Itâs Never Too Late
Wounded in love and war, ex-marine Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him. He finds peace working at the Teton Valley Dude Ranch, a special place for families of fallen soldiers. Maybe one day, heâll have a family of his ownâright now he canât afford to indulge in dreams.
Alexis Wilson is no dream. Tasked with overseeing Alex and her young ward during their visit to the ranch, Buck finds himself falling for both the woman and the little girl. Like Buck, Alex has had more than her share of heartache. But maybe between them, they can build a future thatâs still full of possibilities.
Buckâs eyes seemed to focus on her mouth
âIn that case, Iâll come inside with you. While you put the things you bought away, Iâll make us some instant coffee. I could do with a cup.â
Alexâs heart thumped. This was something she knew she should avoid, but after all heâd done for them, she didnât dare offend him. âWell...I wonât say no to that.â
As they went inside with her packages, the feeling grew stronger that sheâd been on a date with him, and now they were coming home to spend the rest of the evening together. But she had to remember this was the middle of the afternoon and it wasnât a date!
For one thing, he was probably ten years younger than she, despite his maturity. For another, in the absence of Jennyâs father, it was Buckâs job to make certain this turned into a real vacation for her granddaughter, nothing more. She wished to heaven she could see it that way, but heâd managed to get under her skin. The only way to get him out was to leave Wyoming, but she and Jenny had only just arrived!
Dear Reader,
In Home to Wyoming, our bachelor hero rancher cannot believe that the gorgeous woman who comes to the Daddy Dude Ranch is a grandmother, raising her adorable seven-year-old granddaughter. Her age may not concern ex-marine Buck Summerhayes, but Alexis Wilsonâs engagement to another man does! What can he do to convince Alex she is the woman for him?
I hope youâll read this novel and experience all the thrills and chills of this love affair involving an unlikely couple who discover they are made for each other.
Enjoy!
Rebecca Winters
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Winters, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers nearby, she never runs out of places to explore. These spaces, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels. Writing is her passion, along with her family and church. Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.
Dedicated to all the selfless, wonderful, heroic grandmothers raising grandchildren after raising their own children. What greater love can there be?
Chapter One
The station wagon pulled up to the curb in front of the airport in Colorado Springs. âSon, wonât you please consider coming back home? I mean...for good.â
He knew what she meant. Buck Summerhayes stared into his motherâs pleading eyes before releasing the seat belt. Theyâd been through this half a dozen times since last March when heâd been given a medical discharge from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The military had flown him home, where his family had been waiting to welcome him.
âYou know I canât do that, Mom,â he said, breaking into a cough. âIâve made a commitment to Carson and Ross. I only flew here for a three-day break. Now I have to get back to Wyoming. Another family of a fallen soldier from California will be arriving in Jackson this evening. The guys and I take turns. This family will be my main responsibility for the next week, so I have to be there to pick them up.â
âI realize that, but you have no idea how much we all miss you. Your father and brothers could use you in the business. At his last physical, the doctor told Dad he needed to slow down.â
âIs it anything serious?â Buck asked in alarm.
âNo, darling. Heâs just getting older, and all Iâm saying is that Summerhayes Construction could use your help.â Her face took on a sad expression. âIs it possible youâre still staying away because of Melanie?â
A mother wasnât a mother for nothing. There was no point in avoiding the subject of Melanie Marsden, his high school girlfriend and the woman heâd hoped to marry after college.
But after his oldest brother, Pete, told him she and his brother Sam had fallen in love while Buck had been away at school and that they were afraid to tell him, he wished them all the best. After their wedding, heâd joined the marines and it would have become his lifelong career if he hadnât been diagnosed with acute dyspnea.