The Price of Trust by Amanda Stephan

gone outside. He felt that Carly needed to be alone with her thoughts for a bit, and he was reluctant to interrupt. She stood on the lower rung of the gate and clicked her tongue to get the horses' attention.
    "Here," he handed her some sugar cubes. "Don't give the big gray mare too many. She's got a sweet tooth and won't let any of the others have any. She's not a horse, but really just a big pig." He scratched her ear gently as she nickered at him. "This one is mine. Her name is Ashes."
    "She's gorgeous," Carly breathed. She gave her a few sugar cubes and rubbed her between her ears. "How long have you had her?"
    "I bought her on my twentieth birthday," he answered.
    "And how old are you now?" she asked mischievously, her eyes twinkling. She glanced sideways at him, and he looked back at her.
    He laughed. "Oh no. I don't answer any more questions until you answer some of mine."
    "I never said I would answer any questions," she retorted.
    He winked. "I answered yours, and now you have to answer some for me."
    "Only on the condition that if I think it's too personal, I don't have to answer it. Agreed?" Carly held out her hand to shake. Joe took her hand.
    "Agreed."
    Carly pulled her hand away, blushed, and turned back to the horses.
    "Where do you come from?"
    "From my parents. Next," she teased.
    "You smart aleck. You know what I mean," he retorted, pinching her ear.
    "Ow! Well, you made it sound as if I came from another planet, and I just wanted you to know that I am actually an earthling," she retorted, rubbing her ear. "I'm from Houston, Texas. That was my last real home." She really liked teasing him. She sensed that she had some sort of affect on him and she flaunted it.
    "What do you mean 'real last home'?" he questioned.
    "That's where my dad and I lived."
    "What happened to your dad?"
    "He died about three years ago," Carly said sadly.
    Joe took her hand and squeezed it sympathetically. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
    "No, it's okay. I'm dealing with it." She turned to look at him. He still held her hand. She began to pull it back, and he let it go grudgingly.
    "I mean it. I'm sorry that you lost him. How old were you?"
    "I was twenty-one. Speaking of age, I believe I answered quite a few of your questions, and you still have to tell me how old you are," Carly said casually, trying to lighten the conversation.
    "I'm twenty-six."
    "That's too bad," Carly replied, jumping down from her perch and walking toward the house.
    "What's too bad?" he demanded, following her.
    "It's too bad." She walked faster.
    "What is? What do you mean?" Carly started running to the house and jumped up onto the porch, taking Joe by surprise.
    "I meant that it was too bad that you're so old. You were pretty easy to beat to the house you know." She laughed, opened the door, and walked into the kitchen, leaving a speechless Joe out on the porch.
    Dinner was about ready, and Kelly was setting the table. Carly washed at the sink and set to work helping her. Kelly smiled at her with eyebrows raised. Carly winked at her and smiled back.
    "Time for dinner, boys!" Penny called everyone in. "Better wash up, I won't have any dirty people at my dinner table!" She smacked Tom with her towel as he walked past her. He swatted back at her as she went back into the kitchen.
    "You better find your seats before they get back in here, or it'll just be one big hassle. Thank you for helping me set the table; it's wonderful to have kitchen help. Besides eating, that is. I have all the eaters, but not many helpers," she said, smiling as Kelly and Carly sat down next to each other.
    Todd sat at one end of the table next to Kelly, Tom sat with Penny at the other end, and Joe, the last to sit, was kitty-corner to Carly. After they were all seated, Tom asked the blessing on the meal, and they all helped themselves. Carly sat back to watch how they did things at their table, not wanting to make any mistakes.
    "Girl, you better help yourself if you want