Page 50 of Wild and Wrangled

It just sucked that I couldn’t stop thinking about how close I had come to finding out if she still tasted the same.

“Thanks,” Cam said with a genuine smile in my direction.Take that, Mom.I walked to the back of the truck and pulled the tailgate down so Cam could see the bed frame. It was stained a deep cognac and built in a mid-century style. “Oh my god,” she said. “This is beautiful, Aggie. I can’t believe that someone wouldn’t want it.”

My mom had a gleam in her eye that I couldn’t quite place. “It’s all yours, honey,” she said to Cam. “Dusty, you can get this inside, can’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The bed was heavy, but I got it in the truck by myself with some finagling and willpower, so I was sure I could get it out—especially if Cam was watching.

“Are you sure?” Cam said. “I can help.”

“No, no,” my mom said with a shake of her head. “He’s got it. Why don’t you give me the tour of your new house?”

Cam gave me a look for assurance, and I nodded.

I watched as the two of them walked into the house, heads close together like they were conspiring. It made my heart swell up in my chest. The love my mom had for Cam had always been so evident. It made me happy that they had continued a relationship of their own, even when I wasn’t around.

—

I broke a sweat getting the four pieces of the bed up the porch steps and into Cam’s room. I tried not to think about the fact that I was in her bedroom while I was putting everything together. Luckily, it was quick work this time, unlike Riley’s bed. My mom had built this with these sort of Lincoln Log contraptions that slid into each other and locked into place easily—no hardware required.

When I was done, my mom and Cam were sitting at her kitchen table. It looked like they’d pulled out a set of dominoes.

“Everything good, Dusty?” my mom asked when she sawme.

“All good,” I said.

“See?” she said. “I told you he could manage.”

“You raised a hell of a man,” Cam said with a grin. “That is the second bed he’s put together in my house with no help.”

“You helped a little with the last one,” I said, smiling.

“Not really,” she said. “But I appreciate you saying so.”

“Grab a chair, Dusty,” my mom said. “Come play with us.”

My mom’s purse was on the chair next to her, so I had no choice but to sit by Cam—not that I minded.

“Oh, this is so nice,” my mom mused. “To see you two together again. Makes my old heart happy.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I was scared my mom’s comment would spook Cam, send her spiraling far away again, into the recesses of her brain. I didn’t know how to respond, but that didn’t matter because Cam did it for me.

“Yeah,” she said with a quick look in my direction. “It is nice.”

Chapter 23

Cam

March in Meadowlark was normally cold and dreary. This year, it was warmer than normal—less snow, but also more rain. Everything was still brown—there wasn’t enough sun to bring the earth back to life quite yet, but I was enjoying every time it would peek through the clouds.

I was on my way to pick up Riley at Rebel Blue. It was Saturday, so she had riding lessons with Emmy. It wasn’t warm enough for outdoor lessons yet, so Riley was in the indoor arena, but the side panels had already been removed, so you could see in from outside. I parked my car at the Big House and walked over to watch. My face was cold, but I didn’t mind. The air was fresher up here—I felt freer.

Both Emmy and Riley were in the center of the arena while Riley’s horse, Sweetwater, was walking around them in a circle. When I got close, Emmy noticed me and waved, but she didn’t say anything. She let Riley keep her focus, so I stayed quiet, too.

Riley’s thick eyebrows were knitted together—watchingSweetwater’s every move—and it made me smile. We had the same thinking face. It was easy for me to see Gus in her—honestly, it was easier to see any of the Ryders in her than it was for me to see myself in my daughter sometimes. But that face was all me.

Emmy walked up to the horse and grabbed her halter. “Good job, Sunshine,” she said. “Let’s practice leading, okay?” Riley nodded and walked over to Sweetwater. “And your mom is watching.” Riley’s head snapped over to me, and she gave me a big ol’ smile. My daughter’s smile could warm me up no matter what the temperature.

I leaned up against the fence, and Emmy walked over to me. “Hey,” she said.

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