Marin Thomas - Twins For The Texas Rancher

“If I yell,” Tommy said, “I have to sit in a time-out.”

Amelia smiled. “What’s your name, young man?”

“Tommy.” He pointed at the last motel room. “That’s Tyler. We’re twins.”

“Oh my goodness.” Amelia pressed her hand to her chest and looked at Emmett. “These are Sadie’s boys.”

“Hello, Aunt Amelia.” Sadie waved, her face burning as if she’d left her glycolic facial mask on too long.

The door to room 1 opened and Tommy shouted, “Aunt Lydia!” He raced over to her and she bent to hug him.

“Hey, kiddo, it’s great to see you.” Lydia glanced down the sidewalk, and when she saw Tyler hanging out in front of room 6, she smiled and said, “Come give me a hug, Tyler.” He ran into Lydia’s arms. “I’ve missed you guys.” She took their hands and walked over to Gunner. “This is your uncle Gunner. He and I are married now.”

“Who’s Tommy and who’s Tyler? I can’t tell you guys apart,” Gunner said.

“That’s ’cause we’re twins.” Tommy looked at his brother. “Right?”

Tyler’s head bobbed.

“We didn’t expect you until later today.” Aunt Amelia looked at Sadie.

“I decided to drive straight through, but we didn’t get in until after midnight.” She offered Emmett an apologetic smile and crossed her arms in front of her. “This morning Tommy left the room without telling me and then—”

“It’s my fault,” Logan said. “Tommy woke before the others and we drove down to the Valero to buy doughnuts without telling Sadie.”

Gunner whistled low between his teeth and Logan shot him a dirty look before he spoke to the boys. “Hey, Tyler, come over here and get something to eat.” He reached into the truck for the bag of doughnuts and then opened the caps on the milk bottles and handed them to the boys.

“I can’t believe how much they’ve grown.” Amelia clapped her hands and smiled. “And they’re talking in full sentences now.”

Lydia visibly struggled not to laugh. “How long are you staying in town, Sadie?”

Couldn’t the details wait until she was dressed? “I haven’t decided.”

Amelia glanced at the boys, who sat on the ground, licking their sticky fingers. “Lydia said Peter decided to move to Baltimore with his girlfriend.”

Sadie didn’t want to air her problems in front of Logan and his family. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“You never did tell me the reason for your spur-of-the-moment decision to visit Stampede.” Her aunt refused to drop the subject.

Sadie might as well come clean. She curled her toes against her rubber flip-flops and said, “I lost my job.”

Lydia’s gasp echoed in Sadie’s ears, but it was Logan’s warm look of sympathy that reached deep inside her and hugged her heart. In the space of fifteen minutes this man had angered, frustrated and annoyed her, yet right now as she gazed into his eyes, she couldn’t remember why. She felt her body sway toward him, as if she trusted he would steady her from the inside out.

“What happened?” Aunt Amelia asked.

It took all of Sadie’s willpower to break eye contact with Logan. “I’d prefer to have clothes on before we discuss this.”

Her aunt’s eyes widened as if she’d just realized Sadie wore a nightshirt. Amelia looked at Emmett. “Expect a visit later this afternoon from me and Sadie.”

“What for?” Emmett said.

“If I tell you, you’ll run off and hide.” Amelia nodded to Logan. “Make sure your grandfather stays put at the ranch until we arrive.”

“Aunt Amelia,” Sadie said. “I have the boys and—”

“Lydia will watch the twins. They can play in the attic while we’re gone,” Amelia said.

“I have an appointment with a client this afternoon, Aunt Amelia,” Lydia said.

Aware of everyone’s eyes on her, Sadie caved in. “The boys will have to come with us, then.” She could only hope Tommy didn’t stir up trouble.

Emmett grumbled under his breath, then glared at Amelia. “Is this a one coffeepot or two coffeepot visit?”

“Two,” Amelia said. “But make it strong because you might not like my idea.”

Emmett climbed behind the wheel, shut the door, then poked his head out the open window. “When have I ever liked one of your ideas?” He turned the key in the ignition and the engine backfired. Amelia jumped, then smacked her hand against the pickup’s tailgate before getting into her car.

The old people drove off, turning their vehicles in opposite directions when they entered the highway. Sadie looked at Lydia. “Will you please watch the kids while I change clothes?”

“Of course.” Lydia joined the boys on the ground and helped herself to a doughnut.

Sadie had been on autopilot since losing her job, and not until this very moment—while she stood with her hair a snarled mess, wearing an unflattering nightshirt and no makeup in front of a handsome single man—did her resolve waver. Tears burned her eyes and she knew if she didn’t walk away right then, she’d break down. With a curt nod she strode back to the Stagecoach room, wishing she could jump on John Wayne’s horse and ride into a sunset all by herself.

Chapter Three

“She looks mean,” Tommy said late Saturday afternoon.

Logan studied Sweet Pea and tried to see the mare through the eyes of a three-and-a-half-foot-tall four-year-old. “Why does she look mean?”

The kid ignored the question and kicked the pile of hay next to the stall, sending the feed flying into the air. Distracted by the dried grass fluttering to the ground, he jumped around, trying to catch the bits and pieces in his hands.

“What do you think, Tyler?” The boy hadn’t spoken since he and his brother arrived at the ranch with their mother and Amelia fifteen minutes ago. Logan had returned from delivering hay to the cattle just in time to entertain the twins while Gramps and the women gathered in the kitchen to discuss Amelia’s latest wacky idea.

Tyler remained silent and he didn’t press the boy to speak. Logan had been drawn to the brothers the moment he’d met them. He’d always anticipated being a dad, but fatherhood wasn’t in the cards for him. When he’d had to quit rodeoing and returned home to run the ranch, he’d missed interacting with the children who traveled the circuit with their fathers.

Logan didn’t badger Tyler into talking. Instead he asked, “Who wants to feed Sweet Pea a carrot?”

Tommy walked off and climbed onto the hay bales in the corner. Logan looked at Tyler, whose gaze remained on the horse. After a few seconds he said, “She looks sad.”

Startled, he studied the mare. “You’re probably right. A few weeks ago her best friend went away.” Ranger had been twenty-eight and had developed a tumor that put pressure on his heart. The vet had had to put him down.

Tyler’s brows scrunched in concentration. “Is her friend gonna come back?”

“No, he isn’t.” A sliver of guilt pricked Logan. He should pay more attention to the mare, but when did he have time? He was the only one who did any work around the ranch. Gunner was busy running the motel and fixing up Emmylou Schmidt’s downtown antiques shop, which Amelia had purchased for Lydia as a wedding gift. They’d converted the lower floor into an office for Lydia’s interior design business and were turning the upper floor into an apartment.

That left his middle brother to help Logan, and Reid sure in heck wasn’t going to leave New Mexico to muck stalls. The thousand dollars Reid sent to their grandfather every month was guilt money, but Logan couldn’t figure out what his brother had to feel remorseful about.

“I think Sweet Pea could use a friend,” Logan said.

Tyler’s blue eyes blinked at Logan. “I can be her friend.”