The Texan's Twins

by Jolene Navarro

  Danica tried to tilt her head enough so she could see without being noticed. Nikki and Adrian arrived just as Reid shook hands with the pastor’s wife and her aunt.

  Maybe she should leave. The urge to run and hide battled with her need to stay and make sure her sisters didn’t cause more problems. Her two worlds were colliding, and there was nothing she could do to stop the explosion. The best she could pray for was the least amount of damage, mainly to her daughters.

  The pressure pushed against her temples. Not able to take it anymore, she stood. She needed to find her father before he joined the fun.

  In the back room, she found her father with Sonia. Again. Her dad was spending a great deal of time with Lorrie Ann’s mother.

  When had her father start helping the choir get ready for worship?

  “Daddy, I’m going to help with the children’s church today.” It wasn’t unusual for her to volunteer, so her father didn’t give her a second glance.

  “Okay, sweetheart.” He gave her a quick smile before going back to his task.

  Sonia placed a hand on her father’s arm and frowned at her. “Are you all right, Danica?” The woman was giving off a girlfriend vibe her sisters talked about, but she didn’t have the time or energy to worry about her father’s love life.

  Straightening her back, she gave her a big smile. “It’s all great.”

  Her father looked up, his gaze darting between the women. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, Daddy. I’ll see you after the service.”

  Once outside, she rested against the stone wall. Fresh air was good. She would need to let her father know Reid was in the area. This would be easier if Reid just stayed on the ranch.

  Oh, no. The Hausman ranch brought the steers in for the 4-H play-day each weekend. Her girls ran the barrels and poles. Her father had just gotten them a new horse to run. He was never going to miss this local event. What if Reid showed up, too?

  “Danica?”

  The rich, smooth drawl washed over her. His voice always melted her. Dropping her head, she closed her eyes. At least her father wouldn’t see him if Reid was out here instead of inside the church.

  “What are you doing here, Reid?” She opened her eyes and shifted her weight as her heels started sinking into the soft ground.

  He looked good. His jawline smooth from a fresh shave, his jeans crisp and clean. A buttoned-up shirt starched under his black vest. Even his boots were free of dirt and grime. He didn’t fit her image of a man who’d served time in prison.

  As the bell started ringing, his gaze went from the town’s main street to the church tower. After a long heavy pause, he took a breath but still didn’t make eye contact. “I’m not following you. John Levi is one of the pastors with the prison ministry network. When he heard I was in the area, he came to visit and invited me to attend. I didn’t know your family was here.”

  “Now you know.”

  He finally looked at her. The heat and accusation in his gray eyes forced her to look away. She had no reason to feel guilty.

  “I can’t sleep. Questions keep bouncing around in my head since I saw them. How were they as babies? When did they learn to walk? What were their first words? Who would it hurt for me to see them?” He stepped closer. “I also try and imagine you waddling in the last months, not able to get up. Did you have morning sickness the whole nine months?”

  “Eight. It was eight months. They were early. I had to go home before they were released. Leaving the hospital without them was one of the worst days of my life.”

  He reached for her. His fingers brushing her shoulder before she stepped away.

  “Don’t. Touch. Me.”

  Thrusting his hands into his pockets, Reid put distance between them.

  Breathing became easier, but each inhale brought a scent of fresh, clean soap. Danica wanted to lean into his neck and breathe deep. She pressed her back against the rough rock. It anchored her and kept her from doing something stupid. “It would be best if you left.”

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  “There’s nothing you can do.” She glanced at him, then quickly looked away. The warm gray in his eyes mirrored the pain in her heart.

  “Pastor Levi gave me a personal invitation to attend this church. The church where you and the girls worship. Don’t you think God had something to do with that? Maybe I’m not supposed to walk away.”

