“I noticed Cody and Trina at GP,” Aubrey said in a tone that suggested something more.
“Oh?”
“I noticed that you noticed them too.”
Sunny just nodded, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
“And, unless I’m wrong, you seemed a little upset to see them.”
“I think I was a little surprised.” Sunny felt her cheeks warm to the small lie. Sunny did not like dishonesty. But sometimes the truth was too hard.
“You seemed more than a little surprised to me, Sunny. I’m curious. What’s up?”
“What’s up?”
“Yeah. Are you into Cody?”
Sunny vigorously shook her head. “No, of course not. That’s ridiculous. I barely even know him. And besides, he’s involved with Trina.”
“Says who?”
Sunny shrugged. “Says Trina.”
“When exactly did Trina say that?”
“Oh, you know. You said it yourself, Aubrey, about her getting jealous if another woman is around Cody. And I saw it in person on Saturday.”
“Really?” Aubrey’s tone oozed with curiosity now. “Tell me more.”
“I already told you,” Sunny said quickly.
“You told me Trina ripped into your great-grandmother.”
“Okay, the truth is, I think she was ripping into me just as much.”
“Well, duh. I’m glad you can at least admit that.”
“And your point is?” Sunny glanced at Aubrey, then back at the road.
“My point is that I think there’s something between you and Cody.”
“Why on earth would you say that?” Sunny let out an exasperated sigh.
“I have my reasons.”
“And those would be?”
“I have eyes in my head, Sunny.”
“Yes. And so do I.”
“I don’t think so.”
Sunny wanted to squelch this conversation before it went further, but she couldn’t think of a new subject.
“I noticed Cody looking at you last night.”
Sunny clamped her mouth shut.
“And that’s a look I haven’t seen him giving a woman…for, well, a very long time.”
“You mean Lenora.”
“That’s right. And, to be honest, it was a look he gave Lenora early on—not so much after they were married.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that their marriage had its problems.”
“Really?” For some reason Sunny had imagined them as completely happy, the ideal couple, and the perfect little family of three when Echo came along.
“I wouldn’t tell just anyone this.” Aubrey’s tone grew confidential. “But for some reason, I think you should know. I loved my sister…in fact, I still love her. But she could be difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“She was used to having things her own way. And when she married Cody, she had to make some compromises.”
“Compromises?”
“Not in a moral sort of way. But she had to do with less. And for a girl who was used to having it all, it wasn’t easy.”
“Oh.”
“Like when Lenora wanted to redecorate all of Cody’s house and they couldn’t afford it, so Mom and her went behind Cody’s back and just did it. Meaning Mom paid for it. Well, that created some fireworks.”
Sunny cringed. “Oh, dear.”
“Yeah. And you’d think Lenora would’ve learned. I know my mom started to figure things out. But Lenora would keep pushing. And sometimes she’d go out and max out her credit card, knowing full well she didn’t have a means of paying it off.”
Sunny wanted to point out this sounded a bit like someone else in the family, but out of consideration, she didn’t. “So your perfect sister wasn’t completely perfect.”
Aubrey slapped her knee as if this was a fresh concept. “You’re right, Sunny, she wasn’t so perfect, was she? It’s funny, because I always tell myself that she was perfect. Growing up, she was always five steps ahead of me, and more the kind of daughter my parents seemed to want. So it seemed she always had everything I didn’t.”
“But maybe that was just because she was older,” Sunny suggested.
“Maybe.”
“And then she got sick.” Sunny waited.
“Yeah,” Aubrey almost whispered, “and then she got sick.”
“Unless I’m wrong,” Sunny said quietly, “you probably began to idolize her even more then.”
“You are spot-on right, Sunny.” Aubrey let out a long sigh. “How could I possibly think anything bad about Lenora when we realized she was dying? All I could think was that I was losing a sister—a perfectly perfect sister—one I’d never even appreciated while I had her.” Aubrey was crying now.
“Tissues in the glove box.”
