One Summer At The Ranch. Rebecca Winters

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      After the grownups clapped, Monica let out a sigh. “It’s probably the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen, and we’ve watched thousands of them over the ocean in Florida, haven’t we, Ralph.”

      “You can say that again.”

      Tracy agreed with them, especially the way the orangey-pink tones painted Carson’s face before his hat went back on.

      A sly smile broke the corner of his mouth. “First person to reach the corral wins a new currycomb.”

      Sam’s brows wrinkled. “A curry what?”

      “A kind of comb to clean your ponies after a ride. They love it.”

      “Come on!” Johnny shouted and made some clicking sounds with his tongue the way Carson had shown him. Goldie obeyed and started walking. In her heart of hearts, Tracy wanted her son to win.

      In the end, the ponies hurried after Goldie. They kept up with each other and rode in together. Carson smiled at them. “You all win.”

      “Yay!”

      While Bert helped the children down and unsaddled their ponies, Carson went into the barn and brought them each their prizes. Once he’d dismounted, he removed the tack from his horse and showed them how to move the round metal combs in circles. They got to work with a diligence any parents could be proud of. Then they watered the horses and gave them oats.

      He was a master teacher. Tonight they’d learned lessons they’d never forget—how to appreciate a beautiful sunset, how to care for an animal, how to handle competition. The list went on and on, increasing her admiration for him.

      “Who wants a ride back to the house?”

      “We do!”

      “Then come on.” He punctuated it with a cough. “There’s room for everyone in the back.”

      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.”

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