Cowgirl Up (23 page)

Cody
grimaced. “Yeah, but Trinity doesn’t deserve any of this. Never has. Whether
Buck wants to enter her life or not, he’s a loser as a father in my book.”

Jared
agreed wholeheartedly. “Sad, but I’m sure she’s not the only one in that
particular boat.” A few beats of silence followed. “So, what are you intending
to do about her?”

Cody
met his gaze steadily. “I’m going to camp out with her every night, make sure
nothing happens again.”

“Guard
dog.” Jared grinned.

Cody
arched an eyebrow. “I prefer bodyguard.”

“Who’s
in love with the woman he’s watching over?”

“I
don’t know yet.” Cody didn’t twitch or squirm, just sat completely still as he
answered.

That
told Jared many things. “But you’re on the way?”

“There’s
a couple more hurdles to overcome.”

Jared
stared at Cody for a long moment. “She won’t care about those scars.”

“We’ll
see.”

Jared
studied his nephew for a bit. “If she accepts you inside and out, you going to
keep her?”

Cody’s
eyes flashed. “
If
she’ll have me,
nothing on this earth could tear me away.”

Legacy
flew to the final turn, bumping against the barrel in his hasty direction
change.

Cody
sucked in a breath as the third barrel tipped precariously.

Trinity
leaned way over, steadied it with her hand, and ended up without a stirrup and
halfway out of the saddle as Legacy galloped full speed toward the finish line
and past. She rode the rest of the way on sheer guts, skill, and a prayer. He
knew because he said a quick one himself.

Legacy
thundered by him with Trinity still clinging to the saddle horn for dear life
as she stuck to the side of her mount, using her remaining stirrup and strength
to keep from taking a bad spill. Cody followed, predicting what would happen,
even as the huge stallion slowed.

Just
when he saw her start to right herself, bright media lights flashed in the dark
night directly on Legacy. He screamed and reared in panic.

Already
in a precarious position, Trinity couldn’t adjust and quickly tumbled to the
earth, landing hard on her stomach with a sickening thud.

Fear
lodged in his throat.

Cody
grabbed the top rail of the pen and vaulted over before sprinting to within a
few feet of the fallen rider. He would have dropped to the ground at Trinity’s
side, but his quick appearance along with the hurried arrival of others set
Legacy off and brought out his wild instincts. The stallion reared once more,
coming down hard with his hooves on either side of Trinity’s head. The whites
of Legacy’s eyes shined brightly. The pole lights illuminated the area enough
for him to see Legacy’s pinned ears, rippling hide, and total body tension. All
blatant warning signals to keep away. Unlike most horses, Legacy didn’t run.
Instead, he stayed in order to protect his downed rider. Throwback instinct
from his wild ancestors.

His
mouth too dry to swallow, Cody waved to the others running behind him. “Back
off. He’s spooked enough already.” Not waiting to see if they obeyed, he edged
closer, holding his hand out to Legacy. “It’s okay, boy. Just me. Let me close
so I can check on your crazy owner.”

Trinity
moaned, then ever so slowly sat up, clutching her chest.

“Stay
still, Trin. I’m coming.”

She
shook her head. “Fine. Breath…”

He
understood. She’d had the air knocked out of her when she landed. Still, he
wouldn’t let the worry go until she got up, walked on her own power, and one of
the sports medicine doctors declared her sound.

Legacy
nudged her and nickered softly, as if in encouragement.

She
reached up and patted his nose.

Seeing
his opportunity, Cody edged closer, until he could touch her. “Let me help
you.”

“I…can,”
she panted.

Keeping
one eye on Legacy, Cody wrapped his arms around Trinity’s waist and lifted her
straight up to her feet, not releasing her until she stood steady without his
aid. “Okay?”

She met
his gaze, nodded, and continued to breathe fast and shallow, like she’d just
sprinted around the barrels herself. “Yeah. When I…catch my breath.”

He
empathized. More than once he’d been in those shoes. Hurt like a bitch and took
a while to expand those lungs normally again. His worry melted away, but he
knew he’d see that fall in his nightmares for some nights to come. Impulsively,
he pulled her into his embrace, nuzzled her cheek, then placed a kiss on her
crown, reassuring himself that she indeed escaped harm.

