Page 12 of Trusting a Cowgirl

“That’s not a trait you find a lot these days.” She glanced over her shoulder and offered him a faint smile. “Did you ever regret joining the army? Especially considering the feelings of your family back home?”

He shook his head and continued using the brush, letting the swishing sound continue to soothe his heart rate. “It was an honor to serve my country, to fight for freedoms others don’t get.” That didn’t mean it wasn’t hard a lot of the time. “I joined in the spring as soon as I could. After the attacks in New York, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” He peeked at her. “There was a lot of camaraderie back then—when the country pulled together against a common enemy. I guess I still feel that today.”

It had been years since he talked about when he joined the army. It was a different time back then, and every soldier he worked with over the years had varying memories of that day. Kids joining the military these days did so forotherreasons.

Money, early retirement, benefits.

Those who wanted to serve for deeper reasons were few and far between.

“When did you retire?”

Riley refused to meet her eyes, though he could feel them boring into the back of his head. They were finally both to a point where they could relax and just have a conversation. Maybe the problem had been him this whole time. He tipped his head side-to-side, stretching his muscles. “About six months ago.”

“Was it hard becoming a civilian again? I hear it’s hard.”

He fought the instinct to close up again and push her away. She hadn’t asked anything he wasn’t prepared to answer. But the more questions she asked, the harder it was to believe she wouldn’t at some point ask him something too intrusive.

Riley forced his churning stomach to settle as if willing it to happen would solve all the problems he was quickly realizing he had swept under the rug. “Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.”

Thankfully, she didn’t pry.

Releasing a breath of relief, he glanced toward her. “What about you?”

“Whataboutme?”

“You grew up around here, right? What was that like?” He needed the attention off him. One step at a time. He shared, and now he needed to be done. Hopefully she could understand that.

Callahan nodded. She faced him and placed her wrist on her hip, holding the brush in that hand. “My mother passed away shortly after I was born. I don’t even remember her. Being raised by my dad on a ranch, you’d think I’d turn out like some kind of hillbilly.” She let out a laugh.

The sound was like sunshine and wildflowers. Her face flushed and she looked away. “But you know? I think it all worked out. I didn’t have the easiest father to live with either, but he’s getting better.” She tilted her head slightly. “Do you have any siblings?”

He shook his head. Besides his father, he didn’t have any family—just one more reason why people in his life pitied him. “You?”

“Six sisters.”

Riley about choked. His eyes widened as he sucked in oxygen that had been withheld from his lungs. “You’re kidding. You’re not in one of those religious cults, are you?”

She laughed again. The sound was utterly delicious, feeding his soul in ways he never thought possible, and he found himself planning ways to hear it more often. “No.” She snickered. “Iama Christian. Though I suppose there are some people who consider any organized group of people a cult.” She peeked at him, the smile from yesterday returning. “You ready to go for another ride?”

He couldn’t remember the last time hedidn’tfeel tightly wound. He’d been so on guard for so long that having even one brick removed from the wall he maintained around him offered so much relief. Riley returned the brush to the shelf and dusted off his hands. “Sure.”

She gestured toward the pads and the saddle. “Let’s see how much you remember from yesterday.”

* * *

Despite the wholestate of Colorado being in a perpetual state of dull gray-green since the last snowfall of the season, the world felt a little brighter, a little lighter.

Riley hadn’t been brainwashed. He wasn’t going to credit this place with that change of thinking. It was just a nicer day. The sky seemed a little bluer. That was all. Life would soon spring anew, the vibrant greens of springtime arriving just around the corner.

He took in a deep breath and released it. At some point his eyes had closed and he allowed himself to be surrounded by the sounds of this place.

The clopping sound of the horses’ hooves, the occasional bird, the rustle of the nearby bushes. The farther they got from the country club, the more relaxed he became.

“That’s a really good habit to get into.”

Callahan’s voice sounded almost timid. But what did he expect? They hadn’t exactly started out on the right foot.

Riley opened his eyes, and that overwhelming peace dissipated, reminding him where he was and what he was doing there. A gray fog returned to his mind and he glanced in Callahan’s direction. “What?”

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