Harlequin American Romance October 2013 Bundle: Twins Under the Christmas Tree\Big Sky Christmas\Her Wyoming Hero\A Rancher's Christmas (12 page)

Sensing Dixie would rather not discuss her mother, Isi asked, “Where did you sleep, if your brothers used these two rooms?”

“Follow me.” Dixie walked to a door at the end of the hall. “This used to be an old linen closet. When I came along, Grandpa Ely knocked out the back wall of the closet and sealed off a portion of the attic, turning it into a bedroom for me.” Dixie ducked inside and Isi followed.

“This is adorable.” Isi's gaze took in the slanted ceiling and stained-glass window near the roof line. A second window had been cut into the side of the house to hold an air conditioner. “You must have felt like a princess in a castle tower.”

“You're the only one who's ever come in here and said that. My brothers view it as a cramped, unappealing attic,” Dixie said.

“This is definitely a girl's room and it should never be changed.”

“I agree. Let me show you the bathroom. It has all the original fixtures.”

When they stepped into the hallway, the bathroom door opened and Shannon emerged, her skin pale.

Dixie rushed forward, but Shannon held up a hand. “Don't say a word.”

“How far along are you?” Dixie asked.

“Two months, but—” Shannon wiped at a tear that escaped her eye.

“But,” Isi said, her expression softening. “Because Dixie had a miscarriage you're afraid it might happen to you, too.”

Dixie frowned. “Conway told you?”

Isi nodded.

“It's true, Dix. I've been so worried, thinking about what you went through. I don't want to tell Johnny until I'm sure everything will be okay. All he talks about is how cute Nate is and how it would be fun having our own baby.” Shannon winced. “He's got my father pestering me for grandchildren.”

“I thought you were going to wait to start a family?”

“We were, but...”

“Johnny really wants to be a father,” Dixie said. “He misses riding herd over me and our brothers.”

Isi wished Conway felt the same about fatherhood.

“Then by all means have kids now if it'll keep Johnny from sticking his nose in our business,” Dixie said.

“I want to surprise him at Christmas with the news.”

“Don't worry.” Dixie hugged Shannon. “Isi and I will keep your secret. In the meantime, smile and enjoy the moment. You're pregnant!”

The women went outside and Dixie took over watching Nate so Gavin could play football. Shannon sat on the swing with Dixie while Isi retrieved her disposable camera from her purse and snapped pictures of the game. This was the first Thanksgiving she and the boys hadn't spent alone, and she wanted more Conway memories for their scrapbooks.

Will stepped back to pass, but when he released the ball, Porter got his fingers on it, changing the flight path and sending it straight at Isi. Instinctively she put her hands out to protect her face and ended up catching the ball.

“Run, Isi, run!” Will shouted.

She raced down the steps and darted past hands that tried to capture her. Miguel and Javier ran alongside her then Will came out of nowhere. He scooped her into his arms and dodged his brothers. Isi clung to his neck, the football smashed between their bodies. When they whizzed past Conway, she caught him gaping.

Mack dove at them and Will stumbled. Isi buried her face in his neck and squeezed her eyes closed, bracing for impact. Right before they hit the ground, Will spun and Isi landed on top of him. Hanging on to her, he rolled Isi over the goal line and everyone erupted into cheers. Will broke out in laughter and she joined in. After a minute, he crawled to his feet and helped her off the ground then twirled her in the air.

“You won the game for us, Isi!” Will flashed a cocky grin at Conway who strode toward them.

“What the heck are you doing?” Conway said.

Isi attempted to step aside, but Will's arm tightened like a steel band against her waist.

“What do you mean, what am I doing?” Will said. “I'm celebrating our victory.” He smiled at Isi as he slid his hand over her hip. “We make a great team, don't we?”

“That's cheating.” Conway grabbed Isi by the arm and tugged her free of Will's hold.

Isi gasped. The two brothers weren't aware that everyone had stopped playing to watch them.

Will pulled Isi back to his side. “I didn't cheat.”

“Yes, you did.” Conway claimed her again.

“Isi's catch was made fair and square.” This time when Will reached for her, Johnny stepped between the brothers.

