A Texas Bond

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  “Grandpa’s already a superhero.” Madison hugged Maverick, then took her place at the table.

  “I like this one.” Daddy patted her on the head.

  “What about Uncle Ross?” Mason scanned the empty seat at the table. “We can’t eat without him.”

  “He should be along any minute.” Stacia checked her watch.

  The doorbell buzzed.

  “I’ll get it.” Mason darted for the living room.

  Minutes later, he returned with Ross, who’d obviously gone home and cleaned up. Spicy cologne and still damp hair, looking way too handsome in his pearl-buttoned shirt and Wranglers.

  “Am I late?” He took his seat between the twins, across from Stacia.

  “You’re right on time.”

  “Let’s pray.” Daddy bowed his head and the others followed. “Father, we thank You for this food, for our little family. Keep everyone safe and healthy from the upcoming storm. And help us to always follow Your will and glorify You in everything we do. Amen.”

  Amens echoed around the table as Daddy helped himself to salad and spaghetti, then passed each bowl around the table.

  Forks scraped plates as everyone dug in.

  “This is really good.” Ross caught her gaze.

  “Aunt Stacia makes her own sauce.” Madison twirled her long noodles around her fork.

  “Sorry about the spider.” Ross grimaced.

  “It’s okay. Aunt Stacia said next time she’ll go too and me and her will ride horses on the path.”

  “You should have seen it.” Mason set his fork down. “We ran through a web and the spider was coming right for her.” He stuck one finger up. “This is Madison and this is the spider.” He made his fist with the other hand and moved it toward his finger at a fast clip.

  “But Uncle Ross saved me.” Madison shuddered.

  “Madison screamed and Uncle Ross jumped out. He broke the web and smashed the spider.” Mason stomped his foot on the floor for emphasis.

  Ross winced. “But I’m the one who decided we should explore and leave the path.”

  “But you fixed it.” Mason picked his fork up. “And it was the best ride I ever had. I like off the path.”

  They finished the meal with constant chatter from the twins, then everyone cleaned the kitchen while Daddy went to prop his leg up in the family room.

  At least she wasn’t alone with Ross in the kitchen.

  “Can Uncle Ross read us a story?” Madison asked.

  An automatic no danced on the tip of Stacia’s tongue.

  “Please, Aunt Stacia.” Mason joined in the plea.

  “Do you have time?” She caught his gaze.

  “Always.”

  “Okay. But go get your baths first.”

  The twins hurried upstairs.

  “You can go and I’ll call you when they’re ready. Baths around here can take the better part of an hour.”

  “I’m in no hurry. It’s a nice night to sit out on the porch. Unless you’ve got something pressing to do.”

  “That sounds nice.” Alarm bells went off in her head. Don’t get too close.

  He ushered her ahead of him.

  Outside, she claimed the porch swing, expecting him to sit in one of the chairs. But he settled beside her. She scooted over as much as she could, but it was no use. His leg rested against hers. And sent all kinds of tingles up her arms.

  “This is a nice swing.”

  “Thanks. Daddy made it from an old headboard.”

  “I figured as much.” He took a deep breath. “I’m glad we’re getting along better.”

  “Me too. For the kids’ sakes.”

  “You’re starting to trust me more with them. I think we need to talk about what’s happening between us.”

  “Us?” She swallowed hard.

  “I’m starting to have feelings for you, Stacia. Feelings that have nothing to do with the twins.” He took her hand in his.

  Warm and calloused. His touch sent butterflies from her stomach to her heart. But she had to stay focused.

  Memories surfaced. Of Aunt Eleanor touching Daddy’s hand, leaning close.

  She jerked her hand away, jumped up. “There’s no us.”

  “Did I misunderstand?”

  “Are you for real? Or are you only trying to romance me to get to the twins?”

  “How can you think that?”

  Playing innocent? Did he plan to woo her? Maybe even marry her so he could get custody of the twins? Or did he really care? How could she know for sure?

  She couldn’t. But why would he want her? Damaged goods, destined to never birth a child.

  “What did your aunt do to you? How did she make you so distrustful? Was it just her or the principal too?”

  “My personal life is none of your business.” She jabbed a finger at him. “Just go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” His jaw clenched. “Not until I read them a story like I promised. So I suggest you go hurry bath time up since we’re done here.”

  She bolted inside, leaned against the door, hugged herself.

  The only problem was, she’d been beginning to trust him. And to fall for him.

  Chapter Ten

  Ross hesitated outside the closed workshop doors.

  After coming clean with Stacia Saturday night, he’d barely been able to focus as he’d read the twins a story. Once Stacia darted inside, he hadn’t seen her again. Instead, Maverick had come to tell him the twins were story ready. Though he’d been preoccupied, spending the bonding time with his niece and nephew had been great.

  He’d gone to church in Bandera yesterday, giving himself a reprieve from Stacia, then spent part of the day with the twins and Maverick.

  But now with the cattle fed, he had to face her. He’d only thought things were tense and awkward between them last week. Now, he’d let his feelings for her show, but she thought it was a ploy. After all this time, after all the ways he’d worked at proving himself, she still didn’t trust him.

