The Cowboy's Twin Surprise Read online

  He frowned at the unfamiliar word. “That’s the first time I’ve heard her say that. How did I miss it?”

  Jessie cast an irritated look in his direction then moved to console the second weeping baby of the night.

  “Shhh…honey, your Di-Di is right here. See, there?” She pointed at Daisy who was stretching both arms to her twin.

  “When did she start calling her sister that?” he asked, adjusting the babe in his arms.

  “This morning at breakfast. C’mon, Poppy. Here’s your stuffed tiger. Time to go back to sleep, sweetie.”

  He returned Daisy to her bed where she quickly curled up with her toy lion and stuck her thumb in her mouth. Walking to the other crib, he planted a kiss on top of Poppy’s little head as the child quieted. “Night-night, baby girl.” Then he yawned and glanced at his watch. More sleep sounded good. He could still catch a couple of hours before he had to be at the stables. “Poppy seems to be settling down. I’m going back to bed.”

  “Great. Thanks.” Jessie let her voice ooze sarcasm as she shooed him away. “Men,” she grumbled to the wide-eyed little girl who promptly tossed her tiger out of the crib. “Can’t live with ’em—can’t live without ’em.”

  She could live without a man. Pregnancy and all. She’d told herself that, even before she and Brian had parted ways. In fact, she’d grown almost comfortable with the idea…until this rugged rancher crossed her path. Stopped her in her tracks. Changed her thinking about the boy he’d been and the man he had become.

  She glanced toward the door Chase had exited moments earlier looking all tired and rumpled in faded jeans and that wrinkled blue shirt he’d likely thrown on right before coming to little Daisy’s rescue. The guy she’d walked away from all those years ago was as much at home comforting his sleepy baby niece as he was running this vast family business. He didn’t shun responsibility. He met it head-on. Did the right thing.

  And looks so fine doing it.

  Moaning softly, she retrieved the stuffed toy and placed it next to Poppy, whose eyes were beginning to look blessedly drowsy. Then she pulled one of the rocking chairs closer and sank onto it.

  She’d been too harsh with him, and she wasn’t sure why. Unless… Could it be because this good man was willing to lose sleep to care for his sister’s child when the father of her baby didn’t have a whit of interest in caring for his own? Because she’d made herself believe men like Chase didn’t exist? Because he roused feelings in her she’d nearly given up on?

  He gave her hope.

  She touched her hand to her stomach. Did she have time for that?

  Chapter Eight

  “Hey, Milo. How are the repairs coming along at the lodge?” Chase grabbed a pair of work gloves from the bench inside the tack room. “Any glitches?”

  “Not a one. We’ll have it wrapped up before calving season and keep this operation running smoothly, boss. By the way, how are the twins doing without Mama Charlotte? You hangin’ in there?”

  “The girls are fine. Birdie’s a lifesaver, and since Jessie got here, everything is kind of falling into place.” He’d walked out of the house this morning leaving behind two happy babies babbling.

  Man alive. Who would have thought that could happen?

  “It’s starting to feel like home again.”

  “In more ways than one, eh?”

  “Yeah. Jess can have kind of a superior attitude about how to raise kids, at times. But she’s getting the job done. In fact, finding her is the best thing that’s happened to me lately. Maybe ever.”

  “You really like this gal.” Milo reached for a halter. “She seems a good fit for you, as far as I can see. I guess, I noticed her right away. But then, I always did fancy a redhead.”

  Chase grinned. Me, too. Specifically, this one.

  “Birdie said she’s someone you already knew?”

  “Years ago. But she moved away, and I never thought I’d see her again, let alone hire her for something here at the ranch.”

  “Hmm…” Milo scratched his chin. “Maybe you got somethin’ more going on? Let’s face it, you’re not gettin’ any younger. And you’re likely gonna raise Daisy and Poppy. Sorry, boss, but that sister of yours ain’t too keen on responsibility.”

  True enough. No sense arguing.

  “And with those babies in your care now, well, maybe it’s time to think about something more permanent. You know, settling down.”

  Marriage. Family. Commitment. Chase hadn’t had thoughts like that in years. Then Jessie showed up, all sassy, accomplished, and capable. And so damn pretty he had a hard time looking away.

