Home on the Ranch: Tennessee Bull Rider

by April Arrington

  He forced himself to turn away and walk into the kitchen, his steps heavy and sluggish. Sweat beaded on his hot forehead and his hands shook as he lowered the dishes, the plates rattling against the sink as he reached for the glasses under his arm.

  “Why don’t you sit before you fall, Nate?” Amber arrived at his side, her voice soft as she took the cups from him. A small smile appeared. “The way you look, I could probably handle a bull in an arena better than you right now.”

  That kind light was back in her eyes, not as strong or as personal, but it was there all the same. It warmed him on the inside, easing the strong ache in his chest. And for a moment it felt like it had before. When they were younger and closer. When she’d always been the first one—sometimes the only one—to see the good in him.

  He smiled back. “You think so?”

  “I know so.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth, her cheeks flushing. “Try to sit still for a few minutes at least and I’ll fix you something to eat before you drive home.”

  “I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said.

  “It’s no trouble. Pancakes okay?”

  His smile grew. “With pecans?”

  Lips quirking, she moved away and grabbed a griddle, saying over her shoulder, “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Fifteen minutes later she brought him pecan pancakes, crisp bacon and a hot cup of coffee. The warm syrup melted on his tongue, and his gut growled with appreciation as he devoured every bite.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, sinking back into his chair.

  “You’re welcome.” She took the dirty dishes to the kitchen, then returned later with her coat and purse, her eyes darting toward the clock again. “We do need to talk, Nate. I have something to tell you, too. But now’s not a good time. My ride will be here soon.”

  He stood slowly and glanced outside at the dark, empty road. It had never looked lonely to him before, but it did now. And the thought of leaving Amber again so soon, however briefly, was unwelcome. “When would be a good time?”

  She stilled, her expression closing. “How long are you staying?”

  “At least four weeks.”

  “Then you’ll return to the circuit?”

  He nodded. “The finals in Vegas start the first week of November.”

  She pulled on her coat. “Are you staying at Elk Valley Ranch?”

  “Yeah.” His smile returned. His brother and his sister-in-law, Dani, had turned their family’s guest ranch around and, by all accounts, it was thriving. So were they. Dani would be close to seven months pregnant now. “Guess you know Mac and Dani are expecting. Mac said business is booming so I’m sure he could use the help. He said the lodge is packed but he’s saved a room for me.”

  Amber looked out the window and bit her lip, her face reddening. “Then I’ll call you there.”

  “Tomorrow?” He shifted uncomfortably at the hopeful note in his voice. The same one he’d heard in Will’s earlier.

  “Yes.” She headed toward the door, flicking the lights off as she went. “You need to leave, Nate.”

  His stomach dropped at the abrupt change in her tone. He glanced toward the parking lot. A large SUV was now parked beside his truck. The back passenger door was open and a man was bent, reaching inside, only his jean-clad legs and boots visible.

  An odd burning sensation sizzled through Nate. “Is that your ride?”

  Amber opened the door and gestured impatiently. “Yes.”

  Probably another Will. Nate stiffened, the throb in his side intensifying and a fresh wave of regret surging within him. He had no right to poke his nose in Amber’s business.

  Body aching, he trudged across the café, then eased past her, walking toward his truck. Keys jangled behind him as she locked the door, and his steps slowed at the deep sound of a familiar voice.

  “I know, sweetheart. Your mama’s coming.”

  Nate froze. “Landon?”

  The SUV’s door creaked as it opened a bit more, the man straightening and turning to face him. It was Landon all right, frowning and holding a small pacifier in his big hand.

  A disgruntled cry emerged from the backseat of the vehicle and Nate glanced toward it, finding three babies strapped in car seats, forming a perfect row. Two of them wore blue knit caps and the third a pink one. Their tiny feet and hands thrust here and there and the pink-capped baby whimpered, stretching grasping fingers toward Landon.

  Your mama’s coming.

