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Dusty
“So, you do remember how to play that thing. I thought it was just for show.”
I was crouched on the little sofa that doubled as a fold-out bed in the front of the horse trailer, picking out a few rusty chords on my guitar when Cody opened the door. I set the guitar aside. “I wouldn’t call it playing. More like making noise.”
He closed the door and hung up his hat. “Didn’t sound too bad. Hungry? We still have those frozen burritos in the fridge.”
“I already microwaved one. Horses all okay for the night?”
“Yeah.” He blew out a weary sigh, untied his neck cloth, and then started unsnapping the cuffs of his shirt sleeves. “It feels weird to be done by a decent time in the evening on one of these trips. Usually, I’m up most of the night waiting for my turn in the practice pen. I’m not sure what to do with myself.”
“Go call your wife. I’m sure she’s waiting to hear from you.”
“What do you think I just did? Do you want to check in with the ranch? Luke’s probably going stir crazy without you around to bug.” He tugged his phone out of his pocket and offered it to me.
I considered for a moment, then shook my head. “He’ll live another two days. It’s probably constructive for him to learn a bit of patience. Either that, or he’s just moved on to irritating Evan.”
Cody laughed as he sat beside me and pulled his boots off. “That won’t get him very far. Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you about Evan. How’s he doing, really?”
“Who knows. He never says anything.”
Cody framed his hands on his knees and sighed. “He was always that way when we were younger, but he came out of his shell with Anne and Emma. Now, he’s turned the lights off and closed the drapes. Just… shuttered.”
I nodded. “Basically, yeah. I don’t know if we’ll ever see that side of him again.”
“Well, here’s hoping. Blake found happiness again. It’s not impossible.” He got up, tugged his arms out of his sleeves, and then pulled a t-shirt.
I grunted softly. “Nothing’s impossible.” How I wished I could believe that!
“See? I mean, if a screw-up like me can find an amazing woman like Morgan, nothing is too big.”
I swallowed. Cody was a lucky man. “How is Morgan, by the way?” Hopefully, he’d change the subject and talk about them—their plans for the property, the therapy program, the show horses, maybe even a family. It sounded better to my ears than my own bleak thoughts.
“She’s fine. Busy. I guess someone approached her about hosting a kids’ camp this summer. Can you believe that? We haven’t even finished building the place yet!”
“Is she interested?”
“Of course, but she isn’t sure if she’s going to have enough volunteers. A week-long, overnight camp is another level. She was going to call Kelli and Audrey and Jess after she got off the phone with me and see what they all thought.”
Something inside me shivered, and I kept my eyes down. “Jess is still volunteering there?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t she be?” Cody hopped up on the bunk, and a minute later, his jeans went flying, then his socks.
“I don’t know. I guess I figured she’d have found better things to do by now. Or her boyfriend would have found better things for her to do.”
Cody jumped back down, wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants, and set a fist on his hip. “And now the truth comes out. I’ve been trying to put it together. Jess Thompkins, huh?”
I shook my head and refused to look up. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it matters. How long has this been eating you? Six months?”
I lifted one shoulder. “Eleven years. No… twelve.”
“Holy Moses! Twelveyears?Boy, I thought Marshall was bad, but at least he and Kelli tried dating back in high school. I don’t remember you and Jess ever going out.”
“That’s because I never got around to asking her. Look, before you say it, it’s probably nothing Luke hasn’t already berated me with.”
Cody puckered his mouth. “Luke knows? How is it the entire country hasn’t heard by now?”
