Page 10 of Trusting the Team

“I didn’t realize it was him and you know he wouldn't hurt a woman.” He spun and filled the glass on the counter with water, handing her both the pills and water.

“That's not how the story is going down,” Bubba grinned at her.

“Oh, come on, don't make it worse. If I wasn't a girl, not once would I win a fight against him. Any of you for that matter.”

“I mean, yeah, that is what I'm going to say. Dari said, ‘good thing she's a girl so she can kick the shit out of you Phantom.’”

She put the glass down, “you're such a jerk.”

Bubba put her into a headlock, “Yeah? But you might not get me on the ground.”

Gumby walked in, “what the hell are you two yahoos doing?” Bubba and Dari were wrestling on the floor.

“She started it,” Bubba immediately responded, looking up from his dominant position.

“Get off!” Gumby answered, “look at her.” He set down a breakfast tray on the bed and reached toward Bubba's collar. Hannah ran into the room and started licking both faces near the floor. Bubba pulled Gumby down into the mix.

Sidney stepped into the doorway, “you guys are stupid, Dari can take both of you.” Turned on her heel and walked downstairs.

“What!?” both men said in unison.

“Did you bring me breakfast?” Bubba jumped up grabbed the tray and ran for the stairs.

“No!” Gumby started. Gumby stood up, “it was for you,” he held his hand out to pull Dari up. “I got more downstairs, if the dogs didn't eat it.”

Dari was sittingon the top stair of the back porch, head leaning against the support beam. The sunset peaceful. Gumby sat down next to her, “Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I took some meds an hour ago.”

“You know that's not what I meant.”

“I don't understand how it escalated like that it. Hands and bodies just kept coming at me.”

Gumby wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulled her into him. “It was impressive on video.”

“Oh great, that’s what I was looking for.”

“Maybe not, but clearly training paid off. It was awesome. We were all proud.”

“Then it all went up in smoke.”

“It’s called a sucker punch for a reason.”

“Is Phantom going to be ok?”

“You mean his reputation? He'll be fine. He’ll be harassed for it the rest of his life in our circles,” Gumby laughed mostly to himself.

“My face does really hurt.” Gumby tried to pull away from her. “No, please, don't move,” she was getting med induced tired. “You guys always had the best hugs.”

4

COWBOY

The quarterly picnic was happening. The team had wives, children, and Dari in tow when they arrived. Caite sat back with the Rocco and laughed about the first one of these they had been to together. Dari had run down to the beach with Rocco's older kids. She dove in and was off. Gumby was eye-balling the other teams present. The parents were taking turns with the kids. Dari came back up on the beach with Bubba on her heels. “When they talk about annoying siblings, they were using you as an example.” She clapped hands over her mouth, “Bubba, I'm so sorry.”

“I know what you meant, you're fine squirt.” She jumped up on his back, as he headed back toward their group spot.

“Dari, right?” a tall, dark-haired, green-eyed man stopped them short.

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