  Proving he was a brainless sap for falling for her. He’d known better. Why did he insist on banging his head against the wall? Why was he such a chump for women who couldn’t trust him?

  Sucking in a deep breath, Ross opened the door and strolled inside.

  She didn’t acknowledge him. Fine by him.

  With only power tools for noise, he went to work.

  Her sander died but she wouldn’t look his way. “I thought you’d leave yesterday. I guess you plan to stick around until after school to say bye to the twins.”

  “No goodbyes and I work here.”

  “Not anymore. I told you to leave. You’re fired.”

  He blew out a sigh. She’d expected him to leave Medina? A hard knot formed in his gut.

  “Even if I leave, I’m still a blood relative of the twins. My parents will want to be part of their lives. We have to work something out, Stacia. You can’t just send me home and ignore the situation. And besides that, you can’t complete the B and B order without me. Not with Maverick laid up.”

  She blew out a huge sigh. “I guess you’ve got me there.”

  “Let’s just finish the order. Whatever time we end up spending together with the twins, we’re in this for them. We play nice, keep our distance from each other and get through this. Once the order is finished, I’ll go home.” To tell his folks about the twins. He dreaded that, knowing they’d be hurt that he hadn’t filled them in sooner.

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I still plan on convincing them the kids should stay with you.” He stalked over to her and waited as several seconds ticked past, until she looked up. “Whether you believe it or not, I say what I mean. I don’t have any ulterior motives. I’m being as straight with you as I know how to be. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She nodded.
“We’ll stick with the visitation plan we discussed with as little interaction between us as possible.”

  “Works for me.” But his heart took a nosedive. He’d miss her. In spite of himself.

  The rest of the day passed in silence, except for the buzz of the sander or the psst of the paint sprayer.

  How could Stacia not believe he had feelings for her? Did she not realize how many times he’d wanted to kiss her? Ross had gone and done it. Fallen for Stacia Keyes in a mere matter of three weeks. And told her about it. Yet there was no getting around her distrust.

  So they’d had several nice moments with the twins. She’d shown some vulnerability, revealed her deepest fears about Ron. He’d let it go to his head. Allowed himself to hope for a future. But without trust, what kind of relationship could they have? None.

  Maybe it was better that she thought his profession was a ploy since she obviously didn’t return his feelings. No matter what she believed, their days together were winding down. In spite of himself, he already missed her and he hadn’t even left yet.

  Finally when his nerves could take no more, a knock sounded from the store door. He checked his watch as Stacia turned off her spray gun. Time for the twins.

  “Y’all come around back,” Stacia called. “But don’t come in, it’s really fumy in here.”

  “Okay,” Madison said.

  Minutes passed and both kids appeared outside the open back doors.

  “We have an idea,” Mason announced.

  “What’s that?” Stacia slipped her goggles up.

  “Since we don’t have any homework, we want to take you to play putt-putt again.” Madison grinned.

  “Is that so?” Stacia smiled, for the first time all day.

  “You always love it and we don’t play much since we always want to swim.”

  “I’m game.” She slipped her mask and goggles off, then shrugged out of her smock.

  “Can you come too, Uncle Ross?” Mason asked. “It’s more fun with four.”

  “I wish.” Ross winced, as if he really hated it, even though he didn’t. Escaping Stacia’s silence for a few hours would make his day. “I’ll have to stay here and work.”

  The door from the store opened and Maverick limped in. “I say y’all go and I can stay here and work.”

  “No, Daddy. You only went back to the store today. I don’t want you overdoing it.”

  “I can sit down and paint.”

  “You can’t even paint standing up.”

  Madison chuckled. “She’s right, Grandpa. You make a drippy mess when you paint.”

  “Okay, but I can sand sitting down and I can put together coffee bars while I lean against the work table.”

  “I don’t know.” Stacia obviously didn’t want him to go.

  Any more than Ross did. “We’ll make it some other time.”

  “Please.” Mason resorted to begging.

  “Just go for an hour.” Maverick approached the worktable. “I’ll do what I can without hurting myself and we’re still ahead on the order anyway. An hour won’t hurt. You both deserve some time off.”

  “Let’s go.” Mason and Madison echoed each other, then Mason grabbed Ross’s hand while Madison grabbed Stacia’s and tugged.

  “Okay.” Ross caved.

  “I better stay here and help Grandpa.” Stacia tried to beg off.

  “No way.” Madison tugged harder. “The whole putt-putt thing is for you.”

  “Go.” Daddy shooed them toward the door.

  “Okay. We’ll take my SUV.” She gave in.

  “Yay.” The twins jumped up and down and as usual, their voices blended together.

  But it didn’t sound like Stacia planned to enjoy herself.

  Because of him. He’d gone and ruined the progress they’d made by admitting his feelings. Feelings she didn’t believe and couldn’t trust. Too bad her rebuff didn’t make his feelings go away.

  She grabbed her purse and they filed out of the workshop. The kids raced ahead to the vehicle. Ross was tempted to sit in the back, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t maneuver around the car seat to get in, so he ended up in front.

