Home to Wyoming

by Rebecca Winters

  “The kids are really getting a workout.”

  “So are we,” Tracy quipped. “I’m going to be sore after this.”

  “Tell me about it.” But Alex’s physical discomfort would be nothing compared to the mental agony she was suffering from.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Alex watched Buck assist with the cleanup and put the camp furniture back in the truck. She mounted her mare and caught up to Tracy for the ride home. Carson led them out. Ross and Buck were bringing up the rear, or so she thought. But when she looked back, there was no sign of Buck. Ross was trailing Buck’s horse behind him. She stared at him. “Where’s Buck?”

  “He left with Randy to get back to the ranch sooner. A call came in early this morning. His father’s in the hospital. He had some minor chest pain. Nothing serious so far.” A small cry escaped Alex’s throat. “We told him to fly home and be with his family.”

  “Of course.” Her concern for him sent her heart racing. He’d hidden his emotions so well, no one had suspected anything was wrong. He was a master at it. “Why did he come on the trip, Ross?”

  “He didn’t want to disappoint Jenny.”

  Alex loved him too much. Tears filled her eyes. She looked away, but not before both Ross and Tracy had seen them.

  “Carson and I decided we won’t tell the kids the real reason he left until we get back.” He coughed. “Let them think Randy needed his help.”

  “That was a good idea,” she said through wooden lips.

  Jenny would be inconsolable when she learned she wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to him before they left for California in the morning. Ditto for her.

  Oh, Buck.

  It didn’t take her granddaughter long to notice Buck wasn’t with them. Ross’s explanation didn’t take away her disappointment. After that, the subdued atmosphere among their group matched the elements. Naturally, Jenny expected to find Buck at the barn when they returned, but he wasn’t there.

  “Sweetheart?” Alex took her aside. “I just found out Buck’s father is ill, so that’s why he left the lake in the truck with Randy. He’s taken a flight to Colorado to be with his family.”

  “In the storm?” The alarm in her voice spoke volumes.

  “It’s not a bad storm like the one last month. He’ll be fine.”

  “When will he be back?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Her face crumpled before the tears came. “Then we won’t see him again.”

  Alex knew exactly how she felt. There were no comforting words. All she could do was hug her for a long time.

  “Do you want to go swimming until it rains?” Johnny could be so sweet.

  “No,” her granddaughter sniffed.

  Tracy suggested they walk to the ranch house for some hot chocolate. Halfway there, the wind picked up and there was a noticeable drop in temperature.

  A shiver ran down Alex’s back. She prayed Buck’s father would be all right. He had to be. If anything happened to him, Buck would carry around the same kind of guilt that plagued Carson.

  After their hot chocolate, Tracy and Alex went into the games room with the kids to watch them play Ping-Pong. When that activity no longer appealed, they ate a meal in the dining room without much enthusiasm, and then went back to the games room to watch a movie. No one could concentrate. It had started raining but there was no lightning or thunder, for which Alex was grateful. And still no news from Buck.

  By nine o’clock, Carson suggested Alex get her suitcase and come back to the house with them so the kids could get ready for bed. Tracy put an arm around her. “Plan to stay with us tonight. We have two guest bedrooms. That way when Buck phones, we’ll all hear any news he has to share. In the morning, we’ll drive you to the airport.”

  “Thank you, Tracy.”

  A half hour after the children went to bed in the loft, Buck phoned Carson. After he hung up, Carson turned to them. “His father’s undergoing a series of tests with an important one scheduled for tomorrow. He isn’t sure how long he’ll have to be away from the ranch.” Carson eyed her. “If he can, he’ll phone you and Jenny in the morning to say goodbye. I need to let Ross know.” He kissed his wife. “I’ll be in the den.”

  Everyone was worried about Buck, but no one more so than Alex. He was in pain, not only because of what was going on with his father, but because of the way things had been left last night before he’d driven off. She felt him slipping away from her emotionally with every tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway.

  Alex couldn’t stand it any longer and jumped up from the loveseat. “Tracy—”

  “What is it?”

  “I—I need a favor,” she stammered. At this point it didn’t matter if she revealed what was going on inside her to Johnny’s mother.

  “Anything.”

  “I should get Jenny back in school, but I can’t leave Wyoming without seeing Buck again. A phone call won’t do. Last night he left the ranch upset before we could finish talking and I’ve been in agony ever since.

  “I’d like to fly out to Colorado early in the morning and be back by evening. I still have my rental car. If you could watch Jenny for that long, you’d have my eternal gratitude and I’d make it up to you. Jenny thinks the world of you and your family and is totally comfortable with you.”

  “We’d love to take care of her. Johnny will be so excited when he finds out she can stay another day.”

  Alex smiled. “Thank you so much. I know it’s a huge imposition, but if anything happens to Buck’s father, I want to be there. He shouldn’t be alone. But I don’t want him to know I’m coming. That would put added pressure on him. I’d rather just show up.”

