by Carol Ross
“Good morning, Tom. Happy Easter. Did you see the sky this morning, by any chance?”
“Happy Easter to you. I’ve been admiring it myself.”
“I swear I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
“I’d have to agree.”
“Not even my new boots can compare.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said with a trace of a smile.
Dusty appeared behind him, also looking a little startled and rather bashful. Gray hair a bed-head mess, he attempted to pat it down.
“Hey, Dusty. I’m returning that pan you loaned me but it’s full of sticky buns. Hope that’s okay.”
Dusty came closer. Lydia slipped off the loose foil covering. “Son of a biscuit...” He dipped his head and took a whiff. If a person could sniff reverently, Dusty managed it. “Those look exactly like the kind my granny used to make. Are those pecans?”
“Yes, they are. Here you go.”
Carefully, he took the pan from her. “Thank you, Ms. Lydia. Even though it pains me to do so, I will share these with the boys. But I will also hide an extra one, possibly two, for myself and Tom. These guys are pigs.”
Lydia laughed. “That seems fair. I wanted to thank you two again for helping with the bunnies.”
“That was our pleasure,” Tom said. “Can’t wait to see Abby’s face.”
Lydia grinned. “Me, either. Jon will text you before we head outside so you don’t miss it. Will we see any of you at church later?”
Dusty said, “Tom and Grady will be there. The rest of us will tend the herd. But it’s light duty for everyone today—except the heavies, of course.”
Lydia chuckled at his cow joke. “I understand. At least the rain has stopped. Will it be dry enough for them to birth outside now or will they have to go in?”
Tom answered, “I was just heading out to check on that. But I suspect it’s going to be a good day to be born on the JB Bar.”
“That’s great news.” She’d learned how the cows disliked having to go into the shed to give birth. It tugged at her heartstrings to hear their bellows of distress. They chatted for a few more minutes before Lydia told them goodbye and headed back to the house.
“Mornin’.” Jon was standing in the kitchen when she returned. He raised the steaming coffee mug in hand. “It is not a hardship to wake up to hot coffee in the morning. Thank you.”
“Good morning and you’re welcome,” she said, flashing him a grin. When he wasn’t grumpy with her, he was so easy to please. They seemed to have rounded a corner during the last two days. The night before, after the girls were asleep, he’d helped her fill their Easter baskets. Then they’d tiptoed around the house trying to decide on the best hiding spots. Abby’s was in the hall closet behind some linens and Gen’s was stashed inside the dryer.
“You’re up even earlier than usual. What were you doing outside? The chickens aren’t even awake yet.”
“Oh, trust me, that rooster is awake. I nearly dropped the pan of sticky buns I was carrying to your cowboys.”
“Sticky buns?” One eyebrow nudged up. “I hope my cowboys didn’t get them all.”
Chuckling, she crossed the kitchen to fetch her own cup of coffee. “Don’t worry.” She pointed to where the other pan was cooling. “There’s plenty to go around. All my life I’ve dreamed of having double ovens. Yesterday I made brownies for Easter dinner and cookies for Scooter at the same time.” She had it on good authority Scooter would be at church and she wanted to thank him for his kindness toward her with a basket of goodies.
“That was thoughtful of you, to take some to the guys.”
She shrugged. “They work hard. I appreciate their taking the time to help you get that bunny housing complex done so quickly.” She didn’t mention Tom’s hand in the acquisition of her boots.
His phone chimed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Zach wants me to ask the girls if they’d like to go for a ride at his place today after church. After dinner and the egg hunt.”
“I’m sure they’d love that. I was going to bring them a change of clothes, anyway. I’ll pack something they can ride in. And their boots.”
“Do you... Would you like to ride, too? I’m a pretty good teacher.”
There was an eagerness to his tone that Lydia couldn’t resist, not that she wanted to. “Sure. Yes, I’d love to go for a ride.”
“So, I guess that’s a change of clothes for all of us.”
Lydia heard the bedroom door open. She grinned eagerly at Jon. “This is going to be so much fun. I thought they were never going to get up.”
