A Nanny for the Cowboy Page 8

  Brayden nodded, but didn’t let go of Hayley’s hand. “Let’s go say hello to them,” she suggested.

  He didn’t seem to mind when they walked to where Kate stood watching her boys dodge in and out of the elaborate and colorful playground equipment.

  “It’s so nice to see you again,” Kate said, making room on the bench for Hayley. “The twins get tired of each other, so it’s great that Brayden is here and they have someone new to play with.”

  Hayley looked at Brayden, who stood watching the boys play, but didn’t make a move to join them. “I think he’s feeling a little shy today.”

  Kate nodded. “It’s natural, I hear, but the twins have never been shy. Sometimes they keep to themselves, but I guess that’s expected, or so I’ve heard.”

  “How old are they?”

  “A little younger than Brayden,” Kate answered, offering Brayden an encouraging smile. “They won’t be two until July.”

  Hayley nodded. “Luke mentioned that Brayden turned two last month.”

  “He’s done a good job raising him on his own,” Kate said, as Brayden started inching his way toward the twins. “It couldn’t be easy. Even as much as Dusty adores Tyler and Travis, I don’t think he could handle raising even one of them on his own, much less both of them.”

  Hayley nodded in agreement. “From what I’ve seen, Luke really tries and is fairly successful. I don’t think it’s been easy. It’s hard enough to raise a two-year-old, but trying to run a ranch at the same time is more than most anyone could do. I have to admit I admire him.” And she did. She’d known far too many men who were so wrapped up in their own lives that they weren’t always aware of what was going on in their children’s. Luke, she was certain, would never be that kind of father.

  “I’m just happy that Luke found you to help with Brayden,” Kate said. “It isn’t easy to find someone in a small town who cares and has the time to do what you’re doing. Or even half of what you’re doing.”

  With Brayden now playing happily alongside the other two boys, Hayley could relax. “I’m lucky to have the job.”

  “And I hope you stay on for a long time.”

  Just as Hayley started to explain that she wouldn’t be Brayden’s nanny for more than a few months, a car pulled into the parking area and stopped.

  “Oh, good, she finally made it,” Kate said, standing. She turned to Hayley. “Have you met my sister Trish?”

  Hayley watched as a blonde got out of the car and helped a small girl, who looked about the same age as the twins, from the backseat. “No, I haven’t. I really haven’t been into town very much, so you and a couple of others in the café are really the only people I’ve met.”

  “We’ll have to fix that,” Kate said with a smile that promised friendship. “Trish, come meet Brayden Walker’s nanny. Remember I told you we met Saturday at the Chick-a-Lick?”

  Trish waved as she leaned down to say something to the little girl, then straightened and walked toward the bench, where Kate introduced the two.

  “I’m sorry,” Trish said, with a smile at Hayley. “I didn’t mean to appear rude.” She looked at Kate and sighed. “I had to remind her again that we don’t eat sand. Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

  “Maybe she needs more roughage in her diet,” Kate suggested with a giggle.

  Trish gave her a sisterly punch, and then settled on the end of the bench. “I asked Paige about it, but she said not to worry. It’s just something that some kids do. She’ll grow out of it. I just wish she’d grow out of it today!”

  Kate, in the middle, patted her hand. “She’s perfectly normal in every other way, so stop worrying so much. Aunt Aggie said you used to eat dirt, so it must run in the family.”

  Trish shot her a look that could kill, followed by her own giggle. Leaning around her sister, she smiled again at Hayley. “Don’t mind us. We’ve always been like this.”

  Hayley laughed. “I have four younger brothers, so I understand.”

  “Your poor mother!” Kate exclaimed, causing them all to laugh.

  “She loved it,” Hayley admitted. “Still does. She seems to thrive on chaos.”

  “Then it’s no wonder you have a talent for children, what with four younger siblings.” Kate nudged her sister. “I wonder if either of us could manage that.”

  “I doubt it,” Trish answered quickly. “Especially if they were all sand eaters.”

  They all began laughing again, and Hayley watched the four children play, marveling at how they’d overcome their initial shyness and were now enjoying themselves. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed an elderly man hurrying through the park not far away, checking back over his shoulder frequently, as if someone was following him.

  “Looks like Vern’s on the run again,” Kate announced.

  Hayley looked at her. “On the run?”

  Nodding, Kate chuckled. “Keep watching.”

  Within seconds, Hayley noticed a woman, who appeared to be about the same age as the man, hurrying behind him, the purse she carried on her bent arm swaying and knocking against her hip. “Who are they?”

  “That’s Vern Isley in the lead.”

  “And Esther Watson closing in from behind,” Trish added.

  Hayley looked from one sister to the other. “But what’s she doing? Is he trying to get away from her?”

  “From what our aunt has told us, Vern and Esther were sweethearts when they were young. Then Vern went off to war, and when he came back...”

  “What?”

