Jenna said as she moved over and sat down in the chair opposite Sophia. She had already read the newspaper article, but couldn’t help leaning over to take another look. “I just borrowed it to escape the lunatic driver.”
Sophia glanced up from reading the article. “Let’s define lunatic. A carriage driver who is trying to save his job? Or a woman who thinks she can save the world?”
Jenna spooned a bite of cereal into her mouth and munched on it. “I’m not trying to save the world. I’m just trying to bring people’s attention to injustices.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Sophia said. “I think it’s great that you organized all the apartment building tenants and convinced the landlord to fix the things in the building that have needed to be fixed for years. And I’mall for pitching in on a bake sale to do away with childhood hunger and participating in a walkathon to Save the Tigers. But when you start picketing the corner market because their produce is overpriced and slipping around in disguises to get videos of overworked carriage horses, I think you’ve gone a little off your rocker.” She tapped on the newspaper. “You’re lucky you didn’t wind up in jail.”
“Why should I go to jail when the driver was the one who attacked me?” Jenna said. “I only jumped up into the carriage to escape him and his friends.”
Sophia continued reading. “Well, either the driver was worried you were going to press charges or he didn’t want any more publicity about the horses. He calls what happened ‘an unfortunate accident’ and doesn’t say a word about the YouTube videos or you trying to steal his carriage. The entire article seems to be about this cute cowboy and his ‘near-brush with death.’ ” She held up the newspaper to show Jenna the picture on the front. A picture of a grinning idiot sitting in the driver’s seat of the carriage with the reins held loosely in one hand while he tipped his black Stetson with the other.
“I wouldn’t call an old, gray-haired cowboy cute,” Jenna mumbled and shoved in another bite of cereal.
Sophia took the newspaper back and studied the picture. “He has gray hair?”
Silver hair. Thick silver hair that glistened like a shiny new dime in the moonlight.
Not exactly sure where the thought had come from, Jenna shook her head to clear the image. “Do you recognize him? Do you think he’s one of Alejandro’s thugs sent to snuff me out?”
Sophia laughed. “Snuff you out? You and your wildimagination, Jenna. I seriously doubt that the Mexican Cartel would hire a rodeo cowboy to kill you just because you’ve decided to champion one of the neighborhood kids they hired to deal their drugs.”
“Miguel doesn’t deal drugs anymore,” Jenna stated. “After I got him a job busing tables at Herbs and Spices, he promised me that he’s sold his last hit of cocaine.”
“I hope you’re right, but kids who are involved with gangs and drugs don’t just give it up overnight.” She studied the picture. “So this cowboy was following you?”
“I veered off the path to make sure, and he followed right behind me.”
“Well, he doesn’t look like a mugger,” Sophia said. “Maybe he just thought you were pretty and wanted to get your number.”
It was possible, especially when he hadn’t made one attempt to harm her. Even when they wrestled, Jenna had felt as if he held back. His holds were firm, but not bruising. And when he finally succeeded in pinning her, there was a moment when his thumbs had actually caressed the pulse points of her wrists.
Just the thought of his warm, gentle fingers had Jenna’s stomach fluttering, and she ignored the last Honey-Comb and got up to carry her bowl to the sink.
“I better get going. I’m taking over Anna’s shift this morning.” Jenna rinsed out her bowl and placed it in the dishwasher. “You want to come over after I get off work? We can get take-out and watch a movie.” She turned around and
Sophia glanced up from reading the article. “Let’s define lunatic. A carriage driver who is trying to save his job? Or a woman who thinks she can save the world?”
Jenna spooned a bite of cereal into her mouth and munched on it. “I’m not trying to save the world. I’m just trying to bring people’s attention to injustices.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Sophia said. “I think it’s great that you organized all the apartment building tenants and convinced the landlord to fix the things in the building that have needed to be fixed for years. And I’mall for pitching in on a bake sale to do away with childhood hunger and participating in a walkathon to Save the Tigers. But when you start picketing the corner market because their produce is overpriced and slipping around in disguises to get videos of overworked carriage horses, I think you’ve gone a little off your rocker.” She tapped on the newspaper. “You’re lucky you didn’t wind up in jail.”
“Why should I go to jail when the driver was the one who attacked me?” Jenna said. “I only jumped up into the carriage to escape him and his friends.”
Sophia continued reading. “Well, either the driver was worried you were going to press charges or he didn’t want any more publicity about the horses. He calls what happened ‘an unfortunate accident’ and doesn’t say a word about the YouTube videos or you trying to steal his carriage. The entire article seems to be about this cute cowboy and his ‘near-brush with death.’ ” She held up the newspaper to show Jenna the picture on the front. A picture of a grinning idiot sitting in the driver’s seat of the carriage with the reins held loosely in one hand while he tipped his black Stetson with the other.
“I wouldn’t call an old, gray-haired cowboy cute,” Jenna mumbled and shoved in another bite of cereal.
Sophia took the newspaper back and studied the picture. “He has gray hair?”
Silver hair. Thick silver hair that glistened like a shiny new dime in the moonlight.
Not exactly sure where the thought had come from, Jenna shook her head to clear the image. “Do you recognize him? Do you think he’s one of Alejandro’s thugs sent to snuff me out?”
Sophia laughed. “Snuff you out? You and your wildimagination, Jenna. I seriously doubt that the Mexican Cartel would hire a rodeo cowboy to kill you just because you’ve decided to champion one of the neighborhood kids they hired to deal their drugs.”
“Miguel doesn’t deal drugs anymore,” Jenna stated. “After I got him a job busing tables at Herbs and Spices, he promised me that he’s sold his last hit of cocaine.”
“I hope you’re right, but kids who are involved with gangs and drugs don’t just give it up overnight.” She studied the picture. “So this cowboy was following you?”
“I veered off the path to make sure, and he followed right behind me.”
“Well, he doesn’t look like a mugger,” Sophia said. “Maybe he just thought you were pretty and wanted to get your number.”
It was possible, especially when he hadn’t made one attempt to harm her. Even when they wrestled, Jenna had felt as if he held back. His holds were firm, but not bruising. And when he finally succeeded in pinning her, there was a moment when his thumbs had actually caressed the pulse points of her wrists.
Just the thought of his warm, gentle fingers had Jenna’s stomach fluttering, and she ignored the last Honey-Comb and got up to carry her bowl to the sink.
“I better get going. I’m taking over Anna’s shift this morning.” Jenna rinsed out her bowl and placed it in the dishwasher. “You want to come over after I get off work? We can get take-out and watch a movie.” She turned around and
Similar Books
Coming Back To You
Donya Lynne
Benjamin
Emma Lang
Songs of the Dying Earth
George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois
Death Blows: The Bloodhound Files-2
DD Barant
Patently in Love
Rhoda Baxter
The Sudden Arrival of Violence: A Glasgow Underworld Novel 3
Malcolm Mackay
Off to Be the Wizard
Scott Meyer
Long Way Home
Neve Cottrell
The Bridge
Robert Knott