Page 8 of My Cowboy Freedom
“I’ve got five, three older and two younger.”
“Big family.”
“Total chaos. My mom always said—” As soon as the words came out of my mouth, the intervention they’d set up to discuss mylifestyle choicesreplayed in my mind. My chest tightened, making it hard to catch a good, full breath.
Sky didn’t miss a thing. “She said what?”
My family was still a sore subject. I loved living with Elena but I missed them. “I thought you didn’t want to talk?”
“Idon’t want to. I didn’t mean you couldn’t.”
“Oh.” Of course, now that I had hispermissionI couldn’t think of anything to say.
“You were talking about your family?” he prodded gently.
“It’s not important. We’d better get you over to the barn so you can get started.” I turned to leave, because now that I’d thought about it, I didn’t want to talk about myself either. He’d learn about my family soon enough.
“Hey, Rock?”
I turned to find him holding out his hand. “Yeah?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I got an electric shock when our hands clasped.
“Sorry.”
“That wasn’t anything you did, Rock.” He said the words so gently and he kept hold of my hand. “It’s just dry weather.”
I got all hung up in the rich, dark brown of Skyler Brody’s eyes.
They pulled me in and stole my breath.
They held me wordless, soundless, pinned in place.
He let go first. I turned away and gave a whistle for Maisy.
I thought Skyler might be open to being my friend someday. He might, if the rest of the hands didn’t convince him I wasn’t worth his time.
“C’mon, Maisy,”
I must have given the command too sharply because she slunk past me with her head down and her tail dragging.
“I’m sorry,” I leaned over to give her a pat. Maisy is very patient with me. “Good girl, Maisy. You’re a good girl.”
Someday, I wanted a two-footed friend too.
