The men lifted the children. While Ralph helped Monica, Carson picked up Tracy. This time the contact of their thighs brushing against each other flowed through her like a current of electricity. She tried to suppress her gasp but feared he’d heard it.

  On the short trip through the sage, the kids sang. They sounded happy, and Tracy started singing with them. It took her back to her youth. She’d had a pretty idyllic childhood. When Carson pulled the truck up in front of the house, she didn’t want the moment to end.

  Ralph moved first and helped everyone down, including Tracy. That was good. She didn’t dare get that close to Carson again tonight. He’d kept the engine idling and said he’d see them in a minute before he took off around the back of the house. Everyone hurried inside to wash up.

  Soon Carson joined them, bringing sodas from the kitchen. He sat on one of the leather chairs while the rest of them gathered round the big screen on two large leather couches. Fortunately, they had the game room to themselves.

  To the boys’ disappointment, Rachel chose The Princess Bride, but Tracy enjoyed it and got the feeling all the grownups did, too. Before it was over, both Sam and Johnny’s eyes had closed. Ralph took his son home, leaving Rachel to finish the film with her mom.

  Carson eyed Tracy. “Johnny’s had a big day, too. I’ll walk you to your cabin.”

  Her heart jumped at the idea of being alone with him, but to turn him down would cause attention. Instead, she said good-night to the others and followed him out of the ranch house while he held Johnny’s hand. Her son was pretty groggy all the way to the cabin.

  Tracy had to laugh when he staggered into the bedroom. Carson looked on with a smile as she got him changed into pajamas and tucked him into bed without a visit to the bathroom. “My son is zonked.”

  He nodded. “Johnny’s gone nonstop all day. This altitude wears a man out.”

  She turned off the light and they went into the front room where another bout of coughing ensued. Tracy darted him an anxious glance. “You should be in bed, too.”

  Carson cocked his head. “Is that your polite way of trying to get me to leave?”

  She hadn’t expected that question. “No—” she answered rather too emotionally, revealing her guilt. “Not at all.”

  “Good, because I rested earlier and now I’m not tired.” He removed his hat and tossed it on the table.

  “Please help yourself to any of the snacks.” She folded her legs under her and sank down on the end of the couch.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” He reached for the pine nuts. The next thing she knew, he’d lounged back in one of the overstuffed chairs, extending his long legs. “We need to have a little talk.”

  Alarmed, she sat forward. “Is there something wrong?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.” Between narrowed lids his eyes burned a hot blue, searing her insides.

  “I don’t understand.”

  He stopped munching. “I think you do. You need to be honest with me. Are you uncomfortable around me?”

  She swallowed with difficulty, looking everywhere except at him. “If I’ve made you feel that way, then it’s purely unintentional. I’m so sorry.”

  “So you do admit there’s a problem.”

  Tracy got to her feet. “Not with you,” she murmured.

  “Johnny, then?”

  Her eyes widened. “How can you even ask me that?”

  The question seemed to please him because the muscles in his face relaxed. “Does your family wish you hadn’t come?”

  “I know my in-laws were astounded you and your friends had made such an opportunity available in honor of their son. They were really touched, but I believe they thought Johnny would want to turn right around and come home.”

  One brow dipped. “Is that what you thought, too?”

  “When I first told Johnny about the letter, he said he didn’t want to go. I knew why. Wyoming sounded too far away.”

  “What did you do to change his mind?”

  “I asked him if he at least wanted to see the brochure you sent. He agreed to take a look. The second he saw that photo of the Tetons, he was blown away.”

  Their gazes fused. “Those mountains have a profound effect on everyone.”

  “Then he wanted to know about white water. But something extraordinary happened when he saw that gigantic elk with the huge horns...” Carson chuckled. “He looked at me and I felt his soul peer into mine before he asked me if I wanted to go. He always asks me first how I feel when he wants something but is afraid to tell me.

  “I still wasn’t sure how he’d feel after he got here. In retrospect, even if he’d wanted to turn right around, that airplane trip from Salt Lake would have put him off flying for a while.”

  Carson’s smile widened, giving her heart another workout.

  “My sister-in-law Natalie thought it was a fantastic opportunity and urged me to accept the invitation, but I don’t know how my in-laws really felt about my taking their grandson to another part of the continent.”

  The tension grew. “Now that you’ve ruled out all of that, we’re back to my original question, the one you still haven’t answered.”

  Naturally he hadn’t forgotten where this conversation had been headed and wouldn’t leave the cabin while he waited for the truth. “As you’ve probably divined, I’m the problem.”

  “Why?”

  He had a side to him that could be blunt and direct when the occasion demanded. It caught her off guard. “I guess there was one thing I hadn’t thought about before we left. After we arrived here, it took me by surprise.”

  “Explain what you mean.” He wasn’t going to let this go.

  She took a fortifying breath. “I assumed we’d be coming to a vacation spot with all the activities mentioned, but it has turned out to be...more.”

  “In what regard?”

  “I—I didn’t expect the one-on-one treatment,” her voice faltered.

