by Tina Leonard
“The babies,” Fiona said, “they are such darlings! I can’t wait to hold them! How are you doing, my dear?”
She carefully leaned in to hug Jackie.
“I’m fine, Fiona,” Jackie said, “but I’m afraid I need a huge favor.”
“Babysitting, cooking, some new nighties from the store in town I hear you like shopping at?” Fiona said, eyeing her hospital gown.
“Darla’s gone to get me some things. I didn’t think I’d need a bag when she brought me to the hospital. We thought we would only be here for a quick check to soothe her nerves. I hadn’t even packed a suitcase for the hospital. But I have something else that must be done. And you will have to keep it totally secret, please, Fiona. Absolutely under your hat.”
“Oh, good,” Fiona said, her face beaming. “Now what do you need me to do?”
“I NEED HELP,” PETE TOLD JONAS. His brother sat at the rugged plank table in the bunkhouse, and the others—except Creed, who’d gone off somewhere, clearly out of cell phone reach because no one could get him to answer—lounged around the room, celebrating the birth of Pete’s daughters and the successful hatching of The Plan.
But it wasn’t a success yet, because his angels needed him. And their father planned to ride to their rescue.
After that, he’d rescue his wife from his total wipeout as a husband. Bode Jenkins wasn’t going to win this round. “I need help from all of you.”
“If this is about my nieces, I’ll do anything except change diapers,” Sam said. “And clean spit-up. Hurl is hard for me to look at.”
“You’re a moron,” Judah said. “Babies don’t hurl. Not much, anyway. Not like you do after a bender, for example.”
Rafe lifted a beer in Sam’s direction. “You’ll have to toughen up, Sam. Pete’s not going to be sleeping much for the next couple of weeks, and we all need to help him out. When do the babies leave the hospital, Pete?”
“I’m not sure. They only weighed about four pounds each.” That alone scared the hell out of Pete. “Does anybody remember what we weighed?”
“It would say on your birth record,” Jonas said, “and Fiona’s probably got that buried somewhere.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t four pounds.” He remembered Sam when he’d arrived at the ranch. Sam had been about as big as a ten-pound sack of new potatoes. Pete’s daughters were more like good-sized Idaho spuds. He glanced around at his brothers, not liking the new helpless feelings swamping him. “They’re so small they could be in the hospital for a month.”
“No,” Jonas said. “We have to think positive. The delivering physician said that they were healthy, just underweight. That’s a good sign.”
Pete drew a relieved breath. “Jackie and I made no plans for anything.”
“We know.” Rafe grinned. “You’ve been very disorganized about becoming a father, which isn’t like you at all. But we’ve been impressed that you’ve pulled it off, Pete. We didn’t give you a snowball’s chance, frankly.”
“Glad you’ve got my back.” The jackasses were ribbing him, and he appreciated the brotherly love but he still felt as if a whirlwind had blown into his life, spewing everything in forty directions. “So, are you going to help me or not?”
“What do you need?” Judah asked.
“No diapers,” Sam reminded him.
“I need a nursery,” Pete said. “I’d make you a list, but I have no idea what babies need.”
“You want us to round up all your baby stuff?” Jonas said.
“Right.” Pete nodded. “Diapers, cribs, the works.”
Sam looked scared. “You want us to make a nursery?”
“It’s a lot to ask. But you can do it.” Pete sat straight, still boiling mad about Bode’s visit. “It’s got to work. My turtledove doesn’t want to leave her house. Bode’s offered me five acres of Rancho Diablo land in exchange for me telling him where the silver mine is.”
They all stared at him.
“Silver mine?” Judah repeated. “Is that rumor making the rounds again?”
“Yes.” Pete nodded. “But never mind that. It was the look on Jackie’s face that warned me I have to take drastic steps. She was actually listening to the old coot.”
“There’s no silver mine,” Jonas said. “So who cares what he thinks?”
“There’s no nursery, either. Bode told Jackie I wouldn’t be happy in her house. That it was too small. That a man needed to spread out. And she looked crushed.” He took a deep breath, still angry. “Bode must be the one who locked me in the basement. And searched the house. That’s why Fiona’s jars and everything she’d stored were destroyed in the basement. I know he did it.”
“Because he was looking for silver?” Judah asked.
“Exactly.” Pete nodded. “That’s why he wants the ranch.”
“There’s no silver,” Sam said, “there’s nothing but hard work here. And the Diablos.”
They sat silently. Ghostly horses that ran free across the ranch, full of spirit that never could be tamed, their midnight-black manes and tails flying. They were the treasure of Rancho Diablo.
“I saw Fiona’s friend the other day,” Sam murmured.
Everyone stared at Sam.
“And?” Pete prompted.
“He was on a black-and-white horse, looking down the mesa at our house.” Sam shrugged. “He raised a hand when he saw me, and then he left.”
Pete shook his head. “Maybe Fiona gives him blackberry jelly or canned asparagus from the basement. Have any of us considered just asking her why Running Bear visits her every year?”
