Home on the Ranch--Tennessee Homecoming Read online

  “No doubt.” Amber tossed a blond curl over her shoulder and grinned. “I’ve been speaking to you for the past five minutes and I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said.” She gestured toward the small car seat on the counter. “And poor Sophia has been begging for your attention since you came in. I bet she’s beginning to feel neglected.”

  As if in agreement, Sophia cooed up at him from her car seat as she kicked her feet and pumped her fists.

  After escaping nosy Poppy, Sallie Ann and Carrie by taking Sophia for a walk around the school track for half an hour, Landon had driven over to Amber’s café and placed an order for to-go burgers and fries for supper. Matthew and Katie had had a tumultuous day and Emma wasn’t used to spending an extra two hours at school in the afternoon. He figured Katie and the kids would be tired, hungry and ready to crash by the time he picked them up, and he’d looked forward to visiting Amber.

  But ever since he walked away from Katie an hour and a half ago, he hadn’t been able to think of anything except how Katie was faring at her first choir practice.

  Landon smiled, leaned down and kissed Sophia’s forehead. “Sorry, baby.”

  “You gonna give Katie one of those, too?” Amber asked.

  Landon jerked upright and searched his sister’s blank expression. “Give her what? A kiss?”

  God knows he’d given Katie a rather racy one earlier today in the bathroom, of all places. If she hadn’t broken away and if he hadn’t managed to control himself, they’d have probably ended up in his bed. Then there was that kiss at Katie’s motel room the other night, though that one hadn’t been his fault. That kiss had been all Katie.

  Beautiful, impulsive and sweetly passionate Katie...

  “I meant an apology,” Amber said. “You know, for doubting her ability to lead a choir practice? That’s why you’ve been checking your watch every two minutes for the past half hour, right?” She propped her elbows on the bar and studied his face. “Is there something going on between you two I should know about?”

  Landon forced a laugh and dragged a hand through his hair. “What?” He puffed out a heavy breath. “No.”

  Amber grinned. “Oh, I think there is something going on between you two. Something romantical, maybe?”

  “That’s ridiculous. The only reason I’ve been checking my watch is because I don’t want to be late picking the kids up from practice.”

  “And Katie, too, right?” Amber asked. “You don’t want to be late picking her up either, do you?”

  “Well, obviously,” he said. “She comes with the kids.”

  Amber’s brows raised, a somber expression crossing her face. “Does she?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Do I?” Amber asked. “Because I can tell you from experience, a woman doesn’t find it very flattering to be thought of as part of a package deal. As a matter of fact, dating or making an offer of marriage to Katie just for the sake of the kids is, in my opinion, a surefire way to let her know how much you don’t care about her.”

  “What the hell? How’d we take this conversation from apologies and kisses to dating and marriage?” Landon glanced around the café, grateful to find the most recent couple dining had already left, and lowered his voice on his next words. “Besides, I’m not discussing my private life in the middle of downtown Elk Valley.”

  Poppy Hadden, Sallie Ann Marsh and Carrie Williams were probably doing enough of that already. He recalled his and Katie’s earlier conversation with them and the thought of what lewd gossip they might already be spreading around town about him and Katie caused him to shudder in disgust.

  “Don’t cuss in front of Sophia.” Amber smoothed a hand over Sophia’s curls as the baby smiled then turned back to Landon. “And we’re not in the middle of downtown Elk Valley—we’re inside my place of business, which happens to be empty at the moment. I only brought up apologies during this conversation—not kisses. You brought that up, and you referenced Katie as coming ‘with the kids.’”

  A phrase which, Landon conceded, he knew was a sore spot with Amber. Two years ago, when Amber had told Nate he was the father of her triplets, Amber had been concerned Nate would feel obligated to stay in Elk Valley and marry her just for the sake of the babies. And she’d been equally afraid Landon would insist Nate do so, as well.

  Landon squirmed on his bar stool. Amber had been right. At the time, Landon had insisted Nate own up to his responsibilities and had insisted it was Nate’s duty to marry Amber. So when Nate had proposed, Amber had believed Nate was doing so solely for the babies and not because Nate truly loved her. Landon had never seen Amber so hurt, and he’d felt so ashamed for contributing to it.

