by Marin Thomas
“An agricultural company made an offer to buy the orchards.”
“You don’t think they’ll sell, do you?”
“I don’t know. I’m the only one who’s willing to harvest the pecans.”
“I can’t picture your sister getting rid of the farmhouse. She loves your grandmother’s home.”
“I’ll find out later tonight.”
“If they decide to sell, what will you do?”
“Go back on the rodeo circuit full-time.” The prospect didn’t excite him.
He changed the subject. “When’s your graduation ceremony?”
“They don’t have one for students who finish school in December.”
That wasn’t right. Isi had worked her butt off to earn a degree. She deserved to celebrate her success. His gaze cut to the boys. Who would throw Isi a party—she had no family and her best friend was in California.
“Hey, Conway,” Miguel said. “Can we ride on your tractor?”
Now that Isi no longer needed him to babysit this might be the last time Miguel and Javier visited the farm. No more tractor rides. No more naps in the hammock. No more visits to the pond. “Sure. We better head back before it gets dark.”
The boys giggled and fell backward as they struggled to pull their socks on over wet feet.
Isi watched with a wry smile. “They’re a riot, aren’t they?”
Conway chuckled, but his chest felt as if it was cracking wide open. He was going to miss the little troublemakers more than he’d ever imagined.
Chapter Twelve
“I don’t like Mrs. Sneed. She has bad breath,” Miguel said.
Her son made their neighbor sound like a troll who lived under a bridge. “It’s not nice to talk about people like that.”
The Monday after Thanksgiving was proving to be a difficult one. The boys had been down in the dumps all weekend since they’d learned their neighbor would be babysitting them.
“How long does Mrs. Sneed gotta watch us?” Javier shoved a bite of hot dog into his mouth.
“I’ll be finished with school in three weeks. Hopefully it won’t be long before I find a new job and I’m able to stay home at night with you guys.”
Miguel grunted as he carried his empty plate to the sink.
“Is Red gonna be mad if you get a new job?” Javier asked.
“No, honey. He wants me to use the skills I learned in school.”
Javier took his plate to the sink. “What skills?”
“Stuff I learned how to do on the computer. Like keep track of product sales, orders and inventory.”
“What’s a product?” Javier asked.
“An item that a business sells. A product at Red’s bar would be a cheeseburger basket.”
Javier came back to the table and sat down. “Are toys products?”
“Yes.”
“Are we gonna get products for Christmas?” Miguel asked.
“I’m sure Santa will bring you a toy.”
Javier shook his head. “Katie said Santa isn’t real.”
The boys’ classmate was supposedly the smartest kid at their school. By the time she’d turned two, she’d probably figured out Santa Claus was a myth.
“You’ll have to wait until Christmas morning to see that Santa isn’t a fake.”
“Can we get a real tree this year?” Miguel asked.
She almost caved in just to erase the hangdog expressions from their faces. “No real tree but we’ll string up Christmas lights on the trailer like we did last year.” There was no money in the budget for a real tree or an artificial one—not if she hoped to purchase Christmas gifts.
“Get your backpacks and I’ll walk you over to Mrs. Sneed’s.”
Isi prayed this day would go well and that the older woman would have patience with the twins, because if things didn’t work out, she’d end up having to bring the boys to school with her and that was a no-win situation for everyone.
* * *
“HOW COME YOU let the twins color with their crayons all over the porch floor?” Will asked when he stopped next to Conway in front of the farmhouse.
“I didn’t let them. They got bored with their coloring books.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. The porch needed painting anyway.”
Will motioned to the paint can in Conway’s hand. “You’re going to need more than one coat to cover the marks.”
“I think I can handle this.” He scowled. “What are you doing at the farm in the middle of the day?”
“I stopped by to pick up a shovel then I’m heading back out.” Will glanced behind him. “Where are the twins?”
“In school.” Conway hadn’t told anyone that he’d stopped watching the boys. He wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t want to answer their nosey questions or because he thought he might change his mind and reapply for the job.
“I get a kick out of the boys. Miguel never stops talking and—”
“What are your intentions toward Isi?” Conway set the paint can on the ground and faced his brother.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re always over at her trailer making repairs,” Conway said.
“I’ve been helping her out. So what? I enjoy her company. She’s easy to talk to.”
Conway had been miffed at his brother since Thanksgiving when the twins had ignored him and followed Will around the farm all day like lost puppies. He’d didn’t like being replaced.
Will eyed him suspiciously. “As a matter of fact, I’d planned to ask Isi out on a third date.”
A burning sensation spread through Conway’s chest. “Isi’s not the kind of girl you date casually, Will. She’s got kids. She needs a guy who’ll be a good father to the twins not a guy who only wants to get into her bed.”
“Who said I want to get into her bed?” Will grinned. “Not that I’d ever turn down an invitation from a pretty girl like—”
Before he realized what he was doing, Conway swung his fist, the punch hitting Will in the jaw. His brother stumbled backward and landed on his rump.
