Cowgirl Up (31 page)

“More
so.” Cody blew out a breath. “Once I get home, we need to talk some business.”

A long
moment passed before his father answered. “You’re wanting out of our
partnership.”

“Shit.
Did Jared talk to you the entire drive back to Oklahoma?” Cody ran one hand
through his hair.

Roger
chuckled. “Nah. Just couldn’t wait to share the news about your love interest.
The rest I figured out all on my own.”

“So
we’ll iron out details later?”

“Of
course.” He sighed in the phone. “I want you to know that I like this girl
already. Noticed throughout the season, you’ve got more of a bounce in your
step, more relaxed. I knew that wasn’t from anything we’d done or from your
job. The only thing that could put that spark back into your eye is a woman.
Sounds like she’s just what you need.”

Cody
looked out over the paddocks at the stallions grazing in contentment on the
chilly fall day. He’d never get tired of the beautiful sight. Nor of Trinity.
“She is.”

“Bring
her here, then. We can’t wait to meet her. Elise is already planning a lady’s
day out.”

“That’s
scary.”

Roger
laughed. “Could be. We’ll see you when you get here.”

“Okay.
Bye, Dad.” Cody hung up the call and nodded with relief. He’d started the ball
rolling and it appeared his father planned on helping him keep it going.

Finally,
things were looking up and falling into place.

“Trinity,
this is my father, Roger. My mother, Elise.” Cody wrapped an arm around Trinity
as he introduced her to his parents.

She
appreciated the gesture as she’d been nervous since they stepped upon the front
porch. If she had her way, they would be a part of her life for a long time to
come, thus she wanted to make a great first impression. “It’s nice to meet you.
You’ve done an amazing job with your son.”

Roger’s
gaze flicked from Trinity to Cody. “He’s responsible for most of it, himself.
We just got him started right.”

“So
nice to finally meet you, dear. We’re eager to hear more about you.” Elise
reached out and shook Trinity’s hand.

“And
that gorgeous stud of yours,” Roger added.

Trinity
blinked. “It seems word of Legacy precedes me.”

Roger
laughed. “From the moment Jared laid eyes on that stallion, he’s been singing
his praises. Even had Elise and I checking out the internet to see video of him
running.” He smiled down at her. “Best looking horse I’ve seen in a long time.
Ever thought of standing him to stud?”

Trinity
grinned. Cody had forewarned her that his father would show such an interest in
Legacy. “Thinking about it.”

“Do
that, come up with a stud fee, and give me a call.” Roger nodded his head once.
“I’d love to get some colts out of him.”

“Enough
Roger. Quit pestering the poor girl. She just arrived and you’re already
talking business.” Elise stepped forward and tugged on Trinity’s arm. “Let’s
give you a tour of the house and leave these two men to their own devices for a
while.”

Trinity
glanced up at Cody.

“She’s
the sweeter of the two,” Cody whispered loudly.

His
mother beamed. Roger snorted.

“Come
on, Trinity. I’ll show you around.”

Trinity
fell into step.

They
made the quick rounds, then ended up in the kitchen. Trinity marveled at the
large space, complete with island, newer appliances, rustic tile floors, and
granite countertops. Fancy and functional rolled into one. “This is gorgeous.”

Elise
beamed. “Thank you. When we remodeled a few years ago, I talked Roger into
adding some class. He grumbled, but gave in. Now, he even helps me cook and can
in here.”

Trinity
liked Elise right off the bat. She was chatty, friendly, and upbeat. Not to
mention, each time she spoke of her husband, Elise’s eyes lit up. Obviously,
they were still very much in love after all their years together. “You two make
a great pair.”

“I got
lucky.” Elise patted a nearby stool, then headed to the refrigerator and
started pulling out fruit. “Would you like something to drink or eat?”

“No
thanks. I’m good.” Instead of sitting, Trinity headed over to the woman’s side.
“Let me help.”

Elise
nodded and handed the variety of fresh fruits over. “I was going to cut them up
into a fruit salad.”

“I’ll
do that.” Trinity dropped the bounty off at the sink, then went in search of a
knife.

“Here
you go.” Elise handed one over before opening a package of meat. She pulled off
a section and made it into a patty.

Trinity
started peeling. “I love your house and the land. It’s very pretty. All of it.”