“Trinity?
Are you hurt?” Lacey nudged Candy closer to them and gathered up Legacy’s
hanging reins.

“I’m
okay. Just knocked…the wind out of me is all.” She smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

“Want
me to take him while you go get checked out?”

“Nah.
I’m fine. Besides…he’s upset enough already.” She stepped to the stallion’s
side and put her foot in the stirrup.

“What
the hell are you doing?” Cody reached out and grabbed her hips.

She
spared him a quick glance. “Getting back on my horse. That old adage about
falling off and getting back on? Well, it’s true. Not just for me, but for him.
It’s a confidence thing.”

He
grumbled under his breath, but boosted her up anyway. As much as he wanted to
carry her back to his RV and check her over himself, he knew she’d not only
balk, but scurry back to her pet. While he admired her dedication and
commitment to Legacy, someone needed to shake some sense into her thick skull.
Namely him.

Okay,
maybe not shake. She already carried bruises from her run in with that bastard
and now she added a few more compliments of her high-strung horse. Legacy
didn’t deserve the blame, though. He’d just reacted.

Fucking
bad luck tonight.

He
watched her post as she trotted Legacy in large circles, presumably to cool him
down after his run and work off the excess tension left over from his scare.
Her curved rear lifted in unison with the stallion’s strides, offering him a
nice view each time of those perfect cheeks.

Damn.

His
adrenaline surge turned to lust. Fast. One minute he worried Trinity had just
broken her neck. The next, he’s watching her calmly ride around and his cock
began to throb with a full blown hard-on.

After yanking his cell phone from the holder
on his belt, he punched in a number. “Lucas? Cody. I’m going to check out that
barrel racing stallion, then go off the clock for tonight.”

“Good
idea. Oh, and while you’re at it, check out that girl of yours too. That was a
mighty hard fall.”

Cody
couldn’t help but grin. The head vet, Lucas, might be approaching seventy, but
he didn’t miss a thing. Including how much time Cody spent around Trinity and
her mount. Especially lately. “Will do.” He disconnected and turned his
undivided attention back to Trinity.

Shannon
came trotting over on her horse. “I just heard. Are you all right, Trinity?”

Trinity
nodded. “Thanks for checking, I’m fine. Just winded a bit.”

Shannon
stared at her a few seconds. “I’m not sure if you have the best luck or the
worst.”

Ain’t that the truth.
Cody shook his head.

Trinity
giggled, a bit breathlessly. “I don’t know either, but thanks for checking on
me.”

“Sure.
That’s what friends do. Besides, I’d hate to lose my strongest competition this
close to the end.” She grinned.

“Don’t
worry. I’m tougher than you think.” Trinity matched her smile.

“I know
that already.” Shannon lifted her reins and gathered her mount. “If you need
anything, just holler.”

“Will
do.”

Shannon
trotted back to the arena, presumably to prepare for her victory lap for
tonight’s event.

Trinity
slid off Legacy’s back and started walking him in large circles, watching his
steps carefully.

He knew
she was searching for any sign of injury, same as he. The only difference is he
studied them both.

No red
alarms went off in his head as he watched Trinity walk Legacy around. The
stallion’s steps were fluid as usual. Trinity moved a bit stiff, but she
probably wouldn’t be able to take a deep breath without discomfort for a few
more minutes. Hurt like a bitch, but, in the scheme of things, meant she got
off pretty light this time.

“Do you
see anything?”

He
shook his head and approached. “He’s not favoring anything, but let me take a
gander at his left rear.” Trinity obviously worried more about the leg that had
been tweaked a couple of weeks ago from the fall. Her thin lips and pale face
told him that particular fact.

Sliding
his hand along Legacy’s hindquarters, he made his way slowly to the foot in question,
finding no bumps, lumps, or signs of tenderness. The stallion even lifted his
hoof for a decent check before lashing out. A sure indication he was done with
the exam. Cody stood back up and patted the stud. “I don’t see anything. He’s
fine, if not a bit surly tonight.”

A ghost
of a smile played across Trinity’s lips. “That’s every night for him.”