They all shook their heads at him. Pete sighed to himself. It didn’t matter. He was moving on, if Jackie would have him forever. She just had to want him as much as he wanted her. Otherwise he’d be like one of the lobos, howling every night at her door. “What are we going to do about Fiona? And Burke?” he asked suddenly.
“I haven’t entirely surrendered to the notion that Bode’s getting our land,” Jonas said. “In the meantime, I did make an offer on the ranch east of here. We can set up operations there. Fiona and Burke can manage the new place, if it comes to that.”
Pete felt slightly better that there was a plan for their extended family members. “I haven’t surrendered, either,” he said, feeling a growl start in his body. “Even if Bode does get the ranch, he’s not going to sabotage my marriage.” Things were dicey enough. He did know one thing: It would be a cold day in Hell before he gave up one small part of his marriage to anyone, or anything.
“First things first,” Rafe said. “We’ve got baby rig to shop for, and that alone is a tall order. Do you know if Jackie has a particular color she wants for the nursery? I think color scheme may be important to a woman.”
Pete thought about Jackie’s white, lacy bedroom, a place he couldn’t wait to be again, with her, holding her, making her his. “White. Completely white. Maybe some pink, but white and lacy and all little girl.”
“Not that I know what I’m talking about,” Judah said, “but isn’t white supposed to pick up dirt easily? Is it a wise choice for three little infants who are going to do tons of…things Sam doesn’t want to clean up?”
Pete smiled at his brothers, happier than he’d ever been in his life. “All white,” he said, “and very, very soft. Like rose petals.”
“Jeez, you’ve got it bad,” Sam said.
“I hope I never say anything that unfortunate,” Judah agreed. “Are you aware that you are starting to sound like Creed with his poetic soul? And I wouldn’t be bragging about it, either.”
Pete grinned. “One day,” he said, “you’ll find yourselves wearing wedding rings, and you won’t be crying. And I’ll get to enjoy every moment of your transformation.”
“Great.” Jonas stood. “Let’s head out. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Chapter Nineteen
In the end, Fiona got wind of the nursery scheme, and that meant the Books ’n’ Bingo Society got involved,
which pretty much meant the entire town pitched in on the project. There were people coming and going for days. There was sawing, hammering, painting and elderly people taking Fanny for walks so she wouldn’t go crazy from all the noise in the small house. Pete was only dimly aware of what was going on. He spent almost every second at the hospital with Jackie and the babies, only leaving to shower at Rancho Diablo. He had a toothbrush and a few changes of clothes at Jackie’s but he hadn’t moved totally in yet. They’d only been married for a few months, and he’d been traveling back and forth between her place and his, making sure she stayed in her recliner, and working at the ranch.
So when he finally took Jackie and the babies home, even he was shocked at what had happened to her house. The guest bedroom had been gutted. Two closets had been cut out and shelved, and at least twenty baby dresses hung in them. He couldn’t tell how many nighties and other clothes were stacked neatly on the shelves, but there were even tiny baby socks and shoes. Pete thought it looked like an entire department store had been bought out. The hardwood floors gleamed. The walls were repainted a soft white, and a pink-roses-and-lace curtain topper hung over the window. Three white cribs lined a wall, each with pink-and-white gingham sheets and comforters, and even mobiles from which miniature giraffes, monkeys, and elephants hung. Their names—Fiona, Molly and Elizabeth—were painted on plaques above each bed. On a white table nearby, diapers, wipes, fluffy towels and washcloths were neatly stacked. There was a rocking chair, a swing, a huge pink stroller and bouncy seats.
They wouldn’t have to buy anything for years.
He turned to see the joy he knew would be on Jackie’s face. She looked stunned—and not too happy.
“What did you do?” she asked him, her brown eyes huge.
“I didn’t do anything. I just asked for a little help from my brothers. And everybody else pitched in. We’ll be writing thank you notes for months.” He couldn’t believe how perfect the nursery was. It was everything little babies would dream of, if they dreamed of anything except being held and fed. “Do you like it?”
Jackie sank into the rocker, still staring at the room. She glanced at the babies in the car carriers they’d brought in. Fiona, Molly and Elizabeth were sound asleep, nestling under pink blankets and without a care in the world. “I don’t know what to say,” Jackie said. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Good.” Pete grinned at her, totally pleased with himself. “This is a comfortable room even for a man. I’m going to be in that rocker more than you are. It glides back and forth, and the baby monitor is right here. I’ll be able to call you whenever I want something.”
He was so proud. He was trying so hard. Jackie wanted to cry. Having to burst his happiness was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done.
“Pete,” she said, reaching out to take her husband’s hand, “maybe I should have talked to you first.”
“About what?”
He looked at her and Jackie sighed. “I was going to sell the house.”
His handsome face stayed completely immobile. A tiny tickle of worry ran through Jackie. “I have to,” she said. “You would never be happy here. You hadn’t even brought most of your stuff here. It’s a doll’s house suitable for a single woman. But not for a man, and not for a family.”
Pete’s face darkened. “You shouldn’t listen to Bode. He doesn’t know me.”
“I know.” Jackie squeezed his hand. “You’re the one who said that one bathroom wasn’t enough for three teenage girls.”
