Chapter Thirteen

A fter the scene in the shed two days ago, and the kids running to the pond without telling anyone, and then Nathan offering an olive branch, his brother... well, he wasn’t as friendly as when they were in middle school, but he wasn’t as antagonistic as when Blake had returned to the Triple L either.

Blake didn’t want to rock the boat, so he’d kept any talk of fixing their father’s truck on the down-low. To make sure things stayed on an even keel, he and Timmy had been having breakfast at the main house, to hopefully alleviate Nathan’s restlessness. Blake wasn’t sure it was working.

“How’s work on Dad’s truck coming along?”

Surprised at Nathan’s question, Blake halted the bite he’d been about to take midway from his plate. Before he could answer, Timmy jumped in. “It’s a secret, Uncle Nathan.”

“A secret, huh?” Nathan raised a brow at Blake.

He shrugged, not wanting to upset their fragile truce. Jonas joined them, dropping a travel bag by the couch.

“Where’s Malorie? She’s usually here by now,” Nathan asked, keeping his gaze on his plate.

“She texted me.” Jonas stuck his phone in his pocket. “Said she’d be about fifteen minutes late. She’s supervising the twins, who are cleaning their rooms.”

“Where are you going?” While Blake was determined to mend his relationship with Nathan, he wasn’t sure it could be done without Jonas acting as a buffer between them.

Grabbing a piece of toast, Jonas sat at the table. “I have some last-minute business to clear up in Denver before I can open the office in Strawberry Ridge. I’ll be gone for three or four days. Think you boys can handle that?”

“I can,” Timmy piped up.

Blake hid a smile. If Timmy could, he sure as heck could do the same. But breaking old habits wasn’t as easy as it sounded. He glanced at Nathan. “Sure.”

“Good. I’ll see you when I get back.” Jonas polished off his toast, then with a wink and a smile, he patted Timmy’s shoulder, which made his kiddo wiggle away. He grabbed his bag and was gone.

Timmy went happily back to his breakfast. Blake joined him, doing his best not to dwell on Malorie and how interested Nathan was in her comings and goings. Timmy was his number one priority. The kid depended on him to make things right so they could stay on the ranch. And he agreed with his son.

Timmy needed family, even if that family was a couple of uncles, one who was a bossy lawyer, and the other a cranky horse rancher. Somewhere in between the two, there was space on the ranch for him and Timmy.

The kids—Andee, Reece, and Timmy—talked when they didn’t know he was listening. All of them wanted to live on the ranch. Did Malorie know how much her twins had come to love being on the Triple L? Maybe not. And maybe she didn’t know that Nathan had taken a shine to her.

She came into the house just as Blake was about to broach the subject of making a home for him and Timmy on the ranch. He didn’t miss how his brother perked up at the sight of his nurse. Or the pleased smile she gave Nathan.

“You’re up. Good for you,” she said, her smile widening, reaching her beautiful, darkly lashed eyes.

Nathan’s interest in Malorie was unexpected and, surprisingly, the thought of them together hurt. That was crazy because he’d only just started to have... what?... feelings for her? It wasn’t like they were a couple or anything. But there it was the beginning of something good blooming between his brother and the twins’ unforgettable mom.

For sure, his brother had no intention of ever leaving the Triple L. If Malorie returned Nathan’s feelings, she would move to the ranch. And Blake would have to get used to seeing them together.

Whatever. He couldn’t change his mind about him and Timmy returning home to live on the ranch. Not after working so hard to make amends with Nathan and Jonas. And he wouldn’t give up on his brothers. Not again. No matter who they fell for or didn’t fall in love with.

He was the lucky one. He’d had one real, true love. He couldn’t stand in the way of Nathan finding the same. Even if that meant giving up the spark that raced around his heart whenever he saw Malorie.

If the Harpers ended up making a permanent life on the ranch, too, with Nathan, that gave Blake one more reason why he had to make sure the Triple L was profitable. All he could do was keep moving forward by convincing Nathan that his ideas were solid and get his brother’s agreement to start the implementation process.

“Let me help you,” Malorie said, quickly reaching Nathan’s side as his brother stood and leaned to retrieve his crutches.

Nathan caught his balance and laughed lowly. “How embarrassing. You almost had to pick me up off the floor.”

“Don’t worry about it. That’s what I’m here for.” Her voice seemed to soften like a woman’s does when she was interested in a man.

She steadied his balance. Nathan didn’t reject her helping hand.

Blake winced. Was it just his imagination that something was happening between his brother and his nurse? If there was something there, he should step back and give them room to explore where they were heading. His own life with Tina had been so extraordinary, and he shouldn’t get in the way of Nathan possibly finding something just as wonderful.

