Rebecca Winters - One Summer At The Ranch - The Wyoming Cowboy / A Family for the Rugged Rancher / The Man Who Had Everything

“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.”

“Remember to bring a jacket.”

He flashed him a huge smile. “I will. I’ll be right back.”

Carson kept his distance and lounged against the side of the Jeep to wait. Pretty soon they came out. Johnny carried both bags and handed them to Carson to put in the back. It warmed his heart to see the boy was a quick learner.

“Can I ride in front, Mom?”

“If it’s all right with Carson.”

“Anything goes around here. Come on.” He opened both passenger doors for them, avoiding eye contact with her. So much for the talk they’d had last night. Considering he was more aware of her than ever, it had accomplished absolutely nothing. “We’ll drive to the barn and mount up.”

“How come Rachel and Sam didn’t come to breakfast?”

In the rearview mirror he noticed a pair of hazel eyes fastened on him.

“They ate early and went on an activity with Buck. He’ll bring them to the camp later, but they won’t be riding up with us.”

“Hooray!”

“Johnny—” his mother scolded. “That wasn’t nice to say.”

“I’m sorry, but their ponies always come right up to mine.”

Carson glanced at him in surprise. “So you noticed.” He had natural horse sense. Everything the boy said and did pleased him.

“Yeah. They get in the way.”

“I know what you mean. When it happens again, I’ll teach you a simple trick so they’ll leave Goldie alone.”

“Thanks! How come they do that?”

“Have you ever heard of the three blind mice who hung around together?”

Johnny giggled. “Yes.”

“That’s what the ponies do, because they’re friends. When you’re on Goldie, you have to show them who’s the boss.”

“But how?”

“Have you ever heard the expression giddyup?”

“Yup.”

“Well, you’re going to practice saying that to Goldie today. And when you say it, you’re going to nudge her sides with your heels. That’ll make her go faster. Pretty soon she’ll start to go faster every time you say the word and you won’t need to use your heels. When she understands, then you wait until you’re riding with the other kids. If their ponies start to crowd in on you, just call out ‘giddyup’ and see what happens.”

“But what if that makes the other ponies go faster, too?”

Carson threw his head back and laughed, producing another cough. When it subsided, he could still hear Tracy’s laughter. “That’s a very astute question, partner. In all probability it will, so you’ll have to ride even harder and make a lot of noise. But you’ll also need to be prepared to pull on the reins so you don’t lose control.”

“That’s going to be fun!”

Johnny bounced up and down on the seat all the way to the barn where their horses and pony were saddled. Carson parked the Jeep outside before grabbing the bags, including his own. He fastened a set behind each saddle while Bert helped Tracy and Johnny to mount.