  “I’m sorry.” Landon reached out and squeezed Amber’s hand gently. “I didn’t mean to dredge up bad vibes. And I really didn’t mean what you thought I did. Honest to God.”

  Amber sighed. “Good, because I like Katie and wouldn’t want to see her hurt like that. So just a word of advice from your baby sister who loves you. If you’re in, you better be all in with her. And I mean her, apart from the kids. Otherwise, it’s best to keep your distance in a romantic sense.” She took his hand between both of hers and squeezed back. “I know you, Landon. You’re a perfect gentleman. If you were to ever, unintentionally or not, hurt a woman in that way—especially Katie—you’d regret it for a very long time.”

  Landon slumped on his bar stool, a rueful smile crossing his lips. “You know I’m beginning to hate the fact that you’re right all the time.”

  Amber laughed, and he knew all was forgiven. “I’m glad to hear you finally admit that I am.”

  The door to the kitchen swung open and a waitress walked over and sat two bags filled with takeout dinners on the counter. “Two cheeseburger kids’ meals with fries and hot fudge sundaes, and two double cheeseburger meals with fries and banana splits.”

  Amber’s smile widened as she gestured toward the rosy glow of the setting sun outside the window. “Good thing it’ll be bedtime for Matthew and Emma soon, otherwise they’d run you and Katie ragged after all that sugar.”

  Laughing, Landon stood. “Let’s hope they turn in tonight without much resistance.” He slid his wallet out of his back pocket, fished out enough bills to cover the meals and provide a hefty tip and handed the money to the waitress. “Thanks, Karla.”

  “Thank you, Landon.” Karla smiled, her gaze roving over him from head to toe. “Feel free to drop in anytime. I’m always happy to wait on you.”

  Landon’s neck heated as Karla returned to the kitchen.

  Amber issued a sound of amusement. “If you ever do decide to do some serious dating, Landon, I can assure you that you won’t have to look very far for a partner.”

  Maybe. And Karla, like most of the women who’d hit on him recently, was smart, hardworking and pretty. But none of those women were Katie.

  He froze. Where the hell had that come from?

  Nowhere, he reassured himself. The thought had only occurred to him because he’d spent way too much time around women and their romantic notions about him and Katie today.

  Neck heating, Landon grabbed the bags. He asked Amber as he headed toward the door, “Mind watching Sophia for minute while I put these in the truck? I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Maybe two minutes. He needed to suck in some fresh mountain air, collect himself and steer his thoughts in a different direction before driving back to the school to pick up Katie and the kids. Because he had no intentions of letting this flirtation with Katie get out of hand to the point that he misled her. He, like Amber, liked Katie way too much to want to risk hurting her.

  Fifteen minutes later, Landon turned into the parking lot of Elk Valley Elementary and noticed several kids leaving the school hand-in-hand with their parents. It was seven thirty on the dot and practice, it seemed, had just ended.

  Landon glanced in
the rearview mirror at the rear-facing car seat. The sun was setting behind them and a bright orange glow lit up the back of the cab. Sophia babbled and her tiny hands lifted above the car seat as she played.

  “All right, Sophia,” he said softly. “No matter how bad this first practice may have gone, we’re gonna do our best to reassure Katie she can be successful at this if she just follows through.” He waited as a woman and a little girl crossed in front of him then parked in front of the school’s entrance. “We’ll just smile and say, Katie...”

  There she was, ten feet ahead, standing—no, being dragged to the ground, by Matthew and four other screaming boys on a patch of grass beside the sidewalk.

  “Oh, shi—” Landon bit his tongue, glanced at Sophia in the rearview mirror again and said, “Shoot.” His hand fumbled over the keys as he cut the engine and thrust his door open. “Oh, shoot.” Heart slamming in his chest, he scooped Sophia out of her car seat, cradled her close to his chest and walked briskly across the parking lot, shouting, “Matthew, cut that out right now!”

