Nancy held her hand up to shield the sun from her eyes. She squinted at the thin boy who sat in the wagon as it made its way toward the house. Whatever possessed Kevin to take on a boy from town? Even if they are shorthanded, with Cody and Jake riding along with Sarah to Utah, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of help a fourteen year old greenhorn could be. She stood there with both hands on her hips watching with doubt clearly written on her face. Mike could feel his skin burn with the intensity of her stare as the wagon rolled up to the porch. Kevin motioned for him to jump down and to unload the supplies. Kevin nodded a greeting to Nancy. He introduced the boy and asked her where she wanted Mike to put the stores. She looked Mike over taking note of his slight build. With her lips pursed she stated that he didn't look strong enough to pick one of the sacks up let alone carry all of them down into the cellar. At that Mike bent and hefted the sack of coffee up on his shoulder, then turned and looked at Nancy and asked where the cellar was. She crossed her arms and made a dismissive sound then turned and walked into the house and she called over her shoulder "follow me." A grin crept cross Kevin's face and he winked his encouragement to Mike who dutifully followed Nancy into the house.

After all the supplies had been put away on the overloaded shelves down in the cellar, Mike dropped to sit on the porch stairs. He was trying to take in everything that had changed his life in such a short time. He hadn't expected the Doc to own half the valley he thought, as he surveyed his surroundings. The Goode ranch was nestled in a valley circled by the Bradshaw Mountains to the south, the large mountain of granite to the west and the Black Hills to the east. The ranch house was as big as the boarding house his mother worked in. There was a huge barn, a couple off outdoor corrals, chicken coops and a pen for the pigs. He figured he'd probably sleep in either the barn or the bunkhouse with the other hands, either way it was a big improvement over the shack he had lived in with his mother and Calloway back in town.

The sound of a loud bell rang thru the activity in the yard. Mike looked about and saw that the hands were headed toward the porch. This must be how Mrs. Nancy called everyone in to take their meals. Kevin appeared by his side and placed his hand on his shoulder as they walked toward the house. Mike could see at least four other men had already seated themselves at a long table. Kevin filled a plate for himself and motioned for Mike to do the same. Then Kevin found empty space at the table for them to sit. Nancy took the seat directly across from Kevin and coolly watched him as he chatted with Mike. It began to dawn on her, while she watched them, why the boy was here. Nancy knew how Kevin had always wanted a son. She had no doubt of the love he has for his daughter Sarah but that's not the same as having a son. Her sister Mary tried to give him a son, but none had lived beyond infancy. If he wanted sons, she could give him sons, she thought. She wouldn't be the first woman to marry a dead sister's husband. Nancy reached up and smoothed a few loose strand of her blond hair back off her face, her eyes never leaving Kevin. A man has needs that only a woman could satisfy and she'd be right willing to accommodate his. She shifted slightly in her seat and brushed her leg against Kevin's. He looked up from his conversation and glanced across the table at her. Nancy smiled showing pretty little white teeth and lowered her gaze demurely as she asked him if he liked the meal she had prepared. Mike interjected that he couldn't remember the last time he ever eaten so well. Politely she thanked him and looked at Kevin waiting for him to speak. He nodded in her direction and thanked her for keeping them all well feed then turned and struck up a conversation with one of the ranch hands.

Mike had taken his mother's words to heart and listened to everything Doc Goode said. He practically hung on his every word and followed him around like a pup. The lad learned fast and got on well with the seasoned hands. Most of his chores were for the main house. He would fetch wood and water and such for Mrs. Nancy. This morning he had to feed the chickens and slop the pigs. Mike tried to hide his disappointment at not being out with the others hands tending the herd or riding the fences. He didn't want to be a house boy; he wanted to be a cowboy. Kevin could feel Mike's eyes follow him as he rode in and tied his horse to the rails by the corral. The bell clang sound and called all the hands in for their morning meal. He called over to Mike for him to join him and together they walked toward the house.

"I think it's about time to see how well you can handle a horse." Kevin said as he looked down into the boy's hopeful gaze, "If you're ready for it that is?"

Mike let out a whoop. "You bet! I'm more than ready. When can we start?"

"How's after breakfast sound to you?"

"Yes sir, sound's fine sir." Mike replied with a grin that split his face from ear to ear.

"Good." Kevin said as he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Now let's go get something to eat before it's all gone."

Nancy poured Kevin a cup of coffee and handed it to him smiling sweetly. She brushed past Mike to take the seat beside Kevin. The kitchen was crowded with men heaping their plates full of food and discussing the work ahead of them that day. A couple of the hands were headed east to check the fences while others were to head west and move the herd down further into the valley. Nancy laid her hand on Kevin's arm and asked if he'd like another cup of coffee. Abruptly he stood up from the table and shook his head no. He thought it odd for his sister in law to act is such a manner and there was an uneasy feeling that nagged at him. He gnawed at the thought as he grabbed his hat off the rack by the door and strode outside. The sight of Mike perched on the top rail waiving at him pushed all thoughts of Nancy from his mind and Kevin found it impossible to keep from smiling at the boy's eagerness.

