Breene, K F - Jessica Brodie Diaries 01 by Back in the Saddle (v5.0) Page B

from
the buildings or you lose your way, huh?”
    “Actually, yes. Exactly.” I really
did rarely get lost in the city. Out here, though, with all this space and no
ocean, it was a whole different world.
    A browner one, for a start.
    “Okay, you are pointed East... do
you want to write this down?”
    I realized I had been staring up at
him, trying to get a glance at his eyes again. I jumped into action, grabbing
writing tools and listening for instructions. As he gave them, I let half my
mind wander, just listening to his voice, feeling the cool breeze of the night
float by, which was a relief in the humidity. I noticed the color of the sun
splashing across the sky as it set, hearing flies buzzing past the cows, and
the smell of poop. Just taking it all in with him in it.
    On second thought, I could have
done without the poop smell.
    He finished up and I put away the
pen and paper. The cows had all moved on down the road and into the pasture.
    “Oh,” I said too loudly. Toning it
down quickly, I continued in a more subdued voice, “I wanted to give you money
for the groceries.”
    I certainly did not sound like I
had a high-dollar education.
    He chuckled. “‘Nite miss. See ya
again sometime.”
    He tipped his hat the way they do
in westerns and his horse started moving off the road.
    Oh...okay.
    Something about him made me giddy.
I hadn’t felt this way since I was ten years old and Timmy McNewland kissed me
by the monkey bars. That time, giddy quickly turned to anger when he made a
face and said, “ech!” Stupid little boys.

Chapter Four
     
    “You Jessica?” Asked a slightly
high-pitched voice out of a stocky man in his late forties.
    My new boss walked through the
spacious lobby of the office building, ignoring the receptionist bobbing her
head in answer to his question.
    “Yes.” I stood up and surpassed his
height by about three inches. I was wearing heals but still, his parents didn’t
do him any favors. Hopefully he was at least smart or funny.
    “Come this way.” He had a really
thick, slow drawl. From what I had heard so far, it didn’t sound Texan, but I
was no expert.
    I flashed a smile at the
receptionist who gave me a thumbs up, then rolled her eyes at Mr. Nash, my new
boss. Not a good sign. Still, giving him the benefit of the doubt, we passed
into the building through a big archway with crown molding. The inside was a
deep tan, almost honey color. There were plants and wall decor that made this
place look like a client’s reception room in a lawyer’s office rather than a
low-level office floor.
    What was it with me? I didn’t have
much--next to nothing, really--but everyone and everything around me seemed to
have money and an air of elegance or stateliness. I had a feeling I was being
set up by the cosmos for a big joke. A joke I wouldn’t find amusing.
    “This here’s yer desk.” Mr. Nash
gave the cube an impatient sweep of his arm.
    It was bigger than average, like
those around me, dark wood, which was actually hard plastic, with deep gray
cube walls. It had a phone from this decade, a MAC laptop (nice!), a ten key,
and shelving to hold personal as well as professional items.
    There were also a ton of drawers.
    “Right then. I’ll just take ya on
to the break room.”
    He led me through a maze of deep
gray walls, expensive paintings and potted plants to a room with a large wood
table, three microwaves, water cooler, two refrigerators, and all the other
stuff an office break-room usually has.
    Good first stop, I needed coffee.
    “C’mon,” He squawked, heading away.
    Geez. Give a gal a second.
    We walked down a corridor to the
restrooms.
    “The water closet for ladies is
here.” He shoved a tubby finger at the door with “Ladies Room” written on it. I
could have figured that one out, but said nothing.
    “Right. You think ya got it?”
    “Yup, got it. Thanks!” I smiled
jubilantly.
    “Hphm. Well, Jenny’s gonna be
trainin’ you here shortly. I expect that’s all I