One Summer At The Ranch. Rebecca Winters

out of practice.”

      “It’s been a while for me, too.” He studied her classic features in the near darkness. “If you remember, we listed babysitting on the brochure. Do you think Johnny could handle that?”

      “I think he could, but I’d rather feel out Monica. Maybe we can trade nights. If she’s willing to let Johnny stay at their cabin tomorrow night, I’ll tend her children at mine the following night.”

      It thrilled him that Tracy was so ready with a solution. He was beginning to get the impression she wanted this date as much as he did. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to go out alone with him. “Sounds like a plan that will make our little cowboys and girls happy.”

      A gentle laugh escaped. “Johnny really likes them.”

      “They’re great kids.” He reached for the flashlight on the table. “Plan on wearing something dressy.”

      “I only brought one outfit that would qualify, but I didn’t think I’d wear it.”

      “I’ll wear something a little dressier, too. Come on. It’s late. I’ll take you to your tent.”

      “I’d appreciate that.” She got up and started walking. “Will you shine the light inside to make sure Bigfoot’s brother isn’t waiting for me?”

      He smiled to himself. “I’ll do that and one better. Buck and I are taking turns tonight keeping watch so everyone’s safe.” Once they reached her tent, he made a thorough inspection. “It’s all right to go in.”

      As she stepped past him, their arms brushed. It was all he could do not to pull her to him.

      She turned to him in the darkness. “Thank you for everything, Carson.” Her voice sounded husky. “With two ex-marines guarding each other and all of us, I won’t have a care in the world tonight.”

      He needed to get away from her now. “Keep the flashlight with you. If Johnny wakes up and wants you, one of us will bring him to you. See you in the morning, Tracy.”

      With the adrenalin pumping through him, Carson headed for the food tent and grabbed another flashlight from the box. Needing some exercise, he took a walk to check on the horses and make sure all was well.

      Their little group had been making enough noise all day to scare off any bears. But on the off chance that one was hungry enough to come around and investigate, he was taking every precaution to safeguard their guests. The thought of anything happening to Tracy or Johnny in his care was anathema to him. He’d never had such intense feelings before.

      With time on his hands, he got on the phone and chatted with Ross. They talked about plans for the rest of the week. There were bookings for regular guests extending into August already. It appeared their brainchild was showing the promise of success.

      This kind of news should make Carson happy. It was making him happy, but he had two people on his mind who were sleeping in tents very close to him. He was going out of his mind thinking about them leaving so soon and told Ross as much. That’s when he heard a child’s voice cry out, “Mom—”

      It could have been any one of the three children. “Ross? One of the kids is awake. Got to go.”

      He took off for the bigger tent and almost ran into Buck who was holding Johnny’s hand. The second the little guy saw him, he cried Carson’s name and ran into his arms.

      Carson got down on his haunches to hug him tight. “It’s okay, Johnny. You were just having a bad dream.”

      “Mommy and I were at this big airport looking for you, but we couldn’t find you. I kept calling for you, but you never came. Then I couldn’t find my mom.”

      Carson looked up at Buck who’d heard everything. They’d both assumed the ghost stories had given him nightmares. Maybe they had. But Carson had featured in this one and Johnny had been looking for him.

      It seemed Carson wasn’t the only one hating the thought of Johnny and Tracy leaving the Tetons this coming weekend. The implication sent a shockwave through his body and wasn’t lost on Buck, either.

      Mercifully, the other kids stayed asleep.

      “I’ll take over now,” Buck murmured.

      Carson nodded. “Come on, Johnny. Let’s go find your mom.”

      The boy put a trusting hand in Carson’s and they walked to her tent. “Tracy?” he called to her from the opening. She stirred and sat up. “Johnny had a bad dream and wants to sleep with you.”

      “Oh, honey, come here.” Johnny ran to her. Carson turned to leave, but Johnny’s cry stopped him. “Don’t go, Carson!” He sounded frantic.

      “Johnny, Carson needs to go to his tent and get some sleep.”

      “He can sleep right here by me. Please, Mommy. I don’t want him to leave.”

      In order to avoid a bigger disturbance he said, “Tell you what, partner. I’ll stay here until you fall asleep. How’s that?”

      “You promise you won’t go away?”

      “Not until after I hear you snoring.”

      “I don’t snore. Do I, Mom?”

      She laughed softly. “Sometimes.”

      Tracy turned on the flashlight to find the blanket. “I’m not using this, Carson. Why don’t you put this down next to Johnny.” She was wearing pajamas with little footballs on them and looked adorable.

      As Johnny might say, this was the funnest sleepover in the whole world.

      Carson arranged the blanket into a pillow and stretched out. Their close quarters made everything cozy.

      Tracy kissed her boy who’d climbed into the sleeping bag with her. “Do you want me to leave the light on?”

      “Heck, no. Carson’s here.”

      Tears stung Carson’s eyes.

      Tracy turned it off. “What kind of a bad dream was it?”

      Johnny told her exactly what he’d told Carson.

      He heard her deep sigh. “I’ve had dreams where I couldn’t find somebody.”

      “You have?”

      “Me, too,” Carson interjected.

      “Well, we’re all here now and it’s time to go back to sleep.”

      “Mom?”

      “Yes?”

      “I don’t want to go home.”

      Carson’s heart skipped a beat.

      “Shh. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

      “Promise?”

      “Promise.”

      “I love you, Mom.”

      “I love you, honey.”

      “Good night, Carson. I love you, too.”

      Carson closed his eyes tightly. “The feeling’s mutual, partner. Good night.” What else could he have said that wouldn’t have upset Tracy?

      When he’d had thoughts earlier in the day of being in the tent with her, he never dreamed he’d end up here in the middle of the night under these circumstances. In order to prove to her he wouldn’t take advantage of the situation, he waited until he could tell they were asleep, then he crept out of the tent. He found Buck sitting on one of the chairs with his legs propped on another one.

      “Go to bed, Buck. I’ll never sleep tonight.”

      “Why not, besides the obvious?”

      Carson brought him up to speed. “I’m afraid this plan of ours may be backfiring big-time. We were supposed to