Page 26 of Silent Deception
Cody’s face fell. “Awww, Mom. They might give it to someone else!”
“I promise we won’t,” Valentina assured him. “If you do what your mom says, we’ll talk about it again when the kittens are old enough.”
Trevor walked into the room, took off his hat and smiled apologetically at Kristin. “The truck is ready to roll, but I forgot about my Loveless County Cattleman’s meeting tonight.” He ducked his head in obvious embarrassment. “I’d skip it, but I’m...uh...the president this year.”
“Oh, please...don’t think twice. There’s still enough moonlight so we can ride.” Kristin offered her hand. “I’m just grateful for your help with Cody.”
A taller figure stepped inside the tack room, and though he was behind Trevor and Valentina, she didn’t have to see him to know who it was.
“I’ll drive,” he said.
The deep voice resonated right through her, and her mouth went dry. Cody let out a whoop and raced out the door, but she felt no such surge of joy.
Another awkward meeting...and a drive of a few miles that would seem like an eternity.
This was her lucky day.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The drive home in wasas awkward as she’d expected. She couldn’t think of a blessed thing to say.
Cody couldn’t stop talking.
He peppered the man with questions about horses and armadillos and being a soldier who could shoot people.
She looked across the cab and saw Ryan’s skin blanch, a muscle ticking at the side of his jaw. But to his credit, he gave nonchalant, vague answers and then steered the questions back to safer ground.
She could see a big case of hero worship building in the way Cody hung on his every word.
Bad news, because there was no way Ryan would be a permanent part of Cody’s future, and this would lead to one more disappointment in her son’s young life.
While most of his friends’ grandparents were still in their lives, he’d barely known his Grandpa Nate, and the death of his dear Grammy Cantrell two years ago had broken his heart. The disinterest of his father and grandparents on the other side of the family tree had hurt and confused him.
Night had fallen by the time they’d driven down to her barn and unloaded the horses. Crickets chirped and a far-off family of coyotes cried to the moon, the immature voices of the younger ones adding a discordant note to the haunting chorus.
Scout started barking the moment the strange truck appeared. What a good boy, she realized. Nora had been right.
