Page 50 of The Last Promise You Made

Ryder

MADE THAT WAY

Performed by Jordan Davis

I looked about Addy’s room with a lightness in my heart that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t littered with her personality the way Mila’s room was at my brother’s, but it was a step in the right direction. There were toys piled in the corners, a dragon blanket on her bed, and the closet now looked like someone actually lived there instead of holding a solitary outfit.

“What would you like to do now?” I asked.

She had the jaguar tucked under her armpit as she dug in her backpack that she’d placed right by the bed again. She came out with the Switch and picked up the two new video games we’d bought.

“You really do like your video games, don’t you?” My lips twitched.

She shrugged, but there was a light in her eyes that tugged at me.

“Why don’t you bring that into my office? You can play while I get a few things done.”

She looked around the room as if she was reluctant to leave, and that made me both happy and sad.

“Scratch that. Stay right here. I’ll get my computer and bring it in.”

She didn’t respond but turned her attention to the video game box, trying to open it. I stepped over, brought out my pocket knife, and went to cut open the plastic and tape. She jerked away from the knife, scooting back onto the bed until she was pressed against the headboard. I cursed inwardly, thinking of what she’d seen happen to her mother. I swallowed over the lump in my throat but finished opening both games for her before setting them on the bed.

After I grabbed the bags of trash we’d filled with tags and plastic, I headed for the door. I looked back to see she was already pushing the game cartridge into the device, and my chest eased ever so slightly.

I hurried out, threw the garbage in the cans outside, grabbed a couple of bottles of water, and stopped by my office to get my laptop. When I came back into Addy’s room, her thumbs were moving, and there was a furrow between her brow as she concentrated on the new game.

I kicked off my boots and joined her on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

She stilled when our arms brushed momentarily, but then she settled back into the game.

It was progress.

I opened my emails, working through the small stack that had accumulated since the day before. There was another note from the president of the Eastern Dude Ranchers’ Association, asking if I’d received his invitation to the charity gala, and all but insisting I come so we could discuss my future with the association. As much as I hated his events, I wasn’t sure I could say no. Or should say no.

Jaime Laredo was not only persuasive, he was usually right. In addition, I owed him. Without the knowledge he’d shared, I wouldn’t have been able to save our ranch. These days, he wanted me to step into the treasurer’s position that had been vacated due to an unfortunate heart attack, and while I’d never been interested in taking on a leadership role in the association, it was hard to keep turning him down. On the other hand, with Addy being here, I’d have less time and less tolerance for the politics of the association.

I closed the email without responding.

Addy gave out a frustrated grunt, and I looked over to see she’d switched cartridges and was trying to load the second game.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She tilted the device to me, and I saw an error message stating there wasn’t room to load the game. I frowned. “Let me see.”

There were only five games there—the four she’d had before and the new one. I flipped through the menus until I found the device’s capacity. With a two-terabyte card installed, there should have been plenty of room to load the game. I fiddled around some and then tried to load the game again.

I got the same message.

My phone rang. I handed Addy back the Switch. “Maybe it has a virus, or something’s wrong in the settings. We’ll figure it out. And if we can’t, I’ll get you a new one, okay?”

Her shoulders slumped, and I wanted to run out and get her a new one right then.

“You can take off one of the old games and try to put the new one on for now,” I suggested before looking down at my phone and seeing my mother’s face.

I answered and said, “What’s up?”

“I know I said I wouldn’t push, but we’d love to have Addy over here for dinner,” Mama said.

---