Mike had never spent any time working with horses let alone riding one. Hour after hour he practiced getting on, getting off, riding around the corral, learning to saddle and care for the animal. He was tired, dusty and hungry. Come dinner he filled his place twice and wolfed down every last bite. Kevin promised they would spend some more time tomorrow working with the horses but reminded Mike that he would still need to make time for his other chores. With a wide grin still on his face Mike hauled fire wood up to the kitchen porch and stacked it neatly. That night he was fast asleep before his head even hit the pillow.

It took two more long days of practice before Kevin felt he was ready to do some range work. On the third day they set off together at first light. Mike watched everything Kevin did and listening intently. The bond between the two grew as Kevin began to treat Mike more like the son he'd always wanted and not like just another hired hand working the herd. Mike's father had been the only other man who had taken an interest in him before. Calloway had never paid him any mind. For the first time in a long time Mike felt like he had found someplace where he belonged.

Nancy sat in the porch swing with her sister Mary's sewing basket beside her. She watched the Kevin and Mike ride in together. The shirt she had been mending was one of Kevin's. Hastily she set it aside when he stepped into the shade of the porch. She smiled up at him as she brushed her skirts smooth and wondered if he could see her as a wife for him. Kevin noticed Mary's sewing basket and one of his shirts next to her on the swing. That odd uneasy feeling came back to him and settled deep in his chest. Nancy had known that it had always been Mary's habit to sit in the porch swing while she did the mending.

"I'd found your shirt all torn up in the pile of wash so I figured I'd stich it up." Nancy said in an attempt to explain herself. "I can be everything to you that Mary had been" she said softly her hazel eyes filled with hope.

Unspoken words hung thick in the air. Nancy had imaged that Kevin would welcome the idea of her running his house like her sister had, and was completely unprepared for the look of hostility that crossed his face. A couple of the hands had taken notice of them and talked quietly while they watched. Kevin could just imagine what they were talking about by the sly glances they cast in his direction. His skin prickled with indignation. It was all he could do to control himself as he spun around and stormed from the porch. He needed to put some distance between himself and Nancy. It was doubtful he could trust his tongue to stay polite. With a wave and a shout he called out to Mike and hollered that they needed to ride into town. The smile on Nancy's face faded as she watched him step into his saddle and urge his horse into a headlong gallop down the drive with young Mike scrambling to fall in behind him.

Kevin's blood pounded as hard as the relentless thumping of his horses' hooves. What had gotten into her? He grappled with what she had meant by her suggestion.

Disbelief clouded his thoughts as Kevin pulled back on the reins and let out his breath. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding it. Mike was puzzled at the sudden change of plans and had a hard time keeping up with Kevin's wild pace. Relief flooded over him as he galloped up and stopped beside Kevin then gulped air into his lungs. Mike sensed a stiffness in Kevin's back that hadn't been there earlier and it made him wonder what happened back there on the porch with Mrs. Nancy. "I thought we should ride into town" Kevin said in a gravelly voice. "It's long overdue for you to visit your ma." Mike nodded but kept silent. They urged their horses into a slow trot. Side by side they rode in silence. Once they entered the town they turned toward Jenny and Alice's rooming house.

Alice called out to Kaylin that her son Mike and the Doc had just ridden up. Kaylin moved as quickly as she could to the front porch to greet them. It had been a whole week since Mike had left for Doc's ranch and she missed him terribly. She had set aside all the strained times they had in the past and was certain there would be better times to come. Mike met his mother at the top of the porch stairs with a big hug. He buried his face into her arms as she enveloped him. Kaylin grasped his shoulders and pushed him back so she could have a good long look at him then she pulled him to her again in a crushing hug.

"I've missed you so much. Come tell me how you've been getting on at the Doc's ranch." Kaylin said as she looped her arm about her son's waist. She hadn't remembered that he had been so tall, she thought as she looked at him eye to eye. It's only been a week she reminded herself, there was no way he could have grown much in such a short time. She glanced beyond Mike and saw Kevin wearing a peculiar look. It seemed to her that something troubled him. Kaylin smiled to herself as her mind drifted back to that morning with the wagon train. He would always be the tall cowboy she ran into and touched her heart with kindness.

Mike proceeded to tell his mother of his new life with great zeal. Kaylin could tell instantly that her son had settled in well and was thriving. She hadn't seen him that contented in a very long time and turned to thank Kevin. When she smiled the room lit up, the glow she radiated startled him. He watched as all the love she had for her son wash over the boy. The strength behind her warm brown eyes captured him; the soft sound of her laughter charmed him and Kevin felt his chest tighten just a bit.