  Kate shrugged as Trish leaned forward to answer. “Nobody really knows. All we can figure is that something must have happened during the time he was gone. Aunt Aggie said his mama died while he was fighting in the war, and maybe that has something to do with it. Most people speculate that Esther just never wanted to give him up, so she keeps trying to catch him.”

  “Literally,” Kate finished.

  Hayley couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Esther to continue to be that determined, or even for Vern to keep running away from a woman he may have once loved. “But they must be in their eighties.”

  “Vern fought in the Korean War, so yes, they both are,” Kate replied. The three of them fell quiet, watching the elderly pair disappear from sight. “I need to be getting home. Are you leaving, Trish?”

  “In a few minutes. I promised Krista I’d push her in the little swing. What about you, Hayley?”

  “We should be getting home, too. I meant to ask you, Trish. How old is your little girl?”

  “Not quite two.”

  Hayley glanced at the twins. “Then the three cousins are about the same age?”

  “Exactly the same age,” Kate said. “Trish delivered on time, and I went into labor early. I blame her for that.”

  Trish laughed and wrinkled her nose. “And I’m so proud of doing that for you.”

  As the two women exchanged sisterly verbal jabs and then laughed, Hayley marveled at them. “How wonderful that the two of you could share that!”

  “It is,” Kate admitted, “but I really hope it doesn’t happen again.”

  Trish shook her head. “We’ve decided not to be in a rush, but Morgan would really like to have a son.”

  “Most men do,” Hayley agreed. “And women adore their little girls.”

  “So do the dads. Or least Morgan does, in spite of being convinced that Krista was going to be a boy.”

  Laughing, they all a
greed and admitted that little boys were just as special to their moms. Kate announced she hoped Hayley would join them soon for another playdate, and Trish echoed the invitation.

  After Kate bid them goodbye and left with her boys, Trish spent time with her daughter, while Hayley and Brayden enjoyed a little more time on the play equipment. Hayley felt a warm glow when she saw Brayden’s eyes shining with the joy of a little boy who’d spent time playing with friends, and she hoped to remember to get in touch with Kate about a playdate.

  Her contentment continued after arriving back at the ranch, and she was able to do some studying while Brayden napped. By the time he was up and going again, it was later than usual, and the two of them waited, not too patiently, for Luke to finish his workday and join them. As the evening grew later, she had no choice but to put a very sleepy and grumpy boy to bed, without a good-night from his father. She wasn’t too worried that Luke hadn’t spent time with his son. He wasn’t the kind of man who would put his family anything but first. But she did fear that this pattern of late evenings could continue. As much as she cared for Brayden and enjoyed her job, she’d worked hard and long to get the education needed to fulfill her dream and, she couldn’t let either of those things delay the final step to getting her degree.

  * * *

  “I KNOW. IT WAS LATE last night when Dylan and I finished our work,” Luke began, hoping to ease any damage he’d done. “And I know you’re thinking it’s going to be a habit, but it isn’t.”

  Hayley turned from the sink where she was rinsing breakfast dishes. “I’m not upset, and I believe you. But I think Brayden missed seeing you.”

  Raking his hand through his hair, Luke tried not to let the frustration he felt get the best of him. “I missed spending time with him, too.” He turned to see his son playing happily with his toys at the other end of the room, and he smiled. He hadn’t wanted to work late, but Dylan had been manic about getting all the work done. Luke’s only choice was to help and hope it wasn’t a sign of something else going on with his brother—something that probably wouldn’t make life easier for any of them.

  “At least it wasn’t a night you had class,” he pointed out.

  Hayley’s smile contained a patience he didn’t have. “That’s true.”

  He was relieved that she didn’t point out that it wasn’t proof of anything, and that his promise to not be late again wasn’t completely within his power. Not that he was going to allow anything or anyone to make him break it.

  “In fact,” he continued, “if you have something you want to do—studying, shopping in town, or anything else—I’m taking the morning off to spend with Brayden.”

  Hayley, who had been loading the dishwasher, straightened and looked at him, her surprise obvious by her wide-open eyes. “That’s great, Luke. It really is. And I do have some studying to do before class tonight, so I really appreciate this extra time for myself.”

  He mentally patted himself on the back for a job well-done, by killing two birds with one stone. Not only was he going to get to spend the morning with his son, but he was giving Hayley some extra time for her studies. What more could he ask for on a Friday morning?

  When she’d gone, Luke joined Brayden on the floor. It had become clear that his son’s favorite toys had become the ones Hayley had brought for him that first day. He wasn’t surprised. They were all well-made and sturdy, with details that were almost real.

  Luke was enjoying himself and his son, when there was a rapping sound on the sliding glass doors. They both looked up to see Dylan open the door and step just inside.

  “Do you have some time?” he asked.

  Luke glanced at Brayden, who was scrambling to his feet. “Better put those cows into the back of the truck, buddy. While you do that, Uncle Dylan and I are going to step outside, okay? You’ll be able to see us out there.” He pointed to the glass doors leading to the deck.

