The Rancher's Twins

by Carol Ross

  “That can be rough, too. How’s the baby?”

  “It is,” she said quickly. She glanced away for a few seconds before meeting his gaze again. “I guess you know all about that, huh? Single parenthood?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

  “I can’t imagine what it’s like with twins... Which reminds me, I heard you got yourself an awesome nanny.”

  Jon nodded because that part had been true.

  Rachel went on, “And the baby, my baby, Poppy is her name. She’s...perfect.” Her face transformed with a love-filled smile. “Thank you for asking.”

  “I do not doubt that. Enjoy her while she’s young. I know you can’t see it right now when those nights are so long. But it goes faster than lightning. Gen and Abby are five now.”

  Her smile wavered a little. “I’m sure trying to. Thanks.”

  Jon felt another stir of compassion, wished he could offer his help, but knowing she wouldn’t want it, he asked, “Have you heard from Zoe lately? I’m trying to track Big E down.”

  “No, I haven’t. Zoe and I aren’t...as close anymore.”

  “I see. If you do hear from her, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Thank you. It was nice running into you, Rachel. Take care.”

  “You, too, Jon.” She walked away, and her voice sounded stronger, more confident, as she added, “We’ll be seeing you soon.”

  Jon paid for the medication and exited the store. Trout, who’d been waiting outside, fell in beside him as they headed toward Brewster’s. They met June on the sidewalk.

  “Jon, hey,” she said. “Hi, Trout.”

  “Hi, June. How are you?”

  “Great. I’m glad I ran into you. We heard that Lydia had an emergency and had to return to Philadelphia. Do you know when she’s coming back?”

  All Jon could do was shake his head.

  “Okay, well, can you tell her our first prom is coming up, the second week in May?”

  “I’ll pass that along.” He had no idea what she was talking about. But he wasn’t ready to do any explaining where his former nanny was concerned.

  “We’re so happy she agreed to help us out. When are you going to stop in for a free haircut?”

  “Free haircut?”

  “Yeah, didn’t Lydia tell you? We worked out a trade in exchange for her doing some prom hairstyles for us. She gives us updos, we do her hair, plus haircuts for you and the girls. And the leave-in conditioner. You are using it on the girls while she’s gone, right?”

  “Um, yeah.” He would now, anyway. Lydia had been gone for two days. They were probably due for a hair washing.

  They chatted for a few more minutes before June moved on. Jon continued toward Brewster’s. Hmm. Lydia had agreed to help June and Emma in their shop. She’d negotiated haircuts for him and the girls. He couldn’t help but wonder what her strategy was exactly. How long had she planned on staying?

  He approached Brewster’s. Pops waved. Jon stepped onto the porch.

  “Hey, Pops.”

  “Hi, Jon. There’s super dog.” Trout moved closer so Pops could offer a proper greeting. “When are you going to teach this dog to play chess?”

  “Only thing holding him back is me.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.” Pops chuckled. “I heard Lydia had an emergency and had to go. Hope everything’s okay?”

  “Me, too.”

  Pops winked at him. “Finally got yourself a good one there. That woman makes the best chocolate-chip cookies I’ve ever tasted.”

  That was a fact. But when had Pops tried them?

  “She brought some by one day when she was in town. Just out of the blue, sweet thing that she is.”

  Jon could only nod.

  “Sofie told me her mac and cheese is like heaven.”

  “Sofie did not exaggerate.”

  “You know, I’ve been thinking...” Pops leaned back in his rocker. “Those Devons are working out fine, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve seen your place.”

  “Yes, they are. I’m flat-out sold on the breed. And you’re always welcome, Pops, you know that.”

  “I think I’ll take you up on that. If the timing is right, I wouldn’t be averse to a dinner invitation.”

  Jon couldn’t help but chuckle. It felt good. He tried not to think about the fact that Lydia wasn’t even here, and she was inadvertently making him laugh.

  “That could be arranged. The girls would love it.” Jon didn’t currently possess the will to break it to him that the meal would not be up to the standards he was anticipating.

