April Arrington - A Home With The Rancher

They stopped laughing and dispersed.

Dani froze, staring at Mac’s broad back. Things were no different here than they were in New York. Here, she was brushed aside just as carelessly as in the Vaughn boardroom. Mac and these men didn’t see her. They saw only what they wanted to see—a weak woman.

Face burning, Dani spun on her heels and started toward the stable. Jaxon scowled at his father then hopped off the fence as she passed.

“Jaxon,” Mac called. “Go inside with your sisters.”

Footsteps drew closer at Dani’s back. “I’m gonna help Ms. Dani.”

“I said, go inside.”

The footsteps quickened and Jaxon sprang past her then ran into the stable.

Dani stopped. Mac stared at the entrance of the stable where Jaxon had entered and the look of angry helplessness on his face returned the ache to her chest, forcing her pride to lower its ugly head.

Catching her eyes on him, he jerked back to the wood in front of him, swung the ax and split the wood in one stroke. She watched for a minute then joined Jaxon in the stable. Jaxon no longer smiled or asked questions as she worked. He just shoveled silently by her side.

Dani wheeled the first cart of waste out back, dumped it and stared at the foggy mountainside. The guilty pang of having lied returned. Her presence at Elk Valley exacerbated whatever rift existed between Mac and his son. And her conscience, overruling her pride, wouldn’t allow her to carry on with this charade.

No matter how much Cal laughed...or how many times Mac dismissed her.

For Jaxon’s sake, she’d leave first thing in the morning. But before she crawled into the cabin’s rickety bed tonight, she’d prove Mac wrong. That second pile of wood would be split and stacked before the sun rose. Even if it killed her.

* * *

PREDICTABILITY ENSURED SECURITY. Risk invited chaos. Mac firmly believed both.

“But why?” Nadine flopped back against her pillow, crossed her arms over the pink blanket he’d tugged over her and frowned. “Why can’t we go hiking with the group tomorrow? Ms. Dani said a girl can do anything she sets her mind to.”

Ms. Dani, again. Mac sighed and sat on the edge of the bed in the twins’ bedroom. After he and the kids had retired to the family floor of the lodge for the night, Nadine and Jaxon had talked about Dani nonstop through dinner. It was unsettling how quickly they’d attached to her.

“Ms. Dani is right. But she’s also an adult who can take care of herself. You and Maddie, however, are too young to take off by yourself and Mr. Tim can’t lead the group and supervise the two of you. Besides, a storm is supposed to roll in midafternoon and I don’t want you or your sister stranded on a mountainside when it tears through. And because...”

Because I have hours of work tomorrow—including splitting an extra stack of wood and clearing the lower hayfield. And because Tim might turn his back for a second and you’ll run off. Get lost. Hurt. Or worse.

Mac frowned and tapped her small chin with a knuckle. “I’d rather you and Maddie stay here where I can keep an eye on you.” Or at least try to. He grinned. “I promise when the weather’s right and things settle down, I’ll take you, Maddie and Jaxon hiking myself. We’ll climb and—”

“Fish?” Nadine asked.

“Yes. And have a campfire and—”

“Roast marshmallows?” Maddie piped from the twin bed across the room, grinning. “I like the marshmallow part better than the fishing part.”

Mac laughed then stood. “First, we’ll go fishing.” He bent, kissed Nadine’s forehead then crossed the room and kissed Maddie’s. “Then, we’ll roast as many marshmallows as that little belly of yours can hold.”

“Did Mama like roasting marshmallows?” Maddie leaned up on her elbows, brushed the ever-present pink bow from her eyes and blinked up at him. “Is that why I like them so much?”

Mac’s breath caught in his throat, making it difficult to speak. Roasting marshmallows was one of the few things Nicole had liked about hiking and camping. She’d never been a fan of the outdoors. Not even when they were teens. But she’d loved snuggling by the campfire and sharing marshmallows with him. That part’s the sweetest, she’d always said.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “She did. That was always her favorite part.”

Mac cleared his throat and walked to the door.

“Dad?”

His hand stilled on the doorknob. Nadine smiled gently at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes. As though she knew...

“It’s okay if we don’t go hiking tomorrow.” She shrugged. “We’ll find something else to do.”

Mac’s smile returned. “I’m sure you will. But please check with me before you do it and no running off without telling anyone. Now, go to sleep.”

He made his way through the family wing of the lodge to the next bedroom then hesitated, fist lifted, at the closed door. Nadine and Maddie might not be stress-free but at least they were easy to talk to. Jaxon, not so much.

“Jaxon?” He knocked then cracked the door open. “You ready for bed?”

A bed creaked and sheets rustled. “Yeah.”

Mac entered, stooping to pick up a pair of muddy jeans, several baseball cards and a glove then toss each in its proper place. “Thanks for cleaning the cabin floor today. You did a good job.”

Jaxon sat up in the bed, a small smile appearing.

Mac’s throat thickened. Lord, it’d been so long since he’d seen Jaxon smile, he’d forgotten how much it eased his mind and brightened the day. It’d hit him hard earlier this afternoon when he’d watched Jaxon share a laugh with Dani. That was the first time Jaxon had laughed in ages.

“Think you could clean up just as well in here tomorrow?” he asked, glancing around.

The lamp’s low glow highlighted little-boy clutter from one corner of the room to the other. Darts, baseballs, rumpled papers and toy guns littered the nightstand, dresser and chest of drawers. And dirty clothes, comic books and socks were strewn across the carpet.

“It’d be a tough job. But...” Mac narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin. “I think a hardworking man like you can handle it.”

Jaxon’s smile widened. “Yeah. I can do it.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’re gonna increase my allowance?”

“Don’t push it.” Mac grinned, ruffled his hair then reached for the lamp switch.

Jaxon grabbed his wrist and peered up at him. “Ms. Dani did a good job today, too. Didn’t she?”

Mac hesitated, studying the hopeful gleam in Jaxon’s eyes. “I suppose she did.”

“Then why’d you make her clean the stalls instead of chopping the wood?”

“Well, she was obviously worn out. And sunburned. And...”

Sweaty. So sweaty that her clothes had stuck to her. With the sun at her back, her every swing of the ax drew more male attention to her enticing curves. Almost every hand he employed had lined the fence to gawk, crack lewd jokes and mock her. And, even though she’d seemed oblivious to it, he’d been damned if he’d allow it to continue.

“She’s got good aim, you know?” Jaxon said, leaning forward. “Better than Mr. Cal. And she likes baseball, too. Said she watches the Mets. I told her she’d be killer at bat. Did you know she’s from New York?”

Mac frowned as Jaxon paused to catch his breath. “New York?” She hadn’t listed any prior residences or work experience in New York on her application. “What makes you think that?”

“She told me so.” His face lit up. “I bet she’d play ball with me. She said she liked having me around and could use my help. So can I help her again tomorrow? You are gonna hire her, aren’t you?”

“Slow down, Jaxon.” Mac placed his hands on his shoulders and eased him back against the pillows. “We just met her and I can’t say for sure if I’ll be able to hire her or not. Besides, I think you’re spending too much time with her as it is.”