The Rebel Cowboy's Quadruplets Read online

  “I’m just saying I think Daisy has strong allure. Frog’s pride was dented. He folded when Daisy asked him to go running around today. But I suspect he’d rather Suz look on him with some fondness.”

  Mackenzie didn’t say anything to that. She carried Heather from the room, and he followed. Together they placed the babies on a soft pallet in front of the fireplace, joining their sister Holly.

  “You ever going to tell me about this information Daisy threw out that upset you so much?”

  He sat on the sofa; she sat on the floor with her babies. He wished he dared pull out his phone and snap a photo of her. There was just nothing more beautiful than Mackenzie and those babies, a perfect four of a kind. A man could get real used to being around this little family.

  “I don’t like to talk about it. Suffice it to say someone died here. It made everything ugly. Before that happened, everyone looked at our children’s haunted house as a wonderful, safe event. When the murderer was never found, it really hurt business. Mom and Dad held off as long as they could, and the town tried really hard to help. But the next year, attendance really dropped.” She took a deep breath. “It’s hard to erase such a stain, and my parents’ health went down fast after that. First Dad went, and then Mom about five months later.” She looked at Justin. “So, no, I’ll never, ever reopen the haunted house.”

  “I don’t blame you.” He could make a little more sense of Ty’s eagerness to help Mackenzie—although he was just as certain that Ty’s idea of finding her a husband wasn’t as brilliant as Ty thought it was. What he wanted to do more than anything was hold her in his arms, protect her from the sad memories he knew she could never forget. “How can I help you?”

  “You can’t.” She looked at him. “But it means a lot that you want to, and I thank you for that.”

  He wanted to help her. Justin had never felt helpless before, but the fact was, he had nothing to offer Mackenzie. He could work at the ranch as long as she needed him, but so could the new guys. They were good men, hard workers. Eventually Mackenzie would sell the place—she’d said by Christmas.

  There wasn’t anything he could do for her.

  She shocked him when she got up off the floor and sat next to him on the sofa, gazing into his eyes. “You don’t have to rescue me. You don’t have to take care of me. I know Ty sent you here on a mercy mission and I appreciate everything you’ve done. But I promise you, we’ll be fine.”

  We’ll be fine. Her and Suz and the angels. He glanced at the four babies on the floor, secure in their soft blankets, in the process of either practicing opening their eyelids or dozing off.

  “I know you will.” It was true. He wanted to kiss her in the worst way, feel her lips underneath his. Wanted to hold her in his arms. Didn’t dare. Making more moves on the boss lady was no way to make her feel good about him staying around. And there was no way he wanted to leave. Mackenzie and her small, seemingly defenseless family had thoroughly stolen his heart.

  A tap on the back door caught their attention, and Mackenzie went into the kitchen. Justin stared at the babies, thinking that whatever the ex hadn’t seen in being a father to four daughters was completely obvious to him.

  Frog, Sam and Squint walked in, following Mackenzie like puppies. “What’s going on, fellows?” Justin asked.

  “I—we have an idea,” Sam said, and Justin thought, Oh, no.

  “What’s going on?” Suz asked, wandering in. “Sounds like Grand Central Station in here. I just started watching Pride and Prejudice, the 1940 version, and I can hear you over the Bennet sisters. Which is no easy feat.”

  She sat down cross-legged next to the blanket and picked up Holly, shooting an annoyed look Frog’s way. Justin wondered if she even knew she’d done it.

  “Sam has an idea,” Justin said, his tone ironic. He arched a brow at Sam. “Go ahead. Share.”

  Mackenzie waved the men to some flowery chairs near the sofa, and they gawked at the babies.

  “Four,” Frog said. “I would never have believed all those babies could come out of such a little lady.”

  “Nice,” Squint said. “Graceful even, Frog.”

  “Sorry.” He honestly looked like he might be blushing. “I’m not always gifted with speech.”

  “No fooling.” Suz looked pleased to get a dig in. Justin wondered if she felt more for Frog than she was letting on.

