Under the Stars

take them for a ride in either of the cars...but he has grown bored with this one I think...or if it was due
to Charles' accident - I'm not sure...” She nibbled her lip.

There was a little bit of hesitation “William...” then she paused for a breath before she continued. He
said friends talked about many things...that had to include family... Justin would not break her trust. She
could tell him anything. “We don't talk about things that happen, we just move on...it's more important
to keep a united front against the rumors, gossip and the possible tabloids and the lies they make up.
Some of them can twist the truth in very bad ways just to get a sale on a possible scandal, it's even
worse if they get pictures of it as well. It can be anything really, the best is usually other people’s
possible heartache, or blunders...” That said, Georgie knew that many in her family, like many others
enjoyed spreading rumors as well as reading the gossip as long as it wasn't about their own family.

“I guess that is why William...reacted the way he did...after we had been by the pond, if you remember.
It has always been very important to look good in the public eye. I had to learn several languages in
school for example, it...wasn't a question if I wanted to or not...but luckily, as you know...” she gave him
a soft smile “I love to learn...but I guess it made me lack in other skills, as my nose was stuck deep in the
books...” Another big bump in the road and she bounced about again, this time she had to put her arm
out so she didn't fall straight on him. She looked straight at him after she found her seat properly again.
She wiggled her finger as she gave him a small smirk. It wasn't really hard to guess what the reply would
be. “Are you doing that on purpose, Justin McBride?”


Justin tipped his head to one side then the other, hem hawing over the facts. "Yea, I guess that makes
sense and all...I didn't have none of that. Grew up in a nobody town from a nobody family. Ain't nobody
gonna look at Small Town, USA for anything interestin'. But yet right. Buddy of mine was tellin' me 'bout
all that scandal kind of stuff once I started gettin' up into the big money. What word of mouth can do to
a feller. Or lady," he gestured to Georgie. "Ain't right. Goin' about, nosin' in other people's business.
Good people. Makin' up a bunch 'a stuff. For what? So yet magazine or whatever sells a little more?" He
shook his head.

He looked over to her with a sad smile, "I don't mean to pity ya, Gerogie. But I do feel a lil' sorry for ya, is
all. For what ya gotta put up with since day one. Don't sound like my kinda fun."
He grinned a little more, revving the engine, "This, on the other hand," he revved it again, pulling up
onto the track. "The next bump ain't gonna be an accident," he laughed. "Buckle up, buttercup," he
winked. He pulled the harness belt over his shoulders. The kind of straps that made an "x" across the
body because things were gonna get bumpy.

Once belted in, Justin started off slower than any pro. He didn't know the beast all that well; what its
limitations were and he did have a lady in the truck with him. It tended to knock his bravado down to a
reasonable amount unlike just the boys. He let off the gas, going over the first bump, hollering a cheer
as his butt left the seat for a moment. He came down laughing like a little boy being tossed in the air. He
clapped Georgie on the shoulder like she had somehow missed it.

He was a little braver with the next hill, getting a little more speed up and caught a little air. Nothing
that would make a great show but for two that hadn't done it before, what a rush! It got a "Yeehaw!"
Out of Justin who hadn't stopped smiling yet! The landing was harder, the belts pulling them back into
the seats. Justin's laughter stuttered when he bonked his head into the window.

And then it just made him laugh more, rubbing his temple. He had learned to laugh pain off and a little
bonk on the noggin wasn't going to ruin his fun! He slowed a little bit to catch his breath, adrenaline
pumping through his veins. Meanwhile, he looked over to see if he had scared his passenger shitless yet
or not. Maybe bouncing around in a big ol truck with someone who had a bad accident in the past
wasn't their idea of "fun". He didn't want her to feel trapped if she wanted to leave. "Y'alright?" He
checked with a friendly, happy tone.



She had grabbed hold of the belt with both hands, that was no way of hiding that. Perhaps if Justin
would have kept his eyes on her, he would have seen how she held her breath as the car went over the
bump and flew even it wasn't near how high some could go. But when he asked her she shook her head
as confidently as she could. “Yeah, yeah it's just fine...” she then added a small smile “I...I just need to
get used to it, you know... Please Justin...just do what you would do with any of your other friends. You
don't have to treat me any different than them, I don't want you to do that...” She swallowed “I like to
see you having fun, because it makes me happy too, it...um...” she then halted her words. How old
didn't she sound by saying that, sort of like she would have been his grandmother or something. Her
ears felt burning hot all of a sudden and she could only assume her cheeks were blushing as well. She
looked down at her hands that still was grasping the harness belt. She tried to make the hold looking
less desperate. Like she wasn't holding on for dear life.

He was a gentleman. He cared for her feelings. Her wellbeing. There was no doubt about that. It didn't
matter that Justin was very impulsive compared to those around her but that was also what made him
so alluring to get to know. The corner of her mouth twitched a little but she didn't allow herself to smile
at the thought in her head. Would Justin know the word ‘alluring’ if she asked him that? Mentally she
then slapped her own fingers. No. She wouldn't do that.

Justin had said he didn't like books, and that he hadn't been that good in school but it would be wrong
of her to assume that just because of that, he wouldn't know things. If compared, Justin would perhaps
naturally due to the slight age difference between them, know much more than her. And he would
definitely be much better than her in many things. At least those things that really mattered. She knew
fancy words, but she didn't know the slightest thing about how to live like a normal person. Nor did she
know how to act or move around ‘normal’ people... What did it matter that she knew all the different
sets of utensils to use at a fancy dinner and in what order to use them if you didn't really know how to
live the ‘real life’ outside the gilded walls?

Lifting her head slowly, she took a deep breath. Her voice just shivered a little bit as she looked straight
ahead, her chin now stubbornly raised. Her eyes focused on something in front of them. “Just drive
Justin! This aint no real bull, but I got on a metallic one even if I was scared... I'm not a coward. Not of
things anyway... I'm not the type that back off just because something is...scaring me...at least I try to
be. I just...jump and hope I land safely on the other side!” She turned her head and looked at him. For a
moment she let herself just look. He made her smile. She trusted him that even if he had fun now,
driving the car fast, making it fly through the air. He wouldn't do something too crazy. “Drive like we
have a posse on our heels, caballero travieso!” It was for the most part true that she wouldn't back off
from something. It was really just her family she couldn't go against, not yet anyway. Perhaps she wasn't
as brave as she thought because of that. Justin would surely have left a long time ago.


He snorted, basking in her bravado. He had already figured out she used stubbornness to mask worry.
She couldn't fool him. But if it wasn't going to cause harm, there was no sense in going along with it. Just
as she thought to challenge his boundaries and got an eyesight of man meat, she'd get a little while
longer in the truck. She'd have to learn to man up or speak up. But maybe he'd be a little more
reasonable. Say as she might, treating her as one of the other guys just...wasn't possible. Call him sexist,
but he wasn't going to reach over and try to smack her balls that didn't exist for the childish humor of
making another "man" squeal. He'd rather not end up in prison for assaulting a woman. But the gesture
was appreciated.

He grinned, reached over and patted her leg, "Oi, oi, senorita. Dial it down, just a touch. If I drive like a
bat outta hell, I'll kill us both in this thing," he chuckled. Truth of the matter was, the thing wasn't his, he
didn't know how to drive it all that well, and couldn't afford to replace it or their lives if something bad
happened. Being responsible for his own stupidity was one thing, no one else had to get dragged into it
as well. "But I will drive like stole it," he winked and grabbed the wheel again.
Off they went again! Over the hump, down in a gully, over a squashed car which was one of Justin's
favorite bits. Destruction was fun in a controlled setting! Not that they could cause a whole lot more
harm to the already smooshed piece of metal. But the idea was there and for monster truck newbies, it
was fun! At least to Justin. He was brave enough to try doing a donut on a bare patch of the track,
jerking the wheel sideways, getting some drift on the massive wheels. But the track hadn't been treated
prior so the tires had a little too much grip. Justin felt the behemoth grab and it tip to the side. Not by
much but enough, he let the wheel go straight again and it lurch back how should be sitting on its tires.

