Free Cowgirl Up by Cheyenne Meadows

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