  “It’d be good for you to have a woman like her, boss. My Betsy was a gem. We were married thirty-nine years when I lost her.” Milo cleared his throat roughly. “Kind of hard being alone sometimes.”

  Chase gave his foreman’s shoulder a squeeze. “If you ever feel like having some company, I think you’re on Birdie’s radar.” He’d never taken a stab at matchmaking, but these two good people just might make a fine pair.

  “I do like stopping at the house once in a while. You know, to sit a spell with her. But Birdie’s been a friend for years. Not sure she could see me in any other light.”

  Chase chuckled. Milo must be misreading the clues. “Those lemon bars she bakes say otherwise.”

  “They are my favorite.” Milo slapped a hand across his ample middle. “And I’ve put on a couple of pounds because of them.”

  “No one else eats them, so I figured you’re the intended target.”

  “Hey, boss, this could turn into a bright sunshiny day after all.”

  Chase pointed skyward at the ominous gathering clouds. “Or not.” He flicked the brim of his hat. “I have a couple of things to do at the lodge before bad weather sets in.”

  “I was just headin’ that way to check the water lines.”

  “Nah, I got it. Go enjoy dessert with the best baker Montana has to offer.”

  He walked toward the nearest stall. Milo and Birdie together? That could work out well. It would be nice to see a happy ending for a change.

  A large black horse stuck its big head out over the gate and whinnied.

  “Ready to go for a ride, boy?” Chase asked. “We have work to do.”

  ****

  “C’mon, Daisy Jane! You can do it.”

  Daisy squealed in delight as she picked up a small, green-striped ball with both hands and placed it carefully into one cup of the muffin tin.

  “Yay! That’s my girl! How clever you are!” Jessie grinned with pure joy and pushed a few balls over toward Poppy. “Your turn, sweetie. Pick a color. Show me what you’ve learned.”

  Dropping the wooden blocks in her hands, the child grabbed a larger yellow ball and plopped it into the pan.

  “There you go! Wonderful! Let’s do a few more. Then we’ll have supper with Miss Birdie.”

  Poppy quickly crawled over to Jessie’s side and scooped up a small silver one with blue stars on it, putting it up to her mouth.

  “No, no, cutie. In the cup, right here.”

  The ball landed in the tin with a ping, and the little girl’s grin widened as she clapped her hands.

  “See? You did it! Great job. One more for your sister, then it’s time to eat.”

  Daisy scrambled to pick up an ordinary golf ball and dropped it easily into the muffin tin.

  “That’s my girl. Good, good job. Both of you.”

  Jessie sighed wistfully. I love these kids. How am I ever going to turn them over to someone else’s care?

  She stood slowly and started collecting the muffin tin, balls, and blocks, placing everything on the coffee table. “You girls are smart and adorable.” She scooped Poppy into her arms. “I need to buy some new toys for you. Maybe some things for Peanut, too. And I’ve got to stop talking to myself,” she added in a whisper. You’ll be here soon enough for me to talk to in person, my little one.

  Just then, Daisy grabbed the edge of the coffee table and pulled herself easi
ly up into a standing position.

  “Wow, sweetie, you are getting so strong!” Jessie’s eyes suddenly stung with the threat of tears. These precious babies are growing up too fast, and their mom is missing it all. How could Charlotte not care enough to be here? She blinked a few times. Okay, okay, get control of your emotions, pregnant lady.

  “Nana, nana!” Daisy’s squeaky voice snapped her back to the present.

  “Hungry, babe?” Their word for banana had become the all-purpose name for any food. “Something smells scrumptious, doesn’t it? Meatloaf, I think.”

  Jessie reached to take a tiny hand in hers. “C’mon, kids. Let’s see what’s cooking in the kitchen. One step, two step, here we go.” She shifted a wiggly Poppy a bit in her arm, but the child kept squirming. “You want to walk, too?” She eased little feet to the floor, and Poppy squealed in delight as she teetered away in a staggering gait.

  Jessie laughed in surprise. “Whoa, there, sweetie! Great job, but slow down.” She reached for the little girl’s hand to help steady her steps. “Let’s make it to mealtime without bumps or bruises. Hey, Birdie, come see this!”

