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minutes.”
    Tammy
waved and walked off to mingle with the guests. Sharon drew a bottle of water
from the backpack and handed it to Aaron.
    “Would
you like one?” she asked Tanner
    “I
have some in my saddlebag, thanks.”
    They
drank their waters and Aaron ate a protein bar. Before she knew it they were
mounting up again. Sharon could already feel the strain on muscles unused to
this exercise and knew she would need some ibuprophen before the day was over.
    Their
next stop was for lunch. The RNR had an old-fashioned camp style cook out all
set up for them, complete with a chuck wagon and a weathered old cowhand to
serve up the grub.
    Sharon
walked around the campsite, stretching her muscles, swinging her arms in
circles and twisting from side to side to stretch her back. Tanner was seeing
to the horses, loosening the saddles and looping the reins over a tree branch
at the edge of the clearing so the horses could rest and graze while they ate.
    Sharon
surveyed the food choices and wondered if there was anything Aaron would eat.
She had brought food for him, of course, but she always wanted him to feel as
normal as possible. Hmm, biscuits, that he would eat. She didn’t see anything else though. Cowboys seemed to want meat in just about
everything they ate. The baked beans had pork fat floating in them, and the
green beans had bacon. Then of course there was a beef stew, hamburgers and hot
dogs, fried chicken. Not exactly vegetarian fare.
    Sharon
fixed herself a plate. The food smelled wonderful. Was it the fresh air or the
exercise that suddenly made her starving? She grabbed a second plate and some
biscuits for Aaron and headed over to where Tanner and Aaron rested near the
horses.
    “You
better go get some food while the gettin ’ is good.”
    “Damn,
I mean, dang straight.” Tanner stood up and headed to the chow line. Sharon sat
down next to her son. It was so sweet that Tanner thought to curb his tongue in
front of her son. He really was a nice man. She set her plate in her lap and
handed Aaron the backpack.
    “There
is fruit and some more protein bars for you, and I got you some biscuits.”
    She
handed him the plate she had brought for him.
    “Yum. I’m famished,” he said.
    She
smiled. Her baby and his ten dollar words. God, how she loved him. As she looked around the campsite
she noted several people observing them with curious glances. She supposed they
wondered why they were receiving special treatment. But, no one looked more
than curious. She didn’t sense any hostility or judgment coming from the crowd.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the clean mountain air. It was
turning out to be a perfect day.
    Tanner
returned with a heaping plate of food and plopped down next to her. She raised
a brow at the amount of food on his plate and he shrugged.
    “I’m
a growing boy.”

 
    * * * *

 
    Tanner
hardly tasted the food he ate. All his attention was on the woman at his side.
They would be heading back after lunch. It was time to make his move.
    “Sharon,
are you and Aaron coming to the Fourth of July Fireman’s dance and fireworks
display? As fire chief, it’s my responsibility to make sure all the pretty
girls in town show up for the dance. It would be my honor to escort you.”
    “This
is the first I’ve heard about it. I’m sure Aaron would love the fireworks
display, but I don’t see how I could go to a dance. I don’t know anyone in town
I could ask to babysit for me.”
    “Not
a baby,” Aaron interjected.
    “Yes,
I know.” Sharon sighed “It’s just an expression, Aaron.”
    “Oh,
you don’t need child care.” Tanner
said “Everyone in town will be there, and all the kids come. We have lots of
great food and music, and games set up for the kids, like cornhole and horseshoes.”
    “ Cornhole ?” She laughed. “Dorothy, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
    “I
promise it will be lots of fun. My mom and my sister will be there and I know
they wouldn’t