A Baby In His Stocking (The Buckhorn Ranch Book 4)

by Laura Marie Altom

  “Good luck with that.” He looked away as if in disgust. “Have any idea what the odds are for a single mom to find a guy willing to father another man’s son?”

  “Are you a monster? Why would you say something like that? Especially when seconds earlier I made a heartfelt admission I should’ve kept to myself.”

  “Sorry. Maybe I am a monster. Or hell, maybe I just no longer have a heart.”

  Chapter Seven

  Wednesday morning, power had thankfully been restored, but for Natalie, the vibe between her and Wyatt felt strained. Josie and Dallas were being moved from ICU to regular hospital rooms, and by the end of the week, the plan was for them to be placed in a long-term care facility. In the meantime, Luke had taken Kolt and his baby sister, Callie, home. Robin and Prissy were back at their house with Cash and their regular sitter. As Callie usually hung out with Daisy in her office, or at the house they’d been forever renovating, she was also staying with Robin’s sitter during the day.

  As for Natalie’s schedule, she had an appointment with her principal beginning right after the morning bell.

  Mabel sat on the floor in Natalie’s office, playing with a rag doll and blocks. Esther cooed in her carrier. Natalie sifted through email and snail mail and phone messages. She’d barely been at it ten minutes when her boss sidestepped Mabel’s toys to have a seat on the sofa.

  “I was sick to hear about Josie and Dallas,” the principal said. “Have you been to see them?”

  “Not yet,” Natalie said. “Georgina relayed that Josie doesn’t want the girls seeing her or their father looking so scary.”

  “Have they at least spoken on the phone?”

  “No.” Natalie played with the Slinky she kept on her desk to busy little fingers. “Georgina’s assured the twins their parents will be fine, but it’s not hard to see the girls are growing impatient about constantly being put off.”

  “I don’t blame them.” Clearing her throat, Principal Moody said, “You, of all people, should know children are smarter than we give them credit for. The longer the girls are kept from the reality of what’s happened, the more nightmares they’ll concoct in their heads.”

  “True. But on the flip side, from what Luke and Cash have reported, Dallas and Josie are swollen and bruised to the point they’re barely recognizable. What kind of image is that for their kids to forever have in their memories? Especially if Wyatt and I can provide a certain level of continuity in their care.”

  Principal Moody left the sofa to lift Esther from her carrier. “Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating this little one’s christening.”

  “I know,” Natalie managed to say past the knot in her throat. How could so much have changed, yet stayed the same? Her best friends nearly died. Wyatt was in her life, but back to playing a superficial role.

  “I don’t mean to pry, but how are you and Wyatt managing? Four kids are a lot to handle when your relationship is still young.”

  “O-our relationship?” Natalie shook her head.

  “When I saw you and Wyatt kiss that afternoon, I assumed…”

  “No.” Was it possible for a human to turn twenty shades of red?

  “So then he’s not the father of your…” She gestured toward Natalie’s growing belly.

  Mouth dry, Natalie answered with a shake of her head.

  “Yes, well, Cami tells me you need paperwork for a leave of absence?”

  “We have no idea how long Josie and Dallas may be incapacitated, and I’d feel better watching Esther and Mabel myself than putting them in day care.”

  “I understand,” Principal Moody said, “but we’ll sorely miss you around here.”

  “I’ll miss all of you, too.”

  Natalie packed a few essentials from her desk—lipstick and Oreo cookies—then put Mabel back in her stroller, balancing Esther’s carrier on top.

  From school, she settled her crew into their car seats for a trip to the grocery store, where Mabel pitched at least three hissy fits and Esther screamed until she couldn’t breathe. Good times, followed by even more fun at the gas station and pharmacy.

  Once Natalie returned to the ranch, then unloaded kids and groceries, half her day was gone.

  Mabel was still cranky from not getting her way at the store, and Esther seemed hungry. After giving Mabel a juice box and graham crackers, Natalie settled into the living room’s comfy rocker to feed the baby her bottle.

  “You’re good with her.”

  Natalie glanced up to see Wyatt. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  He shrugged, landing on a seat opposite hers. “She likes you.”