He wiped his brow, blowing out his breath he had held, thinking of the expense that would have been.
At this point, he had been around the track several times already and had his fun. He looked over at
Georgie, letting the engine idle. "Hey, look, I didn't kill us, after all. Whaddya know?" He gave a thumbs
up and a cheesy smile. "Oh shit...were we supposed to be takin' pictures or somethin'?" That was the
whole point of going to the garage… Not that Justin felt bad one way or the other.

It had actually been fun - up to the point when she had felt the car tilt. It hadn't been for long and it
hadn't been much but...it was enough to trigger the memory. Her vice grip hold of the belt came back,
her breath a bit short and shallow...she closed her eyes as she expected the world to be turned upside
down. Instead the car just rocked back into its normal position. Her mouth felt dry. Slowly she opened
her eyes again. There was some tension in her shoulders and back. She had even pushed both her feet
against the floor like she had tried to brace herself against a possible impact. When she heard Justin's
voice she did relax a little bit and turned her head towards him. Look at him, only him, do not think of
the accident...focus on his face, his eyes...do not think of what have happened. Now is not then. You are
safe now. A shiver went through her body still. Justin was not scared...so why would she be?

“There is enough pictures for Jane to make her pleased, there is not really a need for more...she even
got herself a bonus-cowboy in one of the pictures...” Georgie swallowed, her cheeks felt warm again,
now at the memory of what she had seen. It hadn't quite been something she had been mentally
prepared for, that was for sure. The memory had her feeling a mixture of emotions. It had not been like
looking at the drawn human male parts in her biology book. Her heart was still racing so she put her
hand on her chest in hopes to calm herself down. It felt like the heart of a chased rabbit. She wasn't sure
if it was a lingering effect of the feeling of the car on the verge of tipping - or the thought of both Justin
and Sydney completely naked.

Tequila would not have that problem she guessed. Perhaps just an awkward feeling of seeing Sydney
lacking all his clothes. How would she feel if she saw Charles or William naked? Her father with no
clothes? Would she even be able to look at either of them again? And what about the reverse scenario?
A shiver went through her body as her mind went forward from the first thought. To have a man in her
family to see her was simply humiliating. But for a man, any other man, to see her with no clothes, what
then? How did one act if you didn't have any clothes at all? She would sink through the ground she was
sure of that! Suddenly she became aware that she had lost herself in thought and grasped at whatever
other thought that was close by in hopes he wouldn't be able to read thoughts.

“Perhaps you want some pictures for yourself though...to show your other friends...as proof of your
adventure I mean... I think I can ask Martin, the ‘boss’ of the garage to take one of the fancy cars out on
the drive so you can have a picture of it outside...so it looks more authentic than just inside the
garage...if you let me take it with your phone, you will have them on there straight away...” Georgie was
sure that would be fine to ask Martin that...since it wouldn't involve any of them actually driving the car
“I just say it's for Jane’s charity...” Diverting her thoughts completely in a one eighty motion in the other
direction from her memory of the accident helped. “Or...do you want to see the inside of the limousine
perhaps? I guess it's not as fun though...I remember that when I was little I thought it felt like being a
ghost. Perhaps it was due to the tinted windows or my imagination, you could see everybody else...but
they couldn't see you...they just knew you were there...”


"Aw, shucks, you ain't gotta give Jane the premier photo if ya don't wanna. Maybe you can keep that
one all to yourself," he winked. "'Cept Syd. She can have Syd's wrinkly ass." He said it with every bit of

knowledge there wasn't much room for wrinkles when he was swollen with muscles instead. But it made
him feel a little better to say since Sydney was just a sliver older than Justin. "You're my photo agent.
What you decide, I agree with," he smiled.

"But man, I sure wouldn't mind a picture with this big ol thing! Show the guys back on the circuit. They'd
be jealous," he chuckled. "Don't think the other cars are quite my style. They'd give me hell for weeks.
But ain't nobody gonna think a monster truck ain't cool!" He patted the steering wheel, quite ecstatic for
the opportunity. Which he should probably get it back before he did something he couldn't take back. It
was still in one piece and he wanted it to stay that way.

He drove slower on the way back, the adrenaline washed from his veins, he could relax. "I've been in
one of them limos 'fore. Wasn't mine or nothin'. Buddy of mine got one for his bachelor party. We
turned the back of that thing into a rolling bar." He laughed quietly, shaking his head. Good times. A lot
of strippers. Moxy. That was her name. He and Moxy got along quite well, he remembered. "It was
probably a good thing nobody could see into that pigsty. I feel bad for whoever has to clean those
things. You prolly ride in 'em all the time, don't ya? Goin' to them...what are they...like dinners and
sorts?" He didn't really know what they did. She had mentioned several things she was expected to do;
be all formal and perfect and whatever. A stark contrast to what Justin and his buddies did with the limo
they had. No suits or fancy dresses saw the inside of that limo.


It seemed her blush was fully functional again, and it was having it’s grand return with blazing colors or
the heat was at least still there. She was to say that she would be good as dead if anyone saw that she
had taken those types of images - and kept them. Her mouth was open to reply when she looked up just
in time to see his wink. A joke. Of course. He smiled and...for a breath or two she was lost again. He had
to be so aware of what his eyes could do...and in combination with his smile. It didn't matter that they
were friends...they still got her over and over again. Still she shouldn’t have taken the pictures in the
first place. She should have...just... “I will delete them Justin...” her voice sounded more sturdy than she
felt, even with thinking of the images she had taken of the two naked men, or what those images
showed. “I shouldn’t...have taken them in the first place. I should have said...I should have told you and
Sydney as sternly as I could to put your pants back on...but...” she swallowed, her eyes lowering
themselves...landing on his shoulder like a plump bird, then following his arm to his hands. “...but
I'm...I'm bad at telling people what to do... My father...especially...have said that I'm...” She halted her
words, hesitating again. Was it ok for her to complain? To say the words...but... Who could hear her in
here? It was just her and Justin. In some ways it was like she had been so used to being in a pasture
lined with an electric fence that even if it was removed - and the pasture was made larger - it was
impossible for her to go over the old perimeter because she remembered the painful zaps. “Let's say I'm
more used to do what I'm told...than to tell others what to do...” She watched his hand, the grip he had
on the steering wheel. Why did she keep looking at his hands? A sigh and she looked down at her own
hands instead.

“Those images, those you called ‘premium photos’ is not...something that would show the world
the...the...um, wonderful man that you are, Justin...” she said finally, after a few minutes of silence “Not
that the...that..uh...” she swallowed, just say it, you are not afraid of words are you? You are not afraid
of Justin either, just say it! “...they were, that there was anything to...be a-asha-” She was stumbling
over herself, the words, and she knew it...commenting meant she had to admit to him that...she
had...looked...even if it was just a little bit “...-med over...it was...very good...uh, or I...I guess but... “
Who was she to say something about a man's private part anyway? Justin and Sydney was the first real
ones she had seen... Sydney was scary man in some ways to begin with...and his body mass was the one
of a bull. She had done her best not to look in his direction so much. Georgie gave up trying to remove a
small mud stain from her leg at the same time as she did her best to get the words out.

