Texas Lullaby (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 7) (9 page)

The girls bore their faces more into Lydia’s legs.

“Well, I seem to have some shy girls today,” Lydia said.

Cash smiled and his whole face appeared to shine. No wonder he’d been such a hot ladies’ man when he was on the rodeo circuit.

“No problem,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before they discover that I never travel without gifts for beautiful girls.”

Ellery turned her face toward him, keeping the contact between her head and Lydia’s leg intact.

Cash held up two wrapped boxes.

“Cash. You didn’t have to bring the girls presents.”

“You’re just jealous because there are only two.”

She chuckled. “You’ve figured me out.”

He held out a box toward Ellery. “What’s your name?”

“Ellery.”

“What a pretty name. What’s your sister’s name?”

Annie straightened and looked at him. “Annie.”

“Ellery and Annie. I really love those names,” Cash said. “I’m Cash. I’m Jason’s brother.”

“Uncle Jason?” Ellery asked.

He nodded. “Yep. He’s my big brother, like you’re Levi’s big sister.”

The girls looked at each other and, like she’d seen them do before, a form of nonverbal communication transpired between them. Then they moved as one toward Cash. He handed each of them a box.

“Can we open these now?” Annie asked Lydia.

“Sure.”

The girls tore at the paper, squealing at the dolls inside. Each girl had received an American Girl doll that looked amazingly like them. Lydia didn’t know much about dolls, but even she had heard of these.

“Cash. Those are too expensive.”

He scoffed and waved off her concern.

“Do you like them?” he asked the girls.

“Oh, yes,” Ellery said. “She looks just like me.”

“And me,” said Annie. She hugged the doll to her chest.

Cash smiled. “Good. I’m so glad.”

“What do you say, girls?” Lydia prompted.

“Thank you,” they said as one.

“Can we go play with them?” Annie asked.

“In your room please.

They started to leave the room and then stopped and ran back to Cash. Each girl gave him a kiss on the cheek, giggled and then ran to their room to play.

Cash rose. “I think I’m in love.”

Lydia laughed. “I won’t tell Paige that she’s been replaced.”

“How do you stand all that cuteness?”

“Ha. Try washing Annie’s hair and then tell me how cute she is. Come on in.”

Cash followed her to the kitchen.

“Something to drink?”

“Naw. I’m fine. How are you doing?”

Lydia pulled a water from the refrigerator. “Some days are good. Some days, not so good.”

Cash nodded. “It’s been tough, I’m sure. I’m sorry about your sister and her husband. I know I told you that at their funerals, but I wanted you to know that Paige and I talk about you a lot. You know if you need anything from us, you only have to call.”

Lydia snorted. “No, apparently I don’t. Your brother calls for me.”

“Did you kick his ass for talking to me first? Oh please,
please
tell me you kicked his ass.”

Laughing, Lydia shook her head. “I should have. Unfortunately, this time he was right.”

“Don’t you hate that?”

“More than you know. Why don’t you make yourself at home? Look wherever you want to, or whatever you do. I hear Levi crying. I need to get him.”

Cash nodded. “I’ll start in the backyard then. See what room we have to work with.” He opened the door and got smashed by Jasper pushing his way inside.

“Meet Jasper. Ill-mannered, untrained and a drooler, but we love him.”

Jasper stopped long enough for Cash to pull a dog bone from the box on the counter and feed him. Then he was off like a shot through the house.

“Where’s he going?”

“The girls’ room. I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s part of a set of triples.”

Cash spent the next thirty minutes walking around inside and outside the house, all the while jotting notes and measurements on a notepad. When he finished his inspection, he joined Lydia in the living room where she was rocking Levi and holding another frozen washcloth to his gums.

“I hate to admit it, but Jason was right. You need more room.”

“I know. I know. Let’s not tell him, okay? He’s bossy enough.”

“You’re telling me. He grew up with that attitude.” He cleared this throat. “You know, Lydia, this isn’t going to be cheap.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“Before we head down the road of tearing out walls, what about the obvious suggestion? Why don’t you move in with Jason?”

She stopped rocking, shifted Levi around in her lap and shook her head. “Lots of reasons, Cash. But right now, the primary one is that Ellery and Annie are settled in this house. Let me change that. They’ve just gotten settled here. It’s only been about a month. They’ve gone from their home to this one. I don’t want to uproot them again. Not now. Maybe later, but right now my goal is to give them as much stability in their lives as I can, and that includes staying here. So no matter the cost, adding on is what I want to do.”

“Okay, then. You have plenty of space to go out through the kitchen. Let me show you.”

He put some rough drawings on the coffee table. “We go out through here. Add a laundry room, which you need badly. A master bedroom and bath can go here, and a small sitting room slash office over here.”

