Read Online Mama Sees Stars: A Mace Bauer Mystery by Deborah Sharp - Free Book Online Page A

spun her onto the dance floor. Jesse made no effort to remove either hand.
    “My daddy would have whipped me like a mule if I ever acted like that.’’
    “Toby looks like he’s considering doing just that,’’ Carlos said.
    The young star’s eyes were slits. His fists were clenched. Before we could react, he sprang out of the booth, raced across the floor and jumped onto the big cowboy. He looked like a Yorkie going after a Great Dane.
    “Get your hands off her!’’ Toby hung on, pounding one wimpy fist against the cowpoke’s broad back.
    Jesse wriggled free of the fight, just as Carlos and I rushed the dance floor. We weren’t fast enough to stop the cowboy from plucking Toby off his back like an annoying bug. He dangled him two feet off the floor, with Toby squirming like a puppy held by the scruff.
    “Don’t hit him in the face,’’ Jesse yelled, backing away. “Not in the face!’’
    Carlos pulled out his detective’s gold badge just as the bartender rushed in, hoisting a baseball bat. The cowboy wasn’t too drunk to weigh the consequences of going up against either the badge or the bat. He swung Toby a couple of times, then tossed him to the floor. Raising his hands in the air, he stepped away backwards. His friends tightened into a knot around him. I saw Carlos wade in, holding his badge high and shuffling the cowboy toward the door like a calf cut from the herd.
    Toby, stunned, was flat on his back like a plopped-over turtle. I offered him my hand. He gathered his breath, and then moaned as I helped him off the dirty floor.
    “You’re lucky that bulldogger didn’t pound you into dirt,’’ I said. “He’s a big ol’ boy.’’
    “What’s a bulldogger?’’
    “A rodeo cowboy who specializes in wrestling 500-pound steers to the ground.’’
    His mouth dropped open as he stared after the departing cowpoke.
    “The Eight Seconds Bar is a rodeo hang-out,’’ I said. “Eight seconds is how long a rider has to stay on a bull or a bronc to qualify.’’
    “That doesn’t seem like very long.’’
    “Try it sometime. It feels like an eternity.’’ I supported him as he limped to a seat. “Speaking of getting hurt, how are you?’’
    He rubbed gingerly at his right elbow, and then leaned down to touch his knee.
    I signaled the bartender. “Can we get some ice?’’
    Toby slowly raised his right arm. “I must have hit the floor on this side of my body.’’
    “What were you thinking?’’
    His eyes darted toward Jesse. My gaze followed his to find her in the crowd, flirting with a new cowboy. Seemingly forgotten: the fight and Toby’s close call with the bulldogger.
    “She’s not worth it.’’
    I immediately regretted my words, as Toby’s head snapped back toward me. His face reddened. “You don’t even know her!’’
    “I know what I see. She’s playing you, Toby.’’
    His eyes got round. “She is not! She cares about me. We’re in love.’’
    No wonder Carlos went easy on him. He was like a lamb, gamboling innocently to slaughter. Just as I was wishing I had my sister Marty here to help me find some sensitive, soothing words, the bartender delivered a beer bucket of ice. I divided it into three bar towels, and gave them to Toby.
    “Rest those where it hurts.’’
    His beautiful lips curved into half a smile. “I don’t think the bar has enough ice for that. I wonder if this is how the bulldogged steer feels?’’
    I laughed, and felt the tension between us fade. We sat for a few moments. Toby shifted the icy towels to their best advantage, while I checked out the bar scene. I was watching for Carlos to return when the door swung open. Barbara stepped through. Toby saw her, too. His face brightened, and he sat up straighter. He yelled to her and waved. She didn’t notice. Paul Watkins was right behind her, and she turned, crooking a finger into his collar to pull him inside.
    Paul threw an arm around Barbara’s shoulders. She turned to press every inch of