Page 19 of My Cowboy Freedom
“You’ll hear the other hands getting started in the morning, follow their lead. Work begins at first light.”
“Sure.” I took both plates back and rinsed them before putting them in the crate on the porch. “You need me to help wash up the rest of the dishes or anything?”
“Nina and I will get it.” He used the diminutive to refer to his godmother as he picked up the crate. “But maybe you could get the door?”
I opened it for him, but I didn’t even try to follow him inside. It wasn’t because Elena stood there sort of glaring at me. And it wasn’t because of the weak, slightly embarrassed smile he wore when he waved good-bye. Not. At. All.
I was there to work, not to make friends. I couldn’t afford any kind of drama at the Rocking C, where starting over meant survival.
Still...
I stood there too long after the door closed behind Rock, thinking about his sad little half-smile and what it would take to make him smile again, for real.
