Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(35)

Everyone turned as the rider came strutting into the area, sweat and dirt, just like Ty had been. It seemed a hazard of the profession. Tom excused himself and headed back toward the trailer, other things to do. Being that he was at a rodeo, I couldn’t imagine what those things were.

“I didn’t know you would be here until I saw you on that monster of a bull.” Georgie said as he gripped Ty’s arm in a strength-of-wills kind of shake, both with victory smiles on their faces.

“Likewise," Ty responded jovially. "How’d you like riding yours? They’re from the same stock, you know.”

Georgie looked at William. “Yeah, what you been feedin’ ‘em, haus? Dynamite?”

William smiled. “I feed ‘em little children. Keeps ‘em mean!”

“Ah man!” Georgie reeled back in laughter. “That ain’t right!”

“I had a helluva time keeping on my bull,” Ty said. “My arm’ll need to be iced tonight for sure. I’ve ridden them before, though, so I basically knew what to expect.”

“Yeah, I was going to ask you about that, Davies.” Georgie's eyes got a business gleam. “I wouldn’t mind some practice rides.”

“Well, these five are put into circuit so they are out, but I got a couple more that are close to as good. You might take a ride on those next week if you’re around.”

“Cool.” Georgie nodded, business over. His eyes scanned the area, a dog checking out the neighboring territory. As they skittered past me, they snapped back like a rubber band. “She with you?”

My eyebrows fell down to the ridge of my nose. Have you any manners?

William’s eyes flicked to me before he shrugged and looked out at the empty arena. The crowd was starting to break up and disperse. My initiation to rodeo life was over. After the day I’d had, I couldn’t say it wasn’t welcomed.

Adam answered Georgie, apparently now my pimp. “She came with some others, but her and her friend here,” he nodded at Candace, “are in our care for the evening.”

My eyebrows slipped a little further. Your care? I missed the part where you peed on me. Which, given the fact that I wasn’t crazy about golden showers, was a good thing. But still, I wasn't aware women were still viewed as property in this state.

Georgie looked back at me with the focus of a slut. Being that he was only mildly attractive, and also on the shorter side, I had a feeling being good at bull riding gave a guy a certain je ne said qui. A small scale celebrity status. And with girls, it didn’t matter your appearance, if you were known, you were doable.

Sometimes I had to wonder about my sex in general.

“You goin’ to the dance, darlin?” he asked, taking a step closer.

My eyes slid to Candace. “Dance?”

“Oh hoot, boys. She is an out of towner! Where you from, darlin?” Georgie asked with glee.

I wasn’t in the mood to be hit on. Plus, my earlier embarrassment with William, which was now exacting its punishment since he was busying himself with a freaking rope by his trailer instead of paying any attention to another man wanting me, made me surly. I reigned it in, for the sake of my ride home, but barely.

“I’m from L.A.” Then, in case he was dense, I said, “Which is in California.”

“Hmm. I like me some Cali-fornia girls. You girls are frisky.” He stepped closer again, now only a foot away, nearly invading my space bubble. It gave me a dose of claustrophobia. It also worried away the last of my good-behavior.

“Look, short stack,” I put my hand to his chest and pushed him back. “I am not in the mood.”

Moose and Adam burst out laughing. William’s head snapped up, a frustrated expression on his face. Possibly I was supposed to be nice to his future clientele, but he could just stuff it. They all could. I’d had a bad day.

Ty put his hand on Georgie’s shoulder. “Better luck next time, man. I’m slam out of pity for ya.”

Georgie shot me a gleaming smile. “I love a girl that plays hard to get. I love those bright eyes and country music,” he sang with his hand on his heart.

“Bright lights dummy. Lights, not eyes. You’re dumber’n a box of hair!” Adam said with a grin, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. He was enjoying the show.

William walked away. Ty followed with Candace keeping pace. When Moose and Adam shifted and stood, walking after the others, I figured I’d act like a Lemming and follow blindly as well. Suddenly going home with Dave and JP didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

“I think she loves me, boys!” Georgie shouted merrily.

I shook my head as I threw a glance back his way. Some men never gave up. When I turned back around, I caught the tail end of Moose’s apprehensive glance. Apparently he, and probably all of them, wondered if I’d succumb to Georgie’s strange kind of charm. I'm at a rodeo for one day, and already they think I’m a groupie? What the hell?

“I think I am going to head on,” William was saying to the guys as I walked up. “Unless you all want to go to the dance?”

“Hell, I love them dances. I’ll be DD if y’all want?” Adam said.

“I’ll go. Gotta shower and change first, but why not? How about you?” Ty asked Candace.

“Sure!” she said, a little too happily.