Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(16)

He gave a deep throated chuckle and willed his horse forward a bit. “I am surprised the ol’ dame didn’t make you move into the big house with her.”

“She likes having me in the house as often as I’ll go, but the ad was for the cot—ah, pool house. She does like to have someone to talk to.”

“Oh yes, she never tires of company. Ever the entertainer.”

“Do you know her?”

“All of…the town knows her. She is a funny old lady. Nice as pie. But funny all the same.”

Yup, he knew her.

“Any rate,” he began again, his southern drawl kicking in a little more heavily. He was exceptionally well spoken, which belied a top dollar education. However, his accent came and went, always with a presence to some extent. I wondered if it was the effect of an out-of-town school.

“You’ll want to be gettin’ home here shortly. It’s getting dark.” His hat brim tilted up, his face still obscured by the glare. He must’ve been surveying the sky and land around him.

“Right. Yeah, yes I do. Can you, um, point me in a direction? Preferably the correct one?” I laughed at how stupid I sounded.

He seemed to forget his surroundings for a second as he bent down to peer in the car. Through the orange haze, I could make out jet black hair peeping from under his cowboy hat, and those bottomless eyes looking at me with humor. My head got a bit light.

“Can’t take a city girl away from the buildings or you lose your way, huh?”

“Actually, yes. Exactly.” I really did rarely get lost in the city. Out here, though, with all this space and no ocean, it was a whole different world.

A browner one, for a start.

“Okay, you are pointed East... do you want to write this down?”

I realized I had been staring up at him, trying to get a glance at his eyes again. I jumped into action, grabbing writing tools and listening for instructions. As he gave them, I let half my mind wander, just listening to his voice, feeling the cool breeze of the night float by, which was a relief in the humidity. I noticed the color of the sun splashing across the sky as it set, hearing flies buzzing past the cows, and the smell of poop. Just taking it all in with him in it.

On second thought, I could have done without the poop smell.

He finished up and I put away the pen and paper. The cows had all moved on down the road and into the pasture.

“Oh,” I said too loudly. Toning it down quickly, I continued in a more subdued voice, “I wanted to give you money for the groceries.”

I certainly did not sound like I had a high-dollar education.

He chuckled. “‘Nite miss. See ya again sometime.”

He tipped his hat the way they do in westerns and his horse started moving off the road.

Oh...okay.

Something about him made me giddy. I hadn’t felt this way since I was ten years old and Timmy McNewland kissed me by the monkey bars. That time, giddy quickly turned to anger when he made a face and said, “ech!” Stupid little boys.

Chapter Four

“You Jessica?” Asked a slightly high-pitched voice out of a stocky man in his late forties.

My new boss walked through the spacious lobby of the office building, ignoring the receptionist bobbing her head in answer to his question.

“Yes.” I stood up and surpassed his height by about three inches. I was wearing heals but still, his parents didn’t do him any favors. Hopefully he was at least smart or funny.

“Come this way.” He had a really thick, slow drawl. From what I had heard so far, it didn’t sound Texan, but I was no expert.

I flashed a smile at the receptionist who gave me a thumbs up, then rolled her eyes at Mr. Nash, my new boss. Not a good sign. Still, giving him the benefit of the doubt, we passed into the building through a big archway with crown molding. The inside was a deep tan, almost honey color. There were plants and wall decor that made this place look like a client’s reception room in a lawyer’s office rather than a low-level office floor.

What was it with me? I didn’t have much--next to nothing, really--but everyone and everything around me seemed to have money and an air of elegance or stateliness. I had a feeling I was being set up by the cosmos for a big joke. A joke I wouldn’t find amusing.

“This here’s yer desk.” Mr. Nash gave the cube an impatient sweep of his arm.

It was bigger than average, like those around me, dark wood, which was actually hard plastic, with deep gray cube walls. It had a phone from this decade, a MAC laptop (nice!), a ten key, and shelving to hold personal as well as professional items.

There were also a ton of drawers.

“Right then. I’ll just take ya on to the break room.”

He led me through a maze of deep gray walls, expensive paintings and potted plants to a room with a large wood table, three microwaves, water cooler, two refrigerators, and all the other stuff an office break-room usually has.

Good first stop, I needed coffee.

“C’mon,” He squawked, heading away.

Geez. Give a gal a second.

We walked down a corridor to the restrooms.

“The water closet for ladies is here.” He shoved a tubby finger at the door with “Ladies Room” written on it. I could have figured that one out, but said nothing.

“Right. You think ya got it?”

“Yup, got it. Thanks!” I smiled jubilantly.