Free Cowboys Like Us by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

of the trips to Jackson to check out assisted living facilities, Josie had explained the whole convoluted situation. Jonathan Chance was the father of all three brothers, but each had a different mother.
    Jack’s mother, Diana, had left the ranch when Jack was four, never to return. A despondent Jonathan had taken up with a free spirit named Nicole for a while. She’d left Wyoming and later died unexpectedly. Baby Nick had arrivedin the company of a lawyer who’d said Nicole had named Jonathan as the father and guardian.
    By that time, Jonathan had remarried, and Sarah Chance was pregnant with Gabe, Jonathan’s third son. Sarah had proceeded to raise all three boys as her own, and Caro suspected each of them would give his life for her.
    Almost two years ago, Jonathan had died in a rollover, a tragic end to a true love story. Now Sarah shared the job of running the ranch with her three sons. Caro had always been in awe of the woman, but after hearing Josie’s version of the family’s history, Caro had elevated Sarah to sainthood.
    The ranch buildings lay at the end of a long, unpaved road. As Caro’s ancient truck bounced over the ruts, she remembered something else Josie had mentioned. Jonathan had left the road unpaved to discourage casual visitors. Sarah and his sons had continued to honor that wish. Caro hoped her shocks would hold up under the assault.
    Considering the poor condition of the road, the house and outbuildings were surprisingly luxurious. Caro wasn’t sure where to park, so she pulled into the gravel drive that circled in front of the main house. She could always move her truck down by the barn if necessary.
    The two-story ranch house was immense, an expanded version of a log cabin. In the center stood a boxlike structure that was obviously the heart of the house. Two wings stretched out from there, each of them canted forward, like arms reaching to embrace a weary traveler.
    A covered front porch ran the entire length of the house, and rockers sat quietly spaced along the porch as if anticipating a time when the family would have the leisure to sit and contemplate the view. That view, Caro noted as she climbed down from her truck and reacquainted herself with it, was spectacular.
    The house faced the Grand Tetons in all their majesty.Even now, in mid-August, snow clung to the jagged peaks. She stood for a moment and admired it before putting on her hat, a summer straw that she’d picked up a few years ago, back when she’d still had time to take trail rides from the local stable.
    “Hey, Caro.”
    At the sound of Logan’s voice, she spun in the direction of the barn, a hip-roofed structure that looked as if it belonged on a postcard. “Should I move my truck down by the barn?” She noticed two horses had been saddled and tied to the hitching post.
    “Your truck’s fine where it is.” He walked to meet her, but kept a safe distance between them. “I’m glad you’re here.” His stance was casual, but his eyes, shaded by his tan Stetson, glowed with a banked fire.
    Her heart thumped heavily in her chest. It could be all the caffeine she’d consumed today, but she figured it was probably the man. “It’s good to see you again, Logan.”
    “You have no idea how good it is to see you, Caro.” He studied her with such intensity that she began to tremble. “Love the hat.”
    “It’s old.”
    “Looks great on you, though. I like the ponytail you wear at work, but I like your hair down like this even better. It reminds me of…well, never mind.”
    “I know what it reminds you of.” She longed to reach for him, but that would be a bad idea. “We should probably get going, huh?”
    “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “But first I want to show you something. It’s in the barn.”
    “Sure.” She fell into step beside him as they walked to the building.
    “How’s your grandmother?”
    “She wanted to know why I’m so perky today.”
    He choked on a laugh. “And what did you tell