Aubrey opened it, pulled out one, and loudly blew her nose. “Wow.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Sunny said softly as she turned into the Lowenstein Ranch. “I’m sorry, Aubrey.”
Aubrey blew her nose again. “Hey, don’t be. You’re a good therapist. Maybe if you don’t go back to teaching, you could—”
“Yes, yes. But are you okay, Aubrey?” Sunny glanced at her.
“I’m fine. You’ve actually given me something to think about— something I’ve probably been burying.”
Sunny peered up into the rearview mirror to see the Jeep still behind them. “The wannabe cowboys are still on our trail,” she said without enthusiasm as she pulled up to the bunkhouse.
“Well, they probably won’t be here long.” Aubrey opened her compact then and used its small mirror, retouching her makeup to conceal that she’d been crying. “You go ahead and park here. Run in and get on your riding duds while I show the boys the horse barn and help Wesley get set up.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Sunny quickly changed into riding clothes and soon they were all out at the horse barn, where both Wesley and Aubrey were struggling to figure out how to put a bridle on. Aubrey had chosen her dad’s horse, Chase. And, fortunately, Chase seemed to be cooperating—a good thing since Sunny thought she’d heard Echo say that he could sometimes be a little stubborn.
“It goes like this.” Sunny stepped in to show how to slide the leather over the horse’s ears. Next they went to the tack room and with Aubrey’s “help,” it ended up taking about thirty minutes to get both horses ready to ride. But finally both Wesley and Sunny were walking the horses around the corral. Feeling like she was imitating Echo, Sunny gave Wesley a few reminders about how to hold the rein as Mitchell attempted to get some good photos.
“Hey,” called Echo as she jogged across the road toward them, “I didn’t know you were here, Sunny.”
“Now there’s the real horsewoman,” Sunny told the guys. “That girl taught me everything I know about riding.”
“You mean you didn’t know how to ride before?” Wesley looked skeptical.
“I’d never been on a horse before Echo took me under her wing. Right, Echo?” She grinned at the girl.
“Well, so you say. But if you ask me, she’s got horse sense in her blood.” She winked at Sunny. “But if I knew you were riding today, I would’ve waited.”
“And if I knew you didn’t have school today, I would’ve come home sooner.” Then, remembering her manners, Sunny introduced Echo to the guys, explaining about how Wesley was a writer here to cover the Round-Up.
“That’s cool.” Echo climbed up next to Aubrey to sit on the corral fence.
“And I’m trying to get a shot of him on a horse,” Mitchell explained. “To use in the article.”
“So you decided to saddle up old Chase?” Echo appeared concerned.
“Actually, Aubrey picked the horse,” Sunny quietly told her. “Is that a problem?”
“Just take it easy,” Echo told Wesley, “but not too easy. Chase needs to know who’s boss. Besides Grandpa, Dad’s about the only one who ever rides that horse, and he get
ornery sometimes.”
“I hope he’s okay with strangers,” Wesley said with some uncertainty.
“Oh, Grandpa won’t mind. I just don’t want Chase to act up with you.”
“And I don’t want to break a leg or anything,” Wesley joked.
“Although getting thrown from a horse would make a good photo,” Mitchell teased. “I’ll keep the camera ready.”
“Very funny.”
Sunny heard a vehicle coming up the driveway. When she looked up, she saw it was Cody’s truck. “Is your dad picking you up?”
“Yeah,” Echo said. “I asked him to come at the regular time so I could help Grandma with some baking. I think we made about two hundred snickerdoodles. I better go get the bag she made for us to take home. See ya.” Then Echo hopped off the fence and galloped toward the house. Meanwhile, Sunny tried to act oblivious to the pickup that was slowly approaching.
“Easy on that rein,” she warned Wesley as the horse began to fidget and go sideways, almost as if he expected to start circling or twisting. “If Chase thinks you’re pulling too tight, he won’t like it. Go easy.”
