by Tina Leonard
“And four is…?”
“Just right.” Pete nodded. “Someone needs to watch the children.”
Dane raised his brows, some jealousy steaming his gut. “You’re raising your hand for babysitting?”
Pete shrugged. “They’re pretty cool little babies.”
Dane sat opposite his brother, wondering why he chafed so at his brother’s interest in Suzy’s children. “Why don’t we just take the group somewhere else?”
“Because you’ve already invoked the magic of rodeo, and anything else would be a disappointment.” Pete’s mouth turned down. “But we don’t go until after twelve.”
“What is your problem?” Dane demanded, and then the lightbulb went on. “Jack’s riding!”
Pete shrugged.
“He is, isn’t he?”
“Guess we’ll find out,” Pete said, a little sullenly.
“How do you know he is?” Dane asked, completely ignoring his brother’s sour expression.
“Someone sent me a text that Jack had entered. Sure enough, he has. I checked with a buddy who’s riding, and he said Jack’s name was in the draw.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to see him?” Dane thought it’d be great to see his brother again.
“Because he doesn’t want to see us,” Pete snapped. “Didn’t you get the hint when he was in the hospital last summer?”
Dane blinked. “Apparently not.”
“He’s never coming back. You can bank on that, and Pop can just get over it. This happy family gathering he’s cooked up is only going to go so far.” Pete shook his head. “Jack doesn’t care about money, not Pop’s, anyway.”
“He’s going to be within miles,” Dane murmured, “and he won’t even swing by the ranch?”
“Nope,” Pete said, “why should he? This isn’t his home, any more than it is yours or mine. Unlike Jack, we’re here for the money.” He sighed, not sounding happy about it.
“Yeah.” But his plan felt like it was slipping away, thanks to Suzy. She, too, was on the ranch for money, and yet, she had so much affection for Pop that he knew she was also here because she wanted to be. He didn’t, and Pete didn’t, either. “I’m going to talk to Jack.”
“Suit yourself.”
Dane’s nostrils flared. “That night was not my fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just happened. It’s no reason for him to not want to be on speaking terms with his own brothers.”
“Okay,” Pete said, “but Pop told him he was trouble. Told him he would never amount to anything, and he wasn’t going to drag us down with him. How do you expect Jack to feel?”
Like crap, which is how he would have felt. “I think we should overcome the old man’s spirit by welcoming Jack back into the fold.”
“While you take the old man’s money,” Pete said, annoyed, and Dane grinned.
“Be a jackass kind of thing to do, wouldn’t it? Something the old man himself would do? Take the money and run?”
Pete looked at him. “The assignment was that we all live under this roof and learn to be a family.”
“What better way to be a family than to bring back the prodigal son for the even more prodigal father?” Dane asked. “All we can do is give it a shot.”
“All right, Ranger,” Pete finally said after reflecting for a moment. “One shot. And that’s all we’re loading into the family firearm. Deal?”
“Deal,” Dane said, satisfied that the strained family relations would finally receive a bandage, no matter how small.
Chapter Six
Early the next morning, before the sun was even warming the cold ground, Suzy packed her toddlers into Cricket’s car. “This is going to be fun, girls.”
Dane peered into the other side of her car. “There’s plenty of room in my truck.”
“We’ll follow,” Cricket said, and Suzy nodded. “You guys may want to stay later than we can—nap time can come quickly—and besides, car seats take up more room than you realize.” Dane wasn’t used to packing for twins; he didn’t have any idea how much gear had to go along with two active young children. Anyway, she felt safer emotionally this way. If at any time the girls were cranky, she and Cricket could leave. Should Dane get tired of the busy antics of toddlers, she could put the girls in the car and say goodbye before hard feelings developed. After all, they were already living under one roof—it was best to keep matters as separate as possible, and very, very professional.
“You’re definitely keeping that man in wait mode,” Cricket said as they strapped themselves into her car.
“No, I’m not,” Suzy said. “I’m keeping a smart amount of distance between us. Wise is the woman who doesn’t mix business and pleasure.”
