan hung up in tears. She couldn’t believe her mother tried to make her feel guilty for her father’s political future.

Drew pulled Jordan into her arms. “Guess it didn’t go well?”

Jordan couldn’t answer. She was too upset. Drew just held her until she could talk. “I don’t think my parents will ever accept who I am or the two of us as a couple.”

“Do you think your parents love you?”

“I used to think so, but I don’t know anymore.”

“Jordan, when you stopped talking to me, I felt the same way. There was part of me that wanted to just walk away and another part that wanted to believe that, sooner or later, our love for each other would bring us back together. Maybe we just need to give them time. Remember what you engraved on my watch?”

“Always believe.”

“Love brought you back to me. Now it’s your turn to believe.”

Drew’s love gave her courage. The daily onslaught of phone calls and threats she could handle. Now, however, her father was determined to pick her up after the economic summit and bring her back to Washington. She refused. He then insisted that she meet him at the air force base in Cheyenne. Again, Jordan refused.

“Jordan, sooner or later, you are going to have to talk to your parents.” Drew was rubbing the back of her hand. “You love your parents, and right now they are upset. If you don’t try to work things out, you may always regret it.”

“I know. I’m afraid my father may try to force me to go back.”

“Have him come out here. There’s no way he can do anything on my ranch.” Drew’s father had walked up behind then. “Sorry, didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but dinner’s ready.

Jordan called her father and told him she would meet him but he needed to come out to the Hamilton ranch north of Cheyenne.

“I wouldn’t step a foot on that man’s property.” Her father was angry. “Young lady, you better be in Cheyenne when I get there. I expect to see you there.”

“Then you will be disappointed. You can meet me here or you can fly back to Washington.”
Why is loving someone so difficult?
“I love you and Mom, but I am staying here.”

“Damn it, Jordan, you’ve never been obstinate before.” Silence on the line. “All right. Are you sure this is okay with what’s her name’s family?”