Cody was out of his pickup now, making his way up to the corral with a curious expression. “What’s going on here?” he asked.
“Sunny’s giving Wesley a riding lesson,” Aubrey said in a slightly smug tone. Then Aubrey did introductions, but she did it in a way that made Sunny suspect the girl was up to something. The way she went on about Wesley and how he was doing this big article on the Round-Up—well, she made it sound as if it were going to be printed in the New York Times or something equally impressive.
But Sunny was too distracted to intervene. Chase was acting skittish, and she was trying to get Brownie Anne closer to help out. But when Chase started doing a little sidestep to get away, and got a certain look in his eyes, Sunny was concerned.
“And I’m getting some photos,” Mitchell was saying to Cody. “Keeping the camera ready in case Wesley gets dumped.”
“That could happen on that horse,” Cody warned just as Chase skittered across the corral with Wesley bouncing in the saddle.
“That’s my fault,” Aubrey confessed. “I picked the horse.”
“In that case, Wesley should be relieved.” Cody spoke calmly as he slipped between the rails and into the corral, moving directly to Wesley, who looked uneasy or maybe even scared. Cody reached for Chase’s bridle now, walking alongside as the nervous horse continued doing his dance. “If Sunny had picked this horse for you, you might wonder just how much the girl likes you.”
Wesley gave an uncomfortable laugh.
“Easy does it,” Cody said soothingly as he continued to walk alongside Chase with one hand on his bridle and one hand stroking his head. “See how Chase’s ears are back,” he explained. “Not a good sign.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Wesley was holding to the saddle horn now. “Do you mind if I get off before this horse decides to take the matter into his own hands or, rather, hooves.” He chuckled nervously.
“Not at all.” Cody firmed his grip on the bridle as he attempted to slow the horse. “Easy there, boy.” Cody’s voice was gentle but firm, and Chase finally stopped skittering. “Easy there.” Now he reached up to give Wesley a hand as he slid from the horse.
“Well, that was certainly fun.” Wesley backed away from the horse. “Got my adrenalin going. I think I’m all ready for some bull riding now.”
Cody frowned. “You’re riding bulls tonight?”
“No, I’ll be safely in the grandstand,” Wesley assured him. “Thanks for the help with the horse, man, I owe you one.”
Cody nodded. “Good luck with that article.”
“And if you’ll excuse us.” Mitchell was putting the lens on his camera. “We better rock and roll if we want to get a parking spot and catch the first ride.”
Echo was back now. “I’m ready when you are, Dad.” She held up a bag. “And I’ve got cookies to take home.”
“You might need to hide those from your grandpa,” Sunny warned.
“Yeah, I’ve got a couple of secret spots.”
Cody was leading Chase around the corral now, but the horse had settled down considerably. “Seems a shame to put old Chase through all the trouble of getting saddled up without giving him a real ride.”
“Go ahead and ride if you want, Dad.” Echo sounded eager. “I’m not in a hurry to get home.”
“I think Chase would appreciate a chance to stretch his legs.” Cody checked the cinch, then swung easily up into the saddle. “How about you, Sunny? Want to ride some more, or are you calling it quits now that your friend is gone?”
She sat straight in the saddle. “I’m ready to ride.”
His eyes twinkled as he gave her a little half smile. “All right then.”
Echo already had the gate open. “You guys ride as long as you like,” she said congenially, like she was happy to get rid of them. “Take your time.”
“That’s right,” Aubrey agreed. “Echo and I will be in the house. You guys have a good ride.”
“Ladies first.” Cody grinned as he waved Sunny through the gate.
“Thank you.” She tipped her head as she passed him, nudging Brownie Anne into a trot and directing her toward the usual path that led to the creek.
But then she heard the thundering of hooves, and Cody and Chase whipped right past. “Don’t try to keep up,” he yelled over his shoulder.