He started clearing the table. “Are you done, kiddo? We have a lot to do today.”

“I’m done,” Timmy said, his frowning gaze on Malorie and Nathan as she helped his brother into the overstuffed chair Blake had put by his bedside that morning. She took his vitals.

Both his brothers loved Timmy. They were his boy’s family now. That was what he had to concentrate on, not competing for a woman with Nathan, like they used to compete on the track team.

On his way out of the house, Malorie stopped him. “Will you watch Andee and Reece? I have to take Nathan to his doctor’s appointment.”

“Sure. They’re helping me in the barn today, so no problem.” Timmy was still watching Nathan and Malorie closely, which wasn’t surprising. Sometimes he got an idea in his head and wouldn’t let go. He would know soon enough. The kid didn’t keep much to himself. Blake gestured toward the door. “Let’s go, buddy.”

He didn’t like the feelings swirling in his gut, but he couldn’t deny that, even though his brother could be a pain in the behind on his best days, Nathan deserved to find the kind of happiness he’d had with Tina.

They were almost to the barn when Timmy said, “Miss Malorie likes Uncle Nathan.”

“Sure. He’s her patient.” Deep inside, he hoped not, but that was between her and Nathan. “And they’re friends.” Something Blake needed to remind himself of too.

Timmy sighed heavily. “I guess.”

Keep your eye on the ball, Lohmen .

Timmy and the Triple L, not Nathan’s nurse.

He had plans to make. Staying in the apartment over the barn would not be a problem, but eventually, it was clear he’d need a place where he wasn’t in the middle of a blooming love story every day. The Triple L had a hundred acres. Surely, he would have no problem building a house that would suit him and Timmy and provide them both with space and quiet when needed. There was that section closest to the mountains where the remains of the original homestead cabin were.

Stopping in at the guesthouse, he picked up Andee and Reece, and the four of them headed for the barn. He heard Malorie’s Bronco leave shortly after.

“Does your mom like Uncle Nathan?” Timmy asked Andee.

“She says she likes all her patients.”

That seemed to satisfy Timmy. No more questions. He was too young to notice when two adults “liked” each other, anyhow.

They’d turned the horses out to pasture and had all picked a stall to clean out.

Blake was surprised to discover how much he’d missed the sounds and smells of the barn. There were fewer horses now than when he was a kid, but other than that, nothing had changed. The horses nickered in the pasture. Soiled hay, while not the best aroma, brought back memories of working with his dad and mom. Back then, his dad had taught all his boys about the Colorado Ranger, the breed he loved and raised on the ranch as part of his breeding program.

When Blake left the ranch, he’d left a large part of who he was behind with his brothers. At the time, he didn’t understand that. Now he did.

Timmy came out of his stall to stand in the open door of the one Reece was cleaning up. “You should ask her.”

“Ask her what?” Reece, the tip of his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth, kept raking out his stall.

Timmy cocked his chin. Not a good sign. It meant his boy wasn’t going to stop asking questions until he got the answer he wanted. Blake wished he could muster that kind of focus when he was writing his books.

Finished with her stall, Andee came to stand beside Timmy. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Does your mom like Uncle Nathan better than she likes my dad?”

This was where a good dad would step in and redirect the kids’ conversation. But Blake was curious about what Andee thought. Not that it would change his decision to back away and give Nathan his chance. And not that his brother would appreciate his effort to help him get his own family. Something Nathan had wanted more than anything when he was a kid.

Andee turned bright eyes on Blake. “You should ask her.”

Yup, he knew it. Out of the mouths of babes.

“I don’t think so, young lady. That is your mom’s business.” Right? Blake disappeared into the next stall and started raking. A woman’s mind and heart were her affair.

He looked up at the sound of feet shuffling in the dirt. All three kids were watching him. It was Andee who persisted, “Why not?”

How was he supposed to explain to the three tweens that falling in love was a complicated thing? And not only that but who a person fell in love with was even more complicated?

“You know what? How about we finish up these stalls? Then we’ll bring Rosie in and take turns walking her around the arena, so she’ll get used to the place.” Blake backtracked a step for more distraction. “Before that, we need to make nameplates for Rosie’s and Grace’s stalls.”

“Oh boy!” Reece shouted and hurried to finish up his stall. Andee followed her brother to lend a hand.

Timmy didn’t move. Two furrows between his brows indicated he was still working on his Malorie problem. Blake knelt in front of the boy. A bigger diversion was in order. “You too, kiddo. I said we’d move here, but I need to make sure you won’t decide you want to move back to Sedona after we do. That means you have to be willing to do your chores and help me take care of the horses.”

