Cowgirl Up Read Online Free

much to lug around and a temptation just
sitting by his stall for anyone walking through. Most of the other girls did
the same, not willing to take a chance on losing valuable and necessary
equipment. Besides, Legacy preferred to be outside most of the time and this
allowed him some fresh air before warm-ups.
    They
had almost exited the barn when a man turned the corner and nearly plowed into
her. Legacy startled and sidestepped, preparing to lash out with teeth first
and hooves second.
    Trinity
shoved against his side, blocking him from the man who stared at her with
furrowed brows. “Trinity?”
    She
raked the man with her gaze. “Gary.” She’d recognize him anywhere. Tall, dark,
and handsome on a large scale. Most cowboys tended toward lean and light,
except for the steer wrestlers and some of the ropers. They resembled football
players in build, height, and sheer bulk. Gary James fit the bill exactly as a
typical steer wrestler. Perhaps not as big or powerful as Cody appeared, but
certainly more than the shorter, leaner bull riders.
    They’d
run into one another now and again over the years, including this one. She couldn’t
say each time made an impression. While the other girls cooed and awed at him,
she never understood why. Sure, he happened to be built like a professional
athlete with sculpted arms, a wide chest, and a face too handsome for his own
good. His brown hair matched chocolate eyes and full lips, kissable according
to some of the girls. Personally, she found Gary lacking. His eyes didn’t
convey warmth nor did his carriage of extreme self-worth make her stomach flip
over with desire. One of the most popular men on the circuit, he lapped up the
attention, flirted with all the girls, and, if rumor held true, had screwed
just about all of them at one time or another. Trailer. Chutes. His truck.
Anywhere, anytime he could get his hands on a pretty lady, he’d go at it.
    Just
another reason she didn’t care for the man. Too much like her father in his
younger years.
    “So
this is the stud everyone’s been talking about.” His attention turned to
Legacy.
    “I
suppose so.” She sighed, hating the polite manners pressed into her from an
early age. “If you don’t mind, I’ve to go get ready.”
    He
didn’t budge, simply stood there and blocked her path. “What do you say we get
together after the rodeo tonight?”
    She
blinked, hardly believing his blunt offer. They had never been friends and she
couldn’t recall a single time where he’d actually shown even a remote sincere
interest in her. Sure, he’d stared at her with lust in his eyes at the first
rodeo of the season when she walked into the arena to collect her ribbon, but
she didn’t think much of it. Most likely Gary flirted with any girl. Either he
was hard up for a lay tonight or he thought she’d bite with such a weak pick-up
line. Neither made a difference as she had no intention of spending the evening
with anyone except her horse. “No thanks. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Starting
forward, she kept her body between Gary’s and Legacy, hurrying past before the
stallion got antsy and kicked the snot out of him.
    Thankfully,
no one else impeded their progress and she soon slipped into the saddle, headed
toward the warm-up corral, and started loosening Legacy up for his seconds of
fame. They had the pen to themselves, which allowed her to move at her own
pace, and let her thoughts wander for a brief time.
    So much
had changed, yet stayed the same. While time passed since she first attended
this rodeo as a kid, she could have taken a picture back then, compared it to
now, and still easily recognize the landscape, the vendors, the stands, and
some of the competitors.
    They
had grown up together, but headed separate ways long ago. A few couldn’t stay
away, but most followed an entirely different path these days. A trail she
might follow after this season.
    Legacy
snorted, bringing her attention back to the present. She signaled