The smile that split his face told Lydia he’d been looking forward to it, too. “It’s nice how much you seem to enjoy them.”
“I think it would be impossible not to.”
The look he gave her heated her from the inside out.
The girls ran into the kitchen. “Did the Easter Bunny come?”
Jon lifted his hands and let them fall. “I have no idea. I guess you’ll have to hunt around and see.”
After plenty of giggling, a fair amount of searching and a few hints, they finally found their baskets. Chattering and excited, they examined every toy and trinket. Lydia wrangled them into the dining room for a breakfast of fruit and yogurt and sticky buns. When they finished, Lydia gave Jon an encouraging eyebrow-raise. He took out his phone, studied the screen and then tapped out a text.
Feigning bewilderment, he said, “Tom thinks maybe the Easter Bunny left something outside for you girls. Should we go check it out?”
A few minutes later the girls, coats on over their pj’s and wearing barn boots, stood in stunned silence as they laid eyes on two fuzzy bunnies. Abby burst into tears. First, she hugged Jon. Then Lydia and Tom. Beaming, Gen cuddled one of the fluffy bundles to her chest.
Tom, Dusty and Jon had constructed a better bunny setup than Lydia could have ever imagined. They’d built it against the woodshed with the overhang offering protection. There was a hutch raised up off the ground, complete with a “burrow” for the critters to sleep in. A door could be opened onto a ramp that led down to the ground, where a grassy patch provided daytime grazing.
“Bunny paradise.” Lydia shook her head in wonder.
Jon grinned. “We’ll have to figure something out come winter, but this will do nicely for now.”
Lydia watched the girls for a few minutes, her heart full and a little achy. Somehow, she needed to remember this moment and every other second of whatever time she had left here. She smiled at Jon. “It’s going to be a challenge tearing them away from here for church.”
His gaze meandered over her, leaving her skin tingling and her belly tight. “I understand the struggle,” he said, his deep voice soft so that no one else could hear.
She opened her mouth and then closed it again. Was he flirting with her? Lydia’s instinct was to flirt right back. Not a good idea, she told herself. A few days ago, she’d longed for him to like her. But his grumpiness had provided a natural distance. This playful sweet side was way more dangerous, and impossible to resist. Now she realized this situation might be easier if they didn’t like each other quite so much. Because the problem was that even if she stayed for now, it wouldn’t be forever. It couldn’t be.
Lydia forced a smile. “I’d better get back inside and finish that potato salad.”
* * *
A FEW HOURS LATER, Jon walked into the church and tried to decide what he enjoyed more, the sight of his girls in their dresses with their hair done up so pretty, or the fact that they seemed to like it so much.
Congregants were filing inside, many already seated in the pews. It wasn’t difficult to spot Scooter’s bright red hair.
“There he is.” Jon pointed.
“I’ll be right back,” Lydia said, and headed up the aisle.
It took effort not to star
e at her. The dress she wore was cut conservatively, almost to the point of being prim, but it clung to her curves in all the best ways. Lydia approached Scooter, shook hands with him and his parents. Laughter rang out. Jon smiled as he watched the back of Scooter’s neck go red. He could relate. Lydia had that effect on people.
Jon and the girls slipped into a pew near the back. He braced himself for an exhausting hour of hushing and scolding the girls. Lydia returned and took her seat. The choir started singing. The girls were between them, and to Jon’s astonishment, the twins were mostly quiet and barely fidgeted. A few times they whispered a question in Lydia’s ear, to which she’d issue a brief gentle response. At one point, Gen drifted off while tucked in close to Lydia’s side.
Lydia seemed oblivious to the stares and curious glances coming from every direction of the congregation. When the service was over, folks swarmed around wanting to meet her. Jon performed introductions. Lydia was gracious, kind and funny. The girls stood serenely next to them. With Lydia holding Gen’s hand and one of Abby’s enfolded in his, the girls politely accepted compliments about their dresses, their hair and exceptional manners.
