The Rancher's Twins

by Carol Ross

  Jon tapped out a text to Tom.

  Lydia began tidying up the space around her. “I’ll put this stuff away and meet you in the kitchen. There’s a fresh pot of coffee.”

  “All right then.”

  Jon headed there, poured himself a cup and took a sip. Dang, it was good coffee, too. Standing at the window, he could see the barns, the shop, the chicken coop, woodshed and various other outbuildings. He tried to imagine what it might look like to a woman from Philadelphia who’d never seen it, or any ranch at all. The flower beds needed weeding and the three raised garden beds could use some attention. Cows and their bright red-brown calves stood in the east pasture. That had to be an appealing sight, didn’t it?

  The reality wasn’t like television, that was true, but it was his and he loved pretty much everything about it. At the end of every day he wouldn’t trade the long hours he spent blistering under a blazing summer sun, or shivering in a winter cold so brutal it seemed to gnaw right into his bones, for any other job in the world. Not even in the midst of calving season, when he rarely slept more than two or three hours at a stretch and worry was his constant companion.

  There were roughly a million things that warranted his attention and concern. In addition to constant monitoring of the cows and heifers before labor, there was the birth itself. Then, would the cow accept her new calf? Was the cow producing enough milk? Was the calf nursing? A ton of health problems could befall a calf, not the least of which was scours, which could race through a herd like wildfire. Inclement weather brought on a host of difficulties, too.

  During these few weeks, Jon barely took time to eat. When he did get a moment to shower or change his clothes, there wasn’t time to enjoy it because soon after he’d be knee-deep in mud and manure, or shoulder-deep inside a cow assisting with a birth. But every second of this life fed his soul; he needed it, the bad and the good, just like he needed air to breathe.

  He wondered what Lydia Newbury needed? What could a woman from Philadelphia possibly think she’d find on a ranch in Montana? Life here could only lead to disappointment.

  Sighing, he turned away from the window. Why was he spending time worrying and wondering what she thought? This wasn’t the place for her and because of that she wasn’t the right nanny for his girls. Not used to being idle, he spotted the eggs on the counter and cracked a few into a bowl.

  “Hey, are you doing my job for me?” Lydia asked, hurrying over to join him. Pointing toward the island, she said, “Sit.” Beside him, Trout obediently parked his butt on the tile floor.

  “Oh, my gosh!” Her grin was pure delight and Jon couldn’t help but smile inside. “That’s amazing. Does he obey like that for everyone?”

  Mustering up his best poker face, Jon shook his head. “He does not. Usually, just me. But when you shout at him like that he’s bound to listen.” He glanced at Trout, who was giving him an expectant look. Jon signaled his release and the dog trotted over to his water dish.

  “I didn’t shou—” The furrow in her brow was downright cute and he couldn’t maintain a straight face. “Oh. You’re joking?”

  He chuckled. “I am.”

  The sound of her laughter filled the room, working into him in a very nice way. Jon kept his eyes on her because she was focused on Trout.

  “Did you tell him something with your hand?”

  “Yep.” He moved around the island to take a stool. Not only had she gotten the girls dressed for the day, but she’d also taken care of herself. Her clothing choice was a sight more practical than her getup of the day before. In her snug jeans, stocking feet and button-down shirt, with a tank top peeking out the top, she could almost pass for a local girl. Almost.

  “Incredible. I’ve never met such a well-trained dog.”

  “It’s not training, not really.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s more like understanding. Dogs are special that way. They’re like friends. Treat them right and most of them will do about anything for you. Just gotta figure out how to ask.”

  “Hmm. That’s nice. You obviously have good friends.” She’d been whisking the eggs, and she poured them into the pan and stirred. She removed the pancakes and bacon from the oven and fixed his plate.

  He watched her, mesmerized by the way she moved, fluid and efficient, like a swan or some other graceful, pretty bird.

  “You know your way around a kitchen.”

  “That I do.” She paused to look at him like she was going to tell him something important. “And I have to say, yours is incredible. Like my dream kitchen.”

  “Thank you.” He felt himself smiling at the enthusiasm in her tone. He’d designed the space himself and it was nice to hear a cook appreciate it. “Self-taught?”

  “That nana I mentioned last night taught me the basics and then I had a few restaurant jobs over the years. I worked for a caterer and a bakery, too, so lucky you.” With a wink, she pushed his plate across the counter and handed him silverware. “I guess I should ask if cooking is part of my job. I mean, if the girls mostly eat with you in the bunkhouse?”

  “That’s expediency, because it’s calving time. I try to cook for us when it’s not.”

  Looking thoughtful, she turned and poured herself a cup of coffee. When she faced him again, her expression was twisted up a bit and he knew she had something to say.

  “So now that I’m here, I’ll be cooking, and they can eat with me. I think they need to learn some table manners. And I’d like to suggest we have dinner together, or you should have dinner with them at least because...” She added an earnest look. “Because family dinners are important.”

  Did she think he didn’t know this about his girls? It stung a little but at the same time he appreciated that she spoke her mind. This was only one small part of the reason he needed her. Well, not her, but a nanny.

