by Jill Kemerer
“I wouldn’t say that. I’m taking a break from my ranch duties to be here during the day. Belle and Raleigh handle the babies at night.” His eyes shifted to the side. Was he lying? And what did he mean by taking a break from his ranch duties?
She let the water out of the sink. “I’m sure your sister and her husband will tell me the system that works for them.”
“I don’t think they have a system.” He cleared his throat. “I come over in the wee hours once in a while if Belle texts me.”
“Wait, I’m confused. Where do you live?”
He pointed out the kitchen window, which showed views of frozen pastures and distant mountains. “In the second cabin. Right next to yours.”
“You work here?” She hadn’t expected him to be employed on the ranch. He nodded, but he didn’t look very happy about it. She tried to shake her thoughts into some sort of order. Grabbing the dishcloth, she wiped down the counters.
“Yeah,” he said. “For now.”
“What do you mean?”
Color rose to his cheeks. “Nothing. I’ll be here for as long as Belle needs me.”
“Well, we’d better get on the same page with these babies. You know I’m only here until after the holidays, right?”
His rich brown eyes looked sheepish. “Until New Year’s Eve. We’ve got you for just over six weeks.”
She almost grunted. He wouldn’t have her for even one week if she sensed dysfunction. Growing up with an alcoholic father had soured her on trying to fix other people’s problems. How many times had she tried to save her dad from himself? Too many. Worse, she’d put her own life and dreams on hold for years. And what had it gotten her?
Nothing.
That’s why she relied on herself. If she found a man who put her first and kept his word, she might be interested in starting a family someday, but finding a guy like that was a tall order.
The best thing she’d ever done was wash her hands clean of her father and his addiction. Three years ago she’d moved to Laramie and enrolled in the University of Wyoming to become a nurse. She’d finished her first two years of schooling, but she was still waiting to get into the highly competitive nursing program. Her college adviser had informed her of a position opening at the hospital in January, which would greatly increase her chances of getting accepted.
Ainsley had already applied for the job. She’d find out in a few weeks if she got it or not. In the meantime, working as a baby nurse would pay her bills and, hopefully, help her get one of the coveted spots in the program.
Marshall waved for them to go back to the living room. She sat on one of the couches. He sat on the other.
“I don’t want you thinking you’re here under false pretenses.” His knees were wide, and his elbows rested on them. “I’ve got a cabin ready for you, so you’ll have your privacy. The hours are long, but you’ll only be on days. No nights. Can you be here from eight in the morning until six?”
“Will I be taking care of the quadruplets all by myself?”
“No, I’ll help, too.”
Him? But what about their mother?
“Don’t you think Belle should be involved?” she asked. Six weeks would pass in a blink, and it would be better if Belle was as hands-on as possible. Ideally, Raleigh would be changing diapers and feeding babies during the day, too, but given his ranch duties, she doubted he’d have time. Hopefully when Ainsley left, Belle wouldn’t be overwhelmed trying to care for the children on her own.
“Yes, she should, and if all goes according to plan, I can resume helping Raleigh outside soon.”
Nothing ever went according to plan, not in her life, at least. That’s why she didn’t leave anything she could control to chance. As far as this situation went, she might as well take charge now.
“I suggest we color-code these babies. I’ve got stickers and markers in my car. I’m going to need you to show me where everything—bottles, bibs, diapers—is stored. When I arrive each morning, I’ll make up bottles for the next twenty-four hours and put them in the fridge. All we’ll have to do is warm them up. And we’re keeping track of how much and when each baby eats. Don’t worry. I have charts.”
A sense of empowerment rushed up her spine. Maybe she’d been looking at this all wrong. Instead of seeing the potential pitfalls—like four tiny infants and an absent mother and father—she’d focus on the pluses. No system? No problem. She’d impose her own methods on the quadruplets. She’d get them on a schedule.
When Ainsley left, Belle would be comfortable caring for her babies. A surge of purpose filled her chest.
A shuffling sound came from the hallway.
“What is going on?” A beautiful woman with flashing brown eyes and a mane of long black hair appeared in the archway. “Why is this stranger in my living room, Marshall?”
* * *
Just when he’d been concentrating on the delicious phrases of color-code these babies and don’t worry I have charts, his sister had to go and kill his good mood. He’d told her he was hiring a baby nurse. He’d gotten Raleigh’s approval, too.
“This is Ainsley Draper, the baby nurse we hired. Ainsley, this is my sister, Belle Dushane.” He held his breath, waiting to see how Belle would react. His twinstincts told him not well.
“Your babies are beautiful.” Ainsley sailed across the room to shake Belle’s hand. Her smile brightened the atmosphere. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Belle regarded her with distaste and limply shook her hand. Glaring at his sister, Marshall clenched his jaw. She merely raised an eyebrow. He’d always wished he could do the same. His sister certainly had the haughty gesture down pat.
“We don’t need a baby nurse.” Belle made a shooing motion. “So thank you for coming, but—”
One of the babies let out a cry. Marshall rubbed his temples. Here we go again.
