Magic Wand Ranch

by Caroline Mickelson

  "I've got it," she said. "And call me Fiona, please."

  "Fiona, Fiona, Fiona," the boys sang in unison as they scampered into the house ahead of the adults.

  "They're adorable boys."

  "They're rascals, pure and simple." But as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized he wasn't helping their case.

  "Just full of energy. Regular little boys, you know." Heaven help him, he was officially babbling. "Come on in."

  He watched as Fiona's gaze swept the room. He was glad for her curiosity because it gave him time to study her. She was nothing like he'd expected. For starters, she was younger than he'd thought she'd be. She was petite with a hourglass figure, certainly prettier than any other young woman he'd ever met. He cast around for a neutral, ice-breaking subject. "Your shoes are dirty. Looks like you came up through the back forty."

  As soon as he saw her face flush, Cody realized he'd said the wrong thing. Again.

  "I'm not sure what 'the back forty' means but I did cut across your land." She slipped off her shoes and hastily deposited them out on the front porch. "Sorry about that."

  He shrugged, hoping to look nonchalant even thought he felt anything but. "No big deal, this is a working ranch." He motioned toward his boots. "We're always tracking dirt in."

  "It looks fine," Fiona assured him. "I know I didn't give you much notice."

  He motioned toward the sofa. "Why don't you have a seat here while I get your room ready?"

  Once she was seated, he called out for his nephews to join them. They came busting out of their bedroom, nearly trampling each other to get to him. He grabbed one with each hand and pulled them close to him. "Okay, time to settle down, you two. Listen, I want you to impress Miss Fiona with your good manners. Why don't you bring her a cold drink while I see to her room?" He fixed a stern gaze on them in turn. "Can you do that for me?"

  They nodded solemnly enough that he released his hold on them. He felt a surge of hope as they walked sedately toward the kitchen. They could do calm. Sometimes. He turned to his guest. "I'll be right back. Holler if you need me."

  As quickly as he could, he grabbed a set of fresh sheets from the linen closet and stripped the bed in the guest room. That was the easy part though. Wrangling the fitted sheet onto the mattress proved more challenging than roping a calf. As he settled the top sheet onto the bed he congratulated himself on the silence coming from the living room. That could only mean that the boys had served their guest some lemonade and were now, hopefully, making polite conversation like two little gentleman. His lips stretched into a satisfied smile. Maybe there was a chance this could all work out long enough for him to get to Arizona, compete for a few days, and get back home before the kids even realized he was gone.

  But then, in rapid succession, he heard a scream, the sound of glass shattering, and finally the slamming of the front door. He tossed the pillow cases on the bed and ran down the hallway. "What's wrong? What happened?"

  The boys were nowhere in sight. He watched as Fiona stood up from the couch, her hands covering her stomach. Cody sucked in his breath when he saw the seeping red stain that covered the front of her white dress. "What did they do to you?"

  ***

  "It's fruit punch," Fiona assured Cody. "It's fine. No harm done." She smiled and shrugged. "If you can show me which room I'll be staying in, I'll just change out of this."

  "But what happened?"

  Wasn't it self-explanatory? She looked down at the round red stain on her dress. She looked like she was wearing a Japanese flag.

  "Are you hurt?"

  Fiona shook her head, too many questions swirled around her mind for her to form a coherent answer. Why on earth did he look so panicked? This was a man who rode bucking broncos? And most pressing of all, where had the boys torn off to? She forced herself to speak. "It was a simple mistake. So please just show me where to change and then maybe you can go look for the boys?"

  Cody took her suitcase and motioned for her to follow him down the hall. He stopped in front of an open door. "I didn't finish making the bed."

  Fiona stepped inside the bedroom. A white iron single bed stood against the far wall under the window. White eyelet curtains fluttered in the delicate breeze coming in through the window. A white and lavender wedding ring quilt hung on one wall, and a matching one covered the bed. A tall white wooden bookcase stood against the opposite wall. The overall effect was absolutely charming. "It's lovely."

