Home on the Ranch: The Montana Cowboy's Triplets

by Allison B. Collins

  Yes, she’d had fun with the triplets. But she’d already raised four boys. She had a job to do here, and it wasn’t to be a nanny. Especially if he was out seeing Carley and not actually working.

  * * *

  Hunter tossed his briefcase on the sofa, then set the bags down on the kitchen counter. Bone-deep tired, frustrated and with a rare headache blooming behind his eyes. The only thing good that had come out of the business meeting was it had given him an escape from Carley. She’d caught him unawares earlier at the barn, and while he hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings, he really wasn’t up for her flirting. It had started grating on his nerves.

  Thumps and shouts from the second floor sent a jolt of panic through his stomach. He ran up the steps and into the boys’ room.

  Pillows were strewed across the floor, and his boys were all standing against the wall—on their hands.

  Mackenzie—she stood on her hands in the middle of the room, talking to the boys in her thick accent. She made it look effortless, casually balancing on her hands, her wild red curls cascading upside down to the floor, her olive green T-shirt riding up to show a patch of creamy skin.

  He kept quiet, wondering how long they had been that way. The seconds ticked by, and she still talked to them, telling a story about a movie she’d done stunts in. The boys all laughed, and Eli fell over onto a pillow, laughing so hard he clutched his stomach. As he sat up, he spotted Hunter in the doorway.

  “Daddy! Did you see me? Did you see me?” Eli hollered, racing to hug him.

  Mackenzie wobbled, then lowered her legs and flipped up to her feet. She yanked her T-shirt over her stomach, her face a bright red. He wondered if it was from the blood rushing to her head, or embarrassment at being caught red-handed, so to speak.

  “I did see you. How’d you all learn to do handstands?” he asked, squeezing Eli close.

  Mackenzie helped Cody and Tripp down from their positions, and the boys ran over to hug him.

  “We had a blast, Daddy! Miss Mack taught us how to pretend we were Spider-Man in the movies,” Cody shouted.

  “Tell her thank-you, boys.”

  They all ran over to hug Mackenzie now. “Thank you, thank you,” they shouted.

  Sometimes he thought the volume control for their inside voices had been stuck on high.

  “Go get washed up for dinner, then come downstairs,” he told the boys. “And hang up the towels,” he hollered over their thundering feet.

  He turned around to thank Mackenzie, but she’d already disappeared through the doorway. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, she was gone. Changing his route, he went to the kitchen to get dinner ready.

  Thirty minutes later, the boys roared downstairs and skidded into the kitchen. He got plates and utensils out, and they set the table.

  “One of you go get Miss Mackenzie for dinner.”

  Thus proceeded a skirmish, shouting, shoving and shrieking, until he couldn’t stand it any longer. “Quiet!” He added his own shout to the mix. At least this time it was loud enough to quiet them down.

  He pointed the slotted spoon at Cody. “You. Go get Miss Mack.”

  The other two boys muttered, mumbled, pouted and grumbled.

  “Sit,” he ordered. Among chairs screeching over the wooden floor, they finally sat.

  “I got her!” Cody shouted, coming back into the kitchen, dragging Mackenzie by the hand.

  Hunter nodded, wincing at the volume. “Cody, sit.” He glanced at Mackenzie, now shrouded in an overly large dark green sweatshirt that said University of Aberdeen on the front.

  She walked over to the counter. “You don’t have to feed me again. I can go to the lodge and eat with the crew.”

  “No trouble. You’re here. It’s cold out. Besides...” He leaned closer. “I need to apologize for imposing on you to watch the boys. I’m sorry.”

  “About that. I didna’ mind—too much—but I’m here to work. I can’t be a nanny—”

  “I promise it was a onetime thing. I was in a real bind. I’m still trying to learn how to juggle being a full-time dad with work—and with Kelsey...” He broke off, worried for his sister-in-law, worried about being a good dad, worried he’d screw up his kids forever.

