True Blue Cowboy (The Cash Brothers) (10 page)

“What’s happened?” Beth asked.

“We need to hit the road. My sister-in-law is having a C-section today and delivering the twins.”

Beth grabbed her overnight bag.

He held the door open for her and they left the room. Good thing he’d prepaid the hotel bill last night. He nodded to the desk clerk on their way out the door. As soon as he’d loaded their luggage into the truck, he said, “Be right back. I need to settle my tab with Stella.”

He jogged across the street and entered the Bird Cage. Stella was off but the waitress on duty took Mack’s credit card. After he signed the receipt and returned to the truck, they drove out of town. Once they cleared the city limits, he put the pedal to the metal, easing up when the speedometer reached eighty. Five miles over the speed limit shouldn’t alert any highway deputies.

“Is this an emergency C-section?” Beth asked.

“Isi was scheduled to go into the hospital next week but her doctor had a family emergency, so she decided to deliver the girls today.” Mack could feel Beth’s eyes on him as he drove.

“What does your brother want you to do?”

“Take care of the twins after school.” He glanced across the seat. “I won’t be able to drop you off at the dude ranch before the bus arrives at the farm.”

“That’s okay.”

She didn’t sound like it was okay. “I can drive you out to the ranch after we get the boys.”

“Whatever works best,” she said.

Exactly what he didn’t want to hear. Mack shoved his worries about Beth aside. His family needed him.

And family trumped his love life.

Chapter Nine

“The bus should be here any minute.” Mack tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. They’d arrived at the pecan farm with minutes to spare before the bus dropped off the twins.

“Are you nervous about taking care of the boys?” Beth asked.

“No, why?”

She nodded to his fidgety fingers.

“Sorry.” He set his hands on his thighs. “They’re good kids.”

She hadn’t interacted with any children since she’d babysat as a teenager. At sixteen, she got a job at a clothing store in the mall and quit babysitting. Later in life when her friends began having families, she declined invites to barbecues and Christmas parties if their little ones were going to be present. Even though she’d made peace with her sterility, children were a sad reminder of what she’d never experience.

“Are the boys difficult to tell apart?” she asked.

“I had trouble figuring out who was who until I got to know them better. Miguel is the talkative one. He’s always on the move. Javier is quiet. He hangs back and watches people.”

“You said they were in kindergarten.”

“Different teachers. Conway and Isi thought it would be best to separate them so they had a chance to make their own friends.”

“Are they happy in separate classrooms?”

“Miguel doesn’t mind, but Conway said Javi misses his brother. In preschool, Javi got picked on because of his shyness, and Miguel always had his back. Now Javi has to stand up for himself.”

“I hate bullies.”

“Were you teased in school?”

“The entire year of sixth grade.”

“Why?”

“I was chubby. When all the other girls were developing breasts, I was growing a muffin top.” Beth’s hormones had gone haywire, and it wasn’t until the beginning of seventh grade that doctors figured out why and diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome. They’d put her on medication but she’d still experienced painful periods that had landed her in the ER, so the doctors determined it was best to remove her ovaries.

Mack pointed out the windshield. “Here they come.”

She held her breath and fumbled for the door handle.

“Wait in the truck,” he said. “It’ll only take a second to get them.”

Glad for the reprieve, she watched the bus come to a stop. The door opened and Mack exchanged a few words with the driver, then the boys got off with their backpacks. They wore matching shirts in different colors—one blue, one red. Both had jeans on and the same athletic shoes. They had dark brown hair—one neatly styled, the other messy as if he’d walked in front of a wind machine. The messy-haired kid’s shirt was untucked and his shoelaces untied. The other boy’s clothes were neat and tidy. If she had to guess—Javier was the well-groomed brother and Miguel the rumpled one.

Instead of ushering them to the pickup, Mack listened while both boys spoke at once. His gaze swung between the twins, and she wished she could hear the conversation. Then Miguel looked at her, his eyes assessing. When Javier noticed her, he leaned against his uncle’s leg. Mack waved as the bus pulled onto the road and drove off, then he led the boys to the truck and helped them into the backseat.

When Mack got behind the wheel, he made the introductions. “Guys, this is a friend of mine, Beth Richards. Beth, this is Javier and Miguel.”

“Nice to meet you, boys.” Beth reached over the seat and offered her hand first to Javier. He tentatively grasped her fingers before she switched to Miguel, who squeezed her hand hard and said, “How come you’re Uncle Mack’s friend?”

“Your uncle and I met at the dude ranch.”

“Do you like to go on trail rides?” Miguel asked.

“Not so much. I’d rather sit on my cabin porch and relax.”

