Page 32 of Lost Trust

I look at her. “Your old room?”

She nods. “You and Ryder are staying there this weekend.”

I look at her father. “I hope we aren’t going to be any trouble.”

Albert waves me off as he starts toward the stairs. “Are you kidding? My mother has been looking forward to having a little one in the house ever since Bryce called. She’s been baking for two days.” He winks at me before disappearing into the house.

Charli looks at Bryce. “So, are you ready to give her the grand tour?”

“Absolutely.”

I glance toward the house. “I should probably—”

“Ryder is in good hands,” Charli assures me.

As if on cue, we hear his delighted voice from inside.

“Wow, those are big cookies!”

I laugh. “Okay.” I look at Bryce and Charli. “Lead the way.”

We walk around the side of the farmhouse, past the enormous barn, and I expect the tour to end somewhere among the stables.

Instead, Charli leads us behind the barn, where a narrow path winds through a stand of trees, and the farther we go, the quieter it becomes.

Then the trees open to a large parking lot.

I stop walking.

A massive set of black iron gates stands ahead of us.

Across the top, bold lettering catches the sunlight—Raintree-Storm Rodeo Academy.

I stare at it.

“Welcome,” Bryce says.

I look at him. “This is yours?”

“Ours.” He gestures toward Charli. “The Storm family and me.”

I look beyond the gates.

The property opens into a sprawling complex.

Buildings spread across the land—some rustic, some modern, all beautifully crafted and somehow blending into the ranch around them.

“A rodeo school?”

“Yeah.”

He opens the gate, and I follow them inside.

“I’ve dreamed about this for years,” he says proudly. “I always knew I wanted to do something with the sport after I hung up my bull rope. I just didn’t know exactly what.”

He looks across the grounds. “Then the whole retirement thing became less theoretical.”

I smile faintly. “Funny how that happens.”