Page 107 of Lost Trust

I walk back toward the porch and walk up the steps to Ryder.

“Come here,” I say.

He hops off the bull and runs over. I crouch down and settle the hat on his head. It practically swallows him.

Ryder looks up at me, beaming.

“A cowboy needs a straw hat in the summer,” I tell him. “Too damn hot for that felt one you’ve been wearing.”

He reaches up and touches the brim.

“You like it?”

He nods enthusiastically.

“You can put the other one up until fall. When it cools off, you can switch ’em out.”

Behind him, Marina and Ginger exchange a look before Marina clears her throat.

“Royce, we can’t accept all this stuff.”

“I told you I was gonna bring the bull by. He can return it once he’s outgrown it.”

She gives me a look.

I point at the hat. “And that’s one of my old hats. I’m not allowed to wear it anymore anyway because of Axle’s affiliation with Outlaw Heritage.”

She blinks. “Why not?”

I shrug. “Company rules. Axle’s not allowed to be seen wearing anything but their brand. And apparently, I’m not either by association.”

Marina glances at the hat, then back at me.

“It’s a good hat,” I say. “Shame to let it go to waste.”

Ryder is grinning so hard that I’m pretty sure his cheeks hurt.

Ginger takes another sip of coffee. “Well,” she says, “looks like we’ve got ourselves a genuine cowboy.”

Ryder puffs out his little chest. “Yep.”

I grin.

Ginger looks at Marina. “You have a good time, baby girl.”

Marina gives her a look. “I’m just going to look at an old truck.”

Ginger’s eyes shift to me. “Of course you are.” She takes another slow sip of coffee, studying me over the rim of her cup. “I guess it’s up to you to turn a boring errand into a good time, stud.”

I laugh.

Marina groans.

Ginger doesn’t even crack a smile.

I like her.

She’s blunt without ever seeming like she’s trying to be.