  “At this point, the poor thing would probably bond with anyone who has a bottle. As cranky as she’s been, I can tell she misses Josie and Dallas.”

  “I talked to Mom this morning.” Wyatt removed his cowboy hat and ran his hand through his hair. “She said Josie and Dallas want to see the kids, but for us to wait until Saturday to bring them.”

  “Why so long?”

  “I guess for more of their facial bruising and cuts to heal.”

  By way of acknowledgment, she nodded. The last time she and Wyatt had been alone, the things he’d said… Suffice to say, her already lackluster opinion of the man had only gotten worse.

  The house was too quiet.

  The grandfather clock ticked too loud.

  Wyatt cleared his throat. “I’ve been with enough women to know I’m getting the silent treatment.”

  Just what every girl wanted to hear. Glancing his way, she shook her head.

  “If you’re still ticked about movie night—sorry.” Leaning forward, he braced his elbows on his knees. “Lately, I feel dark inside. Like the happier everyone I love becomes, the more miserable I am.”

  “News flash—your brother and sister-in-law aren’t exactly whooping it up.”

  “You know what I mean.” He stood and paced like a penned bull. “Before all of this, I’d never really considered who would miss me if I hid out in Ethiopia for a few years, or for that matter, died, but their accident has me facing my own mortality.”

  Natalie repositioned Esther, who was taking her sweet time finishing her bottle. “You do realize every word out of your mouth contradicts your last tantrum?”

  “Um, no.” Narrowed eyes told her he was upset she’d even suggest such a thing.

  “Which is it? Are you a monster with no heart? Or a mere mortal with a heart so huge it feels empty without a family of your own to share it?”

  He froze, staring at her with a mix of anger and maybe realization.

  Mabel had been at the coffee table, coloring princesses with chunky crayons. She now stood toe-to-toe with Wyatt’s boots, holding up her arms, wiggling her fingers and grinning. “Airplane!”

  While Wyatt just stood there, looking at the child as if she’d sprouted pointy alien ears, Mabel added hopping to her adorable routine.

  “Airplane! Airplane!”

  He knew full well what the toddler wanted. Dallas regularly swooped her up, flying her around while making silly vroom noises. What was wrong with Wyatt that he couldn’t do the same?

  After ruffling the girl’s hair, he said, “I’ve gotta make a few calls. I’ll be back in time to occupy the twins while you fix dinner.”

  Mabel toddled after him, but soon gave up, falling onto her bottom in a fit of outraged tears.

  Esther had drifted off to sleep, so Natalie placed her in her carrier and picked up Mabel, doing her best to replicate Dallas’s game. Soon enough, the girl giggled, but she was heavy and Natalie’s arms couldn’t bear the weight.

  Breathless, she collapsed on the sofa, snuggling Mabel alongside her. “Your uncle Wyatt is crazy.”

  The girl nodded. “Cra-zie.”

  “What are we going to do about it?”

  “Cookies!” Mabel laughed.

  The little girl’s enthusiasm was catching. It made Natalie look forward to the day when she played with her own son or daughter. Instead of being ter
rified of her looming deadline, she needed to start looking forward to her baby’s birth.

  “Know what?” Natalie said with a tweak of the girl’s nose, “I think you’re right. Cookies are exactly what this situation needs.”

  “WE EVER GOING TO SEE YOU?” Cale Montrose, one of the guys Wyatt was supposed to have met in London for the trek down to Africa, sounded staticky on his satellite phone. “We’re poised to make the biggest find of the decade. Thought you wanted in?”

  “I do…” Running his palm over his stubbled jaw, Wyatt sighed. “Things are complicated over here. But give me a month—two, tops—and I’ll grab the first flight over.”

  “That long?” The bad connection didn’t hide disappointment in Cale’s tone. “We need you, man.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. Really, I am, but—”

  “Look,” Cale said, “I feel for your family and all, but if you’re not over here in say, two weeks, we’re going to have to find a replacement. Our crew’s too streamlined to head out into the backcountry without a rock hound. Capisce?”

