Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction)

by Austin, Lynnette

  “Yep.”

  She felt herself blanch. “You know, Annelise? A great horsewoman. Me? I only rode when I couldn’t escape it. I’m not especially fond of horses and haven’t been on one since camp a thousand years ago.”

  “Why?” asked one of the triplets.

  “Because they’re—” She glanced down into baby-innocent eyes and bit back her words.

  Backtracking, she said, “I mean, you kids don’t ride, do you? Wouldn’t it be easier to take Daddy’s big black truck?”

  “Huh-uh.” A second one spoke up, and the others showed solidarity by shaking their heads, too.

  She stared at them. For the life of her, she couldn’t tell the boys apart. She’d have to ask Ty if there was a trick to it, some little thing that differentiated them. A cowlick or a mole, maybe.

  And speaking of Ty. He stood, picnic basket in one hand, the other in his jeans pocket, grinning.

  “You’re enjoying all this, aren’t you?”

  “Yep.”

  “Come on, Sophie. It’ll be fun.” The third one tugged at her hand.

  “Yeah, Sophie, you’ll like it.”

  “Wait’ll you see all the poo,” said the third. “You have to be careful where you step, ’cause the cows go there sometimes.”

  The other two nodded solemnly in agreement.

  “My mother did warn me,” she muttered.

  “Yeah, I heard.” The laughter left Ty’s voice.

  “You did?” Shocked, she turned to face him.

  He nodded.

  “Ty—”

  “Not now.”

  She sighed. The sun disappeared momentarily behind a cloud. Wonderful, she thought. The sudden shadow fit her mood to a T. Well, she couldn’t disappoint the kids, but she would, she promised, get even with Ty for springing the horse ride on her.

  And they’d also have a chat about the conversation he’d overheard at the wedding reception. Darn her mother anyway.

  Crossing the yard, Ty said, “It’s a short ride, Sophie. Promise. On horseback, the two of us could be there in ten, fifteen minutes easy. But with these boys?” He grimaced. “I’ll need to ride herd on them to keep them moving. Otherwise, they dawdle and mess around enough to drive you crazy.”

  Hands in his pockets, he watched as the trio raced into the barn. “They’re gonna make good horsemen. All of them have the basics down, but, well, they’re four.” He sighed. “And that about says it all.”

  Walking beside him, Sophie nodded. When she stepped into the stable, she breathed deeply, surprised at how strangely pleasant the scent of hay and horse was. She was amazed, too, to find she hadn’t forgotten how to saddle her own mount.

  As she tightened her cinch, she glanced across the barn and saw Ty and one of the boys in deep conversation, the two dark heads practically touching. She wished she had a camera to capture the moment. Tucking away the details, she decided she’d sketch the scene when she returned to Dottie’s.

  When they finished, Ty walked to the far wall and took down some fishing poles.

  “Wait a minute.” She held up a hand. “What’re those?”

  “Fishing rods.”

  She blew out a huff. “I know that. I meant, what are you doing with them?”

  “We’re going fishing!” One of the kids did a little twist and shout across the straw.

  “Yeah.” The other two chimed in, dancing in a circle with their brother.

  “Ty?”

  “Sophie?”

  “I don’t fish.”

  He fastened the poles onto his saddle, then put a hand on her butt and boosted her onto her horse. “You said you didn’t ride, either.”

  “I said I didn’t like riding.” She shook her head. “I’ve never fished in my life.”

  “Then it’s high time you did, right boys?”

  “Uh-huh.” One dark little head bobbed. “We’ll help you, won’t we?”

  He looked at his brothers who both agreed. The boys chatted a mile a minute about how much fun they’d have as their dad lifted them one by one onto their ponies.

  As they rode out of the stable, Ty said, “You don’t have a problem with fishing on some philosophical level, do you? I mean, you’re not a vegan or anything. I watched you devour too much Texas beef at the wedding to believe that.”

  “You’re right. I’m not. I don’t believe, however, a gentleman comments on the amount a lady eats.”