“I get the feeling that you two aren't talking football anymore.” Johnny narrowed his eyes. “It's Thanksgiving. Behave.”

Miguel and Javier wiggled their way between the adults and hugged Isi. “You won the game, Mom!” Miguel gave her a high five.

“Next year Isi's on our team.” Will's gaze challenged Conway.

“Time for dessert!” Dixie hollered from the porch.

“Before everyone fills up on pumpkin pie, we need to take a vote on whether or not any of us are interested in selling out to Bell Farms.”

“You know where I stand,” Conway said then walked toward the barn.

Isi rushed after him. Before she left she wanted to tell him that she'd found a new sitter. “Conway!”

He stopped and waited for her to catch up. “I need to talk to you.” When he didn't say anything, she asked, “Show me the pond?”

“Can we come, too?” Miguel skidded to a stop at Isi's side.

“Can we, Conway?” Javier asked.

“Lead the way.” He motioned for the boys to walk ahead. He wasn't in the best mood—not after watching Will plaster himself all over Isi as if she belonged to him.

Jealous?

Damn straight he was jealous. Some brother Will turned out to be—honing in on Isi. Conway should have never asked his brother to take her out on a date.

Then why did you
?

Because I thought he was harmless!
Will was supposed to have been a safe bet—a guy Conway could trust to show Isi a good time, not steal her out from under him.

You have no claim on her
.

He'd made love to Isi—that meant she was off-limits to his brothers—no exceptions.

As they strolled along the path that skirted the barn, Conway couldn't ignore how much he'd missed Isi the past few days. Why did she have to be the one who touched him in a way no other woman ever had? If he could go back in time and intercept the punch Bridget had thrown at Isi's nose, he would. Then all would be right in his world.

“I wanted you to know that I found a sitter for the boys,” she said.

“Who?”

“My neighbor Mrs. Sneed agreed to watch them.”

“Will she drive the boys to school and pick them up?”

“Yes.”

“And she's willing to stay late when you work at the bar?”

“Yes, but the boys will have to sleep at her house until I get home.”

“Why can't they sleep in their own beds?”

“Mrs. Sneed won't give up her television programs, and I don't have satellite TV.” Isi continued walking. “The boys will fall asleep quickly once they're back in their own beds.”

Conway didn't like the new arrangement for the twins.

You're not their father
.
You don't have a say
. Before he pestered Isi with more questions about her neighbor, the boys raced toward the pond.

“Wait for us!” he shouted. Once they reached the water's edge, he said, “Stay here.” Conway walked the perimeter of the pond then announced, “Coast is clear.”

“What were you doing?” she asked.

“Searching for snakes.”

Isi held fast to the boys' shirt collars. “Are you sure it's safe?”

“Positive. I haven't seen a snake in months. Not since Porter and Buck cleared out a den a mile from here last spring.”

She released her hold on the twins. “You can stick your toes in the water, but don't get your clothes wet.”

Mig and Javi removed their shoes and socks then waded a few feet into the water, squealing at the cold temperature.

“I can't thank you enough for all the help you've given me this semester,” she said. “I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't stepped up after Nicole left me high and dry.”

“I was glad to help.”

“Now you can get back to farming and not worry about interruptions.”

He'd finished the pecan harvest. All that remained to do was clean up the debris in the grove and next month prune the dead branches from the trees. He wouldn't be doing any of that if his siblings voted to sell out tonight.

As if Isi read his mind, she asked, “What was Johnny talking about when he said you were all supposed to cast a vote on selling the farm?”

“An agricultural company made an offer to buy the orchards.”

“You don't think they'll sell, do you?”

“I don't know. I'm the only one who's willing to harvest the pecans.”

“I can't picture your sister getting rid of the farmhouse. She loves your grandmother's home.”

“I'll find out later tonight.”

“If they decide to sell, what will you do?”

“Go back on the rodeo circuit full-time.” The prospect didn't excite him.

He changed the subject. “When's your graduation ceremony?”

“They don't have one for students who finish school in December.”

That wasn't right. Isi had worked her butt off to earn a degree. She deserved to celebrate her success. His gaze cut to the boys. Who would throw Isi a party—she had no family and her best friend was in California.