  “Yeah.” After a few minutes’ small talk, Wyatt hung up. Swell. Just freakin’ swell. He’d spent the last year putting this trip together. From getting his Ethiopian visa to making sure everything here on the home front ran like a Buckhorn-oiled machine. In the Tulsa office were folks who inspected and maintained current wells they owned, and looked into obtaining ones they should. All the way in Alaska were more wells and a pipeline in need of maintenance. It took everything in him to juggle it all. The fact that he’d finally nailed down the details to the point that he could now juggle with no hands brought on mixed feelings. Part of him obviously couldn’t wait to get the hell out of Weed Gulch. Another part—one he’d never admit having—was a little hurt that he’d been so easily replaced.

  Assuming he did get his chance to wing off to Africa, what then? Would his family, friends, coworkers even notice he was gone? If not, that stung. It also spoke volumes about the kind of bitter, cold creep he’d become.

  When Mabel had wanted to play airplane, why hadn’t he just gone ahead and picked her up? Just because he couldn’t have his own children, did that make him incapable of showing kindness to his brothers’? How many years had Wyatt told himself he was content with a constant string of blondes, but maybe he did want more. Only what was the point in wanting something impossible to obtain?

  Nearly losing Dallas had shaken Wyatt to his core.

  It’d made him realize he couldn’t forever run from his inability to father kids. Sooner or later, he needed to tell his brothers and sister. Maybe then he’d at least find peace in sharing their babies?

  Then there was Natalie.

  No matter how much chaos ensued, she never lost her cool. How did she do it? Why did he find her talents so damned aggravating? Not only did she have the patience of a saint, but the more focused she’d become on restoring order to the Buckhorn home, the more attractive to him she’d become. Her messy ponytails and rumpled T-shirts and jeans were offset by a quiet strength he found himself craving.

  Warm sun streamed through the western wall of his house, reminding him of the promise he’d made to help Natalie with the twins.

  By sheer will, could he make tonight different? The next two weeks before he would leave? Instead of resenting Natalie’s abilities with his nieces, could he learn to become more like her?

  When they’d been kids, Daisy’s favorite toy had been her Magic 8 Ball. Wyatt couldn’t say what made him flash back on that now, but regardless, he feared the answer to his current question, after a fervent shake, would be outlook doubtful.

  “OKAY, DADDY! SORRY you talk funny, but I love you, too!”

  That afternoon, Bonnie and Betsy hung up their house phone extensions at the same time. They’d spent the past ten minutes talking with their parents, and while Natalie could tell the conversation had done the girls good, Bonnie’s current frown had her worried.

  “What are you thinking, sweetie?”

  From her perch on a kitchen counter stool, Bonnie sighed. “Daddy and Mommy sound sick, but why can’t they be sick here?”

  “Yeah.” Betsy joined her sister. “I say that, too.”

  “Because they are hurt pretty bad, they have to stay at the hospital where there are lots of doctors and nurses to fix them.”

  “But Mommy at least sounds normal,” Bonnie said. “Why can’t she come home?”

  Natalie surveyed the freezer for what to cook for dinner. “Remember last year when you two got stomach flu?”

  “Yeah…” the twins said in unison.

  “You felt awful, but still looked adorable, right?”

  “We are very cute,” Bonnie noted.

  “And we have the longest hair in our class,” Betsy said.

  “There you have it. You proved my point. Just because you were still pretty didn’t mean you felt great. That’s how your mom is.”

  “Oh.” Bonnie frowned.

  “Guess that makes sense,” Betsy said.

  Finding a two-pound chub of ground beef, Natalie decided tacos sounded yummy and simple. Plus, she remembered seeing corn tortillas at the back of the fridge.

  She put the meat in the microwave to thaw, then assembled lettuce, tomatoes and cheese on the counter.

  Mabel sat at the table, squeezing Play-Doh.

  Esther lounged on her play mat, “talking” to the pink pigs dangling from an arch.

  “Can we help?” Betsy asked.

  “Absolutely. But first, wash your hands.”

  The back door opened and in strolled Wyatt.

  If Natalie hadn’t known him her whole life, his stubbled square jawline and killer white-toothed smile would’ve been major turn-ons. Alas, his good looks would never fool her into thinking he might be a good catch.

