by Mary Leo
“Is she dead?” Joey asked after a moment. “Did you kill her, Gavin?”
Silence.
Maggie could feel the sheets being tugged, then the dogs jumped off the bed and started licking her face.
That did it.
She opened her eyes. “You guys are in for it now,” she yelled, jumping back on the bed.
They screamed and armed themselves with pillows, and laughter reigned. Maggie attacked each of them with more tickling and pillow bonking, as the dogs leaped for her attention.
All Maggie could think of during this madness was how much she loved these little guys. An emotion she once thought would be difficult for her to ever feel for any child, let alone for six of them, Kitty’s babies included. As she beat these rascals off with a pillow, she realized she’d been purposely keeping away from kids out of misplaced fear. Now that she was learning how to talk to them, and interact with them, she found that her heart was changing for the better.
* * *
BLAKE WAS JUST coming in from helping Colt and Travis oversee the potato harvest when he heard a thump coming from the guest bedroom. Thinking the worst, he ran to see what had happened, only to find Maggie playing on the bed with the kids. The sight of her surrounded by four kids, all laughing uncontrollably, with Suzie and Mush joining in the fun, took his breath away.
He leaned on the doorjamb, tilted his hat back and marveled at the spectacle. If he hadn’t been watching it with his own eyes, he never would have believed it possible. What a difference from her first day on the job when she tried to resign because of the Nezbeth boys, too scared to walk into the office, a look of fear on her pretty face.
Well, she didn’t seem scared now, and she appeared to be loving every crazy minute of the pillow fight. He knew the kids could go on like this for hours, an adult wore out in no time flat. He could already see that Maggie was beginning to tire. She was lying down on the bed while the kids tickled her relentlessly. He clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, you guys. Let’s give Maggie a break.”
The dogs jumped off the bed and raced toward him for some loving. Blake obliged, giving them each a good scratch under their ears. Then he commanded them to sit and stay, which they did.
The kids were calming down, but not enough. They still had Maggie pinned down. “It’s time for you all to wash up and get some lunch if you want to see Kitty’s babies.”
That got them moving. Scout jumped off the bed in a flash, followed by the boys, who raced past him, shouting out their order for sink privileges.
Maggie, in the meantime, lay there like a tattered rag doll that had been over-loved. A great big smile lingered on her beautiful face.
Blake walked over to her, sat down on the bed, and carefully slid her hair back.
“Good morning,” he said with a chuckle.
“Is it still morning?”
“Not exactly.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s closer to midafternoon than morning.”
“It’s this room. Way too quiet.”
“Country life, sweetheart. No cars, no trains and not many people.”
“I could get used to this.”
“Don’t tease me.”
She grinned up at him, her cheeks rosy from playing. “Are they always like this?”
“Pretty much.” He still held a lock of her hair between his fingers, wanting that connection.
“And do they wake up most of your houseguests this way?”
He let her hair slip from his fingers, and brushed his hand down her bare arm. She felt all warm and silky.
“Depends on the houseguest.”
She wrapped her body around him, legs touching his lower back with her head resting on his shoulder. Again, he slid her shiny locks off her face, his fingers tangling up in her hair. If they kept this up, he wouldn’t be able to resist her much longer.
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. “I take it I’m acceptable.”
“I’d say you’re more than acceptable. You’ve made it to one of the family.”
“I think I like that. I like that a lot.” Her eyes watered with emotion as a slow wide smile spread across her face. “I’ve been living on my own for so long I’d forgotten what it’s like to be part of a family. Kitty and I had it for a little while when we were kids, before our dad left, then again when we lived with our mom’s sister and her husband in Indiana. But once our mom brought us back to live with her in San Jose, everything changed. We hardly saw her because she worked all the time. Kitty spent most of her nights and weekends with friends, while I put in extra time at school to get straight A’s. At eighteen I went off to college, graduated with honors, and I’ve been climbing the ladder ever since. It’s a nice feeling to be in a family again. Thanks.”
She moved back to her pillow. He leaned over and gently kissed her, their tongues meeting and sending a jolt of desire directly to his groin. She tasted as sweet as a ripe peach. He wanted to take her clothes off and slip into bed with her, stay there all day making love, talking love, savoring her warmth…except he knew better. With four kids, two dogs, two brothers and a cantankerous father in the house, Blake had no choice but to pull back before he couldn’t stop himself.
At the moment, lunch seemed like the smarter idea.
Chapter Eleven
Thirty minutes later, after Maggie had showered and gotten dressed in the same clothes, with the exception of one of Blake’s black T-shirts, she sat at the kitchen table while Dodge fed her real food. Nothing “healthy” allowed. It was Saturday and Maggie was glad she could take her time and let the day unfold.
Maggie piled her plate with a little of everything that was served and dug in. The food looked incredible and she couldn’t wait to take her first bite. She was starving.
“You’re as lean as a desert grasshopper,” Dodge told her, “but you can eat like a cowpoke that’s been out on the trail all day.”
