Home on the Ranch--Tennessee Homecoming

by April Arrington

  Ducking her head, Katie hastily gathered up the twisted napkins and shoved them to the other side of the table. “Sorry, I should’ve taken care of that, too.”

  Unsurprised resignation gleamed in Landon’s eyes. He thanked Nina when she returned with a high char, settled Sophia inside then sat by Matthew. Clean jeans stretched across his thick thighs as he situated his muscular frame on the thinly padded seat, the light spice of his cologne releasing with each of his movements.

  Clearly, he’d taken time to freshen up, too. His gorgeous male frame, courteous demeanor and calm strength stirred every nerve ending in her body.

  Resisting the urge to walk around the small table, wrap her arms around his lean waist and nuzzle against his broad chest, Katie sat beside Emma then smiled at the kids. “Thank you for joining me.”

  Emma paused chewing her gum and grinned up at her, eyes tired but kind. “You’re welcome, Aunt Katie.”

  Sophia cooed and gummed her fist. Matthew frowned down at the table.

  Katie leaned closer. “How does Jinx like his new surroundings?”

  Matthew scoffed but didn’t look up. “He’s a fish. He’s always in water.”

  “Yes, but he’s in a new room now,” Katie said. “And we put him in front of that big window overlooking Landon’s ranch. I bet he’s enjoying the view.”

  Matthew sat back in his seat and crossed his arms, his tone dry. “He’s a fish. It’s not like we have conversations and stuff.”

  “Well—” Katie tucked a curl behind her ear with a shaky hand “—when I was your age, your mom and I had two goldfish. One was really small. We named him Megalodon so he wouldn’t get an inferiority complex. We talked to him all the time.” Her throat thickened and she tried for a smile. “He never talked back, of course, but we gave it our best shot.”

  If possible, Matthew’s expression darkened even more. “That’s stupid.”

  “No, it’s not.” Emma’s chin trembled. “Mama wasn’t stupid and Aunt Katie can talk to Jinx as much as she wants.”

  Landon cleared his throat. “All right. It’s been a long day and we’re all tired and cranky, so let’s give the fish a rest and order, okay?”

  Hands trembling, Katie gulped more lemonade.

  Nina, bless her blissful heart, returned to the table with menus at the perfect time, leaving them to relax back in their seats and study the large laminated lists. They ordered and fifteen minutes later, their food arrived. Nina set plates of burgers and fries in front of Landon and the kids, a bowl of applesauce on Sophia’s high char and a fruit salad at Katie’s place setting.

  “That’s all you’re eating?” Landon narrowed his eyes at the small pile of sliced strawberries, bananas, grapes and apricots.

  “I drank about six glasses of lemonade before y’all got here so I’m pretty full already.” And her stomach was twisting so much, it wouldn’t be wise to try anything else at the moment. She glanced at Sophia. “Besides, I thought I’d share with Sophia. That is, if she’s able to eat solids yet?”

  Landon nodded, but waved away the offer. “She likes bananas but she’s allergic to apricots. With it all mixed up like that, it’s not safe to give her any.”

  “Oh.” Katie squirmed. “I didn’t know.”

  He shrugged then grabbed a napkin. “How could you?”

  It wasn’t the words he’d said so much as the tone of his voice.

  A burning sensation crept over Katie’s neck and chest. Of course she wouldn’t know. Because to him, she was nothing more than an irresponsible stranger who knew nothing about her nieces and nephew.

  The offhanded remark hovered over the table as Landon tucked the napkin under Sophia’s collar. He dipped a spoon in the applesauce then froze. His lean cheeks flushed a shade of red that had to feel as hot as her own.

  He faced her, his blue eyes gentle as they met hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I really didn’t.”

  No, he hadn’t. He was too polite and considerate to do such a thing, and the facts were facts no matter how much of a loser they made her feel like.

  “I know.” She stabbed a strawberry with her fork, chewed it twice then choked it down, hoping to smother the guilt roiling in her gut.