She lifted the pages off the table to study them closer.

“Would the girls lose a lot of the play area in the backyard?”

“I don’t think so. You have a ton of space to the side of the house too, so anything we do would leave more than adequate room for a swing set or playhouse or heck, even both. You did great picking out this house.”

Lydia remembered the day she’d bought the house. It’d been one of the smaller ones that was close to work, close to the hospital and close to a grocery store. She hadn’t given any thought to space for swing sets or playhouses. Really, she hadn’t expected to still be living here this many years later.

“How much is this going to cost?”

Cash quoted her a price that was way too low.

“No way,” she said. “The supplies alone will cost that or more. You’re not doing this for free.”

“I’m not, but you are getting the Montgomery family discount. I’m getting paid for my time. Don’t worry.”

“Jason?”

“Just call him a generous benefactor.”

“I can’t do that. I’ll pay you for your time.”

Cash stood. “I’ll let you two fight that out. If you want to do this, I’ll need to get started on the appropriate building permits we’re going to need.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

Chapter Eight

Later that afternoon, Lydia piled the children into her small sedan, only able to fit all of them because she used the trunk to store Levi’s diaper bag, bottles, Pack ’n Play and extra clothes for the girls. Each girl carried her new doll and a stuffed animal. The animals had been theirs before the accident, and Lydia figured there was comfort in the known and excitement in the new.

When she turned into the Bar M ranch drive, there were cows in the fields on both sides of the lane. She stopped and rolled down the windows.

“See the cows, girls? Those belong to Mimi and Papa. Have you ever seen a cow before?”

Wide eyes met her gaze in the rearview mirror, and she had to assume this was a first for them. Now that she thought about it, they probably hadn’t ever seen a cow except in picture books.

As the car rolled forward, Ellery said, “Baby,” and pointed out the window.

A newborn calf stood alongside its mother.

She stopped the car again. “That’s right. That’s a baby cow.”

“Is that his mother?”

Lydia nodded. “Yes.”

“Our mother lives in heaven now, right?”

Lydia swallowed against the painful stone forming in her throat. “That’s right.”

“Are you going to heaven too?” Annie asked.

“Not for a long,
long
time,” Lydia said.

Jackie and Lane were standing in the circle drive when Lydia pulled to a stop. Years ago, Lane had installed an alarm system that rang at the house when a vehicle drove through the gates. However, it also worked when someone drove out, meaning the boys had been caught more than once sneaking out when they’d been in high school.

“Hi,” called Jackie. “Hi, Ellery. Hi, Annie.” She waved enthusiastically.

The girls waved and twisted, trying to get out of their seats. Lydia unlocked the doors as Lane went for Annie and Jackie headed for Ellery.

“Look who’s here,” Lane said, unbuckling Annie from her seat. “Come here and see me. Did you bring barrettes for me to try on?”

Annie laughed and went into Lane’s arms.

Behind her, Jackie had Ellery out of her seat while Ellery told her about the baby cow.

Lydia climbed out and felt such relief at the reception the girls had received from the Montgomerys that she wanted to tear up.

Jason pulled up in his truck and stopped behind her. “Sorry I’m late,” he said, hopping from the driver’s door.

“Hi, honey,” his mom said. “You’re not late at all. The girls just got here.”

He leaned in and lifted Ellery’s shirt to blow a raspberry on her belly. She laughed and squirmed.

“Me next,” Annie said.

Jason took Annie from Lane and tossed her into the air and caught her. The child squealed.

Lydia unbuckled Levi and pulled him into her arms. He seemed to understand everyone was laughing and he wanted in on the action. His arms bounced up and down, barely missing Lydia’s nose. He pushed with his legs, hiking himself up and down on her hip as he chortled.

“Well, he’s in a good mood,” Jason said as he settled Annie on his hip. “How are the teeth coming along?”

“Slowly,” Lydia said. “Painfully, but we’ll get there.”

Lane held out his arms to Levi. “Come here, little guy.”

“You might want to wait on that, Lane,” Lydia said. “I’m pretty sure we have a little repair work to do in his jeans.”

Lane nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Can I help get anything out of the car?”

Lydia snorted. “There’s an entire bedroom in the trunk.”

“Got it.”

Lydia popped the trunk and followed Lane to the rear of the car. She put Levi’s diaper bag over her shoulder. Lane hoisted the portable bed slash playpen up by its strap and then grabbed the other two totes.

“This everything?”

“I think so.”

When she shut the trunk, she discovered that Jackie and Jason had walked over to the closest corral. A couple of horses leaned their heads over the railing, sniffing the girls’ heads. She almost called out to warn them not to let the girls get bit, but she held her tongue. If Jackie and Jason didn’t know what to do around horses, then the world would be ending soon.