“What the hell did you do that for?” Will rubbed his jaw.
“Don’t use Isi for sex.” Conway was more worried that Isi might want to use Will to warm her bed than the other way around.
Will stared thoughtfully at Conway. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” he said.
No! Yes! “Maybe.” He’d marry Isi in a heartbeat, but she had the twins...and Conway wasn’t good enough to be their father. The boys deserved a man who would never turn his back on them.
Will got to his feet and brushed the seat of his pants off. “What’s keeping you from asking her to marry you?”
“It wouldn’t work out in the end.” No way was he bringing up his long-ago visit with his birth father. It wasn’t that he didn’t think Will would understand or be sympathetic—after all, Will had grown up without a father, too. It had more to do with Conway’s insecurities.
“If you’re not willing to take a chance on Isi, then you’re going to have to let her and the boys go, Conway. I’ll tell you right now, there’s probably more than one guy out there who’d give anything to make a life for himself with a woman like her. It’s only a matter of time before that guy finds her.” Will brushed past Conway and headed to the barn. “And by the way, next time you sucker punch me, I’m going to kick your ass.” A minute later, he emerged with a shovel and dropped the tool into his truck bed.
Will opened the driver’s-side door. “Any luck selling the pecans?”
Conway’s siblings had voted to keep the farm in the family and had given him complete control over managing the orchards. Now it was up to him to find a buyer for this year’s crop. “I’ve got two bids. I’m waiting on a third then I’ll decide
.”
“Good luck.”
Conway had a feeling his brother’s well-wishes were meant for him and Isi and not the pecans. Before his brother’s truck had cleared the yard, Conway’s cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number.
“Conway Cash.”
“Mr. Cash this is Sandy London. I work at the Tiny Tot Learn and Play preschool.”
Why was the school calling him?
“Javier and Miguel picked a fight on the playground, and they’re being sent home for the day. We called their mother, but she isn’t answering her phone.”
“Isi’s in class right now,” he said.
“You’re listed as an emergency contact. Would you be able to come get the boys?”
“I thought Isi’s neighbor Mrs. Sneed was dropping them off and picking them up now?”
“She’s not answering her phone, either.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Conway said.
“Thank you, Mr. Cash.”
He disconnected the call then jogged to his truck. Wait until Isi found out the boys had been in another fight. She was going to be spitting mad—at him. He’d been the one to tell the twins to stand up for themselves and not allow bullies to threaten them.
The drive into Yuma took longer than usual—probably because his mind wouldn’t stop envisioning Isi and Will together. By the time he turned into the school parking lot he was in a bad mood. He sat in the truck and took several deep breaths, willing himself to calm down before he went into the school to get the boys.
When he entered the building, Mig and Javi were sitting in the waiting room slouched in their chairs gazing at the ceiling lights. He cleared his throat and the woman behind the desk set aside the magazine she’d been reading. He waited for the boys to smile at him, but they ignored him.
He was no longer a hero in their eyes.
“I’m Conway Cash,” he said.
“Hello, Mr. Cash. Please sign here that you’re taking Miguel and Javier home.” She handed him a clipboard. “Thank you for coming to get them.”
He scribbled his name on the paper then spoke to the boys. “Your mother isn’t going to be happy about this.”
Heads held high, the twins marched outside. As soon as the door shut behind them, Javier said, “What are we gonna do?”
“We’re going back to the trailer to tell Mrs. Sneed she doesn’t need to pick you up this afternoon.”
“This sucks,” Miguel said.
Conway was sure Isi didn’t allow the boys to say the word suck, but he didn’t reprimand Miguel, because...well, because.
They made the drive to the mobile-home park in silence. Conway struggled not to laugh at the boys’ sullen expressions. He wanted to say he was proud they’d stood up for themselves, but he doubted Isi would approve.
Conway parked next to the trailer and helped the boys out of the backseat then motioned for them to sit on the porch steps. “Wait there.” He cut across the yard to the neighbor’s trailer.
Mrs. Sneed answered the door on the second knock. “Who are you?”
“My name is Conway Cash, ma’am. I’m a friend of Isi’s.”
The old woman nodded. “You’re the young man who watched the boys for Isi.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Conway explained what had happened at the school.
“I don’t answer my phone when my game shows are on,” she said.
Did Isi know that? “I was listed as one of the emergency contacts.”
“Are you taking care of the boys then?” she asked. “My game shows won’t be over for a while.”
“I’ll watch them until Isi gets home tonight.”
The relief on Mrs. Sneed’s face suggested that she regretted offering to watch the boys. “Thank you,” she said then closed the door.
When Conway returned to Isi’s yard, the twins looked bored. He sat on the bottom step and stretched out his legs. “Okay, let’s hear it.”
“Hear what?” Miguel asked.
“The reason you started a fight at recess.”
Javier surprised Conway by speaking up first. “Katie said that Santa Claus is a fake.”
