Free The Problem With Jordan by Joannie Kay Page A

that Ike was gone. Cray knew he would need to take Ike’s body into town and tell the sheriff what happened. “Honey, I think you should let the doctor look at you. I’ve got to take the body to the sheriff and let him deal with Ike. I know he’s going to ask a thousand questions.”
    “I feel like I’m going to throw up!”
    Cray helped her up and outside, and poor Jordan did lose her breakfast. He was sure she had a concussion. When she finally felt better, he got an old blanket and wrapped Ike’s body in it and put it in the back of the wagon before heading to town with his wife leaning against him. They stopped so that she could be ill once again, and then went straight to the doctor’s office.
    “What’s going on?” Doc asked with a frown as Cray knocked on the door.
    Cray explained, and lifted the redhead onto the examining table. She didn’t even fuss as the doctor looked her over, which was a first for Jordan.
    “She’s got a concussion and needs to stay right here tonight so I can keep an eye on her.”
    “I want to go with Cray,” Jordan mumbled, holding onto him. “Please, Cray, don’t leave me here.”
    “Honey, I want us right here where Doc can watch over you. Doc, may I stay here with Jordan?” Cray asked before she could argue.
    “I think that would be a good idea, son,” the doctor said kindly, giving Cray a look of respect. He motioned for Cray to come aside. “Did Ike?”
    “No, sir. I stopped him.”
    “Thank God for that. We all love little Jordy, and I was mad as hell at them fools for marrying her off to you, but the girl is already in love with you.”
    “We are getting to know each other,” Cray answered. “It’s too soon for the marrying kind of love to take hold. We just need time. I sure do care for her, however.”
    “What’s wrong with me?” Jordan asked fearfully from the other side of the room.
    “Doc just wanted to know if Ike did more than hit you, Jordan. I assured him that he didn’t get a chance to do that.”
    “Thank you, Cray,” she whispered.
    “I need to go to see the sheriff now, but I’ll come back and sit with you as soon as I explain things to the man.”
    “All right. I’m going to lie right here; my head really hurts.” He leaned down to kiss her forehead.
    *****
    Jordan felt like crying, but she resolutely got to her feet and cleared the table so that she could wash the breakfast dishes. Cray barely said two words to her these days, and she was sure he regretted marrying her. He wasn’t tender with her, and at night he sent her on to bed but then he stayed up so late she fell asleep waiting for him to join her. During the first few days of their marriage, he was kind to her, especially after Ike hit her and gave her several days of a really bad headache. He stayed by her side at Doc’s and made sure she had whatever she needed. But now? Well, now he acted like he hated the sight of her, and it made her sad.
    Alice and Jim Evans had had their baby girl a few weeks ago, and Jordan went and helped with the delivery and with keeping the other children happy and content while their mama rested until she felt good enough to take over the entire house once again. Each and every day Cray came into town to help out a bit with the kids, or anything else that he could do to give her a hand, but that was several weeks ago, and now he barely spoke to her. She felt unwanted, and that was when she decided it was time for her to go back where she came from. It would be difficult, especially after having it so nice for nearly three months, but she wouldn’t be an anchor around Cray’s neck. She wrote him a note, and then went into the bedroom and changed out of the dress she’d made for herself. She’d take nothing that wasn’t hers with her.
    Her heart nearly broke as she ‘fended’ a few grocery items, but she’d grown used to eating, and had no heart for scrounging for food today. She made sure that Cray was nowhere in sight, and left by way