  The housekeeper peeked curiously through the kitchen doorway. “Well, look at you two. Walking a mile a minute.”

  “Pretty amazing, eh?” Jessie responded as a steady reassurance warmed her heart. I’m doing a good job with the girls, and I know they’re good for me. She couldn’t have been more proud if they belonged to her.

  “Looks like you’re all working up a good appetite. C’mon in the kitchen, ladies.” Birdie headed toward the stove. “Let me turn off the oven, and then it’s time to belly up to the table. No need to wait on Chase. He’s running late.”

  Jessie placed Daisy into a high chair first and then reached for Poppy, easing the child into the seat. “I’ve been thinking, we need to shop for some educational toys for the girls. I’m trying to make do with what we have, but Charlotte didn’t leave much for them.”

  “Good idea. Why don’t you check online and see what you can find?” She picked up bright yellow and orange sippy cups. “Here’s the milk, and there’s a few little bits of cheese to start on. Peas and mashed potatoes are on the way.”

  As the kids sampled some of their food items. Jessie wearily eased into a chair. Ah…a moment of welcome rest.

  The meatloaf sandwich Birdie placed in front of her smelled wonderful, and she scooped it up and enjoyed a warm bite. The off and on queasiness wreaked havoc with her appetite most days, but, for the moment, she was famished. She reached for a napkin as she watched Poppy busily moving peas into one pile and cheese bits into another stack before squishing the mashed potatoes flat with one hand.

  Jessie crossed her legs and leaned in to steady a tilting sippy cup. “Poppy, you’re drinking all of your milk, but not eating many bites of food, little girl.”

  “New behaviors every day,” Birdie commented. “Never know what to expect. Yesterday, this one scarfed down everything, and Daisy was the finicky one. Here, Jessie, finish eating while I watch them. You never seem to eat much. You’re always so busy with the babies.”

  It isn’t always the babies. Morning sickness played a part, as well. Jessie fidgeted in her chair. Her pregnancy wasn’t something she wanted to share just yet. She’d really thought she’d be on her own before she started to show, but time was running out. The scales had ticked up another pound this morning. “Well, taking care of the girls is what I’m here for. But during their nap this morning, I did find time to make a call about the Taylor property that’s for sale.”

  Birdie’s head jerked in Jessie’s direction, and her eyes slightly narrowed.

  That news certainly didn’t land well. Jessie cleared her throat and reached for the water glass next to her plate, taking a quick drink.

  “You’re interested in the late attorney’s old house?” The housekeeper’s tone sounded almost accusatory.

  “Yes. The price is a little high, but I want to go through the place to see how much work is needed.” She hesitated. Her excitement about the Taylor property was waning quickly in light of what it meant. Leaving Daisy and Poppy. That had been the plan since day one, but Jessie felt nowhere near ready to walk away from the babies she’d bonded with. Should she ask the obvious question? Did she really want to know? “Have you heard from the employment agency about a nanny?”

  Birdie frowned, her brows knitting together sharply. “Aren’t you happy here? You thinking of leaving us already?”

  “Not soon. Actually, I’m quite happy.” It couldn’t last forever, but for now, she felt content, calm, and settled. Just wishful thinking to hope for more. Wasn’t it? “I guess I’ll enjoy it while I can. But have you heard anything more about a possible permanent replacement?”

  “Nah.” Birdie scraped up a few peas on a spoon. “Come on, Twinny. Have a little taste.” Then she turned to Jessie. “You know, I don’t think Chase is trying too hard to find someone because you’re such a natural with babies. Ever think about having one of your own?”

  Do I give off some kind of mother-to-be vibe? She forced a smile and nodded. “Definitely. When the time is right.” Or when it’s not. Some of the best things in life are the surprises, right? She sure hoped so.

  “C’mon, li’l darlin’. A bitty bite of veggies,” Birdie coaxed. But the child shoved the spoon away and sent the peas flying. “All righty, then. I guess the milk filled you up.”

  Daisy finished her serving and reached for Poppy’s tray, trying to grab her sister’s share of dinner as Barlow chomped his way through morsels of food dropping to the floor, one by one.

