Home on the Ranch: The Montana Cowboy's Triplets Read online

  “Yeah. I’m a co-owner.”

  “I don’t think we have much in common after all.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jeez, prickly much?

  “You grew up on a luxury ranch, with ranch hands, servants...”

  “Hey, this is also a working cattle ranch. I’ve busted my butt plenty over the years.”

  This time she looked up at him, pausing the brush. “Touchy, aren’t you?”

  He reined in his impatience, vowed to ignore her and not get into a sniping match. For some reason he didn’t want to give Miss Scotland the satisfaction. He glanced at his watch, realized he had to hurry up and finish.

  Try to be friendly to someone and they bite your head off. He’d have to be careful around the crabby stuntwoman. Plenty of people thought he and his brothers had it easy living on the guest ranch. That chapped his backside. They all worked hard to keep the place afloat. Every one of them still mucked out stalls, trained horses, rode herd on the cattle and did daily chores. Sure he had an office job now, but he helped his brothers out whenever, wherever they needed him.

  Nash, his oldest brother, took care of everything horse-related. Plus he and his wife, Kelsey, had started an equine therapy program for wounded veterans, like himself.

  Kade was the architect of the family. Hunter had helped out building new cabins on the property plenty of times, including the recent expansion of his own home. Nothing like pounding nails to get the frustrations out.

  Wyatt had returned to the ranch after being gone for ten years, and settled into the foreman position. He had a new wife and cute stepson, so Hunter had taken on some additional chores to give him time with his family.

  Luke was the veterinarian, not just for their ranch, but several surrounding ranches, so he always needed extra help. Hunter had helped birth cows, horses, sheep and goats, as well as cats and dogs.

  The fact that this stuntwoman thought he was rich and lazy really pissed him off. He brushed Becket’s coat till it gleamed under the lights of the barn, mucked out the stall, then got the horse settled with a bucket of feed. Hunter walked toward the door to leave.

  “You mentioned a runaway horse earlier. It wasna’ yours, was it?”

  His hand stilled on the door. He’d tried for years to stuff the memories into a lockbox in his head. But every so often, he’d see something—even a little something—and the terror on the ranch hand’s face would claw its way out of that lockbox and into his mind.

  Hunter had only been a kid that horrible day. He knew he couldn’t have helped Jed, but his heart still hurt for the guy. A mountain lion had spooked Jed’s horse, slashed at its hindquarters and it had taken off, racing across the valley. Jed tried to hold on, but he kept slipping, slipping, slipping, until he’d fallen off the horse. Now he got around in a wheelchair instead of on a stallion.

  “No, it wasn’t me. But I saw it.”

  He glanced up, watched her brushing Rory, her hand moving methodically, up and down, up and down.

  “I’m sorry I scared you today.” Her head turned sideways, but she didn’t meet his eyes, then she gave Rory her attention again.

  He concentrated on stuffing the visions away again, swallowed against his tight throat.

  The barn door creaked as he left the building and walked into the cold wind. It cooled his cheeks, settled him once again. He brushed straw off his jeans and caught a whiff of himself. Definitely needed a shower before heading to the office. He turned back once, and a flash of red caught his attention. Mackenzie stood in the open doorway, her eyes on him.

  She touched the tip of her finger to her hat in acknowledgment, then walked up the path to the lodge.

  She was fractious as a wild mustang, and she’d be harder to handle than a riled-up porcupine, but damned if he didn’t have the urge to follow her up the trail.

  Chapter 2

  The next morning, Mackenzie carried her suitcase and backpack to the front desk in the guest ranch’s cavernous lobby. Comfortable furnishings in wood and rich, dark leather were scattered around, creating an inviting atmosphere.

  She liked the ranch buildings and cabins she’d set eyes on so far. They’d all been designed to be a part of the landscape, not to overwhelm it. The owners catered to people with money, yes, but the ranch wasn’t an over-the-top showplace, like so many in Los Angeles.

  The lady who had checked her in previously stood at the big desk again this morning. “Good morning, Ms. Campbell. How may I help you?”

  Mackenzie glanced at the nameplate on the desk. “Mornin’, Donna. I seem to be in need of another room.”

  “Oh, dear. Is there a problem with the one you were assigned?”

  “Not with the room itself. My roommate woke up with the flu and if I get sick, too, it’ll push production off schedule.” She sighed. “Do you have another room available?”

  Donna checked a computer screen. “Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back.” She walked through a door behind her.

  Across the room, the main doors banged open, letting in a burst of cold air. She turned around as whoops echoed in the rafters, and three little boys wearing cowboy hats hurled themselves into the lobby. They raced over the furniture, thundered up the steps and back down, all while pointing imaginary guns at each other and punctuating them with pow pows and bang bangs.

  They split up and one of them ran straight at her. She braced herself for the impact, and he plowed into her. She let her body go fluid and fell into a backward somersault, then lay still, flat on her back. She cracked one eye open a slit to see the horrified look on the boy’s face as the other two joined him.

  “Is she dead?” one of them whispered.