  The boys stayed right where they were, piled atop Katie, shouting what sounded like victory yells as she lay motionless, face-first on the ground. Emma, three men and two women—including Poppy—stood several feet away, watching and laughing. Good God, why weren’t any of the adults doing anything?

  Landon finally reached the writhing pile of boys. Supporting Sophia with one arm, he bent, grabbed the waistband of Matthew’s jeans with his free hand and dragged him off Katie. “Cut it out, Matthew,” he snapped. “What do you call yourself doing?”

  Matthew rolled over, lay on his back in the grass and, breathing heavily, smiled. “Playing football.”

  Landon frowned. “Football?”

  “Yep.” The muffled assertion came from somewhere near the bottom of the stacked boys. “Play’s over. Get off me.”

  Three of the boys laughed and one groaned good-naturedly but all four boys scrambled off Katie and darted over to Poppy.

  Katie rolled over in the grass beside Matthew and, clutching a football to her chest, called out, “Five bucks, Poppy.” She grinned at Landon. “The ball is still in my possession and I’ve earned it.”

  Emma ran over to Landon’s side, jumped up and down and giggled. “The twins acted up at practice and Aunt Katie told them if they were good, she’d play football with them after. She made a bet that the twins couldn’t get the ball and she won.”

  Matthew propped himself up on his elbows and looked at Katie with something he couldn’t quite read—was it pride?—in his eyes. “She’s fast, Uncle Landon. We almost couldn’t catch her.”

  Landon’s frown melted away as he stared down at Katie. Grass was tangled in the dark strands of her hair, dirt streaked one of her flushed cheeks and her brown eyes were so bright with enjoyment, he couldn’t help but grin back.

  “You scared the devil out of me, you know that?” Landon asked, extending his free hand and pulling her to her feet. “I thought they were trying to kill you.”

  Katie laughed. “I knew it.” Now standing, she brushed dirt off the front of her thighs and backside. “Go ahead and admit you told a fib earlier. You doubted I could pull tonight off, didn’t you?”

  Smiling, Landon plucked a blade of grass from her bangs. “I take that to mean practice went well?”

  Katie smacked his chest playfully. “It did, but you didn’t answer my question.”

  Landon stilled. The heat of her palm, still resting against his chest, seared right through his thin T-shirt and imprinted itself on his skin, and a gentle, wanting expression crossed her face as she met his eyes.

  Sophia squealed from her perch on his left hip and patted the back of Katie’s hand on his chest. Landon glanced down at her small fingers wiggling against Katie’s slim wrist and there was something so unifying about the small circle they made. Something warm, comforting and...fulfilling. Something he found himself wanting more than anything.

  If you’re in, you better be all in with her...apart from the kids.

  Landon shifted closer to Katie. “I’m sorry I doubted you.” Drifting the backs of his fingers along her pink cheek, he whispered, “I’m glad your first practice went well.”

  Katie’s grin dimmed a bit. “Thank you.” She removed her hand from his chest, stepped back and, gesturing over her shoulder at Poppy, said quietly, “Wouldn’t want to fuel more gossip.”

  She turned away, helped Matthew stand then led them toward the truck, holding Emma’s hand. Landon slowly followed and waved at Poppy as she called out goodbye.

  Maybe it was Jennifer’s letter and Katie’s insistence she hadn’t been involved in any matchmaking shenanigans on Jennifer’s part. Maybe it was Amber’s mention of kisses, dates and marriage earlier today. Or maybe it was the warm spring breeze and sound of children’s laughter in the air. Whatever prompted it, Landon found himself wondering what life might be like if Katie stayed in Elk Valley—not just with the kids...but with him, as well.

  It also made him wonder what life would be like if she chose to leave instead...and take the kids with her.

  Chapter 7

  “She’s a natural with kids, I tell you.” Clint Waterson, principal of Elk Valley Elementary, smiled at Landon. “An absolute natural.”