  “From me and my buddies?”

  “Yes.”

  He got to his feet. “But that was the whole point.”

  Tracy nodded. “I realize that now. But for some reason, I didn’t think your business enterprise meant it would be a hands-on experience involving you so personally.”

  His brows met in a frown. “A dude ranch is meant to cater to the individual. If the three of us weren’t here, there’d be others giving you the same attention. After losing your husband, does it bother you to be around other males again? Is that what this is about? I’ve half suspected as much.”

  She felt her face growing red as an apple.

  “Have you even been out with a man since he died?”

  “I’ve been to faculty functions with men, but they’ve always been in groups.”

  “In other words, no, you haven’t.”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “And now you’re suddenly thrown together with three bachelors practically 24/7.” He put his hands on his hips in a totally male stance. “I get it. And I’ll tell you something.”

  At this juncture, she felt like too much of a fool to know what to say, so she let him talk.

  “I haven’t been out with a woman since I was transported from the Middle East to Walter Reed Medical Center. When we were discharged, I felt like I was going home to die. The only thing that kept me going was this plan I dreamed up with Ross and Buck to bring a little happiness to the families who were suffering the loss of a husband and father.

  “Lady—when I saw you walk through the airport terminal, I was as unprepared as you were. It was one thing to visualize Anthony Baretta’s widow and his son in my mind, but quite another to be confronted with the sight of you in the flesh.”

  Tracy lowered her head. “After thinking of you in the abstract, the sight of you was pretty overwhelming, too,” she confessed. “I guess we’d been picturing three marines in uniform whom we’d get to meet at some point during our stay so we could thank you. Instead, we were greeted by the king of the cowboys, as Johnny refers to you in private. He wasn’t prepared, either, and clung to me for a long moment.”

  “I remember,” he said in a husky-sounding voice before another cough came on. “From a distance, he was your husband’s replica. That is, until I saw both your faces close up.”

  She eyed him covertly. Close up or at a distance, Carson Lundgren was no man’s replica. He was an original with a stature to match the mountains outside the cabin door. “I’m glad we had this conversation. I feel much better about everything.”

  “So do I. From now on we each understand where the other is coming from. It’ll make everything easier.”

  Not necessarily. Not while her pulse was racing too hard.

  “Pardon the expression, but you and Johnny are our guinea pigs in this venture. The next family we’ve invited will be arriving next month. Because of you, we’ll be much better prepared for the emotional upheaval created by war, whatever it is. Thank you for being honest with me. It means more than you know.”

  “Thank you for a wonderful day.”

  His eyes deepened in color. “There’s more to come tomorrow, if you’re up for it. But after Johnny’s experience flying into Jackson, maybe not.”

  She took an extra breath. “You’re talking about a hot-air-balloon ride? The kind mentioned in your brochure?”

  “It’s an unprecedented way to experience the Teton Valley. Buck will be taking some groups up.”

  “I’d love to go, but I’ll have to feel out Johnny in the morning before breakfast. If it’s mentioned at the table and the other children want to g—”

  “I hear you,” he broke in. “Johnny might be afraid, but will be too scared to admit it. I don’t want to put him under any pressure. When you know how he feels, call the front desk. They’ll put you through to me. If necessary, I’ll give Buck a heads-up.”

  “Thank you. You have unusual understanding of children.”

  “I was a child once and had my share of fears to deal with. Peer pressure was a killer. I’m thinking that if he doesn’t like the balloon idea, then we’ll take a longer horseback ride tomorrow and enjoy an overnight campout on the property.” He put his hat back on, ready to leave. For once she wasn’t ready to let him go, but she had to.

  “I can tell you right now he’ll be in ecstasy over that option.”

  “Good. If it turns out to be successful, then he’ll probably be ready to do another one in Teton Park. We’ll take the horses up to String Lake. It’s a great place to swim and hike around.”

  “Sounds heavenly.”

  She had to remember that he was working out the rest of their vacation agenda rather than making a date with her. Yet that’s what it felt like. Her reaction was ridiculous considering she was a mother of twenty-seven instead of some vulnerable nineteen-year-old.

  The only time she’d ever felt like this before was when she’d driven to Cleveland with some of her girlfriends from college. They were having a picnic at Lakefront State Park when a crew of firefighters had pulled up to eat their lunch and toss a football around. The cutest guy in the group started flirting with her. Mr. Personality. He could talk his way in or out of anything. Tony was a mover who told her after one date that he was going to marry her.

  When she thought of Carson, there was no point of comparison because he wasn’t pursuing her. That was why she was a fool trying to make one.

  “All we’ve talked about is Johnny’s pleasure. Since this vacation is for you, too, why don’t you tell me something you’d like to do while you’re here?”

  She laughed gently. “If he’s happy, then that’s what makes me happy, but I have to admit I enjoy riding. I had no idea I’d like it this much. You’re a great teacher.”

  “That’s nice to hear.”

  “It’s true.” After a brief pause because she suddenly felt tongue-tied, she wished him goodnight. He tipped his hat and left.

