Chapter Six

I f her cranky patient was to be believed, Nathan couldn’t wait another day to get out of bed and use the wheelchair that he was sure had been taunting him from the corner of the room. Malorie couldn’t blame him. Keeping him resting his pelvis for a full four days so the fractures could begin to heal was probably the best she was ever going to get from the man. Thankfully, Jonas was fixing breakfast in the kitchen, not so far away that, if she needed help, he was close enough to step in.

She glanced at the clock. Blake usually visited his brother at nine. The good news was that the brawl she’d walked into on her first day on the ranch hadn’t been repeated. That was a good sign since she hadn’t had any luck finding her replacement. The brothers mostly ignored each other unless Blake had a question about the current workings of the ranch. Questions Nathan didn’t particularly like answering.

She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t miss their intense voices when she was sitting nearby doing her charting. Had they always had broken communications like that? Even as kids?

When he talked to her, Nathan was just fine, in his way. Blake was no slouch either when it came to giving her all the details about what the twins were up to.

In the last two days, he’d created some temporary screens that made the dining room into a semi-private cubicle. That was a nice olive branch—for what, she didn’t know—and should have earned him points with Nathan. That he hadn’t been given some grace didn’t seem to bother Blake, but Malorie felt the snub on his behalf.

Their relationship wasn’t any of her business, except for how it impacted her patient’s recovery. Though she was still on the fence about staying, she had a job to do, which included remaining on the Triple L long enough to get Nathan back on his feet. Literally. If being on the ranch eased Andee and Reece’s grief at abruptly being abandoned by Mark, then stay, she would.

With her morning rounds done—vitals, and clean clothes placed within his reach—to give him some room to wash up without the embarrassment of having a practical stranger all in his business, Malorie turned her back to Nathan, busying herself with writing everything down so his progress could be relayed to his doctor.

When she heard the slide of the sheet being pulled up, she turned and asked, “Ready?”

His brow was furrowed and he was a little breathless, but Nathan nodded just as Blake came around the screen, pushing the wheelchair. Timmy peeked from behind his back.

“So, is your patient ready to get up?” He rolled the chair to a stop at the side of the bed.

She didn’t want Nathan doing too much too soon. He didn’t like being immobile—who would?—and if his continued scowl every time he saw Blake was anything to go by, he didn’t appreciate his brother having a front-row seat to his immobility.

Jonas stuck his head into the makeshift room. “Need a hand?”

“Yes.” She smiled encouragingly at the brothers. “I’ll get him into the wheelchair and you”—she gave Blake the same mom stare that she used on the twins when she wanted them to do something they might not like—“can take him onto the porch for some fresh air and a nice visit, while I change his bed.”

She raised the head of the bed and reached over to help Nathan slide to the edge.

Maybe if she made her famous—okay, just with the twins—chocolate chip pumpkin muffins? What was that old saying? The quickest way to cheer men up was through their stomachs? Or something like that. It’d never worked with Mark. He hated chocolate. But maybe the Lohmen brothers would be so impressed with her baking skills that they would do more than grunt at one another. Which could lead to finding a solution to the problem that kept them from being a happily functional family unit.

Her solution was probably overplaying how much magic her muffins had, but the Triple L deserved a family who loved her and didn’t fight over whatever it was that had Nathan testy again this morning, and Blake wearing his stoic face whenever he had to deal with his brother.

There had to be a way to heal the rift between them. She couldn’t imagine Andee and Reece not speaking to one another. If it wasn’t an open conversation over her yummy muffins that moved the brothers to get past their differences, she would just have to keep looking for the hook that could bring them back together.

She positioned the wheelchair.

“Hang on there, Malorie,” Blake interrupted her mental planning. “Nathan’s a big man, and you don’t look strong enough to heft him into that chair.”

She stretched to her full height. “I beg your pardon. Are you suggesting I can’t do my job?”

“Not at all. It’s just that—”

Malorie followed his gaze to Jonas, whose brows shot up. The twitch of his lips clearly said, You’re on your own, kid.

Damn straight. She smiled sweetly at Blake. He was good with Andee and Reece, but that didn’t give him the right to interfere with her nursing duties. “Let me show you how it’s done. Then you can help him in and out of bed if you’re here and he needs to use the restroom.”

Nobody liked using a bedpan.

“You guys don’t need to talk about me like I’m not right here.”

Blake turned a faint shade of red. Served the man right.

