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Saturday July 11, 2015

Cindy frowned at the clock on the dash of her truck. She had looked at it for the hundredth time in the last half hour wishing she could slow it down. She was stuck in traffic, on a Saturday no less, and late for Jenny’s swim meet. Her morning had started with a meeting at the office of a self-important recording producer who had made it very clear that he was doing her an enormous favor by meeting her on a Saturday. He also couldn’t get it through his head that she would not go out with him, although he made it clear that was a euphemism for what he really had in mind. He was probably in his late forties, balding and running to fat and had an ego which could fill his high-rise office building in downtown Sacramento. Cindy was unimpressed, in fact she was disgusted.

In response to his not so subtle hints he could make or break her if he didn’t get what he wanted, Cindy told him what she thought of him and where he could put his contract. He seemed to be shocked. She’d seen this kind of behavior when she was managing Front Range and she hadn’t put up with it then and she certainly wasn’t going to put up with it now. Of course, at the time she was backed by Jayson’s seemingly bottomless well of money, but she had her own money now and even though it might not be bottomless, it was still enough that she didn’t have to curry favor or anything else with a jerk like Bradley (never Brad) Settler.

As Cindy walked out of Settler’s office she noticed his assistant trying to hide a smile. She was an attractive brunette who was probably closer to fifty than forty but it was hard to tell and she had obviously heard Cindy’s response to her boss’s demands.

As she stood waiting for the elevator in the overly pretentious wood-paneled elevator lobby, she fumed over the wasted time meeting with that jerk.

Shortly, Mr. Settler’s assistant joined her. She was nicely dressed in slacks and an expensive sweater. Her high heel pumps looked expensive too. In comparison, Cindy felt underdressed in her skinny jeans, platform sandals and cream-colored linen tunic.

Settler’s assistant smiled. “So what’s a high class broad like me doing working for such a pompous jerk? Is that what you’re wondering?”

Cindy smiled at the other woman whose accent sounded a lot like Rashmi’s. “Mind-reading part of your job description?”

The woman laughed. “I get that question a lot!” Then she put out her hand, “I’m Felicity Morgan.”

Cindy shook her hand and was surprised when the woman rode down to the lobby with her.

“I’m working for Brad Settler because he knows a great deal about the recording industry. Fortunately for me, he’s lazy.” Cindy cocked an eyebrow. “Lazy works to my advantage. I get to meet with his clients, prepare and manage contracts, set up venues and in essence, I run this agency. For that, he pays me pretty well. He’s the spoiled child of wealthy parents, and he simply plays at this business in hopes of getting laid.”

“I’ve seen it before. He have much success?”

“You’d be surprised. Actually you probably wouldn’t. You’ve been around the business long enough to know there’s a lot of stupid and ambitious women in this business who use their bodies as currency. I figured you weren’t one of them.”

“Something about my tone of voice when I told him to go fuck himself?”

She laughed again. “Well that and the fact I do my homework. You are a self-assured woman with a good business reputation as well as a fantastic singing voice. You’re also a composer of hit country songs and you’ve become the new must listen to person on morning radio. I listen to you myself while I drive to work. So I figure you’re too smart to fall for Brad’s bullshit and you don’t need the money.”

Cindy nodded, enjoying Felicity’s praise. She wondered what was coming next.

“I was at the ‘Bands in the Park’ at Lodi over the Fourth and watched you perform with Sage. I’ve also seen the amateur videos out there – you need a professional videographer by the way. You’re amazingly talented and I’m glad I finally get to meet you.”

“You probably missed my most popular video then.”

Felicity looked serious. “No, I watched the Jayson Adkins self-destruct video. I did my research on him and Front Range too. What happened that night was a shame, as was Front Range coming apart, but it wasn’t your fault. I expect you learned a whole lot from that part of your life. You were married to him for a while too, weren’t you?”

Cindy nodded. “He was very talented...”

Felicity smiled. “And you’re nice too. Not going to bash him since he’s dead. I like that.”

“Felicity, I have to run. I’m barely going to make my daughter’s swim meet as is. Is there something you wanted?”

