Surprise Family

In tiny Grasslands, Texas, Maddie Wallace has discovered siblings she never knew existed—including a twin sister. When ranch foreman and single father Ty Garland hires her as nanny for the daughter he just discovered, it’s only temporary. The handsome loner thinks she’s just a glamorous city gal in borrowed cowgirl boots. He knows the type. And he expects her to hightail it back to Fort Worth the minute she sorts out her family secrets. But it turns out Maddie has just found where she belongs—in every possible way.

When his daughter, Darcy, stepped out of the fitting room, he felt his heart catch.

She looked adorable. The pink top was perfect. The jeans made her look taller than he’d expected. It wouldn’t be too long before she grew up completely. For a moment he was shaken that he’d almost missed all this. Anger against his ex burned. She should have told him he had a daughter.

When Maddie stepped out of the dressing room, Ty stared at her. She looked just like her country twin sister—in jeans and a yellow shirt. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was a cowgirl.

“You look like your sister now,” Darcy said, unconsciously echoing Ty’s thoughts.

“I always look like her. We’re twins,” she said.

“Looks can be deceiving,” Ty said.

Maddie eyed him. “Or not. I may not be a cowgirl from way back, but I can learn.”

* * *

BARBARA McMAHON

was born and raised in the southern U.S., but settled in California after spending a year flying around the world for an international airline. She settled down to raise a family and work for a computer firm, and began writing when her children started school. Now, feeling fortunate to have been able to realize a long-held dream of quitting her day job and writing full-time, she and her husband have moved to the Sierra Nevada of California, where she finds her desire to write is stronger than ever. With the beauty of the mountains visible from her windows, and the pace of life slower than that of the hectic San Francisco Bay Area, where they previously resided, she finds more time than ever to think up stories and characters and share them with others through writing.

Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can reach her at P.O. Box 977, Pioneer, CA 95666-0977, U.S.A. Readers can also contact Barbara at her website, www.barbaramcmahon.com.

Mirror Image Bride

Barbara McMahon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;

be men of courage; be strong.

—1 Corinthians 16:13

To Bridgette: Do you still miss Texas? Love always.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Barbara McMahon for her participation in the Texas Twins miniseries.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Maddie Wallace stepped out into the early morning west Texas sunshine and drew a deep breath. Quietly closing the door behind her, she smiled in anticipation at the beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. She drew another breath and wrinkled her nose. While the air was fresh and clean compared to Fort Worth’s city fumes, it smelled of fresh hay, a hint of sage and lots of cattle. Did anyone get used to that smell if they lived here long enough?

She walked down the flagstone pathway that led through the iron gates and headed for the foreman’s house—only a three-minute walk from the sprawling brick home she’d been staying in for almost a month. Today was the first day of her new job. Wiping her palms on the sides of her dark slacks, she had a moment of apprehension. She wasn’t really a nanny. What if she was a total flop? Desperate times called for desperate measures and when the offer came, however reluctantly, she’d jumped at it. She was not one to freeload.

Not that her newly discovered twin ever hinted at such a thing. She’d suggested this opportunity with Ty as a way to keep Maddie in Grasslands.

“It’s the perfect answer,” Violet had said yesterday after they happened upon Ty and his daughter, Darcy, looking after a sow and her babies in one of the small barns. “You’d be helping Ty, and it means you’d stay here for a while longer at least. I’m not ready to lose my sister yet.”

“I’m in,” Maddie’d said to the sister she hadn’t even known existed a month ago. “But it’s possible Ty doesn’t want me.”

When the twins both turned to Ty, the handsome cowboy seemed genuinely torn. “I guess we could give it a test run,” he had finally conceded after a long pause. “Maybe until school starts, anyway.”

Although the sisters breathed a collective sigh of relief, Maddie still harbored secret doubts about sticking around. After all, to discover at age twenty-five that she had a twin sister was almost more than she could take in. Who would have suspected that breaking up with her fiancé would result in finding a part of her family she never knew about?

Once again a thousand questions flooded her mind. What had happened so long ago to split their family? Why had her father never mentioned he had other children? Why let her and her brothers believe the only mother they’d ever known was their real mother when it seemed apparent now that Belle Colby was her mother? Hers and her older brother Grayson’s.

Everything had been topsy-turvy in the past month. This job offer, such as it was, added to the Alice-down-the-rabbit-hole feeling.

But she was willing to give it a shot—especially after seeing the way Ty had kept a watchful eye over his little girl when she ran out of the barn and began scampering around the property. It filled Maddie with relief to see Darcy momentarily escaping the reality of losing her mother and moving someplace new. She could only imagine what a shock it must have been for the poor child to arrive at the ranch from Houston without a clue the man she met for the first time was her father.

As Darcy chased the goat around, Jack’s dog, Nipper, barked at their antics, which had Darcy dissolving into gales of laughter. For a few precious minutes, she was a happy little girl. Yet, despite the girl’s burst of exuberance, Maddie was struck by the bleak expression in Ty’s eyes.

“Really, I’ll do a good job,” she said earnestly, trying to reassure him. “I mean, I can cook breakfast for her—I know you get up early and are already at work when most of us are just getting up.”

“City slickers,” he murmured, but thankfully didn’t rescind the job offer.

Granted, the job wasn’t ideal, but it enabled her to stay on the ranch and get to know her sister and brother better.

Snapping back to reality, Maddie glanced at the corral where several horses stood, ears pricked, awaiting their morning hay. It was still amazing to her that she was here on the Colby Ranch.

What if she had not responded to Landon’s phone call a month ago? She’d been avoiding him ever since she’d broken their engagement. Yet answering had led her to discovering she had an identical twin she hadn’t known about. She had invited Violet to her apartment that fateful afternoon. Once inside, her twin had been drawn to some of the photographs on the mantel—especially a favorite one of her father and two brothers. Violet had been startled to see Grayson—a twin to her brother Jack!

Violet had invited her to the ranch, and Maddie had agreed. With her father away on a missionary trip due to last until Thanksgiving, and her two brothers unavailable, it seemed the perfect time to go. Landon thought she was rushing into something that required a bit more contemplation, but she’d gone with her instincts.

It still seemed weird to look at Violet and see herself. As far as they could piece together, they’d been separated as babies, each parent taking one of each of the two sets of twins. Jack had been kept in the dark, just like her—and he hadn’t taken the news well.

Even their longtime housekeeper, Rachel Everett, had not known the truth when Maddie called her to tell her about Violet and where she’d be going for a few weeks.

Now they were all asking the same question—what had happened to their family so long ago?

Reaching the small porch in front of Ty Garland’s wooden house, she stepped onto it, her shoes echoing on the surface. The small house was rather plain with a porch that ran the width of it, green shutters flanking the two windows, and a green door in the center. While the clapboard was white, the mossy green was the same color used on the barn trim. Her focus shifted to the job at hand. She hadn’t felt this nervous since her first day on the job at Texas Today, the beloved magazine she’d worked on for three years. Budget cuts had eliminated her job. She’d been devastated at the time.

Now, losing her job seemed like the work of God. She’d had time to extend her visit and a job had materialized almost the same moment she began to talk about returning to Fort Worth.

Thank You, Lord, for working this all out. Please, let us find some answers soon. And please let me do a good job here.

