A Helluva Man

by Sable Hunter

  The pretty blonde cherub with the round placid face looked hard into Tamara’s eyes and right into her soul. “For true?”

  For true? Tamara knew this was Donna’s way of asking for reassurance. She nodded solemnly. “For true.” To seal her promise, she drew the girl close for a hug that ended with a tickle. Hey, you want to play catch?”

  “Yes!”

  Even though they were about the same age, Donna possessed the playful exuberance of a much younger person. This naivete made Tamara feel very protective of her. She could see now what a difference a friend could make in Donna’s life.

  “Well, find us a ball and we’ll toss a few.” She jumped up and brushed grass clippings from her bare legs.

  “Here!”

  Whoosh!

  Tamara whirled around and caught the ball. “Watch it, woman! You almost brained me!”

  Donna’s laughter made Tamara’s heart feel light. “Throw it, Tammy-slow-poke!”

  “All right. Here it comes!”

  They went back and forth for a dozen or more throws until a booming voice made Tamara drop the ball.

  “Tamara Grayson! What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Uh-oh,” Donna whispered. “Are you in trouble?”

  “Nah, but I’d better go home.” She gave the girl a jaunty wave. “See you later!”

  As she ran across the road toward home, Tamara could see her father’s face looked like a thundercloud. “Hey, Dad. I was just…”

  “I could see what you were doing! Wasting your valuable time with that…”

  “Richard.” Tamara’s mother joined them. “I asked Tamara to spend some time with Donna.”

  “I don’t care what you asked.” He turned back to Tam. “I work hard down at the factory to give you every opportunity. I’ve spent a fortune on sports equipment, lessons, and fees for you to have a chance at a professional career!”

  Tamara cast her eyes to the ground. “I know, Dad. I’m sorry.”

  “Did you get your run in?” he demanded.

  “No, sir.” She shook her head.

  “You know better than to waste your time this way. Don’t ever let me see you over there with that girl when you have better things to do!”

  His voice had grown in volume and Tamara cut her eyes to the house across the street to see Donna still standing in the same place, watching their conversation with sad eyes. She might not be a genius, but the girl could understand enough of what they were saying to have her feelings hurt. “Dad, don’t,” Tamara whispered. “She needs a friend.”

  “That’s right,” Shelia added her two cents to the argument.

  Richard Grayson held up his hand for silence. “Well, it won’t be you. That poor girl will always be a drain on her family and society. I refuse to let you fall into that trap. Just thank your lucky stars you’re not in the same shape she’s in. You have a chance to make something of yourself and I’m going to see that you do.” He pointed to the street. “Go now.”

  “Richard, it’ll be dark soon,” Sheila muttered in protest.

  “Wear your reflective vest,” he told her. “You’re not skipping a practice.”

  “Yes, sir.” Tamara hurried off to do as she was told.

  When she came out to begin her run, Donna was still standing in the same place where Tamara had left her. Unable to go by without speaking, Tamara veered over to her. “Sorry, I had to leave. We’ll play again soon.”

  “For true?” she asked with a small, winsome smile.

  “For true.” Tamara made a promise she firmly intended to keep.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “For fuck’s sake, Memphis.” Jaxson McCoy stood behind his majestic brown and white appaloosa, one shoulder leaning on the horse’s muscular hindquarters. “Get your ornery ass up in there!”

  Memphis turned his head slowly and glared at his owner. Twitching his ears, he lazily chewed on the remains of a carrot Jaxson had given him as a bribe. A bribe that hadn’t worked – for his front hooves still rested on the edge of the trailer’s ramp, and he was making no effort to move forward.

  “I guess you’re still mad I sold that little filly you had your eye on.”

  The horse huffed out a puff of air that sounded very close to a scoffing snort.

  “Women will come and go, pardner. You can’t let yourself get too attached. They’ll break your heart.” Jaxson let out a long sigh as the horse turned his regal head to ignore him once more.

  When Memphis’s attention was elsewhere, Jaxson took one step and leaned on the horse once more with all his might. Jaxson McCoy had always taken pride in his strength, but Memphis was a monster of a horse. Even though he’d given an inch at first contact, the big equine was being stubborn.