“I was hoping you’d have time for coffee, but the long and the short of it is I’d like you to sign with me.”

“I don’t understand. You work for Bradley.”

“Not much longer I hope. In my spare time I’m a producer and I run my own recording business. I take on people like you who can’t or won’t stomach Brad or anyone like him. I’ve worked for him for three years and I’m about ready to cut the cord, having signed other artists over to me after their contracts with Brad expire. It’s not poaching when they’re desperately looking for somewhere else to go after dealing with that jerk for the term of their contract. I’m in the perfect position to offer my services since they already know me. Brad hardly notices since for the most part the gravy train keeps rolling and new talent is desperate enough to put up with him, or is too ignorant. He’s more focused on the potential for sex then the money so he puts all of his effort in recruiting new talent.”

“So you’re running Brad’s operation and you’re the competition?”

“Right and I’ve got the inside track!” She laughed. It was a pleasant laugh. “If Brad wasn’t such a dick, I’d be content to just run things here, but he tends to butt in at the most inopportune times – showing us all who’s the boss and then he leaves me to clean up the mess.”

“And now you want me to sign with you?”

“I’d like you to consider it anyway. We can still go ahead with the recording session we’ve got scheduled for Monday – that’s all laid on, studio, technicians and the like. The people who run it don’t work for me or Brad – they’re independent and very talented and will just bill you for the time you spend if you decide not to go with me.”

Felicity handed Cindy a business card. It said, ‘Cowgirls Incorporated, Felicity Morgan, ‘ and included her phone, email and a web address.

“Cowgirls Incorporated? I like the name, although I don’t see you as a cowgirl.” She laughed. “I hope someday soon you’ll tell me that story.”

“Not much to tell, Airforce wife, British expat, transplant to California via Texas. I’d be happy to fill in the blanks one of these days.”

“It’s a deal when I have more time. So tell me how signing with you might work?”

Felicity reached into her large tote and pulled out a red folder. Cindy saw her name on it. “Here’s a proposed contract. I just ask you look it over and I won’t ask you to sign anything – let’s just agree you’ll consider it. Please still come for the scheduled recording session on Monday. We can talk then.”

Cindy paused, looking at the folder and then at Felicity. She liked Felicity’s sales pitch and thought they could probably work together as long as the terms of the contract were fair. But she would have to reserve judgement on Felicity’s ethics until she knew her better. “What about Sage?”

Felicity produced a second folder, this one yellow with ‘Sage’ printed on its cover. “I figured you’d be loyal to them and want to bring them along as originally scheduled. I know Brad really wasn’t interested in Sage and had planned on hiring some backup musicians for your recordings, but from what I’ve seen you all work well together. Sage has a lot of potential and is starting to get a following. With you and Janine Jordan fronting them they can be pretty successful. I also enjoyed listening to Sofía Torres when they switched over to a set featuring salsa music. With her they have potential as a crossover band into the Latin community. I understand a young woman named Krista Torres founded the group and brought Sofía in. Maybe you could discuss the contract with her.”

Cindy really was surprised she knew about Krista. “Thank you, I’ll call her today.”

“Great, and for your information ‘Cowgirls Incorporated’ works primarily in digital media like iTunes, Google Play and Spotify so that means we can get stuff out quickly.”

Cindy looked at her phone. “I really have to run. Thanks Felicity. It was nice meeting you and I’ll see you on Monday morning. Sage will be there too I’m sure. We’ve all worked hard to put this together, and we’re really looking forward to working on getting our music out.” She smiled, “The girls have already made arrangements with bosses, spouses and babysitters to get free on Monday.”

Felicity smiled as she watched the tall attractive woman dash out the door. She thought of the last line from the movie Casablanca, Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. She hoped so, she needed to make a break from Brad, and Cindy could be her ticket.

As she returned to the elevator she made a mental note to get in touch with her daughter the videographer. Cindy and Sage were too photogenic and talented not to have a professional video that she could use to further their careers.

