A ripple of apprehension had the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention. “Who called her?”
“Parker. He’ll be at the rodeo tonight.”
“Why is he coming?” Blood rushed to his muscles, trembling with rage at a man he’d never met. He didn’t even know what Parker had done to hurt Jess, but he knew he didn’t want that weasel to talk to her.
“Parker has a way of getting what he wants,” Sharon said. “And he’s evidently decided he wants Jessica back.”
He’s not getting her.
How was Cord going to stop him? Doubtless, Jess wouldn’t appreciate his interference. She’d made it clear she wanted a two-way street if they were going to talk about anything personal. And now wasn’t the time to have that conversation with her.
“In case you’re interested…” Sharon dangled her words like bait, “you might also like to know Jessica’s taking Shadow for a ride at nine o’clock.”
“If I had the time, I’d take Blaze and meet her on the trail.” How could he squeeze one more thing into his day? “But with the rodeo opening tonight…”
“I understand completely, Cord. I’m sure you’ll take care of what’s most important.” Sharon’s inflection made her opinion of what qualified as most important perfectly clear.
Shadow pricked his ears at her as she saddled him up for a morning ride, probably sensing her edginess. In part, she was nervous about the race that night. But Parker’s call that morning had her rattled, to say the least. At least the trail rides were canceled for the day as the staff prepared for the two-day rodeo and the big dance on Saturday night.
“Hey, Shadow. Do you happen to be free Saturday night? I could sure use a date for the dance.”
Parker announced that the engagement was officially back on, despite her protests to the contrary. If she was as strong as she hoped, she would tell him off and send him away with his tail between his legs. But Parker could be really sweet when he wanted to be. He’d spent a solid thirty minutes begging for forgiveness. He twisted her emotions, playing on her empathetic tendencies. Somehow, as he confessed how awful he’d been and proclaimed how he didn’t deserve her, she found herself comforting him and telling him he was a good man.
“What’s wrong with me, Shadow? Why did I tell Parker I forgave him?” she asked, as she led him out of the stable.
Jess knew a ride would be therapeutic. She could collect her thoughts and rehearse a conversation with Parker, one she hoped would be final. But what if Parker had really changed? He claimed losing her had made him reevaluate his entire life, even his opinion of church and God. She hadn’t had the presence of mind to ask him what had happened to his newest girlfriend.
“It’s so weird. I’ve been really angry with him, ever since I talked to Laurel. But now I think I was being too hard on him. Parker actually told me he’d had it out with his mother. To me, that qualifies as opening up. It’s possible he’s truly changed. What do you think?”
Though Shadow never replied with words, he always seemed to make Jess feel calmer. And once they had moved up the hill and down into the open field, she let him run for a bit, enjoying the wind in her face. Nothing else mattered when she was riding. They got in a rhythm, moving together, as she balanced in the saddle. The strength of his powerful muscles seemed to flow into her body and make her feel alive.
At the far end of the field, she slowed to a walk and moved to her favorite trail that led to the river and wound along the shore. Her eyes were on a small waterfall when Shadow came to a sudden halt.
“Hi.” Cord’s left hand tipped his hat, his muscles flexing against a sky-blue t-shirt that matched his eyes. He looked so good her mouth watered, but she remembered their last conversation… or the lack of it. With a rigid posture, thick with tension, he sat in the saddle on a beautiful golden-red quarter horse.
“That must be Blaze.” Horses had to be a safe topic. Since he kept the mare at his family’s ranch home, Jess hadn’t had a chance to meet her. “She’s beautiful.”
Cord leaned forward to stroke Blaze’s neck, and Jess found herself je
alous of the mare. It had only been a week, but she missed Cord’s touch.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“We’re out for a morning ride.”
“Uh-huh. And you just happened to wander down this trail where Shadow and I always go.”
His already deep voice dropped even lower. “It’s possible I came here on purpose, hoping to run into you.”
The air sparked between them. Had she ever felt like this with Parker?
“I haven’t gone anywhere, Cord. You could’ve found me any time you liked.”
“I’m here now.”
“You want to talk?”
“Yes, I do.” A deep furrow appeared between his brows. “I heard your ex is coming to the rodeo.”