Cowgirl Up (6 page)

Trinity
just finished filling Legacy’s water tub when Lacey led Candy into the
adjoining stall.

“Same
set up, different day.” Lacey went about caring for her horse.

“Different
state too.” Trinity pinched off the water hose. brushed the sweat from her
face, and once more wished more rodeos were closer to Kentucky. The plains
seemed so much warmer and more humid than home.

“A
blasted hot one at that.” Lacey tied up the hay net before taking Trinity’s
offered hose to fill up the mare’s bucket.

“Amen
to that.” Already tired, Trinity couldn’t wait to just sit down for a few
minutes and relax. After working a full day at the thoroughbred farm, she
loaded up Legacy and drove across two states through the night to arrive near
mid-day at the fairgrounds. Thankfully, Legacy had about six hours to stretch
his legs before the barrel-racing event began.

Automatically,
Trinity ran her hands over the stallion’s hide, searching for any sore spots,
cuts, or bumps. Finding none, she quickly checked each hoof, found the shoes
snug, and his feet just as clean as when they left home. Satisfied her horse
made the trip without incident, she slipped from the stall, securing the door
behind her.

“Thought
you might show up.”

The all
too familiar man’s voice sent a wave of annoyance through Trinity. She turned
around to find Gary, dressed in his typical western shirt, jeans, and boots,
staring at her like she resembled a piece of prime rib and he’d been on a
forced vegetarian diet for a month.

Deciding
to ignore him, she went about setting up her living area, complete with cooler,
lawn chair, and a cot for sleeping later.

Unfortunately,
Gary didn’t take the hint. Instead, he strolled closer, invaded her personal
space, and waited for her to look at him. When she did, he grinned wickedly.
“Look me up tonight.”

Trinity’s
stomach knotted. “Not happening. Go sniff elsewhere.”

“Playing
hard to get?” Gary lifted the brim of his hat marginally. “I won’t wait
forever.” Winking, he turned and retraced his previous steps.

“You’ll
be waiting until hell freezes over,” Trinity mumbled under her breath. She
lifted her chin and swiveled back around to find Lacey staring at her with a
mix of astonishment and amusement as she stood in the aisle once more. “What?”

“I can’t
believe you turned him down. The other girls would swoon to have him hit on
them. Even a couple of the married ones. To be truthful, I wouldn’t kick him
out of my bed.”

Rolling
her eyes, Trinity stared at her friend like she’d grown a spare head complete
with horns over the past two minutes. “You too?”

Lacey
shrugged. “Hey, he’s damn easy on the eyes.”

“And
short on commitment.”

“Just
like all the other guys. Nothing new. Heck, that’s half the fun. Fuck them and
walk away.”

Trinity
shook her head only a bit surprised at Lacey’s choice of terminology. From her
observation, most cowboys and cowgirls came with a profanity-filled vocabulary.
“I guess I was born about two centuries too late. One-night stands aren’t my
thing.”

Lacey
chuckled and patted her hand. “You’re just a romantic. Nothing wrong with that.
Even if you’re getting long in the tooth.”

“That’s
it. Kick me when I’m down.” Trinity fell into the comfortable banter they
shared when hanging out at a rodeo together.

“What
are friends for?” Lacey blinked innocently at her then laughed.

In all
reality, Lacey talked a big game but rarely participated from what Trinity
could tell. Others hunted down a bedmate for an evening of tension release.
Lacey didn’t join them and never spoke of any exploits on or off the road. She
rarely ventured into the conversation of her sex life, leaving Trinity
wondering what made her friend tick in that department. Since it really wasn’t any
of her business and she really liked the younger woman, she kept her mouth shut
and went with the flow.

A
sudden thought begged an answer. “You would really want to be another notch on
his bedpost?” The idea bothered her.

Lacey
sobered, then sighed, her gaze finding the dirt floor at their feet. “I don’t
know.” She picked at her jeans. “Sometimes I think it would be nice to be in a
man’s arms, to forget the rest of the world, and simply do something impulsive
and just for me.”

“Like
have a fling?”

“Maybe.”
She shrugged.

“Is
Gary that man, though?”