  "It was my sister's room when we were growing up." He deposited her suitcase on the round braided rug. "I'll leave you to change while I go rustle up the kids." He paused in the doorway, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry," he said, "about your dress and everything."

  Fiona waved her hand to dismiss his concern, startled by just how odd it felt not to have a wand in her hand. A little magic right now would certainly save her dress and shoes from absolute ruin. But she had just enough glitter to get to London and she wasn't about to waste it trying to save an outfit, no matter how cute it was. Besides, if the rest of her stay at the Flat Iron Ranch was anything at all like this first forty-five minutes had been, she was going to have to learn how to fend for herself without the benefit of magic. She turned her attention back to Cody. "It's just a dress. Let's let it go. I'm more interested in where the boys went. Do you think they're in danger?"

  Cody's smile was swift. "No, but I can't say the same for whomever they're pestering at the moment."

  "Then give me a second to change and I'll come with you to find them. If that's okay."

  He nodded. "I'll meet you out front." His eyes swept the length of her and settled on her trashed espadrilles. "I'll dig up a pair of boots for you if you tell me what size you wear."

  Once he was duly dispatched to look for a size seven boot, Fiona quickly changed into what she thought was appropriate ranch wear. Not that she'd really known what to pack, having never been any closer to a working cattle ranch than she had to the moon. But she did have several pair of jeans with crystal encrusted back pockets. To accompany her designer denim, she chose a red shantung silk sleeveless top and, after a brief hesitation, she grabbed a cropped white leather jacket before she wadded up her dress and shoes and tossed them into the corner. She had her work cut out for her over the next several days. Stain removal wasn't a top priority.

  Just as he'd promised, Cody was waiting on the front porch with a pair of black leather cowboy boots. Fiona reached out for them. "These look practically new."

  "They're Bethany's but she rarely gets out here anymore."

  Fiona turned them back and forth, carefully inspecting their workmanship. "You know, if they'd used red accent stitching instead of white, I think these would be adorable."

  Cody's expression was puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

  "Never mind." She slipped them on, carefully tucking her jeans into the boots, pleased that the fit was close to perfect. She smiled at him. "So where do you think we'll find your nephews?"

  Cody ran a hand through his hair and put his cowboy hat back on. "Right smack in the middle of trouble, I don't doubt."

  Fiona laughed. Bethany's cowboy brother was far more handsome than she'd expected, not to mention disarmingly charming. She'd have to watch her step at the ranch, figuratively as well as literally.

  They cut across the front yard and followed the sound of barking dogs that was coming from behind the front barn. The dogs were barking, baying, and howling, all at the same time, in decibel defying unison. "How many dogs do you have?"

  He shook his head ruefully. "Not as many as you'd imagine judging by all that racket." He took off at a jog. "Sounds like they need rescuing," he called over his shoulder.

  She assumed by 'they', he meant the dogs and not his nephews.

  She rounded the corner of the barn just in time to see Cody lunge for the younger of the two boys. Lunge and miss, thanks to a Shepherd mix that was hell bent on escaping from the impromptu doggie wash that the boys had set up. The dog barrele
d into Cody, knocking him sideways. Fiona opened her mouth to warn Cody about the buckets of sudsy water he was about to topple over, except that her words of caution were drowned out when the boys turned the hose on her. Her words ended up coming out as unintelligible spluttering sounds as she held up her hands to block the water that was spraying all over her.

  "Boys, enough," Cody yelled loudly enough that his voice drowned out the dogs. "Stop, NOW."

  'Now' must have been the magic word because the soaking immediately stopped. Fiona shook her head from side to side and then wiped the water that dripped down her face. She didn't even bother to look down at her clothing. The leather she could probably save but her top was beyond repair. Shantung silk and water mixed together about as well as vinegar and oil.

  "What in blue blazes are you two up to?" Cody demanded. "No, wait, don't tell me." He turned to Fiona. "Are you okay?"

  If okay meant alive, then yes she was. And if his question also meant 'are you aware that you're completely in over your head here?', then, the answer to that was also a yes. "I'm fine."