Ignoring Nathan’s grouchiness, she instructed his brother, “Watch and learn. Be sure to lock the wheels before you get started. Nathan put your hands on my shoulders.”

Leaning back, she reached under his arms and around his chest and helped him ease onto his feet. She’d given him pain medication thirty minutes earlier to make his transfer easier. With a controlled pivot, she gently lowered him into the chair. He winced when his bottom made contact with the thick pad in the seat, but otherwise, the transfer went smoothly. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” Nathan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Thanks.”

After placing his feet on the footrests, she turned an appraising look on Blake, unable to wipe the humor from her eyes. “Do you think you can do that without accidentally dropping him?”

She was certain Blake wouldn’t drop Nathan, but as well as the brothers got along, accidentally was the keyword.

“What I think is that you’re stronger than you look.” With a teasing smile that began in his eyes and caused a ripple in her generally steady pulse, Blake grabbed the handles on the back of the chair and gave a gentle push. “Come on, Timmy, Nathan. Let’s get out of Malorie’s way so she can get her work done. We don’t want her to start giving us chores now, do we?”

Jonas cocked his head with a grin and, after they left the house, said, “Impressive. You have a way with my brothers. Usually, they don’t listen that well. I’ll get you a fresh set of sheets,”

Suppressing her own smile, Malorie stripped off the bedding. If she let herself, she could like... really like ...Blake Lohmen.

Not going to happen , she sternly informed the girl inside her head weighing the idea. It was just respect. That was all. Nothing more. Respect for how he included Andee and Reece when he had ranch chores to do. Respect and curiosity because there was Timmy. Andee was right. The Timmy, the Superhero books were about a real boy. A boy Blake had introduced as his son, with no other explanation. Not that she was due one. But she couldn’t help thinking there was more to Blake and Timmy’s story than could be gleaned from the books stacked on the twins’ bedside tables.

She wasn’t looking for someone to warm her battered heart, but dang, she’d better be careful, or she’d be in big trouble. Her job on the Triple L was only temporary, an excellent thing to keep in mind. None of them, she or the twins, could get too comfortable, or get attached to the Lohmen brothers or their ranch. Because when Nathan didn’t need her nursing skills any longer, the Harpers, mother and children, would be heading home to Oregon.

That was right. Home. At least it would be again when they’d worked the memories of Mark’s desertion out of their systems.

It was just unfortunate that the twins especially liked Blake, and Nathan, and the ranch, with its beautiful horses and many acres to explore. Sighing heavily, she took the stack of bedsheets Jonas handed over.

“Let me help you with that,” he said instead of leaving her to her task.

Malorie struggled to mind her own business, but not long enough to talk herself out of asking questions she shouldn’t. Finally, she gave up. Her practical side warned her... If Blake wanted her to know anything about his life, besides the fact that he didn’t seem to have much in common with his brothers, he’d tell her. Most likely.

She proceeded with caution. “Did you know Blake has a son?”

“Not until yesterday.” Jonas frowned. “We don’t know much about him and what he’s been doing since he left the ranch when he was a teenager.” Jonas’s frown deepened as he pulled the sheets tight on his side. “We haven’t kept in touch.”

That surprised her. If she had siblings, she would do her darnedest to keep the lines of communication open. At least she would try. She straightened the sheets on her side. “Is that why they don’t get along?” Jonas studied her for a long moment. Too long for comfort. “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t ask about your family’s business.”

Embarrassed, she flipped out the multicolored quilt that was Nathan’s blanket and laid it across the bed. That’s what she got for poking her nose in where it didn’t belong.

“It’s not the only reason.” Jonas sighed heavily, smoothing out his side of the quilt. “They haven’t gotten along since our parents died.”

Malorie ran her fingers across the hand stitching. “Did your mom make this?”

“She made all of us a quilt when we turned thirteen.” He suddenly looked up as if he’d come to some silent decision. “I need to ask you something.”

She stood back, taking in the neat space, and then faced her employer. “Okay.”

“I’m closing my office in Denver and moving my law practice to Strawberry Ridge, so I can help on the ranch and be closer to my brothers.”

More than a little curious, she followed him to the kitchen. He’d already started coffee. “Why?”

It was an easy enough question to answer, even if he didn’t want to divulge all the Lohmens’ secrets.

