The Nanny's Temporary Triplets

by Noelle Marchand

  “Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.” Caroline nudged Matthew’s side with her elbow. “Matthew, did you see that?”

  “Ouch.” Matthew rubbed his side. “Are you trying to start a feud with me now?”

  “She likes him.”

  “Of course Annie likes him.”

  “No, I mean—” She gasped as a flying fist nearly landed on Annie’s cheek. Caroline didn’t realize she was stepping toward the fight until Matthew firmly pulled her to a stop.

  “Don’t you dare, Caroline Murray!”

  “Well, someone has to—”

  “Enough!” David roared from where he stood on the nearby wagon bed. Thunder clapped as though all of heaven agreed with him. The feuders froze, then slowly began to separate into their different camps. “This is not the time for fighting. The fire isn’t out yet. We need to remain alert. We also need to remain grateful. We prayed for rain. God sent rain. The least we can do is get along with each other long enough to appreciate that.”

  He turned to face the feuders more fully. “And when you feel like fighting, I want you to remember something. Y’all could have lost everything tonight. More than some fence posts and a few outbuildings. Y’all could have lost people. Real, living, breathing people. People who are your blood, your neighbors, your family in Christ. People who are more important than the disagreements you have with them and, therefore, deserve your respect and kindness—especially at a time like this.”

  The fight seemed to drain from the two families, but David continued, “Now, y’all can ignore all of that and choose to fight anyway. If that’s what you want, then do it on your own time. The rest of us have families waiting and praying for our safe return. And we’d like to get home to them.” With that, he hopped down from the wagon.

  “He’s right,” Matthew seconded.

  Another man called out, “Yeah, we came here to help. Not watch you fight.”

  Lula May stepped into the light looking as mud-spattered as Caroline was. “Speaking of helping, I think most of the ranchers in the LSCL are here. I’d like to call an impromptu meeting now. I propose that some of the money raised by the county fair and already designated to go to families in need be used to help the Hill and the Coleman families.”

  Dorothy let out a sigh of relief. “That would be a big help, Lula May.”

  Preacher Brandon Stillwater stepped forward. “I know I’m not a rancher, but may I suggest one stipulation? The two families must work together to rebuild and try to make peace with each other.”

  Tug frowned. “Now just a minute.”

  Matthew grinned. “That is a great idea.”

  David’s older brother Josiah stepped forward. “As the owner of the town’s lumber mill, I’m willing to give the league a discount on any lumber purchased to rebuild the Hill and Coleman properties.”

  Lula May crossed her arms as she looked at her brother-in-law with amusement. “Thank you, Josiah. I appreciate the enthusiasm from the non-ranching folks, but this vote is for league members only. All those in favor say aye.”

  A collective aye resounded over the rain.

  “Opposed?”

  Not even Dorothy and Tug spoke up, though they both looked like they’d taken a big swig of pickle juice.

  “The ayes have it. Now, let’s get back to work and finish putting this fire out.”

  Folks began to disperse. Caroline watched David walk over to speak with Dorothy and Tug. She would have gone over to talk with Annie, but Matthew kept a firm hold on her arm, not trusting that the hostilities were truly over. After a couple of minutes, David shook hands with both of them, then joined her and Matthew. “I should have said something about the feud a long time ago, but I was hoping it would resolve itself.”

  Matthew nodded. “Same here. This is a good first step.”

  Caroline had never seen anything quite like the fight she’d just witnessed, and she was impressed by the way David had stood up for peace. Commenting on any of that was impossible at the moment. It was all she could do to keep her teeth from chattering loudly enough for them to hear. How on earth could they appear so unaffected by the chilling rain?

  Matthew was the first to notice her plight. That was likely due to the fact that he was still holding on to her arm. “David, Caroline’s freezing. Since tomorrow is her day off, why don’t I take her back to my place? You still have some clothes there—don’t you, Caroline?”