  "We're sorry, Uncle Cody," Brian said. "Honest we are."

  Mitchell nodded enthusiastically. Obviously he thought it wiser to keep quiet. Smart boy.

  Fiona watched as Cody took off his hat and shook the water off of it. Although she'd known him only about an hour, she didn't think he looked angry. More like exasperated. She experienced a sudden surge of sympathy for him. Although she couldn't do anything in her official capacity as a Fairy Godmother, she could still be of some help.

  She clapped her hands together loudly enough that the little boys turned to look at her. "Okay, guys," she said, "here's what we're going to do. I want you to turn off one hose and carefully hand me the other one. I'm going to rinse the dogs off one at a time while you empty the buckets and wring out the sponges. We're going to work quickly and quietly, is that clear?"

  They nodded in unison.

  "Good, then let's go." She reached out for a hose and motioned for Mitchell to lead one of the dogs over. "Stand there and hold his collar while I rinse him off, please."

  She turned her attention to a black Labrador and made short work of rinsing him off. "Next, please."

  So intent was she on her work that she jumped when Cody's hand closed over hers.

  "Here, let me," he said, his voice apologetic. "You've gone above and beyond."

  She glanced over her shoulder at Brian and was relieved to see that he was quietly focused on rinsing the soap out of the buckets. "Something tells me that this is business as usual around here?"

  He nodded sheepishly. "Can you tell I don't have a lot of experience with kids? I must be doing something very wrong. Why don't you go on up to the house and get changed." He gave her a half grin. "Again. And if you wouldn't mind making it, I'd love if you'd join me for a hot cup of coffee when I get up there."

  She nodded. "If you're sure you've got everything under control?"

  He laughed. "I'd be a liar if I said that. But I think I can get this all cleaned up without incident."

  "Coffee it is, then. See you up the house."

  But she hadn't taken more than fifteen steps before Cody called out to her. She whirled around.

  "Look, Fiona, I know this is way more than Bethany meant for you to handle. You don't have to stay and deal with this."

  Oh, but she did. Because Fiona knew without a shadow of a doubt that this little favor Liam had asked of her wasn't a favor at all. Or an assignment. It was a test. A test of her nerves, of her resolve to do whatever she had to do to get to London, and a test of her strength in resisting the charm of a certain handsome cowboy.

  And it was a test she was going to ace.

  Chapter Five

  When Fiona staggered out to the kitchen the next morning, her only real goal was to find some form of caffeine. Preferably liquid, but after the night she'd spent tossing and turning, she wasn't in a position to be picky. She'd thrown on a black tank top with a black blouse over it, knotted at the waist, and a pair of white jeans. She knew full well that her jeans were unlikely to stay white past noon if Bethany's sons had anything to say about it. Still, she had fashion standards to uphold.

  She found the kitchen empty. The smell of coffee lingered in the air and she inhaled deeply as she filled a mug. One sip assured her that she'd make it through the morning. It was black and strong, just how she liked it. Only after a few more appreciative sips did she notice a folded sheet of paper with her name on it propped up against the sugar bowl. She reached out for it.

  Morning - I've got the boys with me. See you at lunch. - Cody

  Fiona smiled. So Cody Proctor was a man of few words, somehow that didn't surprise her. She pulled out a chair and sank into it, her hands cradling the warm coffee cup. To say she'd been impressed with Bethany's brother was an understatement. Truthfully, she hadn't put much thought into what he was going to be like before she arrived. She'd been far more wrapped up in her own agenda, namely getting this assignment over so she could get to London. A quick glance at the clock over the stove told her that she had a few hours before lunchtime. She took a last sip of coffee, rinsed it out, and left it on the sink's drain board. Time to get to work.

  And work there was to do. In spades. After a cursory examination of the house, Fiona felt as exhausted as if she'd just built the place from the ground up. Piles of clothes overflowed from baskets that filled up every square inch of the laundry room. The way the clothing was haphazardly thrown in the baskets left her with little hope that it had been washed, fluffed and folded already.