“Our mother died when Blake was seventeen and our father two years before that.” After handing her one of the cups he’d poured, he gestured toward the refrigerator. “There’s milk and creamer if you want it.” He leaned against the counter. “Blake was already in trouble at school. Mom’s passing pushed him over the edge. I’m not proud of what I did, and I won’t go into the details, but suffice it to say I told him to leave and never come back.”

Malorie sucked in a shocked breath. That seemed harsh, but she wasn’t there, so how could she judge Jonas’s actions? “He’s here now.”

“Yeah, because I finally found him and told him to come home. With Nathan’s accident, we need him to run the ranch. Most of the money I’ve made practicing law has gone into keeping the ranch marginally solvent. Because I’m moving back to The Triple L, except for selling my share of the law practice, what I have in the bank won’t last long. I’ll do some online work to keep an income coming in, but I’d like to take on some pro bono cases. Anyway, Blake and Nathan are the ones who know the Triple L, inside and out.”

Hesitant, Malorie watched Jonas over the rim of her cup as she took a sip. Families could be so dysfunctional. “What do you need to know?”

“I think you like Blake.” Jonas placed his cup on the counter and straightened. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Maybe, but not in the way you’re hinting. I just went through a nasty divorce. I’m not looking for anything more than a job that will give the twins and me room to breathe.”

“I understand and hope you’ve found that here.” Jonas’s focus was intense. She could see him facing a judge in a courtroom with the same assuredness. “If my brothers and I can’t figure out how to work together, all of us, we’ll lose the only thing we have left of our parents. I’m not willing to let that happen. In your professional opinion, what will it take for us to mend fences, so we can focus on what means the most to us instead of our disagreements?”

“You have things to work out.”

She barely saw his nod before he said, “I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.”

Family. And the ranch. Even though she was sure it wasn’t what he wanted to hear, she should tell Jonas the six to eight weeks she would be on the Triple L wasn’t long enough to help the three brothers make peace.

“What all of you need is counseling.” When he started to shake his head, she pressed her point. He had asked her opinion. “If you don’t want to talk to a counselor, you need to talk to each other. Be honest. But from what I can see, that won’t be easy for any of you on your own.”

“I know. You’re right. But I think, between the two of us, you with your nurturing nurse way”—She would swear he’d winked at her—“and me with my organized ability to plan campaigns; we can come up with something that could smooth things out between them.”

“Maybe, but that’s between you and your brothers.” Even though she’d been giving some thought to possibly coming up with a way to smooth things over between Blank and Nathan, it wasn’t wise to jump full throttle into the middle of the brothers’ problems. Her specialty was not family counseling. She finished what was left of her coffee and rinsed out the cup. Still—“While I’m here, I’ll do what I can to encourage better communication.”

“You’re an awesome lady, you know that?” Admiration lit up his light-blue eyes. It made Malorie uncomfortable.

On a quick intake of breath, she reminded him, “I’m not looking—”

“I didn’t mean to imply—” He threw up his hands like stop signs in a construction zone. “Honest, I’m not either. I don’t have time for dating or romance. Not until after we get the Triple L back on firm financial ground.”

Heat climbed up Malorie’s cheeks. Embarrassed, she said, “All right, then. I’d better go check on Nathan.”

“I have to head into Strawberry Ridge to talk to a friend about office space.” Jonas almost raced her to the front door. Clearly, he was in as big a hurry as she was to escape her mistake. Why she’d gone there was anyone’s guess. Mark had made it very clear she wasn’t the kind of woman men wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. And she’d decided she wouldn’t be looking.

Concentrate on why you’re here, Malorie Harper.

On an impulse, she stopped Jonas before he reached the door. He’d said he didn’t know what Blake had done with his life after he left the ranch. She could at least clue him in to one thing. “You know Blake writes very popular middle-grade books, right?”

He hesitated, watching her closely, perhaps waiting for her to say more. Finally, he said, “No, I didn’t.”

“They’re stories about Timmy. You should read them,” she said, obliging the curiosity starting to grow in his steady regard.

“I will. Thanks.” He didn’t take his gaze from her face. Jonas opened the door and waited for her to go out first.

They found Nathan and Blake at the end of the covered porch. They weren’t having a brotherly conversation, but Malorie was glad to see they weren’t arguing either. Andee, Reece, and Timmy were gathered around.

“I have to do some repairs on the barn today, but what do you kids want to do after that?” Blake asked.

Without exception, all three responded with varying degrees of excitement, “Ride the horses!”

Malorie started to object, but Jonas stopped her.

Gently taking hold of her wrist, he whispered, “Wait.”