  Landon sighed then tucked a spoonful of applesauce into Sophia’s open mouth. She grinned and a happy sigh escaped her as she gummed the fruit.

  “It’s a shame I forgot about Amber’s café,” Katie murmured. “I bet Sophia loves your sister’s banana pudding.” She watched as Landon grabbed a napkin and wiped applesauce from Sophia’s chin. “How’s Amber doing, by the way? Jennifer told me...”

  She glanced at Matthew. His frown deepened as he picked up his glass of sweet tea and sipped.

  “I heard Amber married Nate Tenley,” Katie continued.

  “Yeah.” Landon took a bite of his burger, chewed then said, “They’re doing well. Nate asked me to watch the kids tomorrow so he and Amber can have a day out.”

  “They have kids?”

  “Triplets. Two boys and one girl. They’re two and a half now.”

  “Wow.”

  She’d been surprised at Jennifer’s news that free-spirited bull rider Nate had finally settled down, and she’d been even more surprised that he’d decided to do so with his friend’s sister, considering how overprotective Landon had always been of Amber. But Nate becoming a dad? Well, that was a shock.

  “Three toddlers.” Katie glanced around the table. “So, you’ll be watching half a dozen kids at the ranch tomorrow?”

  “No big deal. I’m used to babysitting. I’ve had lots of practice.” Landon held a napkin out toward Emma then said, “Gum, sweetheart. You can’t eat while you’re chewing that.”

  “Yes, sir.” Emma took out her gum then placed it in the napkin.

  Katie nodded slowly, watching the deft movements of his long fingers and muscled forearms as he disposed of the gum then wiped Sophia’s chin clean again. “Guess that’s why you’re so good with kids.”

  “It’s because he’s here all the time.” Matthew slammed his glass onto the table. Ice and sweet tea splattered onto his plate and made a puddle between his fries and burger. “He likes kids. He likes us. So why don’t you go ahead and leave?”

  “Matthew.” Voice curt, Landon shot him a disapproving look.

  “I...” The look of anger and distrust on Matthew’s face made Katie slump back in her chair. Dear God, there was hatred in his eyes. As though he couldn’t stand the sight of her. “I like you, too, Matthew. All of you. That’s why I’m here. I missed y—”

  “No, you didn’t.” His face crumpled and tears spilled onto his lashes. “You only came back because Mama died. Because she asked you to take us. I don’t want to go with you. I don’t want you at all.”

  A lump lodged in her throat. Oh, she couldn’t cry again. Not in front of the kids. “I do care about you.”

  “You care about your job.” His chin trembled but he glared through the tears.

  “Where’d you hear all this?” Landon asked quietly.

  “Gammie. She told Grandpa last night that Aunt Katie wouldn’t do it. That she’d leave next week.” He shoved his chair back then stood and scowled at Katie. “You don’t have to wait till then. Go ahead and leave now.”

  With that, Matthew got up from the table and ran across the restaurant to the front door then out into the parking lot.

  Katie watched his small figure dart across the black asphalt and into the night, the sounds of Emma’s sobs at her side making the guilt inside her grow.

  “Are you really leaving, Aunt Katie?”

  She looked down at Emma and tried to speak but nothing would come out.

  Landon shoved to his feet. “I’m sorry, but we gotta go.”

  He removed the napkin from Sophia’s collar then gently lifted her into his arms. She bobbed against hi
s biceps, reaching for the applesauce and crying when she couldn’t grab it.

  Katie helped Emma down from her chair then stood, twisting her hands together against her middle as Landon hurried Emma toward the door. “Will you call me tonight so I know he’s okay?”

  Landon hesitated, glancing from her to the parking lot and back again. “Yeah. I’ll call you.” He raised his voice over Sophia’s increasing sobs and tugged Emma’s arm. “Come on, sweetheart.”

  Emma quickened her step but looked over her shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Bye, Aunt Katie.”

  Katie stood motionless as they walked away. “Goodbye.”

