Sassy Cowgirl Kisses by Kathy Fawcett

Chapter 43

Ash gave Erik the one-minute tour of the bungalow, and pointed him to the spare room.

“Now,” Ash said with a happy grin, “let’s go see the good stuff.”

“The scenery can’t possibly get any better than your neighbors,” Erik said with a grin of his own, “but let’s go.”

The two filled their water bottles with ice and grabbed sunscreen and their mirrored shades for riding in the open-top Jeep. The day was sunny and warm, and Erik was glad to see Wyoming for the first time. He’d flown to Salt Lake City from Detroit the day before, then took a puddle jumper early that morning to the outskirts of West Gorge.

“Man oh man, look at those mountains. I’ve been stuck in Michigan way too long,” Erik gushed as the two drove. Ash felt a swell of pride at his friend’s words.

“Michigan is amazing—Lake Michigan is amazing,” Ash said. “The two states are just… very different.”

They took a quick detour through town to grab a sack of burgers and passed the main street, where Amber was setting a SALE sign in front of her Amber Waves storefront. Ash gave a small beep of his horn, and she smiled and waved to the boys, revealing the deep dimples on her face.

Erik whistled under his breath.

“You didn’t mention how pretty the girls are in Wyoming, man,” he said, giving Ash a good-natured slug to his arm. “No wonder you wanted to come back home.”

Ash smiled as he drove with a burger in his hand, and gestured to the massive log and iron arches they were about to pass under, with the West Ranch insignia overhead.

“This is why I came home,” he said through his mouthful of lunch.

Erik whistled again.

Minutes later, the two pulled up in front of Colton’s log and stone house, where a very pregnant Liu was outside in her kitchen garden, near the tea house.

“You two look hungry,” she said as they got out.

“Thanks, Liu,” Ash said, “but I just came to introduce my friend from Michigan.”

“Colton is at the big house, overseeing the tents for the big cookout tomorrow,” Liu said. And then to Erik, “you came on a good weekend. The West Ranch cookout is the hottest ticket in town.”

“I can’t wait,” Erik said. “But… you mean this isn’t the big house?” He was gazing in awe at the large log structure, with several decks, levels, and outbuildings—including a full guest house the size of the Olsen family home.

Liu and Ash laughed at that.

“Oh no,” Liu said, “you’ll know the big house when you see it. Nice to meet you, Erik.”

Continuing on the ranch road, Ash pointed out the cook house, the guest house, and some of the barns and ranch offices. They passed the family cemetery, and the pavilion where the Wests held their outdoor gatherings. There, a fleet of catering trucks were unloading and assembling tents and setting up portable structures for the party.

Ash pulled up alongside Colton, Gray and Rowdy, and introduced them to Erik.

“Gunner got off easy this year,” Colton said with a laugh. “Wish I’d thought of taking an impromptu trip to Yellowstone. Didn’t know we could do that during the cookout weekend.”

Ash thought it was odd too, but they all knew the trip must have been important to Gunnar and Kat, or else they wouldn’t have left town. Everyone in the family looked forward to the yearly event.

As the boys pulled into the circle drive of the ranch house, Erik looked at the impressive lodge pole pine entrance and nodded respectfully.

“I still don’t think it’s as big as…”

“Wait for it!” Ash said, taking his friend through the double doors and into the foyer. From there, they could see the massive kitchen, great room, and sweeping stone fireplace rising up nearly three stories high. Out the windows, the West River flowed and rushed out of the deep cut of the gorge, as if it was a protective moat in front of the mountain range.

An hour later, Erik was duly impressed with West Ranch. Standing in the kitchen, as Ash searched the refrigerator for the always present pitcher of fresh-squeezed lemonade, Ridge and Casey walked in.

“I thought I heard rustlers,” Ridge said, clapping Ash on the back and shaking Erik’s hand.

“Just rustling up something to drink,” Ash said.

“Sir, ma’am,” Erik greeted Ash’s family. “Your ranch is just beautiful. And the view of those mountains and the gorge… why, I don’t have the right words.”

“It’s great that you came for the cookout, Erik,” Casey said warmly. “There’ll be a lot of pretty girls to dance with.”

“I can’t wait,” Erik said, “we’re taking two pretty girls out to dinner tonight—Sassy and Freda; Ash’s neighbors.”

“Neighbors; yes. Also employees of the ranch,” Ridge said with caution in his voice. “Mind your manners, lads.”

“Always, sir,” Erik replied sincerely.

“Very good. Very good. Now,” Ridge said, “we spotted a newly born elk calf up in the foothills, by the north pasture, if you’re looking for something to see. Mama won’t let you get too close, but it’s worth the trek.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Ash hugged Ridge and Casey, who once again welcomed Erik to their home.

As they got back in the Jeep, Ash turned to his friend.

“So, what’s it going to be? Hiking by the gorge? Fly fishing in the river? Horseback riding? We’ve got all afternoon.”

“Everything,” Erik said. “Let’s do the full Wyoming.”