Page 85 of Lost Trust

Micah looks at me, and his mouth curves. “You really do like her, don’t you?”

I keep my eyes on Marina.

She’s laughing at something one of the girls said, one hand resting on the horse’s neck.

I don’t answer.

Micah’s smile fades, replaced by something more serious. “You think you can break through those walls?”

I watch Marina for another long second.

She used to be so open and carefree. But now she seems determined to keep everyone—me in particular—at arm’s length.

But she remembers our time together, and she enjoyed it, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

I don’t know if I can get through to her.

“I have no idea,” I say.

Micah nods.

I grin, turn back toward the arena, and add, “But I’m gonna have a damn good time trying.”

I walk into the clinic, and Jovie is waiting for me.

“I was about to come looking for you.”

“Sorry, Jo. Got distracted at the arena.”

She sighs and points toward one of the treatment tables. “How did it go today?”

“Good,” I say as I remove my hat and take a seat. “We got a good group of kids this time. Eager to learn.”

“Shirt off.”

I remove my T-shirt, and she starts poking around my shoulder. Digging her fingers into the muscles.

“Easy …”

“Don’t even think about complaining,” she says. “And I was asking how your shoulder held up. Think I got my answer.”

“Actually, it’s pretty good too. Started aching a little by the end of the day, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”

The next hour is a slow, methodical reminder that I am, in fact, human. And my body requires a lot more attention than I’ve been willing to give it.

Jovie starts me with pendulums, having me lean forward and let my injured arm hang loose while I use the momentum of my body to gently swing it in small circles.

“Relax the shoulder,” she says.

“This is relaxed.”

“It’s sitting up around your ear, Royce. Let it drop and keep it loose.”

I glance to the left. She’s not wrong. I release the tension I didn’t know I was holding.

“Happy?”

“Keep going,” she says.