“Let’s go on in,” Lane suggested. “I know I would rather have dry britches on.”

Lydia chuckled. “Lead the way.”

She’d been in the Montgomery home more times than she could count. Bar M had been as much a home to her as her own, but this time she felt like a guest, where in the past she’d always felt like family. Even though she tried, she couldn’t put her finger on what was causing the change in her perspective.

She followed Lane into the house and down the hall to Jason’s old bedroom.

“I thought we’d set up Levi back here. That way, if he wants a nap, he can have some quiet.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you. Let me change him and I’ll set up his playpen.”

“Give him to me. I’ve changed a diaper or two in my time. Now these newfangled gadgets might stump me, but not a diaper.”

She shrugged and handed Levi over. “Diapers and wipes are in here.” She let the diaper bag slide down her arm to her hand and set it on the bed. “This will be a good room for Levi.”

Lane laid Levi down. Levi immediately rolled to his side and tried to get away. Lane chuckled. “Hold on there, cowboy.”

Levi laughed and rolled away again.

“I’ve got it, Lydia. Don’t worry.”

Knowing how she personally hated to be watched when she was doing something, she turned around and laid the Pack ’n Play on the floor. After she undid the Velcro straps, she began locking the sides open.

Lane laughed and she turned to look. His shirt was wet down the front.

“Sorry about that,” she said.

“You’d think I’d remember something like that after three boys of my own and two grandsons, wouldn’t you? Not the first time, and knowing little boys, probably not the last time.”

She finished setting up the crib slash playpen and stood. Levi had a fresh diaper on, but one look at the boy’s crooked pants and Lydia decided Levi had given Jason’s dad lots of trouble.

“Need a hand?” she asked.

“Nope. We guys are doing just fine.” Lane straightened Levi’s pants and got all the snaps up the legs fastened. Then he picked the baby up into his arms. “Okay. We are ready to party now.”

They found Jackie and Jason and the girls in the living room. Toys of all kinds were scattered on the rug. Dump trucks. Race cars. A miniature tea set. Four dolls she’d never seen before. A jump rope. And finally, a gun and holster set. Lydia wasn’t sure how she felt about her girls playing with a gun and holster. However, in this family, guns were as common as the coffee mugs at her house.

“Wow. Where did all these come from?” Lydia asked.

“Look,” Ellery said and ran over to take Lydia’s hand to pull her toward a large box in the corner. “A toy store.”

Lydia looked inside the box and chuckled. It was stuffed with an assortment of toys for every age. “Well, I think it’s a toy box, not a toy store, but I get what you mean.”

Lydia picked Ellery up and carried her back to the main part of the room where everyone else was sitting.

“Impressive collection,” she said to Jackie, who was pretending to drink from a tea cup.

“Thank you. I raided Lane’s closet.”

Lane guffawed.

“What happened to your shirt?” Jason asked his dad.

“Yeah, like you don’t know.”

Jason snickered. “Old faithful strikes again.”

“You’d think I’d remember that, wouldn’t you? Be right back. I’m going to change.”

“If it’s okay with Lydia, I thought we could cook hot dogs on the grill for dinner. Is that okay with you girls?”

Ellery and Annie jumped and bounced around the room. “Yes,” they both cried.

Lydia shrugged. “Fine with me.”

“Well,” Jason said. “I thought maybe you’d like a nice steak.”

Lydia shot him a questioning look. “Steak?”

“I was thinking the Lone Star for dinner.”

“Um, I’m not dressed for the Lone Star. And besides…” She indicated the girls with a tilt of her head. “I love a good hot dog as well as the next girl. Thanks for the offer though.”

“Oh, honey,” Jackie said. “You don’t have to stay here. You two can go have a nice dinner.”

Lydia shook her head. “No. Thanks, but no.”

“Mimi,” Lane said as he rejoined the group. “Did you tell the girls about the new kittens?”

“Kittens?” Annie said. “Where? I want to see the kittens.”

“Me too” Ellery said, jumping up and down.

“They’re in the barn. Do you mind, Lydia?”

“The walk might help burn off some energy, if you know what I’m saying.”

Jackie grinned. “Come on, girls.” She stood and stretched her hands down by her legs. “Grab a hand.”

The girls latched on and Jackie led them out of the house, followed by Lane carrying Levi. They left Jason and Lydia sitting in the living room.

“I think your parents are leaving us alone on purpose.”

He grinned. “Remind me to thank them.”

She stood. “This visit isn’t about you and me finding alone time. It’s about seeing how comfortable my children are with your parents.”

“Are you kidding? Have you been watching? They’re fine.”