Ty Garland was the foreman of Colby Ranch. A week ago, to his stunned amazement, he’d found out he had a daughter—an eight-year-old little girl who was coming to live with him. According to Violet the news had rocked him. He hadn’t even known his ex-wife had had a child, much less that it was his.

The foreman’s job came with a small house, situated between the large brick house the Colbys lived in and the huge barn that held horses, hay and other accoutrements needed for ranching. She’d been given a tour of the prosperous ranch when she’d first arrived. This past month had given her a chance to get to know Violet and, to a lesser degree, Jack.

She was so delighted to have her twin sister in her life. She should focus on her blessings and live in the here and now. Speaking of which, she’d signed on to watch the little girl so in need of help and hoped she could do a good job. Ty’s displeasure was not something she wanted. Quietly, she said a quick prayer for wisdom and guidance in dealing with Darcy. And her dad.

Knocking on the front door, she waited. Turning, she surveyed the barnyard, which was coming awake as the sun rose. Chickens searched for food in the dirt around the corral. Three horses remained standing near the fence. She could hear the nanny goat bleating. Was she waiting for food, too?

It was still, quiet and pleasant. Quite a difference from her rented high-rise condo in Fort Worth on a busy thoroughfare. Unexpectedly, she was growing used to it. Growing to appreciate the silence of the early morning. The beauty of God’s handiwork spread before her. The ageless work of cowboys raising beef for the masses.

Ty opened the door and she turned, a bright smile on her face.

“Good morning. Here as promised.” She was good at pretending she didn’t feel as nervous as she did.

Maddie held her smile even though he merely nodded and opened the door wider for her to enter. The tall, fit cowboy with the stern face gave a whole new meaning to the word taciturn. He topped her by several inches. Without his hat, his dark hair gleamed in the light. His dark eyes rarely gave anything away. She always felt small and feminine around his wide shoulders, strong arms.

She’d met him several weeks ago when she’d first come to the Colby Ranch. Over the days since, she’d seen him often enough when he discussed ranch business with Violet and Jack. Yet she didn’t feel she knew him any better today than that first day. Not for lack of trying. She always had a greeting for him when they met. He usually touched the edge of his cowboy hat with two fingers and moved on.

His frowning eyes met hers. She knew in a heartbeat he thought this was a dumb idea. Her gaze locked with his and Maddie wondered if Ty had only agreed to the arrangement because his boss put him on the spot. Now Maddie was having second thoughts herself. Could she work for this man? He was unlike anyone else she knew. Usually people were friendly enough when she smiled at them.

Not Ty. He replied to any direct questions with as few words as possible. Still, she was glad for the job opportunity. She’d been out of work for six weeks and her savings would only stretch so far.

The assignment was simple enough—watch Ty’s daughter for a month or so until he could make other arrangements. But could she deal with being in constant contact with the man whom she’d steered clear of in the weeks she’d been on the ranch? He obviously didn’t like her.

Much as she wanted to dislike him, she didn’t. He fascinated her. He looked as at home on a horse as he did walking. He’d study the day as others might study a financial report. She often wondered what he saw when he gazed off in the distance. His air of quiet confidence made the other ranch hands look brash and wild. His manner was always respectful, but distant. She had yet to see him smile and sometimes at night she’d daydream various ways to get him to smile. So far no brilliant ideas had come forth.

“We’re in the kitchen,” he said, heading down a short hall toward the back of the house. Maddie quickly followed, glancing into the living room as they walked by. A big recliner sat against one wall, lined up perfectly with the big flat-screen TV that hung on the opposite wall. There was a comfortable leather sofa with a throw over one arm. The coffee table was scarred as if he’d put his feet on it many times. There were beverage stains and a stack of what looked like ranching journals and a day-old newspaper. The hardwood floors rang with the sound of her shoes.

Stepping into the kitchen, she smiled at Ty’s eight-year-old daughter.

Maddie liked the kitchen the instant she stepped in. The wide window over the sink framed a beautiful view of the land as it spread out in front of her. Trees scattered here and there, a slight roll to the ground. In the distance she could see some of the cattle grazing.

The appliances were fairly new and were in pristine shape. No dishes in the sink, nothing on the counter but a toaster and coffee machine. Ty kept a neat home.

Maddie was glad the job required her to cook for this small family. It meant she wouldn’t have to share a dining room with Violet and Landon when he came to visit. After all, the newly engaged couple deserved their privacy.

“Good morning,” she said. “Ready for breakfast?”

“I guess,” Darcy said, darting a quick glance at her father.

Maddie looked at Ty also, struck by the mixture of confusion, hurt and longing she saw there. Her heart went out to him.

Maddie knew exactly how both Darcy and Ty felt. She had not known about her sister, he had not known about his daughter. Why did people do that? Keep families apart? It hurt to know her mother had so easily walked away and that her dad had never mentioned his other two children.

Pushing away the thoughts that spun in her mind daily, she focused on Darcy. Was it any more difficult to find the father she’d been told was dead was alive and had never known she existed?

Maddie hoped the little girl would bounce back faster than she was doing with the stunning news about her own family. Darcy had lost her mother only a week and a half ago when a drunk driver had rammed her car. Her grandparents were out of the country and no one had reached them yet. She wound up on the doorstep of a father who had never known she’d been born. How confusing and scary was that?

Ty looked at her. “We’ll try this for a couple of days. If you can’t hack it, I’ll find someone else.”

“I’ll do my best,” she said, hoping he would genuinely give her a chance and not merely bide his time until he could fire her. “What’s your favorite breakfast?” she asked the little girl, hoping she could do something to ease the pain of loss and set this child on the right path to recovering from her grief.

“Pancakes,” Darcy said, her forlorn expression tugging at Maddie’s heartstrings.

“One stack of hotcakes coming up.”

Ty poured himself a mug of coffee and gestured to the machine, which Maddie took as an invitation to help herself. She nodded and then took a few minutes getting familiar with Ty’s kitchen. She felt his eyes on her the entire time. Gathering all the ingredients, she enlisted Darcy’s help as they prepared the batter. Soon golden pancakes were filling plates. Ty had rocked back on the chair he sat on and balanced on the back two legs, watching her without saying a word.

Once or twice Darcy had glanced his way, halfway curious, halfway uncertain.

“All ready,” Maddie said, placing another golden pancake on a stack she kept warm in the oven.

Ty’s chair came down with a thump that startled her.

She looked at him. His dark eyes stared back into hers, then he nodded.

If that was the best he could do, she’d take it.

“What do you want us to do today?” she asked him.

“You’re in charge of her,” he said, eating the pancakes, taking a sip of the hot coffee.

“Can I see the horses?” Darcy asked.

“Sure. We’ll go to the barn when we finish eating.” Maddie made the suggestion but watched Ty to make sure he was okay with that.

As the silence dragged, Maddie began to get annoyed. “We need to talk about this job,” she said.

He looked at her. “What about it?”

“I need to know what you expect, what my duties will entail. I have never done this before.”

He looked exasperated. “That much was obvious when Violet first suggested the arrangement. Mainly watch Darcy—keep her safe and give her something to do.”

“And fix the meals.”

He quirked a brow. “That a problem?”

“No. Not at all. I like to cook. I imagine you like plain food.”