  Tracy got to her feet and walked over to her. “I’m glad someone’s going to be there for him. He’s usually the one helping everyone else. You’ve been through so much yourself. I think you’re exactly what he needs.”

  “I hope that’s true, because what you said about him earlier today definitely is. He doesn’t believe that a woman will stick by him when the going gets tough. That old wound of his runs deep. I’d like to prove him wrong if he’ll let me.”

  There was a new sweetness in Tracy’s smile. “You love him.”

  Moisture wet her cheeks. “I do.”

  Now Tracy teared up. “You have no idea how much that thrills me. Buck deserves to be loved by a wonderful woman like you. Please don’t worry if you can’t get back to the ranch tomorrow. We’re not going anywhere.”

  “You’re an angel.”

  “Let’s go in the den so you can make your plane reservations. Carson will give you the name of the hospital and Buck’s cell-phone number.”

  “First, I’d better go up to the loft and run this by Jenny. If she doesn’t think she can stay here on her own, then I’ll take her with me.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll tell Carson your plans.”

  * * *

  IT WAS 10:30 A.M. when Alex arrived at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. She hurried inside to get the room number for David Summerhayes. The central bank of elevators was close by. She took a lift to the third floor. There was a no admittance sign on the door to his room. Fearful of what it could mean, she went down the hall to the nursing station.

  “What can you tell me about Mr. Summerhayes’s condition?”

  The nurse looked up from the chart. “Are you a member of the family?”

  “No. A...friend.”

  “I’m sorry. The best I can do is direct you to the visitor lounge at the other end of the hall. Perhaps you’ll see a family member there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Alex should have phoned Buck, but she’d wanted to know his father’s status first so she’d be better prepared to talk to him. With her heart in her throat, she walked down the corridor where she could see a room with
half a dozen people sitting at random while they waited. A TV was on, but no one seemed to be watching it. A few people looked as though they’d been up all night.

  She sat for a few minutes, but soon realized that wasn’t going to get her anywhere so she went back down the hall. Since she couldn’t use her cell phone in the hospital, she decided to go outside and try to reach him. If that failed, she could call his parents’ home and leave a message. Carson had given her the number, but she worried Buck might not like her doing that.

  After pushing the button, she waited impatiently for the elevator going down. To her chagrin, it stopped at every floor. Finally, the doors opened to a full car, but some people made room for her. After she got on, she turned around to face the doors.

  Across the hall, a tall, muscular guy in a crewneck sweater and jeans had just stepped onto another elevator opposite hers. The cough sounded familiar. Then he faced forward.

  “Buck—”

  His eyes swerved in her direction as her doors closed. The elevator started to descend.

  Please stop at the next floor.

  But this time it didn’t. The minute the doors opened onto the main floor, she looked for the stairway sign and opened the door to go back up. Although she was still sore from yesterday’s ride, she paid no heed as she dashed up the first flight.

  As she rounded it to start up the second, she heard someone coming down. She lifted her head and her eyes collided with his. He slowed to a stop a few steps above her. “Alex—” She thought he’d paled a little. “I thought I was hallucinating just now. What are you doing here?”

  “I—I came to be with you.” Her voice faltered.

  He rubbed his chest absently. “You’re supposed to be on your way to California.”

  She shook her head. “Something more important came up.”

  There was a silence before he said, “When I couldn’t get you on the phone this morning to say goodbye, I called the ranch. Tracy told me you’d left for the airport early. No wonder I couldn’t reach you.” He acted dazed. “Where’s Red?”

  Alex loved his nickname for her granddaughter. “Back at the ranch with Johnny.”

  “You came without her?” He sounded shaken.

  “She understood I needed to see you alone. Buck—” Her voice throbbed. “Tell me about your father. The no-admittance sign on his door worried me and the nurse at the nursing station couldn’t tell me anything because I’m not family.”

  “The sign was put there because dad has too many friends. His doctor insisted everyone stay out of the room until all the tests were done. It seems he had a severe panic attack that mimicked all the signs of a heart attack. He needs medication to get his anxiety under control. The recession hit him harder than any of us realized because he knows my brothers’ families depend on the construction company being successful. But the doctor says he’s going to be fine.”

  “Oh, Buck—that’s wonderful news!” She couldn’t stop the tears. “You must be so relieved.”

  “Relieved doesn’t begin to express what I’m feeling right now,” he said. “He’s going to be released later today.”

  “Thank heaven!”

  A smile curved one corner of his mouth. “We’re all pretty happy. Especially my mom.”

  “I can only imagine. Is everyone here?”

  “Not yet. They were all here yesterday. I stayed with Dad during the night. Before he fell asleep a minute ago, he told me to go back to the ranch where I belong.”

  Alex had trouble swallowing. “He said that?”

  Buck nodded. “We did a lot of talking and came to a new understanding. For one thing, I’ve promised him I’ll come home more often. I would introduce you to him right now, but the medication they gave him will keep him asleep for several hours.”

  “Are you going to your folks’ house now?”

