Page 204 of Halo

“Good enough for a field trip?”

I narrow my eyes. “Where?”

“Wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”

He takes my hand and leads me downstairs and outside, where a beautiful chestnut horse is waiting near the barn.

I stop walking.

“Nick.”

“Meet Sweet Tart.”

“Sweet Tart?”

“She’s an old barrel horse. Retired years ago. She’s gentle, patient, and probably better behaved than everybody in my family combined.”

“You’re serious?”

“Only if you feel up to it.”

I look at the horse, then back at him. “I have absolutely no idea how I’m getting up there, but yes.”

Before we make it another step, the screen door bangs behind us.

“Wait!”

Grady comes running across the yard holding something in both hands.

“I got something for you!”

When he reaches me, he holds up the dinosaur fabric from yesterday, except now it isn’t just fabric.

It’s a head wrap.

The seams aren’t perfect and one side is slightly longer than the other, but I don’t think anyone has ever given me anything more beautiful.

“You made this?”

“Aunt Bonnie helped.” He pushes his glasses up. “But I did the sewing.”

I wrap my arms around him.

“Thank you so much, buddy.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.” I kiss his cheek. “And I love you.”

His arms tighten around my neck. “I love you too.”

A few minutes later, my old scarf has been replaced by dinosaurs.

With plenty of help and absolutely no dignity, they manage to get me onto Sweet Tart behind Nick. I wrap my arms around his waist while he covers my hands with one of his.

“You good back there?”

“I think so.”