Inherited: Instant Family

by Judy Christenberry

  “Mike had nothing to do with my being nice to you. I wanted to make the trip easy for you, Sarah. I thought you were being very brave.”

  He admired her? After the lecture he’d given her in Denver, she figured he thought she was crazy for taking on the responsibility of her family. In fact, his insistence that she recognize the grave step she’d taken had told her Brad had no intention of doing such a thing.

  She appreciated his admiration, but she didn’t quite know what to say. She turned her attention to the stalls. “Why are these horses in here instead of out in the snow?”

  “These are expecting sometime soon, so we want to keep them in, in case we need to help them.”

  Sarah was walking along the stalls, not yet ready to go back inside and not sure what to talk about. Suddenly she stopped. “Brad, isn’t it a bad sign if a horse is lying down?”

  “What? Which one?” he demanded, moving quickly down the aisle to the stall by which she was standing. He opened the door and went to the horse. “Easy, Lady Jane. Take it easy,” he crooned to the mare. To Sarah, he said, “She’s in labor.”

  “Can I help?” Sarah asked softly.

  “Yeah, come on in the stall and pet her head, talk to her.”

  She did as he said. Kneeling down in the straw, she touched the mare’s neck and told her all about Abby’s twins, about little babies being so sweet, and she promised that Brad would help her.

  A few minutes later, she looked at Brad and realized he was giving Lady Jane some help in birthing. She couldn’t help watching Brad as he witnessed a birth from the mare. He was as gentle as he’d been with her during their trip to Denver. Only this time he was presiding over the birth of a baby horse.

  Her heart swelled, as it had done in Denver. He was a good man. That was why she’d tried not to let her feelings overwhelm her. She knew he didn’t want to mislead her. But she had to be careful and not take advantage of him.

  “Here’s your son, Lady Jane,” Brad said, urging the horse to his feet.

  Sarah moved back from Lady Jane’s head and turned to look at the wobbly-legged foal. “Oh, isn’t he beautiful?”

  “Yeah, he is, but Lady Jane owes you. If you hadn’t seen her down, we might not be looking at her baby now.”

  “All I did was ask you a question. You did the rest.”

  “Maybe we should just agree that we make good partners.”

  “I’m willing to do that, as long as all I have to do is have a conversation and you do all the work,” she said with a smile. “What are you going to name him?”

  “I think you should have that honor.”

  Sarah’s head snapped up. “Really? You’d let me name him?”

  “Why not? You deserve to be rewarded.”

  “Oh, that’s a tough decision…. I think he should be named…Duke. Unless you don’t like that name?”

  “I like it a lot. Goes with Lady Jane, doesn’t it?”

  “That’s what I thought.” She smiled at Brad.

  “So…are we friends again?” Brad asked.

  “Yes, I hope so. I promise I won’t take advantage of you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about—about getting carried away when we were in Denver last time. I know you were just being nice, and I thought we had—had become friends.”

  “We had. I just wanted you to know what you’d done. It’s a big responsibility you’ve chosen.”

  “As I told you then, I had no choice.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Did you have a choice about helping Lady Jane give birth?”

  “Of course not. It’s my job.”

  She just stared at him, hoping he’d see the parallel that she drew.

  “Okay, okay. Maybe you didn’t have a choice. I just wanted you to think about it.”

  “I have.”

  “Brother, we have a new colt,” Brad announced as they returned to the house.

  “We do?” Nick asked. “Which mare?”

  “Lady Jane.”

  “Did she have trouble?” To Abby and Mike he explained, “It’s her first.”

  “Sarah is the one who found her down and alerted me. She came in the stall and petted her head and talked to her, helping keep her calm.”

  “Good job, Sarah. I didn’t know you knew anything about horses.”

  “I don’t. But I did what Brad told me to do.”

  “That’s why I let her name the new colt.”

  “So, what’s the name?” Nick asked.

  “I thought— I chose the name Duke.”