  Brayden hesitated, but returned to his spot on the floor. Luke stood and followed his brother outside, making sure he could keep an eye on his son. After giving Hayley the morning off, he couldn’t exactly ask her to stop whatever she was doing to keep an eye on Brayden.

  “What’s up?” he asked, when Dylan had closed the patio door and the two were outside.

  Dylan lowered his head and toed the wood deck with his boot. “I don’t want to do this again, but...”

  Tension and anger hit Luke like a sledgehammer. He should’ve seen it coming. Dylan had been working like a madman, but even before that, Luke had seen the signs. Each year as the anniversary of the accident that had claimed the lives of their parents drew near, it was as if Dylan crawled into himself. And each year he took off for a few days to a couple of weeks. This year had been worse than usual, and he shouldn’t have been surprised. Dylan’s first getaway had been far too short.

  “You’re leaving again.”

  Dylan slowly looked up and nodded. “I have to. I know it makes more work for you, but I’ll find someone to help.”

  “Someone we’ll have to pay,” Luke pointed out.

  “There’s money enough for it, at least for a while.”

  Luke knew it wouldn’t do any good to try to stop Dylan, and he would just have to hope that his brother wouldn’t be gone long. “If you’re sure it will help you, I won’t stand in your way. When are you leaving?”

  “After the weekend.”

  “How long do you plan to be gone?”

  “When I can get past all this.”

  Luke nodded, as an emptiness, coupled with apprehension, filled him. Dylan was a good man, but he suspected that depression had a grip on him. All he could do was hope that his brother could find a way to deal with the past. Dylan was far more important to him than having extra work to do at the ranch. “I’ll take care of everything,” he assured his brother.

  “Thanks.”

  When Dylan started to walk away, Luke reached out and pulled him into a brotherly hug. “Take care of yourself, and if you need anything, you call me.”

  “I will.”

  Luke watched his brother leave. He suspected it would be a long while before Dylan could let go of the past. If he ever did. All Luke could do, each time Dylan left, was hope the time away would help his brother. If there was anything else he could do for him, he would. As it was, the responsibility of the ranch was now on his shoulders. There’d be extra work, for sure, even if he hired someone to help while Dylan was gone. Would it be possible for him to keep his promise to Hayley? He didn’t know. And if he couldn’t, would she have any other choice than to leave?

  Chapter Six

  Taking a break from her studies, Hayley stepped into the family room to discover Brayden playing quietly in the corner. But Luke was nowhere in sight. “Where’s your daddy?” she asked Brayden.

  Busy with his toys, he looked up and in the direction of the doors that led out to the deck, then returned to his play.

  Although she didn’t think Luke would leave his son alone, she still checked to see that he hadn’t gone far as she passed the glass doors on her way to the kitchen. To her satisfaction, she saw him on the deck, in what appeared to be a deep conversation with his brother.

  In the kitchen, she filled a glass with tea and grabbed a handful of snacks. She glanced toward the deck again on her way back to her room and saw Luke, standing alone as his brother walked away. Brayden still played quietly with his toys, so she returned to her room to study, until she needed to stop to fix lunch.

 
But as she reviewed one of the procedures she was certain would be on a test that night, she couldn’t keep out the vision of Luke, his back to her and his hair disheveled, as he stood on the deck, watching his brother walk across the backyard.

  She’d grown up on a small farm, but it hadn’t been anything near the size of the operation Luke and his brother owned. Like most farmers and ranchers, both men worked long hours when weather, breakdowns, sick livestock and dozens of other things could change a rancher’s schedule in the blink of an eye. Those things not only affected the rancher, but everyone.

  She’d known all this and still accepted the job, believing that as long as each of them were aware of the other’s priorities, everything would be fine. And then Luke had been late, and she’d been upset. Looking back on it, she regretted issuing the ultimatum. It would be difficult for him to stick to it, although she was certain he would try.

  She forced her attention back to her studies, but in the back of her mind, she hoped either she or Luke would come up with some kind of backup plan, just in case. At least now he seemed to have an idea of how important her education was to her.

  She broke away from studying again and discovered a note from Luke saying he’d taken Brayden into town, and that they’d be back late that afternoon. Glad for even more time with no interruptions, she returned to her room.

  When a knock on her door broke her concentration, she glanced at her watch and realized it was much later than she thought. Pushing away from the desk, she closed the thick anatomy book. Having Luke in her room again wasn’t a good idea, in spite of his attempt at apologizing, and she scrambled to find the shoes she’d kicked off earlier.

  “Just a minute,” she called, as she discovered them under her bed.

  “It’s getting kind of late,” Luke said from the other side of the door. “Isn’t it almost time for you to leave?”

  “Yes, it is.” She slipped on the shoes and hurried to open the door. “I guess I lost track of time.”