“Hey, Conway,” Miguel said. “Can we ride on your tractor?”

Now that Isi no longer needed him to babysit this might be the last time Miguel and Javier visited the farm. No more tractor rides. No more naps in the hammock. No more visits to the pond. “Sure. We better head back before it gets dark.”

The boys giggled and fell backward as they struggled to pull their socks on over wet feet.

Isi watched with a wry smile. “They're a riot, aren't they?”

Conway chuckled, but his chest felt as if it was cracking wide open. He was going to miss the little troublemakers more than he'd ever imagined.

Chapter Twelve

“I don't like Mrs. Sneed. She has bad breath,” Miguel said.

Her son made their neighbor sound like a troll who lived under a bridge. “It's not nice to talk about people like that.”

The Monday after Thanksgiving was proving to be a difficult one. The boys had been down in the dumps all weekend since they'd learned their neighbor would be babysitting them.

“How long does Mrs. Sneed gotta watch us?” Javier shoved a bite of hot dog into his mouth.

“I'll be finished with school in three weeks. Hopefully it won't be long before I find a new job and I'm able to stay home at night with you guys.”

Miguel grunted as he carried his empty plate to the sink.

“Is Red gonna be mad if you get a new job?” Javier asked.

“No, honey. He wants me to use the skills I learned in school.”

Javier took his plate to the sink. “What skills?”

“Stuff I learned how to do on the computer. Like keep track of product sales, orders and inventory.”

“What's a product?” Javier asked.

“An item that a business sells. A product at Red's bar would be a cheeseburger basket.”

Javier came back to the table and sat down. “Are toys products?”

“Yes.”

“Are we gonna get products for Christmas?” Miguel asked.

“I'm sure Santa will bring you a toy.”

Javier shook his head. “Katie said Santa isn't real.”

The boys' classmate was supposedly the smartest kid at their school. By the time she'd turned two, she'd probably figured out Santa Claus was a myth.

“You'll have to wait until Christmas morning to see that Santa isn't a fake.”

“Can we get a real tree this year?” Miguel asked.

She almost caved in just to erase the hangdog expressions from their faces. “No real tree but we'll string up Christmas lights on the trailer like we did last year.” There was no money in the budget for a real tree or an artificial one—not if she hoped to purchase Christmas gifts.

“Get your backpacks and I'll walk you over to Mrs. Sneed's.”

Isi prayed this day would go well and that the older woman would have patience with the twins, because if things didn't work out, she'd end up having to bring the boys to school with her and that was a no-win situation for everyone.

* * *

“H
OW
COME
YOU
let the twins color with their crayons all over the porch floor?” Will asked when he stopped next to Conway in front of the farmhouse.

“I didn't let them. They got bored with their coloring books.” He shrugged. “It wasn't a big deal. The porch needed painting anyway.”

Will motioned to the paint can in Conway's hand. “You're going to need more than one coat to cover the marks.”

“I think I can handle this.” He scowled. “What are you doing at the farm in the middle of the day?”

“I stopped by to pick up a shovel then I'm heading back out.” Will glanced behind him. “Where are the twins?”

“In school.” Conway hadn't told anyone that he'd stopped watching the boys. He wasn't sure if it was because he didn't want to answer their nosey questions or because he thought he might change his mind and reapply for the job.

“I get a kick out of the boys. Miguel never stops talking and—”

“What are your intentions toward Isi?” Conway set the paint can on the ground and faced his brother.

“What are you talking about?”

“You're always over at her trailer making repairs,” Conway said.

“I've been helping her out. So what? I enjoy her company. She's easy to talk to.”

Conway had been miffed at his brother since Thanksgiving when the twins had ignored him and followed Will around the farm all day like lost puppies. He'd didn't like being replaced.

Will eyed him suspiciously. “As a matter of fact, I'd planned to ask Isi out on a third date.”

A burning sensation spread through Conway's chest. “Isi's not the kind of girl you date casually, Will. She's got kids. She needs a guy who'll be a good father to the twins not a guy who only wants to get into her bed.”