It felt like he was grinning, it was like she could sense it without looking at him. “I just mean that... The
other photos shows it better...especially one of them, it's more of a...portrait picture...and you look
straight at me...I mean, the one looking at the image...and where it feels like...” she felt her cheeks glow
again, but she pushed herself forward, to continue “...like nothing else matters, except that moment...”
She continued to look down at her hands “...almost like one of these silly stories... Isn't that what people
really want...to be seen? To feel needed? That is what you want to read about in those silly books...” Her
mouth felt dry now. Her words, how silly they must sound. To not sound overly dumb she hurried
herself to speak up again “And it wouldn't be fair to Sydney either I think...he doesn't deserve it. Keeping
those images, I mean, it would horrible of me to...just let that type of images...to leave my hands... It
wouldn't be right...since I can't promise where that image would go...”

Justin mentioned the time he had been in a limo. She just nodded as she gave him some subtle glances.
A rolling bar? She wondered about the smile he got on his face, it was the type of smile you had when
you remembered something, a special moment. “I've just been to a bar once...with you and Sydney...”
She felt her cheeks get warm as she remembered, mostly the mechanical bull and the ride she had done
with Justin, his arm around her waist. She quickly looked down, hopefully he wouldn't know what she
had remembered or why she blushed.

Perhaps she simply blushed due to the shame, the fact that she shouldn’t have taken the images to
begin with. She had to do a proper excuse “I really am sorry for those...pictures...” she mumbled. Justin
had continued on speaking about the monster truck before going over to mention the more fancy car.
Perhaps he continued to talk because the whole with the nude photos was something he regretted
too...and wanted to forget about them... Yeah, probably, she shouldn’t mention them any more, just
delete them once she got back to the cart and the camera. She gave him another glance “I can take
pictures with you and the truck no problem if you want it on your phone. If you stop and turn back, I can
take a short video clip going through the course, so you have that as well? If you want to, that is? You
can go as fast as you want...you don't have to worry if the car gets a dent... William have given Martin
permission to drive it as he wants...so...”

A small voice inside her head asked why she was trying so hard, doing things for Justin, the trailer, the
horse, driving this car, but for that she had no reply. Perhaps it was how his smile, his laughter and the

way he looked at her as he laughed, how it made her feel. It was like looking at that photo. That she
managed to do something right for once. It was addictive and she wanted more of it...as much as she
could. Like he had said...it was luck that made their paths cross this weekend. Who knew when they
would see each other again... The thought made her feel sad. Like a lump in her chest.



She was a lot more torn up over those photos than Justin ever would be. What she did with them was
her choice, he had already made that clear enough. It just wasn't something that personally bothered
him. He never really saw pictures any deeper than what they were. The "feel" or "story" behind them
were lost to him without being there. The Grand Canyon was just a hole in the ground until he got to
actually see it for himself. (Just a bigger hole than he imagined). Maybe those that saw him and Sydney
naked next to horses would form their own stories like Georgie said. Maybe they just saw two weird
guys without pants. Justin saw poor Georgie about to explode on the other end of a camera. He doubted
he'd ever see anything else out of those pictures.

He shook his head, "Bah, I've got it all stored right up here," he tapped the brim of his hat. He continued
on his way back to the tent. He knew time was ticking down as well. He'd be saying his goodbyes before
too much longer. The road was calling, he already felt the itch he got when he stayed around one place
for too long. She'd be off for New York and he'd be off for Tennessee, maybe. Maybe go on to Virginia.
Who knew? Wherever the money took him. That's how he ended up in Kentucky, after all.

Justin threw the monster truck in park, back in its original space. "Ya know," Justin leaned forward,
turning his head to Georgie, not making a motion to get out of the truck just yet. He rested an arm on
the wheel, leaning his head on his fist, "Did you ever tell me what you planned on doin' once yer outta
here? I mean like...really outta here. Like, off on yer own? In the big free world of Georgie. What're you
shootin' for? You stayin' in the horse business? Or donkey," he added with a smile. "Or you got other
ideas? Like bein' a doctor or somethin'? Jus' curious."


Georgie sat in silence as they drove back. She wasn't sure what had changed just now. Glancing at Justin,
she thought he looked thoughtful, like he was at least mentally moving on elsewhere. Could she have
said or done something wrong? It had just been a suggestion. She nibbled her lower lip and looked down
at her hands, twiddling her fingers, not saying anything either. How many car rides in total silence had
she done over the years? Plenty...and enough to have her brain going on full mode troubleshooting,
trying to figure out what could be wrong. Besides...if one of the two in the car did not speak, there was
probably a reason, as William used to say. There was no need to talk about unimportant matters when
you could use that time to mentally prepare yourself for the next task that day. It was hard...but she had
given up on just...talking to William. At times she felt she didn't know her family at all, not the way a
family should know eachother. At other times it even felt like she didn't belong here - at all.

Justin parked the car and she was just about to open the cardoor and climb down after releasing herself
from the belt when he spoke again. For a moment she looked at him, trying to see if there was
something behind the question...like a reason. Slowly she shook her head ‘no’, at least she couldn't
remember if she had. “I would like to be a professional rider...a show jumper most of all...something
with horses...or donkeys...”

That was all she really knew, and she had honestly not thought so much more than that. She tilted her
head a little. As strange as it might sound, given that she practically had everything she needed for a
career right on her doorstep, none in the family have thought of her dreams of nothing but just that -
childish dreams. That she would grow out of it...just like she had outgrown those ‘silly’ circus dreams.
When she had ‘grown up properly’ she would do what the rest of them did. The fact that William had
asked Peter Crosby had taken her off guard. Even if he had seemed so against it, he still had asked...
What he had done or said she didn't know but she knew she wouldn't waste this chance.

A soft smile then came to her lips “A doctor? Do I really look like a doctor to you, Justin?” she couldn't
help but giggle at the thought. Then she hid her mouth behind her hand so he wouldn't think she was
laughing at him, even if she might - just a little bit. “Do I look like a ‘Dr Darcy’ to you? Or do you just
want a doctor friend for the next time the bull sits on you...” A small shake of her head. Not that she
wanted him to get hurt - far from it. “You probably need to be able to tell people what to do if you are a
doctor, to get them to listen to you. You will need to be able to give them injections, and maybe even
cut the skin with a scalpel. I don't think I would be able to do that...or know what to do if someone is
badly injured... That must be so horrible...not being able to help.”

Her hand went to the purple pendant around her neck, her fingers stroking the smooth surface of the
butterfly's wings. Justin had turned down her offer on money if he ever needed it...if there would be an
emergency of some sort. She swallowed. She wanted to offer it to him again, that her offer would
stand...just in case he got hurt...like really hurt... Her family had good connections, knew good doctors...
Her smile faded, she blinked and looked away from him. What if her thinking about it would make it
true? That he got hurt? Badly injured. She hurried herself to instead think about what Justin had told her
about his dreams...how he would win a big buckle, big enough to sled on...and how he would get his
friends to try and win it from him, just so he could do it all over again. He would be happy and safe. It
was better to think about that. As discreetly as she could she dried one eye with the edge of her finger
where she hadn't quite been able to stop her emotions from flowing over just slightly. She wasn't sure
why she felt so upset either... Justin didn't need her that way, to worry and hover over him. He probably
wouldn't worry the same way over her. Did men worry like that or was it a more female trait? She gave
the inside of her arm a pinch to help ‘sober’ her sad thoughts some and make them go away.

