Cathy Gillen - Their Inherited Triplets

All of which, last time he’d heard, were facts in his favor. “And you’re a woman. And you’re busy running a honeybee ranch and now a food truck, too. And you’re single.”

Lulu’s mouth dropped into an O of surprise. She squared her shoulders and tried again. “The point is, cowboy —” she angled her thumb at her chest “—I’m cut out for this.”

He let his glance sift over her from head to toe before returning, with even more deliberation, to her eyes. “Really?” he countered softly. As always, when they were together, the world narrowed to just the two of them. “’Cause I am, too.”

Indignant color flooded her cheeks. “Sam, come on, be reasonable!” She gave him a look he was hard-pressed to reject. “I’ve wanted a family forever.”

He cocked his head to one side, once again forcing himself to do what was best, instead of letting his emotions get the better of him. “Mmm-hmm. Well, so do I, darlin’.”

She stared at him. He stared back. Years of pent-up feelings entered the mix and combined with the ever-encompassing grief and sense of loss. Both feelings she seemed to be struggling with, too. Then, breaking the silent standoff, she pushed her chair back from the table and pivoted to face him. As always, when overwrought, she let her temper take charge. “You’re just volunteering to do this in order to be difficult.”

Actually, he was trying to honor their late friends’ wishes, and keep them all from being hurt any more than they already had been. “You couldn’t be more wrong, Lulu.”

“Is that right? Then please, enlighten me.”

With a grave look, hoping to get through to her once and for all, he said, “I’m taking this on because Peter was once a very good friend of mine, and he trusted me to care for his sons, if the worst ever happened. Since it has...” Sam’s voice caught. Pushing his sorrow aside, he went on huskily, “I will.”

Hiram interjected, “Y’all understand. The request isn’t binding. You both are free to say no.”

Lulu turned back to the children’s lawyer. “And if we were to do so?” she asked in concern.

Hiram said, “Then we’d notify social services in Houston and have the agency start looking for suitable adoptive parents.”

Not surprisingly, Sam noted, Lulu looked as upset by the thought of leaving the kids at the mercy of the system as he was. Once again, without warning, the two of them were on the exact same page.

“And in the meantime?” he asked gruffly.

Hiram explained, “They’ll be put in foster care.”

“Together?” Lulu queried.

Hiram’s face took on a pained expression. “I would hope so. But honestly, there’s no guarantee a placement like that could be found, at least right away.”

Lulu sighed, appearing heartbroken. “Which would likely devastate the children.”

Hiram nodded.

She swung back toward Sam, and concluded sadly, “So, it’s either going to be you, or it’s going to be me, taking these three kids on and raising them.” She gave him a long, assessing look. “And you have to know, deep down, which one of us is better suited for parenting toddlers.”

He did.

Although he doubted they agreed.

“Which is why, given the options that are left,” Sam said, pushing aside his own welling grief, and ignoring the pleading in her soft turquoise blue eyes, “I think I’m the right one to assume responsibility.”

“Okay, then,” Hiram declared, looking happy everything had been resolved so very quickly. He reached into the folder in front of him and brought out a file of paperwork. “I’ll make arrangements to have the boys brought to Laramie County as soon as possible. All you’ll need to do is sign here—”

“Whoa! Wait! That’s it? ” Lulu sputtered. “You’re not even going to ask me if I’m interested in being the triplets’ legal guardian?”

Hiram paused, papers still in hand. “Are you?”

“Yes! Very!” Hands clasped tightly, she leaned toward the estate lawyer urgently. “I would love to do this for Peter and Theresa’s boys!”

“Until it starts to get hard and reality sinks in,” Sam muttered, thinking of their torrid past, and knowing there was no way he would visit such a reversal of fortune on those boys. “Then we both know where you will be, don’t we, darlin’?” he returned bitterly. “Out the door. Without so much as a look back.”

Lulu glared at him. “I’m not a quitter, Sam,” she told him fiercely.

Wasn’t she? It seemed like that was exactly what she had done ten years ago, albeit in a roundabout way. He regarded her skeptically. “But you are still very emotional. And impetuous.” Two character traits that were intensified by their mutual sense of loss.

Lulu winced. “And you’re overbearing and hopelessly set in your ways, so—”

Travis let out a referee-style whistle, signaling everyone needed to stop before anyone else said anything regrettable, no matter how upset they were. He turned to his wife, giving her the floor.

“Obviously,” Liz interjected gently but firmly, “this has been a tremendous shock, and we’re all feeling a little emotional and overwrought right now.”

“Which is why, on second thought,” Hiram concurred, putting the papers back in his briefcase before leveling a look at Sam, “I’m going to ask you to take a little more time to think about this.” After a beat, Hiram continued, “If, after due consideration, you still feel inclined to accept temporary guardianship, you can call me and let me know, and I’ll arrange to have the boys and their belongings driven here. The guardianship papers can be signed when you take custody of them.”

“What about me?” Lulu said, clearly hurt and disappointed.

Hiram stood. “As I said, you’re next in line if things don’t go well with Sam and the boys. But for right now,” the lawyer said firmly, “he is the one being tapped to take care of the triplets.”

The meeting broke up.

Sam and Lulu walked outside.

As they reached their respective vehicles, she studied him with wary reserve. “How are you going to do this?”

It irked him to realize she did not think he could. He squinted down at her. “One step at a time.”

“I’m serious, Sam!”

He shrugged. “Obviously,” he drawled, “I’ll need help.”

Lulu opened her mouth to respond just as her cell phone went off. She plucked it out of her purse and stared disbelievingly at the text message.

Concerned, Sam stepped closer. “What is it?” he asked.

Her brow furrowed. In a dumbfounded tone, she admitted, “The sheriff’s department has been called to my ranch!”

Chapter Two

An hour and a half later, Lulu stood at the entrance of the apiary on her ranch, staring at the empty field. Bare spots where the boxes and pallets had been. A few wooden lids scattered here and there. The occasional honeybee buzzing around, wondering where in the world the hives had gone.

“Are you okay?” Sam asked, standing next to her, looking more solid and imperturbable than ever.

Was she?

Resisting the urge to throw herself into his arms and ask for the comfort only he could give, Lulu turned away from his quiet regard. Her heart aching, she watched the patrol car leave her ranch. The only time she had ever felt this devastated was when Sam had walked away from her years ago in Tennessee. But she had survived heartbreak then, she told herself steadfastly. And she would survive it now.

“Lulu?” he prompted again.

She pivoted back toward him and lifted her chin, hating that he had to see her at her most vulnerable. “Of course I’m all right,” she muttered. Although the devastation might have been easier to bear had he not gallantly insisted on accompanying her to the scene of the crime. And then, once amid the devastation, done his best to assist her and the sheriff’s deputy who’d been sent to investigate. Because that had made her want to lean on him, the way she once had. And she knew she could never do that again.