Page 38 of Lost and Found Cowboy
“So, just do the opposite of that.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Good advice. Although I have to say I expected something more from someone who’s older and wiser, such as yourself.”
“Aw hell. What do I know? Being older doesn’t always make you smarter. Sometimes it just makes you older.” She laughed at herself. “But I do know plenty of people who came from broken homes and crappy lives who are wonderful partners in marriage.”
“Yeah, I guess.” His brothers had also been abandoned by their mother, and they all three seemed to be good guys and to be in strong relationships.
“I wasn’t just being a smart ass when I said that you know whatnotto do. Loving someone means showing up and being there and listening and doing your best to take care of them. I was married for forty years before that bastard cancer took my husband, and I can tell you that relationships aren’t always easy. They take work and commitment. But dadgumit, if you find your person, the one who makes you happy, who you can’t imagine living your life without, and who you want to do that work for, they sure are worth it.”
He nodded but wasn’t sure how to respond.
“And don’t assume just because you had shitty parents, you aren’t still worthy of being loved.” She held his gaze. “I understand a little about your situation and your mom. My daughter is an addict, too. I love her, but she has a disease, and she doesn’t know how to overcome that disease enough to focus on being a mom. But I’m thankful every dang day for the chance I have to be with my grandson. It’s not always easy, but I’m so glad I get to watch him grow up and be here for him. I love that boy more than I could ever imagine.” She jerked her thumb backtoward the ranch house. “Your grandfather loves you the same way.”
Mack frowned. “I might be growing on him, but I can’t imagine he feels anything like what you’re describing.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, uncomfortable now with the focus being on him and how his grandfather felt about him. “He barely knows me.”
“Oh, honey. You’re wrong. You are a child of his child. He loved you from the moment you came into existence. I can promise you that. I think he’s so glad for the chance to get to know you now and to make up for all that time you two lost.” She nudged his shoulder. “And don’t sell yourself short. You seem like a pretty lovable guy. I imagine Lorna sees that. Now you just have toletyourself be loved.”
“Thanks Judy. You’re a good grandma.”
“Anytime. I knew your grandma, and June Lassiter was a pretty amazing woman. I think she would have told you the same thing.” She sighed. “I wish you would have had a chance to know her.”
“Me, too.”
She glanced down at her watch. “Shoot. I’ve got to get back to the office. But this has been fun, for Dylan, and for me.”
He called for the boy to bring the horse over then gave him a quick lesson on how to remove her saddle and blanket and brush down her coat. They made a plan for him to come out again the next week, then Mack waved goodbye as they hurried toward Judy’s Subaru.
His phone buzzed as he was giving the mare a handful of oats and praising her for a job well done that day. He pulled it from his pocket and smiled at Lorna’s name on the screen. He tapped to accept the call. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Lyle has Max,” she cried, her voice panicked and shaky. “He picked him up from school without my consent, and I don’t know where he took him.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Okay, slow down,” Mack said, already sprinting toward his truck. “Where are you?”
“I’m driving around town looking for Lyle’s black Honda.”
“I’m coming.” He started the engine and put the truck in gear. Gravel spit from beneath his tires as he tore down the driveway. “Hold on, I’ll be to town in two minutes. I’m already on the highway. Tell me where to look. Or tell me where to meet you, and we’ll look for him together.”
“I don’t know. I’ve already called my house, just in case he brought him home. But Gertie said she hadn’t seen them. I’ve checked the diner parking lot and the drugstore thinking he might have taken him for ice cream, but didn’t see his car either place. Not that he’d ever done that in all the years we were married, but I don’t know what else to do.” She sobbed into the phone. “What if he really took him? What if he’s driving down the pass with him, and I’m just running around town thinking they went for ice cream?”
“Hang on, honey. I’m driving into town now. Where are you?”
“I just drove back to the school. Should I call the police?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Let’s keep looking for a few minutes then decide.” He turned into the parking lot of the school and saw her sitting in her minivan, her head bent over the steering wheel, her shoulders shaking. “I’m here.”
He parked next to her and bolted from his truck. She looked up, saw him, and started crying harder as she opened her car door and fell into his arms.
He pulled her close, rubbing her back as he murmured soft words into her hair. “It’s okay. Shh. I’m here. We’ll find him.”
She pulled back, sucked in a deep breath then swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I’m all right. Just had to get that out of my system.”
Her hands were shaking, and he picked them up and squeezed them in his. “Come on. We’ll look for him together. We can take your car since you have the booster seat, but I’ll drive, and you can watch for them. We can search this whole town in fifteen minutes. If we don’t find them by then, we’ll call the police. Deal?”