  The bathrooms, she was relieved to discover, were clean. She couldn't say the same for the boys' room. It was a few dirty socks short of being declared a natural disaster. She leaned against the doorway and surveyed the mess. It was probably a safe assumption that the two large mounds in the center of the room were twin beds buried under toys, stuffed animals, yet more clothes, and heaven knew what else. She frowned. Yesterday, when she'd first met Cody and the boys, they'd all been dressed in clean clothes. The kitchen and bathrooms were fairly tidy. So it appeared that some cleaning got done, just no laundry or straightening up. What was that about?

  Deciding that only fifty or sixty wash and dry cycles stood between her and tidiness, Fiona tackled the laundry first. She'd just tossed a load of towels into the dryer when her cell phone notified her that she had a text message. She pulled the phone out of her back pocket, assuming it was Liam checking up on her.

  It wasn't Liam. It was Tessa.

  Tessa: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

  Fiona rolled her eyes. She didn't have time for this.

  Fiona: Your question?

  Tessa: How long until you cry uncle and Liam has to swoop in to save the day?

  Fiona: Not going to happen. Everything's fine here. Better than fine.

  Tessa: Right! I bet you're dying to whip out a magic wand and let glitter get you out of the mess you're in.

  True, but Fiona would rather kiss a frog than admit it. Especially to Liam's wife.

  Fiona: Wrong again. Now, if you don't want anything, I'm going to get back to sunbathing and my Margarita.

  Tessa: Just tell me how handsome your cowboy is...I'd hate to be the only one who is enjoying the attention of a gorgeous man.

  Fiona: Speaking of which, why don't you go bother your poor husband?

  Tessa: He's busy planning our extended honeymoon. Hopefully we'll be going someplace exciting. London, perhaps?

  Fiona: Goodbye, Tessa. BTW, you're such a witch!

  Tessa: I know. Don't be jealous.

  Exasperated, Fiona clicked her phone off and shoved it back into her pocket. Work was what she needed to distract herself. Separating whites and darks into piles kept her hands busy. Don't be jealous. Ugh. That comment was classic Tessa. What Liam saw in Tessa was beyond Fiona's comprehension but he seemed happy with the queen of snark. That was all that mattered.

  And hadn't it all worked out for the best? Once both in the runn
ing for the job with the European Paranormal Council, Liam and Tessa had fallen in love and decided that neither of them would take the job. Which was how Fiona had ended up being nominated. It didn't bother her in the slightest that she had the job by default. Once she was in office, she'd work triple time to impress the council. All she had to do was get to London.

  She slammed the clothes washer lid and buried her face in her hands. 'London, perhaps?' replayed in her mind. Was it just Tessa being Tessa or were her words a thinly veiled hint that she didn't have the job as sewn up as she thought?

  Enough. She had to get a grip. There was a reason why she was here at the Flat Iron Ranch. What exactly that reason was, Fiona couldn't begin to fathom but that didn't mean that there wasn't one. Sitting around torturing herself with questions no one could answer wasn't how she was going to pass whatever kind of test this was, nor was it the best way to stay sane.

  She grabbed a bucket and a mop and tackled the kitchen floor. Figuring out how to use the vacuum was a bit more tricky. At home she used gold glitter to keep her home spotless. But that was there, where she had access to glitter galore. Here she had a precious little amount, certainly not enough to consider wasting even one tiny sparkle on housework. Or laundry. Or cooking.

  As she worked, Fiona studied her surroundings in a bid to learn more about Bethany's brother. Not that she'd snoop. Ever. But even if she'd been willing to, there was precious little about to look through. Cody probably spent most of his time out in the pasture. Or field. Or whatever they called acreage in Texas. She straightened a stack of publications from someplace called PRCA which, upon a closer look, stood for Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Professional cowboys? The thought made her smile. Who knew?

  A quick glance at her watch reminded Fiona that she was going to have to hurry if she wanted things tidied up before Cody and the boys headed in for lunch. Overall she was satisfied with her efforts, the only thing she was behind on was the laundry but that would take either three days or a miracle to catch up on.