Was it weird for her to miss him already? To miss him in such a way to just thinking about him leaving
made her feel...sad? The way of her family came over her again, and she sat up a little more straight. A
Darcy didn't show their emotions like that. She remembered the first time she had to say goodbye to
her parents as the limo would drive her to the school. They wouldn't come with her. It had been hard to
understand, and it had been at least a week of crying every night. She had to stay there...and the books

became her friends. This was of course not the same, but in ways it was similar. She could only hope
that in some way...she would see him again some day. At the same time she knew it wasn't like she
would run into him by accident again. They didn't move in the same circles...


He smiled and nodded to her initial response. Probably just refreshing that someone else, like himself,
really hadn't thought much past what they were already doing as a future. Maybe they weren't meant
to have a plan. It only took one serious injury to put him out of the bull riding scene forever. It only took
something catastrophic in his family to make him make a decision to change his entire career path. One
of his flings turning into something a little more permanent on accident. Yeesh. It gave him goosebumps
to think about. Going by age, Justin was supposed to be the "wiser" of the two of them but he didn't
have a hold on his future either.

"Dr. Darcy has a nice ring to it, don't ya think?" He opened up his door and climbed down from the
truck. He helped Georgie down from her side too, "Yea, I don't think I'd be up for any of that. Blood and
guts don't bother me none. But they gotta do all that measurin' and schoolin'. Don't sound like my thing,
neither. Maybe I'd be better off tryin' music again. Ya know, when I scare off all my competition on the
circuit," he chuckled. "Can't make any money if there's nobody left to compete against, right? Don't
think I gotta worry 'bout that any time soon, though." It had been quite some time since he brought
home a first place. But that was the challenge and risk of the game. It was never guaranteed and as far
as he knew, it was never that easy to achieve.

He pulled out his phone, flipping to the camera and handing it to Georgie, "One last picture? Me and the
big girl?" He grinned, backing up the giant tire so the full scale of the monster truck could be seen and
appreciated. What a ride.


The cowboy received a smile as thanks for helping her down. “Perhaps we make the perfect doctor
team? I mean if you do the blood and guts bit - and I do the measuring and schooling bit.” She looked
down, and smirked a little then deciding she could try to joke again...even if she hadn't done so well on
it before. Practice makes perfect? Besides...when Justin left there wouldn't be anyone around here she
would dare to try to joke with anyway. “Do I dare to ask though...I guess you are good with CPR?”
Georgie gave him another smile, it was a bad joke.

“Producing music would fit you too, I think...having concerts and what not...” She tilted her head “It is a
similar go-around lifestyle like you have now, I would guess...probably something that would fit that
nomad spirit of yours...” Georgie brushed off her pants with the palms of her hands, making sure
everything looked ok both on the front - and as far as she could tell - on the backside as well. Even if she
knew she hadn't done anything that would make a mess, aside from the slip in the garage, one never
knew. Given it was usually Martin and his friends driving the monster truck they could have brought dirt
in. It wasn't because she was vain either...it was just something she had been brought up doing. Always

check yourself. Never give an excuse for people to comment on flaws in your clothing. Even at home she
did it, almost like an OCD tick.

Justin got another smile and a nod as she took the phone from him. She took one normal image and
then she went down on her knees, taking an image from more of a ‘frog level’ that made both Justin and
the car looking much larger. She handed over the phone after making sure it was an ok picture. “Now
you have something to show your friends...” Her fingertips touched the warm skin of his palm. She
didn't mind the slight rough feeling of them, not when his hands were always kind. “I really hope you
liked your stay at Pemberley, Justin...that the room was ok...the food...and of course the competition
itself...” She looked down at her feet “Even if I made a fool of myself at first...I was happy to see you
and...it's sad to see you go...even if I'm going away too...I will really miss you...a lot...” There...she said it
even if she knew that she probably should have been quiet about that. Words, more or less spoken, that
in her books made a woman sound clingy, or thereabouts.


Justin did get a snort and a grin out of the CPR joke, totally agreeing with it and choosing not to pursue it
further with a gynecologist joke with a lady present. Might set the creep-meter off. Instead, he sidled up
to the truck for his picture, looking proud of himself next to the behemoth. "Sounds like yer finally
gettin' to know me, miss Georgie." He couldn't agree more, fully aware of his inability to stay put. It was
in his blood. Fun most days, a curse others.

He glanced at the photo, happy to have something to send the guys later. He stomach tightened a little,
remembering he still had to delete Jarin's ass off his phone. It was probably how Georgie felt about the
nudes on her camera right now. Just a feeling of unease. He was so thankful Georgie hadn't flipped back
too far in the gallery even though she might have had a full view of it earlier that morning anyway.

He smiled and pocketed his phone before too much was seen. "Shoot, I ain't got no complaints. Didn't
do too bad on yer all's bulls. Got ol' Syd to ride mah horse which is a monumental occasion, even got
him outta his clothes, my dreams come true." He chuckled, shaking his head. "On top of all that, I wind
up with a chick magnet horse and a trailer with the most handsome man on this planet on the side of it.
I'd say I've had one helluva weekend here, miss."

He swung an arm over her shoulder, giving her back a pat, "Ain't so sad. Jus' the way we roll. Can't keep
us in one spot too long, right? You've got dreams to go after jus' like I do. That's excitin'. I'm excited for
ya. Big ol' city, sounds fancy, can't pass up that opportunity!" The life Justin was used to. Seeing the
people he called his friends on the circuit once in a while. They didn't all travel the same circuit exactly.
He might go months without seeing one of them, only to run into them in a little nobody town. He had a
lot more practice at it than Georgie so he was a little more desensitized to the idea.

"Besides, word is 'round here, y'all put on these shows more often than I knew." He grinned, "Who's to
say I don't just wander on back here? Who's to say you don't just happen to take a lil' break from your
trip in New York for the holidays?" Justin had finally flipped through that show brochure. Of course,

there was advertising and a schedule for future Pemberley events to get contestants to come back. The
money was good even if he didn't place high. And if he planned his trip just right, he may be able to
swing in for the winter event. No wink this time, he was completely serious.


She tried to smile but she still got that sad feeling like when she had been left at the school. Odd in one
way perhaps because she hadn't really known Justin for that long. Neither did she really know the small
things about him. Yet he had impacted her life more than he probably knew. The corner of her mouth
did twitch a little, upwards in a lopsided smile as he mentioned the trailer and the image of him that was
on it. She nodded. The horse was pretty, she couldn't deny that and the trailer had come out looking
very professional. Hopefully, it would help him in one way or the other.

When he put his arm over her shoulder, she allowed herself to put her thumb through the belt hoop on
the opposite side, and just slightly leaned onto him. Perhaps it was selfish of her but Justin had given her
like small snippets of how it was like to be close to someone. A hug wasn't something she was used to
be getting - or giving - it was still very new to her. At least when it came to hug another human being.
The sideway ‘hug’, if it could even be called that, hadn't lasted more than perhaps two or three steps
before she let him go. Mostly just in case he thought she was invading his space. He was right that they
both had dreams...and to reach them you had to let go of the familiar, but that didn't make it easier.
Even with all the things she had here, that by the looks of it, should have given her ‘everything’, she had
come to the conclusion the problem was her family...and all the ‘secret’ rules she had to live by. Perhaps
some of what Justin had said had made her firmer in the knowledge she had to leave one day, even if
she loved this place. Perhaps the rules was what made her ‘weird’ to some people.