  * * *

  Landon sat on the living room floor, propped his forearms on his knees and frowned at the colorful chaos flashing across the TV. Why in the hell had he caved under the kids’ pressure, changed his mind and allowed them to hook up that aggravating video game contraption? It was loud, distracting and looked completely out of place on his rustic wood entertainment stand.

  He glanced to his left where Matthew sat, legs crossed, fingers springing from one knob to another on a controller. “Matthew?”

  No response.

  “I cut you some slack on the way home from the motel,” he continued, “but I told you we were gonna talk tonight and it’s that time.”

  Nothing. The kid didn’t even blink.

  “You want that thing to spend the night in the house or in the hayfield?”

  That did it. Matthew sighed, dropped the controller then reached over and powered down the game console.

  “I know you’re angry with your aunt Katie, but—”

  “I’m not angry.”

  Landon studied the hard clench of his jaw and dark circles under his eyes. “Well, you look angry.” He softened his voice as he said, “And sad. Which you have every right to be.”

  Matthew turned away and fixed his gaze on the wall in front of him. “I don’t want her here.”

  “Aunts aren’t a dime a dozen, you know. They’re pretty important people to have in your life.”

  “Good ones are,” Matthew said tightly. “I already have Aunt Amber.”

  Landon nodded. “Amber’s great—I’ll give you that—but she’s my sister, not your mother’s. Other than your dad, your aunt Katie was closer to your mom than anyone else. I can tell you about your dad, but Katie has memories of your mom that’ll help you know her better.”

  “They’re both gone and they’re never coming back.” Matthew’s voice cracked. “So, what does it matter?”

  Landon looked away, a feeling way too similar to despair surging over him. “We’re all hurting, Matthew. Katie, especially. There’s no point in trying to hurt her more.”

  It’d taken everything he’d had to walk away from her two hours ago and chase Matthew. He’d kept seeing her face long after he’d driven the kids home. That wounded look in her eyes had stayed with him as he’d finished feeding Sophia. And when he’d put Sophia and Emma to bed, he hadn’t been able to shake the image of how helpless Katie had looked standing in that restaurant as they’d left, her hands hanging heavy by her sides, drawing her usually proud shoulders down.

  She’d looked so lost and vulnerable. So alone.

  “Katie tried real hard to make things right today despite you shoving her back and claiming your space,” Landon continued. “The least you could do is try to meet her halfway.”

  “She doesn’t know us, she doesn’t know what she’s doing and she’s never here anyway.”

  “She’s here now, and I expect you to be civil.”

  “Why?” Matthew lifted a brow. “Because you’re afraid she’ll take us away? I heard Gammie say you don’t have a leg to stand on if she decides to—”

  “Now, that’s about all I want to hear of what your gammie said or didn’t say.” Landon frowned. “Knowing Patricia, I feel sure you weren’t supposed to hear any of that and as upset as she is, she probably didn’t mean half of it anyway. You’re not gonna keep throwing it out for the whole world to hear.”

  Matthew looked down. His fingers picked at a cut in the hardwood floor beneath his leg. “But you are afraid Aunt Katie’ll take us away, aren’t you? That’s why you want me to be nice to her.”

  Nope. There was no way Katie would actually follow through on her guardianship responsibilities—especially after her small taste of parenthood today.

  But...man. What was it about a kid’s instincts that allowed them to see right through a cool facade and put their finger on the pulse of the one irrational fear you were trying to hide?

  Landon blew out a heavy breath. Like it or not, he wasn’t related to the kids in the legal sense. He was just a good friend of their parents. Katie had the legal right to call the shots when it came to the kids whether her decision was in their best interests or not, and that fact alone was enough to disconcert him.

  “I want you to be nice to her because she’s family,” Landon said firmly. “No matter how many reasons you might have to think otherwise, she does care about you.” And to be fair, she was trying to reconnect with the kids, which surprised even him. “She may not have always done the right things in the past, but who has? What matters is that she’s trying to now.”

  Matthew slouched, a small grunt escaping him.

  Well, Landon supposed silence was better than another angry outburst. He’d take it.