  “I dunno.” The one who’d hit her sniffled.

  “Well, poke her,” the third boy said.

  That earned him a shove. “You poke her.”

  “I’ll do it.” Number One reached a small hand toward her.

  “Wait!” Number Two snatched Number One’s hand. “You don’t want cooties if she’s dead. Get a stick.”

  She heard shuffling feet and cracked an eye open again to see them tripping, shoving and racing toward the big doors. Now was her chance. She got up and held her arms out in front of her, palms limp, and started moaning. Keeping her legs stiff, she walked toward them, moving like a zombie.

  The boys turned around and their eyes got so big she had to bite the inside of her cheek so she wouldn’t laugh.

  “Lady, what’s wrong with you?” the boy in the red shirt asked, backing away from her.

  “I’m the ghost of Mackenzie Campbell,” she moaned, thickening her accent. “I will haunt you forever for running me over.” In that instant, she noticed they didn’t just look like brothers—they were identical.

  She kept going, and the boys backed away. The door behind them slammed open, letting in a gust of cold air. The boys screeched to a halt, ending up in a pile of tangled limbs.

  Hunter walked into the lobby and looked from them to Mackenzie playing zombie. “Uh, what’s going on here?”

  She grinned and dropped her hands to her hips. “Well, laddies. The jig is up.”

  They all turned to stare at her. “Hey, you’re not dead!” said the boy wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt.

  “Nay, no’ yet at least.” A pang hit deep in her gut. It was the truth. Thoughts of the fire months ago sprang to mind. But she couldn’t think about that now—not with an upcoming scene that involved another fire.

  “Hey, how come you talk funny?” Red shirt squinted up at her.

  “Tripp, that’s not nice. Are you all bothering Miss Campbell?” Hunter walked closer.

  Honestly, the man was too handsome for his own good. Every hair in place, and a boyish wave right in front. Her fingers itched to muss it up.

  The boys all stared at him, and she could see them trying to decide how best to answe
r.

  “The lads and I were playing while I wait for the front-desk lady to come back.”

  All three boys turned as one to stare at her, their cute, freckled faces displaying varying degrees of surprise.

  Hunter cocked his head to the right and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Not sure I believe that.”

  “It’s true, isn’t it?” She looked at the boys and winked.

  “Yup!” the boy in blue shouted.

  “Are you playing hooky from school again?” Hunter asked.

  “No, Daddy.” The boy in the blue shirt hurled himself at Hunter’s leg. “It’s recess.”

  She looked from the boys to Hunter. “These are your hooligans?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, I’ll be knackered.” The man who’d gotten under her skin was responsible enough to have three children? “So, who is who?” She studied the boys one by one.

  “I’m Cody,” Blue Shirt said.

  “Tripp,” Red Shirt said.

  The boy in the green shirt, who had plowed into her, dug the toe of his boot into the floor.

  “And who might you be?” She held her hand out to him.

  “Eli.” He stared at her hand for a few seconds, then shook it.

  “Ye’re a fine bunch of young men, aren’t ye now? It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She perched on the arm of the lounge chair and beckoned them all closer, leaning forward like a coconspirator. “If you think playing cowboys is fun, you should play Scottish warriors. If you’re real good, I’ll teach you how to do it.”

  The boys cheered and looked at her with newfound respect. Just like her younger brothers—anyone who could teach them how to misbehave would be okay in their book.

  She looked up to see Hunter staring at her, his eyebrows up his forehead. “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  The door behind the counter opened, and Donna walked back to the front desk. “Ms. Campbell, I’m so sorry. I checked with the manager, and we don’t have any other rooms or cabins available at the moment.”

  What will I do now? She really needed this job, needed to get back to work.

  “Why do you need another room?” Hunter asked.

  “My roommate has the flu.”

  Eli looked up at Hunter. “Daddy, she can stay with us.”

  “Oh, no, I couldn’t—”

  “There must be something available, Donna.”

  He had such a panicked look on his face, Mackenzie almost burst out laughing. It would serve him right if she did have to stay at his home.

  “Come on, Daddy. Pleeeeaaase?” Cody held his hands up as if beseeching Hunter.

  “My dad has an extra room.” Hunter pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call him.”

  “Bunny said they started the remodel—the room is just studs now,” Donna said.

  “Call Kade. See if the newest cabins—”

  “He reported in earlier this morning—weather delayed some materials, so construction can’t be completed.”

  “I guess we don’t have a choice.” Hunter looked up at Mackenzie.

  “Is there a hotel in town?” Mackenzie crossed her fingers behind her back.

  “It’s an hour away, or more, depending on weather. Your director wouldn’t like it. You might get stranded in town,” Donna said.

  There had to be another way. His kids were cute, but she didn’t want to be that close to Handsome Hunter and his high-handed ways.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll just make the best of it. The old part of my cabin will give you privacy.”

  “No, I can’t.”

  “Yeah, you can.”

  “Don’t you need to ask your wife before you bring a strange woman home?”