Justin was given a small hip bump, or it was at least an attempt from her side to make one of those,
perhaps it was more of a ‘hip nudge’ more than anything. It wasn't like she had the shapes of, let’s say,
Tequila Bannon. “Justin, you make it sound like I will be jumping over the Statue of Liberty or dashing
across the Madison Square Garden or something...” The later made her giggle, like they would ever have
horses in New York City arena itself, it was for concerts mostly, and perhaps hockey or basketball. “The
stables are in Harrison, it's more in the outskirts of New York City than in it...” She gave him a glance.
“...jokes aside...I don't need anything fancy... Fancy things don't really make you happier, trust me...nor
does it give you more friends...not real ones anyway. I learned that the hard way...and it hurt... That's
why...you are special.” She gave him a small smile.

Once more, she repeated to herself that he had asked her to be honest with him, and she tried to be
that even if she felt that perhaps her words was too cheesy...maybe even dumb. The only thing she
would be careful about, she had decided after seeing how he responded, was to mention ‘George’ and
how he, at first, had been her only ‘friend’. Justin had reacted...strange then. And she had felt like she
had been...a freak almost. She wished there would have been a way for her to talk about him...because
nobody in her family even seemed to care that he had existed at all. She wasn't even sure there was a
tombstone for him, at least she had never seen one. That was a strange thing, especially since there was
one for all the other Darcys that had lived at Pemberley.

“There is a saying that I read in one of my books once...it went something like this: ‘Good friends are like
stars, you might not always see them, but you know they are there’...” She didn't dare to look at him
now. It was sappy maybe, but it felt like a nice thought to her...everybody could look at the stars, no
matter where you are in the world, they were all the same. “If I feel lonely or sad when I'm in New York
or elsewhere, I can look up at the stars and think of you...and maybe, just maybe...you will look at the
same stars...and then...it would be like we are watching them together...sort of like friends watching the
clouds...and making out figures out of them...”



Justin tipped his head side to side, mulling it over, nodding. He ruffled his beard and smoothed it back
out again. "Yea, that makes sense, I think. We all get burnt by the same sun and go skinny dippin' under
the same moon," he chuckled. "Even if yain't in the fancy part of New York. And even if I'm still eatin'
dust."

He smiled and brought her right back into his side, pulling her up against him again like a yo-yo. He could
tell she was still being that prim and proper lady, being all polite and whatever. Justin had no such
boundaries for physical contact, being pure and playful, not foul-play. He ruffled her hair enough to
mess it up and get in her eyes. Okay, now he was being a little ornery. "Ey, I got good news though. At
least we ain't as far apart as stars are, right? You'd tell me if you planned on goin' to space, right? Cuz' I'll
be the first to sneak on that ship. Always wanted to see what zero gravity was like!" He laughed.

He kind of helped to sort her hair back to the way it was, really not helping much other than patting it in
place again over his chuckling. "Ya know, we got a sayin' in the bull pen too. Ain't near as cute as stars or
nothin' but it's a comfortin’ thought, 'specially if you do that jumpin' stuff. Might just be you and the
bull, or in yer case, yer ride in the ring. Ain't gotta be scared of fallin'. The ground will always be there to
catch you." He chuckled, shaking his head. It wasn't near the same sentiment value as what she was
aiming at but she had somehow flipped his maturity meter off. “See? Ya got more friends than ya ever
knew!”



She couldn't help herself. Her mind went there, and given the wide range shown of what was the
personality of Justin McBride, perhaps it wasn't all her fault that it did. He had tossed her into the pond
with the clothes on after all, the opposite of skinny dipping. She should probably be happy for that. The
blush crept up her neck again. It was a good thing he hadn't dropped all his clothes then. She wasn't
sure why he had in the first place, but a part of her almost wished she...could relax in the same way
Justin did...like all of them seemed to be able to do. Not that she would have taken her clothes off! She
was even a little wary to do it in front of other women, afraid they would look at her body, then
eachother with that special look in their eyes. Justin was a caring man, she knew that, but at the same
time he didn't seem to fear much. Perhaps that was something that came with what he did for a living.

Her shoulders sloped a little. When she tried to ‘relax’ and act like them, everything just went south
and...just became all wrong. If she spent time with them...more time...maybe she could learn to be her
version...it would be less of ‘them’ and how they acted, but at the same time - hopefully - less of who
she was here. Like an in between. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so out of place.

Caught in her thoughts she wasn't prepared for Justin's pull nor protect herself against him ruffling her
hair. A squeak and a ‘J-Justin!’ came from her though before she got hair in both her mouth and her
eyes. He sort of helped patting it down again but it was quite a mess. Naturally her hair had soft locks
and they loved to get tangled. “Oh Justin, you...” she began as she tried to get it lay a little better, but
she wasn't angry with him. Was there even a female in this world, aside from his mother, that could stay
mad at him when he looked at you with those ocean blue eyes and a smile that made them glitter like a
thousand diamonds? She paused then she shook her head, “I don't plan to fall off...I need to stay on
longer than eight seconds...” a smile than came to her lips “I aim for the stars, Justin...even if I just might
end up in the treetops...” A part of her wished he could get to feel how it was...but at the same time she
knew he wouldn't try, not even a little bounce jump. Or knew, she could only guess of course but Justin
was a man who knew what he wanted - and didn't want. He didn't seem to worry much about anything -
not like her.

Still worried any touch would be ‘too much’ she simply put her hand lightly on his upper arm. Despite
that light touch she could still feel that the fabric of his shirt felt soft under her fingers, and how his arm
felt warm under it. Almost like a firm teddy bear if there was such a thing. “Be careful what you wish for,
Justin... One day your pumpkin might turn into a spaceship instead of a carriage...” She dared to give
him a playful wink. It was a classic story, the one about Cinderella and her fairy godmother. Georgie
might not have a magical wand or a catchy tune...but she could perhaps make magic in other ways, and
if it was for a friend like Justin...she knew she would take to pulling in any contact she had to make him
happy.


"Fair 'nough," he said with a smile. Sure, staying in the saddle was the main agenda. But that wasn't
always the result. Even off bulls, a squirrely horse or a tumble caught Justin off guard every now and
again. But he did make a living off getting thrown into the treetops, so to say. Made him start to wonder
what the next rank bull or bronc would be like in a couple days time. The itch was there, he could feel
the tingle in his hand.

He looked back down at her, pulling away from his thoughts before the adrenaline kicked in and he
wouldn't be able to walk as slow to keep up with little legs beside him. "Hey, I'm jus' sayin' a spaceship
would be one hell of an upgrade from a pumpkin. Yer not buyin' me a spaceship," he chuckled. He had
caught on about her spending habits by now. Honestly, she just might if he hadn't said anything. "Don't
think there's any profit of rodeos in space these days. Although, maybe, someone just has to get it
started." He reached for his pocket, feeling a buzz from his phone. An alarm he had set that was
intended to alert him when he really should start packing up. Three horses, a new trailer to sort out, he
had a lot of work to do before he'd be on the road again.

He dismissed the alarm and pocketed it again, "Ey, you want me to come with you to give Jane those
pictures. The good ones, of course," he grinned. He could, at least, finish the task he had started. He had
insisted on it to begin with.



A soft giggle, hidden behind her hand “I promise I will not buy you a spaceship...” she said as she made a
cross sign over her heart. The smile on her lips, caused by the giggle, faded just a little as she saw him
take out his phone to look at it. While she didn't know what he had looked at or why he took his phone
out in the first place, the motion reminded her again. He was leaving. A deep inhale. She shook her
head, mostly at herself, she knew how to hide her emotions. She could be sad later. Then she gave him a
glance, and made her smile a little warmer. “Just be extra careful if you stumble across any bull or
bronco named anything space themed...you might get that space travel you want - without a
spaceship!”