“As compared to what?” he asked, watching her warily.

“Cordon bleu.”

“Can you cook like that?”

She grinned and shook her head. “No, but I can make some fancy stuff.”

Darcy watched the exchange with wide eyes.

“Plain wholesome foods and plenty of it,” he said.

“Ummm. Do you ever cook out back?” She’d caught a glimpse of a grill when she’d passed the window over the sink a few minutes ago.

“Most of the summer that’s what I do if I don’t eat with the men—steaks, mostly.”

Figured, working on a cattle ranch.

Once the meal was finished, Ty surprised Maddie by clearing his dish and cup, putting them in the sink.

He lifted his cowboy hat off a peg and plopped it on. He walked toward the back door. “I have chores to do.” He opened the door and turned to look at her. “Tell Violet if you need anything. She knows how to reach me on the range.”

Maddie swallowed hard and nodded. He intimidated her. There were no two ways about it. But his daughter was adorable. Her straight brown hair framed a heart-shaped face. Her dark brown eyes watched Maddie with a somber expression. She looked confused and unhappy and sad. Her mother had just died. That was a hard thing to deal with at any age.

Hadn’t her own mother—the woman she’d always thought of as her mother—died suddenly when Maddie had been a few years younger than Darcy? It had been a solo car accident, the vehicle spinning out of control on a rain-slicked street.

For a moment, Maddie remembered her lost, confused and sad self at age five. If she hadn’t had her brothers she didn’t know what she would have done. Darcy had no one.

Ty looked at Darcy. “Mind Maddie, hear?”

She nodded solemnly.

The door closed and Maddie looked at Darcy. Memories of her own mother, of her loss so many years ago, had been at the forefront these last few weeks. Nothing anyone could say would bring her mother back, nor Darcy’s. It was up to them to move forward, as hard as that was. She smiled gently at the little girl.

“I’ll do the dishes while you get dressed, then we can head for the barn.”

“Okay.” Darcy dashed down the hall.

Running water in the sink, Maddie thought about Ty and how hard it must have been to suddenly discover he had a daughter.

“His wife should have told him,” Maddie murmured to herself. From what Violet had said, if Darcy’s grandparents hadn’t been out of touch it was doubtful the state would have even looked for Ty.

It was a big thing to have a parent one never knew about. Maddie gazed out the window, feeling the loss anew of her mother. To discover that Sharla Wallace hadn’t been her biological mother still stunned her. Closing her eyes, for a second she could almost feel her loving touch. Feel the love that always enveloped her when her mom hugged her or rocked her in that big rocking chair. It had been twenty years since she’d felt her loving hands, heard her laughter, listened to her stories of when she’d been a little girl.

Now she’d learned Belle Colby was her mother, her biological mother.

She still had difficulty absorbing that. Maybe it would be easier if Belle was at the ranch and could offer an explanation for so many of the questions she had. In a wry twist of fate, only a few days before Violet had shown up in Fort Worth and set the entire course of events in motion, Belle had been thrown from a horse and suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was still in a coma six weeks later.

“I’m ready,” Darcy said, coming back into the kitchen wearing pink shorts and a pink-and-white shirt. Tennis shoes on her feet.

Maddie turned to smile at her. “And faster than I got these dishes done.”

Thinking about things would have to wait. She had a little girl to take care of.

* * *

Ty finished giving the men their assignments for the day and went to saddle his own horse. For the first time since he’d heard about Darcy, he felt he could make it through the day. The stunned knowledge, the overwhelming feeling of inadequacy, was held at bay. He had Maddie now to watch her. Maybe she could relate to Darcy. He sure hadn’t been able to.

Once the horse was ready, he mounted and headed out of the barn and into the bright Texas sun. He was going to ride the fence line at the far boundary. One of the hands had spotted Colby cattle on the neighbor’s property and wondered if there was a breach in the fence. Instead of assigning that cowboy to find out, Ty decided to ride out himself. He needed the time away from the insurmountable problems in the homestead. Time to try to wrap his head around the fact that a week ago he hadn’t even known he had an eight-year-old daughter.

One week since the social services woman had called. A week to accept his ex-wife, Brittany, had deceived him in more ways than one. A week to get used to having a daughter—and having her show up to live with him.

As he rode, the routine of his job took hold. He loved being out on the range, loved the peace and serenity that came from being only him and his horse. Gradually some of the stress and tension began to ease. At least he could ride away today. The last five days he’d been so preoccupied with Darcy that his mind hadn’t been on the job.

Not that he regretted a moment of that time. She was a wonder. Although she resembled her mother in many ways, she had inherited his brown hair and dark eyes. He couldn’t help wondering if they shared other traits as well. He didn’t know if she was naturally shy, or only around him, but he was doing his best to make her feel at ease.

And doing a bad job, he knew.

But he wasn’t used to children. He hadn’t a clue what made them tick. And especially not a girl raised in the city, used to the lifestyle his ex-wife had embraced with fervor once their marriage ended.

Anger at Brittany boiled over again. He looked up at the sky, silently asking how she could have hated him so much to keep all knowledge of his only daughter from him.

An only, spoiled child, Brittany had been impossible to live with when she didn’t get her way. Things went from bad to worse when he broke his leg in the rodeo and he was out. She balked when he told her that his rodeo days were over and he wanted to settle on a ranch. Brittany had tried to convince him to take a cushy job in Houston working for his father, but he told her he wasn’t cut out for the corporate world. He’d known she was angry, but he had no clue how much she resented him—or how far-reaching the emotional fallout would be.

Brittany stayed with him while he recovered, but made her position clear—ranch life wasn’t for her. Two months later, he was served with divorce papers. Judging by Darcy’s birthday, Brittany had to have known she was pregnant. Once he was fit enough to ride, he kept his head held high and found a spot at the Colby ranch. He moved forward with his plans, but never in his wildest dreams would he have fathomed that he had a daughter out there somewhere.

Ty gripped the reins tighter in the futility of trying to understand how a woman he’d once loved, who had declared she loved him, could have behaved so underhandedly and cruelly.

“Lord, if You’re listening, I could use some help here. I don’t know what the future’s going to hold, but I’m hoping Darcy and I can build a bond that nothing will break. That I’ll be a better father to her than mine was to me. Don’t let me mess this up, please, Lord.”

He had to believe there was some hope on the horizon. Two years ago he was promoted to foreman at the Colby ranch. It was the closest thing he had to owning his own ranch until he could make that dream a reality.

Ty had been as surprised as Jack Colby when Violet returned from Fort Worth with an identical twin. He hadn’t heard much about the situation. That was a Colby family matter and deserved privacy. But once or twice Jack had said something. Apparently, he had a twin out there somewhere as well.

When Violet had suggested yesterday that Maddie watch Darcy for a few weeks, he’d been dumfounded. And against the idea entirely.

Maddie Wallace was from Fort Worth. Bright lights, a thriving nightlife and lots of cultural stimulation for a sophisticated career woman. Maddie wouldn’t last a month as nanny to his daughter. She’d be like Brittany, feeling constrained on the ranch, bored, anxious for the excitement cities offered and were definitely missing from a working ranch.