  Abby clapped her hands. “It’s perfect, Sarah!”

  “If you’d like to change it, I’ll understand.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t!” Brad protested.

  “Easy, Brad, no one’s going to change the name,” Nick said, grinning. “By the way, how does the colt look?”

  “He’s good. He’ll look better in a day or two when his legs are stronger.”

  “I think he’s beautiful now!” Sarah said.

  “Spoken like a true mother, honey,” Brad said with a grin as he wrapped his arms around her.

  The three men had gone out to look at Lady Jane’s first colt. Sarah stayed inside to start preparing lunch, while Abby offered encouragement.

  “I’m glad you and Brad are friends again,” Abby said.

  “Yes, it’s nice.”

  “What happened to cause difficulties?”

  “I don’t know. We just misunderstood each other, I guess.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’ve made up. I was afraid you wouldn’t stay if you didn’t.”

  “The kids wanted to stay badly.”

  Abby was silent for a moment. “But you don’t?”

  “Oh, Abby, yes, I want to stay, but—but when Brad was so hostile, I wasn’t sure what I should do.”

  “I’m happy you made the decision you did.”

  “I’m glad, too, but it’s one day at a time.”

  As Sarah worked, Abby asked her, “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”

  Sarah picked up a bowl and brought it to Abby. “Can you break up the walnuts for the salad?”

  “Sure. These will taste good in the salad.”

  “I hope so. Maybe it’ll help get the kids to eat their vegetables.”

  “You may have a hard sell there,” Abby said with a grin. “We’d probably have a better chance telling them they don’t get any cake if they don’t eat the salad.”

  When the kitchen door opened, Kate arrived. When Mike had agreed to stay earlier, Abby had invited her mother-in-law, too.

  “What can I do to help?” Kate said as soon as she hung up her coat.

  Sarah looked back at the stove and said, “You can butter the rolls before I put them in the oven. That would be a big help.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Then Sarah turned to the door and called the kids to come help, too.

  Abby looked puzzled. “What are they going to do?”

  “They’re going to set the table for all of us.”

  “Do you think they can?” Abby asked.

  “Oh, yes, certainly with Anna’s help. She’s quite good at setting the table, but I don’t think it should be limited to the girl.”

  “No, of course not,” Kate agreed.

  The kids came to the door of the kitchen. “What?” Robbie asked.

  “I want the three of you to come set the table for lunch.”

  “We’re playing a game,” Robbie said and started back to the television room.

  “Robbie, I wasn’t asking for you to volunteer. I’m telling all three of you to come help me by setting the table.”

  Anna came willingly and even Davy knew what was being asked of him. Robbie, however, remained where he was. “I don’t want to.”

  Abby was embarrassed by her son’s behavior. “Robbie, you are to do what Sarah asked you to do. You need to help do chores around the house.”

  “No, I don’t, Mommy. I�
��m your little boy, not Sarah’s.”

  “Then let me make myself perfectly clear. Help set the table for lunch, Robbie!”

  “I don’t see why I have to help her. Isn’t she the housekeeper?”

  Abby started to rise, but Kate urged her to stay seated. About that time, the men came into the kitchen.

  Abby verbally pounced on him. “Nick, you need to talk to your son! He is refusing to help set the table as Sarah and I asked.”

  “Robbie, why aren’t you minding your mommy?” Nick asked with a ferocious frown.

  “Because Sarah’s not my mommy. We pay her to do things for us. We don’t do things for her!”

  “Nick, take him out of here. And don’t let him come to the table unless he helps, like Anna and Davy!”

  Sarah went back to work with her head down. Had she overstepped her bounds by involving Robbie in the chore? As their legal guardian, she had the right to tailor Anna and Davy’s conduct, but truthfully only Abby and Nick could tell their son what to do.

  Anna counted the number of people for lunch, then directed Davy to count out nine knives, nine forks and nine spoons. Sarah helped her take down nine plates and carry them to the table.

