Page 6 of Trusting a Cowgirl

“What I mean is that there are things that we realize will harm us and yet we don’t remove them from our lives. You know, like triggers. I bet there are a few things that really just get under your skin, huh?”

“Like you.”

Her features faltered.

There was a small part of him that felt bad for what he’d said. Hadn’t he just told himself he would be the model example of how this was supposed to go? He was supposed to keep his head down and stay out of trouble.

All it would take would be for this woman to go running to the boss and he’d get in trouble.

He nearly apologized, but something held him back. She wasn’t talking to him because she cared about him. This was her job. She clocked in and clocked out just like anyone else in this godforsaken town.

The pad was clean, free of twigs and burrs, which was what he assumed she meant by prickly. Rather than ask her how to put it on, he focused on how she placed it on the back of her horse. It was a few inches away from the base of the horse’s neck.

With the pad placed on the horse, he waited for her next instructions. She didn’t speak as she wandered around the back of her horse, keeping her hand on his rump. It appeared she was checking how even the pad was, but heck if he knew. She might just be avoiding having to say another word to him.

Next, she strode out of the stall and headed for a wall upon which hung several saddles. Should he follow? Was she even going to tell him what to do next? Irritation flooded his chest, poisoning his otherwise mild attitude. “If you’re not thick-skinned enough to deal with a guy like me, then maybe you’re in the wrong profession.”

She peeked at him before yanking a saddle that probably weighed more than her from the wall. “This isn’t my job.” Callahan brushed past him, still carrying the saddle. He nearly reached for it to help her out but thought better of it.

“What do you mean, this isn’t your job? Shane hired you, didn’t he?”

“Technically.”

“Then this is your job.”

She tossed the saddle onto her horse’s back and then faced him. “This is a temporary gig I took on to help out my sister’s boss. I didn’t have to do it. I wanted to. You might not believe me, but I have a deep respect for anyone who is willing to risk his life for my freedom. I’m here to help. But if you don’t want it, then you might as well leave now.”

“I can’t. It’s court-ordered.”

“I assume it was court-ordered in lieu of something else. If this place is so bad, then go find a different solution.” Her voice wasn’t demeaning. It wasn’t harsh or judgmental, either. But it was firm and demanded respect.

Suddenly he felt very small. He might not agree with what this place offered. He definitely didn’t believe it would help him whatsoever. But he could at least try to be accommodating. Ticking his jaw from side to side, he folded his arms and put all his weight on one foot. Even if he had a choice to go somewhere else, he’d have a hard time bringing himself to do such a thing.

He could do so much worse than dealing with Callahan on a daily basis.

Riley let out a groan and his hands dropped to his sides. “Fine. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize,” she said, turning back to her horse. “I don’t think it’s appropriate the way you’ve been talking to me about what I do here, but you’re entitled to your opinion.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

She didn’t move right away. He continued to stare at the back of her head, wondering if she was so uncomfortable she couldn’t meet his eyes. Then finally, she glanced over her shoulder. “I want you to try.”

“Try?”

“Try,” she repeated. “You obviously like the horse. If I had to guess, I would say that you probably would enjoy most if not all of your time here if you’d be a little more open-minded.”

“Try,” he muttered. The word left a sour taste in his mouth. To try would mean that he would have to believe this would help him to some degree. He glanced at the brown horse in the stall he’d just vacated. Callahan had a good point about him liking animals. They didn’t judge. They didn’t pretend to understand what he’d been through. Iftryingmeant he didn’t have to deal with arealtherapist, then maybe it would be worth it.

He rubbed the back of his neck and faced the wall of saddles. They were all different and yet the same thing. How was he supposed to know which one he was supposed to choose?

“I take it that you are willing to do what I ask?”

Riley shot a look at her out of the corner of his eye. “I never said that.”

“You’re not riding Dolly today if you don’t at least agree to answer my questions while we go for our first ride.”

The breath he released felt heavier somehow—like it was a form of dense gas that didn’t have the chemical makeup to float. Instead, the second he released it, he could practically imagine it sinking to the ground at his feet.

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