“What a great choice. He can sleep with you in the loft. You’ll be able to see the mountains from every window.” He squeezed Tracy’s hip, sending a jolt through her like a current of electricity.

  The sweet smell of sage rose up from the valley floor, increasing her euphoria. The moon had come up, distilling its serene beauty over a landscape Tracy had learned to love with a fierceness that surprised her.

  When they walked in the foyer, Susan jumped to her feet. “Hi, Carson. Looks like they found you.”

  He sent Tracy a private message. “That they did. Just so you know, they’re staying with me.”

  “Our luggage is behind the counter,” Johnny announced. “I’ll get it.”

  Her son was acting like a man. That was Carson’s influence. He carried the cases around, but held on to the shoulder bag. Carson picked them up. “Let’s go, partner. You want to open that door at the end of the hall past the restrooms?”

  “Sure.”

  Once again Carson was allowing her into his inner sanctum, but this time there was all the difference in the world, because she wouldn’t be leaving it.

  He led them down a hall till he came to a bedroom on his left. “In here, Johnny. This is where you and your mom will stay for now.” The room was rustic and cozy with twin beds and an en suite bathroom. Carson set the bags down on the wood floor and turned to her.

  “When we planned the dude ranch, we decided we’d use this guest bedroom if there was ever an overflow. Little did I know when I sent you that letter...” He couldn’t finish the sentence, but he said everything with his eyes. Her emotions were so overpowering she couldn’t talk, either.

  “Hey, Carson—can I see your room?”

  “You bet. Follow me.” They went across the hall to his suite where she’d been before. Her eyes slid to the bed where the fire between them had ignited, only to be stifled. Thank heaven this was now. The thought of another separation from Carson just meant pain to her.

  “This is a big room!”

  “My grandparents lived in here.”

  “Look at all these pictures!” Johnny ran around staring at them. “Hey, Mom—here are pictures of Carson when he was little, riding a pony like me! But there’s no saddle. I want to learn to ride without a saddle. That’s so cool.”

  “We’ll try it out in a few days.”

  “What was your pony’s name?”

  “Confetti, because she was spotty.”

  “How cute,” Tracy murmured as Carson came to stand behind her. He looped his strong arms around her neck, pressing kisses into her hair. He felt so wonderful, she couldn’t wait to be alone with him.

  “My grandparents took pictures of me constantly. You’ll see me at every gawky stage.”

  “These are when you were in the Marines.”

  “Yup. My parents’ and grandparents’ pictures are on the other walls.”

  Johnny hurried over to look at them. “Is this your dad?”

  The picture he was pointing to was in an oval frame. “Yes. He was twelve there.”

  “You kind of look like him.”

  “I’ve been told I resemble my mother more. See their wedding picture over on the left?”

  Johnny moved to get a glance. “You do look a lot like her!”

  This was an exciting night, but Johnny needed to get to bed. She needed him to go to sleep because she was going to die of longing for Carson if he didn’t. “Honey? I’m sure Carson will let you look at everything tomorrow. But right now it’s time for bed.”

  “Okay.” He looked at Carson. “Will you come with me and Mom?”

  “I was hoping you’d ask because I’d like to do it every night from now on. Let’s go, partner.”

  Tracy moved ahead and pulled his pajamas out of his suitcase. Once his teeth were brushed, he climbed under the covers of the twin bed nearest the bathroom. While she stood by him, Carson set Johnny’s cowboy hat on the dresser and sat down at his side.

  “Do you know I never thought I’d get married or have a family?”

  “I know. ’Cos you’re afraid you’ll cough too much and a woman won’t like it, but Mom says it doesn’t matter to her.”

  Carson shot her a penetrating glance. “Then I’m the luckiest man alive.” He looked back at him. “I know I’m not your father, Johnny. I could never take his place, but I want you to know I love you as much as if you were my own son.”

  “I love you, too.” Johnny sat up and gave him another squeeze before he settled back down against the pillow.

  “Okay. It’s time to go to sleep now. I’ll stay with you while Carson closes up the ranch house and turns out the lights.” In truth, Tracy had no idea of his routine, but until her son passed out, she couldn’t go into Carson’s room.

  He got to his feet and tousled Johnny’s hair. “I know a little filly who’s going to be very happy when you show up to ride her tomorrow.”

  “I bet she’s really missed me.”

  “You have no idea. Goodnight, partner. See you in the morning.”

  Carson’s gaze slid to Tracy’s. His eyes blazed with the promise of what was to come.

  Chapter Eleven

  Carson’s elation was too great. He dashed down the hall and up the stairs. After coughing his head off, he called out to the guys. They emerged from their rooms in various states of undress.