  His horse ambling beside hers, Ty adjusted his cowboy hat. “No, ma’am, guess not.” His dimples twinkled. “So do I apologize for my comment or simply admit I’m not a gentleman?”

  “You’re bad, that’s what you are.” She clucked at her horse and realized she was actually having a good time. Who’d have thought?

  *

  Ty was right about the spot. They brought their horses to a stop at the top of a knoll graced by several beautiful old oaks. At the base of the hillock, a small stream flowed, willows draping their branches gracefully over the slow-moving water.

  They spread a blanket in the shade of one of the oaks and dug in. While the boys devoured their peanut butter sandwiches and chips as if they might never get another meal, she and Ty enjoyed rare roast beef sandwiches and potato salad from Sadler’s.

  The sun warmed her back and hair, and she totally relaxed. It was as if the world had shrunk to this one spot, this one moment. The boys, flopped on their backs talking about day care and Miss Marcy, wolfed down Dottie’s cookies. Ty reached out and linked his fingers with hers, and she knew she’d remember this moment forever.

  Trouble frolicked in the tall grass. He’d ridden in a basket on Jesse’s pony and was having a great time just being a puppy. He licked and kissed each of the boys in turn, sending them into hysterical giggles.

  The horses, tethered to the trees, grazed peacefully. A butterfly landed on the picnic basket beside her.

  The day couldn’t have been more right.

  Then one of the boys hopped up and pulled on Ty’s arm, reminding him he’d promised they could fish. It was Jesse. Sophie knew without asking. As she’d watched them play, listened to them, she picked up small nuances and tiny differences. She grinned, feeling as though she’d clawed her way over some invisible hurdle.

  The boys were becoming individuals.

  Patiently Ty sauntered to the tree where he’d propped the rods and opened his fishing basket.

  A few minutes later, all the warm feelings gone, Sophie was totally sorry she’d come along. “What do you mean I stick the hook through him?” She stared at the worm in her hand. It wriggled, and she shrieked, flinging it to the ground.

  “I can’t do this.”

  Jesse scooped it up and let the worm slither over his pudgy little hand.

  “Like this.” Jonah held up his pole. Another fat worm dangled from the hook, and he stepped closer to her. “Look how all the stuff comes out, Sophie. It’s his guts.”

  She gagged. “Ty, I can’t.”

  “Jonah, get that out of Sophie’s face. Go drown it in the water.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  “What?”

  “Is that what you teach them?”

  “Sophie.” He spread his hands. “It’s a saying.”

  “But that is what you’re doing. You’re drowning them. After you’ve impaled them.”

  He handed the pole he’d baited to Josh. “How else do you think we’re going to catch a fish?”

  “I don’t know. In Sam’s deli at the end of my street? At a restaurant? At Sadler’s maybe?”

  The boys stared at her.

  “It’s a girl thing,” Ty told them.

  “’Kay, Daddy,” Josh said.

  But the little boy’s big, dark eyes said she’d let him down. Guilt ate at her, but there was no way she’d skewer that worm.

  “Go ahead and get started. Sophie and I will be with you in a minute. And try to stay out of the water.”

  The three took off for the little stream, the puppy right behind them.

&nbs
p; “I’ll bait your pole with a salmon egg,” Ty conceded.

  She nodded, relieved when the orange glob slid over her hook. That she could live with.

  They walked down the gentle slope together. Trouble, all feet and ears, splashed in the water, then raced out to shake himself, drenching them all.

  When he headed into the stream again, Ty scolded him. “Get out of there, Trouble. You’re scaring away the fish.”

  Sophie was secretly glad. She absolutely did not want to see any fish flopping around in the grass, gasping for breath.

  *

  Ty sat on an outcropping of rock, his long legs stretched in front of him, ankles crossed, pole loose in his hand. The boys had given up even the pretense of fishing, their attention spans that of microscopic gnats. Squeals and laughter filled the grassy area as they chased each other and Trouble through the grass.

  No doubt about it. Today had been one of the best days in way too long. And the woman beside him, sitting in the grass, her line bobbing in the water, was a big part of the reason why. To be really honest, it surprised the hell out of him. He’d figured the kids would scare her off. They hadn’t. They’d taken to each other like fleas on a dog.