“I’d
rather it be someone else.” Lacey lifted her head and met Trinity’s eyes. “But
since the right man doesn’t know I exist, that’s beyond a long shot.”

Lacey
had a crush. Newsflash to Trinity. Even though they only talked at the rodeos
and didn’t call one another away from the competition, she still considered
them fairly close. Friends told one another about their love interests, right?

For the
first time she noted a vulnerability about Lacey that she’d never seen in the
normally outgoing, friendly girl. Obviously, she grappled with her non-requited
interest and hid her innermost feelings. From everyone. Most likely the man in
question as well.

“Men
are overrated,” Trinity pointed out, hoping to cheer her suddenly morose
friend.

“Yeah.
A horse makes for a better companion than a fickle man.” Lacey sighed.

“Why do
you think I hang out with Legacy all the time?”

Lacey
grinned softly. “Because you’re smart.”

Trinity
ached for her friend who obviously had her heart set on a man who didn’t take
notice of the wonderful lady Lacey presented. “Not that I have any experience
in this area, but seems to me, some men are worth waiting for. No sense in
settling.”

Lacey
arched an eyebrow. “And if they don’t cooperate?”

“Simple.
Pretend they’re a goat and you’re participating in the goat tying event.”
Trinity smiled softly when Lacey giggled.

“I’m
not sure, but I think they have laws against such things.”

“Possibly,
but think of it this way. What cowboy is running to the cops and whining how a
sexy cowgirl tied him up for a good talking to?”

“Good
point.” Lacey sat quietly for a long moment as if considering Trinity’s advice.
Her gaze lifted. “However, here comes a man that just might like being roped,
tied, and saddled.”

Trinity
turned to find Cody entering the barn aisle. He paused to peek over a stall
door, then slowly ambled their direction.

“He’s
worth being a bed post notch,” Lacey whispered.

Maybe.

“Lacey.
Trinity.” Cody tipped his Stetson cowboy hat in their direction.

“Cody.”
Lacey offered up a smile. “Back again?”

“Like a
bad penny.” The corners of his lips tilted up.

The
relaxation on his face combined with the bit of humor in his eyes cranked up
the handsome meter in Trinity’s opinion. Her heart skipped a beat.

Stop pining after Cody like a
long lost pup. Sure, he’s easy on the eyes, but that’s where it stops. Friends.
Period
. She
chastised herself, but couldn’t help the small spark of happiness at his
appearance.

“Busy
day?” Trinity asked

“A
little. Got to make the rounds, check all of the livestock before everything
gets started tonight. First day is always the craziest.”

“No
rest for the wicked?” Lacey inquired, tongue-in-cheek.

He
grinned. “Something like that.” Glancing up, he peered into the stalls, looked
the animals over, then turned back to Trinity. “Need anything from me?”

A kiss. A romp in the hay. A
promise of undying love. Any and all of the above.

She
shook her head. “I think we’re fine. Thanks, though.” Digging through her
cooler, she pulled out a couple of bottles of cold water. “Here.”

Cody
took the offered drink. “Thanks.” Opening the top, he took a long swallow.

“Same
for me. Candy’s fit as a fiddle.”

“Then I
better get going. There’s a pen full of calves with my name on them.” Cody
tipped his head, turned, and strode away, his long legs eating up the distance,
and soon disappearing from sight.

“I
still say he’s got the best ass around.”

Trinity
didn’t argue.

“The
way he looks at you.
Muy caliente
.”
Lacey fanned herself.

“Drink
more water. You’re starting to hallucinate from the heat.” Trinity tossed a
bottle at Lacey.

Lacey
caught it with ease, unscrewed the lid, and sipped. “Why aren’t you tossing
your hat in Cody’s ring? Every other woman is.”

“I’m
here to race. Nothing else. Besides, loose sex isn’t my thing. I’ve seen the
consequences.”

