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CHAPTER FOUR

The damn dust.

That was Cody’s first thought when he woke at five in the morning. The bed next to his was empty, but of course it would be—he’d come alone. And he wouldn’t have invited anyone to his embarrassing hideaway. The beds creaked. The quilts had holes in them. And even the lamp had been chipped from a drunken toss on the floor.

It wasn’t his finest hour, but then again—it hadn’t been his finest year.

Groaning, he stood from the bed and crossed to the dust-covered mirror. With a handswipe, he peered at himself, at his stubble, and grimaced from the hangover.

He needed to walk his horses for awhile, get coffee, and then find some breakfast. He’d rather do it in reverse order, or get the coffee first, but the horses demanded his attention first.

Smoky and Bandit had been cramped in his trailer for an entire evening. They deserved to be let loose or they’d get as grumpy as he was.

After showering quickly, Cody pulled on some Wranglers and then a plaid shirt. He slipped on his cowboy boots and snuggled into a Carhart coat. Leather gloves came next and he was ready.

The trailer was quiet, but he knew who waited inside. And a second later Smoky’s graceful neck rose over the barrier and nickered to him.

“I’m coming. Sorry, girl.” Cody smoothed as he opened the back.

Smoky was anxious, but she waited when Cody held a restraining hand to her neck. He reached for the halter that had been hung in an inside compartment and then fitted it over her head and neck. Attaching a rope, he led Smoky out first while Bandit stuck her head out over the front of the trailer and whinnied impatiently.

“We’ll be back. Promise.” Cody clicked reassuringly. He shut the gate and then led Smoky out to a small field behind the motel. He’d picked the motel on purpose. He’d need some ground for his horses before he got to where he needed to go.

Cars whizzed by, some honked and others slowed, but they kept going.

Cody ignored them all and after awhile, so did Smoky.

“What am I going to do, huh, girl?” Cody murmured, his hand rose to brush her neck. He patted it again and asked again, “What am I going to do?”

Smoky snorted.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Cody said, resigned. “I got myself into a predicament, don’t I?”

He’d loved and he’d lost.

He hadn’t meant to fall for Caitlyn. In fact, at first—he’d wanted nothing to do with the racy, flashy, teenage girl.

Nevermind that she was his age, but he was light years ahead in maturity.

He’d fought for what he’d become. Caitlyn had everything handed to her, even her husband.

And Cody had done gone and did it himself too. He handed his heart to her and she had stomped on it with a polite smile.

He almost blamed Cheyenne at times.

It was because of Cheyenne that Caitlyn even started hanging around the stables in the first place.

Of course, Cody had known it was because of Jordan Emerson. Caitlyn Powers lusted after that boy for a good dozen years before anything came out of it. And in the meantime, she was there, smiling and flirting with him because that’s what she did—besides breathing.

She flirted.

She was the ultimate seductress and she was in love with being loved.

Cody knew that, but it hadn’t mattered.

When love appears, it’s not rational. There’s no logic and all the reasoning against it won’t win out in the end.

You can’t outsmart your heart. That’s a given.

The only way to outsmart your heart is to get rejected. And that’s what Cody had gotten.

He couldn’t stay there. Not anymore. Hank Powers had been real understanding when Cody handed his resignation to him. He promised a letter of recommendation, and true to his word, it was sent over his email. Cody checked his box later on and there it was.

It was long and heartfelt. Cody wouldn’t have any trouble getting another job after they read that letter.

He didn’t have an immediate destination in mind and that was foolish for someone with two horses in tow.

They needed space to run. He couldn’t afford another day at a motel, in the next city over from Mountain Creig.

After he’d walked Bandit, Cody loaded both horses back up and stowed the grain and water in the food bin. And then he set out for a coffee shop.

He’d seen one the day before, about a block over, so that’s where he headed. And when he got inside, he was rather gladdened to notice three computers and a nice collection of breakfast eateries.