  “Have you heard if she’s okay?”

  “They called the doctor. She’s better now, Nash thinks. Anyway, thank you.” He pulled a pan out of the oven. “Would you like some wine with dinner?”

  She glanced at him, then at the table. “I’d love some milk, like the boys are having.”

  He barely refrained from raising his eyebrow, but got another glass out of the cabinet and handed it to her.

  She sat and poured milk into the glass, then turned it around. “I see you broke out the fancy stemware for dinner.”

  “Huh?”

  She held up the glass, and he wanted to sink into the floor. He’d inadvertently grabbed a glass from the boys’ Disney collection for her.

  He walked to the table, hand outstretched. “I’ll get you a new one.”

  “Nay.” She took a sip. “She’ll do just fine for me.”

  His lips quirked up in a crooked grin, and his headache started to fade. “Hey, at least the character is the redheaded girl from that Scottish movie.”

  He grabbed the pan from the top of the stove and brought it to the table, handed the serving spoon to Mackenzie. “Guests first. Go ahead and serve yourself.”

  Stretching sideways, he grabbed the basket of corn bread muffins and the butter, then sat down just as she leaned over and picked up a piece of paper off the floor. She glanced at it, then set it on the table.

  “Is this mince and tatties?” She scooped up a forkful and took a bite.

  “Excuse me?”

  She pointed at the dish. “It looks like mince and tatties. It’s a staple in our house at home in Scotland.”

  “Shepherd’s pie. The boys love it.”

  “Whatever you Americans call it, it’s very good.” She ate another bite, then took a muffin from the basket and buttered it.

  “Glad you like it.” He closed his eyes and put his wrist against his forehead. “I slaved over a hot stove.”

  The boys all hooted with laughter, and he opened his eyes to see Mackenzie smirking at him.

  “You mean your saintly Mrs. Green slaved over the hot stove.”

  “Why, I’m wounded, I truly am. You don’t think I could make a great dinner?”

  She held up the paper. “‘From the kitchen of Mrs. Green. Warm in a three-hundred-fifty-degree oven for...’ Shall I continue reading the instructions?”

  “Dad, you’re busted!” Tripp shouted.

  Mackenzie laughed and crumpled the paper, then chucked it at his head.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll admit she sent dinner home with me. But only because the meeting ran late.”

  “Yeah, or he’d have made peanut-butter-and-jelly sammiches for dinner.” Cody snickered.

  “Oh, you think so, pal?” Hunter leaned over and scrubbed his knuckles over Cody’s head. “How about you, Miss Mackenzie. Do you cook?”

  She sat up straighter in her chair. “I’ll have ye know I’m a verra good cook. Maybe I’ll cook for you lot one night.”

  “What do you cook where you come from?” Eli asked.

  “All kinds of dishes. But my brothers especially love my haggis.”

  “Haggis? What’s that?” Tripp asked around a mouthful of food.

  “It’s the national food of Scotland. Every good Scot loves it,” she said, a twinkle in her eye as she looked at each of the boys.

  “Haggis has onions, hearty oats, delicious spices, garden-grown herbs and—” she leaned forward “—sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, all sewn up in the sheep’s stomach.” She sat back and rubbed her stomach and made nummy nummy noises.

  “Gross!” Tripp piped
up. “You made that up.”

  She shook her finger. “I would ne’er do that about something so sacred to the Scottish people.”

  “What’d you call it again?” Eli asked.

  “Haggis.”

  His sons then proceeded to repeat the word, each time saying it with increasing gagging noises.

  “Thanks for that,” he said to her over the noise.

  She shrugged. “I told you you’d owe me big-time. Consider this the first installment.” Picking up her glass of milk, she took a sip, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

  He pointed his fork at her. “Well done, my Scottish miss, well done. What’s next on your agenda to make me pay?”

  She set her glass down. “I’ll be thinkin’ on that tonight as I go to sleep. Count on it.”