“That sucks.”

“Miguel, your dad told you not to use that word anymore,” Mack said.

“Dad’s not here.”

Javier shoved his brother’s shoulder. “You’re gonna be in trouble.”

Beth covered her smile behind a cough.

“You say
suck,
too,” Miguel said.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Okay, that’s enough. No fighting in front of Beth.”

“Uncle Mack.” Javier spoke as the truck pulled into the yard.

“What?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Then, let’s eat.” Mack shut off the engine and helped the boys from the backseat.

Beth studied the farmhouse. The two-story home appeared as if it had recently received a fresh coat of white paint. Toys were strewn across the porch and a pair of bicycles sat in the yard. A
woof
echoed through the air.

“Can Bandit come inside?” Javier asked.

“Sure.” Mack chuckled as the twins raced across the grass to unchain their pal. The Lab jumped on the boys, teasing giggles from them. Then the dog went up on hind legs and rested his big paws on Miguel’s shoulders.

“Look, Uncle Mack! Bandit wants to dance.”

Beth couldn’t help but laugh at the trio’s antics. “I assume the boys and Bandit are inseparable.”

“Yeah. The second day Mig and Javi left for school, the dog chased the bus for two miles before the driver spotted him and pulled off the road.”

Beth envisioned the black Lab running down the highway. “What happened?”

“The driver let the dog onto the bus. The school called and Conway had to go into town and pick him up. After that incident, they had to chain Bandit to his doghouse during the day.” Mack took her hand and led her across the driveway. The boys and Bandit beat them to the porch.

When Mack opened the door, Beth asked, “Don’t they lock the house when they leave?”

“They usually do. Conway must have forgotten. I bet my brother was so nervous he made Isi drive them to the hospital.”

When they entered the kitchen the boys were already seated at the table, Bandit panting by their side. Mack rummaged through the shelves in the pantry. “What do you guys eat after school?” He tossed a package of cookies on the table, then a box of Cheerios and a plastic container of crackers.

The twins dove into the treats and before Beth realized she’d spoken, the words were out of her mouth. “Shouldn’t you wash your hands first?”

The boys stopped chewing, their cheeks puffed out like chipmunks. They looked at Mack.

“Beth’s right. Wash your hands.” He nodded to the doorway and the boys shoved their chairs back and left the room, Bandit by their sides. They didn’t go far. She saw them duck through a doorway in the hall and then heard running water.

“Can I get you anything?” Mack opened the fridge and peered inside.

“No, thanks. I’m fine.”

“I want milk.” Miguel marched into the kitchen. He looked at Beth. “Please.”

“Me, too, Uncle Mack.” Javier slid onto his chair. “Please.”

While Mack poured the milk, Beth spoke to the boys. “I can tell you’re both really smart.”

“How?” Miguel asked.

“Because smart people always use their manners.”

Javier reached for a cracker. “My mom makes me say please but my dad forgets.”

“She’s my mom, too,” Miguel said.

“And you both will have to share your mom with your sisters.” Mack ruffled the boys’ hair.

“Did Uncle Mack tell you our mom’s gonna have two babies?” Javier asked.

Beth took a seat at the table, finding herself drawn to Mack’s nephews, which was unusual because she had no practice conversing with kids. “Yes, he did. Do you think your sisters will look alike?”

Javier nodded and Miguel said, “No one’s gonna be able to tell them apart but us—” Mig pointed to himself and his brother “—’cause we’re twins.”

“I need to check the mail in the bunkhouse,” Mack said. “You guys behave for Beth.”

Before it registered that she’d been left alone with the twins, the boys shoved more cookies into their mouths and waited for her to make the next move.

“What did you learn in school today?” she asked.

Miguel gulped his milk, then mumbled, “Nothing.”

“I learned the three Rs,” Javier said.

“That sounds stupid.”

Javier glared at his brother.

“The three Rs.” Beth tapped her finger against her chin. “I don’t think I know what that means.”

Javier took the bait. “Reuse, recycle and reduce.”

Beth had expected Javier to say reading, writing and arithmetic.

“Mrs. Murphy said we have to take care of the earth and not litter and stuff.”

“I don’t get it,” Miguel said.

“Mrs. Murphy said we’re supposed to—”

The back door flew open. “Who wants to play catch?” Mack asked.

Bandit bolted outside and Miguel followed, leaving his half-empty glass of milk behind. Javier remained at the table and continued eating.

“What else did Mrs. Murphy suggest we reuse?” Beth asked.

“She said we could refill our water bottles from the sink.”

“That’s smart. If everyone did that, we’d use fewer plastic bottles.”