  “What’s your real name?” Justin demanded. “I can’t go on calling you Frog. It’s just all wrong,” he said to the dark-haired big man.

  Frog looked uncomfortable now that all the attention was squarely on him. “Francisco Rodriguez Olivier Grant. Mom was French, Dad was Spanish. They had some debate about how many relations in the family needed to be honored when I was born. Therefore, Frog. Deal with it.”

  Justin stared at him. “You’re definitely not a Francisco.”

  His buddies laughed. “He’s an F-R-O-G,” Squint said.

  “I think it’s lovely,” Mackenzie said quickly, and Justin gave her an appreciative look. He found himself feeling a little sorry for the big man.

  “It’s just a name,” Suz said, and Frog perked up a bit. “They’re all good names, too.”

  “My high school and college friends called me Rodriguez,” Frog said. “It wasn’t until the military that I became Frog.”

  Suz smiled at him. Practically batted her eyes.

  “Now that we have that solved,” Mackenzie said with a glance at Justin, “what idea do you want to share, Sam?”

  He took a deep breath. “A cattle base, for one thing. You have enough land here to run about two dozen head. Could do milk goats, too. The whole organic thing has really taken off, and you have a great place here for opening your own organic kitchen and label.”

  Justin was stunned. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Sam. I’ve misjudged you.”

  “Easy to do because I’m so quiet,” he said, and they all hooted at him.

  “Part two of the plan,” Squint said, “is to consider storytelling tours. Like survival tours. People are interested in learning how to make their own cheese and raise their own organic food.”

  “And we’ll all dress in costumes,” Suz said. “I see where you’re going with this.”

  They all looked at Mackenzie for her reaction. “I don’t know what to say,” she said, and Justin could tell she was truly caught off guard. “It’s actually a brilliant idea.”

  “It’s in the early phase,” Frog said. “We’ve been brainstorming. Once we develop a business plan, we’ll bring it to you.”

  Suz went into the kitchen, then brought back a tray of cookies and a pitcher of milk. “All that brainstorming probably has you hungry,” she said, setting the tray down on the coffee table.

  Justin noticed she handed Frog a napkin, then flounced over to pick up Heather, who was starting to stir, as if she hadn’t treated Frog just a little bit differently than the other men.

  “I don’t know what to think.” Mackenzie went into the kitchen to get a bottle, brought it back and handed it to Suz. “Someone’s tummy tanked out a little sooner than her sisters’.”

  “I know how she feels,” Frog said earnestly. “I’m always hungry.”

  Justin looked at Mackenzie. “Any chance you could hang on to this place if a workable business model was drawn up? You’re busy with the babies, but these three seem pretty eager to keep their bunks here.”

  “Yes, we are,” Squint said. “I never imagined I’d like living in a small town, but I have to say after Afghanistan I have a whole new perspective on small-town friendly.”

  Justin leaned back in his chair, pondering Squint’s words. He had to give the three amigos points for coming up with an idea—and maybe not even a half-bad idea—for trying to help Mackenzie and Suz out. He studied the sisters—polar opposites—and wondered how
Mackenzie would feel if she knew he felt the same as the three amigos.

  As if this had become sort of a home—and she was the person he wanted to come home to every night, forever.

  * * *

  NOT LONG AFTER the guys had shared their business idea, they left, and to Mackenzie’s surprise her sister went with them. “You don’t mind?” Suz had asked Mackenzie, and Justin said he’d stay and help put the babies to bed, so Suz had bolted out the door.

  They were going into town to “hunt up trouble,” as Sam said, and Suz had said trouble sounded good to her. Mackenzie wondered if Justin would have liked to go hunting trouble, too.

  “You could have gone with them.” Mackenzie closed the nursery door after making sure the baby monitor was on and the babies were totally settled.

  Justin gave her a long look she couldn’t quite read. “I could have. Didn’t want to get in the way of Frog trying to figure out Suz.”