He only needed a month. In September, Darcy started school. He’d see if he could find a mom in town who would babysit after school until he could pick her up. Until next summer. Who knew what would happen by then? Maybe Josh, one of the ranch cowboys, would get married to that gal he was courting and Ty would have someone on the ranch to watch Darcy. That part he’d trust to the Lord.

He reached the fence and began patrolling. Until he found a break, there was nothing keeping his thoughts from straying to his new nanny. He envisioned her plain as day. She looked like Violet, yet didn’t. They were identical, yet her features were a tiny bit sharper. Her auburn hair brushed her shoulders, looking soft in the sunlight, with gold strands gleaming in the sun. Her brown eyes, which she often covered with sunglasses, looked like melted chocolate. The lashes were dark and thick.

Ty scowled. He had no business comparing any woman’s eyes with chocolate. He had to figure if he should be looking for a local woman who could watch Darcy. Someone used to ranch life, instead of someone city bred and as out of place on the ranch as the Queen of England.

Maybe that was the reason Violet suggested Maddie. She lived the same kind of life Darcy had. They’d relate. And both were like fish out of water. Maddie had been here almost a month and still wore silk blouses and open-toed shoes. Even Brittany had known better.

Maddie reminded him of Brittany. He knew it was unfair to judge a person on outward appearances, but he couldn’t help it. She was gloss and glamour, and he needed someone practical and down to earth. He didn’t believe it was going to work.

Of course the next one to watch Darcy wouldn’t be as pretty, he knew. Probably wouldn’t have that constant cheerful smile that had him taking a second look. And a third. He wasn’t sure what she had to smile about. She’d lost her job, found out she’d been lied to her entire life and was now temporarily hired to be a nanny. And apparently, she was alone in the world except for the Colbys as her own brothers were away and her father was not responding to her calls.

Note to the future—he’d be there for his daughter when she needed him.

* * *

Once the kitchen was spotless, Maddie and Darcy went to the barn. The horses fascinated the little girl, and Maddie was trying to get used to them. She envied Violet’s lack of trepidation when around the large animals. Together, Maddie and Darcy walked through the wide center portion, looking at the empty stalls, studying the hay stacked in the loft high overhead, wondering how the bales had made it up there. Most of the horses were either being ridden by the cowboys or were in the corral at the side of the barn.

As Maddie watched the little girl dart here and there, she wondered if she would be up to the task. A local woman would have been a better choice, someone who already knew about the ranches, about cattle, horses and cowboys. This child would soon find out all she needed as she grew up on the ranch from someone like that.

Maddie, on the other hand, believed she’d always feel awkward and out of step. It seemed to be a lifestyle one needed to be raised in to fully understand. She’d never even visited a dude ranch, much less a working ranch. And much as she loved being with her sister, learning more about her life and coming face-to-face with identical likes and dislikes, she also felt in the way.

Especially since Violet and Landon had fallen in love.

Talk about a curveball! Only two months ago Landon had been pressuring her for a wedding date. Now he was head over heels in love with her twin. Not that Maddie wanted to marry him, as she’d explained when she’d broken their engagement. He hadn’t taken no for an answer at first, claiming she was having premarital jitters. But their relationship had never felt totally right. He’d been a friend whom she’d dated for months. When he proposed, she accepted, hoping her feelings would strengthen to be what she thought a wife should feel for a husband.

What did she know? Her mother had died when she’d been five. Her father had never remarried. So she only saw married couples from a distance. Their widowed housekeeper, Rachel, had raised her and her brothers. Still, she was never able to envision herself living with Landon. She’d somehow known from the beginning the two of them wouldn’t make it.

He was a great guy, and she was delighted he’d found his true love with Violet.

Maddie once again pushed away the thought of Belle Colby. She had had weeks to get used to the idea that the woman was her mother. Yet the only interaction they’d had was when Maddie went to visit her with Violet. Despite Belle’s grim prognosis, Violet remained hopeful for recovery. Maddie spoke to her, prayed with her sister for her healing, but still she felt nothing of Belle to connect her as her mother.

She’d seen photographs of Belle with Violet and Jack from when they’d been little. There was no doubt they were her children, which had to mean she and Grayson were also her children. But the instant rapport she’d yearned for wasn’t there. Not as it had been with Violet.

“Can we ride a horse?” Darcy asked, interrupting her ruminations.

“We can ask your dad. I’m sure he’ll want you to learn to ride.”

“Then I could ride everywhere,” Darcy said, coming to stand beside Maddie. “Can you ride?”

“Not very well.”

“Maybe he can teach you, too,” she said, heading out of the barn.

Maddie smiled at that suggestion. She doubted Ty wanted to spend a minute more with her than he had to. But she had enough questions to ask him when he got home.

She smiled in anticipation. It would give her another reason to spend a bit more time with Ty—and the confusing feelings she had for him. She could hardly wait.

Chapter Two

By lunchtime, Maddie was glad to leave the barn area and return to Ty’s air-conditioned house.

“Thank You, Lord, for this,” she murmured as she and Darcy entered.

“What?” Darcy asked, looking up at her.

“I’m giving a thanks prayer to the Lord for the coolness,” she said.

“Oh.” Darcy was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Can you ask God why my mommy died?”

“Honey, it was a terrible accident.” Maddie gave her a quick hug.

From what she’d learned from Violet, the drunk driver had come from a side street and T-boned the driver’s side of Brittany Parker’s car, killing her instantly. Maddie was thankful Darcy had not been in the car.

She released Darcy with a pat on her shoulder. “You’re with your dad now, he’ll take good care of you.”

“Mommy said my dad was dead.”

“He wasn’t. He’s been here all along, waiting for you to come live with him,” Maddie said, wondering how to explain things to the child when she herself didn’t understand his ex-wife’s behavior.

“Why didn’t he ever come visit me? Especially at Christmas. My grandmama and grandpa always come to visit at Christmas. It’s time for family.”

“He didn’t know where you lived.”

Darcy considered that for a moment, then shrugged. “I don’t like it here. When can I go home?”

“This is your home now,” Maddie said as they headed for the kitchen.

“No, it’s not. I live at 2733 Aspen Street, Houston, Texas.”

“That’s the home you had with your mom. Now you live here with your dad.” Maddie switched gears to try to lift the girl’s mood. “Let’s eat lunch and we can talk about what you want to do this afternoon.”

“Are you going to spend the afternoon with me?”

“I am. In fact, I’m going to be watching you during the day while your dad’s working. How’s that?”

Darcy shrugged, pulling her mouth down. “Okay, I guess.”

What a ringing endorsement, Maddie thought, but tried not to feel discouraged.

She glanced through the wide window over the sink when she stepped into the kitchen. She loved the beautiful view.

“What would you like for lunch?” Maddie asked, rummaging around, looking for bread and dishes.

“Peanut butter and grape jam. He bought some grape jam for me ’cause I like it.”

“He?” Maddie asked.

“You know, my dad,” Darcy said in a quiet voice.

Maddie wondered what Darcy was thinking. So far she hadn’t heard the child refer to Ty as anything but “he.”

Darcy sat at the big, farm-style table, kicking the legs of the chair as she watched Maddie open cupboard doors and look into the refrigerator. By the time Maddie had found all she needed, Darcy had regained her more chatty nature. She talked about the pigs and the chickens and the goat and the fact Violet grew vegetables. That seemed to fascinate her. To Darcy, produce came from the grocery store, not the ground.