She
didn’t blame her mother. After all, accidents occurred on a daily basis. People
fell, cars wrecked, and women got impregnated from one-night stands. Shit
happens. Although, this mistake changed her mother’s life in a big way. She
quit barrel racing and threw herself into a college degree, becoming a teacher.
Picking up roots, she moved her and Trinity to Kentucky, far away from the hotbed
of rodeo. Like that alone would ensure her only child would grow up otherwise
inclined. Instead, it fostered Trinity’s love of the sport, naturally wanting
to follow in her mother’s footsteps. And, in the end, the trials, the move, the
tough times didn’t stop. They just became harder to swallow.

Lacey’s
lips turned down into a frown. “Old news. Water under the bridge. Time to let
that go, Trin.” She took another drink. “The way I see it, you’re trying to
make up for your mother’s indiscretion. But, you’re forgetting one thing.”

Not
offended in the least, Trinity turned her full attention on Lacey. “What’s
that?”

“You’re
the outcome and never once did your mother regret having you. So, seems to me,
it’s time to quit trying to make up for her perceived faux pas and live your
own life.” With those words, she set her water aside, stood, and walked toward
the bathrooms at the far corner of the barn.

Touché.

“You
sure you don’t want to come?” Lacey asked as she set Candy’s full feed bucket
on the ground in the stall.

“Positive,
but thanks for inviting me.” Trinity rubbed the soft cloth over Legacy’s hide,
making his coat shine in the light. She’d fed him a bit earlier, then groomed
him out of habit more than anything. After a bath this afternoon, he hadn’t
picked up more than a few specks of dust from their run tonight. Still, the
action proved soothing, as it always had.

“The
other girls would love to have you. We’re just going out to eat. Nothing
exciting.” Lacey stepped out of the stall and secured the door behind her.

“Tell
them thanks for the offer, but I won’t leave Legacy.” Trinity flashed a smile
at her friend. “Who knows what kind of trouble he’ll get into when I’m not
around? Heck, he might even convince Candy he’s the best stud around.”

Lacey
laughed. “There is that.” She dusted off her jeans. “Want me to bring you
anything back?”

“Nope.
I’ve got everything I need.”

“Okay.
See ya in the morning then.”

“Have
fun, Lacey.” Trinity watched her go with only the tiniest flicker of regret.
While she sometimes found the nights especially long, she still drew the line
at leaving her stallion. The other girls seemed nice enough, but she had no
urge to be part of their clique. Instead, she preferred hanging out alone, with
her horse, and the tranquility of being surrounded by the other animals.

She’d placed
third tonight. Not her best run, but as much as she analyzed the details, she
didn’t find many ways to improve. The small arena benefitted the smaller
horses. Legacy didn’t have much of a chance to hit full stride before the
finish line whizzed by. Not much could be done about that. Just stay the
course. The way to qualify for the finals revolved around clean runs, holding
her position in the top rankings, and simply showing up for each rodeo as they
came, especially the big ones. After today, she considered changing things up a
bit, skipping a Midwest circuit event and heading to Denver for the huge stock
show. More competition, more points possible. She had a couple of days to make a
decision and act, as entry forms and fees had to be post marked by Monday.

“Good
run tonight. This arena just doesn’t fit his style much.”

Glancing
up, Trinity found Cody leaning against a stall a couple of doors down, absently
stroking a horse’s nose.

“Thanks.”
Seeing him again made her heart flutter. Despite his busy day, Cody appeared as
fresh as ever. His dark hair glistened as if just out of the shower while his
white shirt shined in the dimmed lights of the barn lowered for the night. If
only she could accept Lacey’s nonchalant attitude about men. Flirt, find out if
Cody was interested, then spend an hour discovering the secrets of sex.

And take a walk in my mother’s
shoes.

She
mentally shook the words aside, not about to dwell on the past. Not when she
tried so hard to focus on the future. Lacey’s earlier words did leave a minor
dent after all.

Yet,
she couldn’t help but savor every moment that Cody stood in her presence. To
know he took time from his busy schedule to check on her delighted her on several
levels. They shared a bond. Maybe not a strong one, but she hoped their
previously shared secrets meant something. Not sure what, but a step in the
right direction anyway.

She
unfolded her cot and nodded to the lawn chair. “Take a load off for a while.
You look like you’ve been run hard and put up wet.”

He sat
down and stretched his legs out with a grin. “Good analogy. I’m on call, but
the to-do list is done for the day.”