  Oh, she wasn’t totally at ease with three squirming, noisy boys, but she wasn’t put off by them, either. The breeze picked up, and the late-afternoon air turned chilly. Overhead, the willow branches swayed and the leaves rustled.

  Ty laid down his pole. “Be right back.”

  He pulled jackets from his saddlebag and tossed one to each of the boys. “Put these on, guys.”

  Impressed, Sophie said, “Well, aren’t you the prepared one.”

  “Always. With these three it pays to think ahead. I noticed you already crawled into your nasty sweatshirt.”

  “Oh!” She slapped a hand over the big red C logo.

  “Any port in a storm, I guess,” he drawled. “But, hey, if you need it, you need it.”

  “I do.” She tossed a look at the kids, their faces flushed from their exercise. “I’m not running around like them. I got cold sooner.”

  “Should have told me. I’d have warmed you up.” He draped an arm over her shoulder, shooting for playful. The softness of her, though, did things to him. Warned him he really should keep his distance.

  She laughed and patted his hand. Jerking a thumb at the kids, she said, “Right, Daddy.” She sent him a slow smile. “Maybe later.”

  The words shot straight south in his body. Maybe later. The breath left him as his mind conjured up images far from fatherly.

  Space. He needed some space.

  Picking up his pole, he reeled in his line and cast another glance toward the sky. “Think it’s time to head home. Front’s moving in fast.”

  Inside of ten minutes, they were saddled up and headed toward the house. The boys, tuckered out from all the fresh air, grew quieter and quieter.

  About halfway home, Josh started whining. “I want to ride with you, Daddy.”

  “What about your pony? How’s he gonna get home if you don’t ride him?” Part of Ty wanted to scoop the tired little boy up onto his lap. The other part feared the consequences of giving in to Josh too often. Still, his son was dragging butt.

  “You can tie his pony to mine, Daddy, if he wants to ride with you.” Jonah, as ever, made it his duty to find a compromise.

  Jesse piped up. “Why does he get to ride with you and not me?”

  “Because he’s tireder,” Jonah said.

  “Uh-uh. I am,” Jesse insisted.

  Sophie, Ty noted, said nothing. She sent him a pitying look.

  “Want to step in here? Help out?”

  She grinned. “Wouldn’t think of it. I don’t want to interfere. Don’t want to risk stepping on any toes—Daddy.”

  He shook his head. “You’re a sassy one.”

  “I can be.”

  Again, heat rocketed through him. This woman was seriously hard on his system. He wanted to do things to her he hadn’t even thought of for far too long.

  “Daddy!”

  Josh’s cry interrupted his sexual fantasies and dragged him back to his immediate problem.

  “Josh, we’re almost home.”

  When he started to cry, Sophie lifted a brow.

  “Hold on a second, guys.” Ty held up his hand and everyone plodded to a stop. “Josh, toss me your reins, then crawl on over here with me.” He patted the saddle in front of him.

  Tears streaming down his cheeks, the boy did as he was told. Ty wrapped the pony’s reins around his saddle horn, then lifted Josh onto his lap. “And Jesse, I don’t want to hear a word from you. If I’m not mistaken, I’ve given you a ride home a time or two.”

  “But I want—”

  “Jesse.”

  His son’s lower lip stuck out in a pout, but he held his tongue.

  The minute they rode up to the stables, all tiredness was forgotten. Jesse and Jonah dismounted with whoops, and Ty lowered Josh to the ground. Jonah lifted Trouble out of the basket and set him down. The pup flopped to the ground, exhausted from the day’s antics.

  “The boys and I will take care of your horse, Sophie. No doubt we’ve worn you out.”

  “Oh, no. Taking care of the horse afterward was the only part of riding I excelled at. Toss me a brush.”

  Ty sent the boys outside to play. Working together, he and Sophie had the horses unsaddled and curried in a much shorter time than if his boys had helped. Ty gave each a scoop of oats and some fresh water. Side by side, he and Sophie walked from the stable into the chilled air.