Ainsley gestured to the hallway. “Since I’m here, do you want me to stay awhile and help change them?”
Belle’s face flushed. “Marshall and I can do it.”
Was his sister crazy? Did she honestly think they were in any way succeeding at taking care of quadruplets? They were in way over their heads.
“I understand.” Ainsley slowly turned to leave.
“Ainsley, wait.” Marshall thrust his hand out. “Stay for a while. We’ll sort this out.”
Belle snapped her fingers at him. “Come on.”
That did it. His sister had crossed many lines lately, and he’d had enough. One of the other babies joined in with the crying. His head began to throb.
“No, Belle.” He widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t snap your fingers at me. And don’t even think about sending Ainsley away. We need help.”
Her chin inclined, and her eyes glinted. “I don’t need anyone taking care of my babies.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she stormed down the hall. Marshall debated whether to follow her. If he hadn’t shared a womb with her, he’d be tempted to run out the door.
“Should I talk to her?” Ainsley’s confused face eased his tension. She didn’t seem horrified by his sister’s behavior, although he certainly was.
“No, I’ll handle it.” He entered the babies’ room, and his annoyance vanished. Silent sobs racked Belle’s back as she stood with her face in her hands over the girls’ crib.
“What’s wrong?” The girls were crying, too, but he figured they could wait.
“I don’t know which one is which, Marsh. I don’t know my own babies.” She stared up at him with those eyes that had pleaded with him so many times over the years to fix it, and he muttered under his breath.
“We’re going to change that.” With his finger, he raised her chin to look at him. “Four infants are a lot. And I can’t do this all by myself, Belle. I know you don’t feel well. I don’t expect you to be some superwoman. But I’m cl
ueless—I don’t know what I’m doing. Ainsley is good with the babies, so let her stay.”
He picked up one of the girls. “Here’s Lila. The one with the black pinkie nail is Grace. Let’s change them.”
She swallowed, looking as if she faced a rattler instead of a baby.
He took Grace to one of the changing tables and began unsnapping her coverall. “Who’s the prettiest little cowgirl this side of Sweet Dreams, Wyoming?” He cooed. “You’re going to break hearts, darlin’.” When he’d finished, he picked her back up and turned to see how Belle was doing with Lila. She wasn’t in the room. He checked the crib. Lila wasn’t either.
He held Grace to his chest and returned to the living room, hanging back at the sight before him. Belle was handing the baby to Ainsley.
“I’m not feeling well.” Belle’s face was pinched. “I’m sorry I was rude earlier. Of course we want you to stay.”
Ainsley’s eyes widened, but she nodded and took the baby. “Why don’t you tell me what your expectations are? I want us to be on the same page with their care. I did some research before driving here, and I’d like to use a color system to help manage them.”
Belle fidgeted with her wedding ring. “Yes, the color thing sounds good.”
“Sit with me?” Shifting Lila to her other arm, Ainsley patted the couch. “Tell me about the babies. What are their personalities like? Should I be concerned about anything?”
Belle’s throat worked. She shook her head. “I...I don’t feel well. We’ll talk later.” Then she spun and fled past Marshall down the hallway to her bedroom.
He exhaled, his cheeks puffing out. At least she’d apologized to Ainsley. But what if the damage had been done? Was the apology enough to make Ainsley stay?
“I’m sorry,” he said. “This must be the worst first day ever for you.”
“No, I’ve had some doozies.” Her lips curved up and, though her eyes twinkled, concern radiated from them. “Do you think your sister is all right? Should I check on her?”
“I’ll do it. Be right back.” Still holding Grace, he retreated down the hall to speak with Belle. Grace blinked up at him, and he kissed her little nose. Then he knocked on Belle’s door.
“Go away.”
“I’m coming in.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Too bad.”
He slipped into her room. The closed curtains, unmade bed and darkness made the air feel thick, stale. She sat slumped on the edge of the bed with her face in her hands. He lowered his body to sit next to her, keeping a firm grip on Grace as he did.
“What’s going on, sis?”
“Nothing. I’m tired.”
“I know you are. It’s not easy being a mama.” He patted her knee. “Are you okay with Ainsley staying?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I wish I felt good enough to take care of all the babies myself.”
“Well, four is a lot. You’re being too hard on yourself. I don’t think most people could do it all on their own. But eventually you will, and in the meantime, I’ll pop in and out to help Ainsley—until you’re up to it yourself, okay?”
“Thanks, Marshall.” She looked ready to cry again. “I guess I could use help with the babies.”
“Good. Why don’t you take a nap? I’ll show Ainsley her cabin later.”
“Cabin?” Her spine went rigid. “She needs to sleep here. In the main house. How else will she take care of the babies at night?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. Did his sister think Ainsley was going to work round the clock? “I hired her to help during the day.”
“But you’re here during the day.”
All the sympathy he’d mustered disappeared. He tightened his hold on Grace.
“Belle, I can’t do this. Not by myself. Not all the time.”
“Well, I can’t either. Do you know how hard it is to feed four babies at night?”
“Yes, I do, because you text me to come help every single night. I’m exhausted.”