  I have something to tell you, too.

  Nate jerked toward Amber, scrambling to estimate the babies’ ages and counting the months since he’d made love to Amber. Confirmation was right there in her flushed face and panicked eyes, making his limbs tremble.

  Nate locked his knees and rooted his boots to the ground, knowing if the shock of discovering he was a father didn’t kill him, Landon would.

  * * *

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  Amber clenched her fists, the sharp edge of the keys she held digging into her palms at the bite of Landon’s tone. She stared helplessly as Landon and Nate faced each other, their towering heights, muscular builds and blond hair similar enough from a distance that strangers had mistaken them for brothers rather than just best friends on more than one occasion.

  Something she’d grown to resent over the years.

  Nate’s broad shoulders stiffened. He turned his head, his shocked green eyes boring into hers.

  Please don’t say anything. She took an unsteady step toward him, shaking her head. For once in your life, let someone else take the lead.

  “I’ve called your ass a dozen times and haven’t heard a word.” Landon glanced at Amber, his eyes sparkling, then burst out laughing. “Figures his wandering tail would pop back in when we’d least expect it.” He strode over and bear-hugged Nate, his broad palms slapping his friend’s back good-naturedly. “It’s damn good to see you, brother.”

  Nate winced, then returned the hug briefly, his expression surprised and smile weak.

  “Landon.” Amber walked over and tugged his arm. “Give him some room. He just drove in.”

  Landon stepped back and looked Nate over, his laughter fading. “I can see that. How long you been on the road, man?”

  Nate stared at the ground and dragged a hand over the back of his neck. “Several hours. Drove in from Texas.”

  “Fresh off the circuit?” Landon asked.

  Nate nodded, remaining silent. A frustrated squeal erupted from the SUV. He glanced over Landon’s shoulder at the backseat, and his cheeks lost what little color they had left.

  Amber’s lungs constricted. That was Savannah. Her cries had a slightly higher pitch than her brothers’ when she hit full diva mode. “Is she fussy tonight?”

  “A bit, yeah.” Landon leaned back inside the SUV and returned Savannah’s pacifier to her mouth. “They’ve all been cranky. Bobbie Jean said she went ahead and gave ’em their bath to try to calm ’em down. Said they missed you more than usual today.”

  Amber moved past him and peeked inside. Despite the anxious churn of her stomach, she managed a smile. There they were. Her three tiny pieces of heaven.

  “Hey, sweeties,” she whispered, stretching across the seat and dropping a soft kiss on each of their smooth foreheads below their knit caps. “Did y’all give Ms. Bobbie Jean a hard time today?”

  Goodness, she hoped not. Bobbie Jean wasn’t just her best friend, she was a lifesaver and the only affordable childcare she could swing nowadays.

  Savannah stared up at her with wide eyes, her rosebud mouth working hard around her pacifier. Dylan, seated by her side, scowled, then kicked his small feet restlessly. Mason, on the far end, grinned, his tiny tooth gleaming.

  “You did, didn’t you?” Amber tapped Mason’s dimpled chin. “I can tell from that smug smile of yours.”

 
It had the same mischievous tilt as the one Nate had sported over the years.

  Amber ducked her head and fidgeted with the babies’ clothing. Of all times for Nate to appear out of thin air and actually stick around for more than five minutes, it had to be when Landon showed up with her babies.

  She cringed, a stabbing pain shooting through her. Nate’s babies.

  Good Lord, this was just her luck. Nate hadn’t been home in over a year and, at best, she thought he’d only return for a few days around Christmas like he sometimes did. That was supposed to be when she’d tell him.

  After two previous failed attempts at breaking the news to him, she’d taken the time to plan the third thoroughly. She was going to ask Bobbie Jean to watch the babies, then go see Nate—without Landon—and inform him he had triplets.