  Pops gave him a satisfied grin. “I hope she’s back soon. She promised to let me beat her at chess.”

  Jon said goodbye and went inside to collect the rabbit chow. Grace and Belle both inquired about Lydia. Belle asked him to tell Lydia that they could get the poultry supplements in that she’d wondered about. He pretended like he knew what that was about, too.

  Errands complete, he and Trout climbed into his pickup and headed to the Carneses’ to pick up the girls. The entire way he pondered his visit to town. He replayed the conversation with Zach over again in his mind. Apparently, Lydia had made everyone in Falcon Creek fall in love with her. Except for Marilee, who he was pretty sure wouldn’t be calling him again anytime soon. He could thank Lydia for that, at least. And about a million other things, if he was being honest.

  No matter how many ways he analyzed the situation, he had to admit that Zach had a point; why had Lydia needed to be so good at her job if she was leaving anyway?

  * * *

  TANNER HIT THE play button on Meredith’s DVR. They’d both watched Lydia’s interview with Bethany Stouffer, but Lydia hadn’t seen it yet. After two emotional days of travel and nonstop terror, followed by filming the interview, she’d been exhausted when she finally arrived on Meredith’s doorstep in Philly. She’d crashed for hours and then woke to find Tanner in Meredith’s living room.

  Now she focused on Bethany’s words. “A spokesperson for Philadelphia-based multimillionaire businessman Clive Howard has announced his responsibility for the millions of dollars in anonymous donations that have been made around the city in the last month. Lydia Newton, a friend and former employee of Mr. Howard’s, says circumstances and opportunities compelled him to come forward. Here’s what Ms. Newton told me in an exclusive interview.”

  The camera panned to Lydia. “Mr. Howard feels like he can do even more good if he makes his identity known. Clive is passionate about certain issues—women’s rights, helping troubled teens, healing sick children, to name just a few. He’s also a gifted financier. Capitalizing on the attention his donations have received, he wants to meld those passions and become a spokesperson for these causes.”

  Bethany went on to ask Lydia about her time as Mr. Howard’s personal assistant. Lydia kept those answers brief and ambiguous, emphasizing Clive’s “generous nature, unfailing dedication to helping others and overarching desire to improve the world.”

  “That was...wow,” Tanner said when it was over. He stopped the DVR and flopped back against Meredith’s sofa. “Lydia, I am blown away. That was brilliant.”

  Pride and relief washed over her at Tanner’s words.

  “What gave you the idea?” he asked.

  “Meredith, unintentionally. Clive told her if I was going to give all his money away the least I could do was give him credit for it.” She grinned at her friends. “Thank you, Meredith, for relaying that nugget when we talked. It reminded me about what a huge ego he has and it got me thinking. Maybe if he was faced with the good that money is doing, he would embrace it.”

  “You’re welcome.” Meredith added a surprised laugh. She scooted forward to look at Tanner. “But that money—his money—is gone. Doesn’t he still want to go after Lydia?”

>   “Nope, I talked to Wendell and he said that while Clive is very angry at Lydia, he seems to be enjoying the attention more. The spotlight is on him and he’s reveling in it. As of now, he’s the most celebrated man in Philadelphia. Heck, in all of America for that matter. He’s been given a humanitarian award by the city council, asked to serve on the board of the children’s hospital. And he’s even been invited to throw out the first pitch at a Philadelphia home game.” Tanner chuckled.

  Lydia couldn’t help but smile at the thought. “He does love his baseball. So, this is his opportunity to become the man the world now thinks he is. The man he doesn’t know he can be.”

  “He should embrace it,” Meredith said drily. She gave her head a shake. “If Clive stays on the straight and narrow, it will give me hope for all of humankind.

  “But what about you being in the teaser for your rancher’s interview? Isn’t that going to look weird now? You going from Clive’s assistant to a nanny with a different name?”

  “Oh, yeah, after I told Bethany the whole story, she pulled the clip. At the time, I asked not to be filmed, but they rushed the teaser and made a mistake. She apologized and promised to double-check the footage for my image before Jon’s interview airs. Since I didn’t say anything in that snippet, we’re going to hope that no one notices.”

