Page 40 of Lost Trust

“Good,” I say as I hold out my hands. “Come here.”

He wraps his arms around my neck, and I hug him close.

My eyes close for a second.

He still smells like the little boy he is—shampoo and soap and that sweet, warm scent that belongs only to him.

“My handsome cowboy,” I whisper.

He squeezes my neck. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too. Thanks for being my date.” When I finally pull back, I reach for his hand. “Okay. Come on.”

He follows me toward the door, his little boots making soft thuds against the floor.

We head downstairs, and I can already hear voices drifting through the house.

Then laughter and the faint clink of glass.

Ryder’s head snaps toward the sound. “Grandma Evelyn!”

“Ryder—”

He slips his hand from mine.

“Ryder!”

He’s gone.

I hurry after him, trying not to trip over the hem of my dress as his little boots pound down the hallway. “Come back here!”

He disappears around the corner.

I catch up just as he bursts through the doorway.

“Grandma Evelyn!”

I stop in the doorway, slightly breathless. “Oh my goodness. I’m sorry.”

Evelyn turns, and her face immediately brightens. “Oh my, look at you!” she gasps as Ryder runs straight to her.

She bends to scoop him into her arms, and he wraps himself around her waist.

Evelyn looks beautiful in a champagne-colored dress, her silver hair swept into an elegant chignon at the back of her head.

“You look so dapper,” she tells him.

“What’s dapper?”

The women around the room laugh.

“It means you’re one good-lookin’ cowboy,” Shelby says.

“Yep,” he says, his hat falling into his eyes as he nods.

I shake my head. “Sorry. I told him we had to be quiet.”

Charli waves me off. “Don’t worry about it.”