That broke Timmy’s focus on the subject of who Malorie liked more. His frown disappeared.

“I’ll help. I promise!” And off Timmy went, quickly disappearing into the next stall over from the one he’d been working on.

He let out a relieved sigh. Crisis averted, thank goodness. The last thing he needed was Timmy taking matters into his own hands and asking Malorie himself.

They finished the five stalls and made Grace’s and Rosie’s nameplates while they ate lunch. Blake did most of it since it involved burning the horses’ names into wood. They had the two new horses in the arena. After being shown what to do, the kids were taking turns, talking to the animals and slowly walking Rosie and Grace in circles when Malorie and Nathan returned.

Their laughter faded as they went into the house. It was midafternoon. Blake chose to ignore the sound that indicated they’d had a good time. With sweat sticking his shirt to his back, he focused on the kids and horses instead. “All right, guys. Good job. It’s time to get these ladies settled for an early evening.”

They were just about to put the horses in their stalls with enough water and feed to last the night when Malorie came into the barn. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t intend to be gone that long. Nathan insisted on buying us lunch.”

“No worries.” Blake finished brushing Grace down, while Andee and Reece took turns brushing Rosie’s mane.

Timmy stood off to the side, watching.

Cleaning out the stalls and watering and feeding the horses did not seem to be a problem for the kid, but it would take him a little longer to get used to being near the big animals when they weren’t in their stalls with their heads hanging out looking for a treat or a scratch between their ears.

Pushing her hands into her scrubs’ pockets, Malorie’s amusement banked a little as she studied him closely. And there it was. The answer to Timmy’s question. She’d been laughing with Nathan. Now she wasn’t. Instead, the corners of her mouth had turned down.

“Were the kids any trouble?”

“Not at all.” He’d better be careful. The mother of two, and an RN to boot, could spot trouble faster than a horse racing for the comfort of the barn. He’d seen her head off the twins often enough. He didn’t need her finding out about their earlier conversation. “They were super helpful. We got a lot done.”

“Mom, look what we helped B.J. make.” Reece pointed at the nameplate in Grace’s stall. Moving to Rosie’s stall, he said, “We did this one too.”

She patted Rosie’s neck and looked where Reece pointed. “Very nice. Are you guys ready to come in and settle for the evening?”

“Can we help B.J. bring in the other horses first?” Andee asked.

His chest swelling with pride, Blake smiled. Andee might love her mountain bike, but she loved working with the horses just as much, it seemed. Not surprisingly, the girl had that in common with Reece.

“That’s okay. Timmy and I’ll take care of the others. You two go spend some time with your mom.” He wasn’t their dad. If Nathan was going to be Malorie’s guy, it would be better to take steps now not to get too tied up with her kids.

Andee and Reece followed their mom.

Kids did not deserve to be left behind because the adults in their lives had issues. Parents or not parents. He could still be their friend, or he could be their favorite uncle, if that’s how it worked out.

Blake handed Timmy a carrot and stuffed a couple into his pockets. “Let’s go get Duke and his ladies.”

The horses had the same idea. They came toward them at a slow walk when he opened the gate. While Timmy hung back, Blake added lead ropes to their halters.

“Do you want to lead Angel to the barn?” The chestnut, interspersed across her hindquarters with a white spotted blanket, was the least intimating of the three. When Timmy didn’t come forward, Blake asked, “Does she scare you?”

“No, but she’s big.” A shaky smile took over his face as he stood up straight. “I’m brave.”

“Yes, you are,” Blake reassured the kid. He’d never met anyone as brave. And he made Blake brave too. Together, they could take on any challenge that came at them. He handed Timmy Angel’s lead. “Head for the barn. She’ll follow you. I’ll be right behind you with Duke and Bella.”

When they got the horses settled, Timmy’s eyes lit up. “I did it.”

“How about we celebrate with grilled turkey-and-cheese sandwiches and chocolate ice cream?” It had been Tina’s idea to celebrate her brother’s milestones with his favorite foods. He nudged Timmy toward the bathroom. “Shower first, then you can butter the bread.”

After they cleaned up from dinner, Timmy headed for his room. He was tucked into bed reading a book from the new ones Blake kept stacked for him.

He flicked on the bedside lamp. “I’m going to work on the truck and then check on the horses. Is that okay?”

Timmy nodded, his attention completely taken over by the story. On his way out, Blake left the bedroom door open. Just in case. Timmy was kind of like the horses. Once he was settled for the night, he didn’t move until morning. Especially if he fell asleep reading.

