Free Rodeo Blues by Karen Michelle Nutt Page B

off him. "It's been real nice catching up with
you," he said and purposely turned his back on him. Tye half
expected Jhett to jump him, but like most bullies, he was nothing
without his gang for support.
    A few seconds later, he chanced a look over
his shoulder to see Jhett shoving past a group of teens, "Get out
of my way," he said and didn't slow his long strides as he clipped
one of the guys in the group. The teen yelled a few obscenities,
but Jhett didn't look back. He was on a mission now, one called
Jolie Lockhart. His long strides were heading straight to the
fairgrounds and Tye could only guess, but he'd bet it was to
Jolie's booth. He should have rethought his words, but Jhett always
seemed to bring out the worst in him, and the last time they butted
heads, they'd almost had the same identical conversation. Only he
hadn't been so lucky back then.
    Funny no matter how many good things happened
in his life, the bad times always reared their ugly head and tried
to overshadow them. He could dredge up those days in a blink of an
eye – Jhett terrorizing him while his buddies helped. One night in
particular really got under his craw.
    After prom, he'd dropped Jolie off at home
with a smile on his face and dreams for a future that would never
come to be…
    Jhett and his friends were waiting for him
when he arrived at home. His father had been passed out inside and
was oblivious to his son getting the bejesus beat out of him.
    "What do you want?" Tye eyed the three boys
flanking Jhett, all football players with more brawn than brains.
By the smell of them, they'd been having a private party with Jack
Daniels.
    "I want you to stay away from Jolie Lockhart,
that's what," Jhett said, his words drawn out as if his tongue had
been stung by a bee and had swollen twice its size. "She's my gal,"
he spat.
    "Seems she doesn't know you laid claims on
her, Jhett, since she went with me to the dance."
    "Why you piece of scum. You're trailer trash,
trying to live it high with someone out of your class. You need to
be taught a lesson."
    "What? And you think you're going to do it?"
Tye chuckled and realized only too late he probably shouldn't have
laughed when he stood outnumbered. His gaze shifted to Sean
Partridge and Gunner Boggs standing behind Jhett with attitudes to
match their thick biceps.
    Jhett swung his fist, but Tye saw it coming
and ducked. Jhett whirled around hitting air and his friends
chuckled until Jhett threw them a lethal glare.
    "Don't just stand there," he ordered. "Grab
him."
    "Crap," Tye breathed, knowing he wouldn't
have a chance if the others joined in. He took a swing at Jhett. It
would probably be the only one he'd get. He heard the crack as he
made contact with Jhett's nose, who then screamed like a little
girl, high pitch and hysterical, until anger took hold. Blood
spurted everywhere, making Jhett madder than a hornet, searching to
sting someone's hide.
    Tye put up a good fight, but three against
one didn't give him much of a chance – a black eye, bloodied lip,
and two cracked ribs later, he figured he got off light. The
beating hurt less than the words did. He believed he didn't deserve
Jolie. The beating only reinforced what he already knew in his
heart.
    Yeah, some memories of Skeeter Blue weren't
so grand.

Chapter Fourteen

    Jolie placed the bills in the cash box and
handed the bag to the customer.
    "Jhett Reeves is heading our way," Whisper
said with a nudge.
    She followed Whisper's line of vision and
frowned.
    Whisper clicked her tongue. "My, oh my, he
doesn't look none too pleased, does he?"
    His lips were pursed and his brows were
knitted together as if they were trying to kiss. Not a flattering
sight for Jhett Reeves and normally he wasn't a bad looking guy.
Finally, he reached them at the booth with no how-do-you-do or anything of the sort in greeting.
    "Are you seeing that no good trailer trash
again?" he blurted out, making a couple at the booth turn their
heads toward them in surprise.
    "Do