  Meredith looked thoughtful. “That should work. Who would put it together if they didn’t know you? People in Falcon Creek, maybe?”

  “People in Falcon Creek won’t care.” Except for one person, she added silently. The only one who really mattered, and he hadn’t returned her phone calls. “And if someone does notice, I’m going to say that I quit working for Clive because I was tired and ready for a change. I wanted to spend some time in the country. Which is true. But because of my firsthand knowledge of Clive’s philanthropy, I decided to come back and handle the press release.”

  “That’s pretty good.” Meredith looked thoughtful. “At the end of the interview Bethany says that you’re no longer working for Clive due to health issues. And all questions for and about Clive are being referred to Wendell. So maybe people will leave you alone.”

  Tanner agreed. “Clive is the real story here. And, Lydia, to give you added peace of mind, I have a dinner meeting set up with Wendell, who’s already given me assurances that Clive has no intention to press any charges. In fact, Clive intends to be at our dinner.”

  “Just like that?” she asked.

  “Yes, just like that. This money was a handful for Clive, but he’s got plenty more handfuls to play with. Plus, all this press and publicity is going to be nothing but good for his businesses. In the long run, he might even thank you, Lydia.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “ETHAN, I NEED you to come home.” Jon walked closer to the fence enclosing the cows and calves. He watched two babies rip across the field kicking up grass and dirt.

  “Sorry, Jon. No way. You know I love you, brother, but I can’t come home right now.”

  “Ethan, listen to me, I need your help. We need your help, Katie and me. It’s not just the fact that I’m trying to run my own cattle ranch here. There’s Katie and Lochlan to consider, and the rest of the employees. We will not be able to make payroll if we don’t come up with a plan. The future of the Blackwell Ranch, the Blackwell name, is at stake here. The guest ranch opens soon and—”

  “Where’s the money, Jon?” Ethan interrupted. “You and I both know Big E has a stash somewhere. You need to find his other accounts or his cash hoard or his gold bars or whatever.”

  Jon barked out a laugh. “You don’t think I’ve been looking? You’re going to have to find it. Ethan, I am asking you to please, come home and help. I am barely holding it together as it is with trying to run my own ranch, helping Katie, who shouldn’t have to deal with all this by herself, and taking care of the twins.” That wasn’t an exaggeration now that Lydia was gone. The last few days had been rough.

  Somehow, he had to convince his brother that he was needed. Maybe pulling the single-dad card would help. Ethan adored the girls. If anything could soften that shell of stubbornness, it was the twins. And animals. That was his next move.

  “Plus, I, uh... I have to do some traveling. Not sure how long I’ll be gone. It would be nice if you were around for the girls’ sake.”

  “Traveling? Now? You’re leaving Gen and Abby?” Ethan’s voice had risen to a concerned pitch, leading Jon to believe he might be waffling. “Where in the world are you going?”

  Then again, if he needed to hint at his personal problems to get his brother home, then so be it. “Philadelphia.”

  “Philadelphia? Isn’t that where your nanny is from?”

  “Yes, it is. But she’s no longer my nanny.”

  “What happened? I thought everything was working out great.”

  “It was. And with any luck, it will be again.”

  There was a pause on the line while Jon imagined his brother piecing things together on his end.

  “Ah,” he finally said. Then he sighed. “Fine. I can leave tomorrow, day after at the latest.”

  “Great! Thank you, Ethan.” Jon felt a rush of gratitude and relief so great it left his legs a little weak. He leaned against the fence in front of him. “My plane leaves tomorrow morning. The girls are staying with Willa and Pete. Katie can fill you in on the mess that Big E has left us with. You’ll be bringing all your vet gear, right?”

  “Of course, why?”

  “Because Big E has two pregnant mares, one is high-risk. And that place is turning into a zoo.”

  Ethan chuckled. Undoubtedly, he didn’t believe how literally Jon meant that statement. “All right. Good luck, Jon. Go get her.”