Jon grew impatient and tried not to scowl when Emmet Baker sidled up next to Lydia. Emmet was an excellent cowboy. He was also a renowned womanizer and Jon didn’t want him anywhere near his nanny. His nanny? He wasn’t sure exactly when he’d decided to keep her on, but he had.
Knowing they could be stuck in church all day, he finally took Lydia’s elbow and moved them toward the door. They were skipping coffee hour to head out to the Carneses’ for the Easter festivities.
“I hope I didn’t drag you out of there too quickly,” Jon said as they crossed the parking lot toward his pickup. Trout barked a greeting from the open window. Jon ruffled his fur before opening the back door so the girls could climb inside.
“Not at all.”
Closing the door, he turned toward her. She was so beautiful. It was no wonder the men inside had buzzed around her like bees to honey. But she was also...radiant. She’d probably always been that girl at parties that everyone wanted to talk to, sit by, dance with. The fact was he wanted her all for himself and the girls. But was that fair? If she was going to stay in Falcon Creek, she would want to meet people.
“Everyone is curious about you. You haven’t been out much since you got here. We could go back inside if you want.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“I want you to have a nice day.”
“I’m already having a nice day,” she countered cheerfully.
“But it’s supposed to be your day off and here you are spending it with us.”
Lydia met his gaze headlong. “I can’t think of anyplace else I’d rather be.”
Her answer caused a burst of heat to shoot straight through his bloodstream. He fidgeted with his keys. “Okay, then. We best get going before someone else sidles up to meet my Nanny Fantastic.”
* * *
WILLA CARNES PULLED Lydia in for a tight hug. “Lydia, it is so lovely to meet you. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things from Sofie and Zach.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Carnes. It’s an honor to meet you as well. I’ve heard the same about you from Jon and Sofie and Gen and Abby. Thank you again for letting me borrow your sewing machine. Jon is bringing it in.”
“Call me Willa. And it’s my pleasure. Especially seeing my little peanuts in their Sunday best.” She turned toward the girls, who’d followed Lydia inside. “Why, those are the most beautiful Easter dresses I’ve ever seen.” She hugged them both in turn.
Abby beamed. “Thank you, Willa.”
Gen looked at Lydia. “Is it okay if we keep our fancy dresses on until after dinner?”
“Sure, if you want to.”
“We do. Thank you, Lydia.” The girls skipped off.
Lydia turned and found herself facing two strikingly pretty women and a handsome young cowboy who could only be Zach’s siblings. They all looked so much alike it was difficult not to gawk.
The shorter of the women wore her tawny brown hair in a messy bun. She stuck out a hand. “Hi, Lydia. I’m Tess.”
The other, hair in a long braid, followed suit and introduced herself. “Brenna, youngest.” Brenna Braids, Lydia repeated silently to herself, so she could be sure and tell them apart.
Zach clone held out a hand. “Hello, gorgeous. Matt Carnes.” Lydia shook it, but instead of releasing her hand, he lifted it high and held it there. He blew a soft, low whistle through his teeth. “And here I thought everyone was calling you fantastic because you were a great nanny.”
“That was so bad.” Brenna groaned. “You’re such a dork, Matt.”
Tess gave her brother a horrified look. “Does that kind of line work for you?”
“Ladies, I’m a bull rider. I don’t even need lines.”
“That’s a relief, because I think all the good ones have been bucked out of you,” Tess quipped. She removed Lydia’s hand from Matt’s and led her into the kitchen. “Come on, Lydia, let’s go give that hand a good scrubbing.”
They walked into a kitchen filled with organized chaos reminiscent of the Blumen family. Laughter, teasing and bickering abounded. The smell of roasting ham and onions permeated the air. Lydia jumped right in, stirring the green beans, washing dishes and making dressing for a salad.
Zach’s older brother, Derrick, and his wife, Raelynn, arrived with their three kids, Georgia, Ellen and Michael. Gen and Abby greeted them and soon they were all playing in the family room at the other end of the house.