  “What’s the matter, Jax? Memphis being a pain?” Tennessee McCoy stood in the kitchen door enjoying his brother’s misfortune. “He reminds me of someone I know.” Ten threw his head back and laughed.

  “Oh, ha-ha,” Jaxson quipped. “Just get down here and give me a hand.”

  Stepping off the back verandah of the Highland main house, Tennessee sauntered to his brother’s side. “Did you try giving him a whack?” Tennessee’s hand came up over his head and sharply down onto the tough hide of the beast’s hind end.

  Jaxson cringed at his brother’s action. “Hey, watch it. He’ll let me do shit like that, but he’s liable to kick you into the middle of next week.”

  Instead of lashing out in anger, the big horse just glanced over his shoulder and gave the men behind him the evil eye, then turned his head to gaze nonchalantly off into the distance once more.

  “Oh, for crap’s sake. I think we’re boring him.” Jaxson let out a long breath. “I don’t understand this. He’s usually pretty good about getting into the trailer.”

  “And a fine trailer it is, brother.” Tennessee ran a hand down the side of the new silver and white gooseneck Jaxson had recently procured to haul his beloved horse.

  “Thanks, we like it. Hmmmm.” Deciding to try a different approach, Jaxson eased alongside the horse and into the trailer.

  “What are you doing now?”

  “I’m going to reason with him.”

  “Oh, that will work.”

  “Did you hear Uncle Ten?” Jaxson asked as he put a gentle hand on Memphis’ nose. “He thinks you’ve got a fancy ride. Don’t you want to take it for a spin? We’ll have a good time in Houston. I bet there’ll be a bunch of mares there for you to ogle.”

  “Oh, lord, Jaxson. You’ve lost your mind.” Ten shook his head as he leaned on the trailer’s gate.

  “We’ll see. What do you say, boy?”

  Memphis gave his owner a quizzical look then bowed his head, nudging Jaxson on the shoulder for a cuddle.

  The brawny cowboy wrapped his arms around the horse’s neck and pulled him in for a hug. “I can’t stay mad at you, ya big lug.”

  “You two want to be alone?” Tennessee teased, but the man and horse ignored him. “Have you tried saying please?”

  Jaxson pulled back from the horsey embrace and looked Memphis in the eye. “Memphis, would you please get up into the trailer, so we can hit the road?”

  Memphis dipped his head once, twice, and a third time before making his way up the ramp and into the spacious compartment.

  Tennessee indulged in another hearty laugh. “Oh man, I can’t believe that worked.” He took the Stetson off his head and slapped it against his knee. “Maybe you should offer him your sleeping quarters for being so cooperative.”

  Jaxson went about locking up the back gate of the trailer. “You’re making me look bad out here, Memphis.” Turning to his brother, he gave him a sneer. “I haven’t slept in there myself yet, but I’m hoping to break it in with some honey on this trip.”

  “Oh, right. What are you gonna do, try to bed one of the rancher’s daughters at the Livestock show? Sonny, those old fellas will geld you if they catch you sniffin’ around one of their girls.”

  “I tend to do all right wit
h the females, Ten. I think I can handle myself just fine.”

  Tennessee made a stroking motion with his hand. “Oh, I bet you handle yourself regularly. You can’t even get your own horse up into that trailer, let alone a woman.”

  Jaxson wasn’t going to admit it, but Tennessee was partially right – he’d been handling himself way too often lately. He’d been busy, preoccupied. The last few months had been a dry spell in the romance department.

  Maybe getting laid on this trip wasn’t such a bad idea.

  He would be competing as the reigning all-around champion this year, after all. Hooking up with a buckle bunny or two at the rodeo shouldn’t be a problem.

  “I can assure you one thing, brother. Jaxson McCoy is highly in demand with the ladies. No brag, just fact.” Even though he liked to keep things light-hearted and casual with women, once they’d had a little taste of Jaxson McCoy, they were always hungry for more. And who could blame them?

  He was a demon in the sack.

  Tennessee folded his arms over his broad chest. “Whatever, stud. Sounds like you need to get laid while you’re up there. Just don’t make a fool of yourself or the family.”

