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you'd understand, but you're no different from him . You'll do exactly as Father says. You'll marry a Basque woman, settle into his niche at the ranch, and live his life for him. I hope you enjoy it."
    When Zak finally spoke, there was resolve in his tone. "I've been where you are, caught between two worlds, not fitting into either, but there is a middle ground between the old ways and now. You just have to find it and convince Father."
    Vince laughed shortly. "Ever try moving a mountain?"
    Zak laughed too. "Meanwhile, try not to irritate him."
    "Which means, tell him what he wants to hear. I can't do that."
    "Try," Zak said. "And thanks for bringing Pio along today, even if the visit's short."
    Vince eyed Pio, affectionately. "There was no way I could get out of it. He had to tell you about the kittens."
    Zak stepped off the porch then and crouched in front of Pio, and said, "I'll be anxious to hear what you name your new pal."
    Pio's face brightened. "When can I bring him here?" he asked in an animated voice.
    "Not for six weeks," Zak replied. "Meanwhile, I'll come for you next weekend and we'll go find some eagles, maybe do a nest climb. How would you like that?"
    Pio grinned. "I'd like that."
    After Vince left with Pio, Zak went back inside and collected several maps from the kitchen table, and they left in Tess's Jeep. But while they were driving to the airpark, he said to Tess, "I should have told you about my son. I didn't expect Vince to come by with him today and I planned to tell you about him later."
    "It doesn't matter," Tess said. "That was a long time ago." She was determined to ask no questions about Zak's past, or about the mother of his son. It would be too humiliating, and she did have some pride. And maybe her father was right. Maybe Zak had used her. Maybe what they had going that summer was nothing more than teenage hormones coupled with Zak's promises of forever to keep the sex coming. She'd certainly given him reason to come back for more. She liked the sex too, but what was more important for her was the aftermath of their lovemaking, when Zak talked about how it would be for them someday...
    "To answer at least one of your questions," Zak said, "my wife died about four months ago so I have full care of our son."
    Tess fingers curled around the wheel. The word our didn't compute. She'd never imagined a son of Zak's not being her son as well. But what was almost as troubling was the fact that Zak was a widower of only four months, and two nights ago he came close to kissing her. Not exactly a grief-stricken widower. "It must be difficult for you," she said, and tried to sound convincing.
    "It is for Pio," Zak replied. "My wife and I separated some time ago." He was quiet for a while, then he sighed, and said in a weary voice, "I had no idea how tough it was to be a single parent, shuffling job and family and school, being there when Pio's sick. There's no question, a young child needs a mother. As it is, Pio's with my folks during the week so he can go to the Basque school in Navarre , and I go there on weekends. But as soon as school's out, he'll be moving into the cabin with me. We need to make our own adjustments."
    "My father must have faced the same dilemma when he took over the role of both parents after my mother died," Tess said, trying to sound compassionate, feeling a little stab of guilt that he hadn't felt that way when Zak told her about his dead wife. But she could empathize with his dilemma with his son. "Nothing seemed to go right back then. The meals were terrible, the house was a mess, and neither of us cared. And I had no direction or guidance. Fortunately, Aunt Ruth moved in and took over, and our lives fell into place again." She glanced at Zak, and added, "What you need is an Aunt Ruth."
    "It isn't about what I need," Zak said. "It's about Pio, and he needs a mother."
      "Then I guess you'd better start looking for a wife," Tess clipped, "presumably Basque, if you don't want to be