Trinity
opened the cooler, and pulled out another bottle of water, which she passed
over to Cody. “Here. Oh, and you’re just in time for dinner.”

His
eyes widened just the slightest. “Dinner?”

“Yep.”
She handed him a plate and utensils, followed by a bag of meat. “Fried chicken,
potato salad, dinner rolls, and apple pie for dessert. If you don’t mind eating
everything cold.”

“I can
get something later.”

“No
way. I’ve got more than plenty. Besides, it’s criminal for food to go to waste.
So think of it this way, you’re doing me a favor by helping me eat it.” She
glanced up and smiled at him. “Not to mention it would be nice to have someone
to talk to besides my horse now and again.”

He
grinned wryly, got up, and helped her arrange the meal on the top of the cooler
before filling his plate and sitting down once more. “Okay. You’ve talked me
into it.” Pulling off the first chunk of chicken, he dropped it in his mouth,
and chewed. “This is delicious.”

Trinity
nodded, digging into her plate of food as she sat down on the cot. “Carmen is
the best cook around.”

“Carmen?”

“She’s
the stallion manager at Heritage.” Trinity took a drink from her water bottle.
“She’s also my boss, my friend, and feels obligated to stuff me with food every
time I go on the road.”

“A
woman for a stallion manager? Odd.” Cody’s eyebrows furrowed. “Not that a woman
can’t do the job, just that those studs can get downright nasty.”

She
shrugged. More than one person commented on the fact a woman might not be the
best choice to work with stallions. She never paid much attention to the
doubters since Heritage employed several women to work around the horses and,
as far as she knew, they didn’t have any more issues than the men did. “They’re
big teddy bears for me.”

He took
a few more bites and studied her closely. “I’ve read good things about
Heritage. Reputable stud farm. Excellent care. Acres and acres of paddocks. Saw
some pictures online. Nice setup.”

“I like
it.” Trinity sank her teeth into a roll. “They’re good people and everyone
there loves the horses. It’s not a job, but a calling, according to Carmen.”

“Another
Victory Gallop is there, I understand.”

“Yep.”

“You
ever work with him?”

Trinity
smiled. “All the time.”

Cody
arched an eyebrow. “I hear he’s a handful.”

“No
more than Legacy. Like father, like son.” She lifted her gaze, noticed Legacy
dozing standing up, then turned her focus back to Cody. “You never said, are
you living with your parents since you’re on the road every weekend?”

He
finished his salad and tore off another bite of chicken. “Yes and no. There’s
another house on the property, which I’ve temporarily claimed as my own. It’s
comfortable, gives me privacy, and allows me the chance to be gone without
worrying about burglars breaking in since it’s pretty close to the main house.”

She
picked up on the key word. “Temporary?”

“Yeah.
Once I’ve figured out what I want to do and where I want to do it, I plan on
setting down roots.” His lips thinned the slightest, hinting at a possible sore
topic.

Not the
first time Trinity noticed signs of discomfort when Cody spoke of his past, and
now, his future. She certainly understood the horrors of his military service,
but why the thought of finding a home and settling down troubled him she
couldn’t begin to fathom. Bewildered, she carefully chose her questions,
watching his face closely to make sure she didn’t overstep her bounds. “Your
father’s ranch is in Oklahoma, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is
that where you want to stay? Or perhaps wander a bit before deciding?”

He
drank heavily from the bottle and sighed. “I don’t know yet.”

She
nodded. “Fair enough.” Heck, she could empathize. She didn’t have a grasp on
her future plans any more than he did, by the sounds of it.

“Do you
intend to raise livestock or just work out of your home?”

“Another
element up in the air.”

His
tone warned her to tread cautiously. She offered up a soft smile. “Hey, I’m not
about to criticize. Living in the present is where it’s at.”

“That’s
so lame.” He snorted, but she caught the twitch of his lips.

“Couldn’t
resist.” Finished with her food, she set the plate aside and cut the pie into
generous portions. “Ready for dessert?”

“Sure.”

She
picked up the largest slice and delicately placed it on the nearly empty plate
he held out. He eyed the pie and peered over at her. “Trying to fatten me up?”