“Thanks.
It’s home. But, I hear Heritage Farm is absolutely beautiful. Paddocks full of
horses as far as the eye can see. Bluegrass blowing in the breeze. The shade
trees. Even the barns are first class.”

Trinity
smiled at the thought of home. “It’s so well kept and everyone loves their job.
It’s easy to block out the rat race and the rest of the world when you’re
there. Time slows when you spend your days working with the stallions. They’re
so much fun, with their own quirks. They keep me on my toes, definitely. But, I
really love it there.”

Elise
studied her for a moment, then turned her attention to placing the meat on a
grill pan. “How does it feel to be the barrel racing national champion?”

“Refreshing,
I guess. Relieved too. It really hasn’t had that much time to sink in.” Trinity
thought about the long, hard road to achieve her dream and found the steps
worth the end result. “It was more Legacy than anything, but I think he’s ready
to retire.”

“Do you
have another barrel horse to ride, dear?”

“No.”
She sighed and glanced over at Elise. “To be honest, I’m thinking about
retiring too. Go out on top.”

Elise
put the lid down on the grill pan. “You sound a bit unsure.”

The story of my life.
Trinity grappled with the
decision, torn and unsettled. “All I ever wanted to do was barrel race. Now
that I’ve achieved that goal, I don’t know what to do. Initially, I wanted to
move away, to start over, but…”

“But,
you discovered that Heritage was home.”

“Yes.”
Glad the older woman seemed to understand, Trinity started cutting up the
fruit. “I guess driving up and down the road all season taught me that there is
truly no place like home.”

Elise
pulled plates from the cabinet and silverware from a drawer, setting all of them
on the oval wooden dining room table in the window-filled nook. She returned
with several cans of soda, setting one on every placemat. Condiments followed
along with a handful of varieties of potato chips. “Home is where the heart is,
I hear. Especially if you have a good man to fill your days.”

Trinity
grinned as she carried the bowl of fruit salad and placed it in the middle of
the table. “Now that’s true.”

Elise
smiled softly. “Not to be nosey, but I see there’s something between you and
Cody.”

Finished
with the task, Trinity started cleaning up the mess. She couldn’t begrudge the
old woman’s curiosity. After all, Cody was her only child, he’d been though a
lot, and she only wanted the best for him. Same as any good mother. “I think
there is. I love him and he’s said the same to me.”

Cody’s
mother helped toss the scraps in a bucket, then rinse out the sink. Afterward,
she met Trinity’s gaze. “He’s never brought a woman home before.”

Trinity
blinked. “Never? Not even when he was in college?”

“Not
even then.”

The
fact embraced Trinity in warmth. She hadn’t doubted Cody’s love, not in the
least. But, any and all reassurances helped. “He’s a good man. A hero. He’d not
spoken much about what happened at war, but I’ve seen the toll it left on him.
Cody sacrificed so much of himself and deserves happiness now.” She spoke the
truth from her heart.

Tears
pooled in Elise’s eyes before she sniffed and wiped them away. “He’s hardly
said a word about the experience, probably wants to just lock it away forever.
But, the scars he carries tell their own story. He’s very sensitive about
those, thinks people can’t accept them.”

Trinity
nodded. “He said a woman once ran out on him because she was so upset about
them. That hurt him deep. But, they’re badges of courage to me. He’s no less of
a man because his back is splotched with red marks. In fact, he’s more of one.”

Elise
patted Trinity’s shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Trinity.”

A bit
surprised at the words, Trinity could only smile. Since she and Cody hadn’t
really spoken much about the future, she didn’t know quite what to make of
Elise’s words.

“Something
smells good.” Roger entered the kitchen, Cody on his heels.

“It’s
just hamburgers. Quick and light.” Elise grinned at her husband. “You act like
you’re starving.” She picked up a spare plate, placed the hamburger patties on
it, then carried it to the table.

“I am.”

Cody
made a beeline for Trinity, pulling her into his embrace. “Doing okay?”

She
peered up at him and returned the hug. He’d obviously picked up on her concerns
about meeting her parents earlier. “Good. You?”

“Just
fine.” He bent to brush a kiss across her lips. “Now.”

Her
heart buoyed.

“If
everyone will take a seat, we’ll get to eating before someone succumbs to
starvation.” Elise pursed her lips at Roger. Her eyes sparkled as she watched
him sit down and open his soda.