Wait for what? To watch Andee or Reece, or Timmy, too, fall off the tall horses she’d seen in the barn and break an arm, leg, or pelvis? She didn’t think so!

“Do any of you know how to ride a horse?” Blake asked casually, as if he was talking to a classroom of kids. They shook their heads. “No? Well, before you learn to ride a horse, there’s lots of other things to learn first.”

Timmy leaned on the armrest next to Blake. His dark brows were drawn together. “Like what?”

“There are some rules to go by. For instance, don’t stand behind a horse. You don’t want to get kicked.” Blake patted the bench beside him, inviting the twins to sit. It warmed Malorie’s heart, which wasn’t fair. “And you shouldn’t make any sudden movements around a horse. I think, before you learn to ride, you should know how to groom your horse. Things like that.”

“But that’s a lot,” Timmy moaned.

Blake looked over the twins’ heads at Nathan. White around the lips, Nathan nodded. “Blake is right. It’ll be like going to school.”

“We’ll help you, Timmy,” Andee said, making Malorie proud. “Won’t we, Reece?”

Reece nodded.

Malorie touched Nathan’s shoulder. “Let’s get you back to bed. Blake will watch over this crew. Won’t you?” She raised a brow at Blake.

He sent her a smile that reached his eyes. “Of course.”

The man was happy. It was a shocking turnabout from the angry man she’d walked in on when she first arrived.

Shaking her head in surprised disbelief, she swiveled Nathan’s wheelchair. With a wince, he looked over his shoulder. “You kids listen to Blake. He knows what he’s talking about.” That was a good beginning, but then, as she pushed him into the house, he muttered, “Some of the time. We don’t need any more accidents around here.”

Malorie’s thoughts exactly—the part about accidents. She parked the chair by the bed and locked the wheels. “Here we go.”

Lips pressed together, Nathan was determined to do most of the work of getting back into bed on his own. She let him.

When he was finally settled, he closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. “Damn it.”

“Maybe you’ll let me help a little more the next time,” she suggested softly.

He opened his eyes, and with more than a little pain and contrition pulling at the corners of his mouth, agreed, “Maybe.”

“You’re kind of stubborn, aren’t you?” she told the suffering man.

“He got that from Dad,” Blake said, startling Malorie.

She hadn’t noticed him lounging in the opening into Nathan’s cubicle. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, “And what did you get from your dad?”

“My good looks,” he said, as serious as a dollar bill, before amusement filled his green eyes.

Shaking herself loose from the attraction she didn’t dare give into, she allowed good looks was a pretty apt description. She changed the subject. “Where are the kids?”

After seeing him with Timmy and how involved he was with Andee and Reece, letting them help with the simple stuff in the barn, she wondered, could she trust Blake? Her gut said yes, but was he a man who would stay to wipe runny noses and give out hugs when the kids were cranky? Would he clean up when juice got spilled on the carpets? And would he stay when Malorie was so tired, she was afraid she didn’t have what it took to parent all alone?

Possibly. Possibly not.

“They’re checking out Jonas’s car. He drives a souped-up Mustang he’s pretty proud of.” Blake came to stand on the opposite side of Nathan’s bed. “If it’s okay with you, we’re going to have a grooming lesson this afternoon. I promise to keep them safe.”

How he knew that would be her first question she couldn’t fathom, but he was starting to know her well, if he’d guessed, as a doting mom, the twins’ safety would always come first. Probably not all that hard to guess. Especially for a man who had a child of his own to watch over.

She put the ear tips of her stethoscope in her ears. “It’s okay with me.”

Malorie could feel both brothers’ eyes on her, but she didn’t let it distract her. She had a job to do and that would require all her spare focus.

“We’ll be in the barn,” Blake said, humor lingering in the words, and left.

Nathan leaned back. “Don’t trust him,” he muttered.

“Why?” she asked softly, but Nathan was already half-asleep, his eyes closed.

She would try to keep her promise to Jonas, but she wasn’t here to learn to trust a handsome, appealing man. She was here to help his brother heal.

Over the next two days, Malorie focused on her job. Unfortunately, she couldn’t help noticing how good Blake was with the kids. The more he spent time with them, showing them the ropes of the ranch—and her, when she had a few spare moments—the more she liked the rancher turned middle-grade book author. Not as an available guy she wouldn’t mind dating, of course, but as a man who had similar parenting challenges as she did.

They would be better off just being good friends.