  Jessie passed a couple of tiny cheese bites to Daisy. “I’m wondering if we should start thinking about stopping the bottles soon? They’re doing better with these cups. What do you think?”

  “Ooh.” Birdie made the clucking noise with her tongue. “That will never fly.” She shook her head. “Chase will be moody and downright disagreeable about that.”

  “Why so?”

  “I think he really enjoys sitting in there at night, reading to them while they take their bottles. And the babies like it.”

  Me, too. Jessie loved hearing him reading to the girls in the nursery right next to her room. The deep, rich tone of his voice—what a pleasant sound. It almost felt like he was reading to her little one, too. Such tenderness from this cowboy, she hadn’t expected. But she was finding it in him, more and more each day.

  “Maybe we should wait a while on the bottles, Birdie. No need to rush things.”

  “Seems like your child-rearing skills are pretty spot on. Is that because you grew up in a big family?”

  “Six kids.” She wiped Daisy’s fingers and mouth with a clean cloth. “To be honest, I enjoyed getting away when I moved to Seattle. After all those years babysitting siblings, I was ready for a break.” Ready wasn’t a big enough word. What a relief it had been to be on her own for a while.

  “Where were you in the line-up?”

  “Second after my brother, Jonas.” She wasn’t the firstborn, but may as well have been, given how little help her older sibling offered. “So, I mostly looked after all the younger ones.”

  “Whether you wanted to or not, eh?”

  She shrugged. Sometimes the truth hurt. No sense discussing a past that couldn’t be changed.

  “How young were you when you started playing mom?” Birdie wiped Poppy’s hands, then lifted her from the high chair and placed her in the large playpen in the corner.

  “Around five, I guess.” Although she really couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t borne the responsibility of looking after the younger kids. “I got used to it.”

  Picking up Daisy, she let her join her sister. Jessie grabbed up a few colorful plastic bowls and offered them to the twins like she used to do years ago with her own siblings when they were just toddlers. Poppy put the largest on her head like a helmet, and Jessie laughed softly.

  “Too cute!”

  But when Daisy slapped her hand hard agai
nst the bowl, her sister’s face puckered into crying mode.

  Jessie gasped. “No, no, sweetie! No hitting. Let’s stack them, okay? Like this.” She pulled the big bowl from Poppy’s head and proceeded to place one inside the other.

  “And what was Mom doing while you were chasing after little brothers and sisters?”

  “Cleaning and cooking. She basically lived in the kitchen.”

  “That didn’t irk you? I mean, babies kept coming and your childhood was eaten up with things you shouldn’t have had to do. If it’d been me, I’d have been sniping and griping.”

  “I’m pretty good at staying focused and doing what needs to be done. Makes me a better lawyer.” She had to admit that it actually had helped her in several ways. “A better nanny, too.”

  Grabbing a clean cloth, she began wiping down the messy high chairs. How did the girls get so much food smeared underneath the tray?

  The clock chimed loudly, and Jessie glanced at the time. Seven o’clock. “Why is Chase so late tonight?” He rarely missed an evening meal with the girls.

  “He texted he was running pretty late helping Milo at the lodge. He doesn’t like missing out on dinner with everyone and putting the babies to bed. That’s for sure.” Birdie piled the few dirty dishes into the sink. “As soon as I get these washed up, I’ll be heading out. Tell him there’s a plate in the fridge. He just needs to pop it into the microwave. Don’t forget the fresh marshmallows in the cupboard, if you want to make hot chocolate this evening. And there’s jam cake for dessert. My grandma’s recipe.”

  “And it’s amazing!” Jessie declared. “Best. Cake. Ever.”

  Birdie chuckled. “Thanks. If you want the recipe, I’ll jot it down.”

  She raised a hand to decline the offer. “Trust me, I’m not much of a baker. Can we just keep you here forever, creating those incredible desserts for us?”

  “I’m game.” Her face creased into a generous smile. “It’s so nice having you around here to talk to. I’m sure glad Chase ran into you at the employment agency.”

  “Me, too. Definitely. Do you have any kids?” she asked, fussing with one of Daisy’s loose socks. When Birdie didn’t reply, the silence drew her gaze curiously to her new friend’s stricken expression.