  Buck stared at him as if he were seeing an apparition. “What’s happened to you? I hardly recognize the walking corpse.”

  “You might well ask.”

  “Something’s up.” Ross walked around him. “If I didn’t know better...”

  He nodded to both of them. “Tracy came back tonight with Johnny. They love me. They’re here to stay and her in-laws gave us their blessing.”

  Slow smiles broke out on their faces. They slapped him on the back. “Congratulations. When’s the wedding?”

  “I haven’t even been alone with her yet. She’s putting Johnny to bed. I’ve installed them in the guest bedroom across from me. After tonight I’ll know our plans better.”

  “What in the hell are you doing up here?”

  “Trying to give her time to get him to sleep. Until we can be alone, I don’t dare get anywhere near her. Besides, the three of us have a business arrangement. I don’t want you to think my personal plans change anything.”

  Buck nodded. “We know that.”

  “If you want our blessing, you’ve got it.” Ross gave him another pat on the shoulder. “Now, you’ve got thirty seconds to get out of here!”

  Carson’s eyes smarted. “Thanks, guys. I couldn’t have made it out of the hospital without you.”

  Ross’s brow quirked. “If you didn’t know it yet, you saved my life with your offer to come here.”

  “Amen,” Buck muttered. “We were dead meat when we arrived at the hospital. It took meeting you guys to make me believe there was still some hope. If Tracy’s willing to take you on, inhaler and all, then you’re one lucky dude.”

  “She’s a keeper.”

  “She is,” Carson murmured. “Unless there’s a fire, I’m unavailable till morning.”

  He heard hoots and wolf whistles as he started down the stairs.

  * * *

  TRACY HEARD HIM coming and hurried out of the bedroom. Johnny had finally dropped off. When they saw each other, they both started running. He picked her up and swung her around before carrying her into his bedroom.

  “I need your mouth more than I need life,” he cried softly. They mouths met and clung with a refined savagery while they tried to satisfy their hunger. But it was unquenchable as they found out when they ended up on the bed.

  “Oh, Tracy...” His voice was ragged. “When you drove away the other night, I literally thought I wasn’t going to make it through the night, let alone the rest of my life. Earlier, when you told me you’d be leaving after the rodeo, I happened to meet the redheaded barrel racer in town and she asked me to meet her after it was over. I told her I would because my pain was so bad.

  “But I couldn’t. Instead I got a message to her that something else had come up and I went on a drive in the truck. I ended up at the pasture, if you can believe it, not even realizing where I was until I got there.”

  “Oh, my darling.” She covered his face with kisses. “Sylvia and I had an illuminating talk before we ever left for Yellowstone. She knew what was in my heart and urged me to do what I wanted. She was wonderful. But it was Johnny who turned everything around. He said he wanted to go home because you didn’t love him.”

  “What?”

  “I know. Can you believe it? But children are so literal, and when he told you he loved you in the tent, you didn’t say the same words back. He decided you didn’t want him around.”

  “I was afraid to say it back before.”

  “I know. You didn’t want to raise any hopes with him, and I love you for that. So when I translated what you said about the feeling being mutual, he was a changed child. I told him I loved you, too, but we needed to go to the park with his grandparents and I’d have a talk with Vincent.

  “As it turned out, Sylvia had already told him the truth, and he told me I’d be a fool if I didn’t stay on with you. That was music to my ears. You really did win them over, and they can see how happy you make me and Johnny. But I have to tell you, you make me so happy, I’m jumping out of my skin.”

  “Then jump into mine, sweetheart.” They kissed over and over again, long and hard, slow and gentle, still not quite believing this was happening.

  “I’m the luckiest woman alive to have met you. I don’t know how I could have been so blessed.

  “Besides being a hero in every sense of the word, you’re absolutely the most gorgeous man, you know. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you since we got here.”

  “Let’s talk gorgeous, shall we?” He rolled over on top of her. “That day at the lake, I could have eaten you alive.”

  “Then we were both having the same problem. The only trouble with falling in love when you have a son who’s my shadow, is finding any time alone. Even now, he’s just across the hall and could wake up at any moment.”

  “I know that.” He ran his fingers through her silky hair. “It’s probably a good thing. We need a chaperone if we’re going to do this thing by the book. I’ve decided that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

  “Don’t I have any say in it?”

  “Yes. Please don’t make us wait months to get married. After what we both went through during the war, life’s too precious to waste time when something this fantastic comes along. You’re fantastic, my love.”

  “How about a month?”

  His groan came out on a cough.

  “I wish we could get married tonight, but a month will give any of the family long enough to make plans if they want to fly out for the wedding. Do you think you can wait that long?”