  Blood slammed into her heart. “No. No, God has nothing to do with this.” She needed him to go. The emotional roller coaster was wearing her down. She needed to get off. She didn’t have time for this drama. To many people and animals were counting on her. The sanctuary needed her to stay focused. “Stay away from town. I’ll get a restraining order.”

  With a couple of steps, he stood in front of her, forcing her to make eye contact. “Danica, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you or the girls.” He rolled his shoulders. With his head back, he closed his eyes. “I just want... I’m not sure what I want, but I’ll play by your rules. You’re in charge. I just want the opportunity to see them. I asked Officer Bolton for the name of a family lawyer in Uvalde.”

  He brought his chin down, and his gaze penetrated her, holding her in place. “I want to give you the divorce, but I also want to know my rights as their father.”

  “You told James?” Breaking eye contact, she moved to the left. She started pacing, crushing acorns with each step.

  “No. I just asked about a family lawyer.”

  She opened her mouth to speak a couple of times, but words became elusive. Feet planted, she forced herself to stop and look at him. “A divorce would be good. I also—”

  The door in the hallway connected to the Sunday school classes opened. Amy, one of the children’s church volunteers, poked her head out. “There you are. I’m glad I saw you out here. Suzie is sick.”

  “What’s wrong? Where is she?” Danica rushed to Amy.

  “In the bathroom with Mrs. Trees. She was singing, then suddenly she got sick.”

  “Where’s Liz?” Danica followed Amy, then realized Reid was right on her heels. With a glare, she tried to tell him to back off, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Lizzy is in the craft room and happy as a lark. Do you want me to get her?”

  “No. I’ll take Suzie home. Will you tell my dad? Oh, wait. We came with him today...”

  “I’ll drive you home.” Reid stood right behind her.

  Her initial protest dropped away when she saw Suzie, flushed and sweaty.

  Mrs. Trees held her, stroking her hair back. “Poor pumpkin. It just hit her so fast.”

  Danica took the youngest twin. Amy smiled. “I’ll go tell your dad. Mr....” She looked at Reid with a smile and raised an eyebrow.

  He held out his hand. “Rei—”

  Danica cut him off. “Tell Daddy that one of the guys from the wildlife sanctuary is taking us home.” The girl nodded. “Thank you, Amy. You, too, Mrs. Trees.”

  “No worries. Hope she feels well soon.”

  Reid held the door open. “I’m parked behind this building. Do you want me to carry her?”

  “Mommy, my tummy hurts.”

  She kissed Suzie’s forehead. Heat radiated from her skin. “No, I have her. I’ll just follow you. Honey, how are you feeling? Mr. McAllister is going to drive us home. Okay?”

  Wrapping one arm around Danica’s neck, her daughter rubbed her eyes and peeked at the man walking next to them.

  Once they reached the ranch truck, she settled Suzie in the back and climbed in next to her. The diesel roared to life. Reid carefully made his way out of the church parking lot and onto the main road. How had she ended up in a truck with her husband?

  * * *

  Reid kept glancing at his passengers in the back seat. Danica gave him the directions to her home. One of his daughters was close to
him. He wanted to talk to her, but...

  He gripped the steering wheel and made sure to stay on the smoothest part of the country road. This opportunity might not happen again.

  Checking on them in the rearview mirror, he saw Suzie’s head in her mother’s lap, Danica’s long graceful fingers stroking her dark red curls.

  “You sure have beautiful hair. Red is my favorite color.”

  “Thank you. My mommy and aunt Jackie have red hair, too, but theirs is lighter.”

  “My father had red hair the same as yours.”

  “Reid.” Her voice drew deep with a warning.

  “But you’re—”

  “Suzie!” Danica cut her off.

  He pressed on. “My mother was Creole from New Orleans. My father was a redheaded Scotsman. Had the temper to go with it. You and your mom seem to be all sweet and not much spice.”

  She giggled. His heart melted. “My mom can get real mad, but not much. She gets mad when people hurt her animals.”

  “I imagine she’d get angry if someone hurt you, too.”

