Cowboy's Triplet Trouble

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“I really don’t want to make any trouble for him.” Grace frowned and tried to focus on the conversation instead of the excruciating pain that racked her arm each time she moved. Surely by morning it would be okay and she could get home.

“Let’s just get you back to the ranch and settled in and we’ll sort the rest of it out later.”

They both fell silent for the remainder of the ride. What she’d wanted to ask him about his brother was if Justin was trustworthy and kind. Was he a good man who would make a good role model for his daughters? She didn’t want to judge him based on their initial interaction earlier that day. She hoped Jake was right, that Justin’s actions upon seeing her and the girls weren’t indicative of who he was as a man, and once the shock wore off things would be fine.

For now there was nothing she could do but rest her arm and hope that by the morning she could get back home. What she wanted more than anything was to get back to the Johnson ranch and make sure her girls were okay.

She shot a quick glance at Jake and once again couldn’t imagine how she’d mistaken him for his brother. Although their features were basically the same, Jake’s looked stronger, as if forged by a different metal than his brothers. Jake looked older and radiated a quiet confidence she found oddly sexy.

She moved her arm, welcoming the pain to banish any crazy thoughts about Jake that might enter her head. She released an exhausted sigh of relief as they pulled up in front of the house.

Kerri met them at the door. “You poor woman,” she said to Grace. “Don’t you worry about a thing. We’re going to take good care of you and the babies until you’re well enough to go home. I’ve got one of the guest rooms all ready for you, and Jeffrey got the old cribs out of the attic and has them set up in the room next to ours,” Kerri continued as she led Grace into the kitchen.

“I hate being such an imposition,” Grace said as she entered the kitchen to see the triplets once again playing on the floor with an array of plastic bowls and lids in front of them. The girls all smiled at the sight of their mother and continued playing as Grace sank down in one of the chairs at the table.

Thankfully the girls were used to being without Grace for hours in the day as she took them to day care while she worked. They were usually happy wherever they were as long as they were together.

Jeffrey and Jake came into the kitchen. Jeffrey sat at the table while Jake stood with his back against the counter, his gaze dark and enigmatic as he looked first at the children and then at Grace.

She could only imagine what was going on in his mind. He’d been invaded by unwanted children, by an unwanted woman. Was it any wonder he appeared rather grim?

“Don’t look so worried,” Kerri said to Grace. “We’ll get them taken care of and all you need to be concerned with is getting that shoulder well.”

Grace smiled at the woman gratefully. She certainly wouldn’t be feeling as comfortable about things without Kerri here.

“Now, I’m going to make dinner,” Kerri said.

“And you should take one of those pain pills the doctor gave you,” Jake said to Grace.

She shook her head. “I’m fine. I really don’t like to take pain pills. They make me groggy.”

Jake pushed off the counter. “I’m heading out to the barn.”

“Dinner in an hour,” Kerri said.

He nodded and then left the kitchen. Once again Grace felt some of the tension ease out of her body. There was no question about it, something about Jake Johnson put her on edge. She felt a vague sense of disapproval wafting from him. Could she really blame him? For all he knew she was some kind of bimbo who made a habit of falling into bed with handsome cowboys.

He probably thought she was here for money despite her claims to the contrary. He had no reason to believe anything she’d told him.

They had a quiet dinner and then at about seven o’clock, with Jeffrey and Kerri’s help, the girls were bathed, put into their pajamas and laid down in the cribs where they fell asleep almost immediately.

Jake had disappeared right after dinner, muttering that he was going into his office where he’d remained. With the girls asleep, Kerri showed Grace to the spare room and Jeffrey offered to bring in her suitcase and anything else she needed from her car.

The guest room was nice, decorated in shades of yellow and with a sliding glass door that led out to a small balcony. Grace stowed her things and by eight o’clock she, Kerri and Jeffrey sat in the living room. The television was on, but Grace’s thoughts were far away from the drama unfolding on the screen.

In this single day her life had held enough drama to last her a lifetime. She was more than eager to get back to her home in Wichita, raise her daughters by herself and help her sister find her way through life.

Her shoulder throbbed with a pain that made any real depth of thought next to impossible. She’d already decided that before she went to sleep that night she’d take one of those pain pills the doctor had given her. Hopefully the girls would sleep through the night as they usually did and Grace would feel well enough to head home the next day.