“Who said I want to get into her bed?” Will grinned. “Not that I'd ever turn down an invitation from a pretty girl like—”

Before he realized what he was doing, Conway swung his fist, the punch hitting Will in the jaw. His brother stumbled backward and landed on his rump.

“What the hell did you do that for?” Will rubbed his jaw.

“Don't use Isi for sex.” Conway was more worried that Isi might want to use Will to warm her bed than the other way around.

Will stared thoughtfully at Conway. “You're in love with her, aren't you?” he said.

No!
Yes!
“Maybe.” He'd marry Isi in a heartbeat, but she had the twins...and Conway wasn't good enough to be their father. The boys deserved a man who would never turn his back on them.

Will got to his feet and brushed the seat of his pants off. “What's keeping you from asking her to marry you?”

“It wouldn't work out in the end.” No way was he bringing up his long-ago visit with his birth father. It wasn't that he didn't think Will would understand or be sympathetic—after all, Will had grown up without a father, too. It had more to do with Conway's insecurities.

“If you're not willing to take a chance on Isi, then you're going to have to let her and the boys go, Conway. I'll tell you right now, there's probably more than one guy out there who'd give anything to make a life for himself with a woman like her. It's only a matter of time before that guy finds her.” Will brushed past Conway and headed to the barn. “And by the way, next time you sucker punch me, I'm going to kick your ass.” A minute later, he emerged with a shovel and dropped the tool into his truck bed.

Will opened the driver's-side door. “Any luck selling the pecans?”

Conway's siblings had voted to keep the farm in the family and had given him complete control over managing the orchards. Now it was up to him to find a buyer for this year's crop. “I've got two bids. I'm waiting on a third then I'll decide.”

“Good luck.”

Conway had a feeling his brother's well-wishes were meant for him and Isi and not the pecans. Before his brother's truck had cleared the yard, Conway's cell phone rang. He didn't recognize the number.

“Conway Cash.”

“Mr. Cash this is Sandy London. I work at the Tiny Tot Learn and Play preschool.”

Why was the school calling him?

“Javier and Miguel picked a fight on the playground, and they're being sent home for the day. We called their mother, but she isn't answering her phone.”

“Isi's in class right now,” he said.

“You're listed as an emergency contact. Would you be able to come get the boys?”

“I thought Isi's neighbor Mrs. Sneed was dropping them off and picking them up now?”

“She's not answering her phone, either.”

“I'll be there as soon as I can,” Conway said.

“Thank you, Mr. Cash.”

He disconnected the call then jogged to his truck. Wait until Isi found out the boys had been in another fight. She was going to be spitting mad—at him. He'd been the one to tell the twins to stand up for themselves and not allow bullies to threaten them.

The drive into Yuma took longer than usual—probably because his mind wouldn't stop envisioning Isi and Will together. By the time he turned into the school parking lot he was in a bad mood. He sat in the truck and took several deep breaths, willing himself to calm down before he went into the school to get the boys.

When he entered the building, Mig and Javi were sitting in the waiting room slouched in their chairs gazing at the ceiling lights. He cleared his throat and the woman behind the desk set aside the magazine she'd been reading. He waited for the boys to smile at him, but they ignored him.

He was no longer a hero in their eyes.

“I'm Conway Cash,” he said.

“Hello, Mr. Cash. Please sign here that you're taking Miguel and Javier home.” She handed him a clipboard. “Thank you for coming to get them.”

He scribbled his name on the paper then spoke to the boys. “Your mother isn't going to be happy about this.”

Heads held high, the twins marched outside. As soon as the door shut behind them, Javier said, “What are we gonna do?”

“We're going back to the trailer to tell Mrs. Sneed she doesn't need to pick you up this afternoon.”

“This sucks,” Miguel said.

Conway was sure Isi didn't allow the boys to say the word
suck,
but he didn't reprimand Miguel, because...well, because.

They made the drive to the mobile-home park in silence. Conway struggled not to laugh at the boys' sullen expressions. He wanted to say he was proud they'd stood up for themselves, but he doubted Isi would approve.

Conway parked next to the trailer and helped the boys out of the backseat then motioned for them to sit on the porch steps. “Wait there.” He cut across the yard to the neighbor's trailer.