“You fought with a girl?” Conway asked.
“No.” Javier nudged Miguel and his brother explained.
“Katie told everyone that Santa was a fake and Rico got mad and shoved her and she fell and skinned her knee.”
“And she cried,” Javier said.
Conway was losing track of the conversation. “So who did you get into a fight with?”
“Rico,” Miguel said. “Javi pushed Rico ’cause he pushed Katie and you told me I had to stick up for Javi so I pushed Rico, too.”
“And let me guess,” Conway said. “The recess monitor only saw you and Javi push Rico.”
Both boys nodded.
“So did Rico get in trouble for pushing Katie?” Conway asked.
“Katie told our teacher that Rico started it, but we still got in trouble,” Javier said.
“I’m glad you stuck up for Katie. Boys should never ever hurt girls,” Conway said.
“We know. Our mom told us that.” Javier bumped his brother’s shoulder again.
“Is Santa really a fake?” Miguel asked.
Oh, boy. “What do you think?” Conway asked.
“Mom said Santa was real.” Miguel looked at his brother.
“But if Santa’s real then how come we only get one toy from our wish list and other kids get lots more?” Javier blinked his innocent brown eyes at Conway.
“Is it ’cause our mom doesn’t have a lot of money?” Miguel asked.
“Money has nothing to do with Santa Claus.”
“Katie said that Santa’s elves aren’t real and they don’t make toys. She said moms and dads go to the store and buy the toys.” Miguel sucked in a breath. “Is it ’cause we don’t got a dad to buy us presents?”
The kid sure knew how to twist the knife in Conway’s chest. He opened his mouth to contradict Katie’s claim, but Javier interrupted him.
“Can you give our mom money? Then she can buy us lots of toys at the store.”
“Or you can buy us a Christmas tree,” Miguel said.
They weren’t getting a tree—Christmas wasn’t Christmas without a tree. Before he had a chance to answer the boys, Isi’s car turned into the trailer park. Saved by the bell. “Time to face the music, guys.”
* * *
“ANOTHER FIGHT?” ISI GLANCED between her sons.
The twins studied their shoes and avoided eye contact with their mother. Conway sympathized with the boys but refrained from intervening. He’d meddled enough in their lives.
Isi shifted her attention to Conway. “I wasn’t able to check my phone messages until after class, or I would have been here sooner. I’m sorry you had to drive all the way into Yuma to pick them up from school.”
“I was happy to help out.” That was the truth. Conway couldn’t deny that he’d missed the boys and Isi. A whole lot more than he’d expected to.
“Go to your room right now. We’ll discuss your behavior in a minute.” Hands on her hips she glared until the twins trudged inside the trailer. Once the door closed behind them, she said, “I owe you an apology. I forgot to ask the school to remove your name as an emergency contact.”
Conway stared at Isi, thinking something seemed different about her. “Seriously, Isi, it was no trouble—”
“Yes, it was trouble,” she said.
“That’s what’s different about you.” He snapped his fingers. “You’re wearing your hair down.” Isi usually put her long hair in a ponytail. His mind flashed back to the night he’d spent in her bed, running his hands through the silky strands. “You should leave your hair loose more often. It’s beautiful.”
“She said she doesn’t answer the phone when her game shows are on.”
“Great.” Isi’s shoulders sagged, as if she carried the weight of the world on them. The urge to hug her was strong, but he doubted his sympathy would be welcome.
“Did the boys tell you what the fight was about?” she asked.
“Santa Claus.”
“What?”
He patted the step and she sat next to him. The faint scent of her perfume triggered an image of her naked body in his mind. He shifted on the step, hoping to hide his growing arousal. Making love to Isi had released two years of pent-up desire for her and reining it back in was damn near impossible.
“What about Santa Claus?” she asked.
“A kid at school said there wasn’t a Santa Claus and that moms and dads bought the toys.”
Isi blinked hard.
He grasped her hand—not to offer comfort but because he had to touch her—he’d missed that intimate connection with her.
“They figured it out, didn’t they?” she whispered.
“Figured what out?”
“That they get one gift at Christmas, because I don’t make enough money to buy more.”
“The boys have plenty of toys.” He gestured to the box by the shed.
“But they’re second-hand toys. Cast-offs from other kids.”
He snuggled her against his side. This felt so right—him and Isi. Why couldn’t he find the courage to take a leap of faith and commit to her? “You’re doing the best you can for the boys. When they grow up and understand the sacrifices you’ve made, they’ll love you even more.”
“Or they’ll resent me for making bad choices.”
“What bad choices?”
“I made the decision to come to America with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes. Then I slept with a married man and got pregnant.”
“Cut yourself some slack, Isi. You were vulnerable and scared.”
“Stop being nice. I was stupid to believe Tyler really cared for me.”
Conway wasn’t used to doling out advice—he was used to seeking Isi’s counsel. “I think you’ll be happy when you hear the reason the boys got into a fight today.”