Trust in the Lawe (Colorado Trust 3)

Cody regarded her with interest. “You’ve got the same color hair as Dad.”

“A lot of brothers and sisters do.”

He shook his blond head. “Me and Dustin don’t.”

“Dustin’s your brother, right?” Her other nephew. “Is he younger than you or older?”

“I’m seven and a half, Dustin’s six. He’s over at Ayden and Amber’s house. They’re twins.”

“And what color is Dustin’s hair?”

“Dark, like you and Dad…and Noah.” He kicked the dust with his foot and looked around as if he’d run out of things to say. “Ya wanna see the barns?”

“Sure.” She followed him inside. “Why aren’t you and your brother at school?”

“Teacher in-service day,” he said over his shoulder. “I don’t know what it means ‘cept there’s no school. I like that.”

“I remember those days,” she agreed. Though she’d made it through college, she’d never enjoyed school.

His head tilted. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Hey, you’re almost as old as Colton, he just had a birthday, ya know.”

And he was twenty-six. Another bit of information from his driver’s license. Before she could dwell on the fact that she’d remembered, Cody drew her attention with an impromptu tour. The first barn was for his mother’s Arabians, the second barn for his father’s Quarter Horses.

By the time Noah found them after his shower, they were on their way into the last barn by way of a big, sandy enclosed area that Cody explained was a riding arena. Kendra commented on the cleanliness of all the barns, and Cody grumbled about that being one of Colton’s rules. Then he went on to brag that the last barn was for horses that people brought to the ranch for his mom and dad to train. Some of them came from as far away as California and Florida.

Joel and Britt joined them at that point, having finished their training session with their clients.

“You look refreshed,” Britt said.

Kendra smiled. “It was wonderful to wash away the grime. Thank you so much for the use of the house.”

“Stay as long as you want,” Joel offered. “After a little time to get used to the idea, I’m looking forward to getting to know both you and Noah.”

Another wave of relief lifted Kendra up at Joel’s kind offer. Whatever his reasoning, Colton had kept his word about keeping her secret.

“Cody’s going to love having someone his own age around,” Britt said as the boys left. The two talked animatedly, like best friends who’d known each other for years instead of a couple of hours. “Our friends have younger kids,” she added. “It’s great for Dustin, our five year old, but Cody gets bored.”

“Cody seems like a great kid—and he’s a very knowledgeable tour guide.”

Britt grinned, clearly proud of her son. “He loves the horses.”

“He’s a natural rider,” Joel boasted. “We’re helping him train a yearling that he chose from last year’s foals.”

“An Arabian, much to his father’s annoyance,” Britt informed Kendra with a smile toward Joel. “He’d rather see him with the Quarter Horses.”

“Do you have a favorite breed?” Joel asked.

“Um…” Which to pick? The ones in the first barn had been more delicate looking, prettier. Not that the others weren’t pretty, but they seemed to have big, square butts. If she had to pick, which, judging by the look on Joel’s face she did, she’d pick the first ones. “Arabian.”

“Ha,” Britt teased Joel. “You’re still outnumbered.”

He shrugged with a good-natured grin, and Kendra took the opportunity to ask what she’d be expected to do around the ranch. Joel’s explanation that she’d help Colton with an assortment of duties sent her heart plummeting.

“Colton?” she echoed faintly. That’s it, she decided. She was completely done thinking positive thoughts.