Cindy was running late by the time she got her truck from the parking garage, and of course almost immediately ran into traffic. It was Saturday. Where are all these people going on the freeway? An accident had half the southbound lanes blocked. She fumed thinking about the wide open spaces, low population, and uncongested freeways she’d left in Montana.

As she watched the clock march past the time for the swim meet to start she growled in disappointment. Of course Matt would be there. They had arranged for him to take Jenny to the meet. As security he would have been there anyway. She knew Matt would have Jenny there on time and ready to go – he’d been coaching her too. He would stay with Jenny until Cindy arrived, and after the meet he’d follow them back to Cindy’s home just to make sure all was well. That was how Matt worked. He was conscientious and protective, especially of Jenny. It was his job after all, but she knew better. There was more, Matt and Jenny had bonded quickly and it was obvious she adored him, and he her, so that meant Matt was always around.

And that was the damn problem. How could she stop thinking about him, stop falling for him, when he was always there, watching over Jenny, driving her to swim meets, Aikido lessons, or just down to the DQ for ice cream? Cindy knew that Jessica had offered Matt a job as some kind of security person within days of meeting him.

She recalled the day a couple of months ago, it was probably mid-May, when she drove up to Three Corners Farm and saw he was back. She was surprised. It was probably not more than ten days since their first meeting. She couldn’t help but stare because Matt was wearing only khaki shorts and work boots as he worked side by side with Tomás using a machine to dig a trench along the side of the driveway. His lean body was tan and well-muscled, but he also carried what looked like scars from wounds. He acknowledged her with a nod but nothing more and went back to work with the trencher. Cindy had a hard time getting that vision out of her head and it often reappeared unbidden. But she rarely needed her imagination because he was always around.

Cindy had asked Jessica about her decision to hire a security person, wondering if there was a threat she needed to know about.

She was surprised when Jessica told her, “Cindy, there have been threats against me in the past, but those were out of Chicago and I’m confident those have been resolved. It’s just that these days it pays to be cautious. A very smart man in Chicago, who’s in the security business advised me to hire someone, and Matt seems to be the right person to watch over all of us.”

“But why Matt?”

Jessica thought for a second, “During the time Matt was a guest at Tom’s parents’ ranch in Red Bluff, Rashmi was there too. She told me that she and Matt had some long talks as they rode the hills around the ranch and she got a real sense of him. She called me and encouraged me to hire him. Rashmi’s not very old but she’s got great instincts about people.”

“So then you just hired him?”

Jessica shook her head. “No, first I had to convince Matt.”

“Oh?”

“He was reluctant, but I asked him to come down and meet with me. I laid out what I wanted, but I think it was Jenny and Rashmi who teamed up to convince him.” Jessica smiled at that recollection, but then went on in a more serious vein, “And of course, we did a complete background check, to which he willingly agreed.”

“I guess he passed.”

“Yes, I even spoke to his last commanding officer. He told me that there was probably no one better suited to protect me and my family. He also said he was very disappointed when Matt left the SEALS and the Navy.”

“Do you know why he left?”

“No, and when I asked Matt, he just laughed and said he was getting too old to keep up.”

Cindy wondered about that and if she’d ever find out the real reason.

The day after Cindy saw him at the Farm in May, it was agreed Matt would start driving Jenny to school. That worked out well because coordinating everyone’s hectic work and school schedules was proving to be frustrating and time-consuming, even after Natalie came up with a spread sheet.

Driving Jenny to school lasted until school ended for the summer, but he continued as her driver as her summer-busy schedule unfolded. Jenny was into all kinds of activities and Matt was always her driver. He became her sparring partner as she began her training in aikido. It was funny watching the seven year old demonstrate her skills on the much larger man who seemed to be having the time of his life.

Matt also chauffeured Rashmi until she got her license. Cindy knew he had tried to teach her, but quickly admitted defeat saying he had survived ten years in the SEALS and didn’t intend to succumb to an Indian girl with a lead foot. At that point he turned her over to the professionals.

