Jill Kemerer - Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets

“Good idea.”

“Let’s assign the colors.” She slid out a sheet of red, blue, green and yellow stickers. “Who gets what?”

“I don’t know.” He tapped his fingertips against his jeans.

“Who’s the happiest?” It would be fun to match the babies with colors representing their personalities. She waited for Marshall to reply.

“Easy. Lila.”

“She gets yellow. It’s the color of sunshine and joy.” Ainsley held up a yellow sticker. She then placed it on a piece of paper and wrote Lila next to it. “Who’s the most energetic?”

“Ben. Definitely. His cries go from zero to ten like that.” He snapped his fingers.

“Ben gets red. The color of fire and passion.” She placed the red sticker on the paper and wrote Ben next to it. “What about Grace and Max? Do either show signs of being a peacemaker? Or like they are attentive to the other babies’ feelings? I know this might seem silly considering how young they are.”

He considered it for a moment. “You know, I think Grace does. I never realized it, but if Max and Ben are crying, she usually joins in.”

“It bothers her to see her brothers upset.”

“It’s possible.”

“She gets green, the color of nature and harmony. Does Max seem to be more stable than the other babies? Trusting?”

“He’s five weeks old. I really couldn’t say.”

“You’re right.” She laughed. “Whether it suits him or not, Max gets blue, the color of the sky and stability.” After writing his name, she took out another sheet of stickers, crossed to Marshall and handed him one. “Let’s mark the bouncy seats, then make up bottles for the rest of the night.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned, rising. “You’re not going to ask me to put these on their foreheads, are you?”

“No, of course not.” She shook her head. Marshall had a good sense of humor. Another trait she admired. She circled the bouncy seats, not seeing a good place to put the stickers. “Where do you think these should go?”

“Why don’t we put a couple on each? One on the back, and we’ll wrap two around the front legs.”

They marked the seats and surveyed their work. It was a start. Max’s pacifier fell out, and he made loud grunting noises.

“I know what that means.” Marshall rolled his eyes. “I’ll take this one.”

She knelt in front of the other three while he changed Max. They were so little. Smaller than the average baby the same age. They looked like newborns. Humming, she placed her index finger next to Ben’s fist. He flexed his hand, then curled it around her finger. The pacifier bobbed as he sucked on it.

“You’re a little cutie, aren’t you?” She opened her mouth and made faces at him. His hand tightened around her finger. What a sweetheart.

Marshall returned, carrying Max. “You’re glad you missed that one.” He waved his hand in front of his nose.

She chuckled, but it turned into a yawn. It had been a long day of packing, driving and...this.

“Hey, why don’t you kick up your feet on the sofa and rest? When Belle wakes, I’ll show you to your cabin.”

“You don’t mind? I’d like nothing more than to cuddle with these sweet babies for a while.”

“Really?” He frowned as if the concept was foreign to him.

“Yes.” She unstrapped Ben and took him in her arms; then she unstrapped Grace and brought both babies to the couch. “Infants grow up so fast. I’d like to enjoy this while I can.”

He blinked, then followed her lead, taking Lila and Max to the other couch.

Neither spoke for several minutes. The silence gave Ainsley the space she needed to register things she’d missed. The decor was homey. A framed picture of Belle and her husband on their wedding day stood on the end table. The dining room table was stacked with supplies and a pile of what appeared to be unopened mail. In the corner, a laundry basket held stuffed animals and baby toys. Burp cloths and rattles were scattered around it. Two used bottles had rolled under the coffee table.

This was a warm home, but, from the looks of it, the babies’ arrival had chilled it a bit. She’d tidy everything later. For now, she’d enjoy the wonder of two precious little ones in her arms.

Babies. How she’d love to have some of her own.

The jagged scar down her heart throbbed. Love and marriage came before kids. She didn’t know if she had it in her to try that combination—even for children. Love clouded a woman’s judgment. And marriage came with commitment. She couldn’t cut and run from a husband the way she had from her father.

She’d stick to getting into nursing school. A career could never let her down the way love could.

* * *

“What’s so funny?” Belle sounded irritated.

Marshall peered at his sister over the open refrigerator door later. Her mussed hair and puffy eyes told him she’d woken from a long nap. He hadn’t seen her for hours, not since he’d talked to her about Ainsley staying. Speaking of Ainsley, she was holding one of the girls and had propped bottles up for the other three in their bouncy seats. Not one of them made a peep. Usually they took turns crying all afternoon. But the on-and-off crying session had lasted only forty-five minutes today—all because of Ainsley.

Maybe with more peace and quiet, Belle would get more involved with them. And maybe the strain between her and Raleigh would go away.

Marshall stepped back. “Oh, Ben’s tongue curled over his lip when he woke up. He looked silly.” He motioned for Belle. “Check this out. All the bottles you’ll need for the night.”

“I’ll need?” She popped a hand on her hip and glowered at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His good mood collapsed. “Let me rephrase that. You and Raleigh will need.”

“Like Raleigh will do anything.” She pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Did I hear my name?” Raleigh came in through the back breezeway, his cheeks red from the cold and his hair flattened against his head from the hat he’d taken off. He shivered and rubbed his palms together. “Wait. Something’s different.” He squinted. “Why aren’t the babies crying?”

Belle studied her fingernails.

Marshall waved for Raleigh to join him in the living room. “Come and meet Ainsley Draper.”

“Oh, right, the baby nurse.”

Ainsley winced as she hauled herself to her feet. Guilt tugged on Marshall’s conscience. She’d been helping with the babies since the minute she’d arrived, and she looked worn out. After Raleigh grinned and wiggled his fingers at the babies, Marshall made the introductions.

“I sure am glad to have you here, Ainsley.” Raleigh jerked his thumb toward Marshall. “It’s been brutal not having him helping me with the cattle.”

She smiled politely. Marshall didn’t know what to say. These were Raleigh’s babies, for crying out loud. Didn’t the man care that the quadruplets needed him more than the cows did? He had other ranch hands. It wasn’t as if Marshall was indispensable out there.

“Seeing how the ladies have the babies under control, you’ll be out tomorrow to prep for the cattle sale, right?” The tall, lean man with piercing blue eyes had tough written all over him. Raleigh had grown up on this ranch working the land with his father.

“No, Raleigh, he won’t.” Belle charged into the room. “Marshall promised he’d be around to help Ainsley.”

“Why can’t you?” he asked quietly, a defiant glint in his eyes.

“I can’t believe you even asked that.”

Marshall could feel the tension building. Grace’s bottle rolled out of her mouth and she began to cry.

“See what you did?” Belle pointed to the baby, then to Raleigh. “She was fine until you marched in here. You’re so loud.”