He just
smiled.

Trinity
sighed. Watching Cody’s parents proved entertaining and illuminating. She could
only hope her and Cody could enjoy such a fun and loving relationship through
the years.

“What
is it?” Cody nuzzled her cheek.

“I was
just wondering if you’ll still be chasing me around the kitchen when I’m
sixty.”

He
chuckled and nudged her toward the table. “I’ll do my damnedest.”

As soon
as the meal finished, Cody offered to help clean up. His mother shooed both men
out of her domain, only allowing Trinity to remain behind to assist. Cody
resisted, but one stern look from his mother shut his mouth and sent him
striding from the room after his father.

“Let’s
go check the stock.” Roger inclined his head toward the front door.

Without
preamble, Cody followed along, wanting to speak to his father in private
anyway.
Now would be as good a time as
any.
He stepped off the front porch and walked along beside his father.
He’d been considering his business options all day and couldn’t wait to present
them to his father.

“She’s
quite the catch.” His father headed toward the far pasture where most of the
horse herd grazed in the waning light of sunset.

“Yep.”

“Seems
to have a good head on her shoulders too.”

“Very
much so.”

Roger
paused at the gate, rested one boot on the bottom rung, and folded his arms
over the top. “She suits you. The fact that you’ve brought her here makes me
think this is serious.”

Cody
leaned against the old wooden post, facing his father. “It is. We haven’t
talked about the future yet, but I’ve certainly thought about it.”

“What
did you come up with?”

Cody
drew in a breath. “She works at Heritage Stud farm in Kentucky. Lives there
too. You should see the place. Gorgeous. The quality of thoroughbreds there is
phenomenal. They’ve got some big name horses there, including Another Victory
Gallop.”

Roger’s
eyebrows shot up.

“Yeah.”
Cody grinned. “Trinity lives and works in one of the barns. Victory’s barn, to
be exact. He occupies the stall and paddock right next to her stallion,
Legacy.”

“Damn.”

“There’s
more. The staff there is great, treats her like family. Even Victory’s owner
has become a surrogate mother to Trinity. I can see the closeness when they’re
together.”

“Which
means her roots are deep in Kentucky.”

Cody
nodded. “To take her away would break her heart. She’s a part of that place.”

“You’re
moving there?”

“That’s
the plan. Well, I haven’t told Trinity yet, but that’s what I intend to do.” He
turned to lean on the fence, mirroring his father in stance. “I’ve been
restless and lost. You know that. The rodeo circuit helped, but I didn’t feel
at home until I connected with Trinity.”

“Do you
love her?”

“Yeah,”
Cody answered without hesitation. He’d meant the words he’d uttered to Trinity
after their first time together.

“Show
her your scars, yet?” His father eyed him steadily.

Cody
met his gaze with confidence. “She called them badges of courage. Touched them,
kissed them. Made me feel like one hell of a man in the process.”

Roger
pursed his lips. “I can see why that would make a guy think about something
more permanent.”

“It’s
more than that, Dad. She’s caring and nurturing. You should see how she treats
those studs, just like they’re her babies.” Cody peered out over the land. “I’m
happy with her, get to be myself around her. Finally content.”

“Planning
on popping the question?” Roger grinned slightly.

“Soon.
I’ve got one more promise to fulfill first.”

“What’s
that?”

Cody
shook his head. “No way. I’m not saying a word. The last thing I need is for
someone to ruin the surprise.”

“I
wouldn’t do that.”

“Maybe
not intentionally.” Cody shrugged. “Anyway, I’m going back to Kentucky with
Trinity. Live there. Find a job there.”

“Which
puts us back to the partnership.” Roger sighed, looked down at the ground, then
back to Cody. “I knew this day would come. You’ve been antsy since you came
back from the service. We thought vet school was the answer, but that didn’t
seem to do more than keep you busy.”

“You
and Mom have always been there for me. I know that. It’s just…Trinity is my
future. She chases the demons away.” Cody’s voice faded. He rarely admitted the
nightmares and flashbacks from his past, but he needed his father to understand
that Trinity gave him something that no one else could. Absolute acceptance,
love, and a deep passion he craved. “I didn’t know if you wanted to buy me out,
sell my half to someone else, or what. I’d love to stick around and help, but I
can’t exactly drive to work every day from three states away.”