  “I agree with that.”

  “Good.” As she leaned against the counter, he caught a nice view of the pale skin of her face and neck. The creamy smoothness was nearly perfect, a testament to the hours she spent indoors. Unlike him.

  “This is all delicious,” he said, because it was and because he realized she was watching him. “These pancakes might even be as good as Willa’s.”

  “Ha. I’m sure they’re better.” She added a confident nod. “But who is this Willa competing for my top pancake honors? I hereby challenge her to a pancake throw-down.”

  Jon laughed even as he wished she’d quit being so likable. It made this so much more difficult. “Willa Carnes, my neighbor. My best friend Zach’s mom. You met Sofie last night. She’s married to Zach. Willa is her mother-in-law.”

  “Ranchers?”

  “Yep.”

  “Hmm. Lots of ranching going on around here, huh? Scooter mentioned a place called Blackwell Guest Ranch?”

  “Yep, that would be my grandfather’s place.”

  “Big E?”

  Jon wasn’t surprised she’d already heard his name. The man was, if not infamous, then certainly renowned. “Elias Blackwell is his name but most everyone calls him Big E.”

  “Does he live there with your parents?”

  “He did, and so did I, until they died.” Jon managed to keep his voice flat and even, but it still surprised him how much it hurt to say the words out loud.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry.” Sincerity infused her tone, making Jon suspect she was no stranger to grief herself. “Do you have other family?”

  “Four brothers.” He scooped up another bite.

  “Do they live on the ranch?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Older or younger?”

  “I’m the oldest. Three years younger are Ethan and Ben. Then two years after them, Chance and Tyler.”

  “Wait, wait!” Hand up, she took a second to absorb that news. “Back the tractor up—your brothers are twin twin
s?”

  “Twin twins?” He chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve heard that one before. Did you make that up?”

  “I don’t know.” Grinning, she shook her head. “There’s just so many twins. And you have twins. It’s...”

  “It is a fact that I have been the odd man out my entire life.”

  Inquisitive blue eyes searched his before exploring the rest of his face and then traveling down to his hands and back up again. Her voice edged with wonder and maybe sympathy, she said, “Huh. I can’t imagine...”

  She couldn’t. No one could. Being surrounded by twins, and looking after his younger brothers after their parents died, was a unique experience. He knew that. Then, to finally get out on his own, only to accidentally start a family and find out that he would be the father of twins? Honestly, it had felt like a blessing and a curse. And girls, to boot. If there was one area of his life that was his biggest weakness, it would be women. His string of stepgrandmothers hadn’t been interested in fulfilling any type of maternal role. He’d been shy in school and there weren’t any girls his age hanging around the ranch when he was growing up. Katie and her sister Maura were younger and close enough to being family that he hadn’t paid attention in any meaningful way.

  He loved his daughters with every fiber of his being, yet his heart was perpetually raw and achy where they were concerned. He knew he wasn’t doing right by them. It seemed as if when things were going well in one area, they were lacking in another. Like if he spent too much time cooking healthy meals, he didn’t have enough left over to read to them. If he was teaching them about the ranch, there was no time for games. If they were riding horses, there was no book learning going on. He spent a lot of time wondering how other single parents got along. But he didn’t want to talk about that.

  Shrugging a shoulder, he hoped to throw her off the subject. “It is what it is.”

  Her sympathetic smile told him she knew it was more than that, yet she let it go. He appreciated that. “So, do you have like a list for me? I reviewed my paperwork last night and all it says is some cooking, which we just covered, light cleaning, child care and other. We need to talk about that other.”

  “We need to have a different discussion.”

  Her inquisitive gaze met his. “Oh. Okay?”

  “I’m going to get right to the point.”

  “Please do.”

  The phone in his pocket alerted him that Katie was calling. “Excuse me a second.” He swiped the screen to answer it. “Hey, Katie, what’s up?”

  “Jon, I know you’re coming over later to take care of that bill, but I have a situation. Is there any chance you can move it up?”

  “Sure. What time?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “What’s going on?”

  He knew her sigh of irritation wasn’t directed at him. “It would save us both a lot of time if I could explain when you get here. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  Unnerving how he’d heard those same words from Grace the day before.

  “I do know that. I’ll leave right now.”

  He clicked off the phone and looked at Lydia. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to ask that we postpone this conversation again. I need to head out to my grandfather’s place.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  TRAVEL ALONE WOULD slice precious time out of Jon’s day. Property lines and gravel roads meant zigzagging and relatively slow-going for miles. And that was before he reached the long driveway to Big E’s house and the barns. It would be faster to ride his horse, or an ATV, but opening and closing gates, fencing and cross fencing on neighboring lands would impede him too much this time of year.

  The shortest route would have him crossing Double T land. Relations between the Thompsons and the Blackwells had lately been, if not peaceful, then uneventful. But Jon wasn’t about to do anything to remind them of the victory Big E and Ben had won concerning water rights. And most importantly, Jon couldn’t pack nearly as much gear on a horse or an ATV.