  “Yes, but the triplets will need me when they get back to the McKays’.”

  “I dropped everyone off at the Stillwater ranch, since it was farther from the fire and I knew the triplets would be comfortable with Louisa. She offered to keep them there overnight so they wouldn’t have to be disturbed again.” To David, he said, “I can bring Miss Ida and Maggie back to your place, then drop Emma off at mine before coming back here.”

  David agreed to the plan, and Matthew whisked her away. She was grateful for a quick escape. Even more so when Matthew didn’t take the opportunity to ask her about whatever he might have picked up on between her and David. It was a little odd to be all by herself in her brother’s house, but she made good use of the time. By the time Emma arrived home, Caroline was finished bathing and had changed into a nightgown.

  Her sister-in-law, who was also dressed for bed in a robe tied around her protruding belly, immediately lowered herself to sit on the bed. “I wanted to see if you needed anything, since you weren’t expecting to stay the night.”

  “That’s sweet of you.” She smiled at Emma in the mirror, then finished combing out her hair. “It was a bit of a nuisance to cart everything back and forth on the weekends, so I left some things here. I should have everything I need. How are you faring after the long wagon trip?”

  “I’m fine. Glad to be home again. Glad this place is still standing. The rain is absolutely pouring down. Isn’t it wonderful? I hope it keeps up.” Emma rested a hand on her stomach and gave Caroline a curious look. “Matthew tells me there seem to be some sparks between you and David.”

  Of course he did. Caroline blew out a huff of air. She should have known she wouldn’t get off the hook that easily. “I can’t say he’s wrong.”

  Emma’s thoughtful silence was a little unnerving.

  She began to braid her hair. “You didn’t seem very much in favor of a romance between David and me the last time we spoke of it.”

  “It isn’t that I wasn’t in favor of it. I just wanted you to be cautious. I didn’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  “I don’t think David would hurt me.” She hesitated a moment, then admitted, “Honestly, I’m a little afraid of hurting him.”

  Emma frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Caroline tied off the loose braid with a ribbon. She turned to face Emma. “There have been a few moments when...well, the thought has occurred to me that I might be in love with him.”

  Emma gasped. “Truly?”

  “Yes, and sometimes I think he might love me.”

  “Then why aren’t you over the moon?”

  “I’m too busy being scared stiff.” She hugged her arms around herself. “After what happened with Nico, I’m not sure I should trust what my feelings are telling me.”

  Sympathy filled Emma’s voice. “What are they telling you?”

  “That what I have with David is real and right and true. That he can be trusted. Even if all of that is true, what am I supposed to do about it? This isn’t my life, Emma. This isn’t who I am. I’m a music teacher who lives in Austin. I sing at high-society recitals. I love children, but I’m not responsible for them. I send them home at the end of the day.”

  Caroline shook her head. “If David wants a wife—I’m not entirely sure he does, by the way—I’ll also become an instant mother. As much as I care for Maggie, the reality of being anyone’s instant mother is intimidating.�
��

  Emma placed a hand over her rounded stomach. “Now, that I can understand, but you’ve been wonderful with Maggie and the triplets. Challenging as it might be, I’m sure you’d be a wonderful mother.”

  “I hope so.” That didn’t make it any less intimidating, but it probably wasn’t a good idea to go over all of that with a woman who would give birth relatively soon. With a shrug, Caroline moved on to the next problem. “Then there is the whole aspect of actually getting married. The mere idea of standing at another altar... I don’t know if I’m ready for that, either. I thought it would be fine if David and I took things slowly, but our feelings aren’t progressing slowly. There’s also the fact that I don’t really have much time left here. I’m supposed to be back in Austin to start rehearsing for the musical in two and a half weeks. I’d have a leading part that could lead to another leading part and another. Time is running out. I have to decide.”

  Emma was quiet for a moment. “To be honest, Caroline, it sounds like you already have.”