“When we finish eating we’ll check out supplies and plan on what to have for supper,” Maddie said, finding the silverware drawer.

“Are you going to cook our supper?” Darcy asked.

“I am. And breakfast in the morning.”

“He gets up very early,” Darcy said.

“Hmmm, maybe you and I don’t need to get up that early. Shall we ask? I mean, it’s not like we have to get riding before it gets hot or have hours of work in front of us.”

She needed to talk to Ty to see what he expected. Maybe he’d want her there for breakfast each morning. Getting up early wasn’t her favorite thing to do, but it would be worth it to see Ty first thing each morning. Was his attitude softening toward her? She considered it might be wishful thinking, but she was holding on to the thought.

Once she knew what he expected, she could make plans accordingly. Maddie’s boss had always said she was an expert at that.

Her former boss, she amended silently, feeling a pang that she wasn’t in Fort Worth, working frantically to get the next edition of Texas Today to bed. She missed the hectic atmosphere, the camaraderie of her coworkers. The sense of accomplishment when the issue was finally on its way to the stands.

Sighing, she cut their sandwiches, poured milk and sat to eat. Another change in her topsy-turvy world.

“What are we going to do this afternoon?” Darcy asked as she was finishing her sandwich.

“How about some artwork? Did you bring any coloring books or crayons to color with?”

Darcy shook her head. “The lady who came to tell my babysitter my mom was dead packed clothes and left everything else at our apartment. And she didn’t even pack my favorite dress.”

“No toys or books or anything?”

“I got to bring Teddy bear, that’s all,” Darcy said, kicking the legs of her chair again.

Maddie had no idea how social services worked. Surely at some point the apartment had to be vacated for the next tenant. What would happen to all of Darcy’s things? And those of her mother? Surely they’d come to Darcy.

Another item to discuss with Ty.

Once they’d finished lunch, they walked over to the main house. The large, warm, brick home easily housed the Colby family and any guests they wanted. Maddie still felt a bit like an interloper when she entered without knocking. This was the home her sister and brother lived in. A far cry from the modest house she’d been raised in. Her father had moved to a home near the university for convenience when they’d left Appleton for Fort Worth. She didn’t remember much about the house of those early years with her mother.

Rachel came to live with them after her mother died. The older woman was a widow whose only child had died of meningitis. When her father attended medical school, his hours were long and hard. Rachel was the constant adult in the household. She was retired now and living in Galveston. She loved the sea. She’d tried to answer Maddie’s questions when she’d first called and told her about her twin. Rachel knew very little, only that she’d needed the job at the perfect time and she loved her kids, as she called Maddie and her brothers, Carter and Grayson.

Maddie pulled out her cell phone and tried her father’s number again. It went straight to voice mail—and the mailbox was full. It drove her crazy. Where was he? Surely if he’d been injured the authorities would have notified her.

If her brothers weren’t out of touch as well, she’d see what strings Grayson could pull to locate their dad. But he was working undercover in some narcotics investigation for Fort Worth Police and Carter was deployed. She was about to burst with the newfound knowledge about her fractured family and had no one to share it with. Or to find out more about what had caused the siblings to split.

She led Darcy to the room the family used as an office and suggested they search online for ideas of fun art projects they could do together. Although her mind was still reeling with concern about her family, she set her worries aside and focused instead on giving Darcy her undivided attention.

It was the least that Ty’s daughter deserved after all she’d been through.

* * *

Ty walked straight into the kitchen late that afternoon. He stopped when he saw the table set, Maddie by the counter, rolling pin in hand. Darcy at her side. The aroma of dinner had his mouth watering instantly. He was hot, sweaty and tired.

“Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes,” Maddie said, “I need to finish these biscuits and pop them into the oven. Does that give you enough time to clean up?”

“Sure.” Clean up? He normally washed his hands and ate. Obviously that wasn’t going to work now. Was he supposed to dress for dinner? He walked through the kitchen and into his bedroom and bath. A hot shower sounded as good as the hot meal. He’d take one fast, to get back to the kitchen as soon as he could. He’d found the Colby cattle on the neighbor’s land and driven them back through the broken fence, then repaired it. After taking a quick tally to make sure he’d recovered all, he’d ridden the perimeter for most of the afternoon. The day had been hot, and he knew he smelled of horse, cattle, dirt and sweat.

When they sat down to dinner a short time later, Ty studied his nanny. She’d lasted the day and didn’t seem to have a hair out of place. Her clothes weren’t suitable to ranching, but they still looked as fresh as they had that morning. How did she do it?

Once seated, Maddie held out her hand to him and reached across the table to take Darcy’s. He looked at them.

“Will you bless the food?” Maddie asked.

His mind went blank for a moment. Then he glanced at Darcy who was watching him. Nodding, he took her hand and Darcy’s and bowed his head. He was not given to praying aloud, yet how would they know when he was finished if he didn’t? Clearing his throat, he began, “Lord, thank You for the food that’s been prepared for us, for providing it and sending Maddie to cook it. Thank You for bringing Darcy home. Amen.”

“This isn’t my home,” Darcy said.

“Darcy, we discussed this,” Maddie explained gently, serving the child’s plate. “You live here with your dad now.”

Ty swallowed a knot in his throat. “What did you two do today?” he asked gruffly.

“We did art projects and made cookies at Violet’s house,” Darcy piped up. “Chocolate chip. I got to help.”

Ty nodded, relieved to see his little girl smiling again. It broke his heart that she felt so displaced. He waited until they’d both filled their plates, then heaped the stew onto his own.

“What did you do?” Maddie asked after a moment of silence. This man could take the strong silent type to the highest degree.

“Checked on some fencing, got caught up on other things around.”

“I need to talk to you later,” Maddie said.

His eyes narrowed. “About?”

“The job,” she said pointedly.

“Didn’t we already talk about that?” he asked.

“If you count keeping her safe and occupying her time, yes, we did. I had in mind a bit more.” She hoped he’d agree to discuss it further. The more she was around Ty, the more she liked him. He was honest and straightforward. No artifice around him. It had an appeal that surprised her. She wanted to learn as much about him as she could.

“After Darcy’s in bed?” he suggested.

“Fine with me.” She had a mental list, maybe she should jot everything down so she didn’t forget something. She wasn’t sure she wanted two meetings back-to-back with him. One would be challenging enough.

Once dinner was finished, Maddie and Darcy made short work of cleaning the kitchen. Then Ty suggested they walk to the barn with him. Darcy looked at Maddie first, then nodded.

When they reached the corrals where some of the horses were, Darcy climbed the rail fence and, hugging the top rail, gazed at the horses.

“She needs to learn to ride,” Maddie said when Ty stood behind Darcy, watching her watch the horses.

“If you ride, too,” Darcy said quickly.

“I don’t know about that.” Though Violet urged her to ride every day, she wasn’t comfortable on the back of a horse—unlike her sister, who seemed to move as one with the large animals. The few times she’d gone riding, she’d clutched the saddle horn for dear life.

“If he would teach me, I want to ride that one,” Darcy said, pointing to a smaller horse dozing near the far fence. “It’s not so big.”