Jenny called out that refreshments were in the kitchen and she needed a couple of strong fellows to oblige her and carry them out to the parlor for her. Mike and Kevin disappeared and returned with their arms loaded down with sweet tea and fresh corn bread. An hour had passed while Mike shared tales of his adventures over the week. Kaylin hung on his every word, and then she shared with them the latest news about town. Kevin listened with considerable interest to the reported Indian attacks to the north then inquired if Sheriff Miller had been by since their last meeting. Alice fidgeted in her seat before she answered. Distress over his absence caused small creases to form between her brows. She rose to her feet and paced about the room as she bemoaned the lack of communication from him since he rode out last week. A slight tremble could be seen in Alice's hands when she walked to the front window and pulled the lace curtain aside to peer down the street. She wore a pained look on her face when she turned back to the gathering in the parlor. Kevin assured her that all would be well with the Sherriff; and that in no time Bart would be back and be pestering her for a dance at the summer festival. Alice blushed and smiled warmly at the thought.

Kaylin had spent much of the afternoon fascinated with Mike and how much he had changed in only one short week. Oh, he still looked the same, she thought, as she took stock of her son. Light brown hair with blond streaks. Wide set blue eyes and an impish grin. But he was different. She noted that now he reached up to the brim of his hat when he greeted her, and how he held her chair for her as she sat down. There was no doubt who she should credit for the changes, she just didn't know how to, or if she should say anything at all. Mike bent down to give his mother a hug goodbye. Kaylin rose to hug him back and winced ever so slightly when she put her weight on her healing foot.

Kevin remembered her injury and berated himself for having been so absorbed in his own thoughts that he had completely forgotten all about it.

"Whoa now, just a minute," he said. "I'll still need to check and see how you're healing before we go anywhere."

Kaylin visibly paled when Kevin took hold of her hands and guided her back to her chair. That simple touch sent a surge of emotions ripping thru her like a lightning strike.

From the look that flashed in Kevin's blue eyes he had felt it too.

Kaylin sat and attempted to gather her composure as Kevin knelt, then gently lifted and cradled her foot. She held her breath when he slipped his hand beneath the hem of her dress as he removed her shoe. The intensity in his gaze made her skin flush. Kevin could almost feel her surrender to his touch. He hadn't had the desire for a woman since his Mary passed. The way Kaylin made him feel now shook him to the core. He bit back a groan of frustration and willed himself to focus on tending to her injury. Slowly he slid off her shoe and her stocking then he placed Kaylin's foot on his thigh.

The swelling was gone completely and the bruises had begun to fade. "You've been taking real good care of our little Kay haven't you Miss Alice?" Kevin spoke softly to Jenny and Alice.

Kaylin's foot lay on his thigh. The warmth of her bare skin spread up his leg and consumed him. Each breath he took seared his lungs and he struggled to hide his growing arousal. He looked up into her face and could see the awakened desire that smoldered in her eyes before she could turn her face away to preserve propriety. His heart pounded in his chest so loudly he wondered if everyone else in the room could hear it too. Clumsily his fingers fumbled with Kaylin's stockings. He tensed when she accidently brushed his hand with hers as she reached down to relieve them from his grasp. The need to leave right then became urgent. If he didn't he would not be able to conceal his thoughts as his desire would become noticeable to everyone in the room. He rose up and called roughly for Mike to ready the horses. The door flew open and like a flash Mike had unlashed the animals reigns from the hitching posts. Kevin steadied his trembling hand and touched his fingers to the brim of his hat nodding to the ladies as he quickly stepped thru the open front door and out of the boarding house. Kaylin sat spellbound. A wild surge of emotions had been unleashed within her. Crimson stained her cheeks as her eyes stared blankly at the door. Her pulse raced, her breathing was ragged and her heart wordlessly called out for him to come back.

That night alone in her bed Kaylin dreamt of being wrapped in Kevin's strong arms and held close against his chest. She could remember the smell of leather and juniper that clung to him as she imagined how his kisses would taste.

Reds, yellows and fiery oranges streaked across the horizon and set the sky ablaze with color. Kevin stood on the porch and stared into the sunset sun but didn't see it. The cool night air helped to relieve some of the tightness in his chest but he would need something stronger to dull the pounding in his head. He poured another shot of whiskey into his glass and drained it in one swallow. He closed his eyes in anguish and the only thing he saw was the desire that burned in her eyes. All he could think about was Kaylin and the uncontrollable desire he had to take her in his arms and quench his thirst for her lips. He had seen the amber flecks that burned deep in her eyes and knew that she hungered for him as well.