  Maybe Big E had given Ethan some clue as to where he was going. Busy as his brother had been with college and veterinary school for so many years, his visits were infrequent and quick. But he’d been back a couple of months ago for Sara Ashley Gardner’s wedding. Sara Ashley was Grace’s sister and Ethan’s ex. He’d stayed with Jon while he was in town and it had been great spending some real time with his brother again.

  Ethan answered on the fourth ring. “Jon, hey, what’s up? Everything okay?” As expected, his brother’s voice was laced with concern. Ethan knew it was calving season. None of his brothers would expect a call from him now unless it was urgent.

  “Ethan. Yep, everything is fine. I think.” He paused. “Or not. Have you talked to Big E lately?”

  “Just once since I was there and that was two weeks ago. What’s going on?”

  “Trying to track him down. Big E and Zoe took off in their motorhome about a week ago. The bill at Brewster’s hasn’t been paid for a while. Katie needs to order feed and supplies, and the store can’t extend any more credit.”

  “Took off? Where did they go?”

  “No one seems to know. Not anyone here anyhow.”

  “Have you talked to anyone else?” Jon knew he meant their other three brothers.

  “Not yet. I was thinking we could divide and conquer. I’ll call Tyler if you want to call Chance.”

  “What about Ben? He doesn’t want to hear from me.”

  “I won’t fare much better. I’m thinking we both call Ben. Maybe if we each leave him a message he’ll think it’s important enough to call one of us back. Although I doubt Ben has talked to anyone, and especially not Big E.”

  Zoe had been engaged to Ben when she threw him over for Big E. Their brother was bitter. Rightly so, seeing as how Jon and Ethan had inadvertently encouraged it. Not the wedding so much, as they’d wanted Ben out of Zoe’s clutches. The whole thing had been a mess. Jon wished Ben would give them an opportunity to clear the air. Their brother had to know by now that Zoe was no good for him.

  Ethan whooshed out a breath. “Okay, I’ll call them both.”

  “Thanks, Ethan.”

  “Big E left without paying the bill at Brewster’s?”

  “Yep. You know that no one can sign on the account except for him or one of us boys.”

  “Yeah. Did you, uh, talk to Grace?”

  “Grace is the one who informed me. Pulled me into her office yesterday. Katie was there.”

  “Did she mention me?”

  “Who, Katie?”

  “No, not Katie, Grace.”

  “Why would Grace mention you?”

  “She wouldn’t. Never mind.”

  Jon hoped Ethan wasn’t torn up about Sara Ashley’s marriage. He’d thought his brother was over that relationship. He didn’t have time to ponder that or the sad state of his disconnected family. “I feel bad for Katie. Either let her run the place, or not. I swear, I don’t know why she sticks around.”

  “We both know why she sticks around.”

  “True.” Because the two things Katie loved more than anything in the world were at the Blackwell Ranch—her father, Lochlan, and the horses, many that she’d trained up from colts.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m on my way there now. Katie called this morning saying she needed me ASAP, which causes me extra concern.”

  “This is weird. Stupid question, but you’ve called him, right? Our wayward grandfather?”

  “Three times. Two messages. Even called Zoe’s phone. Texted her, too.”

  “Huh. Well, let’s hope they’re just out of cell-phone range. Maybe he went to see that friend of his in New Mexico. The survivalist who lives in the adobe hut out in the middle of nowhere without power.”

  “Carl Clutch. Had that same thought seeing as h
ow they took the motorhome.”

  “But why the secrecy?”

  “With Big E? Who knows? I’ll let you go. Got some more calls to make before I get there. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “All right. Good luck.”

  “Thank you. Something tells me I’m going to need it. And Ethan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “It sure was nice having you back here. The girls are still talking about you. Getting a little tired of all the ‘Uncle Ethan this and Uncle Ethan that.’ Abby wants to be a vet.”

  Ethan chuckled. “Thanks, brother. It was good being there. I miss my nieces. We’ll talk soon.”

  Jon called Tom, briefly explained the situation and told him he’d be gone for a good while. They discussed ranch matters. Then he called Tyler and Ben. No surprise, neither one answered, so he left messages. He didn’t provide any details, just asked them to call back. It seemed too early to suggest something was amiss. He had no proof anything was wrong, other than the sour feeling in his gut, which settled deeper as he steered the pickup through the grand iron arch.

  As far as Jon knew, the large metal sign had arced over the entrance forever; Blackwell Family Ranch. He crept along the lengthy drive that led to his childhood home. All around him was the land—the ranch—where six generations of Blackwells had lived. A surprising twinge of nostalgia had him wondering what his great-great-granddad had seen and thought when he first stepped foot here. Could he have had even an inkling of all the turmoil this place would witness? The births and the deaths, marriages and divorces, drought and flood, feast and famine, love and hate, and all the accompanying memories both peaceful and painful. It seemed more than any family should have to endure. And for the first time in Jon’s life, he wondered if it would be home to a seventh generation. He pondered whether it even should.

  * * *

  LYDIA UNZIPPED HER suitcase and dug a slip of paper out from the lining. Fingers trembling, she unfolded the list and memorized the phone number at the top. She unplugged the phone from the charger, where she’d left it the night before, and dialed.