He put in his order. Just plain coffee and three bagels—he was used to early exercise and hard work throughout the day, so the three were needed. And then he plopped himself down at an empty computer and started searching for stables in Raleigh.

He’d thought about asking the girl at the counter, but he rather thought she wouldn’t know what a stable might be. With pink hair and a pierced neck, he didn’t mean to judge, but he didn’t want another weird look from a perfect stranger. He’d gotten a few when he’d arrived the night before, when he ordered himself a beer at the bar, and when he’d been walking the girls that morning.

After an hour of searching, he took the cheapest and nearest for daily boarding and left the coffee shop.

It was a longer drive through Raleigh with a horse trailer, but he got there and pulled into a winding driveway that had a black statue of a horse at it’s end. The mailboxes were beside it so the owners must live on the grounds.

Cody was alright with that.

As he pulled into the looped driveway, he left the truck and trailer by the barns. There were four of them with the biggest in the middle. The main doors had been pulled open and a corral was evident with two riders on their Thoroughbreds.

They were looping them in figure-8s and then they were having them kneel and touch their toes to the ground.

Cody never had his girls do that. It was a ‘showy’ move to do and he never had reason for it. He trained his girls to ride and ride well. The Powers liked to let charity organizations and camps use their facilities and horses. It had become part of their business in the end.

Cody wouldn’t miss the teenage girls, but he’d miss the little kids. There wasn’t anything better than seeing their eyes grow as round as their heads.

“Can I help you?”

Cody turned and he saw a middle-aged man, dusty jeans and muddy boots. Cody felt a kindred and smiled, relieved, “Yes, I sure do think you can. I’d like to board my horses for awhile, if that’s at all possible.”

“Sure.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Clive Smith.”

“Cody Phillips.”

Clive Smith appreciated the firm handshake and thought for a moment. “Phillips…you the trainer over at the Hank Powers’ place?”

“Yeah. That’s me or…that was me. I’m moving on.”

“Oh. That’s a shame. We send a lot of our riders up there. City riding is fun and all, but it can’t compare to the mountain ride that you folks offer.”

Cody felt a twinge, but ignored it. He’d left because if he stayed, he would’ve shriveled up and withered away.

“Thanks, Mr. Smith.”

“Clive. We’re colleagues and of course, you can board your fillies here.”

Cody smiled at the term, but said gratefully, “I sure appreciate it.”

“Oh—listen—we’re down a trainer. Bobby got bucked off and his chiropractor isn’t letting him ride for a month. If you’re not too busy, we could use some help around the place. How’s that sound?”

“Uh…”

Cody glanced around. What he saw was top-notch, the best money could buy, and the owner knew him. Or knew of him. And Cody wouldn’t have to feel so much concern with where he needed to go.

“You know…throw in a room for my own boarding and I’d love to help out.”

“Done.” Clive smiled widely and offered his hand again.

Cody took it, but hid his smile.

“Here, this is Talia.” Clive introduced one of the riders from the corral. She approached on her horse and Clive added, “And this Shelly.”

Cody realized the horse was Talia and Shelly was the rider. A corner of his mouth quirked upwards in amusement. The owner had introduced the horse first, rider second.

Cody could appreciate that.

“Hi.” Shelly said warmly and offered a gloved hand.

Cody took it and marveled at it’s delicateness. Her handling of Talia and riding denied the petite strength that Cody felt.

“Hello.”

“This is Cody Phillips. He’s going to help out in Bobby’s stead.” Clive shook his head. “Damn fool. Make him feel welcome and show him the ropes.” And with that, Clive left. He approached the house, that Cody realized was behind the second barn, but by then—Shelly had already dismounted and was standing by the gate.

Cody saw that Talia was being led away.

“She’s a volunteer.” Shelly explained.

Cody glanced back again.

“I don’t remember her name.” Shelly apologized. “I should, but I don’t. There’s so many that come and go. Some show up for a day, thinking they’re going to be riding on that same day, and don’t ever show up again. We don’t it that way around here.”