  “Then I’ll be thinking about all the ways you could make me pay as I go to sleep tonight,” he said, surprised at how her words suddenly sounded flirtatious. He liked it.

  A red flush rushed up her neck to almost cover her face, and she nearly toppled her milk as she set the glass down.

  He watched her, betting anything she was fighting the urge to get up and run away from him.

  Far and fast, maybe even all the way back to Scotland.

  Chapter 7

  The next evening, Mackenzie let Cody, Tripp and Eli drag her out of the cabin and to the big coach waiting to take them to the lodge. She’d wanted to collapse into bed. A sleepless night before, tossing and turning all night thinking about Hunter lying in his bed, thinking about her, had kept her restless and unsettled.

  Honestly, other men had flirted with her before and she’d been able to shut them down, shut them out of her mind. She’d learned her lesson but good on the first movie she’d worked on in the US. She’d been alone, and lonely, no friends or family, so she had liked the attention the lead actor had shown her. It wasn’t till after he’d succeeded in making her fall for him, and taken her to bed, that she found out he’d done it on a dare. He didn’t really care about her, just ticking one more female off his list.

  And now Hunter...

  He was on her mind, under her skin, making her itchy, twitchy and downright witchy.

  The more she tried to shut him down, the harder he tried to win her over.

  Why couldn’t he understand she wasn’t there to play with him? She had to do a job, and do it well. Keep her mind focused, especially at work. It wouldn’t do to end up injured again—either her heart or her body.

  He was great with his kids, but more than once she’d noticed a little wrinkle of worry creasing his forehead. Like the one she’d seen way too many times on her own forehead after Mum had left them, then died a year later, and it was up to her to raise her brothers.

  The Triples chattered and shoved, each trying to outdo the other, all the way to the lodge. They finally pulled into the circular drive by the front doors, and everyone piled out.

  The lodge’s windows glowed, making the snow outside look like delicate flakes of gold. For being as large as it was, the building still retained a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

  The boys vied for her hands and led her inside to a room she hadn’t been in yet. Two fireplaces flanked either side, while a wall of glass looked out over the lake and mountains. Overstuffed sofas and chairs were scattered throughout, with round tables and chairs filling in other spaces. Shelves held more games than she’d ever seen outside a box store, and several tellys were lined up, gaming consoles at the ready.

  People filled most of the tables, and she recognized Hunter’s family.

  “Mackenzie, welcome,” said a tall blond woman. It took Mack a moment to realize it was the one they called Frankie.

  “Is this a family night? I don’t want to intrude.”

  Frankie linked her arm through Mackenzie’s. “One thing you learn very quickly here—the Sullivan family doesn’t know a stranger. A few months ago, I came here for a work retreat with my company. Almost from the first day, they treated me and my son as family.”

  “Oh, is that how you met Wyatt?” Mackenzie glanced around the room until she spotted Wyatt holding little Johnny. They were talking, but when Wyatt looked over at Frankie, the love that shone there almost hurt her heart it was so powerful.

  Frankie laughed. “Yes, that’s when we met. Although the first day wasn’t our best—it involved a pit of mud and the ruination of my brand-new pink shoes and favorite suit.”

  Mackenzie’s eyes popped wide. “I think I need to hear this story.”

  “You’re on. For now, let’s get you settled in for game night.”

  Frankie led her to the bar—actually a hot cocoa bar, since the children were running around the room.

  Suddenly, Hunter was next to her, stealing all the air from her lungs.

  “Evenin’, darlin’,” he drawled, his voice deep and smooth, like the finest Scotch whiskey from home.

  Her insides got all squishy, and she did the only thing she could think of. “Oh, stop.” And shoved him with her elbow.

  Frankie burst out laughing. “Oh, Lord, she’s got your number, doesn’t she, Hunter?” She slung an arm around Mackenzie’s shoulder. “You’re going to get along just great with us, sister.”

