Noelle Marchand - The Nanny’s Temporary Triplets

She shrugged. “I made friends with several little girls my age and wanted to be more like them.”

His mouth settled into a discouraged frown. “Maggie’s been around girls her age, but that hasn’t changed anything.”

“That’s because you’re more important to her than they are.”

He tilted his head to stare at her. “What do you mean?”

“She could be trying to emulate you just like I was trying to emulate Matthew.” She could see him thinking about it, but she didn’t have time for him to reach a conclusion. Dampness was beginning to seep through Jasper’s diaper. She turned toward the changing table. “Uh-oh. Someone needs a little changing.”

“They probably all do.” He strode closer. “Would you like some help getting started?”

“No, I’m sure I can handle it. Why don’t you head on down for breakfast? I’ll bring the boys as soon as they’re ready.”

He hesitated. Eventually, the confidence in her smile must have convinced him she could handle this, because he nodded and left the room. That was a good thing because it took all her concentration to remember the lessons Emma had given her last night about changing diapers. She probably should have accepted David’s help, but she wanted to start out being a help to the McKays, not a hindrance.

She finished changing Jasper and set him on the floor to crawl. He found her luggage intriguing. Since everything was still closed up, she let him fiddle with it to his heart’s content. She opened the window that was far out of reach of the triplets to let in some fresh air before taking on the other boys. With them all clean and smelling good, she took a few moments to freshen up herself. She was just pondering how she was going to carry the triplets down the stairs to the kitchen when a tentative knock sounded too far down on the door to be anyone other than Maggie.

“Is that Maggie McKay I hear?” She opened the door to find the little girl looking at her with a mix of sheepishness and surprise.

“How’d you know it was me?”

Caroline winked. “Just a feeling. How are you this morning?”

“Good. I’m glad you’re here. Oh, I’m supposed to tell you that Grandma says breakfast is almost ready.”

“Then we’d better head down—whoa, little man.” Caroline caught Eli as he made a break for the stairs. Or was it Jasper? Setting them loose in the bedroom had scrambled their identities a little in her mind. It was rather like watching that street magician’s game with the pea in the walnut shell. If she had to guess, she’d say this sweet pea was Eli.

Refocusing on Maggie, she realized the girl was exactly the extra set of arms she needed. “You know, Maggie, while I’m here, I could use a special helper to assist me now and then. I don’t suppose you have anyone you would recommend?”

Maggie brightened. “Me, Miss Caroline. You’ve got to choose me. My pa said I’m supposed to help you whenever I can.”

“Wonderful! I knew I could count on you. Right now, I could use an assistant to help me get the triplets safely down to breakfast. Do you think you can carry one of them while I carry the other two?”

“I can do it.”

“Thank you, Maggie. Here. You take Eli.” Caroline transferred the baby to Maggie, making sure she had him safely in her grasp. “Go right on down the stairs, and I’ll meet you at the table.”

She watched to make sure Maggie made it all right, then turned to hunt down the two others. Soon enough all three boys were sitting in their high chairs at the table, which felt like an accomplishment in and of itself. Ida greeted Caroline with a warm hug and words of welcome, then set her to work cutting the triplets’ food into manageable pieces for them.

David entered through the back door with a pail of milk. He smiled at the sight of Maggie entertaining the triplets by making silly faces. David placed another chair at the table. “Caroline, the boys are pretty independent when it comes to mealtimes. At least, they try to be. Usually Ma and I split up the triplets during the meal. I watch over two while Ma takes care of one.”

“I’d be happy to take one of the triplets off your hands.”

“Sounds good.” He nodded and placed one of the high chairs between them.

Finally, they were all seated, but not quite settled. Caroline shifted to find room under the table and accidentally bumped David’s knees with her own. “Sorry!”

“It’s all right. This table is getting a little too small for all of us. Ma, do you know where you stored the leaf? I can put it in before lunch.”

“Yes, I’ll—” Ida hesitated, her gaze flickering from David to Caroline. “I’ll have to look for it.”

Maggie wiggled in her seat as she impatiently eyed the gooey cinnamon rolls at the center of the table. “Is it time for grace, Pa?”

“Go ahead, Maggie.”

She reached for David’s and Ida’s hands. Ida took Caroline’s. Caroline glanced at David. He showed none of the hesitance she felt in joining hands. In fact, he was already closing his eyes by the time her hand found his. A little surge of heat went through her fingers as they slid across his palm, but he didn’t seem to notice, so she determined that she wouldn’t, either.

There was no ignoring that this was the hand of a rancher used to hard work and long hours in the saddle. It had a strength and a roughness to it that made for a much different experience than those few times she’d held Nico’s hand. He’d had soft hands with long fingers, perfect for the piano—and for stealing from unsuspecting women, apparently. Why she persisted in comparing the two men was beyond her and beyond annoying. Especially since it only made Nico look worse, which in turn made her feel more foolish. It also had the inconvenient result of making David look even better in comparison. It needed to stop.

Thankfully, Maggie’s prayer provided a timely distraction from her thoughts. “Lord, thank You for this food and for Miss Caroline coming to stay with us. Help us all have a good day. Amen.”

All the grown-ups echoed, “Amen.”

Caroline grinned at Maggie. “Thank you for including me in your prayer, Maggie. That was very sweet.”

“You’re welcome, Miss Caroline.” Maggie sent her a bashful smile.

Ida gave Caroline’s hand an affectionate little squeeze before releasing it. “It was well deserved. You’re going to be a blessing to us. I can feel it.”

“I hope so.” Caroline glanced at David to see if he had anything to add. She found his thoughtful gaze trained down at the table. No. Not the table. He was looking at their joined hands. Oh, dear. Were they the only ones still holding hands? A quick glance around the table said they were.

Offering him a small smile to cover the awkwardness of it all, she pulled her hand free with a gentle tug. Something was troubling him. She could see that and sense it, too. His expression shuttered and he glanced back to his plate. Oddly enough, she felt cheated. After all, she’d poured her heart and her tears onto his shoulder a couple of days ago. It seemed only fair that he would be just as vulnerable with her.

Of course, they were technically little more than strangers, and the best place for sharing confidences probably wasn’t at the breakfast table. But still. The principle of it bothered her. And it annoyed her to be bothered by it.

“Caroline, dear, the boys like to try to feed themselves, though they don’t quite have the knack of it yet.”

Caroline blinked away her reverie and focused on copying Ida’s technique in making sure the baby, whom she was relatively certain must be Theo, was well fed. It took far more energy and creativity than she’d imagined to keep him interested in the food. Maggie filled the lagging conversation. “Are you riding with the ranch hands today, Pa?”