  Jaxson slid in behind the wheel of his truck. “Don’t worry, Ten, I’d never try to steal your job.” He held up a one finger salute as he left his brother in a cloud of dust.

  * * *

  “Damn it, Heath!” Jaxson cussed to himself as he entered Austin city limits. He’d just looked down at the gas gauge for the first time and noticed his big brother, the one who was always so responsible, had neglected to gas up the truck after he’d borrowed it the day before – even after Jaxson had specifically reminded him to do just that.

  A rumble from his stomach let Jaxson know exactly how he should proceed. “Some Rudy’s sounds mighty good right about now, partner,” he said, patting his angry stomach. Jaxson McCoy might not be the brains of the family, but he sure as hell knew where every Rudy’s joint was located. He liked them because they were a one-stop shop – food, fuel, and a handy-dandy convenience store.

  A few minutes later he was nosing his truck next to the fuel station for a fill-up. “Fuckin’ Ten,” he grumbled to himself. Ever since Tennessee had brought up the subject of women, Jaxson hadn’t been able to get the subject off his mind.

  Standing at the pump, he adjusted the tightness in his jeans as a pair of blonde coeds strutted across the parking lot and into Rudy’s.

  “Oh, holy hell.” He looked up to the bright Texas sky. “Why do you do this to me, Lord? These Austin women are fine as can be.” Watching the girls in their little tube tops and shorts had him suddenly feeling the heat of the day. In response to the rise in temperature, Jaxson unfastened a few buttons on his green western shirt and pulled the white Stetson off his head to fan himself. “That tears it,” he mumbled to himself as he slipped the gas nozzle back into its cradle. “I have got to get laid and the sooner the better.”

  Jaxson’s maneuvering through the parking lot was met with more than a few honks as he backed the long gooseneck into a nice shady spot. “Go around me if you don’t like it,” he yelled out the open window, waving his hand at the impatient drivers.

  “City folk,” he grumbled as he climbed out of the truck and stepped into the trailer to check on Memphis. “I’ll be back in a little bit and we’ll head on down the road. Is it cool enough in here for you?” He stopped to adjust the air conditioning and to pat the app on his nose. “You wouldn’t be jealous if I find a pretty girl to spend some time with, would you?” Memphis closed his left eye and opened it, almost as if he was winking his approval. “Good, deal. I’ll return the favor soon.”

  Leaving the trailer, he started across the parking lot. As he wove in between the vehicles, Jaxson spotted the girl with the long blonde hair who’d drawn his attention a few minutes ago. She was standing just inside the restaurant, he could see her through the plate glass window. “Now, she’s my type, for sure. I wonder if she likes a country boy.”

  Stopping at the bottom of the steps out front, he leaned his head back and gazed up at the sign on the facade. “The worst BBQ in Texas,” he slowly mouthed the words, reading Rudy’s self-effacing and humorous sign. The slogan never failed to give him a laugh.

  Just as he was finishing a hearty chuckle, a Texas-sized gust of wind came sweeping through the parking lot and almost took the hat right off his head. “Oh no, you don’t!” Clasping his hand down on the top of his head, he held it firmly in place.

  The enticing smell of Rudy’s smoked meats came wafting out the front door of the restaurant as a group of UT students came filing out. Just as Jaxson reached the top of the steps, another strong gust of wind came along. This time, he didn’t act fast enough and his prized Stetson was torn right off the top of his head. Grabbing for it, Jaxson bumped into one of the college girls, almost knocking her down. “Sorry. Are you all right?” Always the gentlemen, Jaxson righted her, then apologized once more. “Sorry, so sorry.” When he looked for his hat again, he was horrified to see the white Stetson cartwheeling off the handicap ramp and across the parking lot.

  “Get back here!” He called out to the hat as it flipped and flopped its way toward the busy access road. “Damn! I love that hat,” he muttered to himself as he jogged forward, certain it was about to be flattened by an oncoming car in mere moments.

  Suddenly, a slender girl in a pair of baby blue shorts and a pink top appeared out of nowhere to catch his beloved Stetson just as it was about to fly over the curb into the street.