  Her little face was serious as she nodded. “On the bus, a boy put Lizzy’s Hula-Hoop around her neck and left a bruise. When we got off the bus, Momma saw it right away and wanted to know who did it. She was so mad she chased down the bus and made it stop and charged inside. She made Shane apologize and got him suspended from school, and he still can’t ride the bus. Boy, she was mad.”

  “Is Lizzy okay?” He met her eyes in the mirror. With a nod, she looked back down at the sick child leaning on her.

  The gate to her family house appeared. As he eased down the drive to the two-story farmhouse, he had a strong sense of coming home, but it wasn’t his home. He would never be part of this family. Knowing his girls had this, strong roots buried in love and faith, somewhat eased the pain. If he did nothing else right, at least his children had a mother who loved them and protected them from the ugliness of the world.

  Reid parked and got out as Suzie started groaning again. “Momma, my tummy hurts real bad.”

  “Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. We’re home.” A gagging sound was the only warning before Suzie lost the rest of her stomach.

  * * *

  Reid opened the passenger door and released Suzie’s seat belt. “I’ve got her. There’s a blanket in the front you can use to wipe off. If you can unlock the door, I’ll take her to the bathroom. You can change.”

  “Mommy, I’m sorry.” Her daughter started sobbing.

  “Shh.” Reid gently moved her away from the mess. “Moms are...um, waterproof. We’ll just take her out back and wash her off.” He lifted the five-year-old as if she weighed nothing. And he didn’t even hesitate over the mess. “Thankfully, most landed on the truck floor, so we’re all good.”

  With the blanket, she cleaned it off. “Reid, go to the side door. It’s open.”

  With their daughter pulled up against his chest, he turned to the left with a scowl. “Does it stay unlocked with you and the girls inside, too?”

  She tried not to be insulted by the tone of his voice. “It’s Clear Water. Nothing ever happens here.”

  That wasn’t completely true. The father of her children was in her house, helping her with a sick child. She had a feeling there would be no going back from here.

  Leaning down while keeping Suzie close, he pushed open the kitchen door. Their daughter had her arms wrapped around his neck as he walked into her home.

  Pulling her jacket off, Danica threw it over the bench. Her shoes were next. It would be easier to throw the whole outfit away.

  Her shoulders had a new weight on them, and it had nothing to do with a sick daughter. Her phone vibrated in the jacket pocket. Careful not to touch anything gross, she checked the number. It seemed all her sisters suddenly needed to talk to her.

  Tossing the phone on the table, she headed to the washroom. She had a load of clean clothes in the dryer. “Take her to her room. It’s the third door on the right from the stairs. I’ll be right there.”

  She hurried into clean clothes and left everything on the floor. She’d get it later.

  Rushing up the stairs, she froze at the girls’ bedroom door. The man she had given everything to in another lifetime sat on the edge of the narrow pink bed covered with stuffed animals. Curled up with her head resting on his thigh, Suzie was asleep. She was already cleaned up and settled.

  He was staring at their daughter. Raising his head, he looked at Danica. Awe and terror seemed to be swirling in those moss green eyes.

  Clearing his throat, his focus returned to the sleeping child. “She got her favorite nightgown, and I got a washcloth from the bathroom.” Running the cloth across her forehead with one hand, Reid rested the other on her shoulder. “She’s so small.”

  She needed to get him out of here before her heart completely melted or her family showed up. “Thank you. I’ve got it now. I’m sorry about the truck. I can—”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s made for handling mud, and anything else you get from working on a ranch with animals. Are you all right?”

  She chuckled, remembering his words. “Yeah. You know us moms. Wash-and-wear.” Moving to the bed, she took the washcloth from him. “You need to go. I have a feeling the family will be here soon, and it’ll be easier if you’re not here.”

  “Right.” Keeping his gaze on Suzie, he gently lifted her head and put her back on her pillow. “She seems better. Just tired now.” He looked up at her. “Are you taking her to the doctor?”

