Cowgirl Up Read Online Free PDF Page A

to
forget he passed the age of eighteen eons ago. Still, they meant well. In the
way of all nosey old male relatives. “Not any more than the others.”
    Jared
met his gaze and chuckled. “Been there myself, boy. And I’m not too old to
forget what it’s like.” He stepped back and slapped Cody on the shoulder. “Just
call me if you plan on bunking elsewhere besides the RV tonight. Would hate to
mistake you for a thief should you come crawling in pre-dawn and shoot you in
the knee.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Remember
to load up some condoms too.”
    Cody
stared at him drolly. At thirty-three years old, he’d long since bypassed the
need for such reminders. Hell, he’d gotten around. More times than he could
remember. All part of his wild playboy days. Just because his sex life came to
a screeching halt recently didn’t mean he’d forgotten everything learned over
the past fifteen years.
    Besides,
his exploits weren’t up for discussion. Ever.
    Jared
shot him a shit-eating grin before turning around and ambling off, still
chuckling.
    Shaking
his head, Cody went back to taking in the events, his thoughts returning to
Trinity.
    No
wonder she’d come across as a bit defensive and standoffish. An unclaimed
result from a fling, then losing her sole parent. Tough times. Yet, she seemed
to hold herself together well. He’d give her kudos for strength, intelligence,
and tenacity.
    Admiration
and respect grew.
    A man
could do a lot worse than find a woman with those traits.
     

     
    “I want to stay here with you.”
Tears pooled in Trinity’s eyes. Her mother appeared paler and weaker each day.
She was living on borrowed time and they both knew it.
    “Trin. You have to. The points
you earn from the Stampede and the paycheck are necessary for you to make it to
the finals. Without them, you can’t possibly reach the big game.”
    “The finals can wait.” Trinity
sniffed.
    Her mother smiled softly and
cupped her cheek. “No, honey. That’s your dream and this is your best shot.
You’ve got to go. Promise me.” Lora paused to suck in air, her hand trembling
the slightest, a sign of the weak state of her cancer ridden body. “After I’m
gone, promise me you’ll continue on. Fulfill our dream. Ride for me.”
    Trinity wiped away tears. How
could she refuse her mother’s wish? She couldn’t. “I promise, Mom.”
    Lora nodded. “Good.”
    Their eyes met and held for a
long time.
    “I see so much of myself in
you.”
    Trinity’s heart broke a little
more. “I’ll make you proud, Mom.”
    Lora grinned wider. “You already
do.” Her whispered words faded as her hand fell.
    Trinity, with tears overflowing,
caught her mother’s hand and held on tight. “I love you, Mom.”
    “I love you more, baby.”
     
    Trinity
woke with a start, her nose stuffy and with tracks of moisture running down her
cheeks. Using the sleeve of her sweatshirt, she wiped at them, then got up, dug
through her bag, and found a tissue.
    How
many times had she replayed that dream? Dozens? Each one left her worn and
ragged. Not because of fear. No. Because instead of fantasy, this one was real.
The exact memory of the last words she ever heard her mother speak. Minutes
later, her mother passed away, leaving her alone in the world.
    After
blowing her nose, she turned around to find Legacy staring at her as if in
concern. She scrubbed at her face, entered the stall, then wrapped her arms
around Legacy’s neck.
    He’d
been with her through thick and thin. Through her mother’s diagnosis of breast
cancer, through Trinity’s struggle to go to school and work in order to help
pay the bills. Even with her mother’s excellent insurance from her teaching
position, there were always more debts to be paid. Legacy became her best
friend, her outlet, her support. Every day, she’d worked with him, trained,
prepped, and practiced until she knew they could make it in the top twenty-five
barrel racers in the country.
    She
could have made it last season.