“I respect that,” Cricket said. “Just as long as you have a plan.”
“I do. Put money in the bank, pay my bills, and know that I’ve done my job well. That’s the plan.”
“So will you go back to work at the hospital after the year of employment at the ranch is up?”
Cricket turned onto the main road, and Suzy watched the cold, tree-rich landscape rush by as they followed Dane’s truck. She could smell crispness in the air, feel winter’s chill seeping into her boots despite the car heater. “I plan to. The girls’ medical insurance is covered for now under an extension plan I bought, but I’ll want something more affordable soon enough. And I don’t want to fall behind in the job market.”
“And if Mr. Morgan wants you to stay on?”
Suzy shook her head. “My understanding is that once the year is up, and the brothers are no longer at the ranch, Mr. Morgan may sell it.”
“Really?”
“He just kept it for his sons,” Suzy said softly, “but they don’t know that. In fact, I think he’s already had several offers he’s pondering.”
“He wouldn’t give first right of refusal to his sons?”
“I don’t know,” Suzy said, thinking of Mr. Morgan’s medical condition. She was pretty certain he had to have a pretty tight timetable for wrapping up his considerable estates.
“What if something should happen to him before this family experiment is over?”
That was a question she, too, had contemplated. “He must have some provision in place, but I’m not aware of what it is. He told me a few things in confidence, but nothing that pertains to what he has planned for the future.”
“You’re doing the right thing by not letting yourself fall for Dane,” Cricket said. “He’d probably never want to settle down as long as there’re all these issues with his family.”
“I’ve got plenty of issues of my own,” Suzy said, “and the last thing I want to do is deal with them. However, he might be totally excited about a deacon,” she teased.
“Would you believe both of those men are a bit too wild for me?” Cricket asked with a glance at Suzy. “Could you have ever guessed?”
“We’re practical women,” Suzy said. “Wild men are not our thing. See how easy it is to stay single?”
SUZY THOUGHT STAYING SINGLE was the easiest thing she’d ever do in her life—until she saw Priscilla Perkins make a beeline for Dane and Pete the instant they got out of the truck at the rodeo grounds.
Cricket gasped. “What is Priscilla doing here?”
“I called her. Where better to check out very fit bachelors?” Suzy helped her daughters out of the car, standing each girl steadily on her feet. She smiled at Sandra and Nicole in their little cowgirl hats Pete had given them. “You two are so cute. We’re going to have to get pictures of you with a rodeo clown or something.” She refused to look Dane’s way as he was accosted by the gorgeous woman. She didn’t feel stirrings of jealousy; she wasn’t interested in Dane.
Sure I am. Who am I kidding? I’d have to have a screw loose not to be—
“Suzy!” Priscilla exclaimed as she realized Pete and Dane were in a group with Suzy and Cricket. “How have you been, sugar?”
She gave Suzy a smack-smack kiss, and then one for Cricket. “And these must be yo
ur girls! Hello, angels,” Priscilla said in a sweet voice, “I’m Miss Priscilla! What little dolls!”
Suzy smiled at her friend. “You look well, Priscilla.”
“And you do, too! Especially for a woman who carried twins!” Priscilla shuddered delicately. “I don’t know how you did it, darling. And you look just fine.”
Cricket picked up Sandra so that Suzy could take Nicole. “Dane, would you mind showing us to our seats? Priscilla, we need to get the girls inside. It’s too cold out here for them.”
“Oh, of course! You just come on in here and join me and my family in our box,” Priscilla said, her voice high and friendly as she ate up Dane and Pete with her lovely eyes. “We have plenty of room!”
Suzy’s heart ripped a little, just a small tear, when Dane and Pete grinned at the vivacious Priscilla, who smiled up at them adoringly. But this was an excellent time to prove to herself that the kiss Dane had pressed so hungrily against her lips had meant nothing to him at all.