  “I can do anything as long you’ll be my wife. I guess I’d better make this official. Will you marry me, Tracy? This is going to be forever.”

  “Yes, yes, yes! You’ve made me the happiest woman on earth. Last night while I was lying in bed, tossing and turning for want of you, I started imagining married life with you. I—I always wanted another baby. A little brother or sister for Johnny, but maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself. It’s just that you’re already the most remarkable father to Johnny. But—”

  “But what?” He stifled the word with his lips. “I think you and I were having the same dream last night, but I didn’t stop with one child.”

  “Oh, darling—” She crushed him in her arms. “Johnny’s so crazy about you. To have more babies with you— Life with you is going to be glorious!” She stared into those brilliant blue eyes. “Love me, darling. I need you so badly.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.”

  Hours later, they surfaced. “Did I ever tell you the advice my grandfather gave me years ago?”

  “No,” she whispered into his neck.

  “He told me I could look at a woman, but if she wasn’t available, then that was all I could do. I’m afraid that advice got thrown out the window when you walked into the terminal.”

  She kissed his hard jaw. “You were inspired to invite all those special families here. It’s a great thing you’re doing, but I honestly believe I was guided here to you.”

  “I know you were. When the idea first came to me in the hospital, it came fully fledged, like some power had planted it there.”

  “I believe that. I wouldn’t be surprised if your grandfather had a hand in it, because he could see what was coming and wanted you to find true happiness.”

  “Tracy...” He murmured her name over and over. “I want to believe it because I know I’ve found it with you.”

  “I feel the same way, and I know that wherever Tony is, he’s happy for us, too.”

  He hugged her possessively. “Don’t leave me yet. We have at least an hour before sunup.”

  “I’ll only stay a little longer, because you never know about Johnny.”

  “Then let’s go use the other twin bed in your room, so we can enjoy this precious time without worry.”

  But it didn’t work out so well. Carson finally fell asleep, face down, but coughed enough that by six o’clock Johnny woke up and looked over at the two of them. Tracy smiled at him. “Good morning.”

  “Hey—did you guys stay in here with me all night?”

  Carson opened one eye and turned over. “We did for part of the night. How did you sleep, partner?”

  “Good.” He scrambled out of bed to get his cap gun.

  “Guess what? There’s a ten-year-old girl staying at your old cabin named Julie.”

  “Did her dad die, too?”

  “No. She and her parents are tourists staying for a few days. I’m going to need you to show her how to ride.”

  “Has she ever been on a horse?”

  “I don’t know. We’ll have to ask Ross.”

  “I think she’d better ride Mitzi.”

  Tracy lost the battle of tears and wiped them away furiously. “Johnny? Carson and I talked everything over last night. We’re going to get married in a month.”

  He frowned. “How come we have to wait a month?”

  Carson chuckled. “Yeah, Mom,” he whispered in her ear.

  “To give the family time to come if they want.”

  “Can I call Cory and tell him?”

  “Of course. You can call everyone and invite them.”

  Johnny walked over to their bed. “Carson?”

  By the inflection in his voice, it sounded serious. Carson sat up. “What is it?”

  “When you get married, can I call you Dad?”

  Carson had to clear his throat several times. “I’d be honored if you did, but only if you want to.”

  “I do!”

  “How about if after the wedding I call you son? That’s how I think of you already.”

  “I want to be your son,” he said soberly. “Can I tell Grandma and Grandpa about...well, you know.”

  “Of course. I want everyone to know how happy I am.”

  “I’m happy, too.”

  “Come here, Johnny, and give me a hug.”

  Tracy’s son flew into his arms. She sat up and threw her arms around both of them. Life simply didn’t get any better than this.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Cowboy for Keeps by Cathy McDavid

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  Chapter One

  The tie choked worse than a pair of hands around his neck.

  Conner Durham yanked at the knot, loosening the tie, and then ripped it off altogether. He flung the offensive garment onto the passenger seat beside him, where his rumpled suit jacket already lay. The interview, his third with this particular company, had been a complete and utter waste of time.

  He wasn’t getting the job; the hiring manager had said as much before dismissing him with the dreaded “Thanks, we’ll be in touch.”

  Turning his truck onto the long drive leading to Powell Ranch, Conner slowed his speed to the posted ten miles an hour. He’d have to find a different way to vent his frustration other than pressing his pedal to the metal.

  Maybe he’d take Dos Rojo out, work the young gelding in the arena. He and the mustang, named for his distinctive red coloring, were still ironing out the kinks in their relationship, deciding who was in charge. So far, they were even, with Dos Rojo coming out ahead some days, Conner on others.