Cody nodded. “I get that. I had a few volunteers, but only one was…”

Cheyenne had taught him in the end.

“Yeah. Clive mentioned that you used to train for Hank Powers?” Shelly asked.

“He did?” Cody asked sharply. “When was this?”

“This morning. He said you’d be coming over.”

“He did, huh?”

Clive had known before Cody had known. Imagine that.

“I think so, or maybe it was last night…does it matter?” Shelly asked, distracted. She frowned, and smothered a curse. “That handler doesn’t know how to work with Talia. I swear, they aren’t supposed to work with horses above their level. There’s a reason we have our rules.”

Cody frowned, but waited. Unsure.

“Did you ever have any problems with your volunteers?”

“Uh…actually, not really.”

Caitlyn had been the problem, in the end, but her friends had just giggled whenever they tried to help. They giggled and hit on him, that was their entertainment. And the only boy that helped out was surprisingly quiet. He did whatever Cody said to do.

Funny. He’d grown up to be Caitlyn’s husband.

And then there was Cheyenne.

“One of my volunteers was…gifted.” Cody said softly. And she was. Cheyenne had quieted the horses by her mere presence. He couldn’t explain it, he couldn’t understand it, but he only knew—deep down—that Cheyenne knew something he didn’t.

She spoke or communicated with the horses that Cody knew wasn’t in any book for him to read.

It was the gift.

And sometimes he hated her for it.

One touch and a nervousness would be calmed away. By the end, if Cody needed something done and he knew he couldn’t do it—he sent Cheyenne and it was always done.

“Really?” Shelly exasperation brought him back to their conversation. “Mine just think they’re gifted.”

“No, really…she was. In fact…” He’d been about to invite her to the Powers’ Ranch, to meet Cheyenne, to see how it was riding in the mountains, but then he remembered…and he said nothing instead.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Cody smiled politely.

“Okay, well…,” Shelly gestured behind her and led the way. “I’ll show you where we sleep.”

“You sleep here too?”

“Everyone sleeps here. The staff, anyway, or well—most of us.” Shelly ducked through a small doorway to a room that opened on the other side. It was attached to the main corral and it housed seventeen bunk beds.

“Yeah, uh…” Shelly grimaced.

That was when Cody noticed her brown hair was put into two braids that hung loose over her shoulders. She wore tight wrangler jeans, a pink t-shirt, and faded cowboy boots.

It was odd, how he hadn’t noticed before.

“Some school groups or church groups come here. This is where they stay. It’s…trying at times.”

“What’d you mean before? When you said that most of the staff stays here.”

“Oh.” Something flashed in her eyes, but she shrugged it away. “Just Joseph and Mallory. They’re Clive’s kids. They’re technically staff, but they just ride. They don’t muck the stalls or anything else.”

“How old are they?”

“Our age. They go to the University and come here when they can. Mallory’s here more than Joseph, but they’re both here long enough to be pains in our asses.” Shelly opened a closed door and gestured, “This is where we sleep.”

Cody stayed for another hour, got the tour, and was impressed with the buildings. They housed seventy five horses with two additional corrals in the back and a field to let the horses roam.

Shelly was just one of the five other trainers. Cody was their sixth and he learned that Mallory and Joseph both trained only one horse at a time. And those were usually reworked by another of the trainers.

At the end of the day, after he’d unloaded Smoky and Bandit, Cody settled back on the porch with Shelly and Gavin, a bit perplexed at how fast everything had moved.

He couldn’t help but wonder if Hank had known before he had. And maybe he had.

But Cody doubted that he’d find another Cheyenne among the volunteers.

They were inner-city kids. The trainers only heard stories about mountain riding.

And the best ‘gift’ that they’d seen was the Christmas bonus in their paycheck.

When a Rolls Royce arrived and a tall, lean, blonde girl exited and immediately walked into the corral barn, Cody asked, “Who’s that?”

Gavin replied, “Boss’s kid.”

“That’s Mallory. She’s here to feed Snowball.” Shelly added.