  “If she is still sick tomorrow, I will.” She eased onto the bed, taking the place where he had been sitting. “Bye, Reid.”

  He nodded. “If she needs anything else, you’ll let me know?”

  “My dad and sisters will be here soon. We’ve got this covered.”

  He took his hat off and backed out of the girls’ room. His gaze lingered on the walls. Walls covered with posters of horses, family pictures and...

  Oh, no. The painting. She could tell the minute Reid saw it.

  “Danica. That’s the drawing I did for you.” It was a whimsical ink drawing of a garden with baby animals having a tea party under giant sunflowers. Washes of color danced across the picture. He had made the frame from scraps of old wood that he’d found in one of their barns.

  It had been his Valentine’s gift to her the day he asked her to marry him. He’d told her they would create their own world. She gritted her teeth.

  “Reid. It doesn’t mean anything. I never told them who painted it. I always loved your art, and it’s perfect for the girls’ room.” She brushed back her daughter’s hair. “You need to go.”

  He turned at the door and paused, hand on the frame. “The Hausmans said they’re providing steers for the county play-day next weekend. Do the girls ride there?”

  “They run the barrels and poles.” She needed to stop talking. “If you see us there, you can say hi.” Her sisters were going to kill her. Now she had to warn her father. “I’ll tell Daddy you’re in town.” She looked down to make sure Suzie was still asleep. “I want to make it clear, this is not me giving you permission to tell them who you are. You said you just wanted to see them. That’s all this is.”

  “I get it. Thank you.” With a nod, he left.

  She went back to tending to their daughter. Her daughter. He would be gone as soon as she had a new vet tech. The idea of him leaving should not make her sad.

  Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself why loving him again was a mistake. She had already grieved the lost dreams of them growing old together, raising their family. Enough time was wasted over Reid McAllister. She couldn’t afford to give him any more of her.

  Chapter Six

  “Daddy, please. Don’t cause any trouble.” Danica gripped the railing on the stock trailer and peered through the bars at her father. He eased the big palomino gelding out
the back.

  “I’m not the one you need to worry about.” He glanced around the area behind the arena. “Where are the girls?”

  “They went to the concession stand with Nikki and Mia.”

  “You think that’s wise? What if he sees them and does something?”

  “Like what?” Hands on her hips, she stared at him. “He’s not going to do anything other than say hi. We have an agreement.”

  “I suppose you trust him? Just like the last time.” He looped the lead rope and checked the saddle. “I think we should get the girls and go home.”

  She tried to imagine how he would react if she told him that they were married. A shudder skipped up and down her spine. No way did she want to face that disappointment. Okay, it was official. She was a coward. “No. They wouldn’t understand, and they would be devastated. They don’t know who he is other than he works with me at the sanctuary.”

  He shook his head as he went back into the trailer to get the pony, Cinnamon. “You and your lost causes. I don’t understand.” He stopped and looked at her through the slots. “Most kidnappings are done by a biological parent.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Daddy, he’s not going to kidnap them.”

  “He’s already been in prison once. What’s going to stop him from taking them and skipping town?”

  “I think he’s trying to make things right. He wants to see them. That’s all. They are his daughters.” Her stomach plunged downward. They were his daughters, and nothing would change that.

  “You don’t think it’s a bit strange that of all the places he could have moved to, he ended up in your backyard? Working on your sanctuary.”

  “He thinks God put him here.” She didn’t know what to believe.

  Her father snorted. “God has nothing to do with him.”

  “Daddy, you don’t know that.”

  “I know he hurt my little girl. He walked out on you. And if he tries anything with my granddaughters...”

  Placing a hand on his shoulder, she tried to think of words that would make him understand the position she was in. “Daddy, he’s the reason you have these granddaughters. They are as much his as they are mine.” When did she get in the business of defending Reid?