DANE CONSIDERED HIMSELF a student when it came to women. He prided himself on not stepping into dumb situations where ladies were concerned. As a Ranger, he’d broken up a catfight or two, so he knew the signs of female manipulation. But Pete, the big dummy, was eying Priscilla as if she were a Christmas gift waiting to be unwrapped.
This was great. It was kind of fun watching Pete get tied around a woman’s finger so easily.
“Let me help you carry one of the girls.” Turning to Suzy, he took Nicole from her and followed the Pete-and-Priscilla show. They all walked inside together—so far, so good, Dane thought with satisfaction.
At that moment, a gate crashed open. The audience gasped. Their group turned to look at the cowboy being flung back and forth and up and down by the bull that had rushed from the chute. Dane felt a moment of camaraderie for the cowboy—until he realized it was Jack. Caught by the spectacle, he could only stare as he watched his brother flail wildly on the bull determined to get rid of him. The bull wheeled around, and Dane saw that Jack had no intention of getting bucked off. It was him and the bull locked in an epic struggle of domination. Sweat broke out along Dane’s upper lip as he remembered the night Jack had been so badly hurt. In a split second he realized he’d never forgiven himself for not standing up to Pop about sneaking out to watch Jack ride. He’d wanted Jack to win the buckle, win it all—and even back then he’d known he would always sneak out to watch Jack. In his eyes, Jack was a hero, big brother who thumbed his nose at life, living it his way.
The buzzer sounded and Jack jumped off, grabbing his black hat from a clown. Another clown headed the bull off toward the gate, but at the last second, it turned for one last jab at Jack.
Jack never moved. He held his ground, staring down the bull until the last second. Then Jack jumped up onto the rail. This time the clowns were successful at shooing the bull away from another encore. Dane’s breath left him in a pained rush.
“Wow,” Cricket said, “I never saw anything like that in my life!”
She’d seen lots of rodeos, no doubt, so she could only be talking about Jack, and the way he’d hung on, cheating the bull of his victory. Dane watched as Cricket stepped closer to the rail, her gaze caught by Jack, who sat calmly dusting off his hat. After a moment, he glanced up, spying Cricket. A slow grin spread over Jack’s face—until he realized Cricket wasn’t alone, and that she was, in fact, surrounded by his own brothers.
Then he melted into the breezeway.
Dane realized Jack had never glanced up when the announcer called his score. Once he’d beaten the bull, he was done.
“He’s gone,” Pete said. “We’ll not see him again today.”
Cricket whirled. “Who was it?”
“Our brother,” Dane said tightly. “The best one.”
But he knew Pete was right. Jack was gone.
“This family experiment isn’t going to work,” he told Pete. “We weren’t meant to be a functioning family unit.”
“I know,” Pete said. “Come on. Let’s get in Priscilla’s box.”
“Dane?” Suzy’s voice came to him, shifting the blur of anger and guilt he felt. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” he said, holding Suzy’s daughter tighter in his arms.
“That was cool to get to see your brother ride,” Suzy said. “A moment later and we would have missed him.” She followed him up into an enclosed seating area and he helped her set the children carefully on the long plank seats.
“Yeah, cool,” he said. His mind was buzzing. What was it that drove them, all of the brothers, to run from their feelings for Pop? Why not just dig in their heels, ride the bull of fate until all the bad memories just wore away? Wasn’t that what forgiveness was all about?
“Suzy,” he said suddenly, “let me get you some popcorn. Cricket, can you watch the girls for a minute?”
Cricket nodded, and Priscilla said, “I’ll help, too,” and that made Pete light up. Quite the love triangle, Dane thought, but it didn’t matter, because he had other plans than participating in the useless fairy tale of romantic love. “Suzy,” he said as they walked down the stairs again, “I’ve got a business proposition for you.” He halted in the breezeway and she looked up at him curiously.
“Business proposition?” she repeated.
