Page 88 of Lost Trust

Albert laughs into his fist.

“I’m pretty good.”

“How many bulls have you ridden?”

“A whole lot.”

“Have you gotten bucked off a bunch?”

“Sometimes.”

Ryder’s eyes go wide. “Did it hurt?”

“Sometimes.”

“Did you cry?”

Albert is full-on chuckling now.

I look at Ryder. “No, I didn’t cry. Cowboys don’t cry when we get hurt. We cuss.”

“My mommy doesn’t let me cuss.”

Jovie, standing behind us, snorts.

I glance at her.

She mouths, Really?

I ignore her. It’s not like I’m gonna sit here and lie to the kid.

Ryder studies me for a second. Then his face settles into complete seriousness. “When I get big, I’m gonna be on a team and cuss when I get bucked off.”

“You are?”

He nods. “I’m gonna ride the rankest bulls too.”

I glance toward the television, then back at him. “Then you’d better start practicing. We’ll have to get you on the back of some sheep.”

His little eyebrows shoot up. “Can I?”

The front door opens, and Marina steps inside.

“Can you what?” she says.

Ryder hops off the couch and runs toward her. “Mommy! Mommy! Royce is gonna let me practice buckin’!”

She pauses mid-step, and he crashes into her.

“Oh, really?”

Her eyes lift. Straight to me.

I grin. “The boy’s got the fire in his belly. Better to start letting him train sooner rather than later.”

“Um …”

Ryder grabs her hand. “Can I?”