  “That’s my plan, little brother. That’s my plan.”

  * * *

  THURSDAY MORNING, LYDIA and Meredith made breakfast. Tanner came over. He filled them in on his dinner with Clive and Wendell, which went even better than he’d predicted.

  “Suffice it to say, he’ll never bother you again, Lydia.”

  After breakfast, they all sat down to watch Good Day USA. Lydia knew it was going to be difficult. The night before, she’d prepared herself for an onslaught of emotion, including crying and missing Jon and the girls and the ranch, as she replayed precious memories over and over in her mind. She thought she was ready. But as soon as Jon appeared on the screen she started sobbing. And once she started, she couldn’t stop.

  “Oh, Lydia...” Meredith cried in sympathy, good friend that she was.

  Tanner sipped his coffee and checked his watch. He typed out a text on his phone.

  Lydia snuffled out words “I hope you—hiccup—set the—DVR. Because I can’t—hiccup—hear what...he’s saying.”

  “I did.”

  “Isn’t he—hiccup—gorgeous?”

  Meredith dabbed at her eyes with her shirt, and answered, “Yes, he is.”

  A knock sounded on the door. Meredith glanced over her shoulder. Tanner got up. Lydia ignored it, wiping at her snotty nose with her sleeve. How dare someone interrupt her time with Jon? She heard murmuring. Irritation stirred inside of her. Tanner needed to get rid of whoever it was.

  “But it’s not even...that. He’s just...the best man I’ve ever met. Men like him are so...rare. Like...mermaid-riding-a-unicorn rare. I love him so much. I wish...” She trailed off as another painful wave of sorrow and longing tore through her. “I wish...”

  “What do you wish, Lydia?” A deep voice sounded from the doorway.

  Meredith leaped to her feet.

  Lydia squeezed her eyes shut. Hope bore down on her so fast and hard, it was painful. She forced herself to open her eyes and look at him. “Jon, what are you doing here?”

  “Right now, I’m doing some wishing of my own.”

  “Wh-what...” she muttered helplessly. “About what?”

 
“I’m wishing I wasn’t the one to have made you cry. But from the looks of the television there, I’m guessing I’m too late. But I wish never to make the woman I love cry again. And I wish I could have my Nanny Fantastic back for certain and for good. Except, hopefully, with a slightly different title.”

  “Oh. Wow...” Meredith cooed dreamily. “That’s incredibly, unbelievably, devastatingly romantic. I feel funny. I think I need to sit.”

  She backed toward the sofa. Tanner grabbed her hand, pulled her forward and marched with her out of the room.

  “Hey, where are we going?”

  “Out,” Tanner said. Lydia heard rustling and the word but before the door clicked behind them.

  Lydia continued to stare at Jon. She couldn’t believe he was here, in Philadelphia, in the middle of a city. He had come all this way for her. He remained standing where he was like he couldn’t quite believe he was here, either.

  “Meredith was right,” she said, “that was pretty romantic. But I already knew my rancher was a poet.”

  His eyes blazed. “Your rancher?”

  “Yes, sir. My rancher. If you’ll have me.”

  A few long strides and he was across the room and kneeling before her. He took her hand. “Lydia, I’ll have you and I’ll cherish you forever.”

  Lydia slid her other hand around the back of his neck. “I’ll cherish you, too. And the girls. I miss them so much. I miss you, Jon. I’m so sorry. I never meant—”

  “Hush,” he interrupted gently. “Lydia, I know. I’m sorry, too. I told you that day we went riding that I was done with Ava, that I left her behind. But I hadn’t. When you left, all I could think about was the fact that a woman like you, like her, would never choose me and my ranch over money. Especially millions of dollars. But inside, I knew the truth. My heart knew it, anyway, because after you’d gone I kept getting reminded, I kept thinking about all the ways that you’re different.”

  “None of that money was mine. I didn’t keep any of it.”

  He cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed away tears and then traced along her cheekbone. “I know. Tanner told me everything. You left his number in your suitcase. I called him.”