Cindy saw Matt every day during the week and if Jenny was with her on the weekend – which was frequent - he was there to pick her up or drop her off. If they were going out for shopping or to the park he would be there. At first, he stayed in the background but finally Cindy, with prodding from Jenny, insisted he join them. She had to admit she enjoyed his company. His easy-going manner and obvious affection for Jenny made him easy to be with. Despite her early resolve to avoid any romantic entanglements, Cindy had begun to wish there was something more to their relationship.

If he wasn’t driving or accompanying someone from the family, he was busy around the ranch. Jessica had given him free rein in implementing appropriate security measures. He and Tomás had installed security cameras that certainly covered every inch of the Farm’s perimeter and also mounted them on poles along the county road that ran along the front of the property. He had also taken all of the women to the range several times and had them practice with their individual firearms until he was satisfied. Only Rashmi was a novice, Cindy and Natalie, having grown up on ranches easily put rounds into the center of mass at the pistol range. Surprisingly, even college-girl Jessica handled her thirty-eight special like she was born to it. More importantly he taught them situational awareness.

Matt had seamlessly become part of the Brandt-Willets family. It appeared there was nothing he couldn’t do, he was always willing to pitch in and his smile was infectious. Cindy felt a growing attraction for Matt and that was a problem. She wanted more, but she didn’t. At times she felt positively schizophrenic about the relationship she had with Matt.

Standing next to him one afternoon as they watched Jenny train at the Dojo, Cindy asked him if he ever took a day off.

He laughed, “That’s not something Jessica and I ever discussed, and I don’t recall ever seeing time off for me on Natalie’s spread sheets!”

She turned to him. “Matt I’m serious. Occasionally you need to take some Matt time.”

In an equally serious vein he replied, “Cindy, once you told me I had to do what was best for me, and I really love doing what I’m doing.”

“But Matt...” she paused considering her words. “Don’t you sometimes feel like an overqualified babysitter and errand boy?”

He stared at her for a second, then flatly said “No.”

She waited for more but he just turned back to watch Jenny. Cindy never raised the subject again.

What was particularly galling was that as her attraction increased his behavior was maddeningly the same – he treated her with respect but maintained a reserved formality that kept her at a distance. Even when they were tossing a Frisbee for Banner in the park or strolling the mall he never let down his guard. During those times she wanted to take his arm or his hand, just as she’d seen Sofia do. Matt claimed she was just an affectionate friend, but it bothered Cindy when she saw how Sofia and her cousins and the other members of Sage fawned over Matt. They had no hesitation about kissing and hugging him when they met and when they left, for that matter.

What was worse, there was never a glimpse of the Matt who had been so taken with her back in early May that he stammered – the Matt who asked her if she wouldn’t mind if he returned to Lodi. Cindy had come to regret how she had discouraged him that day. The problem was she didn’t know how to approach the topic for fear that he would tell her he was no longer interested. The last thing she wanted was for Matt to feel uncomfortable around her, but perhaps a little flirting?

Why was she so attracted to him? On the surface, he and Harrison had lots of similarities – but she reminded herself how that had turned out with Harrison. Both men were tall, lean, and muscular but Matt was fair-haired with blue eyes in contrast to Harrison’s dark hair and eyes. They were both the same age and had served their country with distinction and been wounded. Cindy had a closer look at Matt’s scars one day while he was in the pool at the YMCA coaching Jenny. Both men were raised on cattle ranches and were used to hard work. Matt’s ten years in the Navy had even smoothed out his west-Texas accent.

She thought about what had attracted her to Harrison. She was two years younger and just a sophomore when the talented high school quarterback asked her out. She hardly knew what to do. In retrospect Cindy had to admit she was probably more in love with the idea of being with Harrison than in love with him, but at sixteen, clarity in judgement hardly rules.

They were married when she was eighteen and she was a mom before she was nineteen. Harrison was a good husband and father but he was a strategic thinker. He planned everything, except Jenny wasn’t planned – they had agreed children were for later. It didn’t matter that Jenny wasn’t part of the plan, Harrison adored her from the moment he saw her and he’d never stopped. The way things turned out, it was a good thing they didn’t have more children, although she suspected Harrison and Jessica would have children. Did she want more children? For the longest time after Jenny was born she would have said no, but that was before Matt. Damn, I don’t know if he cares about me or not and I’m already having his children, she thought ruefully.