  Realization widened her eyes. She tested the thought and found safety in it. With a nod, she determined her course. “I’m going back to Austin.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “How can you even say that?” David stared at Caroline. They’d both stopped at the head of the mud-logged trail leading into the woods. He’d been on his way out the door to check the level of the creek when Caroline had hinted she’d like to tag along. He’d been quick to invite her, since they’d barely had a chance to talk since the night of the fire. He’d seen her at church on Sunday, but she’d slipped away with Matthew and Emma before he’d had a chance to say anything other than a quick hello. She’d gone straight to her room once she’d arrived back at the ranch instead of joining in with the music-making with the ranch hands as she had last week. This morning she’d barely said two words at breakfast. Now he knew why.

  “How long have you been planning to leave?” It was a stupid question to ask, but it was all his stunned brain could come up with.

  Her gaze darted from his to stare through the rain falling around them into the woods. “David, you knew this was a possibility from the first.”

  Her tone was conciliatory. He didn’t want to be consoled. A sudden thought filled him with hope. “You’re coming back, though, after the operetta is over?”

  She gave a hesitant nod, then dashed his hopes. “To visit Matthew and Emma. Occasionally.”

  In other words, not to visit him and not to stay. He turned away from her, clenched his jaw and tried to think. It was hard to do when the woman he’d planned on marrying was breaking off their...what exactly? He hadn’t gotten around to proposing, so they weren’t engaged. They weren’t even so much as officially courting. Yet she had his heart in her hands, and she knew that. He’d told her that the night of the fire. Or he would have if she’d allowed him to speak it. Instead he’d told her in his kiss. He’d thought the message was unmistakable. Maybe it hadn’t been. Maybe she’d misunderstood. Maybe he needed to be clearer.

  He let his umbrella fall to the ground, then ducked beneath hers. She didn’t step away from him. She stood there with those mesmerizing hazel eyes of hers and let him search her face. Didn’t she know he’d see through that veneer of calm to the uncertainty and love beneath?

  He closed his eyes, committing what he’d seen to memory. He forced himself to calm down. She was running scared. That much was obvious. He should be making it harder for her to leave instead of easier. Being angry wouldn’t accomplish that. Perhaps love could. Unfortunately, taking time to fortify himself had allowed her to do the same. Her expression had turned guarded. He’d broken those walls down before. He could do it again. He fell back on her truth teller—touch.

  He traced her cheekbone with a gentle brush of his fingers, remembering how he’d wiped the tears from that cheek the first time they’d met. His fingers rounded to capture her chin like he had the night before last when she’d stubbornly insisted on traveling with him to the fire. He lowered his forehead until it hovered near hers. Then he kissed her with all his heart and soul. She kissed him back.

  That was when he knew.

  For her, this was a kiss goodbye.

  Unwilling to accept it, he moved his hand to the small of her back. He pressed her closer, but the kiss was bittersweet and he couldn’t bear it. He let her go.

  Their quickened breaths resounded over the steady rain. She’d lowered her umbrella at some point and, while she still held it in her grasp, it seemed all but forgotten. She released it to cradle his jaw. Sorrow filled her eyes and her voice. “I’m sorry, David. I do love—” She swallowed hard, then continued. “I do love this life I’ve been living, but it isn’t mine. I didn’t choose it. It just sort of happened to me.”

  He couldn’t stop himself from taking her hand from his jaw to brush a kiss against it. Foolish as it might be, he might never have a chance to do it again. “Nothing is stopping you from choosing it now.”

  “You should be stopping me. I’m not the woman you need, David. We both know that.”

  He nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of her statement. “You’re everything I need, Caroline Murray.”

  “David, don’t. You aren’t going to change my mind.” She tugged her hand from his and said the words he’d known would be inevitable. “I’m leaving. In two weeks, I’ll be boarding a train to Austin. Consider this my final notice. I’m staying for the triplets and Ida and Maggie. I don’t want to leave them in a lurch. However, I think it’s best that I stay at Matthew’s from now on. I’ll arrive in time for breakfast in the morning and leave after I put the triplets to bed. They’re sleeping through the night now, so they won’t know the difference.”