  Mackenzie kept quiet, sure she’d mangle whatever words she’d try to say. When she’d elbowed Hunter, she felt his rock-hard stomach, and immediately imagined perfectly chiseled abs...and much, much more.

  Not that imagining would hurt anything, as long as she didn’t give him any sign she found him devastatingly attractive.

  He already knew he was. And he wasn’t above using it, wielding it like a sword.

  He wasn’t going to get away with it. Not with her. No way. No how.

  So she’d continue to treat him like a pesky kid brother.

  To save herself.

  “Wanna play a game?”

  She looked up at him then, the half smile on his face, the slightly quirked eyebrow. His green eyes dropped just enough so she knew he was looking at her lips. And just what kind of game do you have in mind?

  “Miss Mack. Miss Mack!”

  She looked down at Eli and Maddy as they ran up to her.

  “Come play Candyland with us,” Maddy said.

  Mackenzie grinned up at Hunter. “Seems I have an offer I can’t refuse.” She let the kids drag her to the other side of the room, and settled on the floor around a board game.

  The rest of the children gathered around the board.

  “You’ll have to show me how to play. We didn’t have this game at my house.”

  The kids all started talking. Mackenzie finally flung her hands up and laughed. “Wait a minute. Who is the best player?”

  All the boys pointed to Maddy, and she preened under the attention.

  “Okay, Miss Maddy, you teach me how to play.”

  Maddy got so involved in explaining the rules, her dark curls bobbed around her face, and she flung her arms as she talked.

  Then they all determined placement, and an almost bloodthirsty game commenced. It amazed Mackenzie how seriously they took it.

  They played several rounds, and at one point, as she couldn’t stop laughing, she looked across the room at Hunter and caught him staring at her.

  His expression surprised her. It looked if he wanted to be with her at the kids’ table instead of with his brothers at the poker table.

  What was that about? She’d just raised her hand to beckon him over when the door opened and Carley walked in. She spotted Hunter, then walked as fast as her shiny blue high heels would let her. High heels? At a ranch?

  Good thing Mackenzie hadn’t encouraged him to join her and the kids.

  * * *

  Hunter groaned internally when Carley walked up to him at the poker table. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he’d had a change of heart about seeing her socially. Hi
s dad already discouraged the staff from fraternizing with guests. Though it had turned out all right for Nash and Wyatt.

  Hunter had sworn off any serious relationships, wanting to focus on the boys. They had to come first.

  “Hunter, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Carley said, sliding her arm along his shoulders. She leaned into him, pressing her body against his back. “I’m bored,” she whispered in his ear.

  “I thought you were running lines tonight with your costar,” he said, putting his cards down on the table.

  “Come on, let’s go do something,” she said, the beginnings of a whine in her voice.

  He stood up and led her to the lobby. “I’m real sorry, Carley. I’m tied up tonight.”

  “Tied up,” she said, and stamped her foot. “You’re playing cards in there with your brothers.”

  “Once a month we have family night.”

  She opened her mouth, and he knew she was about to give him an earful, so he held his hand up. “I know, it sounds ridiculous, but we actually conduct a lot of business on these nights.” He grinned, hoping to placate her. “I’d ask you to join us, but we were just starting to talk about the plans for spring planting. And Luke has to go over the vaccination schedule for the cattle. You’d be totally bored listening to us drone on.”

  She huffed and folded her arms across her chest. “Oh, all right.”

  “Maybe another night soon?”

  “We’re doing the night scenes the next couple of nights, so I’ll have to get back to you.”

  He nodded and pulled his wallet out. “Why don’t you stop by the bar and get a bottle of wine you can share with your friends? It’s on me.” He handed her a card. “Enjoy.”

  As he watched her walk away, he breathed a sigh of relief. He should just tell her he wasn’t interested, but he hated to hurt her feelings. Man up, dumbass.

  He walked back in the game room and saw Kelsey had taken his spot at the table. Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes sparkled, and he was happy she was feeling better.