Chapter 201: Right NowTogether, they quietly moved beyond the line of sleeping bags to an open spot nearer the edge of the tree line where they unfurled their bedrolls side by side. Kneeling on her sleeping bag, Anna cast a glance over her shoulder and was unsurprised to see that exertion, fresh mountain air, and a great meal had worked their magic. Everyone was fast asleep.She slid off her boots and removed the red plaid flannel shirt she'd worn during the day to reveal a plain white camisole. Then she shimmied into her sleeping bag, using the flannel shirt beneath her head as a pillow.Angus likewise pulled off his boots and slid himself into his own bag, jeans and navy-blue Henley and all. He folded his arms behind his head and grinned over at Anna. "Right now."Mystified, Anna rolled onto her side to face him. "Right now what?""Do ye ever have a perfect moment, one ye'd like to bottle up and keep so ye can pull it out and relive it, especially when ye have a bad day?"Smil

Chapter 203: Picnic and DessertOn their way back to the ranch, Anna had Angus take a different turnoff, and they ended up at a broad, flat meadow lodged in the crook of a handful of low tree-covered hills. Through the middle of the meadow, a narrow stream drifted lazily over water-worn granite rocks. Flashing Angus a smile, Anna grabbed the picnic cooler and swung open her door, and he followed her into the meadow. Near the edge of the water, she stopped and opened the basket, removing a thin plaid throw. She spread it on the ground and sat down, patting the space beside her. "How's this?"Angus stood over her, hands on his hips. "It's fine, except ye have the plaid of me clan's sworn enemy, the Campbells." He raised an angry eyebrow, and Anna's heart skipped a beat."Holy shit! I had no idea, I'm so sorry!" She jumped up and snatched up the blanket.Angus doubled over with laughter. "Och, Anna," he gasped when he caught his breath. "Yer a pip, you are!""Haha, very funny,

Chapter 205: Emergency EvacuationHer heart pounding, Anna glanced to her right at Simone in the front passenger seat of the enormous fifteen-passenger van. Simone's jaw was tight, and her eyes were squeezed shut as she exhaled slowly and deliberately. Beyond Simone out the window, the dark night sky was marred by an eerie reddish-orange glow. Thankfully, the flames were still far from the road, but Anna couldn't bring herself to think about what might be happening at the ranch. One crisis at a time, she thought to herself, as behind her, the guests murmured in hushed tones, no doubt seeing the same scene she did. Anna caught worried eyes in the rearview mirror. "No worries, folks, evacuating is really just a precaution. We'll definitely be safe and sound in Eagleton, and we'll wait and see what the daylight brings. In the meantime, we'll rustle up some snacks and drinks while we wait for word from the emergency officials."In the fairgrounds parking lot, Anna pulled alongsid

Chapter 207: A Serious ConversationSeated on a blanket on the floor of the open barn, Angus leaned back against a stack of boxes and gently hugged Anna to his side. With her head resting on his shoulder, she'd fallen asleep almost as soon as they'd settled down. By the time they'd arrived back at the fairgrounds and checked in with the ranch guests, all the cots had been taken, but they'd been afforded a pair of blankets, one of which was currently wrapped around Anna while they sat on the other.Listening to her light, steady breathing, Angus thought of how proud he was of Anna, of how she'd stepped up to the challenge of Simone's unexpected labor without wavering. Now, for all she knew, the only home she'd ever known was being reduced to ash, but her sense of duty to family and to the ranch's guests overrode any other concerns.He looked up to see Tom Graves making his way toward them through the dimly lit pavilion. Teresa was nowhere in sight, and Angus imagined she'd probably

Chapter 209: Stray Thoughts"There's no place like home," lisped a pint-sized Dorothy on horseback, much to the delight of the audience of parents who chuckled from their seats beside the riding ring. Anna's beginners' group was performing their program flawlessly, but she found it difficult to focus.Seated with the families in the stands, Angus fixed her with his cerulean gaze. Apparently, he wasn't paying attention to the play either. Anna's thoughts swirled back to the previous afternoon when she'd driven the vanload of guests back to the ranch. While she'd heard that there was little damage to the property and no damage at all to the structures, she'd been beyond relieved when she'd seen it with her own eyes. The pasture would recover in no time, and by next summer, you'd hardly be able to tell that the Loop Trail had burned.Once they arrived back at the ranch, Anna had pasted on a smile and put one foot in front of the other, reassuring the guests that their vacations were