“Still…”

Lane stuck his head through the front door. “Um, Lydia. The girls are a little scared of the barn.”

“I’m on my way.” She shot Jason a look. “See? They are still fragile and nervous without me.” She sighed. “Annie cried for hours last night for her mommy. It almost killed me. Luckily, Ellery had already gone to sleep and Annie was crying in the living room and didn’t wake up Elle or Levi.” She pressed her hands to her chest. “It hurt, Jason. Really,
really
hurt.”

She hurried to the door and turned back. “Well, come on. We need to see the new kittens.”

The rest of the visit went very well, as well as Lydia could have hoped. The girls loved the kittens. They were a little upset when Lydia said they couldn’t take one home. But she reminded them that Jasper might not like a new kitten right now.

Dinner went fine. Hot dogs were one of her never-fail meals for the girls. After dinner, Annie helped Jackie put the dishes in the dishwasher and get out the supplies for ice cream sundaes while Ellery and Jason went with Lane to feed a goat that’d wandered up a couple of weeks ago. So far, no one had claimed him. Never one to turn away an animal, Lane had provided the goat a home while he continued to look for the owner.

Lydia fed Levi and put on his sleeper. Fifteen minutes of rocking him and he was gone. She put him in the portable crib and joined Annie and Jackie. Annie’s eyes were wide as she studied all the toppings Jackie had set out. Chocolate. Caramel. Nuts. Chocolate chips. Whipped cream.

The sundaes were a hit and a huge mess. Hand washing was not going to be sufficient. The girls didn’t want to take baths, but when Jackie put bubble bath into the tub, they quickly changed their minds. When Lydia started to help, Jackie stopped her.

“Let me,” Jackie said. “I want to do this.”

Lydia shrugged. “Okay.” She stayed in the room but remained out of the way. She’d never admit it to anyone, but she wanted to watch Jackie’s interactions with her girls. Were the girls comfortable with her? Did they fight with each other while under Jackie’s care? Was Jackie keeping a close eye on them so they didn’t drown?

She was fully aware that her concerns about Jackie’s abilities were silly, but Lydia hadn’t ever been a mother before. These girls were hers to protect. They’d already been through so much. Anything she could do to make their lives whole again, she would. It was that simple.

Of course, the bath went fine. The girls––with Jackie’s encouragement––blew the bubbles around in the tub. They gave themselves bubble beards and bubble earrings and necklaces and even bubble hats. The girls were laughing, a sound that Lydia doubted she’d ever get tired of hearing.

Ellery and Annie actually used the washcloths to clean their faces, something Lydia had yet to accomplish. Water was splashed everywhere, not that anyone but Lydia seemed to mind.

“I brought some other things for them to put on,” Lydia said. “I’ll go get their bag.”

“Okay, honey,” Jackie said. “We’ll be right here until you get back.”

She’d packed clean underwear, shorts and shirts for the twins, but she’d also thrown in pajamas as a last minute thought. Since it was close to the twins’ bedtime, she pulled out the pjs and fresh underwear.

Jackie had Annie out of the tub and was drying her when Lydia came back.

“First one’s been buffed and fluffed,” Jackie said.

Lydia chuckled. “Pass her over.”

Annie skipped to Lydia and they began putting on her nightwear.

Ellery climbed out of the tub. “I’ll do it,” she said and reached for the towel.

Lydia almost said no but then backed off. Let Ellery see what she could do. In the end, Jackie helped Ellery get dry, but in such a way that Ellery was sure she’d done it all by herself. Lydia passed down Ellery’s clothing and waited as Jackie helped the second twin into her fresh clothes.

When the girls were done, the bathroom looked like a tornado had gone through. Rugs were out of place. Small puddles of water dotted the floor and the wall behind the tub. Lydia didn’t even want to think about the ring around the tub the girls had probably left after the numerous trips to see the kittens in the dusty barn and the sticky ice cream.

“Thanks, Jackie,” Lydia said. “Let me help you get this cleaned up.”

“Absolutely not. The cleaning lady comes tomorrow. Let her do it.”

Lydia snorted. Jackie had no cleaning lady.

“Come on, girls. Let’s go see what Jason and Papa are doing.”

After another thirty minutes, the girls were winding down. Jason and Lane loaded all the kid necessities back into Lydia’s sedan while Jackie and Lydia got three sleepy children buckled into their car seats.

“They won’t make it to the end of the drive,” Jackie whispered over the roof of the sedan with a smile.

“Probably not. Thanks for everything this evening. I know the girls had fun.”

Jackie walked around the hood of the car to stand next to Lydia. “Lane and I will be happy to take care of the girls so you can make a run to Wichita.”