In the shed, bent over the truck’s engine, he couldn’t stop thinking about Malorie, how much she loved her kids, and her bighearted nature that allowed her to take care of strangers. He was so attracted by how easy she was to be around and how sensible she was. How she listened. And how, maybe because of her divorce, she was determined to make a good life for herself and the twins on her terms.

What was her ex thinking that he didn’t see how devoted she was? That if she’d fallen in love, she wasn’t the kind of woman who would change her mind. Disgusted with the guy, Blake straightened and smacked his head on the sharp edge of the hood.

“Ow! Son of a gun.” He rubbed the spot and belatedly looked at his fingers. No blood.

Clear of the offending hood, he shook his head. That’s what he got for traveling down a path that Malorie hadn’t invited him on. In the two years since Tina had passed, he hadn’t looked twice at another woman. If his suspicions were correct, he shouldn’t be looking now.

The problem was that Malorie Harper drew him like a hummingbird to flowers. And what was he going to do about that? Nothing.

He went back to work on the engine until his mind finally gave up and all was quiet on the Malorie front. Making a mental list of the parts he needed, he decided a store run the next day would be a good idea. The kids would enjoy that too. And it would be a good time to pay a visit to Jonas’s high school friend Sloane and see if she’d taken over her father’s auto repair shop. As a teenager, she was there every day after school. She might be able to secure the parts.

He’d always thought there was something between her and Jonas, but apparently not if he hadn’t put a ring on her finger.

Long after dark, he came to a good stopping place and closed up the shed. Finally tired enough to sleep, he made his way back to the barn. Before he went upstairs, he took a last peek at the horses.

Duke stuck his head out of the upper half of the door that he’d left open. Blake scratched his nose. “Can’t sleep, buddy?” The horse nickered. He smiled. “I know how you feel.”

“I see you’re still talking to the horses.”

He turned at his brother’s voice. Nathan leaned on his crutches. When they were kids, he’d always teased Blake about his nightly conversations with the animals.

“Isn’t it kind of late for you to be wandering around in the dark on crutches?” Wondering what was on Nathan’s mind, he sat on one of the hay bales by the door. From experience, he knew his brother wouldn’t go away until he said what he’d come to say.

Nathan carefully sat on a bale close by. “The doc said it’s okay if I get around more. Less wheelchair, more crutches.”

“He probably didn’t mean limping around in the dead of night.” Stop antagonizing the dude. “But since you’re here, what do you want to do about the Triple L’s future?”

Nathan gave Blake “the look.” The one he always used when he wanted to avoid a certain subject. Blake raised his brows. The ranch couldn’t afford for his brother to drag his feet much longer.

Finally, Nathan relented. “I know something has to be done, but I don’t want to talk about it right now.” He huffed out a deep breath. “The reason I’m ‘limping around in the dead of night,’ as you put it, is because I want to ask you something.”

“Okay.” Blake couldn’t remember the last time either of his brothers had been willing to sit down and have a civil conversation with their prodigal brother.

Crutches clutched in one hand to keep his balance, Nathan leaned forward. “Jonas told me about Tina. I’m sorry you lost her.” He paused before continuing. “How did you know you loved her?”

Nathan’s sympathy and question were too much for Blake to quickly wrap his brain around. It was a conversation he’d never expected to have with either of his brothers. “Well, I guess I knew when I discovered how willing I was to give up my old ways for her. Drinking and hanging out in bars, mostly. She didn’t ask me to change. I just knew I had to be better if I wanted to have a life with her. Nothing else mattered but her. And I could see a future with her.”

“And you never questioned those feelings?” Nathan stared at him, a furrow forming between his brows.

Just like he didn’t question his feelings for Malorie now. “No.” How was he going to walk away? Suspicion flared in Blake’s chest. “Why?”

“I think I’m in love,” Nathan said.

And though Blake thought he knew the answer, he got the words out, anyway. “Who’s the lucky girl?”

“Malorie,” Nathan admitted on a heavy exhale.

There it was. What he’d suspected. He couldn’t help warning Nathan. “You’d better be certain. Malorie has been badly hurt by her ex. Make sure your feelings are all about her and not about what you think you want.”

For as long as Blake could remember, Nathan had wanted his own family. A wife. Kids. Horses in the pasture. That made the fact that he wasn’t already married and had let the ranch go downhill that much more surprising.

Nodding, Nathan pulled himself to his feet. “Thanks.” He stopped at the door and slowly turned around. “I finished Timmy’s book. I liked it. You have a special talent, brother.”

And with that, Nathan slowly made his way back to the house. Taken aback by the rare praise, Blake watched Nathan until he was almost safely inside before he turned off the main lights. When Nathan reached the porch, Malorie joined him, clearly not happy that her patient had taken a walk in the dark.