  It would be hard enough being around her during the day. He nodded. “That’s probably for the best.”

  “No more kissing or holding hands or flirting of any kind. Don’t look at me like that. This isn’t about how your charm may or may not affect me. It’s because anything less would be inappropriate for an employer and his employee. More important, I don’t want to confuse Maggie. She knows nothing of this. I don’t want that to change.”

  “I understand.” He took a deep breath and forced the tension in his jaw to ease. “Just let me be the one to tell Maggie that you’re leaving.”

  With a nod, she lifted her umbrella back into place and calmly walked back toward the house. He watched her until she disappeared behind a veil of rain. This was not how things were supposed to turn out. Yet she had made her decision and he had no choice but to accept it. There would be no trying to win her back for all the reasons she’d so aptly outlined. Their breakup had happened so fast. It seemed almost surreal.

  He left his umbrella where it had fallen and walked down to the creek. The water level was as high as one might expect it to be after the almost nonstop rain they’d had since Saturday night. He wasn’t sure why he’d bothered to check in the first place. Maybe just to assure himself there would be some relief from the drought.

  With that done, he left his umbrella in the house and grabbed his slicker instead. He rode with the ranch hands for most of the day. He didn’t want to go back into the house, but he couldn’t put it off any longer. A man had to eat.

  Ignoring the music in the parlor, David slipped unnoticed into his room and changed into dry clothes. Caroline’s melodic singing seeped through the closed door. It was too muffled for him to understand the lyrics. Nevertheless, her voice drew him. He crossed the hall to find a living picture of everything he’d hoped his future would hold.

  His mother sat at the piano with Theo on her lap. He joined in the accompaniment by pressing a key or two whenever he so pleased. Meanwhile, Maggie helped Eli balance on his feet while also managing to do a little jig that really should have gone with a faster-tempo song than what was being sung. If his grin was any indication, Eli didn’t seem to mind
a bit.

  David’s gaze finally settled where it had wanted to all along. Caroline had Jasper perched on her hip with one arm securing him there while the other held his hand as though he were a full-size dance partner. She swayed back and forth as she continued singing, “Poor wandering one! If such poor love as mine can help thee find true peace of mind, why, take it. It is thine!”

  David crossed his arms over his chest, steeling himself as she continued her melodic encouragements. His ma seemed to be the only one aware that he was standing there, but of course she was too busy playing the piano to do much else. Caroline whirled in a circle. “Take any heart—take mine!”

  Her gaze finally caught upon his. She swallowed the next note. She blinked as a blush rose to her cheeks. “I’m sorry, David. Did we disturb you?”

  Did she disturb him? He clenched his teeth as he faced the fact that he was a world-class idiot. Here he was nursing a broken heart over a woman who was in the next room dancing for joy and practicing the song she’d sing in the operetta she’d chosen over him. A punch in the gut would have been less painful. To his shame, his eyes began to smart. Not since Laura had he made this much of a fool of himself over a woman so utterly uncaring of the havoc she’d wrought in him.

  “David.” His mother’s sharp voice drew his attention. “Don’t you have that Lone Star Cowboy League meeting in town tonight?”

  He nodded. Taking the excuse for what it was, he turned on his heel and grabbed his hat on the way out the door. He’d forgotten all about the meeting. Couldn’t care less about it, to be honest. It was an escape, though, and one he sorely needed.

  * * *

  David slipped into the back of the church right as Lula May called the meeting to order. He had a hard time concentrating on any of it until Casper Magnuson took the floor. The man cleared his voice a few times, but it still shook a little as he spoke. “I don’t know how many of y’all have heard the news, but Saul Hauser got caught in a gully washer last night. He drowned.”