“Only when I’m served food like this,” Maggie answered. “This is delicious, Dodge. Thanks.”
She relished the smells and sights before her, feeling as though Dodge had gone way over the top trying to please her. He had prepared breakfast for a second time especially for her, and the kids wanted more of the same. Besides Dodge’s standard lunch fare of baked beans, fried potatoes and warm biscuits, he served up a mess of scrambled eggs, a stack of flapjacks and blood-rare flatiron steaks, just the way she liked them.
“Dodge only grills up flatirons for special occasions,” Colt said, looking as if he’d fought a tough battle that morning. Both he and Travis had bad hat hair, and their shirts were dusty. Unlike Blake, who looked as if he’d been working in his office all morning. Clearly, they were different types of cowboys.
“Maggie’s our special occasion,” Buddy announced, looking all proud of himself for saying it.
Dodge said, “Now don’t be gettin’ all fired up. Them steaks were on sale, so I got me a few. You boys are making more out of this here lunch than it is, even though I gotta say, Maggie’s the first girl I seen in a while that has a hearty appetite. It’s somethin’ a man like me can appreciate.” He turned to Maggie. “Can I get you anythin’ else?”
Maggie giggled. “No, thanks. I think I have everything I need right in front of me.” She was looking straight at Blake when she said it, then wondering if he would catch the underlying meaning. But he didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy cutting up Scout’s flapjack.
“This tastes amaz
ing, Dodge,” Maggie told him. A bite of steak and everything else made it onto her fork, including a bean or two. “I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a steak this good.”
Dodge beamed. Maggie knew how much he loved compliments. “Pure Idaho beef, darlin’. Can’t get it in California.”
Maggie nodded. She’d taken another bite and her mouth was too full to speak.
“Daddy, did you ask her yet?” Scout whispered loud enough for Maggie to hear. “You should ask her now, Daddy. Please ask her now.”
“Later, Scout,” Blake told her. “Now’s not the time.”
Maggie put her fork down, swallowed and looked at Blake. “Sure it is. What’s up?”
He was sheepish, as if he didn’t know exactly how to ask her and Maggie was loving it. She was able to see yet another side of Blake that she hadn’t thought possible. It was the uncertain, vulnerable side of the normally confident Doc Blake, and she liked it.
“Here goes. Once a month, during the summer and early fall, Colt and I take these here high-octane rascals to the Spud Drive-In, buy up a mess of burgers and shakes at the concession stand and watch whatever G-rated movie they’re playing. It’s not glamorous, and sometimes it can get cold out there, especially this late in the season, but we bundle up tight under the blankets to stay warm. Anyway, the kids wanted me to ask if you’d like to join us tonight. It’s a double feature.”
All eyes were on Maggie, and without a moment’s hesitation she said, “I haven’t been to a drive-in since I was a kid. It sounds like fun.”
“Does that mean you’ll come?” Buddy asked.
Maggie nodded. “Yes, that means I’d love to join you.”
The kids whistled and cheered.
“Settle down and finish your lunch,” Dodge ordered.
Colt spoke up. “Now that Maggie’s going, there won’t be much room in that truck bed for me, so I’ll take a rain check on tonight if that’s okay. I’ve got something to do, and was hoping you’d be amenable to taking the kids yourself…but now that Maggie’s with you, there should be no problem.”
Blake addressed him. “Now just hold on, I—”
“That’s fine,” Maggie interrupted before Blake could offer his rebuttal. She owed Colt so much for flying in Tim, this was the least she could do. “We can handle it.”
For some odd reason, Maggie felt very sure of herself. As if handling a mess of kids at a drive-in was as simple as pie.
Blake shook his head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Maggie Daniels. Whatever it is, it sure fits in with this family.”
“Thanks,” Maggie told him as she knocked off the last bite of her scrumptious steak, and contemplated having seconds. “I’d like to stop off at Kitty’s place to pick up a few things.” She wanted a change of clothes, makeup and her much-needed phone charger. She hated not having a working phone. Not being able to easily access her email, get her messages or receive a text. It made her feel totally disconnected from the real world.
Not that Briggs wasn’t the real world, it just wasn’t her world, at least not the way Kitty thought of it.
“Good idea.” He turned to the kids. “It’s a full afternoon, and we better get cracking. If you all are finished, clean up and collect everything you need for the drive-in ’cause we’re not coming back.”
Scout hopped off her chair and went over to Blake. “I told you she’d come with us. She likes us. I can tell.”
Then she ran over to Maggie for a quick hug.
Emotion caught in Maggie’s throat. Never had she felt so accepted by a group of people who up until a few weeks ago, she’d only heard of through Kitty. Maggie finally understood why her sister loved this town and these people so much.
Travis stood, took his empty plate to the sink and said, “I best be getting back to it.” He slipped his hat on his head, gave it an adjustment and said, “You folks have a nice time.”
To Maggie, he tipped his hat then walked out, his work gloves in hand.