“Rambo,” Ty said in his deep voice.

“Rambo? Not a child’s horse, then,” she said, looking at the animal. Not so big? It looked huge to her.

“Misnomer. He’s a gentle ride. He’d be good to learn on—for both of you.”

She inhaled sharply. “Me?”

“You want to learn and not be so afraid, don’t you?”

So he’d seen her riding. She felt her face flush with embarrassment. “Yes, I’d like to learn.” She’d never be as at home on a horse as her sister, but if she was going to be here for a few more weeks, she might as well get some practice in.

To Maddie’s surprise, they spent a pleasant time walking around in the cooling evening. Ty didn’t talk much, but answered every question Darcy asked. Maddie was pleased the child didn’t seem at all intimidated by her father. She still looked at him like she was trying to make up her mind about him. But by the end of their walk, she held his hand heading back to the house.

When Maddie suggested a bath before bed, Darcy jumped at the chance.

“We’ll call you when she’s ready for bed,” Maddie said as they went to the part of the house that held two bedrooms and a bath.

In bed before eight-thirty, Darcy looked up at her with her big brown eyes, so like her father’s. Did Ty see that resemblance?

Maddie asked if she wanted to hear a story. “Since you don’t have any books, I’ll make one up if you like.”

“Oh, yes,” Darcy said with a surprised smile.

Maddie sat on the mattress and began one of the stories she remembered from when she’d been a child. Rachel had often read to her, but she also made up the most fascinating stories of a magical princess. Trying to remember all the ins and outs of the long-running story from her childhood, Maddie began. When Darcy’s eyes drooped, she kissed her cheek. “I’ll tell you more tomorrow night,” she whispered.

She went to find Ty before Darcy fell asleep so he could kiss her good-night and tuck her in.

He wasn’t in the house. Hesitant to leave Darcy unattended, Maddie went out the back door and walked around to the front. He sat on a chair on the small porch, working saddle soap into reins.

“She asleep?” he asked.

“No, waiting for you to tuck her in.”

He stared at her for a long moment, then looked away.

“It’s easy. Go in and kiss her good-night and smooth the covers around her,” she said a moment later when he made no move to rise.

He nodded once and stood. After placing the leather on the deck, he stepped past her to the door. “I’m not good at this,” he said, so softly she didn’t know if she was supposed to hear or not.

She listened to his footsteps as he went back to Darcy’s room. “Lord, seems we both need your help here. Please, let Ty grow more comfortable around his daughter. And help me every day I watch her that I say and do the right things.”

Maddie sat on the bench by the front wall.

Ty stepped out onto the small porch a moment later. Seeing her, he went to stand next to the bench, resting one boot on the edge, leaning an arm against his raised leg.

“So what did you want to talk about?” he asked.

“I need more specifics about my position.”

“Didn’t we already cover this at breakfast?” he asked impatiently. “You’re to watch Darcy. For however long you stay.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re smart, you figure it out.”

She watched him in silence for a few minutes, wishing she knew what he was talking about. The man intrigued her, but puzzled her even more. She shook her head. “Sorry, you’re going to have to spell it out.”

“You’ve already lasted at the ranch longer than I thought you would.”

“Meaning?”

“There’s not a lot of excitement for a city girl. You’ll be heading back to the bright lights before long once the novelty wears off. I want to know if you can hang on long enough for Darcy to start school.”

“I’m having a great time visiting here. Granted, my apartment and all is in Fort Worth, but my family’s here.”

“New family. Amazing, the resemblance between you and Violet.”

She arched a brow. “We’re twins.”

He nodded. “When Violet suggested you help Darcy I thought she was crazy, but it made sort of sense. Darcy’s been raised in a city. I know ranching life is different.” He exhaled slowly. “Maybe you can help her transition.”

“What do you have in mind?”

He looked over at her again. “For one thing, try to get her to see the advantages of living here. She seems to like the animals. If she learns to ride, I’ll get her a pony of her own. Maybe a dog. I bet Violet would let her gather eggs and feed the pigs. Get her used to being here. You can relate—you’re city through and through.”

“Which doesn’t mean I don’t realize the advantages of living here.”

“You both need more suitable clothes,” he said. “She needs jeans and boots to learn to ride. Long-sleeved shirts to protect her arms. A hat for shade.”

Maddie noticed his glance at her own clothes. They were not suitable for the rough-and-tumble of ranching. Not that she was riding or punching cattle. Momentarily sidetracked, she wondered what punching cattle even meant.

“Ranch kids start helping as soon as they can walk, with chores suitable for their ages.” He gazed at her. “She can do dishes, right? I’d like you to encourage her to make her bed, make sure her clothes are taken care of.”

Maddie nodded. “We’ll need to go shopping. You do know she doesn’t have anything from home except what social services packed that day. What happened to the furnishings and toys and clothes and all from the apartment?”

“I don’t know and don’t care,” he said curtly.

“A little girl has cherished toys, favorite books, special clothes. It would help her adjust to have familiar things around.”

He thought about it for a minute. “I’ll contact social services and see what they tell me. I never thought about it, to tell the truth. One minute I’m doing my job, the next minute I find out I’m a father. And have been for eight years, which my ex-wife conveniently forgot to tell me. Thinking about Darcy’s stuff was the last thing on my mind.”

“I know.” Maddie was silent for a moment. Then she looked at him.

“We have a lot in common, don’t we?”

“Like?” He frowned. She could tell he didn’t like the idea.

“You never knew about Darcy, and I never knew about Violet or Jack or Belle.”

“True. But that’s all,” he said quickly.

Maddie knew he didn’t like her—was it because she reminded him of his ex-wife?

Was he against all people who lived in cities? That would be dumb.

“I like it here,” she said simply.

His jaw clenched. “For now,” he countered.

She stood up and faced him. He put his foot on the ground and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He stood several inches taller than she did and when he narrowed his eyes, as he was doing now, he could be very intimidating. However, she’d caught a hint of vulnerability a couple of times, which gave her courage to say,

“I’m not Darcy’s mother. You can’t judge me by what happened between you two. Maybe I was raised in the city, but I like it here fine. If I thought I could fit in, I might consider staying.”

“No one’s asked you to,” he said.

Maddie nodded. There was that. And her recent work history was on a magazine, hardly conducive to working on a ranch.

“Still, don’t judge me by her.”

“Early days yet.”

“You are the most stubborn man, you know that?”

A glimmer of amusement showed in his eyes. “So I’ve been told,” he replied.

Maddie was captivated by that glimmer. So he did have a sense of humor. She never would have thought insulting him would almost result in a smile.

He cleared his throat. “Darcy’s mother hated the routine of ranching, the constant need to care for the animals. Even the weather. Mostly she hated the idea of being isolated,” he explained.

Maddie was longing to ask questions about his marriage, but refrained. It was not any business of hers. She knew enough—they’d had a child Ty had not known about. And now his ex-wife was dead. Too young to die.

But then her own mother had been too young to die. And she’d been too young to lose her mother.

She couldn’t bear to think Darcy might become alone in the world if something happened to her father. Of course she’d heard mention of grandparents. Surely they’d step in if needed.

“Take Darcy into town tomorrow and buy her some suitable clothes,” Ty said.

Maddie looked at him again. “You’ll need to come as well.”