  He hung his cowboy hat on a wall hook, and then turned to the girls. “Wanna play Monopoly?”

  Bonnie shook her head. “We’re cooking.”

  Betsy said, “Thanks, Uncle Wyatt, but Miss Natalie’s way more fun than you.”

  Natalie fully expected him to turn right around and leave. Instead, he surprised her by picking up his niece in a growling hug. “If you like Miss Nat better, then that means I’ll have to eat you for dinner!”

  “No!” Bonnie jumped at his side. “Eat me! Me!”

  A growling, laughing chase ensued with all three of them dashing behind her. When Wyatt passed, he brushed against Natalie’s backside. Sparks of awareness were impossible to deny.

  Even Mabel wanted in on the fun, waving her hands and shouting, “Me! Me!”

  Wyatt hefted the toddler onto his shoulders and proceeded to chase the twins into the living room, growling all the way. Soon, sounds of thumping and shrieking came from upstairs.

  Natalie couldn’t imagine what had gotten into Wyatt for him to do such a behavioral one-eighty, but she had to admit she liked the change.

  Out of breath and laughing, they all eventually landed back in the kitchen, joining Mabel at the table to make Play-Doh cakes and cookies.

  Kolt and Luke stopped by with Callie, unashamed to admit they were missing Daisy and hoping to snag a free meal.

  When everyone had eaten their fill, Natalie moved to clear the table, but Luke and Kolt stopped her.

  “You cooked,” Luke said. “Least we can do is clean.”

  “Thank you, both.” Natalie ambushed Kolt with a hug. Turning to Mabel and Esther, she said, “With my free time, you two are getting your baths.”

  “Let me do it.” Wyatt took Esther from her carrier.

  “Do you know how?” Natalie didn’t ask to be snide, she genuinely needed to know before turning over her best friend’s children to their clueless bachelor uncle.

  Holding squirming Mabel under his arm, he said, “How tough can it be? Like washing a car, only smaller, right?”

  “If you say so.”

  The second Wyatt was out of earshot, Luke said, “You might want to keep an eye on him. I’m not sure who’s in
more trouble—the girls or my brother-in-law.”

  FACED WITH A PLETHORA of bath toys and seats and lotions, Wyatt wasn’t sure the pep talk he’d given himself on being a better uncle would be enough to see him through his voluntary task. From the looks of it, bath time may be more complex than he’d anticipated.

  Setting Mabel on her feet, he asked, “Can you tell Uncle Wyatt what we’re supposed to do?”

  She pointed at a pink rubber duck. “Ducky says quack!”

  “Thanks,” he said, ignoring the ball of fear in his gut. “That helps a lot.”

  She pointed to a boat. “Boat goes brrrrooooom!”

  “Esther, I don’t suppose you have any clearer advice?”

  The infant blew a raspberry.

  Okay—well, water would be a great first start, but he wasn’t sure on the temperature. Seemed like one of the women he’d dated had told him her niece screamed whenever her water was even lukewarm. Personally, he enjoyed a near-scalding shower, but that had to hurt baby skin.

  Wyatt couldn’t help but smile when Mabel had already stripped and climbed into a purple plastic bath chair in the tub.

  “Bubbles!” She pointed to a giant bottle of Mr. Bubble.

  A knock sounded on the door. Natalie asked, “How’s it going?”

  He scratched his head. “We’re good except for water temp. Thoughts?”

  “That is tricky.” On her way to the tub, she overwhelmed him with her trademark scent of watermelon lotion, along with lingering traces of her delicious dinner. She squatted to adjust the faucet, revealing a yellow polka-dot thong. “What you’ll want to do is run your wrist under the warm water, like this. Checking to ensure it’s not too hot. Make sense?”

  The only thing that made any sense to Wyatt was Natalie removing her jeans to give him a better look at how little she wore in the way of panties.

  Two weeks…

  If he could keep his eye on the prize of freedom to be gained in those fourteen days, he’d no longer need worry about the naughty thoughts that had a way of popping into his head whenever she was around. As a woman growing more pregnant by the day, she was the enemy. Last thing he needed was her nonverbal reminder of the one thing he wanted, but would never have.