“Nah.
Just thought since you’re bigger, you can handle a few more calories. If I eat
all this myself, Legacy will groan under the additional weight and have to
hobble around the barrels.”

Cody
chuckled. “Somehow I doubt that.” He stabbed a forkful of pie and slipped it
into his mouth, closed his eyes briefly, and sighed. “Delicious.”

Trinity
grinned. “Like I said, Carmen is the best.” She slipped a smaller wedge onto
her own plate and took a small bite.

He
chewed and swallowed. “Do you ride the stallions there? I hear some farms still
do, others don’t.”

“Heritage
is one that does. Well, only if the stallion is accepting. There are a couple
who are on the ‘don’t even bother’ list.”

The
corners of his mouth hitched up. “Let me guess. Another Victory Gallop is on
that list.”

She
matched his smile. “Yeah. That one has a mind of his own.”

“To be
around such amazing horseflesh day after day. That has to be quite a job.” His
face relaxed as if he pondered a particularly pleasant daydream.

“If
you’re ever in the vicinity, stop by. I’ll be glad to give you a tour.” The
words flowed out of their own accord, but she didn’t wish them back, not when
they sounded so right to her ears.

“Seriously?”
His fork stopped halfway to his mouth.

“Yeah.
I mean it. Swing by sometime.” She sipped her water and watched him with
fascination.

“Deal.”
He finished off his dessert with gusto. “Ummm. I’m sure you would want me to
call ahead if I decide to visit.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Hard to do when I
don’t have your phone number.”

Trinity
set her utensil down and held out her hand. He dug out his phone and placed it
on her palm. She punched in numbers before handing it back. Immediately
afterward, she returned the favor, tossing hers to him.

He
caught it and grinned. “Hot pink, huh?”

She
shrugged. “Hard to lose when it’s so fluorescent the astronauts at the space
station can see it.”

He
laughed. “There is that.” Finishing, he gave it back.

“Does
this mean we’re officially friends?” She slipped her phone back in her pocket.

“Yeah.
I think so.” His eyes sparked.

For a
long moment Trinity could only sit and stare. She’d never seen a more handsome
man in all her life. Built like a living Adonis, Cody didn’t only look the
part, he could perform as well. She had no doubt his strength was born from
years of manual labor instead of simply lifting weights in a gym. While he
might do some time on the machines, she’d wager her boots he stayed in shape
with day-to-day tasks including wrestling with uncooperative animals.

Not for
the first time she recalled his military service and wondered where he’d been
deployed and what horrors caused him to tense and clam up each time she hinted
at those times. Instinctively, she realized he harbored inner wounds that had
yet to be dealt with. She didn’t know much, but had learned a few things from
her mother’s passing. To hold the pain inside was to not only slow the healing
process, but to potentially allow an abscess of negative emotions to form. Once
there, they changed everything until one’s life revolved around the grieving
with few if any positives to counter balance.

Certainly,
Cody had a much different experience, but she recognized the signs. He carried
grief, loss, and deep scars that had yet to heal.

Her
heart broke for him even as she wondered what she could do to help.

“What?”

His
question jolted her from her thoughts. She gave him a soft smile. “I was just
wondering if you wanted more to eat. I have plenty, after all.”

He
shook his head, found the trash sack, and tossed his used garbage inside. “No
thanks. I’m stuffed.”

“Better
than buying a cold hamburger from a vendor.” Trinity stashed the leftovers in
the cooler, then threw her own garbage away in the same bag before tying it
shut so the smell didn’t draw flies.

“Definitely.”
Cody sat back in his seat and straightened out his legs. “Lacey said she was
going out with the girls for dinner tonight. Why didn’t you go with them?”

Trinity
peered down, finding her boots enthralling. She clasped her hands and blew out
a breath. “I never leave Legacy.” Glancing up, she found a serious expression
on Cody’s face plus a hint of curiosity in his dark eyes.

“The
barns are secured and guards walk the perimeter each night. He’d be fine for a
couple of hours alone.”

“Maybe
so, but I’m not willing to take the chance.” She shrugged.