  “Gotcha!” she cried out, raising the now dusty cowboy hat above her head in triumph.

  Jaxson watched in gratitude from where he stood some twenty feet away. The rescuer of his headgear looked to be a scrappy little thing. Her boots were scuffed and her long honey blonde hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. The word tomboy came to mind as he let his eyes rove over her, but the soft pink top hugging a pair of sweetly rounded tits made for an interesting juxtaposition, the combination somehow fitting her to a tee. She wasn’t the lush femme fatale like the blonde girls he’d spotted earlier, but Jaxson was sure enjoying the way the sun glistened off the tanned skin of her exposed shapely legs.

  “Is this your hat, Mister?” Tamara called out when she saw him standing there looking dumbfounded. The sun was bright and she had to shield her eyes from the glare to see Jaxson.

  “Mister?” Jaxson knew riding the rodeo had put some extra years on his body, but he didn’t feel he was quite ready for the old folk’s home – not just yet, anyway. “Why, yes, it is ma’am,” he quipped in his defense as he closed the distance between them.

  As he drew closer to her, Tamara could see just how beautiful this man was – and boy, was he gorgeous. Her stomach tensed up as he towered over her, his expression unreadable. Sure, he had a little bit of hat-head, but when this strapping cowboy ran his hand through his thick mane, it settled into the most deliciously messy set of locks she’d ever seen. “Here you go,” she said in a suddenly quaking voice, a shy smile on her face.

  Jaxson gave her a wink as he took the hat she offered. “Much obliged, Miss.” He hadn’t been particularly blown away by what he’d seen from across the parking lot, but up close, he was certainly enjoying the view.

  Tamara giggled at his quaint way of speaking.

  “Did I say something funny?” Jaxson asked, trying to brush the dirt off the brim of his hat.

  Already a bit flushed from the beating sun, Tamara was thankful for the heat. She could feel the blush spreading out across her cheeks at her embarrassment. She’d assumed his speech had been intended as a joke. There were so many urban and wannabe cowboys around, she just assumed he dressed the part. Could he be the real deal?

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you. You just make me a bit nervous.” She hadn’t meant to say the last part aloud, dang-it. The way Jaxson grinned at her made Tamara feel even more self-conscious. “What I meant was…” Oh hell, there was no trying to explain it away, the man had t
o know he was a certifiable hunk. There was nothing Tamara could say that would help the situation.

  “Well, if you aren’t too nervous…” Jaxson couldn’t help but smirk at the look the intriguing woman was giving him. She couldn’t seem to decide if she wanted to kiss him or punch him in the throat. Jaxson would’ve been lying if he said he wasn’t enjoying her discomfiture just a little bit. “I was about to step inside,” he motioned towards Rudy’s, “for a bite to eat. Would you care to join me?”

  Tamara felt a sudden rush of heat blaze straight to her core. The idea sounded like the best one ever, but the nervousness she’d experienced hadn’t dissipated. For some reason, she felt so ordinary in his presence. Normally, her athletic ability gave her a sense of self-confidence around men, especially those who knew what she’d accomplished. But the only thing this guy had to judge her on was her good deed and her appearance. The truth was, Tamara hadn’t left the house today expecting to be invited on a lunch date by the best-looking man she’d ever laid her dark brown eyes on. She wasn’t dressed up, she didn’t have any makeup on. “Join you…for…?” Yet, here she stood, fidgeting and stammering, her body screaming at her to accept his invitation, while her brain argued in opposition. “I’d…uh…”

  “Love to?” Jaxson finished her sentence. “Great.” Taking Tamara’s hand in his, he led them through the parking lot. “Your hand feels rough,” he mentioned as they went along.

  Tamara stopped in her tracks and jerked her hand from his. “Excuse me? What did you just say?” That observation certainly wasn’t something she wanted to hear.

  Jaxson spun around at her words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offense. I guess I’m just used to a certain type of girl.” The buckle bunnies who flocked to the rodeos were all about their looks. They took hours to put on their faces and probably spent hundreds of dollars on lotions and body butters they slathered on themselves daily. As much as he enjoyed the end result, he was finding this little spitfire to be equally entertaining.