They all turned as the front door opened. Grace’s stomach clenched as Justin walked in. His eyes widened slightly as he saw the sling she wore. “What happened?”

“I fell and hurt my shoulder,” she replied. She wasn’t sure if she should be happy or angry to see him again.

He looked at Kerri and Jeffrey. “Do you mind? Can I talk to her alone?”

Kerri looked at Grace, who nodded slightly. “Come on, Jeffrey, let’s go into the kitchen and have a piece of pie.”

Grace looked back at Justin. He seemed calm and contrite, although she thought she caught the scent of beer wafting from him.

“I’m sorry,” he said once Kerri and Jeffrey had disappeared from the room. “About how I acted earlier. I was a real jerk and I truly do apologize.”

She gave a curt nod, not exactly ready to accept his apology but at least willing to acknowledge it. He slid into the chair across from where she sat on the sofa.

“Man, what a freak-out.” He released a sigh and raked a hand through his thick, dark hair. “So, how did you find me? I don’t remember us exchanging too much personal information that night, although obviously we exchanged enough.”

“Actually, I didn’t find you. A friend of mine did.” She quickly explained to him about MysteryMom.

“Wow, it just gets freakier,” he exclaimed when she was finished. “So, I got three kids.”

“Three daughters. Justin, I don’t care about child support if that’s what you’re worried about. I just thought you should know about them. I thought maybe you’d want to be a part of their lives.” Her heart hurt in her chest as she watched his expression, as she clung to the belief that somehow, some way this man would step up.

“Can I see them?”

Her hope found a bit of purchase at this request, although she shook her head negatively. “They’re sleeping right now. I really don’t want them disturbed tonight. Unfortunately, with my shoulder injury I won’t be going home for a day or two.”

“Then why don’t I plan on being here at ten in the morning and spend a little time with them.” He stood from his chair. “And we can talk then about where things go from here.”

The tentative hope blossomed and she offered him a smile. “I’d like that.”

“Then I’ll see you at ten tomorrow.” He disappeared out the front door and Grace breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe everything was going to be okay after all.

She turned to see Jake standing in one of the doorways nearby, apparently the door that led into his private study. “You were right,” she said. “He just needed some time to process it all, I guess.” She smiled.

“I’m just heading up to my room so I’ll say good-night,” he said.

“Good night, Jake, and thank you for everything. Justin is going to be here around ten tomorrow to get to know the girls, so it looks as though things are going to be just fine.”

“Let’s hope so,” he said, his eyes once again dark and unreadable. There was something in his tone and in the darkness of his gaze that made Grace realize maybe she shouldn’t get her hopes up too high.

It was ten-thirty the next morning and there was still no sign of Justin. Jake wasn’t surprised. What did surprise him was the ping of compassion in his heart as he watched Grace standing at the front window looking outside.

She’d been there for the last twenty minutes, her demeanor slowly shifting from eager anticipation to unmistakable discouragement.

The girls were playing on a blanket on the living room floor, surrounded by toys and any other item in the house that Kerri thought they might enjoy and wouldn’t hurt them. Kerri had helped get them up and out of bed, fed and dressed in cute little outfits he suspected had been specifically chosen to meet their daddy.

“You want a cup of coffee or something?” he finally asked.

Grace whirled around, green eyes wide. “Oh, I didn’t know you were there. No thanks, I’m fine.” She turned back to face the window. “He’s apparently running late.”

“Justin is one of those people who would be late to his own funeral.” Jake wasn’t sure he believed his brother would show up at all. Thank goodness the babies were young enough not to know that already they’d been let down by the man who had fathered them. The one man in the world they should be able to depend on. Jake feared it wouldn’t be the last time.

“How’s the shoulder this morning?” he asked.

Once again she turned from the window and this time took several steps away and sat in a nearby chair. “I think it’s a little better,” she replied, but as she tried to move it to show him how much better it was a spasm of pain crossed her features.

“I think maybe you just told me a little fib,” he noted.

She hesitated a moment and then flashed him a quick smile. “Maybe,” she admitted. “Actually, I think it’s worse this morning than it was last night.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I’ve always heard the second day of an injury is the worst.” He should be outside, riding the ranch, checking fencing, doing a thousand chores that awaited his hands. But he’d been unable to leave her alone standing at the window waiting for a man who might not show up until evening.