He told his heart to quit thundering—business deals were conducted every day and this was the only way to get to Mexico and the land of gentle palm trees without being Pop’s lackey. Pop didn’t get it, anyway—his dream was never going to happen. “Yes. This one’s pretty simple as business propositions go.” He took a deep breath, shook his head to clear it, checked his conscience for guilt—none—and bit the proverbial bullet.
“If you marry me for one year,” he said, “I’ll split my inheritance with you.”
Chapter Seven
Suzy stared up at Dane, wondering if he was having some type of meltdown after seeing his brother. It was the only thing she could think of that would make him utter such a far-fetched proposal. Coldness tinged his words, letting her know that this was a man who was running from something. “Dane, you don’t want to marry me.”
“I don’t want to marry anyone,” he said, “but the truth is, I need you, Suzy.”
She shook her head. “You don’t need anyone.”
He put his hand on her arm for just a split second, warming her skin. “I do need you. You’re the woman my father wanted me to marry. I’m simply falling in with his plan like a good soldier.”
“You don’t believe that,” she said. “Your father is many things, but a matchmaker isn’t one of them.”
“Don’t kid yourself. He had this all planned. At this point, I think he’s a saint for giving me a way out.”
“I don’t understand.” She really didn’t. He had a wild look in his eyes—the same expression his brother Jack had worn when he rode the bull—and she had the feeling that this man, this Dane Morgan, was the same man who’d stolen a kiss from her.
“It’s complicated. But if I marry you, I’ll get my money. And I need to do that so that I can get out of here for good.”
That certainly wasn’t the marriage proposal she’d dreamed of receiving. Suzy wrinkled her nose. “As much as I’d like to help you, I don’t want to marry you. Something tells me it would be a very bad idea, and I try to avoid bad ideas.”
“Neither of us is a fan of getting hitched. That’s why we’re perfect for each other,” he pointed out.
But Suzy wasn’t so sure. “We’re not perfect for each other.” She began walking down the breezeway to break the spell between them. “Believe me, I’d love to have the money, but not that badly.”
Catching her hand, he spun her toward him, ignoring the passersby who briefly stared at them. “Then consider what having my last name might mean to your daughters.”
That was a cruel twist—one that went to the heart of the regret she held inside her. Of course she wanted Sandra and Nicole to have a father’s last name. But lots of children d
idn’t have the perfect family life, and she’d made peace with the fact that her girls would have to learn to be proud of being raised by a single mother. People in the town of Union Junction knew she was a good person, so she’d put the worry out of her mind.
Or so she’d thought, until Dane dangled her most secret desire in front of her like a golden key. She lifted her chin, pulled her hand from his. “Listen, buster, I don’t know you well enough for you to presume such a personal conversation with me,” she said bravely. “Leave my daughters out of this. Your problem is your own. I’m sorry I can’t help.” She waited, her heart thundering, knowing that if she turned and walked away again, he’d simply catch her hand one more time—and this time, she might say yes.
She did want to say yes. She wanted what he offered.
Yet something warned her that there was a baited hook inside the shimmering waters of the proposal he offered.
“I should have asked you more romantically,” he said, “but I’m not a very romantic guy, first off, and second, I’m trying to live more in the moment these days.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have said yes if you’d had a truck full of roses.”
“I’m not asking you to hang with me for the long haul. Just a year,” he said. “Only three hundred sixty-three days, actually. There’s no downside to this for you.”
“I beg to differ,” she said coolly. “It would be cheating your father. And I’m not going to do that.”
“Cheating my father?”
She nodded. “Josiah has been very good to me and my girls. He’s given us a home and employment and college money. You can’t know how much that means to me.” She hesitated, then decided to be completely honest. “My parents don’t want anything to do with my girls. Perhaps knowing that, you can understand how much it means to have your father’s total acceptance and even affection for my children. So you see,” she said, softening her voice, “I really couldn’t participate in scamming your dad.”
For a moment, Dane stared at her, shaking his head, she thought, in amazement or consternation, or perhaps it was genuine puzzlement. Maybe he simply couldn’t figure out why she felt such loyalty to Mr. Morgan.