  She smiled as they walked back into the family room. “You really think she’ll look at him twice after he was seen out with Daisy?”

  “That did seem to tweak your sister a bit.” He sat on the sofa, lounging, long and lean and sexy. “In fact, I’d bet that’s why she so eagerly went with them tonight.”

  Mackenzie looked at the tray of cookies that had been polished off pretty well. “I’m going to get a cup of hot tea. Can I get you one?”

  He followed her into the kitchen. “I’ll take a glass of iced tea.” He then proceeded to get it himself. Justin put the teakettle on to heat while she got down a teacup and saucer.

  It struck her that she liked this, the sort of family feeling of togetherness that she felt with Justin.

  “So what did you really think about the boys’ idea?” he asked.

  She put some loose-leaf tea into a tea ball and set it into her cup. “I’m going to think it over.”

  He turned her toward him. “I know you’d like to stay here, Mackenzie. When I look at this house, I think of you. It’s like you’re a part of it.”

  “Thank you.” His hand lingered at her elbow for just a moment, a moment too short.

  “Don’t let Daisy drive you away,” he said.

  She hesitated. “Daisy has nothing to do with it.”

  “Felt like she struck a nerve today with that speech about the dead guy.”

  A chill ran over Mackenzie. “I don’t like it, but it doesn’t define whether I sell or not. It’s just about finances.”

  “And leaving memories behind.”

  She studied him as he leaned against the counter, his boots crossed, his gaze on her. “Maybe. Sometimes.”

  He nodded. “I understand wanting a fresh start.”

  The kettle whistled and he reached behind her to turn it off, brushing her arm ever so slightly. He looked down at her and then lowered his mouth to hers.

  Thankfully. Mackenzie didn’t think she could have waited any longer to kiss Justin. He kissed her so sweetly, then turned more demanding as she melted into him. She heard a little moan, realized it was coming from her. Ran her hands around his back to hold him close—sank into his body as he devoured her mouth.

  She’d never been kissed like this. Don’t stop—this time, don’t stop. She felt as though she was going to jump out of her skin if she didn’t get closer to him.

  Bed, she wanted to say, but her mouth wouldn’t say the word. “Make love to me,” she whispered, her mouth desperately getting out what she felt, and he scooped her into his arms to carry her down the hall.

  He glanced at the old-fashioned four-poster bed dressed in sky blue and white. “Feminine. Just like you.”

  He placed her on the bed, making short work of her clothes. She just as quickly got rid of his, dying to get her hands on the muscles and tanned skin she’d watched working many times. His hands were work-rough but gentle on her, and she moaned again, pulling him into the bed with her. He stroked a strand of her hair from her face.

  “You’re beautiful,” he told her, then kissed her, taking his time. Mackenzie closed her eyes, letting his lips work magic on her.

  More magic as he held her in his arms and made long, gentle love to her. Mackenzie felt herself waking, coming to life, amazed by how much wonder a man could make her feel. Like a princess, kissed awake by a prince, Mackenzie wanted the magic to last forever.

  * * *

  JUSTIN JERKED AWAKE at the sound of motorcycles roaring up the drive. Sudden baby tears and snuffles jerked him out of bed. He glanced at his watch—two o’clock in the morning. There shouldn’t be motorcycles gunning outside at this hour.

  “What’s going on?” Mackenzie asked, sitting up, switching on a bedside lamp. “Oh, the babies are awake. They don’t usually get up this soon. All that noise must have woken them.” She jumped out of bed and pulled on a robe, giving Justin a brief glimpse of bare skin he wished he could drag back to bed to kiss for a few more hours.

  “I’ll check out what’s going on,” he said. “You get the girls calmed down and I’ll come help you.”

  “Thank you.”

  She dashed from the room. He’d sensed her hesitation, like she didn’t want to accept that she needed his help.

  He went to the kitchen door and hauled it open, prepared to give someone heck for being rodeo-loud when there were babies asleep—everyone in BC would know that it needed to be walking-on-eggshells quiet around here at this hour.

