Her granddaughter’s feelings seemed all mixed up inside. Some days she was angry and threw her Lego bricks all over her room. Other times, Alex found her by the window in her bedroom after school, so lonely and quiet it pierced her heart. Last week, she’d talked constantly about her daddy and cried because he and her mommy were gone.
The invitation to spend an expense-free week at the dude ranch had brought the only light to Jenny’s eyes in the past year. When Frank drove them to the airport to come on this trip, Jenny had acted as if he wasn’t there. Alex was mortified over her behavior and suspected her granddaughter was glad they were getting away from him for a week. He had to have noticed, but there was nothing to be done about it.
But since their arrival in Jackson last night, Jenny had been acting like a normal girl again. Alex had a hunch Buck’s entry into their lives had something to do with Jenny’s lighter spirits. The man sure knew how to make everything exciting.
Frank wasn’t exciting in the same way to Jenny, because he was older. Of course, it wasn’t only that. Frank had a completely different personality. But the aspects Alex loved about him didn’t do it for Jenny. He was too set in his ways for her and not spontaneous enough.
Buck, on the other hand, appeared ready to do anything and delighted the kids by getting them hot dogs and popcorn to eat during the movie. Alex felt like a kid herself as they entered the crowded theater with their food. Johnny spotted four seats together three-fourths of the way back and urged Jenny to follow him. Alex and Buck joined them. The film had a clever story and some catchy music. But as much as Alex enjoyed it, she was far too aware of the man seated on her left to be able to concentrate fully.
He smelled good and looked fantastic. Buck Summerhayes was a man in his prime who was plagued by a cough he’d inherited from the war. Like her son-in-law, Daniel, he’d done something exceptional with his life by fighting for his country. He and his friends were still doing something exceptional in their own way by making this trip possible for her and Jenny.
Her eyes smarted at the dedication of these men who had to keep oxygen on hand, yet didn’t let it bother them. Johnny obviously admired Buck who could be fun and kind, yet firm when necessary. Jenny had liked him right off. That never happened with strangers.
Alex couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this carefree. When she got home, she would have to write to Daniel’s commanding officer and thank him for urging her to bring Jenny on this trip.
“Are you all right?” Buck whispered.
Besides everything else, he was sensitive, too. “Yes,” she whispered back. “I was just thinking how glad I am we came. Already you’ve made my granddaughter so happy.”
“That’s Johnny’s doing.”
“I think she feels an affinity with him because they’ve both lost their fathers, but he’s had help from you and your friends. You’re all true heroes.”
After a long silence, he asked, “What about you? How are you holding up? I’ve never been a parent, but I know it had to be devastating for you to lose your daughter.”
Her throat swelled. “I wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t have Jenny to raise. She gives me a reason to get up every morning.”
“For what it’s worth, your devotion to her is heroic. Carson’s grandfather raised him after his parents died. I see how he turned out and can only marvel over the older man’s ability to be there for Carson in every way. He left this ranch to him. It’s now Carson’s goal to make the ranch successful and pay back the man who was a hero, just like you.”
Tears escaped her closed lids. She wiped them away. “Don’t praise me. My work has barely begun.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” His deep tone flowed through her. “You’ll be there for her all your life. After what you’ve had to endure, I admire you more than you know.”
“Thank you.”
Deeply touched, she remained silent for the rest of the film. When it was over, they left and drove to the Boot Corral for their packages. On the way back to the ranch, Jenny got out her new gun. Johnny showed her how to fill the cartridge with a roll of caps. Pretty soon they were both firing their weapons at imaginary bad guys.
The noise didn’t seem to bother Buck. Frank would have asked them to stop until they got home. He was so different from Buck, who seemed to say and do all the right things around Jenny. But it wasn’t fair to compare them. Frank was probably twenty years Buck’s senior.
He drove them to her cabin, and then looked over his shoulder at the kids. “What do you want to do now?”
“Play cowboys!” Jenny spoke up. She and Johnny scrambled out of the back and ran around the side of the cabin, whooping it up.
Buck’s lips twitched, mesmerizing Alex. “I thought he wanted to go riding, but those cap guns are a strong draw.”
“Jenny’s never had one. The novelty will wear off, but I’m just glad she’s having a great time with Johnny. Since I know your work is never done here on the ranch, why don’t you go and do what needs doing. I’ll watch both of them and walk Johnny back to the ranch house later.”
From beneath the rim of his Stetson, he gazed at her through shuttered eyes. Jenny had been correct about their color. In the sunlight they were the shade of new spring grass. “You’re right about the never-ending work, but my main responsibility is to take care of you this week. Behind the scenes, we’ve nicknamed this place the Daddy Dude Ranch for obvious reasons.”
And they did the daddy part better than she could have imagined. “Then I’ll relieve you of that awesome responsibility for a little while, because you deserve some rest.”
“Well, thank you, ma’am,” he drawled. His eyes seemed to focus on her mouth. “In that case, why don’t I come inside with you? While you put the things you bought away, I’ll make us some instant coffee. I could do with a cup.”
Alex’s heart thumped. This was something she knew she should avoid, but after all he’d done for them, she didn’t dare offend him. “Well...I won’t say no to that.”
As they went inside with her packages, the feeling grew stronger that she’d just been on a date with him, and now they were coming home to spend the rest of the evening together. She had to remember this was the middle of the afternoon and it wasn’t a date!
For one thing, he was probably ten years younger than she was, despite his maturity. For another, in the absence of Jenny’s father, it was Buck’s job to make certain this turned into a real vacation for her granddaughter, nothing more. She wished to heaven she could see it that way, but he’d managed to get under her skin. The only way to get him out was to leave Wyoming, but she and Jenny had only just arrived.
On her way into the bedroom with their packages, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID. It was Frank calling her back. She’d tried to reach him earlier that morning, but he’d been in a meeting. Guilt pricked her when she thought about Buck being in the next room. The fact that she felt any guilt told her she was in trouble.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to answer my phone.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
She shivered, knowing it was true. After shutting the door, she sank down on the side of her twin bed to talk. “Frank?”
“Finally! I waited for your call this morning, but when it didn’t come, I had a business conference to attend. How are you?”
“Good.” Better than good, but he wouldn’t like hearing her say that, since he hadn’t wanted her to leave Sacramento. He was afraid it would open up old wounds for her and Jenny by being around the marines who’d invited them. To her surprise, it was doing the