Inside the twins’ room, she tucked them both in, but the cozy room with its horse decor failed to soothe her. Somehow, she managed to read them Where the Wild Things Are, though she was completely distracted and both kids were dozing before she reached the end.
She quietly left the room and headed down the stairs. Voices. Ross and his mom.
“It just worries me that you’re dating a woman with twins, sweetheart. That’s a lot to take on.”
Huh? Stacia wasn’t one to eavesdrop, but avoiding the awkward conversation forced her to take a seat on the step.
“You don’t understand, Mom. She’s not my girlfriend. But, I’ll admit, if things were different, she might be.”
But Ross’s attempts to woo her would fail. He was still up to something. And his brother was obviously in on it. But why had he seemed shocked when she’d told them her name?
“Listen, we need to talk, but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Right now, I have a mare and her new foal I have to find. I just came back to make sure y’all made it in okay.”
“I’ll help you, son,” his dad said. “Karen, you and Ron go on to the cabin in Bandera and Ross can bring me there after we find the horses.”
Stacia should protest. She could go out and search with Ross. But the most important thing at the moment was to get Ron out of her house.
“It’s a horse.” Ron snickered. “Y’all are going out in a deluge over a horse?”
“A mare with a newborn foal,” Ross snapped. “With flash flood warnings. Yes I’m going after it. But you really don’t have to go, Dad.”
“Nonsense, I grew up braving weather like this over livestock,” Ross’s dad said. “Maybe we should have raised you boys on a ranch, so Ron here would know what’s important.”
“I’ll pass.”
“All right,” Ross’s mom cut in. “Ron’s crankier than Ross’s girl’s twins. Let’s go to the cabin.”
“She’s not my girl,” Ross protested. “But I wish she could be.”
Stacia rolled her eyes.
“Can we just go already?” Ron moaned.
“Come on.” Ross’s mom laughed. “It’s like having a toddler when he gets tired.”
Ron apparently wanted to leave as badly as Stacia wanted him to. So what was going on? Had he changed his mind about wanting the twins, but he hadn’t realized Ross had been working for Stacia?
“Here we are, three sweet teas.” Daddy had apparently come back into the room.
“Oh Maverick.” Ross’s mom’s tone was apologetic. “I’m afraid we’ll have to take a rain check. Ron and I are headed to the cabin and Ross and Sam are going back out to look for the mare. We should have waited until morning and not bothered you so late.”
“Stacia and I are night owls,” Daddy said. “You go on with your family, Sam. I can go with Ross.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Ross’s tone left no room for argument. “You just got mobile again with that knee. Dad and I will find her.”
“I appreciate it.” Thankfully, Daddy gave in.
“I can at least mop up the puddle Ross made and help with the towels,” Ross’s mom offered.
“It’s not a big deal, Karen. I’ll get it.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Maverick,” Ross’s mom said, and the door shut behind them.
Stacia’s breathing relaxed. Ron was gone. At least for now. It sounded as if Ross and his dad had left too. She stood, took a few deep breaths to steady her nerves and continued down the stairs.
Daddy stood in the foyer, staring at the door, his shoulders slumped. A puddle and wadded towels lay on the tile.
“Are we alone?” she asked.
He whirled to face her. “For the time being. What did they bring him for?”
“All I can figure is he’s changed his mind about the twins.”
“Over my dead body.” Daddy stiffened.
“Mine too.” She laid her head against Daddy’s shoulder.
* * *
Ross had found rain ponchos in the barn, and Mom had insisted he change clothes before he went out again. At least their upper bodies weren’t soaked through as they rode into the night.
The beam of their flashlights cut through the downpour, but so far there was no sign of the mare or her foal. If only she were a pale palomino instead of a russet-colored sorrel. Maybe the white blaze on her face or socked feet would be detectable in the darkness.
“Why didn’t you tell us all of this was about a girl?”
“It’s not what you think, Dad. I’ll explain everything later.”
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be about the girl. She’s a looker. I didn’t get to talk to her, but if she’s half as nice as her dad, she must be something.”
“Trust me Dad, this isn’t about Stacia.”
“Your mom’s worried about you taking on twins, but I think you’re man enough for the job. The only thing is, you’ll be taking on some other man’s kids. Is the father in the picture?”
“Dad. Please. It’s not like that. Can we just concentrate on the horse for now?”
“Sure.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m just chilled.” And bone-tired. “I need to find the mare and I’m worried about the foal, and then I still have to load the truck.”
“What truck?”
“Stacia and her dad have a repurposing business. There’s a coffee bar and a couple of claw-foot tubs in the barn that need to be secured in the delivery truck in case the barn gets damaged. Which is doubtful, but just in case.”
“If it’s not about the girl, why are you so concerned about her business?”
“I’ve been working here. Helping with a big order for a chain of bed-and-breakfasts.”
“Why? Did you know Stacia before you came here?”
“Later, Dad.” He caught a glimpse of something white in the beam of his flashlight. “I think I see her over by the pond.” Ross blew a shrill whistle.
A whinny came from the darkness.
“Hey girl, where’s your baby?” Ross used his soothing voice, but it was probably lost in the wind and