“And she said when we brush our teeth we should shut off the water until we’re done spitting.”

“Not wasting water is pretty important in the desert, isn’t it?”

Javier nodded. “How come you know so much about stuff?”

“Like you, I listened to my teachers in school.” When Javier remained silent, she asked, “Are you excited about your mom and dad bringing home your sisters?” The boy looked so forlorn that it was all Beth could do not to hug him.

“My dad says my mom’s gonna be busy with the babies and we’re not supposed to bother her.”

“Babies are a lot of work.”

“Do you have babies?”

Her breath caught in her throat. She’d been doing so well, answering Javier’s questions while ignoring the fact that she found his company charming.

“What’s the matter? You look sad.”

She wanted to cry. “I’m fine.” Her voice sounded rusty and she cleared her throat. “I don’t have any children.”

“Are you and Uncle Mack gonna have babies?”

The kitchen walls closed in on her and she struggled to draw air into her lungs. “Your uncle and I are just friends, Javier.”

“My dad and mom were friends and they got married.”

“And look what a nice family you have,” she said. “A mom, dad, brother and now two sisters.”

“My cousin Ryan got a girlfriend. He never wants to play with me now.”

“The whole boy-girl thing is complicated,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about girlfriends for a few years.”

“Do you wanna see my reading book?” Javier reached into his backpack on the floor by the chair. “It’s called—” he set the book on the table and pointed to each word on the cover “—Ben...and...Buster.” Javier opened the book and read the first page.

Beth listened as she took in the room. There were signs of children everywhere—colored magnetic alphabet letters holding up pieces of artwork on the refrigerator door. Batman drinking cups sitting on the counter. A white ceramic cookie jar with small blue handprints and the words Happy Mother’s Day painted on the side. Snack-size packages of treats filled a clear container on the counter and next to the back door sat two pairs of miniature cowboy boots.

“Let’s go outside.” Beth needed to get out of the house.

Javier glanced up, then quickly looked away but not before she saw his hurt expression. “I thought you could read on the swing,” she said.

The sparkle returned to his eyes.

When she walked onto the porch, she breathed a sigh of relief—the trees, barn and Mack’s truck didn’t remind her of children. Mack’s and Miguel’s laughter met her ears, but they were nowhere in sight. Maybe they’d ventured into the pecan groves on the other side of the barn.

Javier tugged on her pant leg. “C’mon, let’s sit down.”

“Sure.” When they sat on the swing, Javier pointed to her shoes.

“What?”

“Your feet don’t touch.”

She leaned forward. “Neither do yours.”

Javier inched closer to Beth until his shoulder rubbed her arm. Would it really hurt to give the little guy a hug? She could do that without falling apart, couldn’t she? She snuggled Javier against her side. “Go on. I’m listening.”

Javier read, but Beth didn’t hear a word. Her attention focused on the pecan groves until the trees became a blur of green and brown. She retreated inside herself to a dark corner that shielded her from the cold, hard world. The gloom closed in on her in a protective way, blocking the pain and emotional devastation that came with knowing she’d never have what most women had—children of their own. Yes, she’d contemplated adoption and yes, her own mother had even told her to stop feeling sorry for herself and adopt if she really wanted to experience motherhood, but Beth’s fears had stopped her.

There were thousands of children waiting for a home...a couple to love them, but it wouldn’t be the same as having her own child and gazing into the eyes of a son or daughter and seeing herself reflected back. And she worried that if she did adopt, the child would see through her and know that he or she was a substitute for what Beth really wanted.

She wasn’t sure how long she and Javier had been sitting on the swing when Mack and Miguel entered the yard, Bandit trotting behind them. Miguel spoke and Mack’s head fell back, his chest shaking with laughter. Then the dog jumped on Mack, knocking him to the ground. Miguel dove on top of his uncle and the two wrestled while Bandit danced in circles.

“I wanna play!” Javier dropped his book in Beth’s lap and dashed off the porch. He raced across the lawn and joined in the fun.

Beth observed with a broken heart as the three rolled in the grassy dirt. A horn honked seconds before a pickup pulled up to the house and parked next to Mack’s truck. A young woman got out of the passenger side and the man reached into the back and removed a child from a car seat.

“I thought you were going to the hospital.” Mack walked over to the couple while the twins played with the dog.

“I hope you don’t mind, but Nate has a cold and I didn’t want to expose him to more germs at the hospital.”

The woman must be Mack’s sister. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped the toddler’s runny nose. “Can you handle watching him and the twins?”

“Sure. I have help.” Mack waved Beth over.

If Beth had known a cattle-buying trip would evolve into running a daycare with Mack, she would have remained at the dude ranch.