  “No. I’m on my way to the airport. If I take the next flight to Denver, I can make a connecting flight to Jackson. I’ve left the guys in the lurch long enough.”

  “Buck—they understand. As long as you’re here, don’t you want to take another day to visit with your family?”

  He shook his head. “I had my private time with Dad. Now I’ve got something more important to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ll find out after we grab a taxi.” He reached her in one step and swept her down the stairs to the main floor. They practically ran to the front exit.

  “Didn’t you bring any luggage?”

  “No. I was in too big a hurry last night. Where’s yours?”

  She bit the underside of her lip. “I only planned to stay long enough to offer my support.”

  “So you have a return ticket for today?”

  “Yes. I couldn’t ask Tracy to watch Jenny any longer than that.”

  “Perfect. Things couldn’t have worked out better.”

  He detained a taxi that had just dropped off an older man with a cane. “We need a ride to the airport,” he called to the driver, before helping Alex into the backseat.

  Once he’d shut the door, he turned to her and crushed her in his arms. He was so strong, he didn’t know he was nearly suffocating her, but she didn’t mind. This was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life.

  “We’ve got a lot to talk about, but right now this is what I’m dying for.” His voice shook before he kissed her with almost savage hunger. She was so consumed with happiness that the driver had to tell them they’d arrived at the terminal. Even then, several seconds elapsed before they could stand to pull apart from each other long enough to get out of the taxi.

  “You blush beautifully,” he whispered after he’d paid the driver. “Come on. We’ve got a plane to catch.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The seat-belt sign had just flashed on, warning them they were about to land at Jackson airport. When he wasn’t kissing her, Buck hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the gorgeous woman who was wearing his favorite outfit, the one he’d first seen her in.

  He needed to get her alone, pronto. He was relieved when she told him she’d brought her rental car to the airport. They wouldn’t have to call anyone and could take their time before they drove home.

  Alex gave him the car keys before he could ask for them. He reached for her hand and clung to it all the way to the ranch entrance. But instead of taking the road to the ranch house, he turned onto a side road that wound around to the far side of the property.

  “Where are we going?”

  “There’s something I want to show you.” He squeezed her fingers. “It’s my favorite spot.”

  When they came upon a whole hillside of quaking aspen surrounded by dark pines, he heard her gasp of wonder. “Oh, Buck—it’s beautiful!” The late-afternoon sun had set the yellow leaves on fire. “If I were an artist...”

  “I know what you mean.” He turned off the engine and pulled her across to him so she was half lying in his arms. “When I was telling you about my fantasy, this was part of it, with a home set right in the middle of all that color.” Her neck was so delectable, he couldn’t resist kissing it.

  “Carson has told me repeatedly that if I want to go into business with him permanently, this parcel of land is mine.”

  She turned in his arms and looked up at him with her vivid, dark blue eyes. “Is that what you want to do?”

  “It’s what I always wanted to do, now more than ever. That’s because of you and your belief in me.”

  “I love you, Buck. I’m so in love with you, it hurts.”

  “Finally she tells me.” He lowered his mouth to hers. For a little while, time and place had no meaning as he absorbed those precious words into his heart. When he was halfway coherent again, he said, “I have a small nest egg, as my dad calls it. I’ve held on to it, waiting to use i
t for something worthy. If I built that house, would—”

  “Yes—” She cut him off. “I’ll marry you under any circumstances. Does that answer your question?”

  “Darling—” Once again they were devouring each other. “I told my parents I’d met the woman I wanted to marry. You’ve brought this bachelor to his knees.”

  She kissed his features. “It wasn’t easy.”

  Buck let out a harsh laugh. “What are you talking about? I was nailed the second I saw your long, shapely legs walking in front of me.”

  Alex raised her head. “What do you mean?”

  He told her everything. “When I left the hospital, I had plans to fly directly to Sacramento and bring you and Jenny back home.”

  She cupped his face in her hands. “There aren’t enough words to tell you how much I love you. Whether you build us a house, or we rent one in Jackson, I’m planning to get a job there to help support us for as long as it takes. Tracy put me on to an idea without her realizing it. She used to work for the school district in technology. I’m going to apply for an accounting job with the school district here in Jackson. If they don’t have an opening, I’ll find something else.”

  “Alex—” he said, his voice full of emotion. Her love was blowing him away.

  “If I put my house on the market right away, we can use the money from the sale. It won’t be a lot, but it will all help, because you and I are in this together for the long haul.”

  Her declaration humbled him, but there was still something else bothering him. “Alex?”

  “What is it? You sound worried. How can you be worried about anything right now?”

  “It’s Jenny. She—”

  “She loves you.”

  “I want to believe that, but she didn’t want you marrying Frank.”

  “You’re not Frank. You’re Jenny’s superhero. She wanted to fly to Colorado with me because she’s absolutely crazy about you. When you didn’t come back from the lake with us, she became a ghost of herself. If you don’t believe me, ask Tracy. And there’s more. When you told her you’d like her to be your little girl, she took that to heart.”