  Landon watched as Katie and the school secretary, Melody, stood in front of the stage in Elk Valley Elementary’s cafeteria, waving their arms and calling out directions. Almost a dozen kids of various ages and heights milled about on the stage. Some chased each other behind the curtains, others jumped from one step to another on the small staircases on both sides and a few lay sprawled across the three-tiered choral risers in the center. Chatter, laughter and shouts echoed around the room, drowning out the sound of her voice.

  Katie glanced over her shoulder and, laughing awkwardly, lifted her arms as though to say, What’s a girl to do?

  Landon smiled and raised an eyebrow. Man, she was adorable.

  When he’d accepted Katie’s invitation to drive her and the kids to the school, come inside with Sophia and watch tonight’s practice—the final one before the spring festival tomorrow—Landon hadn’t been sure what to expect, but he’d had no doubts that Katie had thrown herself wholeheartedly into the spring festival venture with Matthew and Emma. He’d hoped to find her as pleased and energetic as she had been after the first practice.

  Over the past three days, he’d only seen Katie and the kids a handful of hours. She’d hit the stable each morning before dawn to muck the stalls, spent most of the day watching Sophia and working on her laptop while he worked with the horses, then drove Matthew and Emma into town at five thirty for choir practice each night. Landon had offered to continue dropping them off and picking them up from practice but Katie had politely declined. She insisted she would drive to save Landon time and keep from inconveniencing him.

  Not wanting to argue the point, Landon had agreed then found himself sitting on the front porch with Sophia, watching the driveway impatiently for her sporty car to arrive. When Katie returned at eight each night, she, Matthew and Emma had been all tired smiles and excited chatter about more after-practice football games with the twins, and Landon had been lucky to get five minutes of conversation with them before all three retired to their rooms.

  Though he was happy Katie was reconnecting with the kids, he couldn’t help but feel left out. Forgotten, almost. But, he supposed, that was a small price to pay if it meant helping the kids reconnect with Katie. It seemed Matthew and Emma were enjoying the busy afternoons of practice and play with Katie.

  And now, from the looks of things, all the kids in the room had kept Katie busy this week, too.

  “A natural, you say?” Landon retrieved Sophia’s fallen pacifier from her lap, returned it to her as she babbled in the stroller then glanced at Clint. “Sure you’re not biased?”

  “Well...” Clint shrugged, a grin appearin
g. “Maybe.”

  Landon frowned. The guy’s eyes lingered on Katie a bit too much for his liking, and there was something in his tone. A hint of admiration? Approval?

  “Things might’ve started off rocky,” Clint continued, “but Katie has really taken the bull by the horns this week. She’s worked wonders with the kids in a small amount of time.”

  No. That was more than just admiration or approval lacing his tone. There was an edge of restraint in his voice. As though he’d noticed the same appeal in Katie that Landon had, and was trying to downplay his interest.

  Landon narrowed his eyes. “I thought Katie said Melody was helping her out every night. You drop in on these practices every day, too?”

  Clint smiled wider. “Sure, for a little while to make sure all is well. It’s my job. I wanted to check things out and make sure Katie’s adjusting okay.”

  Yeah. Landon bet he did.

  Hold up. Wincing, Landon ducked his head and studied his boots. Where had that come from? That bite of judgmental anger he’d heard in his own words? And since when had he become overprotective and... jealous over Katie?

  He lifted his head, striving for a civil tone. “Thanks for watching out for her. How have Matthew and Emma been during the practices?”

  “Better,” Clint said, growing solemn. “Emma’s doing well and Matthew’s still quiet but he’s starting to open up to Katie. I’ve noticed him talking and laughing more often during their duet practice.” He cast Landon a sidelong look, a hesitant note in his voice. “I hear Katie’s staying with you and kids while she’s in town. Are the kids responding as well to her at home as they are here?”

  Ah, yes. He should’ve guessed that was coming. After his and Katie’s run-in with Poppy, Sallie Ann and Carrie at the first practice, he’d been on the receiving end of more than a few curious stares and nosy inquiries recently. Certain things in Elk Valley never changed, and the town gossip mill was obviously still in business. A man and woman in close quarters overnight added up to only one thing in most people’s minds.