Travis seemed like such a nice man, a true gentleman.
When she thought of how temporary this was, sadness overwhelmed her. Now that Kitty’s babies had arrived, Tim was home, and his great-aunt, Esther Abernathy, had everything under control, and she knew that Doc could hire almost anyone to take over the office responsibilities, it was time for Maggie to make the call. She had to accept that new job at Technix before they offered it to someone else. And her leaving became impossible.
If it hadn’t already.
As soon as she thought of not leaving, and not accepting the offer, a deep shiver passed through her. She quickly dismissed it, claiming it had nothing to do with her thoughts. Rather, with the fact that she’d felt a genuine chill. She gulped her hot coffee, anticipating its warmth as she listened to the boys tell her what she needed to take to Spud Drive-In.
* * *
LOADING THE KIDS into the truck took longer than Maggie had expected. An entire hour longer. Once they were at the hospital, they discovered Nurse Cori couldn’t let everyone in at once. So each child had individual time with the babies and their proud parents. That was after they scrubbed their hands and put on white masks over their noses and mouths.
“You can’t be too careful around newborns,” Mrs. Abernathy told them from behind her own mask.
The kids thought it was great fun, pretending to be doctors, but by the time it was Blake and Maggie’s turn to visit, it was too late to stop off at Kitty’s before the movie to pick up clothes or Maggie’s charger. Maggie decided not to fight it and would simply go with the flow. She’d just have to call tomorrow, and she certainly didn’t need makeup or have to wear anything fancy for the drive-in.
She and Blake remained in the waiting room with the rest of the kids as one by one each was personally escorted to Kitty’s room by Cori, whose enthusiasm for the task never waned. However, Maggie was a nervous wreck. The last thing she wanted was to be forced into holding one of those tiny babies. What if she dropped it or squeezed it too tight or it started to cry? What then? She had no idea how to hold or deal with an upset baby. The whole idea scared her silly. And she definitely didn’t want to admit this apprehension to anyone, especially not to Blake, who was as excited as everyone else to cuddle the newborns.
“Kitty’s sure going to have her hands full with those two little darlings,” Blake said. “Newborn babies are the best. A whole new life just beginning. Sure am looking forward to meeting them. It’s like a direct connection to the future. How about you, Maggie? I bet you’re chompin’ at the bit to get at them.”
Maggie attempted a smile, folded her arms in tight across her chest. “Yeah, can’t wait.”
Blake stared at her for a moment, a warm smile lighting up his face. “Sweetheart, it’s going to be fine. I promise. Those babies are going to love you.”
He rubbed her back and as crazy as it seemed, she believed him.
Ten minutes later, it was their turn to visit. Mrs. Abernathy was keeping an eye on the kids.
As soon as Maggie entered the private room, she spotted Kitty’s stolen blue ribbon attached to a huge bouquet of mixed flowers. Apparently, Phyllis Gabaur had had a change of heart and wanted to spread the love with Kitty, Tim and the babies. By the look of the room, so did everyone else. Outside of a florist’s, Maggie had never seen so many flowers, balloons and stuffed toys. It reminded her of how much this town loved Kitty and her family.
Maggie longed to be loved like that and wondered if it could ever happen for he
r.
“Hi, everyone,” Maggie said, as she focused on Kitty sitting up in bed. She’d never looked more beautiful.
“Maggie, you’ve come!” Kitty said, a look of surprise on her face.
“Of course, you’re my sister. Where else would I be?” Maggie leaned over and hugged her sister, looking down at the sweet baby in her arms.
Kitty and Tim each held a baby wrapped in the appropriate-color blanket.
Maggie’s first instinct was to run out of the room, but then she reminded herself of her newly acquired backbone.
Maggie stood next to Kitty’s bed, peering down at baby Jessica while Blake and Tim greeted each other with handshakes and hugs. Tim said, “I’m glad to see you both made it.” He nodded toward Maggie, grinning. “How’s she holding up with all those Granger kids?”
“She had a moment, but Maggie’s full of surprises.”
“Actually, I’ve discovered I like kids,” Maggie announced with all the self-confidence she could muster. She strode over to Tim. “And I’m in need of holding that little boy of yours.”
Tim beamed as he handed his new son to Maggie. “This is your Auntie Maggie, Parker.” And just like that, with one look, Maggie fell in love with the tiny baby cradled in her arms.
“Look at you,” she cooed as Parker squirmed and made a funny face while trying to concentrate on her. “He’s the spitting image of you, Tim.”
Tim grinned one of those smiles that came from deep in the soul. “He’s more handsome than this old cowboy.”
“I hope so,” Blake teased.
Everyone laughed. Tim’s angled face was cover-model perfect, and his body was always in top athletic condition. Even now, while he sat in a chair with his leg propped up on a cushion, Maggie knew in her heart his injury was only a temporary condition. Nothing could keep Tim down when he put his mind to it. That determination had always been a trait Maggie admired in him.
A trait Blake had in spades.