“Somehow
I noticed.” Cody closed the distance between them, rested his hand on her
cheek, and stared down at her. “You scared the shit out of me, sweetheart.
First that stunt rider trick of running full speed hanging onto Legacy’s side.
Then that tumble.” He blew out a breath and tried to slow his pounding heart.
“I’m just thankful you’re in one piece after that.”

She
nuzzled his hand, then stood on tiptoe to brush her lips over his. A
mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. “No one said barrel racing was for the
faint of heart.”

He
grinned in relief and a hint of amusement. “True. I think you can attest to
that.” Tugging her close, he pressed a kiss to the top of her crown. “Many more
of those incidents and I’ll keel over from heart failure.” For a long moment,
he hugged her tight until she started to squirm. Reluctantly, he let her ease
back, but couldn’t relinquish his touch.

Her
gaze raked him from head to toe. “You? Heart failure?” She snorted. “You’re
built like an ox and just as healthy. I’d say the only thing that would cause
you to keel over would be a well-placed kick from one of those roping calves
you seem to detest.”

“Yeah,
that would do it.” He chuckled and swooped down for another meshing of their
lips. He plied and licked the seam until she opened up to allow him a deeper
taste. He did a quick tooth count and settled in for a lingering foray.

Legacy
stamped his hoof, then shifted, bumping them both. He absorbed the less than
gentle nudge without difficulty and steadied a slightly off-kilter Trinity at
the same time.

“Damn
stud.”

She
laughed. “That reminds me.”

“Of?”

“I
decided why I like you so much.”

Intrigued,
he waited impatiently for the answer.

“Because
you remind me of my horse. One big, strong, smart stud.” She blinked innocently
at him.

He
smiled wickedly. If she only knew how much she hit the nail on the head.

Soon, very soon, I’ll show her
how right she is.

“Considering
how much you love that horse, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Trinity
peered up at him from under her lashes, then turned away, leading Legacy back
toward the barn.

Cody
fell into step with them. “You sure you’re okay?”

She
bobbed her head. “Yeah. Breathing is back to normal. I might be a bit sore
tomorrow, but that’s it. Nothing to worry about.”

Maybe
not, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. When it came to Trinity, he needed
her safe, happy, and preferably free of bruising.

Together,
they walked Legacy back to the trailer, removed his tack, gathered his dinner,
then returned to his stall.

Cody
borrowed a spare brush and went to work on Legacy’s off side while Trinity took
the other. Since Legacy presently ate like he’d missed a week of meals, he
didn’t worry about the big stallion getting all pushed out of shape with a man
in his stall.

“Just a
couple more nights.”

He
looked at her over Legacy’s back. “Ready for this to be over?”

“Yes
and no.” Trinity ran the soft brush over Legacy’s shoulder. “It’s a marathon of
a rodeo and being here is amazing, but I think I’m about ready to go home.”

“Then
what?”

She
sighed and grinned sheepishly. “Get that milkshake that I’ve been craving.”

“That’s
right. Sit under the stars and drink your treat.”

“You
remembered.” She beamed at him.

“Yep.”
Her expression was his reward. He craved her smiles and cheerfulness, which
proved contagious, turning his glum days into bright, sunny ones. She made him
forget about his scars, about the restlessness, and fidgetiness that
relentlessly stuck with him since he returned home after graduating vet school.

He’d
been with lots of women, been around the fairer sex most of his life. Yet, he’d
never met anyone like Trinity, who refused to stay down after life dealt her
hard, dirty blows. Each time, she bounced back. He respected her, found her
compelling, and felt more for her than he had another woman. Ever.

All
season long she’d grown on him, a bit more each weekend. Now, with his
protective and possessive instincts fully engaged, he realized something. Their
time together was drawing to a close and he wasn’t about to watch the love of
his life walk away.

Trinity
peered up from under her lashes, watching Cody brush her horse. Long, smooth
motions showcased leashed power as the muscles of his arms and shoulders
bunched and extended under his western shirt. His face, now relaxed, notched up
his handsomeness all the more as his blue eyes focused on his task. Her stomach
flipped over in delight and opened the floodgates on her dormant libido.

Lacey’s right.
I’d be a notch on his bedpost, given the chance.