  Soon they were on the road and Mason and Madison filled the drive with chatter about what happened at school.

  At the dude ranch, Ross paid the fee and collected their clubs and balls.

  “I’m first.” Mason scampered toward the beginning of the course, where a plywood cowboy silhouette stood near a tin cup hole.

  “A gentleman always lets ladies go first.” Ross did an exaggerated bow.

  “Okay, you go first Madison.”

  Madison set her ball on the green and did a few practice swings, then sailed her ball into the hole.

  Stacia was next. Her swing was awkward, but she still managed to make a hole in one.

  Mason followed suit with ease as did Ross.

  “We’re all even.” Madison wrote down their scores. “But it gets harder as you go.”

  She was right. Their next stop had a slight curve to the green, but they all managed to make it.

  The third hole had a hill to it and Stacia missed.

  “Come on, Aunt Stacia, you can do it.” Madison encouraged.

  “Remember I never claimed to be good at it.” Stacia laughed as she missed her second try.

  “Here, let me help.” Ross put his hand over hers on her club.

  She jerked away. “It’s not a big deal. I’m just trying to have fun.”

  “Let him help you, Aunt Stacia.” Mason pinched his nose closed with his finger and thumb. “You really stink.”

  “Oh do I now?”

  “You really could use some lessons.” Madison leaned on her club. “You like putt-putt so much. Why not let Uncle Ross teach you, so you can be good at it?”

  Stacia let out a big breath. “Okay, go ahead and try.”

  “First thing you should do is relax.” He gripped her shoulders and she stiffened more, so he let go. “Now align your feet side by side. Good.” He touched her hand on the club and she flinched. “Move your grip up a little.”

  Standing just behind her, he covered both of her hands with his, which made her stiffen up again. “Now make sure your swing is lined up with the ball, give it a smooth tap, and follow through.” He let go of her, stepped back. “Now relax. You try.”

  She did a shoulder roll, swung and putted. Her ball bounced, hit the hill and plunked in the gravel outside the green.

  “Whoa. I didn’t think you could get worse.” Mason laughed.

  “You definitely need more lessons, Aunt Stacia.” Madison tried to contain her giggles.

  “No more lessons.” Stacia retrieved her ball, took two more putts to make the hole, then stepped aside so Mason could have his turn. “Just let me have fun and get through the course.”

  But it was obvious she wasn’t having any.

  The final shipment was set for Saturday. Whatever weather the hurricane blew at them should be cleared out by then. Then Ross would go home. And when his folks came to meet the twins, he’d try to skip it. He’d had enough of Stacia Keyes to last him a lifetime. His only choice was to get her out of his system.

  * * *

  Silence reined between Stacia and Ross in the workshop the next day, until she almost longed for small talk. Almost. Their close encounter at the putt-putt golf course had haunted her thoughts since.

  But the twins should be home any minute and she’d escape his presence for the rest of the day. One more workday and they should be able to complete the B and B order. And then what?

  “I’ve made a decision.” Ross tested the sturdiness of the coffee bar he’d just completed.

  Could he read her thoughts? “And?”

  “We should be able to finish the order tomorrow, right?”

  “Yes.”


  “Once we get everything done, I’ll help you get the delivery truck loaded and then I’m going home. To Houston. To help prepare in case the hurricane hits and tell my folks about Madison and Mason. They’ll probably want to come here to meet the twins, but I’m not coming back to Medina. Once we set up a visitation schedule, I’ll see Mason and Madison in Bandera and eventually when they come to Houston.”

  “Okay.” Resignation tinged her tone. If his parents went along with his plan and didn’t take her to court, everything would be okay. Except that she’d miss Ross.

  His phone rang. He hesitated, then answered. “Hey Mom.”

  Stacia’s nerve endings pulled taut.

  “Now?” His gaze caught hers. “Well, I guess it’s time to tell you—I’m not there. I never made it there.”

  Her mind raced. Something was up, she could tell by his jerky movements.

  “No. I’m with a—a friend—about an hour from Papaw’s place. It’s a long story. In fact, I was planning to come home in a few days and tell y’all all about it. But now—” He ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’ll send you the address. Okay, see you then.” He ended the call.

  She held her breath.

  “There’s an evacuation order in effect for Houston. Looks like I won’t have time to go home.” He slipped his phone back in his pocket. “They were planning on going to my grandparents’ ranch in Hondo.”

  “So what address are you sending them?” She ground the words out between clenched teeth.

  “Yours. They’re coming here to meet my friend before they go on to Papaw’s.”

  “What?” All the blood drained from her face.

  “It’s time to tell them anyway. I was going home to do just that.”

  “But I thought I’d have a little time.” Free of him, for her nerves to settle before his parents showed up.

  “I did too. But the hurricane threw everything off.”

  “When will they be here?”

  “Tomorrow night. I’ll reserve them a cabin in Bandera. And they’ve got some kind of surprise for me.”

  “Tomorrow?” she squeaked. Who cared about his surprise?

  “When they get here, I’ll just tell them what’s going on and they can meet the twins.”