Back in the Saddle : (Jessica Brodie #1)

Chapter 6

A mountain stepped in front of me. I saw one and a half things. The first was the mountain range. And it was huge.

Six-foot-four at least, he towered over me. Huge broad back, tree trunk arms supporting more than one tattoo, and not an ounce of fat that I could see, he was a giant brick of solid muscle.

Behind him was the half of crowd, shifting and sticking hands in pockets, left in Dusty's wake. The other half was probably there, too, but damned if I could see them around the mammoth in front of me.

The boys got a look at him and shrugged. They lost the desire to fight almost immediately, choosing instead to skulk off down the stands. I didn't blame them.

Andre-the-freaking-Giant turned to me. "You alright? We wasn't gonna let him hurt ya."

I smiled in relief. "Thanks a million! I really appreciate it!" Then, thinking I might offend my crew, I added, "We definitely needed the numbers. Candace and I wouldn't have been much help, and these guys were only three against five. Or was it six?"

The giant looked around at the guys I came with. Then the littler dude stepped up, smiling like the whole thing was some big joke. Little did he know, the joke was the two of them standing side-by-side. A short, wiry guy and a thick tree trunk of a man. I was sure there was a cartoon somewhere made of this pair.

The little guy stuck out his hand. "Hi. My name's Clayton. People call me Ty."

He had a lower voice than I would have thought. It was quite low, actually. No accent, either. He had trimmed eyebrows, a short nose that had been broken a couple times and not set properly, and dark brown eyes. His hair looked shaggy but it was hard to tell because he had a Yankees ball cap on.

"Oh, hi. My name is... ah... Jessica." I smiled and sighed. "Sorry, my adrenaline is up."

He smiled back, showing a pretty smile marred by a couple chipped teeth. "No harm, Jessica."

He scanned the area, completely at ease. His gaze touched each of the boys, Sara for a half second longer, then lingered on Candace.

"Oh sorry, these are my friends..."

Ty nodded with each introduction, but paid special attention to Candace, who responded with an embarrassed look at the ground. I smirked.

Ty turned to the mountain. "This is Moose. Well, his real name is Carl, but we call him Moose."

"Did you say Carl, or Lennie?" I quipped, then instantly regretted it. I hoped no one would catch on that Lennie was the large, lumbering "Of Mice and Men" character that had the strength of three men, but the brains of a flower pot.

Ty looked at me with a furrowed face.

Please don't get the reference. Please don't get the reference!

JP, jelly to my peanut butter, tried to stifle his chuckle so as not to give me away, but Ty caught it. He looked back at Moose for two beats, before he doubled over, screaming with laughter. His body heaved, hands on his stomach, guffawing in the stands. Everyone else, not having got the joke-story of my life-adopted the crooked grins and random chuckles usual when someone was laughing so hard tears were coming out of his eyes.

After a moment, when Ty got his bearings, he straightened up, took a look at Moose, was received with a "What'd I miss?" and then doubled over again.

"What's up?" Adam asked, coming up the bleachers, Apollo following along behind.

Ty just pointed at me, shook his head, and said, "Better watch her."

The barrel racing was finished and people were getting ready for the next event, which was bull riding. Judging by the crowd, this was the highlight of the day.