At his question she shook her head. “It will take a little time to get to where Jane is at... I think I will
just...mail them to her. Then I don't have to face her friends. Jane is nice...mostly, but her friends...”
Perhaps it was a little bit on the paranoid side but she still felt the need to glance over her shoulder.
Pemberley was safe, and the staff had gone under very thoroughly checkups and knew what would
happen if they spread anything about the family. “...they aren't nice at all... if I should be honest with
you...” She gave him another glance, with him she could be just that...even if it was something she
wasn't used to yet. He would never betray her trust, she could feel it. “...gossiping hags most of
them...but I guess that is what you do if you don't have anything else to do with your time... Sweet as
sugar from afar, but are more like vinegar when you get closer...”

The thought of those photos that he had referred to made her feel a small tingle. She had to delete
those, for his sake - and hers. What would happen if anyone else but her saw them?! How would she
even explain that? Just thinking about it made her feel a little flushed. One of the flaws she guessed with
having a good memory. Even if the first shock of it all had sort of blacked out it at the time, she
remembered more and more of it now. Goodness, how would she be able to look at Sydney again?
Georgie looked away, as she tried to sort out her thoughts, those thoughts of the photos especially.
“They expect me to do something similar as Jane when I'm grown, that's why I have helped her...so I get
the hang of that sort of thing... Even if the causes are good and everything...I just can't see myself doing
that...endless meetings and forcing myself into...tight dresses and shoes...” A shifting glance, Justin was
a guy...he probably liked those tight dresses “They are horrible to wear...you are always judged...and the
thinner you are the better...that's why I like my riding clothes better... It's not the same then...”

Why was it so easy to talk to him? Perhaps it was the fact that he actually listened...and didn't just
pretend that he did. But would he understand...why you stuck your fingers down your throat? No
matter what the reason was? Probably not. She couldn't risk him looking at her or reacting the same as
when she told him about George. She was well aware that it was weird...stupid. At least she couldn't tell

him now. Not when he was about to leave. She nibbled her bottom lip. “Maybe I can help you
instead...if you let me that is...”


Justin didn't understand the whole skinny craze women went on about. But he damn well knew better
than to stick his foot in it. He was a guy. What did he know about anything? Time and time again, he was
schooled that his opinions really didn't matter since men didn't have some standard like women. Tried
to make the argument of men having to be fit, tall, tanned, with a massive dong. But that didn't go over
well either. Even the less argumentative girls just flat out didn't believe him anyway. ‘You're just being
nice.’ ‘You're only saying that to make me feel better.’ ‘You'd rather have some super model if it was a
choice.’ So...he just kept his mouth shut rather than feeling like an emotional tissue for them to blow
their nose on and throw away.

He had to think quickly if he wanted her to come help him pack up. His instinctive reaction was denying
help as a gentleman. He wasn't going to make her do his work. And he really didn't need any help.
Packing up was his livelihood. He had a system. But then she probably just wanted to stay near until he
truly had to leave. She had said time and time again.

It did make him feel a tinge of anxiety. Only briefly. The kind he felt the morning after a slammin' one
night stand and the beautiful woman rolls over, sleep in her eyes, a smile on her lips, muttering, ‘Leaving
already?’ That gut sinking feeling that he had gone too far and they were expecting more out of him.
Sometimes followed by awkward looks and frowns, a sad look, pouty sometimes. The more aggressive
ones called him every ‘son of a bitch’ under the sun, letting him know just how worthless he was. The
worst ones were the guilt trippers. The ones with a kind smile but poison in their words. He feared the
feeling of being trapped more than any bull's horns or bronc's kick.

That's not what Georgie was getting at, he knew that. But his conditioned response filled the silence
before it became something it wasn't. "Let's see… think all I got left to do is pack up. I got that all under
control. See, I got a method to my madness; a system of sorts. Once I get it goin' I can't stop ‘til it's all
done. I'm used to packin' quick and a certain way. Call it my one thing I get a lil' touchy over," he laughed
out of pity for himself. He preached about his free spirit, yet when it came to sorting his livelihood,
that's where he chose to be precise and controlling, almost superstitious over it if something was put in
the wrong place.
Jerk.

Just as he was trying to counteract one feeling, the other reared up to criticize his actions. He was
supposed to be a friend. Even though he didn't necessarily make it a habit to be quite so close to his
other friends. She meant no harm. And she clearly took it harder about the length of time separated.
Whereas Justin embraced the distance, it didn't sit the same with Georgie. And as a friend, he ought to
have a little more respect for how she felt.

"How 'bout ya give me like...forty five minutes, I’ll get all my stuff sorted fast as lightnin’! Then you can
meet me out where my lil’ horse ya got me is and I’d be honored if ya’d load him in mah new trailer for
me. It’d be like a wright of passage,” he smiled, hoping that made him sound a little less of an ass. Or
maybe more of one, possibly. Way to go out in flames, Justin. Welp...he wasn’t perfect.



“It's fine...” she said, because it was “I understand. There are plenty of riders in the show jumping
community that need to have their things a certain way when they pack, some items even has to be
packed by the riders themselves and not the grooms. Some are sure it will mess things up if it is done or
packed in a different order than normal. I've heard that some grooms had to put on the horses leg
wraps in a certain order or else the rider thought the horse would knock down all the poles. I guess it's
similar to some baseball or hockey players - they have some superstitious traits on how things are done
or what to wear, sometimes for a streak of several weeks for that extra bit of luck.”

They had reached the cart and she got herself seated. She would drop the key to the monster truck in
the slot as they passed by the garage office. “I can groom ‘Mark’ and put on his travelling gear if you
want...I mean, that is what I'm supposed to do anyway at Crosbys.” She gave him a smile, thankful for
that he actually wanted her help. In all her books and in the movies she had seen, friends helped each
other. “That way you don't really have to do it when you get where you are going, you can just put him
in the stall. He was recently looked over by the farrier too and it should be alright. He has really good
feet by the looks of it.”

It was of course hard to be sure, but it was something in the air around Justin now, almost like those
thoroughbreds William had, especially the young ones before they got shipped off to race somewhere.
On their toes and eager to go. As she dropped the key, she smiled at the imagery in her head. Justin as a
thoroughbred, that would be something. Kind but with a super strong will to win, to be first over the
wire. Georgie glanced at the man at her side. Probably would be of the more sturdy size more that those
almost grey hound like ones that was more legs than anything else. She had to smile a little more as she
somehow drifted in on the thought of Sydney. It was hard to picture him as a horse breed as light as
usually the ferrari of the racing world usually were. No, Sydney was probably more like...like a draft
stallion, like a giant shire perhaps. What would she be? A donkey? Her smile faded slightly. Did Asthor
ever feel lonely without another donkey to keep him company?


Sounded a lot more fancy treatment than any of his other horses ever got. They just got loaded with a
haynet, nothing else but a halter on them and the mat below them. They did just fine that way. It was
the rustic life he knew. Before then, he even used to haul them already saddled to show up at a
competition just before the class was going. One too many stirrups getting hung and torn off the saddle
to do that anymore. Plus, he upgraded to a tack room since. But he wasn’t going to deny the stud colt a
final shot of high quality maintenance. He was in for a culture shock with the change of hand.

“Aight! Forty five minutes! I’ll bring the chariot around, m’lady!” He grinned and hopped out of the cart
back at the rooms they were staying in. First thing first, Justin gathered up his belongings from the room
he had stayed in. He'd miss the nice mattress, definitely an upgrade from his cheap stays. Always beat
the back of his truck. Not that he would tell the missus that.

With his own things thrown in the back of the truck, he just had to sort how he was getting his old trailer
home. He couldn't haul them both. He wasn't going to leave it either. He hunted Sydney down earlier
and no avail there since Jarin couldn't drive, shouldn't drive, and didn't have a truck to drive anyway. But
Sydney said something about Tequila getting a ride with a guy they both knew well; Wadash. Or,
formally known as Wade Ashley.

