Her Wyoming Hero

Good for Kit.

When they reached the cabin, Ross shut off the engine and turned in the seat to expand on her comment. “When you’re seven, a pony is a lot easier to handle. Johnny’s adoptive father, Carson, is a champion rodeo rider who owns this ranch. He got him started on Goldie in June. You should see how he rides already.”

Ross could hear the boy mulling everything over in his mind. “What happened to his real father?”

Andy didn’t miss much. “He was a brave marine like your dad who died in the war. Like you, we invited him and his mom to come to the ranch for a week. They ended up staying, and now they’re married.”

“How wonderful for them,” Kit murmured.

Ross agreed, but the boy had gone quiet. Figuring he’d said enough for now, he climbed down from the truck and opened the rear door for Kit. They both got out the same side. Kit pulled the key card from her pocket to unlock the cabin door, drawing his gaze to the shape of womanly hips below her waist. As for the curves above...it was no wonder Willy couldn’t keep his eyes to himself.

She turned to him. “Good night. Thank you for everything.”

To his surprise he didn’t want to leave. “I’ll come by for you at eight in the morning, and we’ll have breakfast together before planning our day. Good night, you two.”

Ross got in the truck and took off for the ranch house. Before heading upstairs he made a detour to the kitchen for a sandwich and bumped into Buck stealing a donut on his way to bed.

These days his friend wore a continual smile. That’s what being deeply in love did for you.

“Hey—” He nudged Ross, then coughed. “Willy just told me about Mrs. Wentworth and her son. Apparently she’s one gorgeous babe. His words, I swear.”

“If you like brunettes.”

“You don’t?”

“I never said that.” The last word came out on a cough.

He studied him. “What’s she like? Don’t tell me she’s nice.”

Ross bit into his ham sandwich. “What if she is?”

Buck chuckled. “And her son?”

“He’s got problems.”

“But nothing you can’t handle.”

“I don’t know. It’s early days yet.” The conversation Andy had had with his grandfather earlier still puzzled him. Until the phone call, the boy hadn’t said two words. Then he’d switched to talking mode, but only after he’d been urged by his mother to come to the phone. Ross didn’t know what to make of the tension.

“Are you all right?”

“Ask me in a week.” Ross couldn’t take more of the interrogation. He finished off his sandwich, knowing sleep wouldn’t come for a while. “Good night.”

The guys had warned Ross that lightning could strike three times in the same place, and they had the documented video to prove it. He’d laughed off their teasing, but for some reason he wasn’t laughing now.

Chapter Three

After washing and blow drying her hair, Kit got ready for bed. When she peeked in their bedroom, she discovered that Andy had fallen asleep. Considering their long day, it didn’t surprise her. Without waiting another minute, she went into the living room to phone her in-laws.

“Hello, Florence? Andy told me you wanted me to call before we went to bed.”

“We expected to hear from you before now.”

“I’m sorry, but we swam until late with the owner’s son, Johnny Lundgren. He’s two years younger than Andy, but a real joy and a lot of fun.”

Ross’s suggestion that they all swim had turned out to be inspirational. By dreaming up that little competition, Ross had nudged Andy out of his mood. Andy hadn’t been able to resist joining in and had won a round. The praise their host had given him had made a subtle difference in her son, increasing his confidence. Kit could have hugged Ross for it.

“Where’s Andy?” Charles spoke up from another extension.

“In bed, sound asleep.”

“What are your plans for tomorrow?”

She frowned. “I don’t know yet. Probably riding. Why?”

“I’m concerned about Andy. The weather can change on a dime out there. I don’t want to hear you took my grandson up on the Grand Teton with all those lightning strikes. You shouldn’t have gone to Wyoming.”

He’s my son, Charles, she wanted to shout at him. But she understood that after losing Winn, her in-laws were fearful of other losses. Instead she said, “There are too many other activities planned right here on the ranch for you to worry about that. It’s supposed to be warm weather the whole time while we’re here. We’re going to concentrate on riding horses and fly-fishing on the Snake. This is a glorious place.” Like a piece of heaven.

“I was there years ago. The Snake River can be dangerous.”

She took a deep breath. “Charles? I promise our hosts aren’t going to allow us to do any activity where we can get hurt. They’re trying to make this an exciting adventure for Andy.” Kit had already been given proof of that at the pool with Ross.

“But you’re there without Winn.”

“Andy and I have each other, Florence. Now if you’ll forgive me, I’m exhausted and need to get to bed. It’s late for you, too.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow,” Charles announced in his imperious voice.

Oh, she knew that. Twice a day and every night like clockwork. “I’ll have Andy call you after our ride tomorrow. He’ll have lots to tell you, I’m sure. Good night.”

She hung up and hurried to bed. Moonlight kept the cabin room from being totally dark. Sleeping in the same room with her son was a brand-new experience. When Winn had been home, he’d never allowed Andy to get in bed with them, even when he was a small child.

And when he’d been away, he’d insisted Andy stay in his own bedroom on the next floor, and his parents had enforced his rule. She’d slept by him a few times over the years when he’d been sick and needed comfort, but this was different. While they were on vacation, she relished this time alone with him so they could really talk.

Kit turned on her side to face him. As she drifted off, her mind relived those moments in the swimming pool with Ross. She wished she didn’t find him so appealing. She hadn’t come here with the idea of meeting a man. Anything but.

Unfortunately, Ross was the first person on her mind when she woke up the next morning. The knowledge that he’d be coming for them in a few minutes gave her stomach flutters.

Andy had already gotten out of bed and was watching TV. She called to him to come and get ready.

“How did you sleep?”

“Good.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.”