Cowgirl Up by Ali Spooner Page A

him into her midsection, dropped backward flipping him over her body onto the asphalt, and then bounced up quickly to her feet. He regained his feet and approached her more slowly this time. A blow greeted him to his left jaw that dropped him to his knees. She landed a fast kick to the side of his head, which knocked him the rest of the way to the ground.
    A sheriff’s department cruiser slid to a halt as she started to walk away from Billy Ray. When her back was turned, Billy Ray climbed to his feet and started running toward her. Mary Leah cried out, “Behind you, Coal.”
    She swung around with a roundhouse kick and dropped him to his knees once more. A huge deputy rushed onto the scene and stood between them. “You need to calm down and go home, Billy Ray, before this lady decides to press charges,” he said.
    “That ain’t no lady,” Billy Ray said as he wiped blood from his mouth.
    “Lady or no, she’s got the best of you, so just go home or I will haul your ass in and throw you in jail.”
    “All right, Bobby,” he said and then moved to see past the deputy to glare at Coal. “This ain’t done,” he snarled at her.
    “Go, now,” Bobby said and pointed to Billy Ray’s truck.
    Billy Ray grabbed up his bag and stumbled over to his truck as the small crowd watched him go. Bobby turned toward her. “He sure doesn’t like you.”
    “The feeling is mutual,” she said.
    “He’s a dangerous enemy to have,” Bobby warned. “You can get a restraining order against him.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t need one.”
    “I see that you can handle yourself pretty well, but try to stay clear of Billy Ray if you can.”
    “I try to, Deputy,” she said.
    The small crowd was beginning to disperse as Bobby turned to Mary Leah. “Miss Mary Leah, it’s good to see you again.”
    “Thanks, Bobby; it’s good to see you as well. I see some things in this town never change,” she said as Billy Ray floored his truck and spun out of the parking lot.
    “Boys will be boys,” he said with a shrug. “Too bad that one refuses to grow up. Have a good day, ladies,” he said and tipped his hat before walking toward his cruiser.
    “Sorry about that,” Coal said as she rejoined Mary Leah.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Just some bruised knuckles. I’ll be fine,” she said as they followed the pharmacist into the store.
    “It is good to see you back,” the pharmacist said to Mary Leah. “I still have a spot open if you want to join our staff.”
    “Thanks, Tom, I will keep that in mind,” she said as she paid for the purchase.
    “Just let me know,” he said as they started to walk from the store.
    “So you’re a drug dealer?” she teased.
    Mary Leah laughed heartily. “Yes, I’m a pharmacist.”
    “Cute and smart,” Coal said as she opened the door. “I like that.”
    “Well, thanks ma’am.” Mary Leah smiled as they walked out the door.
    The ride back to the ranch turned out to be uneventful. “Thanks for taking me to town.”
    “My pleasure, ma’am,” she said.
    “I would like to make an ice pack for your knuckles, if you don’t mind.”
    “I don’t mind at all.”
    They walked up to the porch where Melissa was waiting. “Welcome back.”
    “Thanks, I’ll be right back with that ice pack,” Mary Leah said.
    “Ice pack?” she asked.
    “Billy Ray just can’t keep his big mouth shut,” she said.
    “And, I suppose you helped him out there.”
    “He said some ugly things to Mary Leah,” Coal said when she was sure Mary Leah was out of earshot. “Someone has to teach him how to respect women, especially those he doesn’t know.”
    “And, you are just the person to do that, right?”
    “I don’t go looking for trouble if that’s what you’re implying, boss, but I won’t tolerate disrespect.”
    “That’s not what I meant at all. Don’t forget I witnessed an interaction between you and Billy Ray.”
    “I’m sorry, boss.”
    Melissa chuckled. “No need to be. By the way, I put your