  “There’s no one—”

  “Mommy’s an angel now.” The little boy named Eli looked up at her.

  She looked down at the triplets, her own grief rising like an overflowing loch. “I’m sorry, boys.” She knelt on the floor in front of them. “I lost my own mum and dad when I was young. I’ll bet she loved you verra much, and even now is always keepin’ watch over you. She’s your guardian angel.”

  Eli sniffled and rubbed his sleeve across his nose, then leaned back against his father’s leg. Tears pooled in his eyes, the poor little bugger. Hunter squeezed Eli’s shoulders.

  She took his hand and held it. “Ye know you can talk to her anytime, right? Each one of you can.”

  “We can?” Cody pressed himself against Hunter’s side.

  “Of course you can. You can talk out loud, or keep it secret, in your head. And if you listen real close, you might hear her answer you.”

  Tripp’s eyes grew big. “Nuh-uh.”

  She smiled at him and leaned forward again. “I talk to my dad all the time. I really miss him. It helps knowing he’s in heaven, watchin’ o’er me.”

  Everything she told them was true. Fifteen years later, she still missed her da every day. Missed his counsel. Missed the long walks they used to take. Missed him even more when her mum had taken off and never come back.

  She stood, and each of the boys hugged her tight. Seemed she’d made some new friends.

  Hunter cleared his throat and looked at his watch. “You boys need to get back to class.”

  The boys raced off, hollering see yas and bye, Miss.

  “The resilience of six-year-olds,” Hunter said.

  “I’m sorry about your loss. I didn’t—” She cut her words off. How could she say I didn’t know you’d lost your wife, or I wouldn’t have been so mean to you?

  Chapter 3

  Hunter started his pickup truck and headed to his cabin to get Mackenzie settled. Her words still rang in his head. He’d been struggling for months to know just what to say to the triplets to help them with their grief over losing their mother. And this stranger had come along and got right to the heart of it.

  Heck, he was still trying to get over the shock of his ex-wife’s death himself. He cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “For what you said to the boys back there.”

  “I didn’t do it for you.” Icicles could have formed on her words.

  An uncomfortable silence descended and he concentrated on the road, tried to figure out what he’d said to tick her off. He usually charmed women. But this one was so different from the type he normally liked.

  “I raised my younger brothers after my mum left.” Mackenzie’s voice was quiet.

  “How old were you?”

  “I had just turned eighteen. They were all under twelve.”

  “Didn’t you have other family to help?”

  “No. And I didn’t want them to be split up into foster care.”

  “Your mom ever come back?”

  “She died a year later.”

  “Oh, man. I’m sorry. I’ll bet you did right by them. You’re pretty good with kids.”

  “Th-thanks.”

  “If you decide you’re not cut out for the stuntwoman gig, you could always be a nanny.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her head whip toward him. He glanced at her, surprised at the death glare on her face. “What’d I say?”

  She huffed, and crossed her arms in front of her, then look out the window.

  The temperature outside the truck was cold as hell. Suddenly, it felt just as cold inside. Women.

  When they reached his cabin, he got out, intent on opening her door for her, but she’d already climbed out and grabbed her bags.

  So he veered to the front door and unlocked it, stood aside to let her go in, then followed her. “You can have the older section of the cabin.”

  She stopped suddenly, and he almost plowed into her.

  “This is a cabin?” She looked up at the vaulted ce
iling.

  “It used to be much smaller. We added on when the boys came to live with me.”

  Her head swiveled as she scanned the living room.

  He winced, wishing he’d made the boys pick up their toys earlier that morning.

  “They didn’t live with you?”

  “Divorced.”

  The rigid line of her shoulders relaxed, and she faced him. “And she passed on?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry. Had you been divorced long?”

  He hesitated.

  “Forget I asked. None of my business. Where will I be staying?”

  He stepped by her to lead the way to the original master bedroom. “Down this hall.” He’d had Kade expand it with the intention of letting Yvette’s parents come for longer visits. He had no intention of keeping them from their grandchildren, especially after they lost their only daughter. He’d made sure they knew they were welcome at any time.

  The bed faced a wall of windows that overlooked the mountains and lake. Comfy chairs and a small table furnished the room. He walked over to the fireplace and made sure there were plenty of logs. “Plenty of extra blankets in the closet over there, bathroom is through that door.”

  She set her bags down on the bed. “Thank you. I’ll stay out of your way as much as possible.”

  “Sorry this is the only option. The movie crew is taking up every square inch of space on the ranch.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but a shrill ring pierced the heavy tension in the room. He stuck a hand in his pocket for his phone, but realized it was hers.

  “Later.” He headed to the door and walked out.

  Pausing to pull the door closed, he heard her laugh. “Fergus, my luv!”

  He shut the door and walked away, wondering what type of man would actually want to be with such a prickly woman, and if Fergus was a boyfriend or husband.

  An hour later, Mackenzie bundled up and left Hunter’s cabin. The day was still gray, the clouds hanging low, obscuring the mountains. It reminded her of winter in the Highlands, and her heart ached for home. And her brothers.