  “Gonna see a big change in the weather,” he said, eyeing the sky. “The temperature’s dropping fast.”

  She shook her head. “You’re talking to a Northerner, Ty. I could be in Chicago right now. Probably should be. It’s fourteen below there today—without the wind chill. So I’m figuring the weather’s great.”

  “Guess it’s all relative, huh?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Want to stay for a bit?” He hoped she’d say yes. Found himself holding his breath.

  “I’d love to, but I really should get home. I need to work a bit. I had a great time, though.” She rose on her toes, kissed his cheek. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  Raising her voice, she called out, “Boys, thanks for a wonderful day. Jesse, thanks for the tip about keeping the end of my pole up. That made a big difference. Jonah, the lemonade you helped your dad make was the best I’ve ever tasted. And, Josh? The flowers you picked for me are beautiful. I’ll take them home and put them on my kitchen table.” She held up the drooping wildflowers.

  If she’d thought a verbal good-bye would do it for the Rawlins boys, she found herself sorely mistaken. As they rushed her, she gave them each a hug and added a peck on the cheek.

  And that caused another shift in Ty’s chest.

  “Can’t you stay?” Jesse asked.

  “Yeah, just a little bit longer.” Jonah tugged at her hand.

  “Who’s gonna make us hot chocolate?” Josh pouted.

  Even though he himself wanted to beg her to stay, Ty stepped in. “Guys, give Sophie a break. She has work to do at her house.”

  “Why can’t she do it here?”

  She sat down on a bale of hay left there to prop open the stable door. “Tell you what. I really do have to go, not only because of my work, but because I have a new cat at home. I found her this week, and I’m afraid to leave her alone too much longer. I don’t want her to be scared. If it’s okay with your dad, though, I’ll come back again.”

  She looked at him as if asking permission.

  He nodded.

  “You have a kitty?” Jonah played with Trouble’s ear when he wandered over to them.

  “A cat, actually,” Sophie said. “She’s bigger than a kitty.”

  “Can you bring her, too?”

  “What’s her name?”

  Ty listened as she patiently answered all their questions, smoothed their hair, and zipped up Jesse’s jacket. His
heart shifted a little more in his chest.

  “I’ll walk you to your car. Boys, why don’t you go inside. It’s getting cold. I’ll be right in.” As they hurried away, he called, “And hang up those jackets. Don’t drop them in the middle of the floor.”

  Sophie stood, one hand on the car door handle. He leaned toward her and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

  “You’re a brave woman. You took on the lot of us—and you survived.”

  “I meant what I said before, Ty. I had a great time. One of the best days ever.”

  His heart hammered in his chest, and he wondered if she could hear it. He needed to see her again.

  He couldn’t.

  He needed to kiss her again.

  He shouldn’t.

  But his mouth refused to listen to his brain. Before he could stop himself, he ducked his head and tasted her lips. Oh, yeah. Ambrosia. He groaned and pulled her to him.

  Damned if she didn’t turn him inside out.

  His lips a whisper from hers, he asked, “Want to go out Saturday night? No kids. Just you and me.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Thank God,” he growled. He kissed her again but forced himself to keep it light. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  He opened the car door and helped her in.

  Then he stood in the drive and watched her drive away. What the hell was he doing?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sophie took a long, hot bath and fell into bed exhausted. How did Ty do this every day? Handle the ranch, a house, three kids, and a puppy? And then get up the next day and do it all over again?

  By the end of the picnic, she’d been able to tell the boys apart—most of the time. Their personalities were totally different. And physically there were differences, too. Josh had a cowlick. Jonah was left-handed. Jesse’s eyes were a slightly deeper gray.

  But being with the triplets was a little like being inside a pinball machine. Kids ricocheting off everything…and they’d been outside where they had the run of the place. She couldn’t imagine being cooped up inside with them.

  The boys were rambunctious now, but she tried to imagine them as tiny babies. How had Ty coped with the bottles, the night feedings, the diapers—times three? She pictured those tiny preemies cradled in his large, capable hands.