  Amber stifled a groan, knowing exactly how much of a shock that would be and trying not to imagine how much more of a shock it was for Nate to find out this way. She’d hoped to give him time to adjust. Time to absorb the reality of it all before she turned her attention to finding a way to break the truth to Landon.

  That was the part she dreaded most of all.

  “...follow us to Amber’s?”

  She straightened, her head bumping the roof of the vehicle as she faced Landon. “What?”

  Nate, still shell-shocked, stood motionless beside his truck.

  Landon smiled. “I told Nate he should follow us to your place. Take a look around.” He turned back to Nate, his voice filled with pride. “You should see it, man. Amber’s renovating Mean McBride’s cabin. It still needs a ton of work, but she’s already got it looking great.”

  “That’s not a good idea.” She gestured toward the babies. “It’s late and I need to get them settled.”

  “I know,” Landon said. “You’ll need an extra hand.”

  “I can handle things,” she said, shutting the door gently. “I don’t need—”

  “Amber, we’ve had this conversation.” Landon’s features firmed. “You only have two hands and there are three of them. What kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t help out with my niece and nephews?”

  The slight trace of hurt in his tone melted her heart. Six years older than she was, Landon had watched over her for all of her twenty-four years, especially after their father had skipped out on them when she was seven. He’d taken care of their mother until the day she’d passed away twelve years ago. And he was here now, picking Amber up from work as he did every night after collecting the babies from Bobbie Jean’s, ready to drive them all home and make sure they were settled safely inside before returning to his ranch fifteen miles deeper into the Smoky Mountains.

  He’d loved and protected all four of them from the day they were born. But sometimes his overprotective hold tightened so much she couldn’t breathe. Which made her feel all the more guilty for perceiving his help in that way.

  “You’re a great uncle,” Amber said. She lifted to her toes and kissed his cheek. “I don’t mean to give you a hard time.”

  He caught her elbow, whispering in her ear, “Then let me help you. And let Nate follow us.” His tone deepened. “That way I can follow him the last stretch from your place to Mac’s. Way he looks, I don’t trust him to get there without falling asleep at the wheel.”

  She glanced at Nate.

  Despite his haggard appearance, his striking features, kissable mouth and brawny frame were as magnetic as ever. Nate’s rough edges had always given off a raw allure. One that drew her eyes, teased every nerve in her body and left a smoldering heat in her belly long after she left his presence. Something most women in tiny Elk Valley had experienced, whispered about and a few had succumbed to only to join the ranks of the brokenhearted soon after.

  Including her.

  Amber flinched, her cheeks burning. Heck if she’d do that again. She’d learned her lesson, and humiliation wasn’t all that much fun. But the wounded expression in his eyes and heavy sag of his wide chest tugged at something deep inside her, making it impossible to refuse Landon’s request.

  “All right,” she said, holding out her hand. “But I’m driving.”

  That would force her to keep at least some sense of focus and composure. Lord knew she needed both in this surreal situation.

  Landon smiled, handed the keys over, then called out to Nate, “Follow us in, yeah? I’ll show you around the cabin and make you some coffee to carry you the last leg to Mac’s.”

  Amber strode quickly to the driver’s side, climbed in and cranked the engine, not risking another glance at Nate. The deep tone of Nate’s and Landon’s muffled voices sounded briefly, then Landon joined her in the SUV. She backed out of the parking space and left the lot, stopping at a red light at the end of the empty block.

  “He looks bad, Amber.” Landon’s blue eyes narrowed on the side-view mirror. “Real bad.”

  “I know,” she said quietly. Reaching up, she adjusted the rearview mirror and watched as Nate’s truck drew to a slow stop behind them, the headlights casting a garish flood of light through the SUV. “He’s hurt.”

  Had to be. In more ways than Landon could imagine.

  Her attention lowered to the three knit caps highlighted in the backseat. I’m a coward, angels. A foolish one.