Without missing a beat, Sunny gave Brownie Anne a sharp kick in the withers and, like magic, or perhaps the horse had speed envy, Brownie Anne bolted so fast that Sunny almost reached for the saddle horn. Instead she simply squeezed her knees tighter, leaned forward, and imagined she was one with the horse as Brownie Anne raced after Chase.
For one breathtaking moment, Sunny saw the ground and the fence streaking by her at astonishing speed. And then she returned her focus to the horse, the rhythm of the gait, the ride, and suddenly they were mere seconds from the creek, where Cody was just turning Chase around to look back. Sunny pulled in the reins now, slowing Brownie Anne and telling her to “Whoa.” And God bless the horse, she stopped perfectly. “Good girl.” Sunny reached down and patted her silky neck. “Good girl.”
She thought Cody would be pleased, but instead he seemed disturbed. “I’m sorry, Sunny.” His brow creased. “I shouldn’t have raced Chase like that. Did Brownie Anne run away with you?”
She walked the horse closer to him, stopping a couple of feet away. “No, not at all. I urged Brownie Anne to run. I didn’t think the old girl would have it in her. But it was like she wanted to run.”
Cody looked slightly relieved, but still a bit troubled.
“And it was a great ride.” Sunny smiled. “Really exhilarating.”
“You were going so fast, I figured the horse had taken the rein.”
“No.” Sunny patted her neck again. “Brownie Anne is a good horse. She only did as directed.”
“Then you should’ve known better.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not an experienced rider, Sunny. You need to be more careful.”
She held her chin up and stared at him. She wasn’t sure whether she was angry or hurt, but she did not like being treated as a child.
He looked like he was about to laugh. “You should see your face, Sunny.”
She held her head even higher, narrowing her eyes. Was he making fun of her?
Cody grew somber again. “Anyway, until you’re a little more seasoned in the saddle, I’d recommend you take it easy.”
She glared at him. “Take it easy?”
“Yes, so you don’t break your neck.”
“And what, may I ask, makes you the expert on my horseman skills or lack of?”
He shrugged. “Don’t get mad just because I don’t want to see you get hurt, Sunny.”
“I assume you mean physically hurt.” Now that the words were hanging out there between them, she wished she could pull out a lasso and, like a
real cowgirl, yank them back. Why had she said that?
He looked perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll tell you what I mean,” she sputtered. “I mean you don’t need to worry about me, Cody Barrett. If I get hurt, I get hurt. And it’ll be my own dumb fault.” Totally frustrated, she turned the horse around and, although she was tempted to run her back, she simply started the horse walking.
The next thing she knew, Chase was riding right next to her. “Sunny,” he said slowly, “I didn’t mean to step over the line. I do realize you’re an adult and that you’re a very good rider. But when I saw you barreling across the pasture, I got worried.”
“So you’ve mentioned.” With her head still high, she kept her gaze forward.
“The horse could’ve tripped on a gopher hole, and you could’ve been thrown and—”
“And the same thing could’ve happened to you,” she challenged.
He nodded. “That’s true. But when I saw you racing toward me, I got really worried about you, Sunny. I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”
She reined Brownie Anne to a halt, then turned boldly toward him. “That’s the second time you said you didn’t want to see me get hurt, Cody. Do you have any reason to believe that I’m going to get hurt?”
He was slightly flustered now. “No, probably not.”
“Because if this is some kind of camouflaged warning about something besides horses and riding, I wish you’d just come right out and say so. I realize you don’t know me that well, Cody, so I’ll tell you up front. I’m not much into game playing.”
“I’m not either.”
She nodded. “Okay then. As long as we understand each other.”
“Sunny.” He gazed into her eyes with what almost seemed like longing.
“Yes?” She felt an unexpected flutter inside her chest. Was Cody about to tell her that he really cared for her?
“I’ve never known anyone quite like you, Sunny.”
She took in a slow breath to steady herself. It seemed the world around her was whirling too fast, like she might lose her balance and tumble from the standing horse.
“And I would like to get to know you better.” He smiled.
Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon Page 21