Her Wyoming Hero

She mulled over his answers while they put on their shoes. “Good” and “yeah” were signs his mood had improved. If only he would stay this way...

“Mom? Did you call Grandfather last night?”

He’d been her little worrier for years. “I did, but let me ask you something. What would you think if I hadn’t phoned him?”

Andy swung his head toward her. She saw that nervous look he often got. “You know,” he muttered.

She’d finished doing her hair and put the brush down. “You mean he’d get mad. You can say it, honey.”

His eyes slid away.

“It’s not much fun to be around someone grumpy, is it?”

He didn’t respond.

“He and your grandmother get mad at me, too.” She applied some lipstick.

“I know.”

Her son understood a lot, but she still had to probe to get at the truth of how he truly felt about his life.

“That’s why it’s nice you and I can be on vacation by ourselves. We all need a break, don’t you think?”

His faint nod gave her the sign she’d been hoping for, but they both heard a horn honk out front. She would have to continue this conversation with him later.

“Let’s go.” She put the card key in her pocket. With a happier heart, she followed him out the door into another day filled with sunshine, sage and Ross Livingston as she lived and breathed. He’d dressed in a brown-and-white plaid Western shirt and a pair of jeans that molded powerful thighs.

She felt his eyes on her as they filed out to the truck. Then they flicked to her son.

“Hey, Andy—how’s it going?”

“Good.”

“If you want, hop up in the back of the truck. You can ride on one of those bales of hay.”

“Sure.” Kit watched him heave himself up without Ross trying to help. Their host was the opposite of Charles who micromanaged him every second of his life.

“One of these days Johnny will be able to do that,” he confided to Andy.

Thank you, Ross. His way with Andy, combined with his goodness, wrapped itself around Kit’s insides, warming her through to the empty spaces in her heart.

“On the way to breakfast we’ll pick up Johnny. Between him and Buck’s new stepdaughter, Jenny, you’ll be among friends. I know they’re two years younger than you, but they’ll like being with you. You’ve lived in Maine and know a lot of neat stuff they don’t. And one more thing. They’re fun.”

“Johnny makes me laugh.”

“He makes me laugh, too.”

Keep this up, Ross. You’re a genius.

His grin was infectious. Kit felt it radiate until her toenails curled. When Ross turned around, she was caught staring at him. “What about you? You want the joy of sitting on a hay bale, as well?”