  Davy helped her set. Sarah reminded him to put the fork on the left of the plate, and the knife and spoon on the right side. “Knife closest to the plate.”

  Nick came back into the kitchen with an unhappy Robbie. “Robbie wants to say something to you, Sarah.”

  “I’m sorry,” Robbie said, not sounding like he was sorry.

  But Sarah didn’t challenge his attitude. She said, “Thank you, Robbie. Would you count out nine napkins, fold them in half and put them beside the fork at each plate?”

  “Yeah,” he said without enthusiasm. When he ran out of napkins, he plopped down in a chair.

  “Robbie, you need two more napkins,” Abby pointed out to him.

  “Anna can get them!” Robbie snapped at his mother.

  “Robbie, go to your room,” Nick ordered.

  “But I’m hungry!”

  “Then if I were you, I’d get those extra napkins before Anna does!”

  Robbie marched over to the napkins on the shelf and shoved Anna out of the way. Then he strode back to the table and threw down two more napkins.

  “Son, you need an attitude adjustment. Let’s take another trip to your bedroom.”

  Sarah was putting the lunch on the table, and the casserole she’d made smelled heavenly.

  She put the casserole on the table and then turned to see if Anna was all right.

  Abby said, “Anna, I apologize for Robbie’s manners. They will improve shortly, I assure you.”

  “That’s all right, Abby,” Anna said.

  “You are a sweetheart, Anna.”

  Kate concurred, “I agree. I did a poor job raising my sons, too. Only when Abby couldn’t help with the dishes anymore, did I think to ask my sons to help.”

  “Sarah says since we both eat, we should both share the chores,” Anna said, sounding smarter than her years.

  Brad said, “I agree with Sarah. And we felt better when we shared in the chores, too.”

  Nick brought his son back into the kitchen. “Okay, Robbie, this is your last chance. If you can’t be polite and participate in the chores, you don’t get to eat lunch.”

  Everyone grew quiet in the kitchen, staring at the little boy. He stepped up and said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t nice, Anna, when I pushed you. And I’m sorry I didn’t act nice when you asked me to help, Sarah.”

  “Thank you, Robbie. That was a very nice apology. Now would you kindly take drink orders, you and Davy?”

  While they were doing that, Sarah carried several dishes and a salad to the table. Then she took out the hot rolls and put them in a basket lined with a cup towel. She put the rolls on the table and asked everyone to sit down.

  Much to everyone’s amusement, Robbie collapsed in his chair, exhausted. “Finally!”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BY THE time Sarah brought out the cake she’d made that morning, Robbie had forgotten all his complaints.

  She began cutting pieces of cake and the boy willingly got up to deliver the plates to everyone at the table.

  Brad took a bite of cake and chewed it silently. Then he looked at Sarah. “This is even better than my mom makes, Sarah.”

  “Brad! You shouldn’t say such a thing in front of your mother!” Sarah protested.

  “Yes, he should,” Kate said calmly, “because he’s right.”

  “Oh, Kate, that’s so nice of you.”

  Brad threw up his hands. “Sure, take her word for it, but not mine!”

  “I don’t think you should insult your mother’s cooking. She’s such a good cook.”

  “I know that. I grew up on that homecooking.” Joking, he patted his flat stomach and flexed his arms, and Sarah couldn’t help but notice how big and strong he looked. It was all she could do to turn her attention back to what he was saying. “But on some things, you’re better.”

  “Don’t you worry about hurting her feelings?”

  “No. She’s a confident woman.” He winked at his mother. “Right, Ma?”

  Kate slapped his hand across the table. “I think you both should stop arguing. That’s what I think.”

  “Okay, Mom,” Brad said.

  Sarah just lowered her gaze and continued to eat her cake.

  When the cries from the babies alerted Abby of feeding time again, Kate offered to help her with the twins. Mike got up to go on into town to work, kissing his wife goodbye first. The kids, at Sarah’s prompting, carried the plates to the sink. She calmly accepted their help. When they finished, she thanked all three of them.