  About six motorcycles wheeled around at the top of the drive—damn it, six—then drove past him, heading down the road, gunning like mad. One did a wheelie as it went by, and he recognized Daisy’s long bronze hair and tight black gear.

  He waited, but they didn’t return. Damn them, they’d done a drive-by on purpose, either to wake the babies or to haze Mackenzie.

  He went back inside, locking the door behind him. He headed straight to the nursery. Mackenzie had four unhappy little girls on her hands, and he couldn’t blame them.

  “Come here,” he told Hope, picking her up. “Bottles or breast at this hour?”

  “Bottles, I think. They’re too upset from the noise.” She rocked Haven, feeding her. “What was that?”

  He turned on some soothing music on his phone, Brahms’s lullaby, as he popped a bottle into Hope’s mouth, soothing the two remaining girls so they could relax long enough to wait their turns. “About six motorcycles.”

  “Daisy’s gang.”

  “Gang?” He glanced at her. “A real gang?”

  Mackenzie shrugged. “They’ve always hung out together. I don’t know what they do exactly, but everyone calls them a gang.”

  Justin took that in. “She ever done a drive-by before?”

  “Not like that.”

  He rocked Hope, who had begun to turn into a sleepy, content baby again. Mackenzie changed Haven, slipped her into bed and picked up Holly. One more to soothe. “I’ll ask her not to do it again.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  She met his gaze, her eyes determined. “You know, it’s okay to accept help,” Justin said.

  “I appreciate your offer. But I know what Daisy wants, and I need to tell her she’s not going to get it.”

  He could respect that. Still he wanted to protect Mackenzie and her babies all the more. “If you sell, won’t she get this place eventually?”

  “It’s her father’s conglomerate.” Mackenzie stood, rubbing Heather’s back with a hand to calm her. “Mr. Donovan is well-known to play dirty to get what he wants. He and his partners have made so much money chewing off the best parts of BC that they think they’re invincible. I won’t sell to them.”

  “Won’t he just send in a dummy buyer?”

  Mackenzie looked at him. “I’ll figure it out.”

  He nodded. She would; she’d think of something.

  “Then again,
” Mackenzie said, “I’ve been giving serious consideration to the suggestions you and the other guys have come up with.”

  “Yeah?”

  She came to him, and, still holding the baby, leaned down and kissed him a sweet, hot one on the mouth. “Yeah. What do you think about that?”

  He swallowed hard. Told himself it was time to face his future. Bad knee and all, he could handle this family. This amazing woman was basically saying she saw them as something of a partnership.

  “I like it,” he said, pulling her and the baby into his lap next to Hope. “I like it a lot.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “This was just delivered to us by courier,” Suz said the next morning, waving a large brown envelope at Mackenzie. “Or should I say served?”

  A little ice slid down Mackenzie’s back at the word served. “Who is it from?”

  “A Dallas law office.” Suz tore it open. “What do you know? It’s a love letter from the Donovan Corporation, and your dear ex, Tommy. They have formed a dubious partnership to take over the ranch.”

  “How can they?” Mackenzie went to stare over her sister’s shoulder.

  “Because you were married to Tommy,” Suz said, studying the papers. “Apparently, he feels entitled to half the ranch, which he wants to sell to the Donovan Corporation, Daisy’s father, in essence.”

  “He never owned half the ranch,” Mackenzie said. “It wasn’t in his name. And nothing came up about it in the divorce proceedings.”

  “Therein lies the rub.” They sat down on the sofa together. Suz and Mackenzie glanced up when Justin walked in. “You’re just in time,” Suz said. “You might as well enjoy the next phase of the thrilling saga, Hanging H Tough, since this concerns your employment.”

  “It’s nothing,” Mackenzie said quickly.

  “It’s something,” Suz shot back. “We’re being sued by your pinheaded ex and Daisy’s greedy father.”

  Justin sat down across from them. “Can I help in any way?”

  “Well, I guess you could marry my sister,” Suz said, still staring at the papers.