“This is true,” Pete said gruffly. “A nightmare in the making. I advise against it. But we could have made the girls observe a lottery system.”
She looked around the room. “This is a beautiful nursery, Pete. Thank you so much.” She took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry. I should have talked to you about it. I spoke to your Aunt Fiona, but I guess she figured we had some things to work out between us before she helped me list the house. It’s not that Bode was right about everything, but he did make me realize that I hadn’t been thinking about my husband enough.”
“It’s your house. You can do whatever you want with it.” But his voice was flat, dull.
She glanced around the room, her gaze taking in the nursery. “I love you, Pete Callahan.”
“Where are you thinking of moving?” Pete asked her, and Jackie looked at him.
“Wherever you are,” she said softly.
“Oh,” he said, “why didn’t you say that in the beginning?”
He was hurt, and she wouldn’t have hurt him for the world. “I want to start our marriage with a clean slate. I want a place that’s ours. So,” she said, standing on tiptoe to lightly brush a kiss against his lips, “Since I picked our daughters’ names, don’t you think you should have a say in our daughters’ new home? Wherever that is?”
Pete grinned, realizing Saturday nights were turning into forever, after all. “I love you, Jackie Callahan,” he said. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. I thought you were giving up on us.”
“No,” Jackie said, “the only change I really wanted in my life was you.”
“Change is good,” Pete said, taking his wife in his arms. He glanced at his three daughters sleeping peacefully, and Fanny dozing on the fluffy pink rug, and then he kissed Jackie the way he planned on kissing her for the rest of her life, with every ounce of love he had in his heart for her.
And that was the one thing that wasn’t ever going to change.
Epilogue
On the very last day in May—as soon as he could get her to the altar after the babies were born—Pete married Jackie at Rancho Diablo. He wouldn’t have traded the speed wedding in Santa Fe for anything, but it was a treat to see how Fiona and her friends had outdone themselves today. Pete grinned as he watched about five hundred guests mill across the ranch where tents and awnings had been set up. They’d invited their friends out to show how much they appreciated everything that had been done for Jackie and Pete and the girls, and even Fanny. But mostly, for Pete, today was about honoring Jackie and showing her how much he loved her.
“Your parents would be so proud, nephew,” Fiona said. “How I wish they could have been here.”
“I love you, Aunt Fiona,” Pete said, hugging his pink-dressed aunt. “None of this would ever have happened without you.”
She smiled at him, and watched Jackie mingle with the guests. “Probably not.” She giggled. “But you were ever willing to take direction.”
“I thought you always said I was a hellion.”
“Indeed.” Fiona smiled. “And I wouldn’t have had you any other way. Now find your bride. I have babies to hold. And should I mention to Creed it’s high time to think about a bride of his own? I was just telling Burke that if anybody needs the rough edges knocked off by a woman, it’s Creed.”
Fiona went off, and Pete minded his aunt by taking his beautiful wife in his arms. “It’s time,” he told her.
“For what?” Jackie asked
“The honeymoon night.”
She looked at him. “Honeymoon night?”
“Tonight,” he said, giving her a husbandly kiss, “we’re getting away for a couple of hours to a hidden place, just the two of us. We have a date for a romantic dinner set up by the Books ’n’ Bingo ladies.”
She looked at him, her gaze wide. “That sounds wonderful!”
He gave her a fast kiss on the nose. “They don’t call me Mr. Romance for nothing.”
“That’s something I didn’t know,” she teased.
He pulled her close. “Mr. Romance has another surprise for his new bride. In October, just as the weather will be getting a bit nippy here, I’ll be seeing you in a bikini in Hawaii. That wedding gown is beautiful, but I can’t wait to see you in something skimpier.”
“Oh, Pete!” Jackie pressed up against him for a kiss he thought was distinctly approving of his plans, until she had one of those little mommy worries that afflicted her occasionally, and which he foun
d incredibly sweet. “But who will watch the babies while we’re honeymooning?” Jackie asked, looking adorably concerned.
Clearly his bride hadn’t figured out he was also Mr. Responsible. “Look at my three daughters,” Pete said, “do they look like they’re going to suffer with Dr. Jonas, assorted uncles, Aunt Fiona, Burke and a brigade of townspeople to wrap around their minuscule fingers? I had people fighting over the babysitting calendar.”
Jackie smiled as he kissed her in front of the entire gathering. “The best thing I ever did was marry you, cowboy.”
“I know,” he said, “now let’s go get you out of that magic wedding gown. It’s magically making me want you.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in magic,” Jackie said.
He carried her toward his truck as their friends and family tossed rose petals on them and called out congratulations. “I do now,” he said. “Every time I touch you, I believe.”
“I love you, Pete,” she said, and it was the most magical thing he’d ever heard, besides sweet baby noises and his little wife saying I do, and I always did at the rose-festooned altar. He was a happy, happy man.
And somewhere in the distance, Pete could hear hooves, running wild and free, over Rancho Diablo land.
Magic.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0234-4
THE COWBOY’S TRIPLETS
Copyright © 2011 by Tina Leonard
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.