Yukon Cowboy. Debra Clopton

he thought about much anymore. He still went to church on occasion, just because in Treasure Creek it was expected. He’d be considered a heathen for certain if he never stepped foot in the church…and maybe yes, there was a possibility that he might hear something from the preacher that helped him process the reasoning behind his inability to give the woman he loved the children she wanted so badly. Even now the thought made him ache through and through.

      “I’ve found the perfect guide to help you with this tour group.”

      Amy’s soft voice broke into his deep thoughts and he pulled back from the mental road he’d been traveling on—it was a road that led him nowhere good. He was glad to have something else to think about. Before Bethany had come home, he’d pressed any longing for her he had deep into the most hidden recesses of his being so that he was able to cope. Coping. It was a double life he lived, but knowing she was living her dreams helped him. Now that she was here, coping was going to be a killer.

      “Who’s going with me?” he asked. He liked all the younger tour guides. Most were just out of high school, ready to learn as much as possible so they could begin leading their own tours. None of them had ever been as great to have along as Bethany had been…she’d always given the tours a good twist. Her insights into the country and the animal life always added a fun element.

      “The Taylors have adopted this little boy, and he’s pretty rambunctious and has a few attention problems. They requested a female guide to help lead the tour, because the mother felt she would be more comfortable, given the situation.”

      Nate wasn’t surprised to have an extra guide on a family tour, especially since he was going to take a few private excursions in the hopes of finding the treasure. But a woman—who? The only woman guide they had at the moment was Casey Donner, and she was already out in the field. At least he thought so. “Who? Did Casey get back in early?”

      “No. It’s someone new.” Amy tapped her pencil on the table, then let it drop as she pushed her chair back and got up.

      She was acting differently. What was up, he wondered, as she crossed to the door, cracked it open and peeked out into the waiting area then closed the door. The last thing he wanted on this tour was to be breaking in a wet-behind-the-ears woman.

      Turning, she settled serious eyes on him. “Okay, she’s here now. This is going to be great, Nate. Remember, I’m doing what is best for this family, and I expect you to do the same. Here at Alaska’s Treasures tour company we always think of the clients first.”

      Nate wasn’t sure how to take Amy’s tone or the look on her face. But her words had his stomach feeling suddenly like hot mush. “Amy, what have you done—” he started, but she opened the door and beckoned someone inside.

      The last someone he’d ever expected to see walk through that door as a tour guide. Bethany.

      Chapter Three

      Bethany walked into Amy’s office and stopped in her tracks. Nate jerked to his feet so fast, he sent his chair sliding into the bookcase behind it as he gasped in horror.

      What had she done to make this man change toward her like he had?

      “Amy,” she snapped, her temper at his attitude spiking. “I’m not sure I understand—or like this one bit.”

      Nate positively glowered at Amy, looking like he could wring her neck. The man obviously had a problem, and it looked like Bethany was it.

      Unaffected by either of them, Amy smiled breezily, as if Nate looked at her that way all the time. She drew Bethany into the room and closed the door. “Look, I didn’t think either of you would understand this. That’s why I chose not to tell you what I’d done until now. But, Bethany, the minute I heard you were coming to town I knew you both would be the perfect guides for this family tour. Remember, I’ve seen you work together before—you were the best team ever. And this family needs a compassionate woman like you along, Bethany. You are an answer to a prayer, coming back at the time that you did. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. And they also need you, Nate, because I believe you have something to offer the little boy. He is seven years old, his name is Cody, and he needs strong male role models in his life. You are that in every sense of the word—” she dropped her chin to her chest and lifted a brow “—when you aren’t looking as if you just stepped barefoot into a pot of boiling water.”

      At that, his jaw jerked and he started to say something. Amy held up her hand. “You can help this little boy by being a positive role model to him.

      Believe me, I’m so thankful that Ben’s and my sons have so many of you men around to show them how to be good, strong Christian men. That’s what you can do on this trip.”

      Bethany glanced at Nate. Nate glanced at her.

      How could either of them refuse that?

      This was not good. Bethany wanted to leave. She wanted to stay. She wanted to know what Nate’s problem was.

      He thumped his hat against his thigh, looking like a trapped grizzly.

      “I’ll do it,” she said. She wasn’t so sure about being an answer to a prayer, but if there was a chance she could help this little boy by being a kind and compassionate guide, then she would. Nate would just have to deal with it. Especially since it looked like he wasn’t going to be any of those things.

      “I’m in, too,” he grunted, making his way past her to the door. He stopped beside her. “Can you still hike that kind of terrain? And when was the last time you rode a horse?”

      “Nate McMann, I could outhike you any day of the week when we were in high school, and you know it.” The gall of the man! “And though I might not be able to break wild horses like you can, I can still ride with the best of them.” She had no intention of telling him that she hadn’t ridden a horse in nine years. Oh, no, she’d sit in that saddle like she’d been riding every day, just so she’d have the satisfaction of wiping that condescension off his face.

      “I never said you couldn’t ride or hike,” he said, his tone sent shivers through her. Confused her. “We have our orientation tomorrow then Gage drives us out day after tomorrow at daybreak. Be there on both counts.”

      He was gone the minute the words were out. Bethany watched him stalk down the hallway. The man still got to her. There was absolutely no denying that. It was maddening and crazy. But, maybe this was what she needed. Maybe this was the thing that would clear the air once and for all.

      Nate had been living on the outskirts of her life like a larger-than-life memory. It didn’t matter that he’d hurt her, the memory of him was there. She’d stalled out in the dating world—no man since had lived up to that memory…and she’d dated some really great guys. If only she’d been able to love one of them.

      “Is there anyone else on the tour?” she asked, turning away and closing the door.

      Amy smiled knowingly. “I know I threw you for a loop, Bethany, and I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”

      They’d been friends for a long time. “Maybe. Okay, yes. But I’m not so sure he will.”

      Amy walked around to her desk and sank into the chair that had once been Ben’s. She let out a long sigh as she glanced around the office. “He’ll get over it. He hasn’t been the same since you left, you know.”

      That got Bethany. “He sent me away. Remember?”

      “I remember. Still, something about the whole thing never rang true.”

      Bethany didn’t want to dwell on her past. She’d gone over it and over it for years, and never came up with an answer. One day he’d loved her and the next he hadn’t. It was as hard and as cold as that. “I survived and am a stronger woman because of what happened between us. I asked you this yesterday, but didn’t get much of an answer. How are you surviving?”

      Amy glanced out the window that had the blinds angled slightly downward, so they could see out but people