Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(36)

Five bodies turned my way.

“Uh... Peer pressure is fun and all, but what is this dance?”

“After rodeos there is generally a social dance. Just some music and beer. It’s a good time,” Moose explained.

“If I went, how long would I be in for?” I asked the group.

“In for?” Ty asked as he lounged against the trailer. “It isn’t prison. Do you dance?”

“I have been known to cut a rug or two,” I replied. “But I don’t feel like getting drunk and doing something stupid. Plus, dancing to country music without drinking is not the stuff of magic. I don’t want to be hit on, either. It’s been a long day.”

“Note to self, hit on Jessica on short days, only.” Ty acted like he was writing on a notepad—the pad being his palm.

“C’mon Jess, please come!” Candace pleaded.

What was the saying about fallen soldiers?

“I don’t have JP to keep me out of trouble,” I said as a last ditch effort.

“I’ll take care of that,” Moose responded as he flexed his left bicep. Then patted it. Then kissed it.

“I suppose next you’ll ask me if I want to see the gun show…”

Moose’s brow furrowed. He shook his head slightly.

With a put-upon expression, I bent my arms at the elbows, held them up, hands fisted, and flexed. “See these guns?”

Moose’s eyebrows fluttered upward, the corners of his lips following as if a string connected the two.

“Anyway—“ I continued, ignoring William’s blank look.

“Now how’d I miss that one growin’ up?” Adam asked incredulously, a smirk taking over his face.

“You’re slow, that’s how,” Ty said, getting comfortable in his lounge, which took him closer to Candace.

“Right, okay." I sighed and worried the ground with my toe. "I guess the big brute is now my bodyguard. Good times.”

From the trailer, we all heard Tom’s voice say, “I’ll be going, too, if y’all don’t mind.”

All the boys’ faces lit up. Except for William’s. “Well, it looks like I have to go by default. Alright, who’s first for the shower?”

Chapter Eight

Showered, not changed because I didn’t make a habit of carrying around a knapsack on a stick, and wearing borrowed makeup, since Candace apparently did carry one, I stepped down, out of the plush trailer and into the night. A circling of men and one woman were there to greet me, all turning at my entrance, the glow from the light behind me illuminating their faces.

As my feet crunched against the dirt, there was a moment of silence dotted with an occasional neigh and the distant drum of bass. I nearly asked what I’d done before Candace broke the silence.

“Oh my God Jessica, I love what you did with your eye makeup! You have to show me!”

“It’s just a smoky eye,” I muttered, shuffling toward the group.

“Okay, entrance made, let’s get cracking,” Ty said with a laugh, stepping out of the group and stopping with his arm out and elbow crooked, as if it was 1806. On cue, Candace stepped forward and daintily threaded her hand through his arm. It was too dark to tell, but I had a feeling her face was bright red under her intense layer of makeup.

All eyes turned to me. No one stepped forward. My confidence shrunk by the second.

“What are y’all gawkin’ at?” Tom’s voice wafted into the scene, followed a second later by his body, dapper and suave in plaid and cowboy boots. It was a country suit. “Ah, Jessica, you look lovely. May I escort you?” He held out his arm.

Grateful, I nearly fell into him. “Thank you.”

"You look beautiful, tonight, my dear," he said in gentleman tones. He had been preprogramed by his wife from years of marriage to notice when a woman tried to look good, then comment to that effect. I was grateful to William's mom.

“Why thank you, Tom,” I replied.

Tom patted my hand. “Nonsense. I didn’t think any of the boys would get around to telling you, but they are surely all thinking it. When they get older they will learn to speak up.” I could hear the gentle smile in his voice.

It was a short walk to the dance hall, which was a big tent beyond the rodeo. We got to the ticket booth, and as I reached for my purse, Tom tsked.

“Now, now. The gentleman always pays.”

He took out money and paid for the whole party. Being that no one had reached for wallets but me, everyone was expecting that.

Inside the tent were flimsy round tables dotting the packed dirt floor. Streamer hung limply in blue and white, and the bar, which Tom headed shortly after taking drink orders, was nothing more than plywood and alcohol. There was a stage, which was cool, but the country music they were playing was not. Thank God for beer.

We didn’t even have time for the first topic of conversation before Georgie found me.

“Well, well. If it ain’t the purty lady and her bodyguards...”

Georgie was cleaned up, wearing his own country suit, and confidently standing like I had already consented to go home with him. That slipped a fraction when he met my expression, but bounced back easily. “Well now, boys. You can’t have her all night!”

I turned back to my beer, feeling eyes burning a hole in my head. William was looking at me with a vexed expression. His eyes quickly moving from mine back to Georgie as soon as I made contact.