Free Just Joe by Marley Morgan Page A

just been talking with—Marion." There was still
an undertone of faint hysteria in her tone, and Joe's eyes narrowed
consideringly.
    "Freight's our nose
guard," he murmured solemnly.
    Mattie studied the
straight blade of Joe's nose carefully. "He's doing a very good job."
    Joe shook his head,
smiling. "Mattie, a nose guard doesn't—"
    But Mattie was bubbling
with laughter, her eyes gleaming. "Freight? You call him Freight?"
    Joe regarded her
incredulously. "You don't honestly think any of us are going to call him
Marion, do you?"
    Both Mattie and Joe turned
to study the huge six-foot-five, 265-pound linebacker hovering protectively
over the redhead.
    "Jen did,"
Mattie noted.
    "Jen is his
wife," Joe pointed out dryly.
    "Is this their first
child?" Mattie asked idly.
    "Good Lord, no! This
will be their fifth."
    "Their fifth!"
Mattie was incredulous. "But—but—" She gestured vaguely to the
couple. "He's fussing so."
    Joe regarded her oddly.
"He loves her, Mattie."
    "He loves her,"
Mattie repeated blankly, her eyes on the couple. She said nothing more about
Marion and Jen Dumbronkowski, but her eyes remained on them as she changed the
subject.
    "He wasn't going to
let me wait for you," she told Joe idly.
    "Oh?"
    Mattie nodded solemnly.
"He thought I was some football floozy out to break your heart."
    Joe smiled ruefully.
"We all kind of try to protect each other from them."
    "Are there many?
Football floozies, I mean?" Mattie repeated the words with relish.
    Joe answered carefully.
"A fair number, I guess."
    Mattie looked away.
"Do they—do they bother you much?"
    Joe shrugged.
"Quarterback is a glamour position. They want the thrill of being seen
with a football player. They don't want me."
    Mattie tentatively reached
out and touched his hand, and Joe's questioning eyes flew to hers. "Then
they don't know what they're missing."
    Joe smiled slowly, a
haunting light burned in his eyes. "Damn, you're something."
    Mattie drew her hand
self-consciously from his and squared her shoulders. "So, onward and
upward. Ready to go?"
    Mattie and Joe were
heading for Joe's cabin in the Hill Country. Joe had told her days ago that he
needed to go "winterize" the cabin, and Mattie had eagerly
volunteered to help. The Hill Country outside of Austin was one of the most
beautiful areas in Texas, and she wanted to see Joe's own little piece of it.
    "Don't expect
much," Joe warned her lightly. "It's just a weekend escape. Nothing
fancy."
    "Indoor
plumbing?" Mattie questioned hopefully.
    Joe laughed. "Indoor
plumbing," he agreed. "Let's go."
    When they drew even with
Jen and Marion Dumbronkowski, Joe stopped. Marion ceased scolding his wife long
enough to study Mattie suspiciously.
    "Joe!" Jen cried
welcomingly, placing a friendly kiss against his cheek. "It's so good to
see you. How have you been?"
    As Joe and Jen fell into a
lively discussion, Mattie's guileless gaze locked with Marion. She read the
distrust in his eyes, and a mischievous imp overtook her—fueled, no doubt, by
her feeling of safety in Joe's presence.
    Wrinkling her nose in an
unconsciously enchanting gesture, she surreptitiously stuck out her tongue.
    Freight's eyes widened for
one incredulous moment, then he burst into a roaring roll of laughter. It's
sheer volume startled Mattie.
    Joe and Jen broke off
their conversation to study the other two with friendly curiosity.
    "I guess you know
this one, huh, Joe?" Freight's voice rumbled out proddingly.
    Joe took the hint. Smiling
wryly, he made the introductions. "Sorry. Mattie, Fd like you to meet Jen
and Freight Dumbronkowski. Jen, Freight, this is my.. .friend, Mat-tie
Grey."
    Mattie didn't even notice
the hesitation, but Freight did, and his eyes sharpened.
    "You can call me
Marion," Dumbronkowski told her, holding her hand with a delicate
awkwardness.
    Mattie suddenly realized
that the knowledge of his own strength must have been hard learned and she
relaxed. After all, he had laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him,