  Tracy closed the door behind him and locked it. Though he’d walked away as if he was glad the air had been cleared, she was afraid she’d offended him. It was humiliating to realize he’d figured out her lame hang-up about being around a man again before she’d articulated it.

  To make certain she didn’t get the wrong idea about him, Carson had revealed his own surprise at meeting her. Then, in the nicest way possible, he’d let her have it by spelling it out she wasn’t the only one suffering emotional fallout from the war.

  When she finally got into bed, she felt worse than a fool.

  * * *

  WHEN TRACY STEPPED out of the shower, she could hear Johnny talking to someone. Throwing on a robe, she walked into the bedroom just as he put her cell phone on the bedside table.

  “Who was that, honey?”

  “Grandma and Grandpa.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because you were in the bathroom. They said they’d call back tomorrow morning ’cos they were in a hurry.”

  “How are they?”

  “Fine. They want to see me ride Goldie. I told them Carson’s been teaching me and took us to get my cowboy outfit and cap gun.” He ran over and gave her an exuberant hug. “I’m having the best time of my whole life!”

  “I’m so glad.”

  “When are we going home?”

  Uh-oh. “Next Saturday morning. Why? Are you missing them too much?”

  “No. What’s today?”

  “Monday.” Time was flying.

  She could hear him counting in his head. “So we have five more days?”

  “Yes.”

  “Goody! I don’t want to go home. I can’t leave Goldie.”

  Tracy knew he’d said it in the heat of the moment, and she was happy about it, but the implication for what it might portend for the future stole some of her happiness.

  Though home would be wonderfully familiar to her son after they got back, he would suffer his first attack of culture shock, because nothing in Sandusky or Cleveland compared remotely to Wyoming’s Teton Valley.

  “Mom? Do you like it here?”

  That was one of his trick questions. He needed to find out what she really thought before he expressed exactly what he thought. No doubt her in-laws had asked him the same question.

  She ruffled his hair. “What do you think? I got on a horse, didn’t I?”

  “Yes,” he answered in a quiet tone.

  Something else was definitely on his mind, but she didn’t know if he was ready to broach it yet, so she asked him a question. “How would you like to go up in a hot-air balloon today and see the whole area?”

  Tracy had to wait a long time for the answer she knew was coming. “Do you?” That lackluster question told her everything.

  “I don’t know. There are so many things to do here, it’s hard to pick. We could fish or swim, or go on a hike.”

  No response.

  “Maybe we ought to have a break and drive into town to do some sightseeing. I’ll buy you some more caps.”

  “I don’t want to do that,” he muttered.

  “Or...we could go horseback riding. I like it.”

  He shot up in her bed. His dark brown eyes had ignited. “I love it.”

  His reaction was no surprise, but the intensity of it had come from some part deep inside of him. “Then it’s settled. Hurry and have your bath. After we’re dressed we’ll have breakfast and walk over to the corral.”

  Johnny pressed a big kiss right on her mouth. That told her everything she needed to know before he scrambled out of her bed to the bathroom. When he was out of earshot, she called the front desk and was quickly put through to Carson.

  “Good morning, Tracy.” His voice sounded an octave lower, sending vibrations through her. Maybe it was due to his coughing, or maybe he sounded like that when he first awakened. “What’s the verdict for today?”

  She smiled. “Surely you don’t need to ask.”

  “Well that answer suits me just fine, since there’s nothing I’d rather do than be on the back of a horse. I’ll tell Buck to go on without you. After you’ve eaten breakfast, I’ll come by the cabin. You’ll need saddlebags to pack your things to stay overnight and go swimming.”

  “Swimming?”

  “Yes. We’ll be camping next to a small lake on the property. If Johnny has a camera, tell him to bring it. He’ll have a field day taking pictures of the wildlife I was talking to you about.”

  An unbidden thrill of excitement ran through her. “We’ll hurry.”

  * * *

  FORTY-FIVE MINUTES later Carson swung by the cabin in the Jeep, having sent some of the hands to the lake to make preparations for everyone. Johnny was outside shooting off caps.

  “Carson!” Like a heat-seeking missile, Tracy’s boy came running in his cowboy hat. “Mom said we’re going on a campout!” He clasped him around the waist, hugging him with such surprising strength, his hat fell off. Johnny had never been this demonstrative before.

  Without hesitation, Carson hugged him back. “We sure are, partner,” he answered in an unsteady voice, loving the feel of those young arms clinging to him. Nothing had ever felt so good.

  As he started coughing, he looked up and saw Tracy on the porch step, but was unable to read her expression. She’d told him Johnny was protective of her. Without saying more than that, Carson got the point. Her son had a tendency to guard her.

  But she couldn’t have missed witnessing his exuberance with Carson just now. It had probably shocked her as much as it had him. Needing to return the situation to normal as fast as possible, he reached in the back of the Jeep and handed Johnny some gear.

  “These saddlebags are for your stuff. The bigger one is for your mom. Will you take them into the cabin so she can pack what you need?”

  “Sure.”