A gruff guy, not near as stone solid as Sydney by attitude but certainly looked like he could be related.
He sat around the six foot mark but was just as broad as an ox. Dark muted black hair with grey starting
to streak in his bushy beard. Tanned hide from working in the sun his whole life. More noticeably a scar
just under his eye that ran along his cheek bone. He, too, had his fair share of mars left from the bulls he
tangled with. He was more into the raising cattle side of things but hauled for others as well if his paths
crossed.

There was no missing him, strapping down spare haybales in the back of the truck and trailer. "Ey,
Wade, how's it goin'?"
Wade glanced up from the ratchet strap and paused, "Howdy, Jus. Heard ya fared aight out here for
yerself."
Justin leaned on the opposite side on the truck bed, "Not too shabby. Actually, I picked up a new rig
while I was here."

Wadash whistled and went back to tightening the strap, "Rich blood gettin' in yer veins there, Jus?” He
always figured Justin was the type to get sucked into the limelight. Be blinded by glittering gold and all
that.
Justin scoffed laughably, “Nah, you know I ain’t spendin’ that kind of money. Not on myself. Good friend
of mine hooked me up.” Justin moved passed the suspicious eyebrow, “Anyway, I was needin’ a hauler.
Haul my old wagon back south. Hear yer takin’ QuiQui, was wonderin’ if ya knew anybody headin’ that
way that could pick it up.”

Wadash paused, taking a quiet moment to think it over. He tied off the strap and leaned his elbows on
the truck. He shook his head, “Naw, I don’t think I do. Yer boys are all chasin’ East. Ain’t due south in
months.”
“Well, shit. If there was anyone I thought could-”
“What y’all talkin’ ‘bout?” Tequila waltzed over, looking curious. “You comin’ back home, Jus?”
Justin shook his head, “Naw, I was tryin’ to squeeze ol’ Wadash out of a ride for my old trailer. I need to
keep on East.”
“Who’s East?” she asked matter of factly.

Wadash looked to Justin to handle that one. He had a smirk on his lips though. One of the perks for
hauling for Tequila. Justin had snorted immediately. “The direction. Headin’ to Virginia then North
Carolina.”
“Oooohh...hey, I know! Why don’t Wadash take your trailer and my new lil’ horse back home. I ain’t got
time to be usin’ him just yet. I’m headed the same way! I’ll ride with you, Jus!” Problem solved as far as
she was concerned.
Justin wasn’t sold immediately on the plan, “But I already got a full trailer-”
“So kick some of them home! You got that youngin’. You ain’t gonna use him on the circuit, Jus. He can
go home with mine.” Tequila wasn’t sugar coating anything.

And, well, she wasn’t wrong. But...he sighed. Gerogie thought she’d be loading his new trailer with his
new horse. He could just have him loaded up regularly, and swap further down the road. But that felt
shady. Ah, well, he was on a roll today. “Aight. Wadash, that aight with you?”
Wadash shrugged. Didn’t matter who or what he was hauling, so long as he was gone within the hour.

That hadn’t gone how he expected it to. So, it was a bit odd to roll up with the new trailer behind his
truck and park to meet up with Georgie. And then the much older truck and trailer came rattling behind.
Wadash pulled much closer to the barn, throwing the truck in park and stepping out with his gloves
ready.

Justin hopped out, waving Wadash down. The man would load just about anything be it tame or feral.
Justin flagged Georgie down, understanding how confusing the situation must look with it going from
just him to the ever-so voluptuous Tequila and now a burly stranger. “Heeeey, bit change of plans. Ol’
buddy of mine’s gonna take lil’ Mark back home for me where he can get all settled in for when I make it
back home where I can work him.”

Tequila crashed into the back of Justin, peeking from behind him with a grin, “Hey, lil’ sis! He’ll be ridin’
with my cutie!” The little silver grullo was already tucked in Justin’s old trailer. “Back to Texas!”
Wadash was already behind the trailer, opening the doors up and ready to get this done with. It didn’t
need to take a ceremony to get a horse on a trailer.


Even if Justin wouldn't see it until he removed the blanket and the legwraps, the horse was almost
glowing like polished brass, well if a bay and white horse could glow like polished brass. Georgie smiled
to herself. A last little gift. She heard the sound of a truck outside and took Mark out from his stall, then
as she came out the door of the barn she spotted Justin, and she smiled. But then she stopped in her
tracks. Justin wasn't alone. A confused blink. She looked from Justin, to Sydney's sister that had popped
up behind Justin like a jack-in-the-box to someone that she first thought had been Sydney himself
but...then realised it was just another man built almost like a belgian blue.

Mark snuffled her hand as he waited by her side. He was an easy loader. Of course she hadn't quite
expected for Justin to just pop onto the horse winning everything. It was like a relationship - she guessed

- you had to get to know each other first. Still she wasn't sure what to think of this. Her eyes went back
in opposite order from the burly man, to Tequila, to finally land in Justin blue pools again. Her fingers
twiddling just slightly with the horses lead. She wasn't sure what to say, it wasn't really her call either on
what to do. Mark was Justin's horse. Justin could do whatever he wanted with him. “Oh...ok...” God,
how stupid she sounded. Could anyone give less of an intelligent reply?

Not knowing what else to say she instead turned and led the horse back to Justin’s old trailer. Hopefully
it would give her thoughts a little time to gather themselves. She gave the other man a shy smile. She
took note of his looks, dark hair, a rather bushy beard slightly tinted by grey. A scar on his cheek stood
out on the tanned skin of his. He seemed to take note of her, perhaps there was a subtle nod, Georgie
wasnt sure. He seemed to make a motion to take the horse but she told him she could do it herself.
Another horse was already there and Mark nickered to the other. It made her smile. She allowed herself
to say goodbye to the horse, even if she knew the horse would not miss her at all. She leaned her
forehead just for a moment on his neck as she gently patted his nose. “Be a good boy...” she whispered
“Trust Justin...he will never put you in harm's way...be alert and focused...” Before she stepped out of
the trailer she gave the other horse a pat too, so it wouldn't feel left out. She didn't care if the others
thought of her as weird.

Before she stepped out completely from the trailer, when her back was still turned towards them she
took a moment to ‘toughen up’ so she wouldn't look sad. It would not help anything. It would not
change things either. This was simply something she would have to get used to... Perhaps she even
should have been used to it by now. A deep breath and she turned around and stepped out, she gave
the burly man another smile and a nod as she passed him. The loading hadn't taken more than a couple
of minutes, hardly anything to complain about she hoped. Nothing sloppy or sentimental. She had
learned to be effective at Crosbys. Effective but without being careless, and without rushing the horse.

She looked down at the ground until the toes of Justin's boots came into view. There was a little lump in
the back of her throat but she pressed it back down again. Her thoughts were still here, there and
everywhere. She wasn't sure what she felt really. ‘Be a Darcy, be a Darcy...’ she repeated to herself ‘Suck
it up!’ William said it was better for business not to feel anything. It was simply business. But Justin
wasn't business...he was more...he was her friend...

“So...” she shifted, weighing a little back and forth on her feet, still her eyes on the toes of his boots
“...drive safe, take care...and all that...Um, I hope...that the bunk bed in the trailer will be ok...” Georgie
almost added the hint on the bottles she had stashed in the trailer when she noted the other two in the
corner of her eye. She could not even able to mention the fact that she had snuck down to Williams
private cellar to get it. No...he would have to discover that on his own...especially the hidden ‘stash’ one
in the top bunk. Hopefully. Georgie subtly gave Tequila an extra glance. She got the feeling that Ms
Bannon was to go with Justin but she wasn't sure. Sydney's sister...was special...and Tequila had said
that Justin had been interested in her.