  Brad watched all that, as did Nick. He wanted to be sure his son was helping as he should. When Sarah released the kids to go play, Nick went outside.

  Brad called to him, “I’ll be out in a minute.” Then he turned to Sarah. “You did a good job with Robbie today.”

  She looked at him, surprised. “Thank you, Brad.”

  He still didn’t leave. In fact, he got up from the table and moved closer to her. He was so close that she could smell his freshly showered skin. So close that she could see the gold flecks that shimmered in his dark eyes. So close that she almost lost her breath.

  She tried to step back, but her behind hit the counter. Looking up at him, with nowhere to go, she felt her heart begin to pound and her mouth go dry.

  Why was he standing there?

  “Wh-what did you— I mean, is there something else you wanted to say?”

  “Yeah,” he said with a grin that made those gold flecks dance. “I wanted to tell you you’re doing a good job.” Then he finally did what she was hoping against hope that he’d do.

  He kissed her.

  After craving it for so long, Sarah wanted to revel in the feel of his lips against hers, his body pressing into hers. But she knew she couldn’t. Contrary to her desire, she pulled back. “Brad, you shouldn’t do that!”

  “Why not?” he asked a bit breathlessly, she noted. “Someone needs to tell you what a great job you’re doing.”

  She put her palms on his chest to push him away. But when her hands made contact with his hot, rock-hard chest, she had to struggle to stay the course. She pushed him slightly. “I—I appreciate it, but you shouldn’t kiss me.”

  Brad didn’t move. He merely grinned at her. A grin that threatened to upturn her heart and swamp her emotions.

  Just when she didn’t think she could resist him anymore, he stepped back.

  “Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”

  And just like that, he left the kitchen. Leaving her swaying like a tiny ship caught in a storm.

  She had to sit down in a chair before she fell. She didn’t know why the man was kissing her. He’d made himself clear, in her mind, that he wanted nothing romantic to do with her.

  Why, then, did he keep kissing her?

  And why did she want it so much?

  The
next day everyone’s duties were back to normal. Sarah got up at her usual time and had breakfast ready when the kids and Brad and Nick got up. Half an hour later, the children had left for school, the men for work and the house was quiet again.

  After a second cup of coffee, Sarah got up and began tidying the house, emptying the laundry basket kept in each room. After starting a load of clothes, she went back to the boys’ bedroom and made their beds. Then she went to her and Anna’s room to do the same. Last came Brad’s room. She smiled when she saw his unmade bed. He’d given up making the bed because she always made it up better.

  Stopping in midstride, she noticed how rumpled it looked, how the blankets had been torn off and how one corner of his bottom sheet was pulled off. Hadn’t Brad slept well last night?

  Served him right, she thought emphatically.

  Neither had she. Not after that kiss last night.

  She finished his bed quickly, doing a cursory job. Then she left his bedroom and shut the door after her, feeling as though someone was chasing her. Going in there each morning killed her, little by little, smelling his scent, touching his clothes. It was the worst part of her day…and the best.

  After lunch with Abby, she helped feed the babies. They took turns, and today she had Michael. As she held him, she realized how heavy he’d gotten.

  Maybe Nick was right, she thought. Like a true Logan male, Michael would grow up big and strong.

  Just like Brad.

  No, she warned herself, don’t go there.

  After the babies went down for a nap, Sarah made a special treat for after school. Anna’s favorite—banana pudding. Anna deserved it; she’d been helping out so much lately.

  When the kids came in from school, however, Anna wasn’t with them. She called Davy back and asked about his sister.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know where she is. Brad took her somewhere.”

  “She came home on the bus with you?”

  “Yeah. But when she came off, Brad was talking to her.”

  “Where did he take her?”

  Again, the shrug. “I don’t know. He wanted to know why she was crying.”

  Sarah stared at Davy in frustration. “She was crying? Why?”

  “I don’t know.” Davy looked at her, obviously frustrated. “Can I go watch TV now?”