In the supply stall, he grabbed a feed bucket, loaded it with grain and stuck a few range cubes in his pocket for the stubborn ones. He turned and ran into Stacia head on. The bucket slipped from his hand as he grabbed her shoulders to steady her.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were there.”
“I came to help.” Her hair clung to the sides of her face, making her appear younger, vulnerable. Scared.
Despite the tension between them, despite her determination to never trust him, he had the almost overwhelming desire to comfort her fears. She just looked so…
Kissable.
“Go on back inside, I’m fine.” He let go of her, knelt to retrieve the bucket.
“If I help, we can get finished quicker and get the truck loaded, so we can get inside where it’s warm and dry before your folks get here.”
“Fair enough.” He retrieved what grain he could from the hay-strewn floor, then scooped more from the fifty gallon drum to make up for what he’d spilled.
“I’ll get the horses.” She grabbed a second bucket, scooped horse feed into it and hurried out of the stall. While he poured grain into the trough down the middle of the barn galley, she filled the horses’ troughs in each stall. When she finished, she placed her finger and thumb in her mouth and produced an impressively loud whistle.
Six horses straggled into the barn and he helped her secure each in their stalls.
She peered out into the distance and repeated the whistle. “Where’s the sorrel and her foal?”
“They’ll show up. I’ll go ahead and wrangle the cows, then if they don’t show, I’ll go look for them.” He banged on the metal bucket. Soon a trail of cattle meandered toward the barn. He counted as they entered the barn yard and when all were accounted for, he darted out into the rain and shut the gate. Scanning as far as he could see, there was no sign of the mare or her foal.
He splashed his way back to the barn, soaked through and mud caked. “I don’t see them. You go on to the house, tend to the twins, and I’ll go look for them. When I get back, we’ll finish loading the truck.”
“I shouldn’t have let them out this morning.” She hugged herself. “I knew this weather was coming.”
“It’s not your fault. It hit a little sooner than the weatherman said it would. And I’m sure they’re fine. They probably sought shelter in the woods. I’ll find them.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.” He opened the stall where she’d just secured his horse, put the saddle and bit in place in record time, and rode out into the deluge.
Was she worried about him? Nah, just the mare and the foal. Any worries she cast his way were for the twins’ sake. Stacia Keyes couldn’t wait to see his taillights. And he’d be happy to oblige her. As soon as the evacuation was over and the B and B shipment was safely on its way, he was out of there. With no looking back.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With Wednesday night Bible study canceled due to the storm, the twins were already fed and bathed. Daddy was upstairs readying them for bed while Stacia paced the kitchen floor. Ross should be back by now, with the mare and foal safely in the barn.
His parents were due to roll up any minute. With severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches spawned from the hurricane, the wind howled outside and rain slammed against the window, and they still had to finish loading the truck.
At least it was almost the twins’ bedtime. Maybe meeting their grandparents could be put off until tomorrow.
Small feet scurried down the stairs. Mason jumped over the last three steps and landed at the bottom. Madison followed, but didn’t do any jumping.
“Why aren’t y’all in bed?” She tapped Mason’s nose.
“We’re worried about Uncle Ross and Stockings and Rust,” he whined.
“A little rain won’t hurt him or the horses.”
“But Rust is just a baby.” Madison yawned.
Obviously two tired twins.
“Let’s get y’all in bed and they’ll all be here in the morning when everybody wakes up.” Along with Ross’s parents.
A knock sounded at the door. Please let it be Ross and not his folks.
The twins bolted for it and Mason opened the door.
It wasn’t Ross. An older couple and a man with way-too-long hair stood on the porch. Relatively dry, folding up two umbrellas. The younger man seemed familiar.
“Well, hello,” the woman said. “I’m not sure we’re at the right place. We’re looking for Ross Lyles.”
“This is the right place.” She forced the words, then offered her hand. “I’m Stacia Keyes.”
The younger man gasped as his eyes widened.
And Stacia figured out where she’d seen him.
In court. Ronny Outrageous.
“I just need to get these two to bed.” She nabbed each of the twins’ hands and practically dragged them toward the stairs. “Come on in. I’ll be right back.”
“But we wanna see who they are,” Mason grumbled.
“Just some friends of Ross’s. You can meet them in the morning.”
“But why not now?”
“Because it’s past your bedtime and you’re both cranky.”
“Stop arguing, Mason. You’re gonna get us in trouble,” Madison said.
Thankfully, the two fell into silence the rest of the way up the stairs. How could Ross do this to her? How long had he had it planned for his brother to ambush her? He must want the twins back. Why else would he be here? Yes, Calli had made her their legal guardian, but Stacia had seen too many children ripped away from loved ones in the headlines.
Daddy met them on the landing. “Was that Ross I heard come in?”
“No. His guests are here. Three of them.” She did a head nod toward the kids.
But Daddy squinted,
