Home to Wyoming

Jenny’s expression sobered. “I don’t have a dad anymore.”

“I know.”

Her blond head lifted. “You do?”

“Yep. I know all about you. Your daddy was a marine like mine, and they both got killed in the war.”

“But I thought you said you went hiking with your dad.”

“I meant my new dad.”

After a pause, Jenny said, “Your mom got married again?”

“Yep. To Carson.”

“Do you like him?”

“He’s my favorite person in the whole world besides my dad.”

Alex knew what her granddaughter was thinking. Frank wasn’t her favorite person in the world, but she didn’t say it out loud, for which Alex was grateful.

Suddenly a lovely blonde woman in a blouse and jeans came walking around the side of the building where Alex could see half a dozen vehicles of different kinds were parked. “There you are, Johnny. I was just coming to look for you.”

“I’m afraid it’s our fault.” Alex smiled at her. “Jenny and I needed to get showered and dressed while he waited for us. You must be Johnny’s mother.”

“Yes. I’m Tracy Lundgren and you have to be Alex Wilson. Welcome to the ranch.” They shook hands.

“Thank you. Your son makes a wonderful guide. We’re thrilled to be here.”

“No more than we are to have you.” She walked over to Jenny. “Buck told us you just had your seventh birthday. Johnny’s turning seven next week. It’s an amazing coincidence. You’ll have to come to his party. We’re going to go into Jackson to the Funorama. They have all kinds of slides and games, and you can eat all the pizza you want.”

Johnny eyed Jenny. “Do you like pizza?”

She nodded. “It’s my favorite food.”

“Mine, too.”

“I like pepperoni.”

“Me, too.”

Alex and Tracy exchanged amused glances. Johnny’s mother was probably in her late twenties and seemed so friendly. Christy would have liked her. Alex’s heart ached for what her daughter was missing, but today wasn’t the time to be sad. Johnny’s arrival at their front door had brought its own brand of sunshine, something they badly needed.

“Which tree does Moppy live in?”

Johnny looked surprised. “How do you know about her?”

“Buck told me last night.”

He ran over to a big fir. “See that hole?”

Jenny moved closer. “Do you think she’s inside?”

“I don’t know. When she hears voices, she hides. We’ll come back after breakfast and sneak up on her.”

“Okay.”

They rounded the corner to enter the main doors of the lobby. Suddenly Jenny cried, “Look, Nana—”

Alex turned in time to see what had to be the biggest moose head ever. It was mounted above the door frame. “My heavens—he’s enormous.”

Johnny tilted his hat back. “Dad calls him Mathoozela.”

“Mathoozela?” At this point Jenny’s eyes had rounded. “I never heard that name before.”

“It’s because he was so old when he died.”

By now Tracy’s shoulders were shaking along with Alex’s. She put an arm around her granddaughter’s shoulders. “The Bible says Methusela was the oldest man who ever lived.”

“Yep. Dad says he lived to be 969 years. He thinks maybe that’s how old this moose got to be.”

“Maybe he’s even older,” sounded a male voice behind them.

“Dad!”

Alex watched as the attractive dark blond Stetson-wearing cowboy gave his stepson a bear hug before picking him up. “So, introduce me.”

“This is Jenny Forrester and that’s her nana, Alex. My dad’s name is Carson.”

Carson Lundgren smiled, his eyes a bright blue. “Welcome to the ranch.” He coughed. “We’ve been waiting for you, especially when we found out your granddaughter was the same age as Johnny. The more kids around here, the better.”

Alex agreed. “We’re very excited to be here.” What wasn’t there about these people to like?

“Our other partner Ross would be here, but he’s on an overnight pack trip with some of our guests. You’ll meet him tomorrow.”

After the greetings were over, Carson put Johnny back down and curled an arm around his wife’s waist. They appeared to be crazy about each other. Alex remembered being in love like that with Christy’s father once, but once she told him she was pregnant, she never saw him again.

Jenny looked up at him. “Is Buck here?”

“Did I hear someone say my name?”

At the sound of the deep, familiar male voice, Alex spun around to see the former marine walk toward them from a doorway beyond the front-desk area. Last night he’d been wearing a jacket and chinos. This morning he was dressed in cowboy boots, a Western shirt and jeans that molded his powerful thighs. His rugged good looks caused her pulse to race for no good reason.

“I did.” Jenny smiled up at him. “But we didn’t see Moppy this morning.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll catch her after dinner when she doesn’t think anyone is watching. Have you had breakfast yet?” Jenny shook her head. “Are you hungry?” She nodded. “Good. Then let’s go in the dining room. We could eat the three big trout I caught early this morning.”

“You did?” Jenny looked amazed.