When the ham came out of the oven, Pete set about carving it while they carted the rest of the food to the large dining room table. Everyone filled their plates, buffet-style. The day turned out to be as lovely as the sunrise had promised so they ate outside, where three picnic tables were pushed together.
Lydia enjoyed listening to talk of people, cattle, horses, weather and speculation about when they would drive the cattle to their summer grazing areas. Everyone, it seemed, helped with the cattle drive. It sounded like a blast. Lydia silently hoped she’d still be around for that.
The egg hunt commenced immediately after the meal. The kids delighted in discovering one brightly colored plastic egg after another hidden in the yard, garden, orchard and around the assorted outbuildings. While the kids sorted and admired their bounty, Lydia helped Sofie bring out dessert. Coffee was served. The kids scattered to eat candy and play a game of horseshoes.
The adults visited until Zach announced it was time to go riding.
“Maybe I should stay and help with dishes?” Lydia offered, even though she wanted to ride.
Willa said, “Lydia, honey, you are a guest. You’ve done more than enough already. That was hands-down the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten. Pete made me promise I’d get the recipe. And please don’t ask me how many of those brownies I had. Now go riding and have fun.”
Sofie agreed. “There’s plenty of people not riding. Don’t worry, Willa won’t have to lift a finger. Derrick and Raelynn have to leave soon so they’re not going, and I can’t ride anyway.” Sofie patted her belly.
Lydia acquiesced and went to fetch the duffel bag she’d brought containing their spare clothes. Sofie showed her a room where she and the girls could change. When they came back outside, Jon, Zach and Tess were waiting. Brenna joined them.
Zach said, “All right. Let’s go. Matt’s already out saddling up the horses.” He and Jon led the way to the barn.
Stomach fluttering, Lydia trailed behind, hoping she’d be able to bring up the rear, but Jon circled back and joined her. “Are you nervous?”
She managed a shaky grin. “How did you guess?”
Leaning over, he lowered his voice and answered, “You nibble on your lip when you’re nervous.”
Lydia glanced up to find him staring at her mouth. “No, I don’t... Do I?
”
“Yes, ma’am, you do.”
His attention wasn’t helping her nerves. Lydia swallowed. An enormous building loomed in front of them. “Wow. That is like the biggest barn I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s pretty fancy. I call it Zach’s Equine Castle. This is just for his horses.”
Several horses were already saddled and outside the entrance. A cowboy she hadn’t met was helping Matt with the preparations. Zach introduced him as Dale.
“Jon, can the girls ride with Brenna and me?” Tess asked as she took the reins of a horse. “Then you can help Lydia. Matt and Zach will catch up when they’re through.”
“That would be perfect, Tess. Thank you.”
Lydia had packed the girls’ riding helmets. She made sure they were snug and secure. Matt lifted Gen to sit in front of Tess. Jon settled Abby with Brenna. Soon they were moving off across the pasture.
“You ready?” Jon asked.
The comforting scent of hay drifted from the barn and combined with horse and leather to calm her nerves and boost her confidence.
“Which one is mine?” she asked.
“This one. Her name is Cheyenne.” Matt patted a brown rump. Then he quirked a rakish brow in her direction. “Do you know how to mount a horse, Lydia? Or would you like me to give you a little boost?” Eyes twinkling, he held out his arms like he was going to hug her.
Zach shook his head.
Jon rolled his eyes.
Lydia chuckled. “I think I can get that far, Matt. But thank you, that’s a sweet offer.”
Jon looked pointedly at Lydia. “Now, you don’t want to hold the reins too tight, but you don’t want them too loose, either. I’ll show you after you get—”
“Hey, there, Cheyenne.” Lydia slipped a foot in the stirrup and, with her heart threatening to jump out of her chest, swiftly mounted and settled into the saddle, reins quickly in hand. Before Jon could give further instructions, Lydia shifted slightly forward and clicked her tongue while giving a slight leg squeeze. “Let’s go, Cheyenne.” They headed across the field.
