He shrugged. "Watching TV and stuff."

"While your mother's at work?"

"Sure."

"Who stays with you?"

Travis sat up straight. "I'm twelve. Old enough to take care of myself."

Jesse tapped his fork against the rim of his plate and considered. "You can't just hang out."

"Why not?"

Jesse ignored that. "How about some kind of summer program? Something that interests you."

Great, more school, Travis groaned silently. "Like what?"

"I don't know. Archery? Maybe chess?"

"Chess?" He made a face.

"Then what about chemistry?" Jesse picked up his cup. "Mixing ingredients. Doing experiments. I used

to love chemistry. Or geology. I bet they have a summer program for kids at the university."

That's when it occurred to him. Travis worried his lip, and it was all he could do to keep the excitement

from spilling over. "What about golf lessons?"

His dad kind of jerked and coffee sloshed over the rim.

"I bet I'd be really great," Travis enthused. "You're a golfer. And your dad was one, too."

"How'd you know that?"

Travis blushed. "I read about you and him. There's tons of stuff about both of you. They say your

dad could play, but you're the one who won all the trophies. Didn't your dad ever win?"

Jesse got another look on his face, a weird one this time. "My dad won plenty," he said. "He was a great golfer in his day."

Waiting expectantly, Travis thought there'd be more to the story. But more wasn't coming. "I read that

you're about to win a really big tournament. It sounded totally great." He pushed some eggs around.

"I also read that all the girls love you."

Jesse's brow furrowed.

"They say you can get a girl in your bed faster than any other golfer around. Cool."

"Cool? This conversation doesn't fall underneath the heading of food or clothes."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Just don't believe everything you read, kid. And it sounds to me like you'd make a great reporter. Maybe Katie could get you a summer internship down at the station."

Light-headed with disappointment, Travis tried to smile. "Yeah, maybe."

When his mom had told him they were going to see his father, he'd been totally excited. He had assumed Jesse would feel the same way. Didn't dads have to be excited about that kind of stuff?

Now, sitting here, with Jesse looking at him so strangely, Travis figured that dads didn't have to be

excited, or maybe they just wouldn't be excited about a kid like him. He knew he sort of blended in. Though when he didn't blend in, it was worse-way worse. Other kids said he talked too much.

"Can I turn on the TV?" he asked.

It looked like Jesse debated his answer. But he must not have wanted to have to talk anymore, either, because he said, "Okay."

This whole father-son thing sure wasn't working out like Travis had hoped.

With a turn of the switch, the tiny screen came to life. Travis sat back and was eyeing the bacon and toast in silent misery when Kate appeared on the screen.

"Good morning, West Texas!"

"Hey, look, it's Kate."

They stopped eating, or pretending to eat.

"Today I'm at Tumbleweed Trails for a chat with rodeo star Cowboy Bob."

Jesse and Travis looked at each other. "Cowboy Bob?" they said in unison.

Kate was dressed in a buckskin vest with fringe running down the sides, plus matching buckskin pants,

it looked like, though it was hard to be sure since the screen cut off the bottom half of her. She stood

next to a gigantic redheaded man in the biggest cowboy hat Travis had ever seen.

"She looks kind of uncomfortable," Travis mused.

"Who wouldn't be, dressed like that? It's got to be ninety out there already. I wouldn't be surprised if

she faints."

"It looks like Cowboy Bob could handle her if she did."

Jesse scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that he looks strong enough to pick her up and carry her off if something happens."

Sure enough, Cowboy Bob swept Kate off her feet, though it had nothing to do with fainting. She gave

a squeal, and the cowboy sort of staggered a little bit. But seconds later, she was sitting high atop a horse that looked as surprised as Kate did-and about as happy.

"Wow!" Travis was enthralled, his breakfast forgotten. "Did you see how he picked her up?"

Jesse wasn't nearly as excited.

Travis peered closer at the screen. "What's she doing? Looks like she's trying to hide her feet."

"Well, uh, Cowboy Bob, please tell our viewers a bit about the flora and fauna."

"She's wearing workout shoes"-Travis watched as Kate scrambled to tug down her buckskin pant legs- "and, oh man, she's still got on those ankle weights!"

"Ankle weights? What the hell-heck-is she wearing those for?"

"I don't know, but when she was walking out the door this morning, I heard her say something about needing to reinvent herself."

"What?" Jesse blurted out, before he shook his head. "Katie, Katie, Katie. It's always when she tries

too hard to do something crazy that she gets herself in trouble." Then he whistled. "If she's trying to reinvent herself, let me tell you, Travis, we're in for big trouble around here."

"Do you think?"

"I know."

"You want me to tell you about Flora and Fauna?" The cowboy laughed. "I think I mighta dated a couple of gals named that. Though I can't imagine you came all the way out here to talk about them.

But I'd be happy to tell the folks at home what I'm thinking about you." He whistled.

She cut him off abruptly, her lips pursing like a mad schoolteacher's. "Thank you, but that really isn't

necessary. "

The man leaned one strong forearm on the pommel of the saddle, winked directly into the camera, then looked at her in a way that heated the already blistering hot day.

"Did you see how he looked at her?" Jesse demanded, setting his coffee cup down with a thunk.

"Now sit back, little lady, I'm going to give you the ride of your life."

Her eyes went wide. But seconds later they narrowed.