But that was none of her business. It could also be that she was completely wrong about it as well. It
wouldn't be the first time. Besides...Justin didn't need her to look out for him like some yappy little
anklebiter. He was a man who could do his own battles if needed be. His own...choices. A cowboy. She
slowly lifted her gaze til it met his, and she tried to smile, doing her best to not let him see that she was
sad to see him go or her thoughts. “I made sure to put in some detergents in the storage box in the
‘bathroom’...just in case you would need it for your shirt, socks and...stuff...if there would be a need for
an emergency wash I mean...if...if you would...eh...” A mental groan. She hadn't been able to stop the
words as they came out of her mouth, and part of her regretted them as soon as they were spoken.

Why did she say that? Or almost say it anyway. Georgie once more wished the ground could open and
cover her up. Her ears felt warm as well as part of her neck. In her mind it felt like she had accused him
of something - or at least hinted at it. Justin was not like that, she was sure of it. And like he would
bother with washing clothes, or at least his socks if he was out and about...he probably would find it
much easier to just buy a fresh pair. More convenient probably than washing them... She lowered her
eyes to his toes again. It was safer that way. The others probably overheard what she had said and she
felt herself feeling more stupid just thinking about that. And Justin...he...probably thought she was
clingy and sticky like gum under his boot. She chided herself a little more, he did not need her attempts
to ‘help’ him, and yet she continued to try. By now she should know she just made...a mess of things.


"What, in case I shit my pants?" Justin cackled under his breath. Truth be told, it was better than
washing his clothes in a bathroom sink because he didn't want to pay for a laundromat. He definitely
could afford to, it wasn't that expensive. But he really felt he ought to be able to at least do that much
when he could. If he could convince himself to.

Wadash's old diesel truck fired back up, ready to roll down the road. Justin glanced back, seeing Tequila
was chatting up a storm with him, probably about her horse and when she might need him next to come
pick her up. The guy looked humored for the most part, maybe winning an educational point and getting
a kick out of it.

He turned back to Georgie. "Sorry 'bout crashin' the loadin' ceremony. Didn't know I was pickin' up a
hitchhiker. It was good seein' ya, Georgie. Had fun here," he smiled. "Though, maybe take it easy on the
alcohol next time, aight?" He chuckled, giving her shoulder a nudge.
He had to raise his voice as the truck behind him started to pull out. "Maybe I'll see you sometime
'round the holidays? If yer around by then. You stay in touch, aight?" He flashed his phone, making sure
she had his number.

Tequila migrated their way since she didn't have anyone else to gravitate to. She smiled and sidled up to
Justin's side with a pleasant smile. "Wow, Jus, I didn't know ya gave yer number out. I thought you just
wrote it on toilet walls and hoped for the best," she giggled.
Justin grinned, "You'd be surprised how well it works."
"Eewww," she giggled, playfully shoving him a step away.

Georgie hung her head just a tiny bit at the mention of her first personal acquaintance with alcohol. She
had of course seen others affected by the strong spirits and how it changed people, for worse
and...better. She remembered how un-Sydney-like Sydney had been. She knew how beer and whiskey
smelled like, and the same went for wine, but she had no clue on what had been in the cups Santos had
offered the partygoers. It tasted like normal juice and she had been fooled by that. She couldn't help her
under the breath mutter about the fact. He already knew how clueless she was on that matter so...what
did it matter if she actually told him. But he said it in a way that didn't sound chiding, and his chuckle
was hard for her to resist not to smile as a response.

A small shrug was made at his hitchhiker comment. “It's ok...” It was, even if she was perhaps looking a
bit low. “I wouldn't expect you to leave someone behind, being stranded and all that, Justin...you are
too much of a gentleman for that...” Also true. A nod as he held up his cellphone. “Hopefully, we will...I
don't know what the Crosbys plan...” She was to say she could send him pictures of her and Asthor if
they got to go out and compete but at that point Tequila came up to them. The moment was past. She
had hoped to give him a goodbye hug at some point, but with Tequila and the other man here...she
wasn't sure he would want one. It didn't mean she could send photos anyway...maybe..the fact that the
stick jumping bored the western people remained...Georgie didn't want to bore him. She glanced to the
side as Tequila sided close with Justin. In a way she still wished she could be as confident as the blonde
was. Ms Bannon had probably never second guessed herself or her actions. Like it was to comfort
herself or the fact it felt a little bit chilly, Georgie wrapped her arms around herself.

The joke of phone numbers and toilet walls passed over her head just a little bit, but she smiled a little
still. It was so strange to her why anyone write on the walls in the first place. The only places she had
seen that was in some movies and those locations had looked quite shabby. Was that the kind of places
they went to? Perhaps it was some sort of inside joke? She smiled a little more just so she wouldn't
seem dumb. It was hard with inside jokes - if you were not one of those that knew what it was about.

Georgie took a small step back. “Well, I should...probably not keep you any...longer. I'm sure you have a
long way to drive...” She glanced over her shoulder like someone was waiting for her too. That she was
the one who had to go. “I...should see to Asthor...make sure everything is ok with him... He will be
loaded for the plane ride early tomorrow. While we are not on the same plane we will arrive at about
the same time...so I can just pick him up at the airport and then drive us back to Crosbys... Hopefully he
will behave.”


Justin nodded, slipping his fingers into his pockets, hooking his thumbs on the outside. "'Course he will.
He ain't no caballero travieso. El sabe como cuidar a su dama." (He knows how to take care of his lady.)
He smiled warmly.

Tequila didn't get whatever gibberish Justin spoke sometimes. Some kind of Mexican that she just
ignored. Wasn't Latin. She bumped Justin, passing him by. "Don't make yerself a stranger, now, sweet
pea." She took up Georgie's hands, holding them close to her chest. "Y'all come see us if yer ever in the
Lone Star state, mkay? Jus ain't got a place for a lady but you come see me and I'll show you some
southern hospitality, ya hear?" She smiled and pulled Georgie into a hug, tugging her arms around her
whether she wanted a hug or not. She gave her a good squeeze before setting her free.

Justin stepped forward, too. It was only right to jump in while hugs were being given out! He clapped his
arms around her, softening to not just squish her. He rubbed her back, "Te veo bajo las estrellas
hermanita. (See you under the stars, little sister.)" He gave her back a couple pats and stepped back. He
gave her a bright smile and a wink, patting the belt buckle with the "J" on it. He gave a wave, turning
before Tequila started up again.

Towards the trailer they went, neither one needing to look back. It was just a life they were used to.
Meeting friends on the road and inevitably having to move on. Both of them had made the most of their
stay. No unfinished business. They seemed to carry on with the wind at their backs.
Tequila snatched Justin's hat and plopped it on her head, butting Justin sideways before he could try and
take it back. He gave in and let her have it, hopelessly still stupid to her ways. They both climbed into the
black beauty of Justin's truck with the big shiny new rig sat behind it. His truck was excited to pull it. A
good challenge with the added living quarters. She could work like a real workhorse she was now. She
roared to life with her engine already lukewarm from hooking up and hauling over. She was ready for
the trip out, just like the two ramblers sat up front.

Tequila looked out the window and waved at Georgie before turning back and chatting at Justin. Justin
leaned forward over his steering wheel and gave one more wave as well and a happy smile. 'Til the next
time they met.
Even the giant picture of Justin on the side of the trailer eventually faded from view.