She dismissed his words with a backward wave. “Well, it’s worse for me. You don’t know. I’ll have Raleigh put the blow-up mattress in the babies’ room for her.”
He gaped at her. “Do you hear yourself? She’s not sleeping on the floor in the babies’ room. She needs her own space.”
Belle glared at him.
“Look, Ainsley already agreed to work ten-hour days, which is more than most people would. She’ll be here from eight in the morning until six at night. You two can get the babies figured out, and when she leaves after the holidays, you’ll be an old pro at it.”
“But January is so soon.” She looked nauseous. “You need to hire someone else. Someone permanent.”
“I tried. No one replied to my ad.”
After a few minutes of silence, she gave him a sheepish grin. “You couldn’t have found an ugly baby nurse, could you?”
An unattractive helper would make things easier on him, but he wasn’t concerned about romance. He didn’t think he was capable of having a loving, committed relationship. He hadn’t found a woman who understood his devotion to his sister, and he doubted he would. The only family he had was Belle and the quadruplets, and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.
He patted her shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re the most beautiful woman around.”
“Yeah, right.” She held out the bottom of her faded blue T-shirt. “You’re such a liar.”
“Me? Nah. I’m going back out there and making sure you didn’t scare her off. Now give Grace a kiss, and we’ll let you rest.”
Fear flashed in her eyes so quickly he wondered if he’d imagined it. She kissed Grace’s forehead and squeezed Marshall’s hand. “Thanks.”
He stood, hitching his chin to her. “I’ll always be here for you.”
With watery eyes, she nodded.
One hurdle cleared. He walked by the babies’ room and heard Ben and Max stirring. Continuing into the living room, he stopped in his tracks.
Lila was strapped in her bouncy seat.
And Ainsley was gone.
Chapter Two
The babies and Marshall needed her.
Ainsley reached into the trunk of her car in search of a bag she’d packed. Snow had begun to fall, and the wind was gentler than when she’d arrived. Shivering, she stomped her feet. Her favorite blanket was folded neatly on top of her supplies, and she spotted a patch of blue beneath it—the tote with markers, stickers and charts.
Belle needed her, too, but didn’t want to admit it. Ainsley kind of understood. She didn’t particularly enjoy asking for help either. As long as Belle didn’t resent her presence, everything would be fine.
Well, that wasn’t quite true. The resentment issue wasn’t the only problem. Belle didn’t expect Ainsley to take over all of the babies’ care, did she?
And what about Marshall? Working with a hot, doting cowboy had better not blur her focus. She had big goals and couldn’t lose sight of them. She had to take care of herself. No one else was going to.
After pulling out the tote bag, she slammed the trunk shut. She had over six weeks to make a difference in the quadruplets’ lives, and she was ready to start now. She was getting these infants on a schedule.
Tightening her winter jacket around her throat, she ducked her head against the snow and scurried to the porch. The ranch house was a long, one-story wooden building with a covered porch devoid of decoration at the moment. She could imagine the posts strung with white Christmas lights and a large evergreen wreath hanging on the door.
Glancing up, she almost jumped. Marshall had stepped outside onto the faded welcome mat. He opened the door for her. “For a minute I thought you’d taken off.”
She shook her hair free of snow and pushed past him into the house. “Why would you think that?”
&nb
sp; “Well...” He scratched the back of his neck, closing the door behind them. “My sister wasn’t exactly welcoming.”
She took off her coat and hung it on a hook in the entry. “Oh, no worries. She wants me to stay.”
He searched her face until heat blasted her neck. Why was he looking at her so intently? With the tote over her shoulder, she strode into the living room, where both girls were in their bouncy seats, happily sucking on pacifiers. The boys’ squawks from their room hadn’t gone into full-blown crying...yet.
“Let’s get the boys changed.” She waved for him to follow her. “Then we’ll figure out a way forward with these babies.”
“Has anyone told you you’re efficient?” He was at her side in lightning speed.
She almost laughed, continuing to the boys’ crib. “Yes, and it’s usually not a compliment.”
“Trust me, it’s a compliment. At least from me.”
Ainsley picked up Ben, and Marshall took Max. Side by side they changed diapers, then went back to the living room. After settling the boys in their bouncy seats facing the girls, Ainsley and Marshall took opposite couches.
“If you’re too tired to do this right now...”
“No, I’m fine.” She was tired, but she wanted to get a plan nailed down as soon as possible. She placed a pouch with markers, a folder full of stickers, her trusty clipboard and the stacks of various charts she’d printed on the coffee table. Laying them out in precise order, she reviewed the spread to make sure she wasn’t missing anything. With a satisfied nod, she straightened and gave Marshall her full attention. “First, let’s assign each baby a color.”
“Okay.” Skepticism thinned his lips.
“What?” She excelled at three things: organizing, helping those in need and reading people. “Something’s bothering you.”
“It’s not bothering me, but...could you explain the color dealie? My expertise is not in babies. I’m good at fixing large farm equipment and taking care of cattle. I’m pretty new at quadruplets.”