“I don’t do shopping.”

She smiled. “Obviously you do or there’d be no food in the house or clothes on your back. We won’t be long, but you’ll know what she needs better than I will. And you can tell me what to get for me as well. We’ll have a shopping spree,” she said with a wide smile. She loved shopping.

He stared at her as if she’d lost her marbles.

Maddie giggled. “It’ll be fun. Think of it as a bonding experience with your daughter.”

“Put it that way, I’ll go. But we only need to stop at the Feed and Grain. They have all we’ll need.”

“Works for me.” Her heart beat faster thinking about spending time with Ty tomorrow. And Darcy, of course. He’d surprised her by agreeing to go. Still, she knew he was making a serious effort to get to know his daughter and applauded him for it.

“I’m going now. What time should I be here in the morning?” she asked.

“I’d like an early start on chores—especially if I’m leaving for part of the day. Six?”

She nodded, wishing she could sleep in a little later. But she was out to prove to this man that she could do the job. “Six’ll be fine. See you then.”

She walked slowly back to the main house, thinking about Ty. He was definitely a competent ranch foreman, but she could see he was lost when dealing with Darcy. She hoped she could help them both.

Violet sat in the living room, leafing through a magazine when Maddie entered.

“So how was the first day on the job? I missed you at dinner,” Violet said, patting the sofa next to her in silent invitation.

“Things went okay. I’ll probably be eating most of my meals there with Darcy. Which is fine with me. It gives me a chance to cook.” Maddie crossed to the sofa and sat beside her twin. “Where’s Landon?”

“On some phone call he couldn’t miss.”

Since Landon and Violet had become engaged, he split his time between the ranch and Fort Worth, where he worked. He was currently overseeing plans to remodel the guesthouse on the ranch and talked about moving his company here permanently after they were married. At one time, it was odd for Maddie to imagine Landon living away from the hustle and bustle of Fort Worth. But he’d changed since falling in love with her sister. She prayed everything would work out for the best for them both.

“What can you tell me about Ty that would help me?” she asked.

When Violet had introduced her to all the ranch hands her first few days visiting, she’d said he’d worked for them for eight years. She had to know more than Maddie did.

“He’s a good worker. Has a quick mind and is practical. Gets on with the men.”

“That doesn’t tell me a lot. I could have guessed that by his position. I mean, tell me more about him as Darcy’s dad so I know how to help with his daughter.”

Violet thought a moment. “I don’t know a lot about him, outside of how he works around the ranch. He used to ride rodeos, but got hurt and stopped. He keeps to himself a lot. He became a Christian shortly after starting work here. I don’t ever remember hearing he was dating anyone.” She shrugged. “I think you should check with Jack—he knows him better. A guy thing, I guess.”

Maddie wasn’t as comfortable around Jack as she was around Violet. Still, this was for Darcy’s benefit. Maybe she could catch him in a talkative mood one of these days. If he hung around the ranch for longer than a day at a time.

Jack had been gone frequently since she’d arrived. He used the fact that he was doing construction work on one of the parcels of the ranch a distance away from here as an excuse for being MIA.

But she knew there was more to it than that. Clearly, the change wasn’t any easier on him than on her.

“Ty and I’ll be taking Darcy into town tomorrow to buy clothes more suitable for a ranch. I thought I’d pick up some for myself while I’m there,” Maddie said.

“You know you’re welcome to borrow anything of mine you like,” Violet said.

Maddie had already borrowed jeans and old boots the few times she’d ventured out on a horse. She liked her clothes better, but they were very impractical on the dusty ranch.

“I know, thanks. But it’s time to get some of my own.”

“Stop in at the Simmons Coffee Shop for lunch. Darcy’ll like that. Then try the feed store. It carries a lot of Western clothes and boots and hats. All sizes and the prices are reasonable. Otherwise, if you shop at Campbells, the other clothing store in town, you’ll find the prices higher than really warranted.”

“Want to go in with us?” It would make things easier with Ty if she had a buffer.

“I would, but I was there today. I’m visiting Mom tomorrow. Speaking of which, did you reach your dad yet?”

“Nope, mailbox full, still not answering.” Maddie looked at her. “And isn’t he our dad?”

* * *

Shortly before noon the next day, Ty, Maddie and Darcy entered the Simmons Coffee Shop on Main Street. Maddie was still mildly surprised to find it was larger inside than it looked from the street. Tables, booths and the counter all offered seating for customers. Ty chose a booth next to the window so Darcy could also look outside. He had her sit by the window and he slid onto the bench seat next to her. Maddie sat opposite.

Gwen Simmons came over and handed them each a menu. “How are y’all doing today, Ty, Maddie? Can I get you something to drink?” the owner asked as she smiled at them.

“Doing fine, you?” Ty replied.

“Can’t complain, wouldn’t do any good if I did.” She smiled at Darcy. “And who is this fine young lady?”

“My daughter, Darcy,” Ty said, opening the menu and avoiding Gwen’s surprised look.

“Well, welcome to Grasslands, Darcy. You on a visit?”

Darcy shook her head. “My mommy died, and now I live with him,” she said.

Gwen glanced at Maddie, a questioning look in her expression.

“I’m acting as nanny for the time being.”

“I know Violet’s glad you’re staying longer,” Gwen said. The older woman seemed to know everyone in the place, and sounded as if she knew what was going on around town as well.

Ty ordered iced tea. Maddie had the same and Darcy ordered chocolate milk. Once their lunch order was taken, Ty sat back and looked out the window.

Maddie wished he’d initiate some kind of conversation. The silence stretched out as she gazed around the room, out the window.

Okay, if he wouldn’t, then she would. “Do you come here often?”

He looked at her, his dark eyes a rich, deep brown. She could look at him all day.

“No. Usually working. Unless there’s a special reason to come into town at night, it’s easier to eat at home.”

“I like it,” Darcy said. She smiled at Maddie and then looked at her father with hesitation. “It’s not so fancy like the restaurants Mom took me to. I had to be real careful and mind my manners.”

“You have to mind your manners anywhere,” Ty reminded her.

“Mmm,” she said, turning to look out the window again.

When the bell over the door jangled, announcing another customer, Maddie looked around and saw Sadie Johnson. She waved at the new church secretary whom she’d met at church two weeks ago. Sadie nodded, hesitated a moment and then walked over.

Maddie watched her and wondered why she always wore baggy clothing. She wasn’t overweight. And the big glasses could be swapped for a more stylish pair—or even contacts. Would Sadie be open to some well-meant suggestions?

“Hi,” Sadie said with a shy smile.

Ty slid out of the booth and stood. “Sadie,” he said.

“Here for lunch, I see. Who’s this?” she asked, looking at Darcy.

“My daughter, Darcy,” Ty responded. “Darcy, this is Sadie Johnson—she’s the church secretary.”

“You’re new to town, too,” Maddie said with a friendly smile. “So am I and so is Darcy.”

“We’re going shopping after lunch,” Darcy said.

“That’ll be nice. Enjoy your lunch,” Sadie said with a timid smile. She turned and headed for the counter.

Ty slid back onto the seat. “Guess Darcy and I need to start going to church come Sunday.”

“Don’t you normally?” Maddie asked.