Harrison was currently attending summer school at California State University in Sacramento, working on his master’s degree in education. Cindy knew he would not be content just being a high school teacher. Knowing Harrison, he probably planned to be superintendent of schools for the state of California one day. She saw many of those same things in Jessica Brandt – perhaps that was why they got along so well, and being crazy in love helped too.

Matt was completely different in many ways. Harrison played chess, Matt played poker. While Harrison was memorizing the playbook for high school football Matt was bull riding. Harrison had led a platoon of infantry and would sacrifice himself and his men for the success of the mission. He wouldn’t like it but he would do it. Matt was a member of a team. Cindy figured he would sacrifice himself before any member of his team. They worked together to accomplish their mission and bring everyone home. Matt didn’t ignore the future but he was more focused on today.

With his attitude and background, she knew he’d never stop watching over Jenny and the rest of the family, and her too. One early-summer day when they were in the park watching Jenny play with some other children accompanied by the ever-present Banner, he’d explained, “Cindy, in this world there are three kinds of people. The first are sheep and most people fall in that category – just wanting to graze and be left alone. The second are the predators who prey on the sheep. The third are the sheepdogs. They exist to protect the sheep from the predators. Those of us in the combat arms and of course, people who become police officers, consider themselves sheepdogs. I’m a sheepdog. I exist to take care of you and Jenny and the Brandt extended family.” Cindy felt a warm glow inside when he had included her.

Matt when on, “There’s a quote out there that is often attributable to George Orwell writing about my namesake Rudyard Kipling’s poem Tommy. The original quote lauds Kipling’s grasp of who protects whom and goes something like this, ‘People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.’”

The following weekend he had proven his point when he escorted Sage to a local vineyard where they entertained a large wedding party. Late in the evening some young tux-wearing men, who had too much to drink, positioned themselves in front of the stage. Using the crudest language they were drunkenly discussing what they wanted to do to the ‘little Latina whores’ in the band. After one of them, to the amusement of his friends tried to grab Sofía off the stage, Matt walked up smiling. Cindy hadn’t been able to hear what Matt told the man but it was not taken well. Matt continued to smile and then shrugged and turned and walked into the darkness. Within seconds, the man and two of his companions went after him. A few minutes later a still smiling Matt was back. For the rest of the evening he stood at the side of the stage and seemed only interested in the music. No one bothered them again and there was no sign of the original trio.

Cindy was particularly amused with Matt after they wrapped up for the night. She, and other members of the band, watched him throw what sounded like sets of car keys some distance into the dark rows of grapevines as he escorted them to their vans. Krista Torres was very surprised when Matt handed her almost five hundred dollars, saying it was by way of an apology from the young men who had been so rude earlier.

And of course there was La Banda Sage. Those girls adored Matt. Cindy’s problem was they adored him too much, and Matt didn’t seem to ever try to dissuade them. Sofia and her cousins thought nothing of hanging all over Matt, and Matt seemed particularly fond of returning their signs of affection.

“Grrrrrrrr.” She looked at the clock one more time as she approached the YMCA knowing that she had missed the swim meet. Cindy was feeling frazzled, but as she pulled into the parking lot she laughed hearing Shania Twain on the radio singing, Love gets me every time.

She sang along, “Life was going great; love was going to have to wait. Was in no hurry – had no worries. Staying single was the plan, didn’t need a steady man. I had it covered, ‘til I discovered love gets me every time. My heart changed my mind and I gol darn gone and done it ... I guess I fell in love...”

Softly singing the next verse, she walked to the doors to the YMCA.

When she walked through the lobby she was greeted by a number of people. She realized that many of the people who acknowledged her did so because she was a member of the Y and was a mom who accompanied her daughter to activities there, not because she was some minor radio celebrity. Cindy preferred it that way. Celebrity was overrated.