Mrs. Sneed answered the door on the second knock. “Who are you?”

“My name is Conway Cash, ma'am. I'm a friend of Isi's.”

The old woman nodded. “You're the young man who watched the boys for Isi.”

“Yes, ma'am.” Conway explained what had happened at the school.

“I don't answer my phone when my game shows are on,” she said.

Did Isi know that? “I was listed as one of the emergency contacts.”

“Are you taking care of the boys then?” she asked. “My game shows won't be over for a while.”

“I'll watch them until Isi gets home tonight.”

The relief on Mrs. Sneed's face suggested that she regretted offering to watch the boys. “Thank you,” she said then closed the door.

When Conway returned to Isi's yard, the twins looked bored. He sat on the bottom step and stretched out his legs. “Okay, let's hear it.”

“Hear what?” Miguel asked.

“The reason you started a fight at recess.”

Javier surprised Conway by speaking up first. “Katie said that Santa Claus is a fake.”

“You fought with a girl?” Conway asked.

“No.” Javier nudged Miguel and his brother explained.

“Katie told everyone that Santa was a fake and Rico got mad and shoved her and she fell and skinned her knee.”

“And she cried,” Javier said.

Conway was losing track of the conversation. “So who did you get into a fight with?”

“Rico,” Miguel said. “Javi pushed Rico 'cause he pushed Katie and you told me I had to stick up for Javi so I pushed Rico, too.”

“And let me guess,” Conway said. “The recess monitor only saw you and Javi push Rico.”

Both boys nodded.

“So did Rico get in trouble for pushing Katie?” Conway asked.

“Katie told our teacher that Rico started it, but we still got in trouble,” Javier said.

“I'm glad you stuck up for Katie. Boys should never ever hurt girls,” Conway said.

“We know. Our mom told us that.” Javier bumped his brother's shoulder again.

“Is Santa really a fake?” Miguel asked.

Oh, boy
. “What do you think?” Conway asked.

“Mom said Santa was real.” Miguel looked at his brother.

“But if Santa's real then how come we only get one toy from our wish list and other kids get lots more?” Javier blinked his innocent brown eyes at Conway.

“Is it 'cause our mom doesn't have a lot of money?” Miguel asked.

“Money has nothing to do with Santa Claus.”

“Katie said that Santa's elves aren't real and they don't make toys. She said moms and dads go to the store and buy the toys.” Miguel sucked in a breath. “Is it 'cause we don't got a dad to buy us presents?”

The kid sure knew how to twist the knife in Conway's chest. He opened his mouth to contradict Katie's claim, but Javier interrupted him.

“Can you give our mom money? Then she can buy us lots of toys at the store.”

“Or you can buy us a Christmas tree,” Miguel said.

They weren't getting a tree—Christmas wasn't Christmas without a tree. Before he had a chance to answer the boys, Isi's car turned into the trailer park. Saved by the bell. “Time to face the music, guys.”

* * *

“A
NOTHER
FIGHT
?” I
SI
GLANCED
between her sons.

The twins studied their shoes and avoided eye contact with their mother. Conway sympathized with the boys but refrained from intervening. He'd meddled enough in their lives.

Isi shifted her attention to Conway. “I wasn't able to check my phone messages until after class, or I would have been here sooner. I'm sorry you had to drive all the way into Yuma to pick them up from school.”

“I was happy to help out.” That was the truth. Conway couldn't deny that he'd missed the boys and Isi. A whole lot more than he'd expected to.

“Go to your room right now. We'll discuss your behavior in a minute.” Hands on her hips she glared until the twins trudged inside the trailer. Once the door closed behind them, she said, “I owe you an apology. I forgot to ask the school to remove your name as an emergency contact.”

Conway stared at Isi, thinking something seemed different about her. “Seriously, Isi, it was no trouble—”

“Yes, it was trouble,” she said.

“That's what's different about you.” He snapped his fingers. “You're wearing your hair down.” Isi usually put her long hair in a ponytail. His mind flashed back to the night he'd spent in her bed, running his hands through the silky strands. “You should leave your hair loose more often. It's beautiful.”