  “That’s enough talking for now. It’s been a long couple of days and you need some rest.” Landon eased to his feet then tugged Matthew to his. “Go jump in the shower, brush your teeth and get in the bed.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Hey.” Landon opened his arms. “We don’t go to bed angry around here.”

  Matthew huffed out a breath, hugged him briefly then trudged down the hallway into the bathroom.

  Landon closed his eyes and kneaded the back of his neck, wondering when the hell this day would ever end. But there was one nagging thought that refused to be silenced.

  Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he left the house and walked out to the porch. The warm night air settled around him as he dialed a number.

  Nate answered on the second ring. “Hey, man. I was just about to check in with you. Amber and I didn’t have a chance to talk to you at the funeral yesterday. We’ve been worried. You and the kids doing okay?”

  “As well as can be expected.” Head aching, Landon rubbed his temples but managed a smile. As brothers-in-law went, Nate had turned out to be the best. Nate had always been more of a brother to him than a best friend—even before marrying his sister—but seeing him make Amber so happy had strengthened their friendship even more. “I’ve got a question for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “How complicated does life become when you share a house with a woman?”

  Dead silence fell over the connection. Landon’s pulse quickened, the heavy throb echoing painfully in his skull, drowning out the chirps of crickets from the surrounding darkness.

  Nate whistled low. “Well, now, what’re we talking about here? A wife, girlfriend...?”

  “Neither.” Lord knows single-till-I-die Katie would scoff at both of those titles. “I’m talking about Katie.”

  Landon eyed a rut in the driveway, just visible by the weak porch light, where Katie’s back car tire had spun on her way out last night. Considering her plans to stay in Elk Valley for one week or two, and her tendency for reckless driving, he’d bet there’d be thousands of ruts by the time she left if she accepted his offer to stay at the ranch with him and the kids.

  An offer that he still wasn’t exactly sure was a good idea.

  “Katie,” Nate repeated, a subtle note of confusion in his tone. “She sticking around? I thought she’d be on a plane back to California by now.”

  “You and me both.” Landon sighed. “She decided to stay for a week or so and right n
ow she’s renting a room in town.”

  “And you’re thinking of inviting her to your place?”

  “’Fraid so. The kids and I met her for dinner tonight and it didn’t go so well. Matthew’s not budging an inch for her and I’m hoping it’ll help if I get her over here, give her some extra time with him.”

  “That’s considerate,” Nate said. “You take damn good care of those kids, too. Frank and Jennifer made the right decision leaving them with you.”

  “Yeah, well...” Landon bit his lip then said, “Turns out, I’m secondary guardian—Katie’s the primary. That’s the main reason I’m thinking of asking her over. I’m hoping it’ll help her mend things with the kids and let her see how much better off they’ll be with me in the long run.”

  “Well, hell. That does complicate things. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Katie didn’t find out until she came home yesterday and I didn’t want to tell anyone until she knew.” Landon ignored the twinge of discomfort in his gut. “It’s not that big a deal. Katie’s not parent material and isn’t interested in being one. Once she sees how well the kids will be taken care of here, she’ll sign the papers and be on her way. It’s just... I was prepared for the kids moving in, but not Katie, too. I’ve got my own routine and the kids have theirs. I’m just wondering if we can all make it through a week under the same roof together.”

  “Ah, a week’s nothing.” Nate sounded confident. “It’ll fly by. But—” a small sound escaped him “—keep your bathroom, all right?”

  Landon frowned. “What?”

  “Your bathroom. It’s a good idea to restrict her to the guest bathroom first thing, otherwise you’ll end up with girlie stuff in every nook and cranny.” Nate laughed. “I love your sister, but I can’t brush my teeth in the morning without moving a comb, hair spray, body lotion and at least three tubes of lipstick. And that’s just what’s on the counter. Don’t even get me started on the three inches of cabinet space I’m left with after she stuffed all her stuff in the vanity. Letting a woman in your bathroom will mess with your whole routine.”

  Landon cringed. “Guest bathroom, it is. Thanks.”