He shrugged. “I try to make it most of the time. Sometimes there’re things at the ranch that need attention that can’t wait. Jeb’s a good preacher. First I’ve known.”

This was more information than he’d revealed in all the short time she’d known him.

“Why’s that?”

“Didn’t know the Lord until a few years ago,” he said gruffly.

Maddie wondered why that was. She couldn’t remember when she didn’t have a close relationship with Jesus. Rachel had not only been there to take care of them when their father was studying and working, she’d brought all of them to the Lord. What a blessing she’d been to Maddie’s life.

“Can I get jeans and boots and a cowboy hat?” Darcy asked. “Then I’ll be ready to ride a horse.”

Ty looked at her and nodded, his expression softening slightly. Maddie loved watching Ty interact with his daughter. Sometimes he looked baffled, other times charmed. She liked it most when he smiled—at Darcy or her. Especially when he smiled at her.

Maddie wished she knew what to do to bring the two of them closer. Time would help. But it was hard to sit by and do nothing.

Darcy looked at her. “If you buy boots and a hat, you can ride, too. He can teach you.”

Ty looked at Maddie, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“That’s all it takes,” he said.

Maddie laughed. “If only. I’ll see what’s there. No guarantee that because I dress the part, I’ll be a cowgirl,” she said to Darcy.

Ty shook his head, the amusement vanishing. “No. Highly unlikely, I’d say.”

Annoyed she’d said anything, Maddie didn’t know how to convince him he could trust her not to run back to Fort Worth anytime soon.

Time would help with that as well.

“Can we buy a storybook?” Darcy asked. “Maddie’s telling me the bestest story, but I want her to read me some books Mommy used to like,” Darcy said.

“That can be arranged,” Ty said.

Their food arrived and the next few minutes were devoted to eating.

It was awkward being the only one making conversation, so Maddie was glad for the diversion of their lunch. Once finished, they’d be heading to the store.

The Feed and Grain was on the edge of town. Ty turned into the huge gravel parking lot and pulled up to the wide wooden porch, which ran the full width of the building and contained stacked dog crates, rolls of wire fencing of various heights, a small enclosed area with baby chicks and an assortment of decorative items for a garden.

To the side was a cavernous, barnlike warehouse loaded with hay, straw, alfalfa and brown sacks Maddie hadn’t a clue what they were. A forklift was maneuvering bales of hay into the back of a pickup.

Inside, the building was clearly divided into clothing and items for livestock, fencing and chicken feed. They headed to the clothing side. Shelves reaching the ceiling held boxes of boots of all varieties and sizes, work shoes and cowboy hats. Racks of clothing included jeans, long, dark duster raincoats, colorful shirts in all sizes and denim jackets.

“Wow,” Maddie said. “One-stop shopping for Western wear.”

Ty looked at her, then around the store. “I’ve been shopping here the last eight years. Nothing fancy, but good, practical clothing. What size does she wear?” he asked, heading to the edge where children’s clothing was displayed.

Maddie picked up his vibe—the sooner they got this over with, the sooner they could return home. “I don’t know. She’ll probably have to try a few things on so we can gauge that. Once we know her size, we can go from there.”

The three of them looked at the different shirts. Maddie held several Darcy liked up to her, judging her size. Satisfied, she draped them over her arm. She thought these would fit the child. They moved on to jeans.

Maddie could feel Ty’s impatience grow. He said nothing, but she could tell he didn’t like hanging around and discussing which jeans would fit and be suitable for the ranch. Maddie understood to a point. Jeans were jeans, but some were fancier than others. She hesitated over a pair that had rhinestones on the pocket. Somehow she couldn’t see Ty Garland being impressed. Not that she necessarily wanted to impress him. Well, maybe a little. Enough so he wouldn’t cast her in the same light as his ex-wife.

Fortunately, Darcy liked the plain ones and soon she was trying clothes on in one of the dressing booths at the back of the store. Maddie, knowing her own size, grabbed a few items to try on as well.

Ty leaned against one of the posts holding up the ceiling as he waited for the two to decide if they’d be buying the clothes they selected or not. He didn’t know about buying things for a little girl. Grateful for Maddie’s assistance, he couldn’t help wishing it took less time. When he needed new clothes, he came in, picked up an assortment and left. No trying-on needed.

They still had boots and hats and maybe a jacket or two to get.

When Darcy stepped out of the fitting room a minute later, he felt his heart catch. She looked adorable. The yellow top was perfect with her brown hair. The jeans made her look taller than he’d expected. It wouldn’t be too long before she grew up completely. For a moment he was shaken that he’d almost missed all this. Anger against Brittany burned.

“Where’s Maddie?” she asked, looking around.

“Right here,” she said, stepping out.

He looked at her. For a moment she looked exactly like Violet—jeans, yellow shirt. She’d even pulled her hair behind her ears, which helped with the effect. She may look like Violet sometimes, but he could tell the difference in a heartbeat. Maddie was special, had a manner about her that he found intriguing and appealing. Like now—dressing the part for Darcy. Her sweetness was a balm to him after the hard ending to his marriage. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was a cowgirl from way back, dressed up for some rodeo event.

He looked away. It was highly unlikely she’d ever remain on the ranch. She was a city girl looking for work. No use getting used to her being around. Though he couldn’t help stealing a quick glance as she had Darcy turn around, testing the fit at the shoulders and waist. “Perfect. Now that we know your size, we can buy more things without trying them on.”

Darcy looked at her. “You look like Violet now,” she said, unconsciously echoing Ty’s thoughts.

“I always look like her—we’re twins,” she said.

Darcy shook her head. “Not with the other clothes. Now you look like you belong.”

Maddie gave the child a hug. “Thanks. So do you.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Ty muttered.

Maddie frowned. “Or not. I may not be a cowgirl from way back, but I can learn.”

He shook his head. The jury was still out on that one.

Once they each had a stack of clothes, they moved to try on hats. Fortunately there were a couple of small ones for Darcy, as the first one she tried on fell below her ears and completely covered her eyes.

Boots proved the most difficult to buy. Explaining what to look for and how they should feel was a new experience for Ty. But he didn’t want either of them to have problems with the boots, so he took extra time and care to make sure they both got the best.

It was late afternoon by the time they reached the ranch. Ty wanted to check on the men and see if there was anything crucial he needed to deal with, so he left the women at his place and headed out to the barn.

He’d never gone shopping with girls before. He’d loved the expression on Darcy’s face when she saw herself completely clothed in jeans, shirt, boots and hat. She’d beamed her delight. He’d felt another clutch in his heart. He’d wanted to sweep her up into his arms, hug her, and promise to never let anything harm her.

That would have freaked her out, he expected. She was still wary around him, as if she couldn’t believe he was truly her father. Who blamed her, after Brittany telling her for eight years that he was dead? She hadn’t even told Darcy his name. That hurt.

Nothing he could do about the past. He had to move forward and hope before long she’d know they could make a happy family together.

He had to hand it to Maddie. She smoothed everything. Acting as a kind of buffer between him and Darcy, she kept things on an even keel. For a moment he wished she wouldn’t return to Fort Worth. That she’d find her place here on the ranch. Frowning at the thought, he tried to banish it. He had work to do, not time to fantasize about a future that was never likely to materialize.

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