Mary Baxter - Saddle Up

“Mmm, sounds like old Wainwright put the screws to her.”

“I suspect he threatened to blackball her just like he did me, only she’s divorced with two kids to consider.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Bridget shrugged her slender shoulders. “Start pounding the pavement, I guess. I still have a burning ambition to become every bit as good a litigator as my dad or better, then open my own practice. Working for these large firms isn’t my cup of tea. Unfortunately, that’s the only way you can get the experience it takes to make it on your own.”

“Only now you’re ostracized.”

“That’s a mild word. You’d think I had leprosy or something.”

“It’s really that bad, huh?”

“Yes, it is.” Gloom was mirrored in Bridget’s face. “I can always go to Dallas, or maybe San Antonio— if I can get at least one good recommendation from the firm.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

“I’m not.”

“So what does Hamilton think about all this?” Tiffany raised her hand. “Don’t answer that. Let me guess. He’s as furious as your parents.”

“Righto.”

“Jerk.”

In spite of her friend’s sarcastic tone, Bridget’s lips twitched in good humor. She just couldn’t get mad at her friend. “I guess it’s safe to say that you don’t like my fianc6-to-be.”

Tiffany snorted. “Fiancé, hell. You have no intention of marrying Hamilton Price. You never have. If anything, he’s too much like your old man, more so, actually. Hamilton wears his underwear so tight, it’s a wonder he can breathe.”

“Please, don’t start on Hamilton, okay? Besides, we’re a long way from walking down the aisle. We’re not even engaged.”

“Good…cuz I gotta tell you straight, friend, you and Hamilton have nothing in common. Nada. El zippo!”

“I know,” Bridget said, sighing.

“At least there’s one bright point in all our misery.”

“And just what is that?” Bridget asked.

“It’s not what, it’s where.” Tiffany pointed at the screen. “There!”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Hell, no, I’m not kidding. I’m more serious than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Bridget harrumphed. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re on another planet. Circling Jupiter would be my guess.”

“Hey, come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Where it ought to be, in the toilet, along with my career.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. That’s why we both need a change of scenery.”

“But you’re working, Tiff. You didn’t get fired.”

“Yeah, but I have oodles of vacation time I haven’t taken.”

“I almost believe you’re serious.”

“You’re damn straight I’m serious.”

“But…but why?” Bridget sputtered.

“Because it’s something different. It’s a hell of a good way to look at some great bodies—” Tiffany paused and giggled. “And who knows, I might even find one I’d like to spend the rest of my life with.”

Bridget stared at her friend in amazement. “I don’t know whether you’ve gone completely off Jupiter or you’re just plain old horny.”

“I expect it’s a bit of both.” Tiffany wrinkled her nose. “So what do you say, want to go with me?”

“Not on your life.”

“Why not? You need to lighten up. You take life far too seriously. Anyway, what can it hurt?”

“Nothing, except that it’s a waste of valuable time, time I don’t have.”

“Oh, come on,” Tiffany pleaded. “Do it for me.”

“I love you, Tiff, and I’d do almost anything for you, only not this. There’s nothing you can say or do that would convince me to go with you to that godforsaken place.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Yeah, I’ll bet. How much?”

“Fifty bucks,” Tiffany said.

Bridget grinned, scrambled off the couch and headed for the door.

“Where are you going? You haven’t even finished your tea.”

“I’m leaving before some of whatever you’re suffering from rubs off on me.”

“Chicken.” Tiffany wasn’t satisfied in just saying the word. She had to follow it up with wing-flapping and a few buck-buck-bacaws.

Bridget shrugged. “Call me anything you like, but the answer is still no.”

Tiffany repeated the noise.

Ignoring her, Bridget added, “And while we’re at it, you might as well fork over that fifty bucks ahead of time. There’s no way I’d even consider such a cockamamy thing.”

Bridget had to admit this part of the country was beautiful. She lifted her head, her gaze tracking the tall pecans and cottonwood trees as they ballooned upward. Around her were mountains the color of red bricks, flanked by fertile valleys covered with buffalo grass.

Still, Bridget couldn’t believe she was here at the auction in the backwater town of Pennington, Utah. Worse, she was parked in the front row of the Pennington Civic Pavilion, gawking like the other women packed onto the plastic folding chairs. At least, Bridget told herself, she wasn’t gawking for the same reason. For one thing, the auction hadn’t begun yet, though offstage the men she guessed were participants stood laughing and talking. The other women, including Tiffany, were watching them with blatant curiosity.

Bridget refused to lower herself to do more than glance in their direction, mortified that somehow Tiffany had managed to get her way after all.

“Well?”

Tiffany’s whisper jolted Bridget to the moment at hand. “Well, what?” she asked in a vexed tone.

Tiffany laughed. “You know what.”

“You want your money.”

Tiffany rubbed two fingers together, her grin widening. “I’ll take it any time you’re ready to give it to me.

“I’m surprised you’re just now asking.” Bridget’s tone was churlish at best.

Tiffany’s laughter deepened. “Hell, I wasn’t sure you’d actually go through with it.”

“What did you think I was going to do? Jump out of that damn puddle jumper they call a plane?”

“No, but once we got here, you could’ve refused to go any farther.”

“If I had half a brain, I would’ve turned around and taken the next Spirit of St. Louis back to Texas.”

“Aw, and miss out on all this fun? Come on, pay up, then let your hair down, for heaven’s sake. We’ll enjoy the auction, get a load of eye candy—” Tiffany nudged Bridget’s shoulder “—eat some barbecue, then head to the motel.”

“And then go home, right?”

“Only after we see a little of the country,” Tiffany said. “I’ve never been this far west, and I aim to take advantage of it. Besides, once the auction’s over, you should be able to get that pained expression off your face and have a good time. You look like you just saw Wainwright again!”

Bridget threw up her hands, but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s why you love me so much. Now, about that fifty bucks…”

“Damn you, Tiff!”

Tiffany merely laughed as Bridget slapped bills into her friend’s outstretched hand. She watched as Tiffany made a kissing sound before stuffing the money into her purse.

“Go to hell,” Bridget whispered.

“Thanks, I will, with a new purse hanging on my shoulder. This fifty smackers will help pay for it.” She paused. “It’s going to be all right, I promise. You’ll have a good time.”

“Sure I will, Tiff. I’ll probably cherish this moment forever…like I would having all my teeth pulled,” Bridget mumbled under her breath, turning away from Tiffany’s mischievous eyes.

Tiffany nudged her again, harder. “Hey, take a gander at that fellow with the black hair and mustache. He could do anything he wanted in my bed.”