  The last thing she’d ever wanted was for Nate to find out like this. She should’ve tried telling him again. Long before now. Only, that was easier said than done when your dang pride overruled your common sense on a regular basis.

  “He lives too hard.” Worry tightened Landon’s voice. “Stays on the road too much. Last time I spoke to him was at Mac’s wedding and he missed Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Seems like forever since he’s been home. I barely recognized him.” He sighed. “How bad do you think he’s injured? Too bad to compete again?”

  Her temple pounded and an ache formed behind her eyes. “I don’t think so. He says he’s going to the finals in a few weeks.”

  God, she hated keeping such a big secret from Landon. But the only alternative was the humiliating truth that would shatter every illusion Landon had about Nate. The ones that prevented Landon from even suspecting him. The same ones she’d had herself before Nate proved to be exactly what everyone had said he was.

  Landon had already lost both parents and spent the majority of his time working his butt off taking care of a sister, niece and two nephews. The last thing he needed was to lose a best friend who, for all intents and purposes, he regarded as a brother. Someone he’d admired for most of his life. Especially when he might lose him on account of her lack of judgment.

  “He looked shocked as hell when he saw the babies,” Landon said. “He wasn’t here when you...well...” He reached over one of the rear-facing car seats and smoothed his fingers over Dylan’s tiny hand. “I haven’t had a chance to tell him since he’s been off the grid for so long. He’s going to ask about them. How much do you want me to tell him?”

  She shook her head, then accelerated as the light turned green. The truth would emerge soon enough and it’d knock her foolish pride on its butt when it did. “Whatever you’d like.”

  He scoffed. “Well, hell. That won’t be much since you still won’t give me a name.”

  “Landon—”

  “It’s tourist season,” he drawled, expression darkening. “That bastard will probably show up again this year or the next and when he does, I’m gonna kill him.”

  “It was my fault as much as it was his,” she said softly. “I was restless. It was a fling. I knew what I was getting into and I...I just got more than I bargained for.”

  Boy, had she ever.

  “That’s not the point.” Landon’s tone grew harsh. “Tourist or not, his ass should’ve stayed put and faced up to his responsibilities. What kind of a man walks away from his kids?”

  Oh, Lord. Landon would have a fit when she finally managed to find th
e courage to tell him the truth. It would hurt him so much. And his short temper and high standards would lead him to hurt Nate in more ways than one.

  No matter how badly Nate had disappointed her, he didn’t deserve that.

  “I didn’t tell him, Landon.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He should’ve asked. Any man that sleeps with a woman should show her enough damned courtesy to at least follow up with a phone call.”

  “Look, I know you’re worried but—”

  “And why you think it’s okay to just let it all go is beyond me. I don’t know why you’re so intent upon letting this guy off the hook. You may have barely known him but he owes you, and you both owe it to those children to—”

  “Landon, please.” Amber hit the brakes and brought them to an abrupt halt at the next red light. She turned slightly in her seat, her voice cracking. “I know you’re disappointed in me. That you’re worried and just want what’s best for us. But I made the mistake. I’m entitled to one and it was my mistake, no one else’s.” Her throat closed and the tears burning her eyes humiliated her even more. “Can’t it just be mine? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my own children and myself. Will you please let this go for now? Just this once?”

  Landon sat back in his seat, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly before saying, “I could never be disappointed in you.” He shook his head. “Never.” He reached out and squeezed her shoulder, his voice soft. “I overstepped. I’m sorry. We’ll do whatever you want.”

  Green light spilled over the dashboard. She blinked, clearing her vision, managed a small smile, then eased her foot down on the pedal. The SUV accelerated, the gentle vibrations within the cab lulling the babies and her temper into a calmer state.

  “Don’t worry about me, Landon.” She glanced at the headlights trailing them in the rearview mirror. “I can take care of myself. For now, just...enjoy Nate’s visit.”

  Because that was all it was—a visit. Four weeks at the most. If, after learning he was a father, Nate even stayed that long.