“Her latest pet.” Gavin advised. “And she’ll love you.”

“What do you mean?” Cody glanced between the two, saw the shared look.

“You trained in the mountains. She’s been wanting to do that since she was eleven, but Clive never allowed it. Now she’s got a personal guide.”

“Hope you didn’t leave anyone you’d rather not see again because it ain’t going to happen.” Gavin smiled.

“What are you talking about?”

“As soon as she can work it, Mallory’s going to be all over you and you’re going to be taking her up there for her personal horseride in the cliffhills.” Shelly smiled tightly.

“Cliffhills? She’s going to want to go straight to the mountain.” Gavin rolled his eyes.

“The mountain is too dangerous.” Cody answered, absentmindedly, as he watched Mallory lead an Appaloosa into the back corral. “We only ride in the cliffhills.”

“She’s not going to listen to that.” Shelly sighed.

All three of them watched as Mallory expertly guided Snowball through an intricate pattern of lopes, circles, backpedaling, and cantering.

Cody was impressed at the end of the show.

Shelly was annoyed.

And Gavin watched with a lip curled upwards in anticipation.

“She’s not bad.” Cody noted.

“Yeah. And she’s knows it.” Shelly sighed dramatically and left.

Gavin gestured towards her, but waited until she was out of hearing distance. He said, “She and Mallory have history.”

Cody waited, not sure if he wanted to know.

“Shelly used to go with Joseph, but Mallory brought around this other girl. Joseph went like a horse to grain. Shelly didn’t stand a chance. She blames Mallory for it. She thinks Mallory did it on purpose.”

“Did she?” Cody watched. Mallory was now brushing Snowball.

“Probably.” Gavin shrugged. “That’s the type of girl she is, even if she is better than Shelly with the horses.”

Cody narrowed his eyes, but kept watching. He couldn’t tear his eyes away in fact.

Gavin smiled and asked, “She’s privileged. That’s the only reason I don’t like her, but she’s good. She’s one of the best riders that I’ve seen. Don’t tell anyone that I said that. I might have to hurt you if you do.”

He’d been joking, but it fell on deaf ears.

Cody murmured, to himself, “I’ve known better.”

He hadn’t realized that he’d spoken aloud until Gavin said, “Then I’d like to meet this person.”

Cody swung his gaze back, startled, and said, “I’d like to not go back there, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh.” Understanding dawned and Gavin nodded. “I got it. She’s the one you don’t want to see again?”

“No, but that person is there too.”

And she was married to someone else. That was the problem. Cody’s haunt.

“Phillips!” Clive called out from the corral. He stood next to Mallory, who’d turned to see. Clive waved, “Come down here. I want you to meet my daughter.”

Cody stood, but Gavin warned, “You might be seeing that girl sooner than you think.”

And as Cody stood to shake the new daughter’s hand, the old daughter was snuggled in her husband’s arms, enjoying their first sundown as a married couple. The first one had gone unnoticed. Too many wedding details. Too many distractions by the name of Emerson.

As Cody touched hands with Mallory, Caitlyn smiled at Timothy and vowed to never go near Jordan Emerson again.

If she did, she might as well sign the divorce papers then and there, because there was no going back.

Timothy tightened his hold and watched from behind Caitlyn, both in the hotel robes.

He didn’t know what his wife was thinking about, but he caught the resolve in her eyes. Something loosened inside of him. Something that he’d known was there, but what he said to Cheyenne was true.

It shouldn’t be Jordan who needed to stay away. It should’ve been Caitlyn and now Timothy wondered if that was a possibility. And maybe, just maybe, he’d fallen in love with the right girl.

Not the one that was currently riding Ethereal, her hands wrapped around the white mare’s neck, as she watched, dreamily, to the Mustangs beside her. The starred Stallion whinnied and the herd shifted to answer his call.

Ethereal was excited beneath her.

The storm was just around the corner.

The Mustangs, uncharacteristically, wanted to meet it head-on.

This was a storm that shelter wouldn’t help any.

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