When Cindy reached the pool she noticed there were still a number of families around – mostly moms who were packing up their daughters’ gear after the meet. Then she spotted Matt who was accompanied by Rashmi and Natalie. She was glad to see Jenny had her own family cheering section – she guessed that made her own absence a little less noticeable. Cindy still regretted missing the meet, but getting to talk to Felicity meant the recording session on Monday was salvaged and she and Sage would have an opportunity to work with someone who appeared professional and knowledgeable. Cindy had not forgotten her vow that she wouldn’t tour though, and she fully intended to stick to it.

As Cindy walked to the other side of the pool she had to damp down feelings of jealousy when she noticed Rashmi with her arm around Matt’s waist. What was worse he had his arm around her as they talked to Natalie. Anyone observing them would have bet they were a couple as Rashmi molded herself to Matt and how she looked at him (adoringly?) as he spoke. Rashmi was wearing a white cotton mini and strappy sandals which made her long café au lait legs look even longer. On top she wore a peach-colored short sleeve sweater. She was stunning as usual.

Damn girl don’t you have a boyfriend? Cindy fumed. She knew Matt and Rashmi had bonded while they were at Tom’s parents ranch back in May, and since he started working for Jessica he spent a lot of time with her, but she was hanging all over him! Cindy wasn’t quite sure why Rashmi needed so much looking after anyway. Nobody had explained. Cindy knew Rashmi’s parents were some kind of British diplomats on a foreign assignment, but how did that warrant Matt spending so much time with her? It was puzzling, but she knew it was none of her business and if she pursued it she might be told exactly that. And why did Matt have to look so comfortable and happy with her pressed up against him? Was there something between them? She was seventeen for heaven’s sake! That reminded her that Sofia did the same thing, and she was only eighteen. Did Matt really prefer these younger women? Was there something more than innocent flirting between Matt and these girls?

Natalie was the first to spot Cindy. “Hi Cindy, you missed a great meet. Jenny was second in butterfly, and just lost out because the other girl had a longer reach. She’s pretty happy though.”

Natalie was dressed, as usual, in expensive jeans and a silk T. Her wardrobe had certainly improved since she left Montana and started working for Jessica. Had Cindy detected a note of disappointment in her voice when Natalie mentioned she had missed the meet? Her relationship with Natalie had improved over the months, but it was still nowhere near where it had been when they were best friends in Montana.

“Hi Cindy,” Rashmi chirped. Cindy noticed she didn’t release her hold on Matt. Matt simply continued to smile with his arm around Rashmi, and Cindy had to fight down an urge to scowl in disapproval.

Matt did seemed pleased to see her though. “Cindy, they won the meet by the way. She’s in the locker room.”

Matt watched Cindy come into the pool area. She was smiling. He liked to see her smile, especially when it was directed at him. As usual she looked fantastic.

As she approached her smile seemed a bit forced as she acknowledged the greetings from Rashmi and Natalie. He knew the relationship with Natalie had been strained, but he hoped they were finding a way to become friends again.

“I’m so sorry but I got held up. Damn Ninety-nine was a parking lot. From what it looked like some big rig lost a load of ball bearings. I really wanted to see her swim.”

“There’s always next week,” added Natalie with a neutral expression.

Cindy looked at her. “You’re right, but I hated missing this one. I’m glad all of you were here to cheer her on.”

Natalie consulted her ever-present tablet and turned to Rashmi and announced, “We’ve got to run.”

Matt nodded and turned to Cindy. “I’ll walk them out and meet you in the lobby. I figure Jenny’s about ready. I won’t be long.”

“Matt you know you don’t have to hang around. I’m sure we can get home just fine.” He noticed she looked like she wanted to say something more.

Matt shook his head. “It’s no trouble Cindy. I’ll see you in a couple of minutes.”

It was his job to make sure Rashmi and Natalie were safe too, so he’d walk them out to their car. They had all arrived before the meet at the same time and Matt had been amused to see Rashmi driving Jessica’s silver BMW with the top down. She and Natalie had been laughing when they pulled into the parking lot.

He saw them on their way, wondering what they were laughing about this time as they drove off. He smiled and shook his head as he returned to the lobby.